April 29: Austro - Russians at Milano
Milano
(Milan) January 1799 |
1250 |
Général Gilles-Joseph-Martin Bruneteau vicomte de
Sainte Suzanne [1]
Général Gilles-Joseph-Martin
Bruneteau vicomte de Sainte Suzanne. (1760-1830) from 18/10/95
Général de brigade ; from 02/08/96 Général
de division – provisional commander at the armée
d’Italie 07/03/99-12/03/99. In 1800 Corps commander at
the armée du Rhin.
Milano Garrison January - March 1799
III Battalion /5th Line Demi-Brigade
III Battalion /30th Line Demi-Brigade
III Battalion /33rd Line Demi-Brigade
Chasseurs Corses (2 Companies)
Cavalry
11e Hussards Régiment (moved to the Mincio
with 4 Squadrons ) Chef Pierre Ismert
|
460 |
1er Régiment Dragons d’Expedition
Infantry Guides
Detachments (artillery+sappers) 3rd – 5th –
6th Art. Rgt
III/2nd Polish Legion Depot Battalion It was really
a IV battalion (Depot). Its soldiers were the last defenders
before the withdrawal in April.
Cisalpine Army Central Depot
During the evening of April 27, the Cisalpine Government left
Milano. The garrison (Gachot referred about 1800 men) was rallied
by General Hatry while Moreau continued his retreat toward
the Ticino (Tesin) River. The day after they rested in the Citadel
(Castello Sforzesco) (see images).
Garrison: April – May 1799
Milano Citadel (Castello) Commander: Charles-Theodore Beauvais
de Preau
Infantry Garrison Commander: Chef-de-bataillon Bechard
|
2376 |
Guns
|
119 |
Cisalpine Depot Battalion
II Battalion 10th Line demi-brigade
I Battalion
56th Line demi-brigade
2nd Polish Legion Depot
The Castello Sforzesco, or Castle of Milan, stands in the Parco
Nuovo; it was built in 1450 by Francesco Sforza on the site of
one erected by Galeazzo II. Visconti (1355-1378) and demolished
in 1447 by the populace after the death of Filippo Maria Visconti.
After suffering many vicissitudes and being partially destroyed
more than once, it was restored - including especially the splendid
entrance tower by Antonio Averulino, destroyed by a powder explosion
in 1521.
Austrian Siege Group
1st Deployment
Mailander Belagerungskorps General Major Christoph Freiherr von
Lattermann[2]
K.K. IR 13 Rifle regiment Freiherr Franz Wenzel
Reisky von Dubnitz
|
1851 |
I – II –III Battalions. Commander: Obst Freiherr
Carl von Brigido
|
KK IR 43 line regiment Graf Anton Thurn-Val Sassina
|
1973 |
I – II –III Battalions. Commander: Freiherr
Ignaz von Loen
|
K.K. 5th Hussar Regiment 2 squadrons
|
246 |
Milano. The city was ruled by Austria and so remained
until the Bonaparte arrival in 1796.
The New French front
The French retreat consisted of three main Columns: the right
Column marched towards Piacenza from Lodi, the center from Milano
through Pavia and Voghera in direction of the Genoan Republic,
the left column, with Moreau and the HQ, through Vigevano and Novara
towards Turin (Torino). The artillery commander, General Debelle, was
the first to cross the Ticino River with 36 guns (May 2). Victor
followed Grenier and Moreau but was directed to Alessandria. Laboissiere
crossed the Po at Casale and deployed his troops to guard the Tanaro
River. The rear-guard was led by General Gardanne who had
the task to defend the artillery park with the cavalry. On May
7, Gardanne was reinforced with more light infantry that was organized
into two demi-brigades. He sent the first to Verrua, the
other to Villanuova.
The bulk of the Army moved towards the Genoa border, while the
Commander-in-Chief reached Turin, calmed some riots and organized
the evacuation of the depots. The Turin Citadel was left under
the command of General Fiorella while the territory around
the former Savoy Kingdom capital city was guarded by small garrisons.
On May 7, Moreau left Turin and tranferred his HQ to Alessandria.
In Genoa, Perignon took the command of the Right Wing of the Army
of Italy guarding the territory between the sea and Fort Serravalle
near Novi. He had under his command General Lapoype with
the Genoese (5000) and Laboissiere (2000 infantrymen and 1 squadron).
His brigadiers were Generals Musnier and Carra St. Cyr. South of
the Po, Generals Montrichard and Gauthier were ordered to
join the incoming Armée de Naples, which was commanded by
Macdonald. Grouchy’s division, former Piedmont’s garrison,
replenished the Armée d’Italie ranks.
Milano Garrison Is Sent forwards as the Avant-Guard
Austrian Avantgarde Brigade General Major Freiherr Josef Philipp
von Vukassovich
Avant Garde General Major Sebastian Prodanovich
|
1959 |
II Battalion Grenz Regiment of Banat
( I Battalion 13th Grenz Regiment)
|
837 |
V Battalion Banater Grenz Regiment
|
596 |
K.K. Light Battalion N. 2 Oberst Carl Prince
of Rohan (Italian Battalion) later sent to Aosta
|
526 |
Hauptkolonne von Vukassovich
|
2997
|
KK IR 52 Rifle Hungarian Regiment Erzherzog Palatin
Anton Viktor
|
1292
|
I –
II Battalions. Commander: Graf Johann Nepomuk Khuen
de Belasi
|
III Battalion Grenz Regiment of Banat
(or II Battalion 12th Deutschbanater Grenz Regiment)
Major Zedzwitz
|
682
|
K.K. 9th Hussar Regiment FML Johann Nepomuk Graf
Erdödy de Monyorókerek
|
310
|
(Erdödy Husaren) 2 Squadrons
|
K.K. 7th Hussar Regiment 5 – ½ squadrons
|
713
|
Commander: Oberst Carl Freiherr von Schauroth - (it
had 6 Squadrons in 3 divisions I – II
- III) the IV Division was in Slavonia (garrison)
|
Capitulation of Milano and Redistribution of Austrian forces
Articles de capitulation
proposés par le citoyen Bechaud Chef titulaire du
second bataillon de la 40-me demibrigade d'infanterie de
bataille à Mr. le Comte de Hohenzollern genéral-major,
commandant des troupes Autrichiennes cernant de Chateau de
Mitan. |
|
1. Toute la garnison sortira du chateau
le 5 prairial an 7 de la république française,
correspondant au 24 Mai 1799, à 9 h. du matin, tambour
battant, avec les honneurs de la guerre. Tous les militaires
qui la composent seront conduits aux postes françois
et remis à la disposition du général
en chef de l'armée en Italie. |
- La garnison ne servira
pas contre les troupes de S. M. l’Empereur pendant
un an et un jour, à moins que son échange général
ou partiel soit opéré pendant ce temps. Les
officiers conservent leurs armes. La garnison sortira demain
matin à 9 h. avec les honneurs de la guerre et tambour
battant; elle remettra ses armes sur le glacis. |
2. Tous les ouvriers, les non-combattants
de tout genre et les enfants seront
également conduits aux avantpostes françois |
Accordé. |
3. Dix petits fourgons ou charriots,
qui se trouvent dans la place, attelés de leurs chevaux,
pourront sortir à la suite des officiers, sans que
les objets qu'ils contiennent soyent fouillés ou visités. |
Accordé. |
4. Il sera fourni les voitures nécessaires
au transport des infirmes, des femmes, des enfants et des équipages,
qui ne seront pas contenus dans les fourgons ou charriots
prédits. |
Accordé. |
5. Les officiers ayant des chevaux,
les sortiront librement. Toute la troupe conservera ses équipages. |
Accordé. |
6. Tous les soins qu'exige l'humanité seront
donnés à tous les malades de la garnison, le
nombre des officiers de santé
nécessaire à leur traitement pourra rester à Milan
ad hoc. |
Accordé. |
7. Les militaires se rendant
aux postes françois seront pendant leur marche sous
la sauve-garde de la troupe Autrichienne. L'officier commandaut
cette dernière sera responsable des mauvais traitements
ou des insultes, qui pourroient être faits a la garnison
par les habitans. |
On le promet, et l'on en aura soin
d'après la loyauté connue dans les armées
Impériales et Royales |
8. Les troupes alliées de
toutes les nations qui font parti de la garnison, seront
traitées avec les mêmes égards et de
la même manière que celles françoises. |
Accordé. |
| |
9. Le lieutenant Zoukovich sera rançonné
contre un autre officier de la garnison tellement qu'ils peuvent
servir tous les deux sur le champ |
| |
10. Un commissaire des
guerres restera dans la place pour remettre les magasins
d'armes, de munition et de subsistances, plans, lettres et
tout ce qui appartient a la république. |
Fait double au chateau
de Milan le 4 prairial an VII de la république françoise
(ce 28 may 1799) |
Le chef de bataillon Béchaud |
Baron de Latterman,
général de Sa Majesté l'Empereur
et Roy |
| |
Le comte de Hohenzollern
général-major, commandant le siége |
|
|
|
Mailander Belagerungskorps
General Major Christoph Freiherr von Lattermann
General Major Friedrich Xavier Fürst Hohenzollern-Hechingen
|
|
K.K. IR 24 Rifle Line Regiment (former Preiss)
|
All battalions to Mantua Siege
|
( Battalions I – II- III) - Commander: Oberst
Carl Philipp von Weidenfeld
|
|
K.K. IR 43 Rifle Line Regiment Graf Anton Thurn-Val
Sassina
|
I and II battalions to Mantua Siege
|
III Battalion K.K. IR 43 Rifle Line Regiment Graf
Anton Thurn-Val Sassina
|
To Prince Rohan Bde. (future Milano garrison)
|
I – II –III Battalions. Commander: Freiherr
Ignaz von Loen
|
K.K. IR 13 Rifle regiment Freiherr Franz Wenzel
Reisky von Dubnitz
|
I and II battalions to Mantua Siege
|
III Battalion , K.K. IR 13 Rifle Regiment Frh. Franz
Wenzel Reisky von Dubnitz
|
To Prince Rohan Bde. (future Milano garrison)
|
I – II –III Battalions. Commander: Obst Freiherr
Carl von Brigido
|
|
VII Combined Battalion Grenz Regiment Warasdiner
of Varazdin
|
to Mantua Siege
|
K.K. 5th Hussar Regiment 1 sqn
|
To Seckendorff Corps
|
March towards the Po
General Chasteler’s orders, while leaving Milano,
were the following:
On May 1st, the Austro-Russian army had to leave Milano advancing
towards the Po, the Avant-Guard marching on Pavia. There they
had to repair the bridge over the Ticino River and to build a
bridgehead at Gravellona. Zoph, Fröhlich and Kaim (Melas)
had to reach Lodi, the two Russians divisions (Bagration and
Förster in the rear) marched through San Donato, Melegnano
and Sant’Angelo, camping in the latter location. Bagration
had the task to reach the Po (at Parpanese) and, eventually,
to build a boat-bridge in front of Piacenza, after having seized
the city from the right Po bank. Finally Klenau had to advance
towards Piacenza in order to reach the Appennines passes on the
road to Genoa. On the May 1st day the bulk of the Coalition’s
troops left Milano walls. They marched south, along the Melegnano
road, in two large columns: the right one formed by Russians
and directed towards Sant’Angelo, the left one formed by
Austrians directed to Lodi. The Austrian Kolonne reached Casalpusterlengo,
on May 2, and was preceded by an Avantgarde unit led by Oberst
Knesevich, who had just returned from the Tyrol front,
who, in the same day, reached the important fortress of Piacenza. The “true” Avantgarde
of the Austrian Corps was led, by General Ott
who had orders to enter Pavia on the Ticino River (Colonel Knezevich
was after attached to this unit as their Avantagarde).
The Po River
The Po is known is the country’s longest river and is 652
kilo meters (405 miles) long. The Po’s waters,
fed by 141 tributaries, created the Val Padana, the plain that
stretches across northern Italy from the French border in the west
to the Adriatic Sea in the east. Il grande fiume, the great
river, ranges from Turin to some of the country’s most beautiful
and historic towns: Piacenza, Pavia, Cremona, Mantova, and Ferrara.
At that time, its width varied: 487 meters at
Turin, 379 meters at Valenza (Valence), 303 meters before
the Ticino (Tessin) tributary confluence and 455-530 meters after
that confluence, 910 meters at Cremona, 1516
meters near the Taro confluence, only 474 meters at Casalmaggiore,
1396 at Guastalla, 384 meters at Borgoforte, 303 meters at
Ostiglia, 484 meters at Occhiobello, 947 meters at
Ponte Lagoscuro and only 240 meters at Polesella where
it divided its course in several branches near the Adriatic sea.
Its depth was usually from 3 meters to 4.50 meters, however, during
the autumn-winter flood, it could have have a 18-19 meters depth.
It had some permanent fords in its superior course and between
the confluence of the Ticino and Lambro Rivers. After those, one
could have found fords between the Adda confluence and Cicognara,
because of the presence of permanent sand banks. Generally the
Po River had few fords. The passages over the Po, was very
few. It did not have permanent bridges after Turin; Casale
Monferrato had a boat-bridge and other similar bridges were at
Valenza, Mezzana-Corte (south of Pavia), Piacenza (Plaisance).
Some ferry-boats or rafts, driven with ropes, were at Parpanese,
Casalmaggiore, Viadana, Borgoforte, San Benedetto, Ostiglia, Occhiobello
and Ponte Lagoscuro. As for its tributaries, the Ticino had only
two bridges (Pavia and Boffalora).
Österreichische Italienische-Armée
Commander: Feld Marshal Leut. Michael Friedrich Benedikt Mélas
General quartiermeister: GM. Johann Gabriel Chasteler Marquis
de Courcelles - HQ at Lodi
Avantguard Division General Major
Carl Peter Ott de Batorkéz |
7507 |
Avantgarde General Major Ferdinand Johann Morzin
|
|
Jäger Korps Freiherr Constantin d'Aspre 6
companies
|
713 |
K.K. Light Battalion Nr. 15 Oberst Bonaventura
Mihanovic (Croat-Slavonian)
|
795 |
VI Battalion Banater Grenz Regiment
|
546 |
Brigade General Major Friedrich Freiherr Gottesheim
|
|
K.K. IR 39 Rifle Line Hungarian Infantry Regiment
Graf Thomas (Támas) Nádasdy
|
2106
|
(on 3 Battalions) –Commander: Freiherr Johann
Nepomuk Abfaltern
|
|
K.K. 7th Hussar Régiment 2 Squadrons
|
188
|
Pavia: Located on the Ticino River, had a population of
20,000. There was a bridge tht was 87 meters long located
and on a channel called Naviglio di Pavia. It had only weak fortifications,
one citadel, eight barracks, some hospitals and a famouos university.
“Pour entrer dans la ville du côte du sud, il y a
un superbe pont de pierre, dont la longueur de 518 pieds ;
c’est un pont couvert, sous lequel passe le Tessin. A un
quart de lieue, du même côte, coule un autre rivière,
sur laquelle est un pont de bateaux (the Gravellone branch of Ticino.
NdT) . Elle sert de limite aux Cisalpins et aux Piémontais.”
“A une lieue de Pavie, la route de Voghera traverse le Po
sur un pont de bateaux long de 1204 pieds.” Alexandre
Botrouë, chef a la 68e demi-brigade.
Boffalora, on the Grande-Naviglio at its mouth into Ticino, which
had a 515 meter long bridge, built on 21 arcs and was managed by
a combined Sardinian and Austrian Administration.
Lodi: The seat of the Austrian HQs. On May 10, 1796 the young
Corsican General Buonaparte won on the river Adda his first
important battle, defeating the
Austrians and later entering
Milan. After that battle the most important of Adda’s bridge
became Lodi’s bridge.
Casalpusterlengo: In 1796 Bonaparte crossed the Po near
Piacenza and organized his HQs at Casalpusterlengo before the Lodi
battle. The town had always been commonly called Casale (and its
inhabitants - Casalesi), even if the most famous Casale was that
of Monferrato in Piedmont, on the Po.
The Austrian Main Column left Milano on May 1 and reached Lodi
at 3 a.m. the next day, passing through Melegnano. The head of
the column was led by General Zoph, who detached 1 battalion from
the Esterházy Regiment and 4 hussar squadrons, (as said
under the command of Oberst Knesevich) towards Casale (Casalpusterlengo)
where the French had weak outpost. Zoph was follewed by Generals Kaim
and Fröhlich with their divisions. During the same day, Knezevich
passed over the Po on ferry-boats and reached Piacenza along
the right bank.
Zoph’s Avantgarde Detachment
Oberst Vincenz Knesevich Freiherr von Saint-Helena |
At Casale Pusterlengo
|
K.K. 2nd Hussar Régiment Erzherzog Joseph
Anton - 4 squadrons
|
576
|
II Battalion K.K. IR 34 Hungarian Rifle Line Infantry
Regiment (the former Regiment Esterházy)
|
537
|
1st Hungarian Division FML Johann
Zoph |
3748 |
At Lodi
|
K.K. IR 34 Hungarian Rifle Line Infantry Regiment
(the former Regiment Esterházy)
|
537 |
(no Inhaber. The future IR Frh. Kraj de Kraiova. It
had I and II Battalions ). Commander: Oberst
Johann Hillinger
|
K.K. IR 40 Hungarian Rifle Line Infantry Regiment
FZM Graf Joseph Mittrowsky
|
1279 |
I and II Battalions. Commander: Oberst Franz Kreyssern.
|
K.K. Hungarian Grenadier Battalion Oberleutnant
Ferdinand Pers
|
199 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Freiherr Georg von Stentsch
Graf Anton Schiaffinati
|
620 |
Division General
Major Konrad Valentin Kaim |
4644 |
Detached to Pizzighettone to siege the fortress
|
K.K. IR 24 Rifle Regiment (former Preiss)
|
1424 |
( Battalions I – II – III) - Commander: Oberst
Carl Philipp von Weidenfeld
|
K.K. IR
28 Rifle Regiment Freiherr Michael von Fröhlich |
2370 |
(the former Regiment Wartensleben – on 3 Battalions)
Commander: Oberst Paul Candiani de Ragaini
|
K.K. 14th Light Dragoon Regiment Franz Freiherr
von Levenehr
|
850 |
Commander: Oberst Joseph Zinn. (it had 6
Squadrons in 3 Divisions I – II - III) II
Division ObLt. Josef Prohaska – III Division Major
Franz Graf Latour
|
| |
|
Division General Major Freiherr Michael
von Fröhlich
Under provisional command of General Major Franz Joseph Marquis
de Lusignan |
6409 |
At Lodi:
Feldbrigade General Major Franz Joseph
Marquis de Lusignan |
|
K.K. IR 18 Rifle Line Infantry Regiment Graf
Patrick Stuart
|
1741
|
|
Commander: Obst Franz Weber von Treuenfels - I and II
Battalions
|
|
K.K. IR 19 Hungarian Rifle Line Infantry Regiment
Freiherr Jozsef Alvinczy de Berberek
|
1655
|
|
I and II Battalions + 2 Companies III Battalion
-Commander: Barone Lelio Spannocchi.
|
|
K.K. 10th Light Dragoon Regiment Joseph Fürst
Lobkowitz
|
836
|
|
(had 6 Squadrons in 3 divisions I II and
III) Commander: Oberst Marquis Hannibal Sommariva – Second
Oberst and Commander Max Joseph Fürst Thurn und
Taxis. II Division ObstLt. Alois Graf Harrach – III
Division Major Ignatz Molitor
|
|
Grenadiers Feldbrigade |
|
K.K. Hungarian Grenadier Battalion Major Joseph
Korherr OberstLeutnant Johann Pértussy
|
618 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Oblt Franz Xavier Weber
von Treuenfeld (called Weber Battalion )
|
457 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Graf Joseph Fiquelmont
Count Johann Morzin
|
582 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion FML Karl Graf von Mercandin
Graf Carl Paar
|
520 |
Austrian Cavalry detached to the Russians
K.K. 1st Light Dragoon Regiment “Emperor” Kaiser
Franz II |
1015 |
|
They had 6 Squadrons in three divisions. Commander:
Oberst Franz Freiherr von Pilati. II Division ObstLt.
Baron Karl Kölbel – III Division Major Bernard
Kees
|
|
K.K. 4th Light Dragoon Regiment
GM Andreas Frh. von Karacsaj de Vale-Sakam |
934 |
Had 6 Squadrons Commander: Oberst Joseph Graf Nimptsch.
It will be detached as a liaison unit with the Russian
Corps Rozenberg.
|
K.K. 2nd Hussar Régiment
Erzherzog Joseph Anton (4 sqn.) |
575 |
Coalition’s Army – Russian Main Army – (Glavnaja
Armija)
Commander in chief: Field Marshal Aleksandr Vassiljevic Suvorov Graf Rimniksky
Infantry-General Andrej Grigorjevich
Rozenberg Corps |
|
The Russian Avantgarde was deployed along the Po’s bank,
in the territory of the Parpanese village, where there was a ferry
boat, in front of San Giovanni. On May 2, it was reinforced by
a Grenadier Battalion in order to pass on the opposite bank the
Po river, with the task to approach Piacenza from the right bank.
Placenza (Plaisance) not far from the confluence of the
Trebbia River and the Po. The large river had to be passed through
a boat-bridge. It had a strong Citadel. On the Trebbia River ,
there was a stone and wood bridge built by the Austrian Archduchess
Mary-Louise (Piacenza was part of the little Duchy of Parma-Piacenza
and Guastalla). The town had some superior schools and a large
palace, that was the residence of the Dukes (Palazzo Ducale). It
was renowned for the French passage during the Bonaparte’s
1796 campaign.
Russian Avantgarde Brigade General Prince
Petr Ivanovich Bagration |
|
Imperial Russian 7th Jäger (Jeghersky) Regiment GM
Bagration – 2 Battalions
|
652 |
Commander: General Petr Ivanovic Bagration
|
5th Don Cossacks Regiment Denissov
|
439 |
8th Don Cossacks Regiment Grekov.
|
489 |
Imperial Russian Grenadier Battalion (GB) Lomonosov
|
557 |
| |
|
Division Lieut. General Ivan
Ivanovich Förster (in Russian Ferster) |
|
| |
Avantgarde Brigade General-Major Nikolaj Andrejevic Chubarov[3] (or Shubarov)
|
|
Imperial Russian 8th Jäger (Jegherski) Regiment
Major General Chubarov
|
708 |
Chief from May 13: GM Ivan Ivanovich Miller
|
Don Cossacks Regiment Semernikov (Semjornikov)
|
438 |
2nd Don Cossacks Regiment Sujchev
|
454 |
| |
Brigade General-Major Mihail Mihailovich Veletskji
|
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment Young-Baden or
molodo-Badensky – 2 Battalions
|
1395 |
Butyrskowo (Butyrsk) - after may 18 renamed as GM Mihail
Mihailovich Veletskji Regiment its former commander
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Baron Ivan Ivanovich
Dalheim – I and II Battalion or Archangelogorodsky
(Archangelsk). Commander: Colonel Stepan Nikolajevich
Castelli–
2 Battalions had as Chief, from June 26th, General Major
Nikolay Mihailovic Kamensky 2nd
|
1438 |
Imperial Russian Grenadier Battalion (GB) Sanajev
Butyrsk and Archangelgorod Companies
|
599 |
| |
Brigade General-Major Jacob Ivanovich Tyrtov
|
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Tuyrtov or Tug’lsky
(Tula) – I and II Battalion
|
1436 |
Commander: Major Ivan Fjodorovich Golovin
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment LG Povalo-Shveikovsky
or Smolensky (Smolensk) – I and II Battalion
|
1385 |
Commander: Colonel Grigoriy Dimitrjevich
Kazakhovsky
|
Imperial Russian Grenadier Battalion (GB) Kalemin
Tula and Tambow Companies
|
590 |
| |
Division Lieut. General Jacob
Ivanovich Povalo-Shvejkovsky 1st |
| |
|
Brigade General-Major Mihail Andrejevich Miloradovich
1st
|
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Mihail Andrejevich
Miloradovich or Apsheronsky (Apsheron)
|
1459 |
Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Stepan Timofejevich
Karlov – 2 Battalions
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment Lieut. General
Förster (Tambov) - I Battalion
|
755 |
Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Zaltser – II
Battalion detached to Prince Rohan
|
Imperial Russian Grenadier Battalion (GB) Dendrjugyn
|
544 |
| |
Brigade General-Major Mihail Semionovich Baranovsky 2nd
|
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Baranowsky II –
|
1388 |
or Nizowski Musk. Regiment – I and II Battalions
Commander: Colonel Mihail Aleksejevic Chitrowo
|
Imperial Russian Grenadier Regiment GdI Rozenberg or
Moskowsky (Moskow) – I – II Battalions
|
1343 |
Commander: (until June 10) Colonel Petr
Petrovic Passek.
|
Don Cossacks Regiment Molchanov
|
495 |
6th Don Cossacks Regiment Pasdejev (written Posdeev)
|
420 |
Other Coalition Troops – May 1st
Milano Siege Group: General Major Christoph Freiherr von
Lattermann
K.K. IR 43 Rifle Line Infantry
Regiment Graf Anton Thurn-Val Sassina |
1973 |
(IV, I and II Battalions) The III Battalion was at Zara
(dalmatia) in garrison duty. Commander: Freiherr
Ignaz von Loen
|
K.K. IR 13 Rifle Line Infantry
Regiment Freiherr Franz Wenzel Reisky von Dubnitz |
1851 |
(I, II and III Battalions)Commander: Oberst Freiherr Carl
von Brigido
|
K.K. 5th Hussar regiment– 2
Squadrons – III Division Major Ferdinand Steingruber |
246 |
Pizzighettone Siege Group
General Major Friedrich Freiherr von Seckendorff and Friedrich
Xavier Fürst Hohenzollern-Hechingen
K.K. IR 32 Hungarian Rifle Regiment Graf Samuel
Gyulai
|
1482
|
Commander: Oberst Franz Posztrehowsky von Millenburg
- (I-II- Battalions ) III Battalion to Mantua
|
K.K. IR 36 Rifle Regiment Fürst Carl Fürstenberg
|
2576
|
(I-II-III Battalion ) Commander: Oberst Conrad von Thelen
|
VII Combined Battalion Grenz Regiment Warasdiner
of Varazdin
|
627
|
K.K. 5th Hussar Regiment 6 Squadrons Commander: Freiherr
Andreas Szörenyi
|
826
|
It had 6 Squadrons in 3 Divisions I, II and III
in reserve. The IV Division was in Croatia as garrison. Commander:
Obst Anton Freiherr von Révay – II Division
ObstLt. Freiherr Andreas Szörenyi – 2nd Major
Wilhelm Fulda present at the battle.
|
Slow Pontoons, a “Lawrence of Arabia” in Piedmont,
and a Strange Countermarch
After Milano fell, the most important thing to do, for Suvorov,
was to secure the Coalition’s Army left flank. With Mantua
besieged, “a thorn in the eye” as the Commander-in-Chief
used to tell, and with General Klenau too weak to have a
good control of the right banks of the Po from the sea to the new
front, Suvorov requested the immediate construction of three boat-bridges
over the Po, using materials captured at Cremona: two near Piacenza
and one at Parpanese. The slow approach march of the Coalition pontooneers
allowed only the construction of the Piacenza facilities, the Parpanese
one remaining only a project, with Staff Captain Fürstenberg
waiting on the Po bank for nothing. General Vukassovich,
who had seized the important bridge at Buffalora (the official
Customs between Sardinia and Lombardy), was met by General Ott,
come from Pavia to decide where the Avantgardes would have to advance.
The two leaders decided also to send into Piedmont Major Branda
de’ Lucioni,[4] an old hussar officer previously
serving in the Piedmontese Army, with the task of organizing
and arming partisans against the French. Vukassovich detached
a formation of 25 Hussars from the 7th regiment calling it the “Streifskorps” (Patrol
Corps) and sent them towards Novara. Lucioni and his partisans
was absolutely prominent in the events which ended in the fall
of Turin, the former capital of the Piedmontese Sardinian Kingdom;
so an historical correlation with the job of Sir Lawrence, in Arabia
during the Great War 1914-1918, doesn’t seem so risky.
From these men and from the countrymen, the two Avant-Guard Generals learned
that the French had organized a line behind the Sesia River
, joining the center of their army on the Po, at Valenza. This
changed the Suvorov’s mind. Suddenly General Ott was
ordered to leave Pavia, to cross the Po on boats and to seize Piacenza,
continuing the march until Parma and Modena, where he was to link
with Klenau Corps.
The “countermarch” of Ott was an
apparently strange order, which many historians had difficulties
to clarify. Why Suvorov ordered General Ott to invert
his march towards Piedmont? The fact can be explained with the
premise that:
a) – General Suvorov, at that time, was very concerned
about the possible irruption of the Macdonalds Armée de
Naples, against his weak left flank;
b) – in his mind the Right Wing, led by Austrians, would
have to be put under General Bellegarde, coming from Switzerland,
enclosing the strong Vukassovich vanguard brigade. The Left Wing,
instead, had to be immediately reinforced from Kray Corps blocked
in front of Mantua.
It was necessary to send a “rapid deployment force”,
an Avantgarde, in Emilia, in order to secure the Po flank. The
whole deployment along the Po river, in addition, had to be reformed.
So Vukassovich was sent into Piedmont and the central Avantgarde
(Prince Bagration) was reinforced and sent westwards.
Reorganization of the Coalition Army
The “third” boat-bridge was decided to be constructed
at Mezzana-Corte, south of Pavia. The reinforced Russian Avant-guard
of Prince Bagration was ordered to cross the Po by boats and, then,
to reach Voghera and Tortona. The main Army was put in march towards
Tortona, a very important town, whose fortress could probably sustain
a long siege resistance, and which controlled the road to Genova.
On May 5, the first Russian engaged the French at Voghera. It was
a short skirmish-combat with strange losses numbers reported: one
Russian Grenadier dead, 2 Cossacks and one other Grenadier wounded,
while 140 (14?) French were reported as dead with 10 French (one
Officer prisoners).
By May 6 to 7, General Bagration’s brigade camped
at Voghera.
Voghera: was a walled town that was
Bonaparte’s HQ in 1800 before the Montebello battle
(called Casteggio by the Austrians).
Russian Avantgarde Brigade General Prince
Petr Ivanovich Bagration |
|
Imperial Russian 7th Jäger (Jeghersky) Regiment GM
Bagration – 2 Battalions
|
652 |
Commander: General Petr Ivanovic Bagration
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Baranowsky II – I
Battalion Commander: Colonel Mihail Aleksejevic
Chitrov
|
694 |
Imperial Russian Grenadier Regiment GdI Rozenberg II Battalion
|
672 |
Imperial Russian Grenadier Battalion (GB) Lomonosov
|
557 |
Imperial Russian Grenadier Battalion (GB) Dendrjugyn
|
544 |
Don Cossacks Regiment Molchanov
|
495 |
8th Don Cossacks Regiment Grekov
|
489 |
(May 6-7) It was reinforced by
Imperial Russian Grenadier Battalion (GB) Kalemin
Tula and Tambow Companies
|
590 |
5th Don Cossacks Regiment Denissov
|
439 |
6th Don Cossacks Regiment Pasdejev
|
420 |
K.K. 4th Light Dragoon Regiment GM Andreas Frh.
von Karacsaj de Vale-Sakam 2 Squadrons
|
310 |
The redeployment orders were distributed to the units on May 5,
at Corte d’Olona. In that village, near Pavia, General Rozenberg
was ordered to replace Bagration on the right bank of the Ticino.
Here the Russians formed a second Avantgarde brigade, advancing
until Lomello, in front of the powerful “river triangle”
French position (were the Tanaro and Sesia Rivers flowed into the
Po, a difficult and muddy terrain, full of swamps). By nature this
land of springs had been, for centuries, an impraticabile swamp,
but the monks in the Middle Ages, and the feudal colonization of
1200's years, gradually introduced the rice cultivation. Particularly
the Sforza family improved the territory, organizing a complex
system of streams and channels wich made the land Lomellina a mosaic
of cereals fields. The only structures, which had there some defensive
value, were the Cascine (large farms with walled and closed yards).
Lomello had an old castle and was partially encircled by
ditches and partially walled with two town-doors. The walls, in
proximity of the Castle, had a small tower, directly raised from
the bastion, called “Torrino (little tower) or Colombaia. Westwards
of the castle was a large stream, which gave water to the fields
and, in part, filled up the castle ditch. The castle itself was
very small, more similar to a large square fortified house. At
Lomello was the:
Avantgarde Brigade General-Major
Nikolaj Andrejevic Chubarov |
3075 |
Imperial Russian 8th Jäger (Jegherski) Regiment Major
General Chubarov
|
708 |
Chief from May 13: GM Ivan Ivanovich Miller
|
Imperial Russian Grenadier Battalion (GB) Sanajev
Butyrsk and Archangelgorod Companies
|
599 |
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Baron Ivan Ivanovich
Dalheim – I Battalion
|
719 |
or Archangelogorodsky (Archangelsk). Commander: Colonel Stjepan
Nikolajevich Castelli
|
Don Cossacks Regiment Semernikov (Semjornikov)
|
438 |
2nd Don Cossacks Regiment Sujchev
|
454 |
K.K. 4th Light Dragoon Regiment GM Andreas Frh.
von Karacsaj de Vale-Sakam 1 squadrons
|
157 |
| |
Fieldmarshal Suvorov reached Bagration at Voghera (he was there
on May 7) while Rozenberg deployed his two divisions in front of
Pavia, at Dorno. It was an old village, given to Sardinia in 1707
by Austria. Life in the camp was hard. General Rozenberg’s
troops violent behaviour provoked riots among the peasants. That
was a period of high crisis for the great mortality due to “Pellagra”[5], a carential disease which hit the starving
populations; so, to the thefts of the Russian troops, were added
those of local bands of hungry marauders. It was the prelude to
the severe pestilence epidemy, which plagued the Sardinian provinces
in 1799, worsening the soldiers conditions at the extreme point.
The camp, otherwise, did not last for a long time. On May 8, Suvorov
gave the order to advance against Valenza and Tortona, deceived
by a false new of a French disengagement from the Po fortress Valenza.
At that time, in Italy travelled the son of the Czar, Prince Konstantin
(General Major Konstantin Pavlovich Romanov Grand Duke of Russia[6]), coming from Russia through Vienna. His
Highness reached Suvorov’s Staff in Voghera (May 7)
and the Commander in Chief, when he was announced, loudly screamed “Oh
my Dear God! The Son of my Emperor!”. The Imperial Prince
was there with his own Staff, Cavalry General
Derfelden[7], Aides Oferov,
Safonov, Komarowsky and Lang.
The presence of a Romanov in the Coalition Army General Staff
was very important. Since Suvorov was the Commander in Chief, he,
otherwise, had the highest Austrian rank (Feldzeugmeister and after
Generalissimus), he wore the white Imperial Austrian uniform and
had to be politically very close to the Viennese aims. Having the
Grand Duke in the HQ, allowed him to be more free in his political
decisions (Suvorov’s aims were to act in the name of the
Sardinia’s King in exile, while the Austrian target was to
create a satellite Piedmont at the French borders). Suvorov
wanted to re-establish
“God and King” in Piedmont, so he got early in some
diplomatic troubles with Hofkriegsrat and, mainly, with Austrian
Minister Thugut.
Rozenberg Corps camp (at Dorno) |
|
| |
Brigade General-Major Mihail Mihailovich Veletskji
|
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment Young-Baden or
molodo-Badensky – 2 Battalions
|
1395
|
Butyrskowo (Butyrsk) - after may 18 renamed as GM
Mihail Mihailovich Veletskji Regiment after its
former commander
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Baron Ivan Ivanovich
Dalheim –II Battalion
|
719
|
| |
Brigade General-Major Jacob Ivanovich Tyrtov
|
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Tuyrtov or Tug’lsky
(Tula) – I and II Battalion
|
1436
|
Commander: Major Ivan Fjodorovich Golovin
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment LG Povalo-Shveikovsky
or Smolensky (Smolensk) – I and II Battalion
|
1385
|
Commander: Colonel Grigoriy Dimitrjevich
Kazakhovsky
|
| |
Brigade General-Major Mihail Andrejevich Miloradovich
1st
|
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Mihail Andrejevich
Miloradovich or Apsheronsky (Apsheron)
|
1459
|
Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Stepan Timofejevich
Karlov – 2 Battalions
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment Lieut. General
Förster (Tambov) - I Battalion
|
755
|
Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Zaltser – II
Battalion detached to Prince Rohan
|
| |
Brigade General-Major Mihail Semionovich Baranovsky 2nd
|
|
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Baranowsky II – II
Battalion
|
694
|
Imperial Russian Grenadier Regiment GdI Rozenberg or
Moskowsky (Moskow) – I Battalion
|
671
|
Commander: (until June 10) Colonel Petr Petrovic
Passek.
|
Austrian Cavalry detached to the Russians
K.K. 1st Light Dragoon Regiment “Emperor” Kaiser
Franz II
|
1015
|
They had 6 Squadrons in three divisions. Commander:
Oberst Franz Freiherr von Pilati. II Division
ObstLt. Baron Karl Kölbel – III Division Major
Bernard Kees
|
K.K. 4th Light Dragoon Regiment GM Andreas Frh.
von Karacsaj de Vale-Sakam 3 Squadrons
|
467
|
Commander: Oberst Joseph Graf Nimptsch.
|
K.K. 2nd Hussar Régiment Erzherzog Joseph
Anton (4 Squadrons )
|
575
|
The "Light Blue Hussars" had 8 squadrons and
four divisions. Commander: Oberst Vincenz Freiherr
Knesevich (at Piacenza) II Division ObstLt. Gabriel
von Hertellendy
– III Division 1st Major Emmerich Dobay – IV
Division 2nd Major Ignaz baron Splenyi
|
The Orders for the Austrian Army were the following:
General Ott was to march through Piacenza to Parma, along
the Emilia way, and finally had to reach Modena, where he was to
meet General
Klenau Korps. General Morzin was to be detached in
Val di Trebbia to control the Appennines’ pass near Bobbio
and to secure Ott’s right flank.
From Venice, the Chief General de Montfrault had to commit
a task-force, formed by 500 Dalmatians (former Venice Republic
soldiers, called Oltramarini), embarked on the Venetian flotille
of Chioggia, which had to disembark between Comacchio, Mesola in
order to take Ravenna, near the sea.
Avantguard Division General Major
Carl Peter Ott de Batorkéz |
6356
|
| |
|
Avantgarde General Major Ferdinand Johann Morzin at Bobbio
|
2008
|
K.K. IR 40 Rifle Regiment FZM Graf Joseph Mittrowsky
I and II Battalions Commander: Oberst Franz
Kreyssern
|
1279
|
III Battalion K.K. IR 28 Rifle Regiment Freiherr
Michael von Fröhlich
|
729
|
End May: the III Battalion was detached. 4 Companies
recovered into Piacenza Citadel together with 2 Companies
of the 6th Banater Battalion 2 Companies detached
at Bobbio in higher Trebbia valley.
|
| |
|
Brigade General Major Friedrich Freiherr Gottesheim
|
4348
|
Jäger Korps Freiherr Constantin d'Aspre 6
companies
|
713
|
|
K.K. Light Battalion Nr. 15 Oberst Bonaventura
Mihanovic (Croat-Slavonian)
|
795
|
|
VI Battalion of Banater Grenz Regiment
|
546
|
|
K.K. IR 39 Rifle Line Hungarian Infantry Regiment
Graf Thomas (Támas) Nádasdy
|
2106
|
(on 3 Battalions) –Commander: Freiherr Johann
Nepomuk Abfaltern
|
K.K. 7th Hussar Régiment 2 Squadrons
|
188
|
| |
Detachment Oberst Vincenz Knesevich
Freiherr von Saint-Helena at Piacenza (attached to Ott Division) |
|
K.K. IR 28 Rifle Regiment Freiherr
Michael von Fröhlich I and II Battalions |
1641
|
|
(the former Regiment Wartensleben)
Cdr.:Oberst Paul Candiani de Ragaini
|
|
K.K. 14th Light Dragoon Regiment
Franz Freiherr von Levenehr 2 Squadrons |
283
|
|
General Kaim was sent to Pizzighettone in order to end that
siege (with part of Hohenzollern and Seckendorff units), with the
orders to return as soon as possible, marching towards Tortona.
Division General Major Konrad Valentin
Kaim |
7134
|
Detached to Pizzighettone
to siege the fortress |
K.K. IR 24 Rifle Regiment (former Preiss)
|
1424
|
( Battalions I – II – III) - Commander: Oberst
Carl Philipp von Weidenfeld
|
K.K. IR 32 Hungarian Rifle Regiment Graf Samuel
Gyulai
|
1482
|
Commander: Oberst Franz Posztrehowsky von Millenburg
- (I-II- Battalions ) III Battalion to Mantua
|
K.K. IR 36 Rifle Regiment Fürst Carl Fürstenberg
|
2576
|
(I-II-III Battalion ) Commander: Oberst Conrad
von Thelen
|
VII Combined Battalion Grenz Regiment Warasdiner
of Varazdin
|
627
|
K.K. Hungarian Grenadier Battalion Oberleutnant
Ferdinand Pers
|
199
|
K.K. 5th Hussar Regiment 6 squadrons Commander:
Freiherr Andreas Szörenyi
|
826
|
It had 6 Squadrons in 3 divisions I, II and III
in reserve. The IV Division was in Croatia as garrison. Commander:
Obst Anton Freiherr von Révay –
II Division ObstLt. Freiherr Andreas Szörenyi – 2nd
Major Wilhelm Fulda present at the battle.
|
Group General Major Friedrich Xavier Fürst Hohenzollern-Hechingen
Detached to Milano, in order to take the command of the
Capital and to deploy the Heavy Siege Park taken from Pizzighettone
(4 guns – 28 pdrs., 4 mortars and 8 guns 12 pdrs.)
|
Imperial Russian artillery battery Lieut. Ivanov (from
Pizzighettone). Had to join the main Russian Corps with
its 6 guns – 12 pdrs. and 2 Unicorn ½ pood-guns.
|
Siege Group General Major Johann (Giovanni) Graf Alcaini
After the Orzinuovi fortress fall had to march towards
the Boffalora bridge in order to join the Right Wing (Vukassovich – Rohan – Strauch).
|
Milano Siege Group General Major Christoph Freiherr von Lattermann
Had to wait Hohenzollern and to give him the command.
Had to send 500 bread-rations to Como
|
The main Austrian Army had to wait Cambio’s bridge finished
(in front of Piacenza). Then hado to pass through the Po marching
towards Voghera in order to reach Tortona, Torre Garofoli (near
Alessandria) and Novi, to defend the roads to Genova.
Field Marshal Leut Michael Friedrich
Benedikt Mélas |
13865 |
General quartiermeister: GM. Johann Gabriel Chasteler Marquis
de Courcelles
Division FML
Johann Zoph |
|
Had to leave IR 28 at Piacenza with 2 Levenehr Squadrons (to
Ott) and had to continue the march towards Voghera.
|
K.K. IR 34 Hungarian Rifle Line Infantry Regiment
(the former Regiment Esterházy)
|
1074
|
(no Inhaber. The future IR Frh. Kraj de Kraiova) (had
the I and II Battalion ). Commander: Oberst Johann
Hillinger
|
K.K. 14th Light Dragoon Regiment Franz Freiherr
von Levenehr 4 Squadrons
|
567
|
Commander: Oberst Joseph Zinn. (it had 6
Squadrons in 3 divisions I – II - III) II
Division ObLt. Josef Prohaska – III Division Major
Franz Graf Latour
|
| |
|
Division General Major Freiherr Michael
von Fröhlich |
|
Had originally to march towards Pavia, pass over the Ticino, through
Albignola and Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi, along the left Po
bank to reach a projected new bridgehead in a locations near Valenza.
However its units waited at Casalpusterlengo and marched across
the Po with Zoph.
Avantgarde Feldbrigade General Major
Graf Joseph Mittrowsky |
|
K.K. IR 8 Rifle Regiment (former Huff Rgt)
|
2695
|
|
Commander: Obst Johann Schröckinger von Heidenburg
(I-II III Battalions )
|
|
K.K. 2nd Hussar Régiment Erzherzog Joseph
Anton - 4 squadrons
|
576
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Feldbrigade General Major Franz Joseph
Marquis de Lusignan |
|
K.K. IR 18 Rifle Line Infantry Regiment Graf
Patrick Stuart
|
1741
|
|
Commander: Obst Franz Weber von Treuenfels - I and II Battalions
|
|
K.K. IR 19 Hungarian Rifle Line Infantry Regiment
Freiherr Jozsef Alvinczy de Berberek
|
1655
|
|
I and II Battalions + 2 Companies III Battalion
-Commander: Barone Lelio Spannocchi.
|
|
K.K. 10th Light Dragoon Regiment Joseph Fürst
Lobkowitz
|
836
|
|
(had 6 Squadrons in 3 divisions I II and III)Commander:
Oberst Marquis Hannibal Sommariva – Second Oberst
and Commander Max Joseph Fürst Thurn und Taxis.
II Division ObstLt. Alois Graf Harrach – III Division
Major Ignatz Molitor
|
|
| |
|
Grenadiers Feldbrigade |
|
K.K. Hungarian Grenadier Battalion Major Joseph
Korherr OberstLeutnant Johann Pértussy
|
618 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Oblt Franz Xavier Weber
von Treuenfeld (called Weber Battalion )
|
457 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Graf Joseph Fiquelmont
Count Johann Morzin
|
582 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion FML Karl Graf von Mercandin
Graf Carl Paar
|
520 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Freiherr Georg von Stentsch
Graf Anton Schiaffinati
|
620 |
Pioneers Detachment 81
Notes:
[1] Gilles
Joseph Martin Bruneteau, Viscount de Sainte-Suzanne, Count
of the Empire, was born in Mothé near Poivre (
Aube), March 7, 1760. First Lieutenant with regiment of
Anjou in 1779; when the Revolution began, he adopted its principles,
fought with distinction in the defence of
Mainz. He quickly arrived at the rank of brigade general, in the
Armée de Rhine-and-Moselle. When Desaix carried out the passage
of the Rhine, Sainte-Suzanne engaged the Austrians, who arrived from
higher
Rhine, was at Simmern, Urlafen and Windschliegen, where he captured
many prisoners. In 1796 he was charged with the command of 5th military
division (
Strasbourg). He was at Kehl fortress and then he was called at the
War Office, where he was pointed out for his knowledge. In 1799,
the Government having offered to him a provisional command as an
army Chief, at the Armée d’Italie, generale Sainte-Suzanne
refused it, agreeing to manage the Cisalpine capital city, Milan.
In the following year he was at the Army of the
Danube, under Moreau, leading the left wing, 16,000 men strong.
He moved on
Ulm, as ordered by Moreau, and was attacked by the Austrian, leaving
the left Danube bank. Then Sainte-Suzanne was to organize the
Reserve Corps formed at
Mainz. With these troops he advanced, crossed again the Danube and
defeated the Austrians at Neu Wissembourg and
Hanau. He was named Grand Officier of the Order de la Légion
d’Honneur and Senateur directly from Napoleon. On May 19, 1806,
he received the Senate District of
Pau, and, in 1807, the command of the 2nd Reserve Legion. Named Inspector
of the
Boulogne camp, in 1809, he made all the provisions useful to put
the camp in a substantial order. For these merits he was created
Count of the Empire. In 1814, he agreed with the acts of the provisional
Government, become Peer of France, Knight of Saint-Louis,
“commandant d’armes” at Landau in 1815, and, on
August 31, he obtained the patent letter from Louis XVIII which confirmed
the title of Count.
[2]Feldmarschall
Freiherr Christoph von Lattermann (born at Olmütz –
Olomouc on July 14th 1753 – died in
Vienna on 5.10.1835). Son of a famous commander, Baron Franz Lattermann,
the Patron of KK IR 45 in 1792.
[3] Generalmajor
Nikolaj Andrejevic Chubarov – lieutenant
colonel (from 01.10.1797 colonel, с 20.08.1798
general-major). From 17.05.1797 to 17.01.1799 –
commander 8th Jäger Regiment. From 17.01.1799 to 13.05.1799
Chef (Owner) 8th Jäger Regiment.
[4] Major
Branda Lucioni, 8th Hussar Regiment (detached to the
7th), was born in 1740 in Winterberg (today Vimperk) in
Bohemia, where his father, an Italian Officer from Abbiate Guazzone,
near Tradate, was in garrison duty. In 1799 he was 59 years old,
having had a slow military career. On April, 28th 1799, leading an
Austrian hussars patrol, he entered Milano, still occupied by French.
People were very enthusiast with that early patrol so, Austrian commanders,
gave him a permission to organize Italian Catholic insurgents against
the French. On 1 May he passed the Ticino to organized sabotages\
along the river banks (blocking the French fording) and then began
the recruitment (reclutamento a
massa) of the
Lombard “paysans”. The signal of the Insurgent Mass call
to arms was rythmic bells sound, similar to a fast hammer beating
(campane a martello). The Lucioni Corps (variable from 6000 to 10000
badly armed landowners and catholic farmers) was called Christ’s
Mass (Ordinata Massa Cristiana) and its
Mission was a deep hate against the French, “cursed by the
Lord”. On May 13th he did a
“Proclama” to the people requesting to avoid pillages,
personal vengeances and fighting, he approached
Turin. His men, called “brandaluccioni or branda”, blockaded
the city, with the Turin National Guard inactive and uncertain on
what to do. General Fiorella, the
Turin commander in the Citadel, became very angry with the allied
Piedmontese troops, calling the Brandas “brigands, son of a
slave …”
Two French expeditions (17 and 19 may) failed in the task of sweeping
away the insurgents. On May 24th, the Austrians
arrived in
Turin (General Vukassovic), together with the Russian avantgarde
of General Bagration, and the city fell. On June 9, Fiorella
capitulated leaving the Citadel and going to prison. Major Branda
Lucioni, retired during the same year, died in
Vicenza on August 22, 1803.
[5] Pellagra is
a vitamin deficiency disease caused by dietary lack of niacin (vitamin
B3) and proteins, especially proteins containing the essential amino
acid tryptophan. Pellagra was first described in
Spain
in 1735. It was an endemic disease in northern
Italy
, where it was named "pelle
agra"
(pelle, skin;
agra, sour); probably caused by a poor diet based only on corn (Polenta)
or where the maize was the dominant food crop . The symptoms usually
appeared during spring, increase in the summer due to greater sun
exposure. The main results of pellagra can easily be remembered as "the
four D's": diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, and death.
[6] Generalmajor
Konstantin Pavlovic Romanov Grand-duke of
Russia
Constantine was born at Tsarskoye Selo on 27 April 1779. Of
the sons born to the Tsar Paul Petrovich and his wife Maria Feodorovna,
the princess of Württemberg, none more closely resembled his
father in bodily and mental characteristics than did the second,
Constantine Pavlovich. The direction of the boy's upbringing
was entirely in the hands of his grandmother, the Empress Catherine
II. As in the case of her eldest grandson (afterwards the Emperor
Alexander I), she regulated every detail of his physical and mental
education; but in accordance with her usual custom she left the carrying
out of her views to the men who were in her confidence. Count Nicolai
Ivanovich Saltykov was supposed to be the actual tutor, but he too
in his turn transferred the burden to another, only interfering personally
on quite exceptional occasions, and exercised neither a positive
nor a negative influence upon the character of the exceedingly passionate,
restless and headstrong boy. The only person who really took him
in hand was Cesar La Harpe, who was tutor-in-chief from 1783 to May
1795 and educated both the Empress's grandsons. Like Alexander, Constantine
was married by Catherine when he was not yet seventeen years of age
(26 February 1796), a raw and immature boy, and he made his wife,
Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (Queen Victoria's aunt), intensely
miserable. After the first separation in the year 1799, she went
back permanently to her German home in 1801, the victim of a frivolous
intrigue, in the guilt of which she was herself involved. An attempt
made by
Constantine in 1814 to win her back broke down on her firm opposition.
[7] Cavalry
General Otto Wilhelm Hristoforovich Derfelden - (1735 - 1819).
In 1757 he began his service as Corporal in the Horseguards. He
beat the Turks at Maksimen and Galatz, during the second Turkish
War (1789); promoted by Suvorov after the Turkish defeats at
Focsani and Rymnik. During military actions against Poles he took
part in the assault at
Prague (1794) obtaining the St. George 2nd Class Cross. In 1795 he
was promoted to the rank of General in Chief. In 1797 he retired.
In 1799, Derfelden was recalled as Cavalry Inspector General
of the
Finland
and St. Petersburg divisions; then he was again appointed to service,
with the assignment to escort Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich to
Italy. Suvorov immediately entrusted him with a Corps command.
