AUSTERLITZ
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THE RIVOLI CAMPAIGN - FINAL AUSTRIAN RELIEF ATTEMPT
Aftermath of Arcola :
While alvintzy licked his wounds Bonaparte used the time to thoroughly reorganize his army.He had also finally recieved some new brigades as reinforcements to bolster his declining strength to about 45,000 in total including those besieging mantua.This number excluded garrisons protecting his LoC.Communications system was revamped and courier posts set up at regular intervals to prevent misinformation debacles like that with vaubois's false retreat that had come during arcole.Artillery was re-equipped and ammunition stocked.Any underperforming officers were purged or removed to desk jobs.Vaubois was replaced by Joubert and transfered to the military administration in the rear areas.However with mantua a thorn in the flesh,bonaparte could not assume any offensive posture.To prevent an early collapse in any sector as had happened last time with vaubois's division,fortifications were prepared at key places along the likely routes of austrian advance.Rivoli was one of these places.
Meanwhile austria had not been idle.It transfered yet more forces from the rhine to italy again bringing up alvintzy's strength.The pope meanwhile was encouraged to act in concert.He broke his armistice with the french and began remobilizing the papal forces.This diverted bonaparte's attention and drew more troops from the key theatre.In the very first days of January French cavalry scouts under Lieutenant Gallenga captured a messenger who hastily swallowed his dispatch.He was taken to french headquarters where he refused to posses any knowledge.
'I must have the dispatch,' said General Bonaparte. 'Shoot him!'
'But sir,' protested Gallenga, 'he surrendered to me as a prisoner of war, and in uniform.'
'Lieutenant,' said the general, 'there is room for two men in front of a firing squad.'
Wrote Gallenga, 'It was less the threat than the look that accompanied it, which awed me to silence.'
While Gallenga correctly took the measure of Bonaparte's determination, the young cadet did not. He continued to deny any knowledge of the dispatch. Immediately after the prisoner was shot, recounted Gallenga, 'a surgeon opened the corpse, and found the dispatch wrapped in a ball of wax.'The incident demonstrates both bonaparte's resolve and ruthlessness.
The dispatch revealed instructions for general wurmser at mantua.As soon as the main austrian attack began,wurmser was told to attack with all he could muster,and if unable to lift the siege,to break out with whatever forces possible and move south and take command of the papal forces.The french would then be crushed in between.Bonaparte now knew of the the austrian 2 prong attack plan.Next day on the 8th of january 1797,The alvintzy began his attack.
Order of Battle
Army of Italy: Napoleon Bonaparte (48,610)
- Division:Massena (8,851 including 2 cavalry regiments)
- Brigade: Monnier
- Brigade: Brune [future marshal]
- Brigade: Leclerc
- Division: Augereau (8,665 including 4 cavalry regiments)
- Brigade: Guieu
- Brigade: François Point
- Brigade: Verdier
- Brigade: Frédéric Walther (cavalry)
- Division: Joubert(10,250 including 1 cavalry regiment)
- Brigade: Honoré Vial
- Brigade: Claude Lebley
- Brigade: Thomas Sandos
- Division: Rey (4,156 including 2 cavalry regiments)
- Brigade: Antoine Veaux
- Brigade: D'Hilliers
- Brigade: Murat
- Division: Serurier (10,230 including 2 cavalry regiments)
- Alexandre Dumas and Dallemagne each led small divisions under the supervision of Sérurier. It is unknown which brigades were assigned to each division.
- Brigade: Jean Davin
- Brigade: Miollis
- Brigade: André Monleau
- Brigade: Emmanuel de Serviez
- Brigade: Jean de La Salcette
- Reserve: Bonaparte
- Brigade: Dugua(658 in 2 cavalry regiments)
- Brigade: Victor (1,800 including 1 cavalry regiment)[future marshal]
- Brigade: Lannes(2,000)
[Note large numbers of new names in the french OOB.3 causes - Injuries among several commanders,New generals coming with reinforcements and Bonaparte's housecleaning]
Austrian Army - Joszef Alvinczi (46,000 + 18,500 of Wurmser half of which fit,but ate up french forces for siege]
- Field Army: FZM Joszef Alvinczi (28,022)
- Independent columns:
- Brigade 1: OB Lusignan (4,556)
- 4,556 in 4 bns[battalion] and 12 coys[company]
- Brigade 2: GM Lipthay (5,065)
- 5,065 in 4 bns and 6 coys
- Brigade 3: GM Samuel Köblös (4,138)
- 4,138 in 5 bns and 6 coys
- Brigade 6: GM Vukassovich (2,871)
- 2,795 in 3 bns and 5 coys, 76 in 1/2 sqn
- Brigade 1: OB Lusignan (4,556)
- Division: FML Quasdanovich
- Brigade 4: GM Ocskay(3,521)
- 2,692 in 4 bns, 829 in 8 sqns
- Brigade 5: GM Reuss (7,871)
- 6,986 in 9 bns, 885 in 5-1/2 sqns
- Brigade 4: GM Ocskay(3,521)
- Independent columns:
- Corps at Vicenza: GM Bajalics (6,241)
- 6,081 in 6 bns, 160 in 1 sqn
- Corps at Padua: FML Provera(9,097)
- 8,379 in 10 bns, 718 in 8-1/2 sqns
- Corps at Borgo: GM Mittrowsky(3,570)
- 3,497 in 4 bns, 73 in 1/2 sqn
- Mantua Garrison: FM Wurmser (18,493, including 9,800 fit for service)
[ Main campaign map.Moves to be described step by step]
French Dispositions :
1.Bonaparte's Army of Italy had a strength of about 45,500. His army was disposed in six divisions. Général de Division (Major General) Joubert, with 10,300 soldiers, held the town of La Corona[near rivalta on the map], blocking the approach from the Tyrol down the upper Adige Valley, with a few troops held back at Rivoli a few miles south.
2.Augereau's division, with 10,500 men, held the Adige from Verona to Rovigo with garrisons at legnano.This division was stretched out to cover the river line.[See rovigo and Verona on map]
3.Rey's small brigade watched the west bank of lake garda with 4150 men centred around Salo,Brescia and Desanzano -sites of the struggles of the castiglione campaign.
4.Masséna, with 9,300 troops, lay in reserve near Verona.
5.Serurier,back in action besieged Mantua with 8500 troops.Kilmaine was ill.
The Austrian Plan :
The austrians again planned on a 2 column pincer attack on the army of italy.First, Maj. Gen. Johann Provera would lead a 14,000-man force from the east across the Venetian plain and attack the French on the lower Adige. That alone, however, was only meant to draw the French army reserves to that sector. Alvintzy would then lead his main force, 28,000 strong, from the north down the Adige Valley.If Provera's attack succeeded in drawing off the bulk of Bonaparte's army, Alvintzy would break through to Mantua from the north. If the French did not take the bait, and instead moved north to counter Alvintzy's advance, then Provera would either push on to Mantua from the Adige or move south across the Po to join the Papal forces. To aid the offensive, Würmser would break out to the south if Alvintzy failed to reach him before his supplies ran out.
Road To Rivoli :
Provera divided his force into two columns. His own force, 9,000 men, was directed on Legnago while Bajalics, with 5,000 troops, advanced on Verona. It was the latter force that opened Provera's offensive on January 9 by attacking Augereau's cavalry screen to the east of Verona. By January 10, French patrols reported that Bajalics was near Verona, while Provera's troops had reached the Adige near Legnago and were looking for a crossing.
At his headquarters at Roverbello, Bonaparte was uncertain as to which direction the main Austrian attack would come from.At dawn on January 12, Masséna was attacked by Bayalitsch at Verona. Masséna threw the Austrians back, then launched a counterattack with Maj. Gen. Guillaume Marie Anne Brune's brigade. After heavy fighting, during which Brune himself had his uniform pierced by seven bullets without being wounded, the Austrians withdrew, leaving behind three guns and 600 prisoners.
By now augereau considered himslef under serious attack and appealed for help,but bonaparte still held to his suspicions.
On that same day, a report arrived from Joubert that he was being attacked at La Corona, but was holding his own. Bonaparte asked him to report as soon as possible whether he considered the Austrian attack real or diversionary.
''Let me know as soon as possible whether you consider the enemy to your front to be above 9000 or more.It is vitally important that i know whether the attack being made upon you is serious..or merely a secondary affair designed to put us off'' -Napoleon to Joubert on the 12th.
Meanwhile, Bonaparte issued orders to meet either an attack from the mountains or from the Venetian plain. He ordered Masséna to withdraw through Verona to the west bank of the Adige, so that he could move rapidly north or south. Masséna was to leave part of his force to cover Verona, and be prepared to march with three brigades, about 7,000 strong. Rey was to concentrate two brigades, about 4,500 strong, at Castelnuovo.[see Rey's movement] Augereau would remain at Ronco with outposts watching for Austrian attempts to cross the Adige, while Lannes marched north to reinforce the Badia area, leaving only 4,000 troops to guard against the Papal forces[whom he was observing]. Once in place at Badia, Lannes was also to stop any attempt by the Austrians to break through to the Papal States.[Lannes movement not shown in map as it was too south]
Late on the afternoon of January 13, more news came from Joubert. The attacks that he had reported the day before had developed into a major offensive. He had been outflanked by a superior force and had to fall back to Rivoli to avoid being cut off.
Joubert's report left Bonaparte in no doubt about Alvintzy's plan. He left immediately for Rivoli and ordered every man the Army of Italy could spare to follow him. Masséna, with three brigades, was ordered to march on Rivoli and take up a position on Joubert's left, pushing out one brigade toward Lake Garda to meet any wide turning movement by Alvintzy.3000 were left behind to hold verona. His division was to reach Rivoli before daybreak on January 14. Rey would follow Masséna, but his division was not expected to reach Rivoli before midday.
Augereau was to relieve massena around verona by transfering his forces. [ see augereau's movements in map as they take over from massena's division around verona] Sérurier was ordered to detach 600 infantry from his blocking force to join Bonaparte. Bonaparte left 24,000 troops behind him on the plain: 3,000 of Masséna's division near Verona, 7,000 of Augereau's division around Ronco, 6,000 under Lannes at Badia, and 8,000 under Sérurier around Mantua. Those forces about equaled those of their opponents, as Würmser could add about 10,000 soldiers to Provera's 14,000 if he made a sortie from Mantua.The Military Principle of Security had thus been simultaneously adhered to even as bonaparte focused on concentrating his forces.
Battle Of Rivoli :
[check the map above,forget units for now.See terrain features]
'The village of Rivoli, 15 miles northwest of Verona, is situated on a low plateau a few hundred meters from the west bank of the Adige. Below the village, the river runs through a steep and narrow gorge[This gorge is the one between Monte magnone heights and the adige river thats enters the plateau near the point overlooked by san marco] . In 1797, the village consisted only of 50 houses, but it formed a natural stronghold. It was bordered on the east by the river, and on the north, south and west by a semicircle of low hills about two kilometers away. Observe only 2 roads available both along the banks of the river .[Artillery could only be hauled through roaded areas.]
The Rivoli plateau thus formed an excellent defensive position.It was on a elevated ground.Frontally protected by the trambasore heights.Its right flank covered by the adige river except the narrow opening where the gorge entered into the plateau along the road.The left flank too was mostly on high ground -an extension of the trambasore heights.However the rear was low elevation and open if an enemy could get around.
To the west of that perimeter ridge is the shallow valley of the Tasso Brook, beyond which rises the formidable height of Monte Baldo. In mid-January 1797, Monte Baldo was covered with a deep layer of snow and could be held only by a thin outpost screen. Joubert's main line of defense was the Rivoli plateau, which in turn was the key to the defense of the French northern flank.'
Against Alvintzy's 28,000 soldiers, Joubert's 10,000 had been able to do little but fight delaying actions. Pushed steadily back, his force had reached Rivoli at 4 a.m. on January 13. There he held his position all day awaiting Bonaparte's orders. As darkness fell, Joubert could see the extent of the Austrian campfires and realized that he would be overwhelmed if he stayed to receive Alvintzy's assault. No orders had arrived from Bonaparte, so he decided to withdraw at midnight toward Bussolengo, leaving only rear guards at Rivoli.
At 2 A.M Bonaparte arrived to examine the austrian positions and cancelled the withdrawal .The battle would now be fought on terrain that suited the defender-in this case the french.
''The moon shone brilliantly; I ascended several heights, and observed the lines of the enemy's fires, which filled the whole country between the Adige and Lake Garda, and reddened the atmosphere. I clearly distinguished five camps, each composed of a column, which had commenced their movements the preceding day.It seemed evident from the positions of the five bivouacs of the enemy,' Bonaparte noted, 'that Alvintzy would not attack before ten in the morning. The first column, on the right(of the austrians), was at a great distance; its intention seemed to be to get behind the level of Rivoli in order to surround it; it could not reach its destination before ten o'clock. The second column seemed to intend to attack the position on the left of the level [plateau]. The third was spread along the foot of Monte Magnone, in the direction of Saint-Mark's chapel. The fourth column having marched down the right bank to the foot of Monte Magnone: It was now opposite Osteria della Dugana, in echelons near the hamlet of Incanole, at the foot of the level of Rivoli. It was to debouch by this road, and thus Alvintzy would have united his infantry, artillery and cavalry. The fifth column was on the left bank of the Adige, opposite the Venetian Chiesa.'' - Napoleon's Observations.
Bonaparte had read the austrian intentions well. Alvintzy's plan was somehwat overcomplicated.It envisaged an attack by six columns.Three columns under Ocskay,Lipthay and Koblos totalling 12,000 men were directed to launch a frontal pinning attack on the french positions on the trambasore heights and draw the french reserves.[ 2 of these bivoucked together,so only 5 distinct campfires were visible to napoleon]
The main attack was to be launched by Quasdanovich's Column 7,000 strong and provided with a good portion of the cavalry and artillery along the road on the west bank of the adige.This attack was to go through the narrow gorge opening into the rivoli plateau proper at osteria[shown in next map]just south of san marco. Once they broke through they would take the pinned french columns on the trambasore heights from the rear.The other pincer of the austrian attack was lusignan's column deployed wide on the austrian right near lumini.He was to conduct a wide turning movement and bypass the trmbasore heights and approach the french from the rear and complete their annihilation by cutting of the retreat.Vukassovich's small column on the east bank of the adige were to guard against any french flanking move and more importantly to support quasdanovich's attack with flanking suppressive fire from its heavy guns.
One problem with the austrians was that only quasdanovich and Vukassovich's columns had abundant artillery support which could be moved along the 2 available roads.The other columns had small number of mountain guns only and this made the job much more difficult for them.
Bonaparte's Response-
[Closeup of Osteria Gorge and its opening into rivoli plateau.See how San marco dominates the and overlooks the gorge and its entrance into the plateau at osteria hamlet.See also how quasdanovich's column would advance through the gorge.This will be expanded on later.]
To Bonaparte, the size of Quasdanovitch's bivouac indicated that this was Alvintzy's main striking force. The only way that force could attack Rivoli was through the Osteria Gorge, which was narrow and steep. To use that approach, the Austrians would have to clear the ridge of Monte Magnone, which dominated the gorge. In particular, they would have to take the Trombalore Heights near the Chapel of San Marco, from which the French could observe the whole of the defile and the Adige Valley. Bonaparte realized that if he held San Marco, and if he sited guns to cover the Osteria Gorge, Quasdanovitch's column could be stopped and Alvintzy would be prevented from bringing his artillery into action. But if Bonaparte was to gain time for Masséna's troops to rest after their night march and for Rey's division to arrive, he would have to forestall Alvintzy with a spoiling attack early the next day.
With those factors in mind, Bonaparte ordered Joubert to countermarch and reoccupy the Rivoli plateau. One of Joubert's brigades was to take San Marco and Osteria; the remainder of the division was to occupy the northern edge of the Rivoli plateau overlooking the valley of the Tasso, opposing Lipthay, Knoblos and Ócksay. Masséna was to send the brigade that had been earmarked to stop Lusignan's approach around the left flank through the Tasso Valley. The remainder of Masséna's division was to remain in reserve at Rivoli.Initially however Bonaparte was at a critical numerical disadvantage only 10,000 men of joubert's column to oppose alvintzy's 28,000.By the time the attack began however he expected massena's division which would bring up his strength to around 17,000 -still quite short.However arrival of rey's division would bolster this to above 20,000.To compensate for this lack of quantity he would have to make best use of interior lines and the terrain.And also his advantage in artillery.
[To check the above deployments go to the map previous to the last one.Check Joubert's 3 brigades deployed on the french centre and right.One covers San marc
ther 2 on the trambasore heights and would face ocskay and koblos.The moves by massena will be explained later.Till now massena's division is not yet deployed and just arriving and held as reserve around rivoli town]Joubert's brigades, supported by the bulk of the available artillery, advanced — and just in time, for the brigade detailed to seize San Marco arrived only moments ahead of some of Ócksay's troops, who had moved up onto Monte Magnone, and drove the latter back along the ridge. By 4 a.m., the plateau was back in French hands. At first light, Joubert's division launched a full attack against the Austrians, but was halted by their superior numbers.
Beginning of the Austrian Onslaught -
At 9 a.m., Knoblos and Lipthay counterattacked. Joubert stopped Knoblos, but Lipthay outflanked and routed one of Joubert's brigades. Bonaparte immediately led one of Masséna's brigades in support and managed to stabilize the position.[See in map Lipthay can swing around the vacant left flank of joubert's 2 brigades facing ocskay and Koblos.One of massena's divisions was brought up to halt this move.]
Meanwhile, on the French right flank, Vukassovich had advanced down the east bank of the Adige and had established batteries opposite Osteria. The fire of his guns and pressure from Quasdanovitch forced the French out of the village of Osteria and onto the Rivoli plateau. That opened the road up the defile on to the plateau. Before Quasdanovitch could use that approach, however, he had to secure San Marco and the parts of the Magnone ridge that overlooked the road. To do that, he sent three battalions up the mountainside to seize San Marco, which was now unoccupied because the French brigade responsible for holding it had pushed forward along the ridge to keep Ócksay in check. Joubert rushed three battalions back to San Marco. They arrived just in time to prevent the Austrians from seizing that vital point, but it was clear that Quasdanovitch was about to storm his way up.
[ Closeup of the action.Massena halts lipthay.Shown here one of joubert's brigades rushing back to san marco after quasdanovich takes osteria supported by flanking fire of vukassovich's guns from the opposite bank]
Meanwhile situation was serious on the extreme left of the french line.Lusignan had driven back one of massena's brigades that was covering Affa and the french rear.[see movement in map on the left].He would soon cut the French route of withdrawal and be in a position to stop any further reinforcements from reaching Rivoli.By about 11 a.m., Bonaparte's position was becoming desperate. Joubert, with the support of one of Masséna's brigades, was just managing to hold the northern edge of the plateau. The brigade at San Marco was hard pressed by Quasdanovitch, who was about to launch his forces up the Osteria Gorge, supported by Vukassovich's guns positioned on the east bank of the Adige. Lusignan was almost across the French line of communications. Rey could not be expected for at least another hour. The only reserve left was Masséna's third brigade, resting at Rivoli.
Bonaparte had to reopen the line of retreat. That task he entrusted to Masséna's 18th Demi-Brigade [destined to be one of the famed french regiments of the napoleonic wars and reknowned for its e'lan.Given the title 'The brave'], newly arrived from Lake Garda.
'Brave 18th,' Bonaparte shouted, 'I know you; the enemy will not stand before you.'
With massena adding-.
'Comrades,' 'in front of you are 4,000 young men belonging to the richest families in Vienna; they have come with post horses as far as Bassano; I recommend them to you.' With a roar of laughter, the troops advanced, crying 'en avant!'
With the 18th dispatched to check lusignan,Bonaparte turned all his attention to Quasdanovich.He understood the defeat of this column was the key to the battle.Unfortunately the french had very little reserves left and by and lareg had to accomplish this with troops already at hand.Making the best of interior lines and his artillery advantage,he thinned out joubert's lines facing the austrians frontally at trambasore as much as possible and concentrated them before the gorge.15 guns were massed and poured canister shot at point blank range into the advancing austrian column that was emerging from the gorge.This devastating firepower struck first on the advancing austrian cavalry dragoons who broke and stampeded through their own infnatry causing mass chaos.At this juncture a bare 500 french infantry led by leclerc assaulted the column frontally while joubert's men laid down heavy flanking fire from san marco.Here Charles antoine La Salle (future famed cavalry general of the empire.Considered by some to be the best cavalry general of the napoleonic wars and a favourite of napoleon's) with just 26 horsemen-all that was available charged into the melee.This was the last straw for the austrian column which broke and fled.Lasalle's men captured a whole austrian battalion and seized 5 enemy flags alone.When he laid them down at the general's feet napoleon remarked-''Lie down on those, you have certainly earned it''.
Antoine Charles Louis de Lasalle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lasalle was a daredevil known to charge with only his pipe in hand.Came to napoleon's attention first when he went behind austrian lines regularly just to continue an affair with an italian woman.Bonaparte thought him crazy and almost court martialled him before he revealed austrian positions as well.Napoleon forgave and promoted him ,remarking only to his staff - 'Commandant LaSalle - Remember that name'
[La salle in the days of the empire.It was said napoleon had 4 great cavalry generals.Murat,Lasalle,Montbrun and Kellerman .
'Any hussar who isn't dead by the age of thirty is a blackguard' -LaSalle,killed 31 at wagram 1809]
Back to the battle,with most his force shattered the remainder of the column recoiled, and the soldiers fled back down into the gorge. Seeing that, Quasdanovitch realized he could not force the defile and ordered his troops to fall back out of artillery range.On quasdanovich's withdrawal bonaparte immediately switched all available units to koblos,Lipthay and Ocksay.Unsupported by artillery they were driven back and retreated towards La coruna.[ see map]
Meanwhile while Lusignan was being engaged frontally by Brune leading one of massena's brigades.Rey began to arrive with his division.Crushed between the 2 Lusignan's column was smashed and he fled west with less than 2000 men remaining.The battle for Rivoli was over.
With superb use of terrain and interior lines bonaparte had pulled off his greatest victory yet.Joubert's forces conducted a succesful pursuit as austrian retreat degenerated into a rout.
French lost 3200 killed,wounded and prisoners.Austrians had lost a staggering 14,000 men and 40 guns.Half of alvintzi's army was gone along with bulk of his artillery.
Leaving Joubert and Rey to pursue[this is shown in maps at the very top],Bonaparte now turned his attention back to Provera.Bad news had arrived ,taking advantage of the dispersal of augereau's forces provera had crossed north of legnano with 9000 men and driven straight for mantua according to the plan,leaving 2000 to defend his bridgehead.But on the Mantua legnano road,the french stronghold of Saint georges held him up .At night on the 15th Provera sent message to wurmser to break out tommorow in a concerted attack.Unknwon to both napoleon had force marched from rivoli with massena's division and arrived near mantua.Next day on the 16th when wurmser attacked he was swiftly driven back into mantua by serurier.Provera attacked from the front by massena and from the rear by augereau who had now rallied his scattered forces was forced to surrender with his entire force .[U can scroll back to last post on which a locations map is given if ur unsure about legnano and mantua locations.Can only post 10 images per post.]The austrian army in north italy had ceased to exist.
When Würmser heard of Alvintzy's defeat at Rivoli, he realized that his chances of relief were at an end. His men had long subsisted on half-rations, and his supplies would last only a few more days. Winter barred any renewed Austrian offensive until March, and Bonaparte offered generous terms — so generous that a few days later a grateful Würmser would alert Bonaparte to a plot to poison him. On February 2, Mantua opened its gates. The Pope, too, realized all hope of Austrian aid was gone. On February 18, his plenipotentiaries met an advancing French force at Tolentino and requested an armistice.
Mantua had fallen.Snow had closed the alpine passes and finally North italy was firmly french.However austria still refused the french terms as prohibitive.With Italy won,one last drive would now be made..into the heartland of austria to the gates of vienna itself.
Next: Final Chapter - Advance into austria and the end of the campaign.
