Just days before the Battle of Wagram, 5-6 July 1809, on the Island of Lobau, while on horse back Marshal Messéna's horse stepped into a rabbit hole resulting in a leg injury. Refusing a trip to Vienna for treatment "… the Duke of Rivoli went into battle lying in a light caleche, drawn by four white horses, with his doctor beside him" [Dunn-Patterson, Richard Phillipson, 1909, pp. 62-63].
Messéna launched himself into battle command IV corps, "…traversing the ranks of his divisions and leaving to them the imprint of his hot ardour, brought by calash that his horses led everywhere where the danger asked for the presence of a leader [Les souvenirs du général baron Paulin].
To no surprise, the Marshal found himself and his coach attendents a ripe target, firing his pistols at Austrian cavalry and evading enemy artillery, "the two brave servants were in constant danger…where the ball which struck the carriage went through the coachman's overcoat, and another ball killed the horse under the position. Nothing seemed to frighten these two faithful attendents, whose devotion was admired by the whole army."
Messéna's roll was pivotal in the french victory driving the Austrians from Aspern, repelling them from the village of Aderklaa alongside Bernadotte's Saxons, and retaking Essling after the Emporer broke the Austrian center.
Im no expert so feel free to clarify or add to this please.
by stiF_staL
2 Comments
[main source](https://www.napoleon-series.org/research/biographies/marshals/Massena/c_Massena1809.html)
Prime Massena was the second best General of the era only after Napoleon. Unfortunately his health deteriorated and after losing an eye(thanks to Napoleon’s bad shooting skills) he was never the same.