The actions against Provera (15th January)

While Joubert and Rey were busy pursuing Alvinci, Napoleon had set off to deal with Provera, who had crossed the Adige on the 13th at Anghiari just north of Legnago, and was now heading for Mantua with 7,000 men. Napoleon took with him Massena's cavalry and two Demi-Brigades, the strongest being left with Joubert and Rey. (He may have also picked up Victor's command on the way since some accounts indicate that Victor was approaching the battlefield behind Rey).

However, Augereau, positioned in the Lower Adige area, failed to block Provera's path. He had been kept busy by Bajalich's feint attacks before he realised Provera's real intention. Even then he didn't move to pursue Provera until after first attacking the force left to protect Provera's pontoon bridge over the Adige, said to be 2,000 troops and 14 guns. He defeated them and destroyed the bridge. He then gave chase and, although he caught up with Provera's rearguard and caused them heavy casualties, he was unable to prevent him reaching Mantua.

Unfortunately for Provera, luck again wasn't on the side of the Austrians. After several attacks he still failed to break though the French troops besieging the fortress. Also, a plan in which Wurmser would sortie out and attack La Favorite while Provera attacked the French troops at Fort St. George, after some initial success, also failed. The French columns pursuing him were now arriving and Provera was forced to surrender what was left of his shattered command on the 16th. Bajalich retreated back to Bassano where, on the 24th, he was caught between two columns, and, after suffering heavy casualties, retreated north in disorder.

In the days that followed Joubert pushed Alvinci back until the French were able to take up a position at Lavis; a position lost by Vaubois before the Battle of Arcola. Massena was at Bassano and Augereau's Division marched to Treviso at the southern end of the Piave River. (It appears Augereau was sent back to Paris to show off the captured flags and standards and General Jean Joseph Guveux (or Guieu) was now in charge of his troops). Serurier continued besieging Mantua, while Rey, with 4,000 troops as a guard, marched the Austrian prisoners back to France.

The Fall of Mantua

Wurmser now realised there was no chance of holding Mantua or of being relieved. So, on the 2nd of February, 1797, he surrendered. It was reported that during the siege the Austrians had lost 18,000 troops due to sickness, along with 6,000 civilians. The same diseases had caused the French about 7,000 casualties. Wurmser was given full honours for such a stubborn defence. Serurier accepted the surrender on behalf of Napoleon, who, although he had great respect for the old campaigner, could not take it because he was marching south with Victor and 9,000 troops to sort out the Pope. The Papal forces were defeated at Senio and the Pope asked for an armistice, which resulted in the Treaty of Tolentino.

The Battle of Rivoli had been won by the marching and fighting powers of the French revolutionary soldiers who had fought and marched almost non-stop for four days and nights. (One might also add their climbing powers considering the tenain.) Even so, they still couldn't have achieved it without the skill of their 'gambler' commander, who was willing to take risks when needed.

They were also helped in their victory by the poor command of their opponents. The Austrian troops themselves were just as tough and capable as the French but had no one in command to exploit any gains they made. After Rivoli it appeared that Napoleon Bonaparte and his ragtag army had finally won Italy, for a while anyway. To keep it Napoleon knew he had to invade Austria and defeat the Austrians totally, which, eventually, he would do. But that, as the saying goes, is another story, and, I might add, another visit.

The Site Today: (and Monuments and Museums)

The Rivoli battlefield is too big to visit in one day. Even by car I think you'd need to plan your routes carefully to make sure you've enough time to have a decent look around. The site today is covered in vineyards, toll roads, rivers and factories, and, like Castiglione and to a lesser extent, Arcola, are showing signs of growth in terms of more industry and new housing. But there are some untouched areas and it's a great place to visit, not just for seeing the battlefield itself, but also for the spectacular scenery in the area and the numerous old buildings, all of which are well worth visiting, if you have the time.

My first attempt to reach Rivoli was via boat from Desenzano to Garda on the eastern side, and then by local bus to Caprino. I went with my wife and my youngest son, aged 7. It was late in the year and finding suitable public transport was a constant problem and it took quite some time to get there.

Unfortunately, due to this we had virtually no time left to look over the place. This was because we discovered that the bus we arrived on was also the last bus back.

Considering how easy it is to get lost in the area, the heat of the day, being in the mountains and how the roads seem to go on forever, and that we would probably have to climb the Trombalore Heights to reach Rivoli, we decided to call it a day. Mainly because there was no guarantee that we' d find transport at Rivoli, or anywhere else for that matter, so back to Lake Garda we went. I took some photos of Caprino and The Trombalore Heights but again, as at Castiglione and Arcola, I had used a faulty film so there was nothing to show for our efforts.

On my second attempt I went alone. This time I travelled from Desenzano to Verona by bus in the hope of getting another bus direct to Rivoli. I should have known better. However, I did get one as far as Affi. From there I thought I could walk to Rivoli and worry about the journey back later. I was wrong again. I kept getting lost, even though I was pointed in the direction of Rivoli several times by the usual friendly locals.

In the end, tired and very hot, I staggered into a garage and asked them to call me a taxi. This time I was lucky. The last taxi was about to finish for the day but agreed to go to Rivoli, that is, after I suggested he could take me back to Verona afterwards.

As it turned out the taxi driver was brilliant. He couldn't understand a word of English but he knew the area well. I mentioned Napoleon and he took me to the Napoleonic museum in Rivoli. It looked about the size of a small house but unfortunately, being so late in the year, it was closed. If Arcola is anything to go by, I should imagine an advance phone call would be required first. I mentioned Napoleon again and he drove into a vineyard!

As we drove along the rows of vines with the hanging bunches of grapes bumping against the top of the taxi, I saw signs in English only, saying private - keep out! Then he stopped in the middle of the vineyard and invited me to sample some of the grapes, which I did, if not a little apprehensively, I was half-expecting the local Mafia to appear or the sound of a shotgun going off at any minute, and I was seriously beginning to wonder if the heat had begun to affect the driver. I thought later the truth was probably that either he or a close relative, must have owned the vineyard.

Anyway, we got back in the taxi and drove on and a few minutes later he turned around a hedge and we came face to face with the Rivoli monument. It was bigger than I thought and the views of the battlefield from it were breathtaking. I honestly don't think I'd have found it on foot, even though it's marked clearly on the map. I'm not sure but I think he said he had or was going to bring his bambinos here. Anyway, it brought a nice ending to the day and this time the film in my camera worked.

Re-enactment Potential

I could see several venues where a good re-enactment could take place, given permission that is. For example, a march could be made with little difficulty (what's a few hours walking for dedicated re-enactors?) by both French and Austrian units from Caprino to the Trombalore Heights. Here, various actions could be fought with either the Austrians attacking the heights held by French units, or the French attacking the retreating Austrians fighting a rearguard. Apart from the roads running along both sides of the Adige, used by Quasdanovich and Wukassovich, and the Rivoli plateau, the area is very mountainous.

However, there are several areas, including Monte Baldo, where large scale skirmish actions could take place.

Getting There

As already mentioned I travelled by boat from Desenzano to Garda on the east side of Lake Garda, and then via local bus to Caprino. This would be a good place to begin visiting the battle site although it would mean walking to the Trombalore Heights and then climbing them to reach Rivoli, something I wouldn't suggest on a hot day.

Alternatively you could travel by bus to Verona and then change for Affi and walk to Rivoli. Again, not recommended on a hot day but you might also be able to catch a bus direct to Rivoli during the peak summer season.

By car you could travel north from Verona towards Rivoli along the N12 until you reach Dolce. However, this would also mean that you would be stuck on the eastern bank of the Adige.

A crossing place south of Dolce, appears on the map, as does one north of Dolce at Rivalta. However, be warned, I couldn't see any crossing places in the area at all. Alternatively, you could travel west from Verona along Road Number 11 until you reach the A22, and then north along the A22 until you reach the turn off for Rivoli.

Whether you're bussing, walking or travelling by car it's important if not vital that you take plenty to drink and some good maps. Maps are difficult to come by, especially detailed ones, but I was kindly provided with the following map free of charge by The Italian Tourist board: KOMPASS Carta turistica No 102. Lago di Garda Monte Baldo. 1:50,000.

Wargaming

The battle sits is probably too large to wargame as a whole if you're a purist and want to play to an accurate scale. However, a 'representative' battle could be played; a game with a 'Rivoli' flavour. That is, a game in which we have the Adige River, the Osteria Gorge, the Trombalore Heights, San Marco Chapel, Monte Pipalo, and the various villages; although in my game I only used those of Rivoli, Osteria, Caprino and Affi. It may not be realistic but it does offer the same problems of combat as the real battle, although of course, as already mentioned, not on an accurate scale.

Alternatively, the battle could be divided into parts for either a solo game, or for a series of games played by different players. Rivoli is ideal as a solo game because it has one side defending and the other attacking. This game could consist of the French defence of the Trombalore Heights alone or be combined with the action in the Osteria Gorge. However, for a multi-player game the battle could be divided into separate actions on separate tables. One game could consist of the fight in the Osteria Gorge. Another could be the battle for the Trombalore Heights, combined possibly with the action at San Marco Chapel, while a third could be the fighting involving Lusignan's column at Affi and Monte Pipalo.

It must be noted however that Lusignan had no idea of what was happening to the other Austrian columns during the battle, and this fact must be included into the game.

The battle does appear, in many places, to be more of a combat between the best mountain climbers. My respect for the men who fought on both sides grew considerably after my visit. How they marched, climbed and then fought each other, I'll never know. Most of the fighting seemed to involve mainly the infantry and artillery, although cavalry did come into action on two definite occasions: one when the French cavalry, including the 1st Heavy Cavalry regiment, was sent against the Austrian dragoons as they charged up the Osteria Gorge. Another when the French light cavalry charged the attacking Austrian infantry on the Trombalore Heights.

In my game, history virtually repeated itself. The French, after some tough fighting, lost San Marco Chapel and were also driven out of Osteria village by the heavy artillery fire from Wukassovich's guns. The Austrians then advanced up the Osteria Gorge and things were beginning to look bad for the French who were finding it hard to hold onto the Tromhalore Heights. Then Rey's Division arrived and after some severe fighting the Austrians were finally routed.

Unfortunately, unlike reality, Lusignan's column arrived too late to have any effect, didn't reach Monte Pipalo and was forced to surrender. I found it a very enjoyable game and I wasn't at all sure how it was going to end. Playing the game also helped me understand and appreciate Napoleon's skill of overcoming the problem of being outnumbered. He took a risk, moved and placed his troops in the right place at the right time to obtain an incredible victory. On the page it sounds so easy but playing it was another matter and I found it tough going. It would interesting to know if other wargamers, taking up the French side, could overcome the same problems. Likewise, would those taking the Austrian side, unlike the real Austrian commanders, manage to use their numerical superiority to effect before the French reinforcements arrived?

Conclusion

As I've already mentioned, researching the battles of Castiglione, Arcola and Rivoli, proved very interesting but also very frustrating. Sadly, there is a general lack of detailed information concerning the Orders of Battle, and many accounts appeared to he based mainly on the French point of view, probably because they won the battles. However, my research uncovered the fact that there are many more books written in German and French, which, to my knowledge have yet to be translated.

The Italian campaigns are screaming out to be studied in far more detail than I was able to do, considering my limitations of time and finance. And I'm sure a researcher, or team of researchers, who could speak and read German, French and Italian, and who could travel to Italy, Austria and France, would surely uncover far more than I did. But, I suppose I'll have to win the lottery to fund such an idea. Anyway, I can assure you that it's an area well worth looking at for anyone interested in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic period.

Sources List: Books, Magazines, Museums, and Other
Orders of Battle (14th January, 1797)

Related

Go To Rivoli: Battlefield Travel