The 1799 Campaign in Italy: The Battle of
Trebbia -- June 1799 Part I: The Battle of Tidone Creek (17 June) 2nd
Phase: the Coalition's Counter-attack
| Right Wing – FML Michael Friedrich Benedikt
Mélas
| 11494 |
|
| |
| Pioneers Corps Commander: Oberstleutnant Joseph Graf Radetzky
de Radetz
| |
| Avant-Garde Brigade Generalmajor Friedrich Freiherr Gottesheim
| 2646 |
Jäger Korps Freiherr Constantin d'Aspre - 6 Companies
| 705 |
K.K. 2nd Hussar Régiment Erzherzog Joseph Anton - (3
Divisions - 6 squadrons) Commander: Oberst Vincenz
Freiherr Knesevich
| 1090 |
Cavalry group Generalmajor Prince Andrej Ivanovic Gorchakov
Into
the battle with prince Suvorov and directed against the left
French wing
| |
Don Cossacks Regiment Molchanov
| 435 |
Don Cossacks Regiment Semjornikov
| 416 |
Deployment after the Rally of the first troops engaged
II Line - Generalmajor Johann Gabriel Chasteler Marquis de Courcelles
| Division Generalmajor Carl Peter
Ott de Batorkéz
| 4406 |
| Hauptkolonne Graf Johann Morzin
| |
K.K. 39 Infantry Regiment Graf Thomas (Támas) Nádasdy
I II and III Battalions
Commander: Freiherr Johann Nepomuk
Abfaltern
| 2036 |
K.K. 40 Infantry Regiment FZM Graf Joseph Mittrowsky I
and II Battalions Commander: Oberst Franz
Kreyssern
| 1254 |
VI Battalion Grenzregiment Banat 4 Companies
| 412 |
K.K. Light Battalion # 15 Oberst Bonaventura Mihanovic
(Croat-Slavonian)
| 704 |
Coming from Alessandria
Generalmajor Fürst Johann
von Liechtenstein[1]
(in the staff as cavalry commander) Fought without an official rank,
as a volunteer
K.K. 28 Infantry Regiment Freiherr Michael von Fröhlich
I and II Battalion (former Regiment Wartensleben) Commander:
Oberst Franz Eder von Hartenstein
| 1619 |
| Reservekolonne Generalmajor Franz Joseph Marquis de Lusignan ??
| 2823 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Graf Anton Schiaffinati Former
commander Freiherr Georg von Stentsch was wounded at Pastrengo
and had died in April
| 661 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Graf Carl Paar Former
Battalion FML Mercantin, or Mercandin, killed at Magnano
battle
| 487 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Graf Johann Morzin Former
Battalion Fiquelmont who died at Magnano leaving the command
to Graf Johann Morzin
| 556 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Oblt Franz Xavier Weber von Treuenfeld
| 591 |
K.K. Hungarian Grenadier Battalion Oblt Johann Pértussy Former
Battalion Major Joseph Korherr (died at Magnano)
| 528 |
K.K. Grenadier Battalion Freiherr Franz von Neny
| ??? |
| Left Wing – (Rozenberg)
Feld Marschal Leutnant Aleksandr Vasilievich Suvorov graf Rymnikski
| 13971 |
|
| |
| Russians - Commander: Infantry-general Andrey Grigorjevich Rozenberg
| |
| Generalmajor Pjotr Ivanovich Prince Bagration (escorting Suvorov) Suvorov
got directly into the battle leading two Cossacks Regiment s (Pasdejev
e Grekov) in the afternoon (15 hrs)
| 3407 |
6th Don Cossacks Regiment Pasdejev
| 409 |
8th Don Cossacks Regiment Grekov
| 414 |
K.K. 4th Light Dragoons Regiment GM Andreas Frh. von Karacsaj
de Vale-Sakam 6 Squadrons
| 950 |
K.K. 10th Light Dragoons Regiment GdC Joseph Fürst
Lobkowitz (I and II Divisions or 6 squadrons)
Commander: Oberst Max Joseph Fürst Thurn und Taxis
| 793 |
K.K. 14th Light Dragoons Regiment Franz Freiherr
von Levenehr Commander: Oberst Joseph Zinn - (I
and II Divisions - 6 squadrons )
| 841 |
III Line and Reserve - Division Lieut. General Ivan Ivanovic
Förster (4711)
| Avantgarde Lieut. General Jacob Ivanovic
Tujrtov
| 1884 |
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment Young-Baden or Malado-Badensky – II
Battalion after May 18 renamed as GM Mihail Mihailovic Veletsky
Regiment its former commander (I Battalion with Veletsky)
| 620 |
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Tuyrtov or Tug’lsky
(Tula) – 2 Battalions Commander: Major
Ivan Fjodorovic Golovin
| 1264 |
| Hauptkolonne general-major Mihail Semenovic Baranovsky 2nd
| 2827 |
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment LG Förster (Ferster)
or Tambowski (Tambov) – I Battalion Commander: Lt.Colonel
Zaltser (II Battalion was with Rohan at Aosta)
| 757 |
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment M.Gen. M. A. Miloradovich
I and II Battalions
| 1372 |
7th Jäger Regiment GM Bagration – I and II
Battalion
| 624 |
Imperial Russian Combined Grenadier Battalion Lomonosov
| 501 |
Imperial Russian Combined Grenadier Battalion Kaljemin
| 491 |
Imperial Russian Combined Grenadier Battalion Sanajev
| 515 |
Imperial Russian Combined Grenadier Battalion Dendrjugyn
Commander: Lieut. Colonel (from 3.10.1799
Colonel) Stjepan Timofejevic Karlov
| 453 |
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Baranowsky II or Nizowski
Musk. Regiment – I Battalion Commander: Colonel Mihail
Aleksejevic Chitrowo (II Battalion with Rohan at Aosta)
| 698 |
Avant-Garde brigade Generalmajor Konstantin Pavlovic
Romanov Grand Duke of Russia. Former commander: Generalmajor
Pjotr Ivanovic Prince Bagration |
2584 |
II Line - Division Lieut. General Jacob Ivanovich
Povalo-Shvejkovsky 1st |
3269 |
Imperial Russian Grenadier Regiment GdI Rozemberg or Moskowsky
(Moskow) – 2 Battalions Commander: (until June
10) Colonel Piotr Pietrovic Passek
|
1255 |
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment LG Povalo-Shveikovsky –
2 Battalions Commander: Colonel Grigoriy Dimitrjevic Kasahovsky
|
1280 |
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Baron Ivan Ivanovic
Dalheim – 1 Battalion Commander: Colonel Stjepan
Nikolajevic Castelli - Chief from June 26 General Major Nikolay
Mihailovic Kamensky 2nd
|
734 |
Coalition’s rearguard - Siege of Tortona – HQ
Camp
Austrian Commander: Generalmajor Johann Graf Alcaini
| |
K.K. 19 Hungarian Infantry Regiment Freiherr Jozsef Alvinczy
de Berberek 1 Battalion and 2 Companies
| 1036 |
K.K. 5th Hussars regiment - 1 Squadron
| 125 |
K.K. 8th Light Dragoons Regiment Friedrich Wilhelm Carl
Herzog Württemberg Commander: Oberst Johann Festenberg Freiherr
von Hassenwein - (3 Divisions - 6 squadrons)
| 710 |
|
| |
| Russian Commander: Ad interim: Colonel Stjepan Nikolajevic CastelliQuartiermeister
Oberst Cherwenko
| |
Imperial Russian Musketeers Regiment GM Baron Ivan Ivanovic
Dalheim – II
Battalion
| 734 |
8th Jäger Regiment Major General Chubarov –
I and II Battalions Chief from 13 May: GM Ivan Ivanovic Miller
| 555 |
The Polish avant-garde suddenly counterattacked, by superior forces,
was obliged to retreat. All those had passed the Tidone soon were in
a melée, and were also forced again to pass back the creek.
To give time to Rusca’s Division, on which the enemy fell en
masse, to pass the Trebbia, General Charpentier made a movement on
the left, with his brigade, thus covered their retreat and not allowing
the enemy to pass the river. They were helped by the rearguard
of Rusca’s Division. The Polish division followed the movement
of Charpentier, pivoting on its left, observing the enemy, which sought to
hit the flanks; but some battalion fire and manoeuvres made it give
up its effort.
Consequently, the French divisions withdrew one after the other; the
Polish division formed the rear-guard. The Austro-Russians pursued
very carefully, considering the great darkness of the night. In this
combat perished many Poles, and Major Iasinski, who had led them, was
made prisoner of war. Victor’s, Rusca’s, and Dąbrowski’s
Divisions, were forced beyond the Tidone, withdrew to the right bank
of the river Trebbia, leaving on the battlefield a 1,000 dead
and 1,200 prisoners. The night having fallen, the army was ordered
to take a defensive position behind the Trebbia, occupying its right
bank. After having passed Trebbia in the night, the army took position
close to Gossolengo, on the left wing. However Brun, with his detachment
of French troops and the 1st Polish Battalion, under the command of
Konopka, returned to the division near, Campremoldo-di-Sopra, and covered
the left wing of the army.
The Losses
In the official reports, sent by Suvorov to the Emperors, Pavel I
and Franz II, he estimated the French losses at 600 men dead od wounded
and 400 prisoners (mainly Poles). The Coalition Army’s losses
were referred only to the days during which the combats between the
Tidone and the Trebbia. We can only suppose the Austrian losses would
have been notably higher than the Russian casualties. The Wouwermann
Grenadier Battalion lost the 50 % of its force and was retired from
the following orders of battle.
Legend:
A: The Outposts and first line of Fieldmarshal Lieut.
Ott on Tidone river (June, 17 1799).
B: A French attack forced the river, compelling Ott
to withdraw until points B
C: and then till the village of Sarmato (17 June, morning)
D: The Austrian Avantgarde reached Ott’s Division
in order to reinforce the line (17 June, morning, 11 AM)
E: Arrival of Imperial Russian avantgarde (17 June,
midday)
F: Joint attack of the Coalition troops. French soldiers
totally surprised and pushed back beyond Tidone and Trebbia rivers
(17 June, after 2 PM)
G: A Russian Detachment forded the Tidone (17 June,
evening)
Notes:
1 Johann
Joseph Fürst von Liechtenstein, Duke von Troppau und Jägerndorf
(Born: June 26, 1760 in Vienna; dead: April 20, 1836) Lichtenstein distinguished
himself since 1788 in the Turkish wars and, later, in the French Revolutionary
wars. So he was promoted to Generalmajor, in 1794. He was at the Trebbia,
having reached Melas as volunteer without official command charges. He fought
and was brilliant on the second day of the battle; for this he was named Feldmarschallleutnant.
He was at Novi (August 15) and captured Coni (Cuneo) on December 4. After
the battle of Hohenlinden, on December 3, 1800, he covered the retreat of
the beaten Austrians. On March 20, 1805, he became Prince of Liechtenstein,
after the death of his brother Alois Joseph von Lichtenstein, and, during
the war, he took the command of a corps at Austerlitz (December 2, 1805),
taking an important part in the peace agreements, which led to the peace
of Pressburg. In 1809, as General der Kavallerie, he led his Corps at Aspern
and Eßling (May 21 and 22) and, then, at Wagram (July 5/6). During
Archduke Charles’ retreat, Liechtenstein, on July 31, had, as Feldmarschall,
the Supreme Command of the Austrian army, signing, on October 14, the peace
of Schönbrunn. He was strongly interested in politics and was a true
fan of Napoléon Bonaparte, being involved in the formation of
the Rhine Confederacy. For this he resigned the government of Liechtenstein
to his son Karl Johann Anton. He took again the Principate in 1814, after
the fall of Napoleon, and remained there until his death, on April 20, 1836.
Placed on the Napoleon Series: June 2008
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