The 1799 Campaign in Italy: Piedmont’s Invasion Begins (May 1799)
From Milan to the Po River… and beyond… The New Deployment of the Austro-Russians
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.
Placed on the Napoleon Series: October 2007