Battle of Sacile

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Sacile


caption=
partof=the War of the Fifth Coalition
date=16 April 1809
place=Sacile, Republic of Venice, Italy
result=Austrian victory
combatant1=flag|Austrian Empire
combatant2=flagicon|France First French Empire
flagcountry|Napoleonic Italy
commander1=Archduke Johann of Austria
commander2=Prince Eugène de Beauharnais
strength1=40,000
strength2=36,000
casualties1=4,000 total:
3,500 dead and wounded
500 captured
casualties2=6,500 total:
3,000 dead
3,500 wounded
15 guns lostThe Battle of Sacile took place on April 16 1809, between 40,000 Austrians under the Archduke John, and 36,000 French and Italians under Eugène de Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy.

On April 9, 1809, Austria declared war on France. Archduke John crossed the Italian border with his army forcing the French to retreat and regroup behind the Tagliamento River. However, pre-empting the threat posed by the troops of Archduke John, Prince Eugène had already positioned his troops on the border in Friuli and Venetia. In particular, General Grenier's 3rd division was positioned in the town of Sacile. Prince Eugène organised a defence of the town in preparation of a counter-attack.

The Austrians arrived at Sacile on 16 April, having been delayed by a string of minor actions at Pordenone and Ospedaletto. The majority of the fighting occurred in the vicinity of the newly constructed bridges over the river. Fighting lasted throughout the morning until an Austrian flank movement, which menaced the French line of retreat, forced Eugène to retire. The Frence fell back to the Piave River where both sides would meet again.