In Prince Eugene at War, Robert Epstein argues that, in 1809, Prince Eugene Beauharnais fell short of the test for first-class generalship: being able to inflict casualties at a 1:2 rate even when outnumbered. In 1814, however, Eugene met that standard at the battle of the Mincio. This was the only "first class" battle in Italy in 1814. (The following is based on French and Austrian accounts, which, conflict on details. G.F. Nafziger is working on a book on the campaign).

Background: 1813

After Lutzen, Eugene was sent to Italy to raise a new Army of the Kingdom of Italy. All units were new, as the cadres which survived 1812 were besieged in eastern fortresses. A leavening of officers and veterans on garrison duty instructed the new recruits. Operations began when Austria entered the war.

Austrian troops (commanded by Radivojevich) overran Dalmatia and besieged Ragusa. Eugene withdrew behind the Isonzo river. In October, Bavaria's defection permitted Austrian troops (commanded by Fenner) to liberate Tyrol and outflank the Isonzo river line. Eugene withdrew his army behind the Adige river without serious engagement. November saw small engagements along the lower Adige involving Nugent's Austrian-Sardinian division.

In mid-December, the Austrian Emperor relieved Marshal Hiller for failing to press operations. The Emperor desired his regulars to win a victory over Eugene's conscripts to establish Austrian control over northern Italy. While Hiller went to administer the liberated Tyrol, Field Marshal Bellegarde assumed command of the field army. Both armies spent January 1814, along the Adige absorbing replacements and reorganizing.

Regardless of the change in opponents, Eugene's 50,00 French-Italian troops and Murat's 25,000 Neapolitans could have held the Adige river against the 80,000 Inner-Austrian Army indefinitely. The arrival of Murat was expected in February, but it was uncertain whose side he would take.

Murat's Defection

Murat had been sent (after Leipzig) to reorganize the Neapolitan Army as Eugene had the Italian. He and his wife negotiated to keep the Kingdom of Naples in exchange for deserting Napoleon. These talks could not be concealed. Murat wrote Napoleon and Eugene that his negotiations were just to distract the Austrians during the period his army would be mustering. Napoleon directed Murat to join Eugene; Murat would have to come off the fence.

Murat publicly declared his desertion after arriving at Bologna, and united Nugent's Austrian- Sardinian division to his army. A stream of disaffected Frenchmen informed Eugene of this and Murat's subsequent moves. On February 1 Eugene announced Murat's defection to his army, and prepared to abandon the line of the Adige river.

The move began on February 3. By the 6th, the French-Italian columns were re-united in combat formation behind the Mincio river. They awaited Austrian river-crossing efforts that didn't come. Only on the 6th was the bulk of the Austrian army across the Adige. Both commanders received surprising information on the night of the 6th.

Austrian scouts then reported, mistakenly but emphatically, that Eugene was retreating to Cremona, leaving a garrison in Mantua and two divisions along the Mincio to cover the withdrawal. Bellegarde spent the 7th travelling to Bologna, meeting with Murat to discuss combined operations to eject Eugene from Lombardy, and returning. Bellegarde ordered his united army to cross the Mincio early on the 8th.

Meanwhile, an amazed Eugene received a messenger from Murat. Murat did not want to fight fellow Frenchmen, but only to keep his throne. He promised he would not attack any French units, and would give adequate notice if he had to undertake any offensive movement. In a stroke, the army whose presence had forced Eugene from the Adige was neutralized. Maybe he had acted too swiftly in withdrawing. Eugene resolved to re-cross the Mincio, attack the Austrian van, and see what happened. At best, he might rout the Austrian back across the Adige, and then send troops to France or perhaps turn and attack the Neapolitan army. At worst, he would fall back across the Mincio after weakening the Austrians.

Eugene spent the 7th travelling between units and conveying his plans for the 8th in person. His plan to crush the Austrian van rested on the how he expected them to advance. He correctly expected the Austrian advance would be aimed at the Borghetto ford. The previous Austrian advance formation centered on an advance guard division of two infantry brigades, a cavalry regiment, and a 6-pounder battery. Three grenzer brigades would operate separately on each flank and in front of this division. The main Austrian army would follow in a column of corps and divisions.

Eugene planned to envelope the advance guard near Borghetto, then converge on the main Austrian army at Villafranca. Two columns from Goito (Eugene) and Mantua (Grenier) would meet west of Roverbella, then turn north toward Vallegio and Villafranca. Verdier's two divisions would cross the upper Mincio, and strike south to form the anvil for the envelopment. (Eugene may be attacked for operating by "making pictures of the enemy" instead of on sure data. Although unstated, the course of the campaign indicates that Eugene's green cavalry lost the war of posts to the regular Austrian cavalry. In consequence, Eugene operated on limited information throughout.)

Meanwhile, Bellegarde's orders put his army in a pursuit march toward France. A small division masked Peschiara, and a two-division blockade group masked Mantua. The grenadier division marched to Pozzolo, with two other divisions following. The body of the army, two corps, marched down the VillafrancaVallegio road to the Borghetto ford. Consequently, Eugene's pincers closed on the entire Austrian army rather than behind an exposed vanguard. The only first-class battle of the Italian 1813/14 campaign ensued.

The Terrain

The Mincio area is where Napoleon maneuvered to defend his siege of Mantua in 1796. The Mincio runs from Lake Garde to the lakes and lowlands around Mantua and on to the Po. Since Lake Garde runs north-south and has alpine foothills on both sides, the area between Lake Garde and Mantua is a chokepoint to armies travelling east-west. There were bridges at Goito and Pozzolo, but armies trying to force the Mincio usually crossed at the ford between Borghetto and Valeggio.

The riverland had worn the surrounding area into tablelands. The area had been farmed since Roman times. It was well settled, and dotted by walled stone houses and irrigation canals. Major man-made features were groves of lemon trees, surrounded by stone walls. The road from Mantua to Villafranca and Verona was a major, paved road.

More Battle of the Mincio

Background
Opening Moves and Battle
Order of Battle and Large Map (slow: 104K)
Order of Battle and Jumbo Map (very slow: 251K)