The Coalition HQs were now aware of the enemy army
descending the valleys. The Russian General Dalheim was sent
to Arquata Scrivia to protect the Serravalle flank, where the
garrison locked itself into the fortress. Watrin attacked the
town repulsing the Russian outposts and the whole situation became
more comprehensible.
The presence of Watrin’s Division in the Scrivia Valley
had persuaded Suvorov that the French Left Wing advance toward
Acqui was a fake and that the main attack was to be done by the
Scrivia River, in the direction of Tortona. This was exactly
what he wanted, to confront the French in wide open fields, where
cavalry could easily manoeuver. His orders for the outposts were
to engage the enemy for short periods and then to retreat, to
force the French to get close to the plains. So Joubert, without
any hard obstacles, deployed his Left Wing in the Orba Valley,
at Capriata, while St. Cyr had almost reached Novi. The town
was defended by the cavalry outposts on the southern hills (4
squadrons of the 5th Hussars and 200 cossacks) and into its walls
(other 3 squadrons of the 5th Hussars and 100 cossacks). General
Alcaini had orders to reinforce the controls on Tortona and to
secure the bridgehead of Ponte Curone. At this time Suvorov transferred
his Headquarters from Bosco to Pozzolo (Formigaro) and ordered
the vanguard of Prince Bagration to follow him in that village.
Pèrignon, arrived at Strevi, a town on the Rivalta (Bormida)
road and reinforced the Lemoine’s Division with the cavalry
reserve, ordering the passage of the river in an effort to link
with the army at Capriata. After a short musketry duel at Castelferro,
Grouchy, who led the vanguard, attacked Capriata and cleared
the village, repulsing the Coalition garrison. The task to garrison
Capriata was left to Lemoine, while Grouchy with the cavalry
reserve, camped on the left bank of the Orba. The French Right
Wing deployed Watrin either behind or in front of Serravalle,
Laboissère at Gavi, Dąbrowski as linking unit and
the Reserve at Carrosio.
Early in the morning St. Cyr advanced toward Novi
with intense musketry engagements, pivoting on his right at San
Bartolomeo and seizing the southern Novi hills, where he camped.
Dąbrowski had orders to attack Serravalle with 3000 men, who
would act also as a tactical reserve, whenever needed. At 4:00
p.m. the French army, about 38000 soldiers, deployed in front of
the enemy, the right on the Scrivia, the center at Novi and the
left on the Orba around a village called Pasturana.
During the evening, the Austro-Russians completed their deployment:
Kray on the left, in two ranks, camped between Basaluzzo and the
road to Bosco, deploying two divisions under Ott and Bellegarde;
Derfelden in a central position with his two divisions Shvejkowsky
and Förster, camped behind and in front of Pozzolo, where
Suvorov had his headquarters; Mélas led the Left Wing from
the Rivalta camp with other two divisions (Fröhlich and Liechtenstein);
a reserve of 5600 infantrymen and 400 cavalrymen were at Spinetto
Scrivia; General Rozenberg with other 10000 men and about 3000
cavalrymen deployed between Viguzzolo and Monte Galdone
Between Scrivia and the Lemme torrent, which had its springs at
la Bocchetta and threw itself into the Orba Creek, a little after
Basaluzzo, to the north of Gavi, was mount Mesma, called also Monte
Rossa. From its northern slopes originated the small valleys of
Fornace, Riarca and Braghena, the brooks flowing down them to Pasturana,
and into the Lemme. The largest of this these, dug by the brooks,
went down until the Scrivia at Serravalle (literarly Close Valley)
and it was named the Monte Rotondo, for it assumed a round shape
in front of Novi; it ended with long and gentle slopes before Basaluzzo.
Almost parallel with the Monte Rotondo, laid another plateau from
Serravalle to Pozzolo-Formigaro. This plateau had, from its eastern
border till the steep slope of Monte Rotondo, a width of about
500 meters and dominated the Scrivia valley. The causeway from
Novi to la Bocchetta, through Gavi, cut and surrounded the slopes
and the valleys of Monte Mesma; actually, only on this mount, there
was a road usable by artillery. Another causeway led from Pasturana
to Gavi through Tassarolo and the road from Novi to Gavi, on the
crest of the Monte Rotondo, was impassable for the carriages. After
Pasturana, the Monte Mesma slopes were covered with brushes and
small trees. Behind Novi there were many vineyards and litlle farmhouses.
The town was defended by good walls flanked by old towers. The
town had also many towers (each palace had one) and three bell-towers,
which could be utilized as observatories. The town of Novi, in
1799, had four gates and had a triangular shape, very wide, with
large walls charged with remparts and machicolations [2], with a water ditch very deep
surrounding the walls. At the Novi right, till Serravalle, a small
hamlet above the left Scrivia bank, the road is long and straight,
about 7 kilometers long before touching the first hills before
the Appennines. Left of Novi, a road led to the Pasturana Cemetery,
after 3 kilometers of rough road, which crossed a woods.
Pasturana
was a small village of 54 houses, whose grey walls surrounded a
sort of funnel, dug in the center of the village: a pond long 20
meters and 10 meters wide, with stagnant waters, which had frontally
a terrace full of farm building and from which one could dominate
the broad vineyards, extended till Basaluzzo. The southern part
of Pasturana had denser houses and covered the rocky spur of an
high slope, which fell straight into a ravine called Riasco. That
high and steep hill surrounded also the western side of the village.
Pasturana was crossed by two trails: the road from Novi to Francavilla
and the causeway from Basaluzzo to Tassarolo. The line Serravalle-Novi-Pasturana
was the French frontline and facing it were the plains which led
to Alexandria. There, opposite to the northern Novi gate, was a
small village, with a famous castle: Pozzolo Formigaro.
The terrain between the Scrivia and the Orba was rough and arid
for a very hot summer. There were about 200 “cascine” or
little farmhouses, dispersed in the hills, poor vegetation, some
gentle woods and many vineyards, terraced and limited by small
stone walls. The same terrain was in front of Novi, having only
more wheatfields as a difference; it was a clear terrain, otherwise
cut by many ditches, channels and little creeks. There artillery
and cavalry could fight in a decisive way. At the extreme right
of the future battlefield (the Coalition’s right) was the
village of Fresonara and, near it, Basaluzzo. At the left, near
the Scrivia, the most important village was on the opposite side
of the river: Cassano Spinola. Otherwise there were some hamlets
or “cascine” scattered in the countryside: Bettole,
facing Cassano of the opposite bank 3 kilometers away from Novi,
San Bartolomeo located between Bettole and Pozzolo.
The French deployment was completed during the August 14-15 night.
Dąbrowski, having left Arquata, was put in the rearguard of
the right wing, passed the bridge of Serravalle and blocked the
castle (fort), controlling the village of Stazzano on the right
Scrivia bank. The rest of the Right Wing advanced toward Novi in
battalions echelons: Watrin reached San Bartolomeo and then returned
back, deploying between the Scrivia and Laboissière (who
was the right and the centre of the French army. Novi, abandoned
by the Austro-Russians was defended by general Gardanne, who had
behind the 3rd Line Demi-Brigade, the artillery park and two cavalry
regiments. The link with the Left Wing was fixed in the woods of
the park between Novi and Pasturana. The reserves, with around
1000 workers, controlled the trails and the causeways in the hills
south of Novi.
|
Battalions
| Squadrons
| Men
| Division Laboissière, later Darnaud
22
| 16
| 9510
| Division Watrin
20
| 8
| 6300
| Division Dąbrowsky
12
| 2
| 2868
| Brigade Miollis
5
|
| 3461
| Artillery and Engineers
|
| 750
| Totals
59
| 26
| 22889
| Artillery
| 4 pounder
| 8 pounder
| total
| Mainly with Laboissière
| 4
| 6
| 10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Battalions
| Squadrons
| St. Cyr Memoirs
| Jomini
| Chodzko
| Gachot (Suchet archive)
| Dąbrowski’s Division
| 12
| 2
| 2340
| 2130
| 2070
| 1480
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division Commander: Général Jan
Henryk Dąbrowsky
Extreme right of the battlefiled: Fort Serravalle blockade.
Adjudants-généraux - Jan Dembowski, Paweł Tremo
Deputy commander: General Władysław Jabłonowski
(adjudant - Konstanty Przebendowski)
General Staff Attaché - Jan M. Dąbrowski, Rudolf
Acier
1st Polish Legion – former commander Chef-de-Legion Mathieu
(Maciej) Forestier prisoner at the Trebbia
|
|
|
|
|
| 2e Chef-de-Legion (deputy) - Jan Strzałkowski
| 280
| Adjudants - Karol Cz. Pakosz, Józef
Chłusowicz
Quartermaster - Ignacy Hilchen
I Battalion chef - Szymon Białowiejski
II Battalion chef - Józef Chłopicki
III. Battalion chef - Piotr
Świderski
|
| Polish cavalry or Legion Ulans Chef-de-brigade
Andrzej Karwowski ½ Sqn.
| 50
| 1st Cisalpine Line Demi-BrigadeChef de
Brigade count Filippo Severoli of Modena. A poor battalion formed
with the remnants of the Battalions: I Battalion Rogier - III Battalion
Ferrent
| 350
| 1st Cisalpine Line Demi-BrigadeChef de
Brigade count Filippo Severoli of Modena.
| 350
| 17th Line infantry Demi-Brigade - Chef
de Brigade Jérôme-Joseph Goris
| 400
| 55th Line infantry Demi-Brigade - Chef
de Brigade François-Roch baron Ledru des Essarts. Only two
Battalions the III/55th was at Ancona
| 400
|
|
|
| Battalions
| Squadrons
| St. Cyr memoirs
| Jomini
| Chodzko
| Gachot (Suchet archive)
| Watrin’s Division
| 20
| 8
| 6040
| 4535
| nl
| 6280
| Général de Division François
Watrin – HQ at San Bartolomeo
Adjoudants-général Pierre-Edme Gautherin o Gauthrin
(Gautrin) – Coloro and Jacqueleu
|
|
|
| 7th Regt. Chasseurs à cheval
- Chef-de-Brigade Marie-Benoit-Antoine-Joseph Bussiere De Lamure [3]
| 212
| 25th Regt. Chasseurs à cheval [4]
| ??
| Sappers 3rd Coy of the 1st Battalion
| 118
| Avant-guard Brigade Légére
Général-de-Brigade Jean-Baptiste (Andrè)
Carvin known as Calvin – Avantgarde HQ at Cassano Spinola
(road to Tortona)
| 1250
| 8th Light infantry Demi-Brigade -
Chef-de-Brigade Jacques-François Brun – only one
Battalion
| 300
| 15th Light infantry Demi-Brigade -
Chef-de-Battalion Jean-Claude Desailly – only one Battalion
| 300
| Chef Lahure wounded at the Trebbia
was substituted by the chef-de-Battalion Desailly
| 27th Light infantry Demi-Brigade -
Chef-de-Brigade Jean-Baptiste Brunet [5]- only Carabiniers Companies
| 250
| 11th Line infantry Demi-Brigade- Chef
de Brigade Marc-Antoine Coban Vabre [6]
| 400
| The former commander was general Calvin
himself, from October 21, 1798
|
|
|
|
| Brigade Général-de-Brigade
a titre provisoire Jacques Darnaud or d’Arnaud
1500
| 12th Line infantry Demi-Brigade -
Chef-de-brigade François Vergez[7]
700
| There is some confusion with the number
12. The Line DB was with the Macdonald army (at the Trebbia)
while the Light 12 DB came from Tirol with Dessolle, after the
retreat.
| 30th Line infantry Demi-Brigade -
I Battalion ? - Chef de Brigade François Valterre was
at Rome
| 800
| The 30th Light infantry Demi-Brigade??-
Chef-de-Brigade Vérideau?? a Belgian unit. It is often
listed at Novi but its presence is not sure
|
|
|
|
| Brigade Général
Pierre-Etienne Petitot [8] - former commander
of the 78th Demi-Brigade
3530
| 62nd Line infantry Demi-Brigade -
Chef-de-brigade Claude-Louis Gudin [9]
1980
| 78th Line infantry Demi-Brigade- Chef
de Brigade Jean-Joseph-Henri Cassine
1550
|
| Battalions
| Squadrons
| St. Cyr memoirs
| Jomini
| Chodzko
| Gachot (Suchet archive)
| Laboissière’s Division
| 22
| 16
| 3976 [10]
| 3645 11
| nl
| 10466
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Général de Division Pierre
Garnier de Laboissière
HQ in front of Novi – 9510 with Colli and Cavalry
Adjudant-général Gayot
Attached during the battle: Général-de-Brigade a
titre provisoire Jacques Darnaud o d’Arnaud
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 6th Hussar Regiment – Chef-d’Escadron
Bordesoul and later Chef de Brigade Pierre-Claude Pajol [11]
|
|
|
|
| 200
| 3rd cavalry regiment –Chef de brigade
Jean Baptiste Meunier
|
|
|
|
| 180
1st Coy of the 4th Light artillery regiment
|
|
|
|
| 42
1st Coy of the 1st Light artillery regiment
|
|
|
|
| 16
2nd, 5th and 6th companies of the 6th Light artillery
regiment
|
|
|
|
| 117
7th coy of “canonniers volontaires”
|
|
|
|
| 16
6th coy of the 6th Light artillery regiment
|
|
|
|
| 58
3 Sappers companies
|
|
|
|
| 150
Artillery light pieces
|
|
|
|
| 31
|
|
|
|
|
| Brigade General Gaspard-Amédée
Gardanne - deployed into the town of Novi
|
|
|
|
| 1800
| 18th Light infantry Demi-Brigade 1st
Battalion - Chef de Brigade Louis-Stanislas-Xavier Soyez
|
|
|
|
| 1050
| 21st Line infantry Demi-Brigade - Chef
de Brigade Robert
|
|
|
|
| 750
| Brigade Général Jean-Baptiste
du Torpt baron de Quesnel
|
|
|
|
| 1462
| deployed in defence of the height around
and above Novi
|
|
|
|
| 17th Light infantry Demi-Brigade - Chef
de brigade Henry-François Fornésy
|
|
|
|
| 450 [12]
| 63rd Line infantry Demi-Brigade I-II
Battalion s - Chef-de-Brigade Villaret – III Battalion
at Tortona
|
|
|
|
| 1012 [13]
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brigade Général Leonardo Antonio
Giuseppe Gaspare Venanzio Luigi Colli-Ricci Marchese di Felizzano known
as Colli (linking with Lemoine à it was the Perignon’s right
Wing)
|
| 14th Line infantry Demi-Brigade - Chef de Brigade
Jean-Claude Moreau [14]
|
|
|
|
| 650
| The unit was refilled with Piedmontese troopers,
former soldiers of the Sardinian Kingdom.
|
|
|
|
|
| 24th Line infantry Demi-Brigade - Chef de Brigade
Guinet?
|
|
|
|
| 1400
| Began the 1799 under chef Georges Kister, promoted
adjudant and then provisional général de brigade. The name
of Chef Guinet is not sure.
|
| 68th Line infantry Demi-Brigade - I e II Battalion
Chef de BrigadeJules-Alexandre Leger Boutrouë
|
|
|
|
| 1400
| The 68th Line infantry was sent, on 22 Sept 1798,
to the armée d'Italie to reinforce the Piedmont garrisons, with
I Battalion (former 65th Demi-Brigade ) II Battalion (former 182nd Demi-Brigade
) III Battalion (former 1 and 2 Battalion s des Landes). The I Battalion
was in campaign with Montrichard and the Naples army of Macdonald, the
III Battalion had been taken prisoner at Turin by the Coalition besiegers.
|
| Polish Grenadiers Battalion – chef: Kazimierz
Małachowski
|
|
|
|
| 350
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Right Wing Reserve
|
|
| 2845
| Reserve brigade Adjudant-Général
François-Joseph Pamphile de Lacroix
|
|
| 2625
| 3rd Line infantry Demi-Brigade II-III Battalions
- Chef de Brigade Georges Mouton (July 14, 1799)
|
|
| 1275
| 106th Line infantry Demi-Brigade - Chef de brigade
Jean Claude Roussel
|
|
| 1350
| The 106th Line infantry - on 22 Sept 1798 - was
in Switzerland with I Battalion (former 35th Demi-Brigade) II Battalion
(former 201st Demi-Brigade). Chef not known. It was at Bussolengo, March
26, (Division Grenier - Reserve detachment) and Magnano (San Giacomo)
(Division Grenier - Left brigade Quesnel du Torpt) wher had heavy losses.
|
|
| Cavalry Reserve Général François
Guerin d'Etoquigny
|
|
| 425
| 19th Regiment Chasseurs à cheval - Chef-de-Brigade
Louis-Urbain Bruë [15]
|
|
| 140
| 16th Regiment Dragoons - Chef-de-Brigade (wounded)
François-Marie Clement de la Ronciere [16]
|
|
| 180
| 19th Regiment Dragoons - Chef-de-Brigade Pierre
Geraud
|
|
| 85
| 18th Cavalry regiment - Chef-de-Brigade David-Denis
Terreyre
|
|
| 180
| Total as in Suchet’s report
|
|
| 585
| Reserve Artillery (Center)
| 4 pounder
| 5 pounder
8 pounder
|
|
|
| 2
| 6
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Left Wing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The Left Wing had Lemoine’s Division on
the right, deployed near a mill, 1 kilometer away from Novi. The division
was split in company massed formations. The wing received at 2:00 a.m.
the 12th Dragoons as reinforcements. It completed its order with a group
under the direct orders of Perignon, massed companies in a straight line
500 meters in front (north) of Pasturana. The extreme Left Wing was under
Grouchy, from Pasturana to the Lemme Creek, which was dry and easily passable.
General Richepanse led the cavalry reserve behind Pasturana, having had
no time to reach the Orba for the difficult terrain. All the The army artillery
was deployed in a second line. [17]
|
|
|
|
| Commander: Catherine-Dominique marquis de Pérignon – HQ
at Pasturana
|
|
Artillery pieces
| 12
|
|
|
Artillery
| 4 pounder
| 8 pounder
5 ½” howitzer
|
|
| Gachot
| 6
| 2
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Left Wing
|
|
|
|
| 5877
|
| Brigade Général-de-brigade Bertrand
Clauzel in Reserve
| 2100
| 29th Light infantry Demi-Brigade – 1st
Battalion
|
| 400
| only with the 1st Battalion (Chef Balleydier
and the other two Battalion s were at Mantua). The 29th Light infantry
- on 22 Sept 1798 was at Armée d'Italie with I Battalion (former
2/6 and 3/6) II Battalion (former 18th Demi-Brigade ), III Battalion
(Demi-Brigade of Haute Saone). Chef-de-Brigade Charles-Joseph César
Balleydier In march 1796 the 18th légère was attached to
6th Légère to form a new Demi-Brigade called 29th Demi-Brigade
legère. Former Demi-Brigades had about 1200-1300 soldiers. Command
was awarded to César Balleydier former 18th commander ... during
1799 campaign he was taken prisoner at Mantova by Austrians. It was present
at Pastrengo (March 26) in Jean-Baptiste Meyer's brigade (Serurier).
It was at Parona (30 march) in the same brigade (1st line). It was shocked
in Reserve (Serurier's) at Magnano
|
| 74th Line infantry Demi-Brigade – I,II,
and III Battalions Chef-de-Brigade Antoine-Alexandre Rousseau
| 1700
| The 74th Line infantry, on Sept 22, 1798, was
at the 9th Military Territorial Division (Nimes) with I Battalion (former
73rd Demi-Brigade) - II Battalion (former 185th Demi-Brigade).
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brigade Chef comte Louis Partouneaux
in Reserve then to Grouchy division
|
| 1400
| 29th Line infantry Demi-Brigade I e III Battalion s -
Chef-de-Brigade Joseph Boyer [18]
|
| Garrisons ??
| 105th Line infantry Demi-Brigade
| 1400
| The 105th Line infantry was, on 22 Sept 1798,
at the 19th Mil. Terr. Division (Lyon) with I Battalion (former 9th Demi-Brigade)
II Battalion (former 1 Battalion /149th Demi-Brigade). Heir of the famous
Lannes' Demi-Brigade (1795).
|
|
| Cavalry Brigade Général Antoine
Richepance or Richepanse (5 regiments) in Reserve
|
| 1069
| 1st Cavalry Regt. - Chef-de-Brigade (provisional)
Pierre Margaron [19]
|
| 302
| 12th Regt. Dragoons - Chef-de-Brigade Joseph
Pagès wounded at Novi [20]
|
| 260
| 1st Hussars regiment - Chef-de-Brigade Joseph-Denis
Picard
|
| 325
| 9th Regt. Chasseurs à cheval - Chef-de-brigade
François Augustin Liébault [21]
|
| 182
| 2nd Regt. Chasseurs à cheval - Chef-de-brigade
Jean-Baptiste Croutelle
|
| ??
| The former Laboissiére regiment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Battalions
| Squadrons
| St. Cyr memoirs
| Jomini
| Chodzko
| Gachot (Suchet archive)
| Lemoine’s Division
| 9 or 11
| 3 or 4
| 6410
| ?
| nl
| 5910
Général de Division Louis Lemoine
Adjudant-général Seras
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brigade Adjutant général Chef-de
brigade Louis Gareau
|
|
|
|
|
| 2960
|
| 5th Light infantry Demi-Brigade 2 Battalion s
- Chef-de-Brigade Antoine Chatagnier
|
|
|
|
|
| 1160
| 26th Line infantry Demi-Brigade one Battalion [22] - Chef-de-Brigade Guillaume Miquel
|
|
|
|
|
| 900
|
| The 26th Line infantry - on 22 Sept 1798 was
at the 8th Mil. Territorial Division (Marseille) with I Battalion (former
16th Demi-Brigade) II Battalion (1 Battalion 170th Demi-Brigade) III
Battalion (various volunteers and gendarmerie). March 26 –
Pastrengo battle (Division Delmas - Avantgarde right Grandjean Brigade),
it was deployed in the first Line with two Battalions and a chain of Hussars
connecting it to Preval rearguard (the other Battalion). Chef de Brigade
not known (Molard?). At Magnano - part with 1st Line Brigade Grandjean
(Demas) - part (2 Battalion s) with 2nd Line Reserve brigade Préval.
|
|
| 80th Line infantry Demi-Brigade one Battalion
- Chef-de-Brigade Jean-Antoine Dejean [23]
|
|
|
|
|
| 900
|
| The 80th Line infantry, on 22 Sept 1798, was
at 10th Mil. Terr. Division (Perpignan) with I Battalion (former 13rd
Demi-Brigade) - II Battalion (former 2nd and 3rd Battalion s Jura et
Herault) - III Battalion (3rd Battalion 7th Demi-Brigade provisoire).
|
|
|
| Brigade Jean-Mathieu Seras
| 2950
|
| 20th Light infantry Demi-Brigade I, II, III
Battalion s - Chef-de-Brigade Lucotte (who was in Ancona)
| 1450
|
| The 20th Light infantry, on 22 Sept 179,8 was
at 8th territorial division (Marseille) formed by former Battalions of
10th Demi-Brigade.
|
|
| 34th Line infantry Demi-Brigade II and III
Battalions. - Chef-de-Brigade Louis Prix Varé
| 1400
|
| lst squadron Cisalpine Hussars
- 1 sqn - Chef-de-escadron Angelo Lechi
| 100
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Grouchy
| Battalions
| Squadrons
| St. Cyr memoirs
| Jomini
| Chodzko
| Gachot (Suchet archive)
| Grouchy’s Division
|
|
| 5620 [24]
|
|
| 4670
| HQ at Pasturana
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Général de Division Emanuel Grouchy
Line Basaluzzo-Pasturana
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Adjudant-général Fressinet and Dugommier
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brigade baron Charles-Louis-Dieu Donné Grandjean
|
|
|
|
|
| 2670
| 26th Light infantry Demi-Brigade I Battalion
?
|
|
|
|
|
| 950
| 39th Line infantry Demi-Brigade - Chef-de-brigade
Antoine-Louis Popon de Maucune
| 900
| 92nd Line infantry Demi-Brigade - Chef-de-Brigade
Bruno-Albert-Joseph Duplouy
| 820
| Brigade Adjudant généraux
Henri-François-Marie Charpentier
| 2000
| 93rd Line infantry Demi-Brigade -I / II Battalion
s - Chef-de-brigade a.t.p. Charles-Sebastien Marion
| 1100
| 99th Line infantry Demi-Brigade - Chef-de-brigade
Pierre-Joseph Petit
| 900
|
|
| Summary
|
| August, 15, 1799 Novi (27 thermidor an VII) – French
Order of Battle
French Army Gen. de Division Barthélemy Catherine Joubert
(37,574-35,487 infantry and 2097 Cavalry, 43 guns)
2nd Commander: Général en Chef en seconde General de Division
Jean Victor Marie Moreau
Chef de l’État Major Général: Louis-Gabriel
Suchet[25]
Commissaire ordonnateur en Chef: Aubernon
Chef d’Etat Major: général Dessolle
Adjoudant-général à
l’Etat Major: Lahorie
Army artillery Commander: General Debelle
Army Engineers Commander: General Chasseloup de Laubat
|
|
|
| Clausewitz’s Data - (15 août 1799.)
-Armée d'Italie. - Bataille de Novi.
| Force
| Division Grouchy
| 5600
| Lemoine’s Division
| 6400
| Division Laboissière, later Darnaud
| 3600
| Division Watrin
| 4500
| Division Dąbrowsky
| 2100
| Brigade Miollis
| 3500
| Brigade Colli
| 3900
| Reserve Aile droit
| 3000
| Reserve Aile gauche
| 5900
| Val Bormida Detachments gen. Roguet
| 2400
| Riviera Ponente Detachments gen. Montrichard
| 2300
| Totals
| 43,200
|
|
| Notes:
[1] The day of arrival of the FML Kray de Krajova was
the 12th of August (not the 10th as told in Miliutin). The exact date
was witnessed by two reports of general Zach (August 11 and 12) and
by the Stutterheim’s articles. Zach underlined also the severe
losses Kray had while marching (20 deads of which one was the Oberst
Lieutenant Wojna of the Latermann regiment).
[2] A machicolation is a floor opening between the supporting corbels
of a battlement, through which stones and lethally hot liquids could
be dropped on attackers at the base of a defensive wall.
[3] By January 16, 1799
promoted from chef d'escadron to chef de brigade of the 7e chasseurs à cheval.
[4] Was under Chef
de brigade François Guerin d'Etoquigny actually charged
to lead the Reserve as provisional général de brigade.
In the Mémoires historiques, Rapport de Suchet (Archiv de guerre,
Paris) the regiment is not listed in the Order of battle.
[5] The former unit of
Chef-de-Brigadecomte Louis Partouneaux was led by Chef-de-Brigade
Jean-Baptiste Brunet Born: July 7 1763. Chef-de-Brigade: June 26,
1794 at the 13th Light infantry Demi-Brigade. Chef-de-Brigade on July
1, 1795 transferred to the 25e Demi-Brigade d'Infanterie légère.
On June 7, 1799 2nd Chef of the 27e Demi-Brigade d'Infanterie légère.
General-de-Brigade (provisional) after his good behaviour at the Trebbia:
June 10, 1799. General-de-Division: on June 7, 1802. Died: September
21, 1824
[6] Chef de Brigade
Marc-Antoine Coban Vabre Born: February 26, 1743 - Chef de Brigade:
May 25, 1797 (25e Demi-Brigade d'Infanterie) - Chef de Brigade: July
27, 1799 (11e demi brigade d'Infanterie) - Colonel: 1803 (11e Regt
d'Inf) - General de Brigade: February 1, 1805 - Officer of the Legion
d'Honneur: June 14, 1804 - Died: August 4, 1817
[7] Chef-de-brigade
François Vergez Born on June 12, 1757. He was promoted chef
de brigade at the place of the commander Giradon, left at Gaeta by
Macdonald. Colonel on August 30, 1805. General de Brigade: October
23, 1806. Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: August 28, 1810. Empire’s
Baron: September 21, 1808. Died on June 20, 1830.
[8] Chef-de-Brigade Pierre-Etienne Petitot Born:
February 12, 1752 - Chef-de-Brigade: January 7, 1795 (87e Demi-Brigade
d'Infanterie) - Chef-de-Brigade: February 23, 1796 (78e Demi-Brigade
d'Infanterie) - General-de-Brigade : September 20, 1793 (refused the
promotion) - General-de-Brigade : June 19, 1799 -Commander of the Legion
d'Honneur: June 14, 1804 Died: September 7, 1807.
[9] Uncertain his presence at Novi as wounded in June
(Trebbia). Claude Louis Gudin, born at Auroux (Niévre)
March 22, 1753. Served with the Légion de Saint-Victor from May
1771. On September 21, 1792 he was chef-de-bataillon of the 2nd Battalion
de la Creuse (part of the 62nd). He became chef-de-brigade of the 95th
Demi-Brigade on June 26, 1794 and in sequence chef of the 62nd by February
8, 1796. In 1797 he was wounded in the right hand by a bayonet cut. Wounded
also at the Trebbia, where he got an howitzer ball’s splinter in
his thig (June 19). Gudin retired in 1802 from service.
[10] Counting separately - Quesnel + Gardanne = total
division. Colli, the reserve and cavalry apart
[11] He joined the 6th Hussars at Albissola (Savona)
after Novi, on the last days of August. The regiment, involved in the
Pasturana encirclement had actualy only 147 men with 126 horses. Chef
de Brigade Pierre-Claude Pajol (Born at Besançon on February
3, 1772 - Chef de Brigade 6th Hussars: July 21, 1799 - General de Brigade:
March 1, 1807 - General de Division: August 7, 1812 - Chevalier of the
Legion d'Honneur: December 11, 1803 - Officer of the Legion d'Honneur:
June 14, 1804 - Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: April 25, 1809 - Grand
Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: February 19, 1814 - Baron of the Empire:
March 19, 1809 - Count of the Empire: November 25, 1813 - Peer of France:
June 2, 1815 - Died: March 20, 1844) . He participated to the revolutionary
period at Paris as a sergeant of Volunteers. In 1791 he entered the army
as sergeant-major in the 1st bataillon du Doubs, but he was soon named
1st lieutenant in the Saintonge regiment. He was at Valmy as lieutenant
of the Grenadiers named as the “Colonne Infernale”.
In 1793 he distinguished himself at Hochheim where he was wounded. He
returned, recovered, in 1794 as aide-de-camp of general Kleber, fighting
at Marchiennes, Fleurus and at the mount Patissel. In 1796 his good behaviour
at Altenkirchen granted him the rank of chef d'escadron, on the battlefield.
He was in campaign (1797) with the 4th Hussars, at the Rhine passage,
at Neuwied, Ostrach and Liebtingen. Then he was transferred in Switzerland
under Massena where he distinguished himself again and where he obtained
the rank of chef-de-brigade. Transferred in Italy he assumed the command
of the 6th Hussars (July 21, 1799) and was at Novi, where he lost almost
all his regiment. Returned in France, Pajol was attached to the Lecourbe’s
vanguard and participated at the 1800 campaign (receiving also the best
references by Moreau for the fight at Hohenlinden). In 1805, after Ulm,
he became général de brigade and was in Prussia (Poland)
during the 1806-1807 years. In 1809 he had the command of the outposts-line
in Bohemia, which was hardly defended until Davout’s arrival. For
his behaviour at Eckmuhl, Napoleon gave him the commander cross of the
Légion-d'Honneur. At Wagram he charged the Austrian cavalry defending
the Danube bridgehead. During the 1812 campaign he led the Davout vanguard,
passed the Niemen river, seizing Wilna and Minsk. After an expedition
made against the Bagration’s artillery park he was named général-de-division
(August 7, 1812). After the Moskowa he was wounded in the right arm,
following the general withdrawal. In 1813 he was at Lützen, Bautzen,
Buntzlau and Dresden (the shot which truncated the legs of Moreau came
from one of his guns). During the retreat he led, provisionally, the
5th cavalry Corps. In 1814 Napoleon gave him the command of the observation
army of the rivers Seine, Yonne Loing. In that year he led a famous charge
on the Montereau road which granted him the Grand Officer Cross, one
of the few acquired on the battlefield. After the 100s days he was named
commander of the Cavalry Corps seizing Charleroi, Namur and followed
the Prussian until Waterloo with Grouchy, arriving too late to change
the battle results. In 1830 Pajol took the leadership of the Insurgency,
but was substituted by Gérard, and continued the struggle until
the end. On September 20, he was sent to command the 1st territorial
division and in November he was in the Peer Chamber at Paris. On October
29, 1842 he retired and died two years later without the honour to become
a French Marshall, an award which would have deserved to him.
[12] They were actually
476 men in two Battalion s (source: Liut. Rétoré, Historique
du 92e régiment d’infanterie, Lavauzelle, Paris).
[13] They were 1030
as for the regimental history (G. Molard, Historique du 63e régiment
d’infanterie, Berger-Levrault, Paris 1887). The 63rd chef-de-bataillon
Lelong was named chef-de-brigade on the battlefield.
[14] Chef de Brigade Jean-Claude Moreau - Born: January 15,
1755 - Chef de Brigade: October, 29 1797- until 1803 (14e Demi-Brigade
d'Infanterie). General de Brigade: August 29, 1803 until 1812 - commander
3rd brigade of the 6th infantry division - II. Corps. Grand Officer of
the Legion d'Honneur: March 19, 1813. Baron of the Empire: May 3, 1810.
1813-1814 – Commander the fortress of Soissons. Dead on December
9, 1828
[15] On December 17,
1798, General Championnet received a compliments letter for his renewed
successes; «the Directoire» said the letter «has no
doubts you’ll be able to destroy the whole Neapolitan army, after
the final gathering of the armée de Rome, and you’ll seize
the territories of its disloyal King, promoting the Liberty government;
so We confirm the promotion of Bruë in the rank of chef de brigade
at the 19e chasseurs à cheval, you have made on the battlefield
at Civita-Castellana, by the 3 pluviôse year VII (January 22, 1799).
Bruë
(Louis-Urbain), was a conventional Officers of the Morbihan; his promotion
was got on 27 frimaire an VII (December 27, 1798).
[16] Chef de Brigade
François-Marie Clement de la Ronciere. Born on February
2, 1773 at Amiens (Somme), he entered the service, in 1793, as simple
soldier in the 13e régiment de chasseurs à cheval. Become
2nd Lieutenant he was with the armies du Nord and of the Sambre-et-Meuse,
where he was promoted to the rank of Captain. At the Rhine army he
was Staff officers by general Lefebvre and then he returned to his
regiment in Italy and to Rome. There he was a Dragoons chef d'escadron,
fighting at Modena, the Trebbia, where he was wounded by a shot on
his left leg. At Monte-Alto he led a charge, with 150 horsemen, an
enemy division of about 6000 soldiers (800 being the cavalry) putting
them in rout. He was named Chef-de-brigade «à la suite» of
the 19e régiment de chasseurs and the took the leadership of «his»
old 16th Dragoons, with whom he was at the Naples army on 1800, at the
Gallo-batave armée on 1801 and under Augereau until 1802. In 1803
he had the Star of the membership of the Légion-d'Honneur while
on garrison at Soissons (Compiègne camp). By December 31, 1806,
Napoleon promoted him to the rank of brigadier general and in 1808 he
was also Baron de l’Empire. On April 22, 1809, during the Regensburg
battle, he had an arm amputated. As a reward for his severe wound, the
Emperor gave him the command of a brigade in the Reserve army of Hautpoul
and, on June 11, he named him general of division. With this rank, Clement,
was chosen to direct the Special Cavalry School and he was there until
1812, when he was called to command the 27e division militaire. Clement
retired from service on October 6, 1815. He was recalle in 1831 as General
Cavalry Inspector and, then, as Inspecteur de la Gendarmerie in 1834,
after which task he definitevely retired.
[17] The ammunition
dotation for the heavy pieces was: 1100 shots for each 8 pdr piece, 1790
shots for each 5 pdr piece, 2000 shots for each 4 pdr piece, 807 shots
for each 5 ½ pdr howitzer. (from a general Debelle Report to Moreau –
Archiv de guerre – in Gachot cit.)
[18] The 1st and 3rd
Battalion s. were at Novi, the II/29 had been taken prisoner at Mantua
with Chef Joseph Boyer. He was an aide-de-camp of general Duhesme,
when at the armée de Naples. Born: May 4, 1761 Chef-de-Brigade:
November 5, 1795. General-de-Brigade: March 8, 1807 Officer of the Legion
d'Honneur: June 14, 1804 Chevalier of the Empire: July 11, 1810 Baron
of the Empire: November 25, 1811.Died: December 12, 1830
[19] In the place of
chef.-de-brigade Jean Juignet, the unit was under Chef-de-Brigade
Pierre Margaron, wounded at Novi. Born at Lyon (Rhône: May
1, 1765, he was in the armies du Nord and of the Sambre-et- Meuse. Named
provisional Chef-de-Brigade of the 1st Cavalry, on December 23, 1798
(he was officially confirmed in this rank on December 3, 1799) he fought
in Italy at the Trebbia and Novi, where he suffered a wound. Later, at
Fossano, while performing a mission given by Championnet, he suffered
a second severe wound which fractured his right leg. He was General-de-Brigade
on August 29, 1803 after a brilliant 1800 campaign. Wounded at Austerlitz
he retired until 1806, when he was recalled on duty. In 1807 was in the
Observation Corps of Gironde and then in the French Portugal army under
Junot. He became General de Division on August 16, 1813 in the ranks
of the Grande Armée. Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: June 14,
1804, Baron of the Empire: January 29, 1809, Died at Paris on December
16, 1824.
[20] Chef-de-Brigade
Joseph Pagès, Born: 10 March 1754, Chef-de-Brigade: 13 June
1794. General-de-Brigade: 24 December 1805. Officer of the Legion d'Honneur:
13 June 1804. Baron of the Empire: 9 January 1810. Died: 1 September
1814. Pagès, born dragoon in 1781, had been wounded, as lieutenant-colonel,
in a clash he had had in 1793 in the forest of Mormale. He was again
wounded by two shots at Novi and was promoted Brigadier after Austerlitz.
From 1795 till 1797, 12th dragoons were successively attached to the
armies of Sambre and the Meuse, of the West and of Mainz. The 21st
dragoons, formed in 1793, were incorporated into it on December 21,
1797. The regiment served in Italy in 1798 and in 1799, and returned
that year to Germany.
[21] Chef François
Augustin Liébault was made provisional chef on June 24,
1799, after the Trebbia. Unfortunately he died during the Novi battle,
before being confirmed in his rank. His place was taken by the chef-de-bataillon
Jean Pierre Thuillier (confirmed chef-de-brigade on October 6, 1799).
[22] While the Light
26th Demi-Brigade (or two of its Battalions) was taken prisoner at Mantua,
after the fortress surrender, the Line 26th Demi-Brigade had had a full
campaign. In the 26th Line, which was under Grandjean at Magnano, chef
de bataillon Guillaume Miquel, was named Chef de Brigade a titre
provisoire on August 3, 1799, after the new destination for the chef
Molard. He was officially confirmed in the rank by September 3, 1799
(17 fructidor an VII.).
[23] Chef-de-Brigade
Jean-Antoine Dejean, Born: November 25, 1765. Chef-de-Brigade:
August 14, 1793 (13e Demi-Brigade de Bataille). Chef-de-Brigade: May
19, 1796 (11e Demi-Brigade de bataille). Chef-de-Brigade: July 11,
1798 (80e Demi-Brigade d'Infanterie). General-de-Brigade : October
19, 1804. Died: November 6, 1848
[24] With Partonneaux.
[25]Louis Gabriel Suchet (born at Lyon, March
2, 1770 – dead at Marseille, January 3, 1826), future duke of Albufera
and Maréchal d'Empire (1811), a well educated young man entered
the Garde Nationale de Lyon in 1791 in which became a Captain (1792).
In September 1793 the Ardèche Volunteers voted him to the rank
of Lieutenant-Colonel, and he was the chef-de-bataillon of the 4e de
l'Ardèche, which participated to the Toulon’s siege. There,
Suchet, during an action, took prisoner the British general O’Hara.
In 1794 was in the armée d'Italie, at Vado, Saint-Jacques and
in all fights where division Laharpe was involved. In 1795,at Loano,
leading his Battalion he captured three Austrian flags. In 1796 he commanded
a Battalion of the 18th Demi-Brigade, under Massena, fighting at Dego,
Lodi, Borghetto, Rivoli, Castiglione, Peschiéra, Trento, Bassano,
Arcole et Cerea, where he was severely wounded. When his health got better,
he was also in the last campaign before the Campo-Formio Treaty. Massena
sent him to Bonaparte, to bring the flags captured at Tarvis. He was
again wounded at Neumarkt (Styria) and was named chef de brigade on the
battlefield (October 1797). In 1798 he was in Switzerland with his Demi-Brigade
and then he was attached to the general Brune Staff, during the short
swiss campaign. After a short period in which he had the confirmation
to the rank of général de brigade he was transferred to
the Joubert’s Staff in Piedmont. During this period he had some
troubles with the Directory, accused to be a former Emigrée, and
this was on of the caused of Joubert’s retirement. He was at Paris
and was completely discharged by the judges, returning in service on
April 5, 1799, at the armée du Danube. His unit was detached in
the Grisons and defended the positions of Davos, Bergen, and Pulgen.
Then he caught the link with the main army, at the Rhine springs, passing
through the St. Gotthard without troubles. However he suffered a new
wound and new charges (upon the Brune government in Switzerland). For
these problems he was forced to refuse the rank of division general at
the armée d’Egypte and, after the trial, he reached the
Massena Staff, completely discharged. There he was named chef d’état-majorand
with this rank he was recalled by his friend Joubert, who asked directly
for him in Italy. Suchet was able to manage all the questions in Liguria,
either about not military matters and continued his job under Championnet.
By the 18 brumaire, Bonaparte entrusted Massena with the Italian superior
command, and confirmed Suchet as chief of Staff. During the bad days
of the Genoa siege, the Suchet detachment was cut off from the city and
withdrawn to the Var river. He was able to enter Genoa only by August
22, 1800, after Marengo. In 1801, after six months of armistice, Suchet
led the Army Center (around 18000 men in three divisions). At the Mincio
passage he supported and disengaged general Dupont in serious troubles,
taking 4000 Austrian prisoners of the Bellegarde Korps, at Pozzolo. After
Luneville he was named General Inspector of Infantry and was ready to
continue his brilliant career, mainly with the Spanish campaigns
Placed on the Napoleon Series: January 2009
|
|
© Copyright 1995-2009,
The Napoleon Series, All Rights Reserved.
|