End of the Realm At a cost of 820 casualties (210 dead, 457 wounded and 143 missing or captured), Bianchi had won an exemplary defensive battle against an enemy more than double his strength. On the other hand, the Habsburg commander estimated Neapolitan losses to be about 1,722 and the number of prisoners grew hour by hour when the withdrawal began on 4 May. Initially, however, Murat's army, in the words of General d'Ambrosio, 'rallied itself spontaneously and against the intentions and the dispositions of many of its generals'. The cavalry and artillery were in good order and Colonel Baurin of the 6th Line had maintained his regiment's cohesion. Despite the general demoralisation and prevailing confusion, most of the men slowly rejoined their battalions. Time, provisions and good leadership might have restored the situation, but all of these were lacking and the enemy was close behind. Thanks to the discipline of the 6th Line and the cavalry, Murat, exhibiting all of his energy and velour, was able to hold off the immediate pursuit, but Caraffa panicked and there was no alternative but to retire as rapidly as possible. The Neapolitan Army truly melted away during this long retreat back to the kingdom. The Guard infantry alone lost 500 deserters on 5 May and by the 11th, Murat's strength had dwindled to about 10,000 beaten men. Although he flirted briefly with notions of continued resistance, Murat realised that the dream had come to an end and turned over command to General Carascosa on 15 May. Four days later, he and a small following embarked on a pair of fishing boats and sailed into the darkness. Neapolitan Strength Estimates With no Neapolitan archival record for the strength of Murat's army at Tolentino, the historian is forced to construct his own estimate based on Austrian intelligence assessments and the often imprecise statements of participants. To complicate matters, the Austrian assessments include a number of unrecognisable units under the heading of the Royal Guard. The following presents a Neapolitan strength report of mid-March (March N). and Austrian assessment for the same period (March A) and an Austrian assessment for the end of April (April A); all are exaggerated, particularly the Neapolitan report. Lechi's report of 25 April (*), on the other hand, seems more accurate. Guard Infantry March N March A April A 1st Velites 1,125 923 1,200 2nd Velites 1,164 1,064 1,200 3rd Velites (?) not listed not listed 1,200 Voltigeurs 1,536 1,456 1,800 Grenadiers not listed not listed not listed Sappers (?) 818 no figure not listed 2nd Artillery (?) 818 340 not listed Line/Light Infantry 3rd Light/2 Div 2,335 2,203 2,800 2nd Line/2 Div 2,229 2,046 2,800 6th Line/2 Div 2,425 2,147 3,000 9th Line/2 Div 1,611 1,488 2,800 1st Light/3 Div 2,289 2,062 1,789* 4th Line/3 Div 2,250 2,051 1,640* 7th Line/3 Div 2,100 1,845 1,657* 8th Line/3 Div 2,340 2,062 2,087* Cavalry Guard Lancers 390 313 not listed Guard Chevaulegers 487 323 550 Guard Cuirassiers 440 200 200 Guard Hussars 518 426 550 ('Velites') 2nd Chevaulegers 808 625 600 3rd Chevaulegers 828 363 unknown From the table, it is readily apparent that the Austrian assessment of late April is too vague and standardised to be of much use. The March reports, on the other hand, seem more reliable, but apparently suffered some confusion in transcription or translation from the original archival material: it seems odd, for example, that two units would have exactly the same number of men (818). The supposed 'Guard Sappers' and '2nd Artillery' are also suspicious. Principal Sources Campagne des Autrichiens contre Murat en 1815, 1821. Sporschil.Feldzug der Oesterreicher gegen Joachim Murat, 1842. Weil. Joachim Murat, 1910. Veltze.Krieg gegen Neapel 1815, 1914. Colletta.La Campagna d'ltalia di Gioacchino Murat, 1982. Crociani.L'Esercito Napoletano 1806/15, 1987. Austrian Order of Battle Commander: Feldmarschalleutnant Friedrich Freiherr von Bianchi Division: FML Baron Mohr Brigade: GM Graf Starhemberg 9th Jagers ( 1,043) Modena battalion (400) 4 3/4 sqdns Prinz Regent Hussars (Nr. 5) (441) pioneer company (161) cavalry battery (6 pieces) Brigade: GM Senitzer Wacquant Infantry Regt. (Nr. ) - 1 btn (969) Simbschen Infantry Regt. (Nr. 48) - 2 btns (1,848) Hiller Infantry Regt. (Nr. 2) - 2 btns ( 1,971) 6-pdr brigade battery (8 pieces) Division: GM Baron Eckhardt Brigade: (commanded by Eckhardt) Chasteler Infantry Regt. (Nr. 27) - 2 btns (1,490) Erzherzog Karl Infantry Regt. (Nr. 3) - 3 btns (2,426) 6-pdr brigade battery (6 pieces) Brigade: GM Baron Taxis Grossherzog Toscana Dragoons (Nr. 4) - 6 sqdns (726) Banal Grenz Regt - 1 btn* Szuliner Grenz Regt. - 1 btn* Artillery Reserve: 8 pieces *did not arrive until approx. 8 May The numbers above include the following detached forces near the battlefield; Hauptmann Muhlwerth with one hussar platoon, one Jager company, and two infantry companies (these probably from Senitzer'sbattalions), Lieutenant Colonel Meininger with one, possibly two, dragoon squadrons. Additional Austrian Order of Battle Left Wing: FML Graf Niepperg Brigade: GM Geppert 11th Jagers (622) Parma battalion (400) 2 sqdns Prinz Regent Hussars (Nr.5) (220) 7 sqdns Liechtenstein Hussars (Nr.7) (1,071) pioneer company (161) cavalry battery (6 pieces) Brigade: GM Baron Lauer Spleny Infantry Regt. (Nr. 51) - 3 btns (2,493) Hessen-Homburg Inf. Regt. (Nr. ) - 3 btns (3,722) 6pdr brigade battery (8 pieces) Brigade: GM Graf Haugwitz Wiedrunkel Infantry Regt. (Nr. ) - 3 btns (3,544) St. Julien Infantry Regt. (Nr. 61) - 3 btns (3,233) 6pdr brigade battery (6 pieces) Right Wing: FML Graf Nugent 4 companies of 8th Jagers (675) Vacquant Infantry Regt. (Nr. ) - 2 btns (2,411) 1 1/4 sqdns Prinz Regent Hussars (Nr. 5)** 1 sqdn Liechtenstein Hussars (Nr. 7)** 4 guns **total cavalry = 281 4th (Reserve) Infantry Division: LTG Prince A.Pignatelli-Cerchiera Brigade: Brigadier General Rossaroli 4th Light Infantry Regt. 10th Infantry Regt. Brigade: Brigadier General Roche 11th and 12th Infantry Regts. 1st Infantry Division: LTG Carascosa Brigade: Brigadier General Pepe 2nd Light Infantry Regt. (3 btns) 1st Infantry Regt. (3 btns) Brigade: Brigadier General de Genarro 3rd and 5th Infantry Regts. (3 tens each) 1st Chevaulegers Artillery Neapolitan Order of Battle Commander: King Joachim Murat Chief of Staff: LTG Millet de Villeneuve 10th Line Regiment (2 btns)(1,000) Officers Battalion (250) Artillery Reserve: 10 guns Sappers (5-700) Guard Infantry Division: LTG Prince (2,500-3,000) Pignatelli-Strongoli Brigade: Colonel Taillade 1st Velite Regt. (2 btns) Voltigeur Regt. (2 btns) (third battalion in Naples) Brigade: Colonel Merliot 2nd Velite Regt. (2 btns) 8 guns Guard Cavalry Division: LTG Livron (1,000 - 2,000) Brigadiers: Generals Campana and Giuliani Guard Hussars Guard Chevaulegers Guard Cuirassiers Guard Lancers 4 guns 2nd Infantry Division: LTG d'Ambrosio (6-7,000 infantry) Brigade: Brigadier General d'Aquino 3rd Light Infantry Regt. (3 btns) 2nd Infantry Regt. (3 btns) Brigade: Brigadier General Medici 6th and 9th Infantry Regts. (3 btns each) 2nd Chevaulegers (500) 10 guns 3rd Infantry Division: LTG Lechi (6-7,000) Brigade: Brigadier General de Majo 1st Light Infantry Regt. (3 btns) 4th Infantry Regt. (3 btns) Brigade: Brigadier General Caraffa 7th and 8th Infantry Regts. (3 btns each) 3rd Chevaulegers (300) 10 guns Notes: 1. All strengths are estimates. 2. The Officers Battalion was assembled from officers of the former Army of Italy. 3. The 10th Line was originally slated for the 4th Division but joined the main army in late April 4. Other units possibly present include: a. Murat's Guardie del Corpo b. A newly-organised battalion of some 600 volunteers. c. Volunteer cavalry unit organised in early April ('Chasseurs of Bologna') d. One battalion of Guard Grenadiers (at least one battalion was in Naples). More Tolentino Introduction Battle Aftermath and Order of Battle Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #16 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com