K.K. 14th Light Dragoons Regiment  Franz Freiherr von Levenehr 6  squadrons.

850

Commander: Oberst  Joseph Zinn.  (it had 6  squadrons. On 3 div. I – II - III) II Div. ObLt. Josef Prohaska – III Div. Major Franz Graf Latour

The Coalition Army formed three columns which marched eastwards. They all camped at Casteggio, in the evening of May 17. On May 18 Bagration column established a bridge of boats near Bastida, followed by Fröhlich and Lusignan. On May 19 this little army passed over the Po, on 20 arrived at Mortara and on the following two days they rested there. On May 23 they formed two columns marching westwards through Vercelli, Santhià, rebuilding the Dora bridges, and arriving at Chivasso very tired. A second column (general Kaim) marched from Valenza to Casale and followed the right Po bank until Verrua and Turin. With San Giuliano was lost the last hope of General Moreau to link with Macdonald and Masséna (Switzerland) occupying a central position in Piedmont. He had too few men and had to reach Genoa to defend the old Sardinian border. Moreau divided his army in two columns: the two divisions. Victor (7200 men of which 200 were cavalrymen or 10 battalions and 4 squadrons) was sent to Savona, through Acqui and Cairo, in order to reinforce the link with the arriving Macdonalds army. It was a good example of how the French moved on that defenseless territory. Victor had to pass the Tanaro line, in Liguria, with 10 battalions in order to link with the armée de Naples. On May 19, passing near Acqui the column was attacked by insurgents. Chef-de-bataillon Raoust, leading the Vanguard and the 99th Demi-Brigade was wounded, 5 officers were killed. Victor, not having guns, did not react. He withdrew by night, fording the Bormida river, and reached Dego. There he was again attacked by peasants and his exasperate soldiers began to plunder hamlets and to put houses in flames. Then he tried to reach the Cairo’s depots, but was again attacked by insurgents, armed with rifles. He reached Genoa without any baggage and artillery, left behind him during the troubled march. Grenier led his 8000 men to Asti (12 battalions, 24 squadrons or the whole cavalry, all artillery) leaving 3000 men behind to seize the Citadel of Alexandria. Moreau and Grenier sent vanguards until Carignano and Moncalieri but the movement towards Turin aborted. There were some reasons to avoid such a movement but, above all, said Grouchy: “had become essential to reduce the Piedmont insurrections which set ablaze all the country; Piedmontese guides and Savoy Officers, who, in spite of bright services, were expelled from our ranks, about 616, under pretext they were emigrated, guided by these officers, the Insurgents cut all the communications of the army with France (we remained nearly five weeks without receiving news), removed its means of subsistence and its convoys…”

Notes:

[i] Generalmajor Andreas (András) Karacsaj Graf de Válje-Szaka was born at Kostanicza (Banal-Militärgrenze) on November 30, 1744 and died at Wiener-Neustadt on March 22, 1808. Son of an old nobility of Croatia, which distinguished against the Turks, had one brother, the younger, Kasimir (b. 1746) who died in 1793. He took the Service in 1758, 15 years old, as cadet of the Banal regiment, during the Seven Years war. He passed then to serve as Guard in the hungarian Leibgarde of Prince Esterházy, as captain and then, as Oberlieutenant, was in the regular army at the Carabiniers regiment Archduke Albert. There he became Rittmeister (the regiment having taken the name of Chevauxlégèrs Hesse-Darmstadt, then Levenehr). He distinguished himself at Praussnitz and Keul against the Prussians, and was promoted to Major. In 1787 he was in the Turks War at Chotym participating in many actions, after which he became Oberst. Finally leading a battalion of IR Kaunitz with 7 squadrons he went in campaign reaching Mohila Robea in Bessarabia. In 1789, at Walleszaka (April 19) with his battalion, 6 squadrons and 4 guns, he fought against a siege corps of about 5000 Turks, bringing himself in the attention of Russian General Suvorov. After that period he was awarded by the Emperor himself. On August 13 he was promoted Generalmajor, had the Ownership of the 4th Dragoons regiment and, in December, obtained the Maria-Theresia Knight Cross (in December 1790 he was also Commander of the Order and had the Great Cross of St.Anne’s Order, from the Czarine Kathrine). The French Revolutionary wars caught him at Lemberg (L’vov) as Brigadier. In 1794 he fought in Germany with hard engagements until 1795, when he, 51 years old, began to suffer from “war fatigue” often becoming ill. So he decided to retire from Duty and to live with his family and children, at Lemberg and, then, at Pest. During the Italian campaign of 1799 was his friend, Fieldmarshal Suvorov, who recalled it on duty. Karacsaj followed his regiment and  was employed as Brigadier at the Trebbia, during the siege of Alessandria, at Novi and at Bosco in Autumn. After Suvorov departure, he remained in the Italienische Armée and fought in the second Novi battle. Now Field Marshal, Karacsaj ended the campaign in Italyand followed Kray to Germany. He was at Engen (May 1800) where he received two balls in the abdomen; this was the first and the last wound. He recovered at Wiener-Neustadt where his four sons were studying at the Military Academy and where he died at the age of 64. So died one of best cavalry general of the Austrian army.  

[ii] Chef Claude Mathieu Gardane Born in Marseille on 1766. Aged 14 he was Sous-lieutenant in the 1st Chasseurs regiment, Lieutenant on January 21,   1792, Captain on 1793 and chef d'escadron on 1794. Named by Directoire, on 14 prairial an IV, chef de brigade, had the command of 9th regiment of chasseurs à cheval. Moreau, général in chief of the armée d'Italie, witness oh his valour at Bassignana (23 floréal an VIII), named him général de brigade on the battlefield, rank confirmed on 27 vendémiaire an VIII. Had several wounded and was at the siege of Genoa in 1800 where he suffered a bad shot in the left leg. He was also Gouverneur des Pages on 1805, and aide-de-camp of Napoleon, with whom was ta Austerlitz, léna and Eylau. When King of Persia, Feth-Aly-Schah, wanted an alliance with France against Russia and England, Napoléon named him “ministre plénipotentiaire en Perse”, on May 10, 1807. Returned in France on 1809 he was made Count of the Empire and sent to Spain as brigade general, first with the VIII corps and after with the IX. There he was suspended from the duty for having not obeyed to an order to move a force into Portugal. This fact caused the loss of trust of Napoleon and he was no more employed. King Louis XVIII  recalled him on duty on June 12, 1814, but when he reached his command in the duke of Angoulème division, Napoleon was returning from Elba and he reached his Emperor. Napoleon forgave him and placed him at the Somme defences. On September 4, 1815 gardane retired and died on January 1818.

[iii] Jean-Claude Roussel, Born: 25 September 1771 - Chef-de-Brigade: 16 December 1799 - General-de-Brigade: 10 March 1809 - Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 27 July 1809 - Baron of the Empire: 6 October 1810 - Died: 26 July 1812 (killed at Ostrowno)

[iv] Adjutant-Général Louis Gareau (or Garreau 28.05.1769-30.05.1813). He was transferred (1799) to Italy’s Army, with the Serurier division, and later with general Grenier. On 30th March passed the Adige at Polo’s bridge leading the Piedmonteses. Pescantina was occupied but disorder among ranks of Meyer brigade leaded to a disaster. Serurier losses at Polo: 1500 prisoners. Gareau was named general de brigade on May 13, a provisional charge after the Bassignana battle. In October 10, 1799 he was transferred to the French maltese garrison where (1800) he was taken prisoner by the British and then released “on parole”.

[v] Chef de brigade Jules-Alexandre-Léger Boutrouë, born at Chartres, on April 20, 1760. He was on duty by the infatry regiment Rohan-Soubise, as a simple soldier, and remained there in the period 1778, 1779 et 1780, in the Église company. Retired in 1780 he began to study Law when the Revolution outbroke. He enrolled again as Aide-major in the National Guard (Fertè-Bernard), becaming a Captain of the Chasseurs de la Garde nationale of Mans. On September 3, 1791, he went to war as volunteer and captain of 1er bataillon Voluntaires de la Sarthe. From January 1792 he was at the 33e régiment d’infanterie, the old regiment Touraine, where he was named First.Lieutenant (June 15, 1792). In 1794 he led a battalion (1er bataillon du Mont Terrible) as Chief and, in the same year,  he was named Chief of the 65e demi-brigade, which became the 68e (27 floreal an II). At the end of 1795 he was wounded and captured on the Rhine front, at Kehl. The following year he was released by exchange. Called to Italy he was under Grouchy in Piedmont and took part in the battle of Novi, where he was again taken prisoner. In 1804 he became Colonel of the 56th Line infantry and Knight (first) Commander (after) of the Legion d’Honneur. He had also the honorary command of the 2e régiment des Grenadiers d’Elite (reserve of the Army of England). He fought his last campaign in 1805 with Massena. Near Caldiero, the Colonel had a leg truncated by a cannon ball, while he was leading the 1st brigade of the 2nd division (in the place of general Brun, mortally wounded during the second day of the battle). The brave Colonel Boutroue died in Verona on December 4, 1805, after having suffered two amputations. He was 45 years old, the older Colonel in the Army.

[vi] Chef de bataillon Jean Dupellin o Duppelin. Born on April 3, 1771 in Phalsbourg (Meurthe). On 4 messidor an IV, he was named chef de bataillon in the 106e demi-brigade de ligne and was in Italy from 1799 to 1803. During the siege of Genoa (1800) he was wounded four times on the Montefaccio, and had an award. In 1806 he was Colonel of the 85e regiment de ligne He died on the battlefield a  Thorn (Prussia), on January 25, 1813.

[vii] In the place of Chef-de-Brigade Antoine-Francois Brenier de Montmorand, wounded at Verona on April 4 and after Magnano on April 17, (subsequently named General-de-Brigade for merits on the battlefield on June 15, 1799) the demi-brigade was led by : Chef-de-Brigade Villaret (died in 1800) a poorly known Officer. He was renowned as one of the most reliable Officers of the Army of Italy. He died on April 15, 1800, during the assault of the Hermette mountain, replaced by Captain Blanc.

[viii] François-Jean-Baptiste Quesnel baron du Torpt (1765-1819) He was recalled at the armée d'Italie (17 pluviôse an VIII). Quesnel was on Verona battlefield and later had the left arm wounded at Bassignana. The pain of the fracture forced him to ask a rest period in 1800.

[ix] Colli-Ricci Marchese di Felizzano Luigi Leonardo Antonio Giuseppe Gaspare Venanzio, b. 23 March 1756, Alessandria d. 31 March 1809, Alessandria. Born in a family of the ancient nobility (in 1757 or 1760, according to some sources). He began his military service as an ensign in the regiment of Monferrato on 10 June 1773. He was second lieutenant aide-major on 10 June 1774, lieutenant on 20 July 1775, captain-lieutenant on 2 May 1781, captain in the regiment of Pignerol on 8 May 1782, transferred to the regiment of Acqui on 27 June 1786, became 1st Major of the regiment of Mondovì on 13 March 1793, major commanding the 2nd battalion of chasseurs on 10 April 1794, lieutenant-colonel on 2 March 1795, colonel of infantry on 5 December 1795, colonel of a corps composed of the 1st and 2nd battalions of chasseurs on 20 March 1796. After the peace he became chief of staff to an auxiliary division gathered at Novara, commander of light troops on 10 March 1797, adjutant-general in the French service on 12 December 1798, general of brigade on 5 May 1799, wounded and captured at Pasturana at the battle of Novi (15 August 1799). General of division on 14 September 1802, he commanded the 23rd military division, then the department of Liamone ( Corsica). Retired on 6 June 1806. Crippled by debts, and pursued by a horde of debitors, Colli died almost in poverty ... His name is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe on the south side. (War Archive). His mother was a Beccaria, and his uncle was Vittorio Alfieri, the illustrious writer, who criticised him for having rallied to the French ... Colonel Marchese Colli was not related to General Baron Colli-Marchi or Marchini belonged to the Austrian army, and Colonel Marchese Colli-Ricci to the Sardinian army.

[x] Chef de brigade Dominique Honore Antoine Marie Vedel (1771-1848) From 1799 to 1803 - Chef de brigade of the 17e Demi-brigade légère, replaced Chef Fornesy. From 1803 to 1805 - Chef-de-Brigadecommander of the 17e regiment of Light Infantry. In 1805 he was named general-de-brigade (24.12.). In 1806 he led the 3rd brigade (1st Inf. division – V Corps). Later commander of the place of Magdeburg (28.02.); on November 3, 1807 he was general-de-division. In 1808 he was named count of the Empire leading the infantry division of the II Observation Coros of the Gironda. With this he was at Baylen 1809. Returned in France he was arrested and emprisoned (until 1811).

[xi] Baron Charles-Louis-Dieu Donné Grandjean Born in Nancy on December 29, 1768. Named adjudant-général chef de brigade. With this rank he was at Pastrengo, as provisional brigade general from March 26th, where he attacked the entrenched camp taking prisoners 1,200 austrians near the Adige, being promoted to the rank of général de brigade on the battlefield. Then he fought at the Trebbia battle where he was wounded two times.

[xii] comte Henri-François-Marie Charpentier (1769-1831): Born at Soissons (Aisne) on June 23, 1769. During the years VI and VII Charpentier was in Italy as Chef-de-bataillon of 94th Line infantry. Employed as Adj. Général he was also named provisional Général de brigade from April 5, 1799 (Magnano battle) and definitively named brigadier on July 30, 1799, after the Trebbia battle where he had two horses killed under himself and where he was wounded at the abdomen. He distinguished himself at Novi and, in 1800, at Marengo. As Général-de-brigade he had Chief of Staff duties under Moncey and Jourdan and, in 1804, he had the Commander Cross of the Legion d’Honneur. On February 16, 1804 he became Général de division.

[xiii] Claude-Joseph Buget Born in Bourg,on september 10 1770. Son of a chief surgeon of the Bourg Hospital, would have had to make the priest or a clerical career; but the revolution advised to leave the Catholic School for the army. Left like soldier, it had the nomination to second lieutenant on April 25, 1793, in a regiment of the armée du Nord, and was assigned to the General Staff of Dugommier, charged to besiege Toulon. Buget was distinguished in siege obtaining the nomination to adjudant-général, chef de bataillon. On November 20, 1798 was sent as adjudant-général to the armée d’Italie transferred from the Armée de Mayence. On June 13, 1795 became Adjudant General Chef de Brigade. He received his first wound on March 26 (6 germinal) under the walls of Legnago, and on the following May 16 (27 floréal) was wounded again at Marengo (San Giuliano). For the merits acquired at Pastrengo he received the gift of the Honour Sabre and a complimentary letter from the Directory on 4 floréal an VII. The First Consul wanted personally to award him with the rank of général de brigade (10 July 1799). Baron of the Empire: 26 October 1808. On October 2nd, 1839 he died at Perpignan.

[xiv] Chef Robert was severely wounded in the 1795 Rhine campaign. So, on August 20, 1798, he was allowed to retire. In the emergencies of 1799, howevere, he was recalled to arms as, chef remis en activité: 6e complémentaire an VII

[xv] The 93e Demi brigade de Ligne came in Italy on February 1797. There it received the new flags, model “Armée d'Italie“ designed by Bonaparte himself, on July 1797 at Belluno, Italy, in the Division Delmas: flags totally blank of Battle Honours. For this reason it was decided to add the phrase "Traversée du Tirol" on the flags. In 1799, the 3rd battalion of the 93th was envoyed at Mantua’s garrison. There its flag was taken by Austrians when the fortress capitulated, July 30. While the Chef was Varennes, the most important officer of the demi-brigade was the Grenadier commander Chef-de-Bataillon Charles-Sebastien Marion (Born: May 7, 1758 . Chef-de-Brigade: September 6, 1799 . General-de-Brigade: August 20, 1805 . Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: June 14, 1804 . Baron of the Empire: September 9, 1810 . Died: September 7, 1812 (killed at la Moskowa battle).

[xvi] Chef-de-Brigade Charles-Augustin Salomon de Moulineuf was substituted by Chef dB François-Alexandre Grosjean, promoted chef de brigade, in his place, as Salomon retired on 17 germinal an VII. (April 6, 1799) the day after Magnano.      

[xvii] Général Gaspard-Amedée Gardanne Born on April 24, 1758 in Solliers (Vàr), entered the service, March 1, 1779, as lieutenant in the gunners coastguard, and here remained until September 30, 1780, time of his passage in the King’s Guards. He left the duty in 1784, however, when the Revolution outbroke, he was elected second major of the 1st Vàr battalion, September 16, 1791. Commander of this same battalion on November 31, 1792 he made the campaigns of the Alps. Adjudant-General chief of brigade by decree of the people representatives, on September 13, 1793, he was confirmed in this rank by decree of the 23 germinal year II, and took an active share in the operations at Toulon. Transferred at the army of Italy, the adjudant-General Gardanne distinguished at the camp of Sabion ( Piedmont), near Tende pass. For this he was named temporarily brigadier general, on January 23, 1796. At the passage of Mincio he was with a bunch of 50 grenadiers to hold the Borghetto bridge. General Gardanne, defined by Bonaparte as “a Grenadier by size as by courage” put the Austrians in rout. At the battle of Castiglione, Gardanne put again in rout the enemy and contributed strongly to the success of this combat. Always with avant-guard tasks he was in Tyrol and at la Corona with Vaubois and then at the first day of Arcole, when he made 400 prisoners, at the second, when he captured other 2,300 Austrians, among whose was a general major, taking 11 guns and 2 flags. The 27 Brumaire, when the enemy made a move to seize the bridge,  general-in-chief Bonaparte gave him the order to ambush from a wood, with 2 battalions of the 32e half-brigade. As soon as the Austrians appeared, Gardanne attacked them with impetuosity; and made other 2,000 prisoners rejecting many enemies in Adige, where a great number drowned. There he was wounded by a shot, but he did continue to lead the column. Confirmed brigadier general, by decree of the Directory, on March 30, 1797, he continued the italian campaign. In 1799 he distinguished himself especially at Bassignana. Then Gardanne was blocked in Alexandria where was taken prisoner. At the beginning of the 1800 Gardanne came to Paris and took a very-active part with the events of 18 brumaire. Bonaparte, become first Consul, did not forget the services of Gardanne; he named him division general on 15 nivôse year VIII. Called at the command of the 6th infantry division of reserve army he was at Marengo where he obtained his greatest glory. Gardanne still contributed, under the orders of Brune, at the Mincio, Brenta and Adige passages. Returned to France he was named commander of the 20th military division. In 1801 the first Consul entrusted to him the command of the French troops employed in the republic of Genoa, and in 1802 he charged him with the comamnd of all French Corps stationed in the Italian republic. He continued to exert his functions until 1805 when he passed to the command of one divisions of the army of Italy under Masséna. Gardanne distinguished himself in the combat of Caldiero. Transferred in 1806 to the 9th army corps, he made the campaigns of Prussia and Poland. After the peace of Tilsit, he returned to France by Silesia, when was ill by a pernicious fever in Breslau, and there he died on August 14, 1807.

[xviii] Chef de Brigade Joseph-Denis Picard – (Born: July 23rd, 1761 - Chef de Brigade of 1st Hussars: January 8th, 1797 former adjudant général, future général, promoted chef de brigade with Patent 7 pluviose an VI (January 26, 1798) - Brigade General : February 26th, 1803 - Legion d'Honneur: December 11th, 1803 - Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: June 22nd, 1804 - Baron of the Empire: June 1st, 1808 - Died: January 20th, 1826).

[xix] Baron Ivan Ivanovich Dalheim, from April 28, 1798, was General-Major. Previously he was the Colonel commander of the Grenadier regiment of Astrakhan. Until June 28, 1799 he led the Musketeers regiment of Archangelogorod.

[xx] The French said, in a Bulletin, they had found a corpse with a brilliant uniform, and they were sure being the general Chubarov. Jomini confirmed this in his “Histoire des Guerres de la Révolution” (XI vol. p. 294), however he presented again Chubarov, alive, in the Trebbia battle (XI vol. p. 359). In a successive Report Chubarov was killed a second time at Pistoia (June 24, 1799). At least, at the time the French re-occupied Constance (October 7, 1799) the sergeant-major Heyberger killed Chubarov for the third time (from War Archives). Actualy, this three time dead man returned in Russia with Suvorov at the end of the campaign.

[xxi] Bagration gave these details: Dead (1 Staff Officer, 6 Officers, 326 NCOs and soldiers); wounded (1 general, 8 Officers, 50 inferior Officers, 600 NCOs and soldiers).

[xxii] At Bassignana, the 14th Line, officially, depended on the brigadier general François Jean Baptiste Quesnel du Torpt, wounded during the combats. It was sent between Pecetto and Bassignana, until the confluence of the rivers Tanaro and Po, where already the 3 battalions of the former Alessandria garrison stood, one Helvetian and two Piedmontese (II/1a and II/3a). After Bassignana, Colli Ricci had to replace Quesnel because of his temporary incapacity to combat.

[xxiii] Other sources said that the Austrians were totally surprised and the new of approaching French was received at 9.00 AM into the Torre Garofoli camp by general Lusignan. A sudden War Council with FML Kaim, arrived at Torre Garofoli during the early morning, left Lusignan alone to engage the enemies, being Kaim’s troops too tired to fight. The French had overrun the Austrian outpost of general Karacsaj at Marengo and were advancing in line towards San Giuliano vecchio. Bagration was caught by musketry during his march towards Sale and deployed his units in order of battle at the left wing. This second version seems more reliable. As for Coalition’s troops ready for battle, it was a situation totally in contrast with the Suvorov’s marching orders.

[xxiv] Chef de Brigade Joseph-Denis Picard – (Born: July 23rd, 1761 - Chef de Brigade of 1st Hussars: January 8th, 1797 former adjudant général, future général, promoted chef de brigade with Patent 7 pluviose an VI (January 26, 1798) - Brigade General : February 26th, 1803 - Legion d'Honneur: December 11th, 1803 - Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: June 22nd, 1804 - Baron of the Empire: June 1st, 1808 - Died: January 20th, 1826).

[xxv] Antoine-Alexandre Rousseaux, born on September 17, 1756 ; soldier on October 1, 1775; sergeant on July 17, 1779; adjutant on May 10,1789. He was caught by the Revolution outbreak amd began the Officer career as second-lieutenant (29.10.1790), firts-lieutenant (16 december 1790); captain (25 february 1792). In 1794 he was named  Adjudant-général chef-de-brigade and in the following year he was chef-de-brigade.

[xxvi] Oberst Franz Xavier Johann Sarkender Alois Priskus Graf von Auersperg was born on January 19, 1749 and died at Przemysl on January 8, 1808. He was Major in the IR 36 Fürst Carl Fürstenberg and in 1793 was named Oberstlieutenant. In 1796 he reached the rank of second colonel in the regiment. As IR 36 Oberst he made the 1799 campaign in Italy distinguishing himself at Novi. After that battle he received the provisional rank of brigadier (October 2) and was confirmed Generalmajor on November 18, 1799, after having fought with bravery the Savigliano battle. In 1800 he was at Mondovì and at Lesegno clash (October 26). In 1802 he had the Cross of Maria Theresia and on April 1807 he was named Feldmarschall-leutnant. He became the Owner of the K.k. IR 37 and Territorial Division commander at Kaschau ( Kosice). He died in the fortress of Przemysl.

[xxvii]Suvorov’s report declared 2500 French dead and 200 taken prisoners (he often overestimated the enemy’s losses). The Field Marshal told that the Coalition lost 27 dead (one being Officer) and around 80 wounded. A memoir told about 180 dead (6 Officers) and 250 wounded for the Austro-Russians. Melas’ report of July 11 declared 97 dead and 286 wounded (11 Officers) with 115 French taken prisoners. Lusignan’s report of July 9 declared about 300-400 French prisoners. 

Placed on the Napoleon Series: December 2007

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