The Period of 1808-1809

In December of 1807, the 3 dragon-squadrons consisted of 952 soldiers and 810 horses. It is noteworthy that the number of soldiers practically never matched the number of horses. So it was that some of the dragons were forced to march on foot or they switched places with one another.

Between the years of 1808 and 1809, Pierre Wagener's whereabouts are unknown. No letter from him arrived in Tétange.

During this year, trouble begins to brew in Spain. The head of that country is the elderly King Carlos IV. Napoleon would rather have seen a Spanish ruler more favorable to his intentions, so that he could punish Portugal for not curtailing her trade relations with England. In November 1807, a French army crossed the land, occupied Madrid, marched into Portugal, and conquers Lisbon. The Spanish population rises up against the controlling occupants. Carlos IV has to abdicate. On the 2nd of May 1802, the revolt is beginning to spread throughout the country. Napoleon believes he can put down the revolt with an army of 100,000 men. At this point he doesn't know that the war in Spain would become the bloodiest episode of his reign.

After Breslau, the 19^th dragons drew back to Strasbourg. Parts of this regiment were put into other regiments and put on their way to Spain.

At that time, Pierre Wagener is estimated to have spent a prolonged time in the "Dépôt" in Strasbourg. The rest of the 19 ^th dragons were transferred to the 5^th provisional dragon-regiment in the beginning of 1809 to participate in the campaign against the Austrians, whose armies were creeping slowly toward the Bavarian border. The route of the 5 ^th provisional regiment, under Commander General de Beaumont, couldn't be retraced any longer.

For the year of 1809, there exists only one single letter from Pierre Wagener to his friend Dominique Wilhelm, written from Bamberg:

Envelope of the Letter to Dominique Wilhelm

Dearest friend, Dominicus Wilhelm. I greet you most sincerely. I would like to know if you are still in good health, as I still am. I know of only one thing to tell, that is that we are going to depart from here on the 30^th of August, on horseback with saddle and rein toward the Kaiser on the Rhine. I do not know if we are going to Luxembourg or not. And write to me...again...that you also get a letter. I have received the Kronentaler from you. And am now on the journey with thousands. My dear friend, there will be war again. That is so bad, that no human.... And please pay my compliments to my mother and tell her that I am still in good health. With...I remain your faithful son until my death.

Pir Wagener ^[67]

The voyage doesn't go to Luxembourg, as Pierre Wagener hopes, but via Strasbourg to Spain.