Franz Petrasch

Franz, Freiherr von Petrasch (1746 – 17 January 1820) was an Austrian General Officer serving in the Austrian Empire during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Franz Petrasch was born in 1746 in Perron, son of General Major Ernst Gottlieb von Petrasch. From 1785 to 1788 he was Oberstleutnant commanding a grenadier battalion, before being made Oberst (Colonel) and commander of Infantry Regiment. 37 "Baron de Vins" at the beginning of 1792. By 1794 he was elevated to Major General commanding an infantry brigade in the Austrian Netherlands (Belgium). He served in Beaulieu & Werneck’s columns at the second action at Charleroi 16 June.

Service on the Rhine
In 1796 he was promoted FML and was dispatched to command a brigade in Germany under the Archduke Charles. In September he commanded a 5,564 man mobile corps detached between the Neckar & the Rhine (hinged on the Austrian garrisons of Mannheim & Philippsburg), operating behind French forces under Moreau. On 18 September he raided Kehl, cutting off Moreau, but failed to burn the bridge and was driven out again. Petrasch then occupied Stuttgart. His advance posts were driven back by Desaix at Villingen 9 October, then suffered a defeat at Endingen (Ettenheim). Petrasch then re-joined Charles & Latour to defeat Moreau at the Battle of Emmendingen 19th, assuming command of Wartensleben's column after he was wounded. He also fought at the inconclusive action at Schliengen 24 October. From November 1796 - January 1797 he served in the Siege of Kehl under Latour.

1799 Campaign
At the beginning of hostilities Petrasch commanded a Division of Wallis’ 1st Corps under Charles on the Danube, and served at the Battle of Stockach 25 March. During the invasion of Switzerland in May he was detached to link with the Voralberg Corps of Hotze, his command becoming the reserve. He commanded the 4th Column in Hotze’s left wing at the First Battle of Zurich (Zurich Berg) 4 June, and temporarily replaced Hotze when that officer was wounded. During the Second Battle of Zurich after the death of Hotze on the Linth 25 September he replaced him as commander of the Voralberg Corps, then, learning of the defeat of Korsakov's Russians, retreated precipitously beyond the Rhine, effectively abandoning the Corps of Alexander Suvorov to suffer the full attentions of the French. Transferred to command the garrison of Ulm on the Danube in December, he was left behind at Ulm with 10,000 men when Kray retreated after the Battle of Höchstadt 19 June."

Petrasch died 17 January 1820 in Vienna.