Instrument of Victory

Bonaparte's Army of Italy
in the 1796-97 Campaign

Unit Profiles: Line Demi-Brigades

by John Giessmann


At right, French line officer of the Revolutionary First Consul period. © Keith Rocco.

4th Line

The 4th Demi-Brigade was the 39th Demi-Brigade before the drawing of 29 May,1796. It was formed from the 39th, 55th, 130th, 145th, and 147th Demi-Brigades. In April 1796, under the command of Beyrand, it was assigned to Augereau's Division. The 4th fought at Cosseria, Mondovi, Lodi, Peschiera (June 1796), the initial assault on Mantua, the invasion of the Papal States, first and second Castiglione, marched on Trent, helped clear the Primolano defile, Bassano, St. George/La Favorita, Caldiero, Arcola, and the invasion of Austria. Beyrand was killed at Castiglione and Verdier took over as commander. Lannes commanded at Bassano and led the unit in its noted charge over the bridge.

5th Line

The 5th Line entered Italy from the Army of the Alps in the early summer of 1796. It was assigned to Despinoy's Division initially, then moved to Augereau's Division. Its commander was Dumas, followed by Baraguey d'Hilliers. The 5th fought at Lonato, Castiglione, Bassano, St. George/La Favorita, and took part in the invasion of Austria.

6th Line

The 6th Line arrived in Italy in September of 1796. It was assigned to Sahuguet's Division blockading Mantua. It fought at St. George/La Favorita. Later, the Demi-Brigade was assigned to Dallemagne's Division. It was commanded in the later stages of the campaign by Victor.

11th Line

The 11th Line was formerly the 20th Line. It was part of Garnier's Division during the April-May phase of the campaign. It entered Italy with the Treaty of Cherasco and became part of Serurier's Division. Soon thereafter (mid-June) it became part of Massena's Division and was posted at Rivoli and at La Corona under the command of Gardanne. The 11th Line fought at Salo, Lonato, Castiglione, Roveredo, and Bassano. The demi-brigade then formed part of the forces blockading Mantua and passed into Sahuguet's Division. After the fall of Mantua, the demi-brigade became a part of Joubert's Division and advanced up the Brenner pass near the end of the campaign.

12th Line

Originally part of Kellerman's Army of the Alps, the 12th entered Italy in mid-summer of 1796 led by Dallemagne. It was posted to the blockade of Mantua and fought at St. George/La Favorita. From October to December 1796, the battalions were split between Sahuguet blockading Mantua and Augereau guarding the lower Adige. Several battalions took part in the invasion of the Papal States. After the fall of Mantua, the 12th joined Massena's Division and then Serurier's Division for the advance into Austria.

Provisional 12th Line

There was also a Provisional 12th Line. In April, 1796, the 12th Provisional was in Serurier's Division and commanded by General Pelletier. It fought at San Michele and Mondovi. After serving as the garrison of Alessandria, the 12th Provisional moved forward and took part in the battle of Arcola. After serving with General Guieu's Division for a few weeks, the demi-brigade was ordered to Verona where it was incorporated into the celebrated 18th Line.

13th Line

The 13th Demi-Brigade only entered Italy in the winter of 1797. It served briefly under Dallemagne and took part in the French retaliation against the Veronese revolt of spring 1797.

14th Line

The 14th Demi-Brigade arrived in Italy in the summer of 1796 from the Army of the Interior. It served under Rey in the blockade of Mantua, and then moved to Rivoli where it fought under Massena. In the spring of 1797, it advanced on Innsbruck.

18th Line

"Brave 18th, I know you! The enemy will not stand before you." (Bonaparte at Rivoli) In February of 1796, the former 69th Demi-Brigade became the 18th Demi-Brigade. The 211th Demi-Brigade, in which Suchet served, also appears to have been absorbed into the 18th. Commanded by Victor, the 18th Line became part of Augereau's Division. It was stationed at Loano and Alassio during the early spring of 1796. The 18th Line fought at Cosseria. After the fall of Milan, this demi-brigade was assigned to Massena's Division and was stationed at Rivoli.

It fought at Lonato. Part of the demi-brigade participated in the move on Salo (August 1796), while the other part saw action under Massena at Castiglione. This distinguished demi-brigade also fought at Roveredo, St. George/La Favorita, Caldiero, Arcola, Rivoli, and in the invasion of Austria.

19th Line

The 19th Demi-Brigade was part of Kellerman's Army of the Alps. It entered Italy in late April/early May 1796 after the Treaty of Cherasco knocked the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont out of the First Coalition. Two battalions were assigned to Vaubois' Division and in June 1796 took part in the expedition against Modena and the Papal States. The third battalion was assigned to Serurier and aided in the blockade of Mantua.

This battalion (and the other two which joined it around 1 July) suffered a great deal from malaria while stationed around Mantua. At the battle of Castiglione, the 19th formed part of the flank force commanded by Fiorella (Serurier was temporarily on the sick list). The 19th fought at St. George/La Favorita, and spent the next several weeks around Mantua. In early October, the demi-brigade was removed to Milan due to excessive losses from malaria. From October to the end of November, the demi-brigade formed part of the garrison of Milan.

At the end of December, the demi-brigade moved east to protect the administrative areas of the army around Bergamo. Baraguey d'Hilliers was the commander during this interval. In early January the unit joined Augereau's Division, taking part in Augereau's attempts to contain General Provera along the lower Adige during the Rivoli phase of the campaign. The 19th finished the campaign garrisoning northern Italy.

25th Line

The 25th Demi-Brigade was commanded by Dommartin and was attached to Augereau's Division in April of 1796. It fought at Cosseria, Ceva, and Mondovi. The demi-brigade besieged the citadel of Milan, then moved to take part in the first attempt to take Mantua. During the Castiglione phase of operations, the demi-brigade served under Sauret, fighting at Gavardo and Salo. In September, the demi-brigade fought in Vaubois' Division at Roveredo. During the Arcola phase of the fighting, the 25th fought in the battles against Davidovitch in the Adige Valley. The 25th moved to Massena's Division in January and during the Rivoli phase of the fighting defended the approaches to Verona. This demi-brigade then took part in the invasion of Austria.

30th Line

The 30th Demi-Brigade was part of the Army of the Sambre and Meuse where it served as the garrison of Coblenz. It entered Italy in late January/early February of 1797 and took part in the invasion of Austria.

32nd Line

"I am confident the brave 32nd is there!"

The 32nd Demi-Brigade took part in many of the most famous episodes of the 1796-1797 campaign. The demi-brigade, formerly the 21st, occupied the Madonna of Savona on Monte Negino in March and early April of 1796. Rampon was its commander. It was part of Massena's Division. During the two days of the battle of Montenotte, the 32nd defended the redoubt on Monte Negino and took part in the attack on Argenteau's force. It fought at the first and second battles of Dego.

At Lodi, the grenadiers of the 32nd took part in the attack across the famous bridge. The 32nd, commanded in person by Bonaparte, helped to retake Pavia during its rebellion in May (one of the demi-brigade's less pleasant episodes). During the summer, the demi-brigade was stationed at Verona. It fought at Lonato, Salo and at Castiglione in August 1796. During September it fought at Roveredo and St. George/La Favorita. It also served at Caldiero and Arcola (mostly on the third day) under Gardanne. The 32nd served at Rivoli where Bonaparte used it to reopen his communications. It subsequently took part in the invasion of Austria. Of all the demi-brigades, none covered itself in more glory during the campaign than the 32nd.

33rd Line

The 33rd Demi-Brigade arrived in Italy in September of 1796. It was assigned to Dallemagne's Division. The demi-brigade fought at Rivoli and ended the campaign advancing up the Brenner Pass.

39th Line

In May of 1796, the 46th and the 121st Demi-Brigades along with four battalions from the Basse-Alps and the second battalion of the Regiment l'Ain were combined to become the 39th Demi-Brigade. Prior to this time, the 46th and the 121st served in Serurier's Division and faced the Piedmontese Army at Ceva during the early parts of the April 1796 campaign. They fought at San Michele and Mondovi. In May they were brought together at Tortona to form the new 39th Demi-Brigade (the units from Basse-Alps and l'Ain had been in Kellerman's Army of the Alps).

The 39th moved under Dallemagne's command and participated in the sieges of Milan's citadel and Mantua. A small detachment from this demi-brigade fought at Castiglione. The 39th was placed in Sauret's Division and moved up the Chiese Valley to flank the Austrians during the move on Trent in September. During the Arcola phase of operations, the 39th served under Vaubois in the Adige Valley.

It was here that the 39th fled before Davidovitch's attack and earned a rebuke from Bonaparte. It remained in the Adige Valley and moved to Massena's Division. At Rivoli, the 39th held the Osteria gorge and took part in Bonaparte's counter-attack against the Austrians down the gorge. The demi-brigade ended the campaign moving up the Brenner Pass.

40th Line

The 40th Demi-Brigade had served in Kellerman's Army of the Alps. It arrived in Italy in the late summer of 1796 and served in Vaubois's Division for a short time. It moved under Massena and fought at Caldiero and Arcola. After Arcola it was moved to Augereau's Division. During the Rivoli phase of the fighting, it attempted to contain Austrian General Provera along the lower Adige. The demi-brigade then took part in the invasion of Austria.

43rd Line

The 43rd Demi-Brigade was part of the Army of the Sambre and Meuse and entered Italy in early 1797. It was assigned to Augereau's Division and took part in the invasion of Austria.

51st Line

The 51st Demi-Brigade, formerly the 99th Demi-Brigade, was moved to Voltri (outside Genoa) by General Scherer at the end of March 1796. It served in LaHarpe's Division and was commanded by generals Causse and Lafon. It took part in the battle of Voltri. In the first battle of Dego, the 51st formed the left of the French line. It also fought at the second battle of Dego, at which time Causse was killed and Lafon was captured. Menard then took command.

The demi-brigade next fought at Fombio where LaHarpe was killed. After Fombio, Massena took temporary command. In May, it was made part of Augereau's Division and Robert took command. During June, the demi-brigade took part in the campaign against Modena and the Papal States. It then returned north and fought at both battles of Castiglione. After Castiglione, the demi-brigade was commanded by Joubert and saw service at Bassano, St. George/La Favorita, and at Arcola (where it was commanded by Lannes). During the Rivoli phase of the fighting, the demi-brigade served under Augereau. The demi-brigade then took part in the invasion of Austria.

55th Line

The 55th Demi-Brigade arrived in Italy in February of 1797. It had been a part of the Army of the Sambre and Meuse. It took part in the invasion of Austria. Provisional 55th Line This unit was extremely small (200-300 men) and served in a reserve capacity.

57th Line

"The Terrible 57th that nothing can stop."

Formed on 21 June, 1796, the 57th Demi-Brigade was composed of elements from a variety of units, including the 83rd Demi-Brigade, the 122nd Demi-Brigade, the first battalion of the Loir-et-Cher, the first battalion of the l'Aude, the second battalion of the Pyrenees-Orientale, the third battalion of the l'Ariege, the fourth of the Garde, and the second of the l'Isere. It entered Italy in stages, the first battalions arriving in late August of 1796.

The 57th immediately moved up the Adige Valley to participate in Bonaparte's pursuit of Wurmser. It fought at St. George/La Favorita. Part of the demi-brigade took part in the blockade of Mantua, while several companies moved to support Massena. Part of the demi-brigade fought at Caldiero then returned to Mantua. In fact, during most of the campaign, the 57th was split into small detachments which served all over Italy.

It was not until just before the battle of Rivoli that the demi-brigade reunited and, serving under Victor, arrived late in the day to add their strength to Bonaparte's victory. Following the fall of Mantua, the 57th formed part of the garrison of northern Italy. Later, as part of Davout's Corps, the 57th became the most famous of all the line infantry regiments in the Grande Armee.

58th Line

The 58th Demi-Brigade arrived in Italy around the first of December, 1796. The first battalion was commanded by Murat briefly, then passed to Rey. The 58th fought at Rivoli. It was used to conduct prisoners of war back to France following the battle. Then, in the spring of 1797, the demi-brigade returned to Italy and took part in the later stages of the invasion of Austria.

61st Line

The 61st Line, part of Bernadotte's Division, was one of the demi-brigades detailed to Italy following Bonaparte's victory at Rivoli. It arrived in Italy in early March of 1797 and took part in the invasion of Austria.

64th Line

The 64th Demi-Brigade arrived in Italy in the winter of 1796-97. It joined Dallemagne's Division and participated in the blockade of Mantua. After the fall of Mantua, the demi-brigade took part in quelling unrest in northern Italy, then took part in the invasion of Austria. Before coming to Italy, this demi-brigade had been used to put down brigands and Chouan rebels in France. The 64th Line was supposedly unduly brutal on Italian rebels, probably stemming from their harsh experiences in France.

69th Line

The 69th Demi-Brigade, formerly the 19th Line, was part of Serurier's Division. They were commanded by General Guieu. During the winter of 1795-1796, they were stationed in the Tanaro Valley and watched the Piedmontese Army wintering around Coni and Ceva. They fought at San Michele. During May, the demi-brigade marched across northern Italy and took part in the blockade of Mantua and the initial attempt to take the city. They fought under Augereau at both battles of Castiglione. The 69th then returned to its duties blockading Mantua.

Like the other demi-brigades stationed around the city, the 69th suffered greatly from malaria and from the constant sorties carried out by the garrison. They fought at St. George/La Favorita. The rest of the campaign was spent outside Mantua. After the city capitulated, the 69th was given to General Miollis and took part in the invasion of Austria. With the exception of the Castiglione phase of operations, the 69th served in Serurier's Division.

75th Line

The 75th Demi-Brigade, formerly the 70th Demi-Brigade, served in LaHarpe's Division under the command of General Pijon. Along with the 51st Demi-Brigade, the 75th was moved by General Scherer towards Voltri in the early spring of 1796. Shortly before Austrian General Beaulieu launched his assault on Voltri (10 April, 1796), Pijon became sick and was replaced by Cervoni.

The demi-brigade fought at Voltri, as well as First and Second Dego. After crossing the Po River in early May, General Menard took command of the unit. During the crossing of the Mincio on 30 May, the 75th was assigned to Massena's Division. Arriving outside Mantua, the demi-brigade was transferred to Augereau's Division. During the invasion of Modena and the Papal States in June, part of the unit was transferred to Vaubois' Division for the move south of the Po.

The demi-brigade then returned north to Vicenza where it was transferred back to Massena's Division. Under General Robert, the 75th fought at Caldiero and Arcola. On 24 November, General Brune took command. The 75th was present at Rivoli and then took part in the invasion of Austria.

85th Line

The 85th Line, formerly the 56th Line, was part of Serurier's Division.and commanded by General Pelletier. The demi-brigade spent the winter of 1795-1796 in the Tanaro Valley facing the Piedmontese Army at Coni and Ceva. During the April phase of the campaign, the 85th fought at Cevi, San Michele, and Mondovi. The demi-brigade next saw action at Borghetto under General Dallemagne.

In the initial attack on Mantua, the 85th was commanded partly by Lannes and partly by Dallemagne. The demi-brigade was then transferred to Vaubois's Division. During the Arcola phase of operations, the demi-brigade was stationed in the Adige Valley under Vaubois. The 85th Line fled before the Austrian attack and was severely rebuked by Bonaparte. The demi-brigade next fought at Rivoli, where it again broke under an Austrian assault. Under General Belliard, the 85th took part in the invasion of Austria.

88th Line

The 88th Demi-Brigade was transferred to Italy from the Army of the Sambre and Meuse in the winter of 1796-1797. As part of Bernadotte's Division, it took part in the invasion of Austria.

93rd Line

The 93rd Demi-Brigade arrived in Italy in the winter of 1796-1797 from the Army of the Rhine. It was commanded by "citizen" (probably chef de brigade) Varennes until it reached Italy, when it became part of Dallemagne's Division under Baraguey d'Hilliers. Galoyer took Varennes's place due to Varennes's extreme age. The demi-brigade took part in the invasion of Austria.

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