Instrument of Victory

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

Unit Profiles: Cavalry Regiments

by John Giessmann


At right, French Revolutionary Hussar. © Keith Rocco

The first two regiments listed are heavy cavalry regiments (cavalerie de bataille) which, in theory, had bigger men on bigger horses than the light regiments. In reality, these regiments were little better than their "smaller" comrades; the popular image of French armored cavalrymen with metal cuirass and helmet would not come into existence until cuirassier regiments were officially formed in 1804.

1st Cavalry Regiment

The 1st Cavalry entered Italy in September of 1796. The regiment served under Vaubois in the Adige Valley during the Arcola phase of operations and under Massena outside Verona during Rivoli. A part of the regiment served at Rivoli. The regiment then took part in the invasion of Austria.

5th Cavalry Regiment

The 5th Cavalry entered Italy late in the campaign, arriving in Italy in January of 1797. The regiment took part in the battle of Rivoli, and then participated in the invasion of Austria.

3rd Dragoon Regiment

The 3rd Dragoons arrived in Italy at the end of November of 1796. They were posted to Mantua and during the Rivoli phase of operations fought a number of skirmishes outside the city and near Verona. The regiment then took part in the invasion of Austria.

5th Dragoon Regiment

The 5th Dragoons were part of the cavalry reserve under Beaumont in April of 1796. Although the regiment was mostly held back as a reserve during the first weeks of the campaign, Beaumont was determined to be as useful as possible. At the first battle of Dego, the 5th Dragoons and the 22nd Chasseurs pursued the retreating Austrians and Piedmontese. At San Michele and Mondovi, the cavalry, under Stengel, was again given a chance to participate. At Mondovi in particular, the 5th Dragoons executed a daring and costly charge against a series of Piedmontese redoubts. The regiment suffered a large number of casualties that included Stengel who was killed.

The 5th Dragoons next fought at the none-too-glorious suppression of the revolt at Pavia and Binasco in May where they cut down the townsfolk in the streets. The regiment next moved to Milan, where it formed part of the garrison of that city. At the end of July, the regiment moved east and fought at Castiglione. At the Primolano defile, the 5th Dragoons helped clear a rear-guard of Croats from a set of hastily erected defenses. It fought at Bassano, St. George/La Favorita, Caldiero, and Arcola. During the battle of Rivoli, the 5th Dragoons fought outside Verona. The regiment then took part in the invasion of Austria.

8th Dragoon Regiment

The 8th Dragoons arrived in Italy in midsummer of 1796. The regiment took part in the battles of Borghetto, Castiglione, and St. George/La Favorita. According to regimental lore, the 8th Dragoons were present at Rivoli, although if they were, they were very few in number. The regiment also took part in the invasion of Austria.

9th Dragoon Regiment

The 9th Dragoons arrived in Italy in the late summer or early fall of 1796. Present at Arcola, they served under Augereau along the lower Adige during the Rivoli phase of operations. The regiment then took part in the invasion of Austria.

14th Dragoon Regiment

The 14th Dragoons arrived in Italy in the winter of 1797 as part of the troops transferred under Bernadotte from the Army of the Sambre and Meuse. The regiment took part in the invasion of Austria.

15th Dragoon Regiment

The 15th Dragoons entered Italy in late April of 1796. They did scouting for the army in Piedmont, then rode east to help with reconnaissance work along the Po. A small number of men from this regiment took part in the battle of Lodi. The regiment was stationed at Milan during the month of May and was used to put down the revolts at Binasco and Pavia. The regiment joined Massena's Division next, serving under General Beaumont. The regiment saw service at Lonato, Castiglione, Arcola, and Rivoli. The 15th participated in the invasion of Austria.

18th Dragoon Regiment

The 18th Dragoons arrived in Italy in October of 1796. The 18th had previously been employed in Spain and in pacifying the Vendee region in France. The regiment fought along the lower Adige during the Rivoli phase of operations and then formed part of the garrison of Italy.

20th Dragoon Regiment

The 20th Dragoons took part in many battles in the first Italian campaign. They fought under Stengel at Mondovi, under Beaumont at Lodi, helped quell the revolt at Pavia, fought at Borghetto, Castiglione, and St. George/La Favorita. The regiment spent the rest of the campaign as part of the blockade of Mantua. It remained in Italy to form part of the garrison.

4th Chasseurs a Cheval

The 4th Chasseurs arrived in Italy in early 1797 from the Army of the Rhine, and joined in the invasion of Austria.

10th Chasseurs a Cheval

The 10th Chasseurs, like several of the cavalry regiments which served in the first Italian campaign, arrived in Italy in late April of 1796 after having wintered in the valley of the Rhone. The 10th Chasseurs were commanded by LeClerc. The regiment saw action at Lodi and Borghetto. It took part in the invasion of the Papal States in June, then rode north to fight at the first and second battles of Castiglione. The regiment next fought at Bassano and St. George/La Favorita. During the battle of Arcola, the regiment guarded the approaches to Verona. During the Rivoli phase of operations, the regiment fought along the lower Adige. It then took part in the invasion of Austria.

15th Chasseurs a Cheval

The 15th Chasseurs arrived in Italy in stages between February and March, 1797, and participated in operations in Austria.

19th Chasseurs a Cheval

The 19th Chasseurs took part in the invasion of Austria after arriving in Italy in March of 1797.

22nd Chasseurs a Cheval

The 22nd Chasseurs were present throughout the entire first Italian campaign. The regiment fought at Dego, at the first and second battles of Castiglione (the regiment formed part of Augereau's Division), and in the Adige Valley under Vaubois.

24th Chasseurs a Cheval

The 24th Chasseurs entered Italy from the Rhone Valley via Nice around 18 April, 1796. The regiment was assigned to Massena's Division to perform reconnaissance work. Having missed the battle of Lodi, the regiment formed part of the blockade of the citadel of Milan and acted in the suppression of the revolts at Pavia and Binasco. During the Castiglione phase of operations, the regiment was assigned to Sauret's Division and was surprised at Brescia by an Austrian assault that forced the unit to flee without its equipment. The 24th then fought at St. George/La Favorita and Caldiero. During Arcola and until the fall of Mantua, most of the regiment served under Augereau watching the lower Adige. However, a part of the regiment took part in the battle of Rivoli as part of Beaumont's ad hoc cavalry unit. The 24th Chasseurs continued on, joining the invasion of Austria.

25th Chasseurs a Cheval

The 25th Chasseurs arrived in Italy in early April of 1796 after having wintered in the Rhone Valley. The regiment was present at Lodi, Castiglione (where it served under Massena), St. George/La Favorita, and at Rivoli. Under Serurier, it took part in the invasion of Austria.

1st Hussar Regiment

The 1st Hussars arrived in Italy in mid-summer 1796. It fought at Castiglione, Roveredo, St. George/La Favorita, and.the invasion of Austria.

7th Hussar (bis) Regiment

This unit was a detachment from the 7th Hussars, and arrived in Italy in early April of 1796. The "regiment" was very small and rarely operated on its own. At Lodi, the troopers from the 7th (bis) were among the first on the battlefield and helped clear the Croats and some artillery from in front of the town. For the rest of the first Italian campaign, the 7th (bis) performed reconnaissance work around Verona and along the lower Adige. The unit then formed part of the garrison of northern Italy.

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