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
By Enrico Acerbi
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)