Act 3 Scene 1 It is July 1796. General Napoleon Bonaparte has removed the Sardinians from the First Coalition, cornered one element of the Austrian Army into Mantua, and chased the remainder from the Po River Valley. The Armee d'Italie is in command of the peninsula from Rome to the Alps. The French grand strategy calls for the Armee d' Italie to be but a secondary operation with the main blows against the Austrians and their allies to be carried out in central Europe. The French Armee de Sambre-et-Meuse under Jourdan and the Rhine-et-Moselle were to be on the offense and thus deny any Austrian reinforcements to succor Mantua. The Austrians have other plans. General Beaulieu is replaced by General Dagobert Sigismond Wurmser. The Austrians are not going to give up Mantua, the Lombardy Plain, or Italy, Wurmser sets out from the Rhine on the 18th of June along with a strong reinforcement of approximately 25,000 men. His command absorbs the remnants of Beaulieu's command which are still in disorder and demoralization around Trent. Of his staff, Colonel Zach councils Wurmser to mass a force of 40,000 men, march down the Adige River valley, and head straight for Mantua with flank columns to deceive the French as to the axis of advance. Colonel Dukka recommends employing three sizable columns striking down both sides of Lake Garda and the third further east down the Brenta valley towards Bassano. All would reunite just before Mantua and the French. A very risky plan to carry out before a commander like Bonaparte who had just demonstrated since March that he was a master of time and distance. However, it is the one Wurmser elects to follow at the end of July. The Austrians move south on 29 July driving in the French outposts and striking General Messena's division at Corona above the Adige River. East of Lake Garda, Wurmser with 46,937 is muscles Messena's 15,000 southward. Messena falls back. General Joubert's Division acts badly under this onslaught. General Victor's and the 18th Regiment are heavily engaged in the combat. On the west side of Lake Garda, General Quasdanwich with 17,620 men throws General Sauet's 4,300 out of Salo. He sends his columns south to unite with those of Wurmser. One column strikes westward capturing the town of Bresica, just as the French headquarters evacuate, but bagging wounded to include Murat. He is given a parole, a very expensive gesture on the Austrian's part. Bonaparte and the Armee d' Italie react quickly. He employs his army in another centre d' operations [see Chandler, pgs. 170-174] against the separate elements of Wurmser and Quasdanwich. Orders are issued. Augereau and Messena are sent westward to consolidate around the south end of the lake. Seurier is to quit the siege at Mantua and occupy Marcarica and its bridge across the Oglio River. Seurier masks his withdraw with an extended bombardment on Mantua which lasts till 10 PM. On the 31st of July, Wurmser has turned the eastern comer of Lake Garda reaching Castelnovo. Now is the time to press on, to unite with Quasdanwich, now at Salo and Brescia. However, he does not find the French as he has anticipated -- Somewhat uncertain as to the intention of his opponent, Wurmser continues southward on the 1st of August to Villeggio and, by the 2nd, to Goito. It is only on the third of August that the columns under Wurmser swing northwest towards Castiglione. He has given Bonaparte three valuable days. Quasdanowich's columns are not mutually supporting. General Sarret's division retakes Salo from one such isolated formation. General Despinios' division swings towards Garond, but is driven back. Messena's division stands at Lonato to block any union between the two converging Austrian forces. On 3 August, in a sharp fight, Messena's seven demi-brigades blunt Quadanowich advance. Quadanowich has 11 battalions in the locale, but these are not concentrated and can be defeated in detail. The Austrians western (right) wing of the offense is neutralized. The fight at Lonato is heard by Wurmser, but it is too late to intervene. As he finally lumbers towards the sound of the guns, Wurmser finds Augereau's lone division astride Ins line of advance. Here before the village of Castiglione the first combat on this ground unfolds. " Advancing eastward from Montechiaro he attacked Wunnser, who held the chateau of Castiglione on the bill in front, in rear of which Augereau had at midnight on the 2nd pushed out a body which lay in ambush. The struggle throughout the day was most severe and almost all leaders of his division were killed or wounded. Dissatisfied with the manner in which his artillery was handled, he asked Lieut.-Colonel Marmont to command it, which that officer did to his satisfaction, although Marmont cannot have had much experience actually handling field guns. The chateau was taken but, pressing on for the main point of the heights, Augereau found his men down utterly exhausted, for not a drop of water could be obtained on the thirsty plain they had advanced over. Dismounting and drawing his sword, an example followed by 'le brave Marmont', he led them on and took the position, the enemy retiring to their last post in front of the Solferino tower." - Phipps, pg. 68. Augereau has fought the battle of his life. Despondent, spent. Yet here arrives Bonaparte embracing and congratulating the General. He has accomplished all that is desired. Wurmser will not recover from this last opportunity when his forces were the greatest in number and fresh in these events. The next day Augereau's troops gain a respite. Messena's and Despinios' divisions come into line. Seurier's division, commanded by General Fiorello, which has kept the 4,000 man column of General Meszarc, at bay, is now ordered to move north to take a position at Portevico. It is to deliver the telling blow to Wurmser's left flank on the day of battle. Wurmser is silent. He stands before the massing Armee d' Italie. He does not quickly order up Meszaro's force which by interior lines could have beaten Seurier's division to Castiglione. By the 5th, Bonaparte has set the battle. Wurmser can only respond. Although the field of battle is the same as Augereau's victory two days before, it is the master's story which will be branded as the Battle of Castiglione. N.B. The events of Bonaparte's major battle for Castiglione are best covered in Chandler, Part III, Chapter 17, The Embryonic System: Castiglione or Voykowitsch, Castiglione 1796: Napoleon repulses Wurmser's first attack. For the gamer - This battle is effectively arrayed for Napoleon's Battle in the booklet Wargaming Scenarios #3 by Brian Robinette and for Shako in the booklet Fields of Glory by Chris Leach. [see end notes] After the Austrian forces are driven from Castiglione, Messena's division presses onward to relieve one of his elements which has held Peschiera along the south shore of Lake Garda. It is a difficult fight, still demonstrating French infantry vulnerabilities to the Austrian cavalry. The Austrian horse twice break the 18th Line Demi-Brigade and in the last charge assisted by Austrian infantry joining the fray from their defensive positions, driving it nearly into the Mincio River. Messena finally reinforces the 18th with the 32nd Line Demi-Brigade and a dragoon regiment, which is sent to outflank the Austrians. The Austrians retire first east then north along their original line of march, allowing the French in Peschiera to be reamalgarnated with their parent formation. Augereau's troops after the tough fights on the 3rd and 5th, regroup by the 7th to follow the remainder of the army. However, Wurmser has taken the lifting of the siege by the departure of Seurier's forces to succor the Austrians in Mantua. The sick are withdrawn. Food and two fresh brigades are added to the garrison. Mantua still stands like a rock and Wurmser still has fight left in him. Act 3 Scene 2 "The Race to Mantua, Part Deux" September finds both commands reconstituting their remaining forces and planning new strategies. Both must work with their battered and tired men, This campaign will take it's toll of the veteran infantry and brave leaders. Bonaparte is pressed by the Directory in Paris to move northward towards the Brenner Pass in order to act in concert with General Moreau's Armee d'Rhin et Moselle. Neither Bonaparte nor Moreau are enthusiastic to share the 'spot light'. The Armee d' Italie is reorganized into three divisions; 11,000 men under General Vaubois, 13,000 under Messena; and 9,000 under Augereau. General Kilmaine is left to hold Verona and the Adige River crossings with 2,500 and General Salarguet to press the siege with 10,000. Wurmser still has fight and audacity left in him and seeks new means to fully relieve Mantua. Wunnser prepares to advance again. This time a main body of 21,000 will head down the Brenta Valley. On the 31st of August, 11,000 reach Bassano and 4,000 at Pergine with 6,000 still at Trent. The entire force was expected to be assembled at Bassano by the 7th of September. Davidovich is entrusted to defend the Tyrol with 20,000. 8,000 at Roveredo, 5,000 in reserve at Trent~ and the remainder in the Grisons and the Vorarlberg. The 2nd of September finds the French striking northward along Lake Garde. Vaubois works his way north along the western shores of the lake while Messena mirrors his movement on the east shore. Augereau's command moves through the mountains and along Lake Lugo covering Messena's eastern flank. Before Reveredo, the commands of Vaubois and Messena catch elements of Davidovich's in the Tyrol. Each fight a separate battle, Vaubois at Morio and Messena at nearby Marco on the 4th. In this battle of Roveredo, Davidovich is unable to coordinate his force of 14,000 in a manner Bonaparte did before Castiglione in a centre d' operations. His divided forces are quickly overwhelmed and pursued. Messena's division dashes through Trent and falls upon elements of the rearguard at Lavis on the 5th. Davidovich is out of this fight. However, Bonaparte doesn't find Wurmser here. Moreau has seized a bridge over the Isar at Freisgen in southern Bavaria. This would be the fiirthest eastward penetration by the Armee d' Rhinn et Moselle. By the 9th he writes that although he was ready to move to the gorges of the northern Tyrol, the retreat of the French Armee Sambre-et-Meuse on his right had made him change direction. Bonaparte's focus has been and continues to be the enemy army before him. There is not the slightest hesitation as what to do next. He now knows that Wumiser has been moving down the Brenta River valley to Bassano with Mantua his destination. The 6th of September, three days before Moreau begins his retrograde toward the Rhine in Germany, the orders are executed sending the bulk of the Armee d' Itahe flying down the Brenta in hot pursuit of the remaining Austrian threat in this theater of operations. Wurmser expected the French to be held far more effectively by Davidovich with their subsequent movement expected to be back down the Adige River valley towards Verona as he falls upon the minor formations before Mantua. He is utterly startled when at Bassano he hears the distance sound of the battle before Primolano in his immediate rear. Bonaparte, as well as the rest of the French command, know that they can not subsist upon the rocks of the Brenta valley, that their passage to Bassano must be conducted with out delay or obstruction. To be held now at a narrows would do more destruction to the Armee d' Italie than any grand battle. Vaubois, the least trusted, is assigned to watch Davidovich at Lavis, but not after stripping his division of its converged grenadiers. The divisions of Augereau and Messena sweep down the valley, crashing into Wurmser's unprepared rear formations at Primolano. It is Augereau's division at the head. The Austrian's array their forces with the little fort of Cavolo to hold the French. Lannes leading the 4th Demi-Brigade in close column strikes the position while the light infantry climb and turn the hills to the flanks. The French cavalry getting ahead of the beaten foe, insure that this sharp fight bags the entire lot of 2,800 men, their colors, and five guns. All are absolutely worn out. The lead elements halt at Cismone. On that same day, Meszards division had assaulted Verona, being held by French units under Kilmaine. Repulsed, Meszaro must rely upon Wurmser's divisions at Bassano to press the attack further. Wurmser has other problems - Augereau, Messena, and Bonaparte. He could withdraw eastward towards Treviso and retain a line of communication with the interior. He could dash for Mantua to draw upon the forces there or the walls. He can turn and face the French at this back. Bonaparte will grant him no time to decide. He stands and receives the French expecting only to fight a French advanced guard. Meszaro is ordered to break off and fall back on the main force, but can not move fast enough to intervene in the battle. The French hurl themselves at the quickly arranged Austrians before Bassano on the next day. The 8th of September finds Messena's division on the right bank of the Brenta River and Augereau's on the left. They face the deployed Austrian formations of Seboltendorf and Quosdanovich, respectively. The attack by the French is much more than Wurmser anticipates. The Austrians are thrown back. "...the regiment of Lannes 'passed the bridge in close column, as at Lodi'. The cavalry under Murat broke into the flying enemy and the French took twenty-five guns with their teams, two pontoon-trains, one of which would have been valuable to Meszaro, five colours, and 3,000 prisoners. Most of the large captures were due to the active pursuit by Murat's cavalry." - Phipps, pg. 93. The bridge over the Brenta river is in French hands. Wurmser's command is now split and each portion is unable to coordinate their actions with the other. Many of the units under Quosdanovich, on the eastern bank, fly towards Traviso. The remainder head southwest towards Vicenza and consolidates with Meszaro's' division. Wurmser still husbands a dwindling command, now tallying approximately 16,000 effectives of which 6,000 are cavalry. [Phipps lists 16,000, but annotates Jomini reporting 10,000 infantry and 4,000 horse, and Clauswitz with 12,000 infantry and 4,000 horse.] Wurmser must decide what to do next. He could swing eastward to reunite his command and establish a new fine of communications through Traviso. He could swing westward around Kilmaine and Verona heading north once more through the Adige River valley. He could dash for Mantua. Bonaparte still has an active field army before him lead by a commander not yet completely beaten into defeat or submission. While Wurmser conducted his march at a regular pace down the Brenta to Bassano, it was the French who have driven with great speed and fury. Now the fatigue and wear begin to show. At Legnago, a French force sent from the siege of Mantua to block Austrian movement is caught and sabred by two squadrons of cavalry. The Austrian cavalry now operates on terrain more aligned to its proper employment. Wurmser main body moves through the town by the 11th of September. A garrison of 1,600 is left in Porto-Legnago to hold for three days. On the 12th, Messena and Augereau surrounded the place. The Austrian garrison surrenders on the 13th without being pressed. Pushing his men to their Emits, Bonaparte tries once more to catch the Austrians before they can reach Mantua. The Austrian lead elements are attacked at Cerna by Murat at the head of his cavalry, only to be thrown back. The 18th Regiment is sent in. It too is thrown back upon its division. Bonaparte present for the fight, once again in this campaign, barely escapes capture in the confusion. The French are now the ones caught a march too late to slow or obstruct the columns of Austrians from their objective. General Victor is able to surprise elements at Due Castelli on the 14th. However, the Austrians not only stand their ground, but throw the French back, seizing the guns of the advance guard. The 32nd of the Line is thrown into the melee and repulsed as well. Even the brave generals are falling to the rigors of the pace. Augereau begs a leave due to pains and ills. General Bon takes temporary command. Wurmser achieves the walls of Mantua on the 12th. The old general is still in a fighting mood. He assesses his situation. With the fresh formations he was able get into the city on his first relief effort, along with those he still commands, he knows his best chance to breakout is now, before fever and famine start to take their toll. On the 15th, the Austrians are once again on the attack. "Sahuguet was held before the Favorita, and Wurmser threw himself on Bon's division, which was coming up from Govemolo on the French left, believing he was also dealing with the division of Messena, which was hidden by the ground. Then Bonaparte threw Messena forward on the line covering Saint-Georges, which Victor attacked with some Light Infantry, a battalion of grenadiers, and the 18th Regiment. Part of the division turned to the left for La Favorita, with the 29th and 32nd in reserve. To this last regiment Bonaparte spoke, "Your rival, the 4th Regiment of Augereau's division' (the regiment of Lannes), 'is on the right; it must not enter Saint-Georges before you. ' "Let us pass,' said the men, 'and it will soon be finished.' The enemy began to give way and the 18th advanced, the first battalion in close column on the road, the two others deployed on its flanks, firing by word of command, for special care was taken of the manoeuvers this day. A regiment of Austrian cuirassiers fell on them, but this time the men did not yield an inch, and beat them off. Messena gave Marmont a battalion of the l8th and one of grenadiers, and placing these in column he entered Saint-Georges and took the head of the inner bridge. The Austrians were driven into Mantua with heavy loss, but the French too had suffered severely, especially Messena's division." - Phipps, pgs. 99-100. The dust settles with Wurmser buttoned up in Mantua and both protagonists bloodied and exhausted. Their immediate enemy is now the mosquito. Long term, the Austrians look to their larder. Bonaparte and the Armee d'Italie must look to the north and east. Next - Act 4 "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more" References and Related Notes: 1. MWAN No. 8 1, Prologue; MWAN No. 84, Act 1; MWAN No. 88, Act 2 2. Chandler, David, The Campaigns of Napoleon, The Mind and Methods of History's Greatest Soldiers, MacMillian Co., New York, 1966. 3. Phipps, Ramsey, The Armies of the First French Republic and the Rise of the Marshals of Napoleon The Army of Italy 1796 to 1797. Oxford University Press, London, 1935. 4. Voykowitsch, Bernhard, Castiglione 1796, Helmet Military Publications, Maria Enzersdorf, 1998. 5. Dept. of Military Art and Engineering, Atlas to Accompany Napoleon as a General by Count Yorch von Wartenburg, US Military Academy, West Point, 1958. 6. Robinette, Brian, Napoleon's Battles Wargaming Scenario #3, obtainable from Mr. Robinette, 818 Sun Stone Drive, Durham, NC 27712 (send SASE for current costs]. #3 includes Castiglione 1796, Zurich 1799, Scaile 1809, Linz 1809, Bussaco 18 10, Fuentes de Onoro 1811, Polotsk 1812, Mato-Jaroslavets 1812. 7. Leach, Chris, Fields of Glory - Napoleonic Scenarios for Shako Rules, Quantum Printing, NY, 1997. 8. Nafziger Collection has the French OoB for 20-25 July 1796 [796GBG] and 16 September 1796 [796IBI] Back to MWAN #102 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum 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