Painting showing blue-coated officer holding a flag and pointing his sword to rally his troops as they defend a mountaintop
Rampon defending Monte Legino, painting by René Berthon

In the Montenotte campaign between 10 and 28 April 1796, General Napoleon Bonaparte's French Army of Italy broke the link between Feldzeugmeister Johann Peter Beaulieu's Austrian army and Feldmarschallleutnant Michelangelo Alessandro Colli-Marchi's Sardinian army. In subsequent engagements, the French defeated the Austrians, pursued Colli to the west, and forced the Sardinians to withdraw from the First Coalition against France. Actions were fought at Voltri (now a suburb of Genoa) on 10 April, Monte Negino (Legino) on 11 April, Montenotte on 12 April, Millesimo on 13 April, Second Battle of Dego on 14–15 April, Ceva on 16 April, San Michele Mondovi on 19 April, and Mondovì on 21 April.[1]

Abbreviations used

Military rank

Other

  • k = Killed
  • old = The old numbers of the infantry units. In March 1796, the French army reorganized the demi-brigades and assigned new numbers. Boycott-Brown gives the new numbers while Smith gives the old ones. For example, the new 51st Line Demi-Brigade was formerly the 99th Line.[2]

French Army order of battle

French Army on April 9

Army of Italy (France): Napoleon Bonaparte (42,717 in the field, 64,356 total)[3][4][5]

Key

  • Note: It is unknown which brigadiers to whom the demi-brigades were assigned.

Allied Army order of battle

Austrian Army on April 1

Austrian Army: Feldzeugmeister Johann Peter Beaulieu (32,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, 148 guns)[13][14]

Sardinian Army

Sardinian Army: Feldmarschallleutnant Michelangelo Alessandro Colli-Marchi

  • Austrian Auxiliary Corps: Feldmarschallleutnant Giovanni Marchese di Provera[18]
    • Belgiojoso Infantry Regiment Nr. 44 (3 battalions)
    • Strassoldo Grenadier battalion
    • Gyulai Freikorps
  • Division (at Ceva): General Brempt[19]
    • Colonel Colli-Ricci's Light Infantry (1 battalion)
    • Genevois Infantry Regiment
    • Royal Grenadiers Infantry Regiment (1 battalion)
    • Royal Allemand Infantry Regiment
    • Acqui Infantry Regiment (1 battalion)
  • Division (at Ceva): General Giuseppe Felice, Count Vital
    • Foot Chasseurs
    • Savoy Infantry Regiment (1 battalion)
    • Stettler Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
    • Royal Grenadiers Infantry Regiment (1 battalion)
    • Oneglia Infantry Regiment (2 battalion)
    • Piedmontese Freikorps
    • Mondovì Infantry Regiment (1 battalion)
  • Division (at Ceva): General Count di Torneforte
    • Tortona Infantry Regiment (1 battalion)
    • Mondovì Infantry Regiment (1 battalion)
    • Acqui Infantry Regiment (1 battalion)
  • Others in the campaign:

Key

  • Note that Colli-Marchi was an Austrian fighting in the Sardinian army.

Notes

  1. ↑ Smith, p 112. There is some dispute over the date of this battle. Smith lists 22 April, David G. Chandler and Boycott-Brown 21 April, and Fiebeger 20 April!
  2. ↑ Boycott-Brown, p 142
  3. ↑ Fiebeger, p 8. Total army strength is from Fiebeger. His divisional strengths are not used, but his brigade commanders generally agree with Smith.
  4. ↑ Boycott-Brown, pp 195-196. Boycott-Brown lists the new demi-brigade numbers and strengths for the 1st through 4th Divisions, but no brigade commanders. His strengths are the same as Smith's.
  5. ↑ Smith, p 113. Smith's Borghetto order of battle appears to present an accurate state from early April. Smith lists the old demi-brigade numbers, numbers of battalions, brigade commanders, and division strengths. These were used except as noted.
  6. ↑ Fiebeger, p 8. Fiebeger places Cervoni in Laharpe's division.
  7. ↑ Fiebeger, p 8. Fiebeger lists Rusca in place of Victor.
  8. ↑ Smith, p 113. Smith lists Sérurier's brigadiers as Pelletier, Fiorella, and Miollis.
  9. ↑ Fiebeger, p 8. Fiebeger lists only Guieu and Pelletier.
  10. ↑ Boycott-Brown, p 266. Boycott-Brown only mentions Guieu and Fiorella in his account of the battle of Mondovì.
  11. ↑ Smith, p 113. The 7th, 8th, and 9th were rated as coast divisions.
  12. ↑ Fiebeger, p 8. Fiebeger places Verne in Garnier's division.
  13. ↑ Boycott-Brown, pp 167-168. Boycott-Brown lists Austrian organization, regiments, numbers of battalions and squadrons, and locations. Though Kerpen, Schübirz, and Pittoni are given as division commanders, their commands were brigade-sized and they held the rank of General-Major, i.e., brigadiers. Therefore they are listed here as unattached brigades.
  14. ↑ Fiebeger, p 8. Fiebeger gives a total of 28,000, which may be more accurate than the theoretical numbers shown here. Fiebeger lists Argenteau (Liptay, Ruccavina, Pittoni, Sallich) and Sebottendorf (Kerpen, Schubirz, Nicoletti, Roselmini) as having four brigades each.
  15. ↑ Fiebeger, p 8. Boycott-Brown lists no commander for this brigade. Fiebeger lists 'Sallich' as the brigade commander at Tortona.
  16. ↑ Boycott-Brown, p 348. There were about 1,500 cavalry, not included in the Austrian total.
  17. ↑ Smith, pp 113-114. Neapolitan units are listed in the Lodi and Borghetto orders of battle.
  18. ↑ Smith, p 112. This is listed in the Millesimo order of battle. Smith incorrectly lists the freikorps as Gyulai IR # 32.
  19. ↑ Boycott-Brown, pp 260-261. Boycott-Brown's order of battle for Ceva is used here.
  20. ↑ Smith, p 112. La Marina and Monferrat fought at Dego.
  21. ↑ Smith, p 112. The 3rd Grenadiers fought at Millesimo.

References

  • Boycott-Brown, Martin (2001). The Road to Rivoli: Napoleon's First Campaign. London, UK: Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35305-1.
  • Chandler, David G. (1966). The Campaigns of Napoleon. New York, N.Y.: Macmillan. ISBN 0-02-523660-1.
  • Fiebeger, G. J. (1911). The Campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte of 1796–1797. West Point, New York: US Military Academy Printing Office.
  • Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.
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