Snappy Nappy

The Austrian Invasion of Italy 1809
Archduke John vs. Prince Eugene

French and Austrian Messages
in Chronological Order

by Russ Lockwood

Commanders' Communiques

The following is a chronological listing of all the messages that survived the campaign. They form an intensely personal recollection of events and impressions of the Snappy Nappy 1809 Austrian Invasion of Italy.

From left to right: Keith (Pacthod), Fred (Eugene), Charlie (Gyulai), and Tom (Rusca)

As Snappy Nappy is a real-time recreation, the time is listed first, followed by who the message is to, the sender, and the actual message. Usual delivery times were 15 minutes after sending, although on occasion, longer times were required for messages to travel longer distances. On two occasions, French couriers became lost and returned to the sender, who updated the recipient's location and were sent out again.

As you will notice, good news and bad become intermingled as the Prince Eugene and Archduke John attempt to make sense out the reports and deploy formations for their maximum effect.

12:21 To Severoli. From Pacthod. Can you hold Citadella and the relative area?
12:32 To: Archduke John. From: Gen. Frimont at Caporetto. Division sized French forces garrisoning various towns in St. Daniels area.
12:34 To: Eugene. From Pacthod. I am facing three Austrian batteries, 1 regiment of line, 2 regiments of light, 1 regiment of cav.
12:46 To Eugene. From Severoli. Just received assistance. The Austrian forces mentioned are to the east.
12:50 To Euegene. From Fontanelli. Letting Grouchy's cavalry move past me.
12:55 To Pacthod. From Eugene. Please, pray tell, where are the Austrians you mentioned in your message.
12:59 To: Archduke John. From: Gen. Frimontt at Caporetto. A second French division is moving east towards the Isonzo River.
1:01 To Eugene. From Lemarque. Mon General: I am on the road to Citadella.
1:01 To: Archduke John. From: Gen. Wolfskeel. Have contacted enemy outside Cividale. French fortifying Palmanova. I am engaging.
1:05 To: A Gyulai. From Archduke John. Attack to Oseppo. If unopposed, advance a bridgehead at Tolmezzo.
1:13 To Eugene. From Rusca. Major Austrian units are arriving in the Tyrol. Send help.
1:17 To Eugene. From Fontanelli. Moving north of St. Michael.
1:24 To Eugene. From Pacthod. Large force of Tyrolian rebels and Austrian line, cavalry, and artillery in the vicinity of Lienz and Toblach. Requesting reinforcements as soon as possible.
1:25 To Eugene. From Grouchy. Moved through Pechiera, Verona, and Virenza. Now in Bessano. Lamarque south of me. Severoli south of Lemarque.
1:25 To Eugene. From Lemarque. My division is at Treviso. No enemy in the vicinity.
1:25 To Eugene. From Fontanelli. Will enter Neumarkt. Heavy enemy activity.
1:36 To Wolfskeel. From Archduke John. Besan's column will move to support you.
1:36 To Eugene. From Grouchy. Have reached Pordenone and have deployed to defend as ordered.
1:38 To Eugene. From Fontanelli. Am moving to Cortina and wanting to set up a defense. Two to three enemy columns moving to west wood. Rusca has one regiment there.
1:40 To Eugene. From Lemarque. The 1st Voltiguers are defending Codrigo with the balance of my forces on the other side of the Tagliamento River.
1:40 To Eugene. From Broussier. Enemy reappearing at fortress Oseppo and reinforcing in front of me. Will press and sacrifice unless ordered to fortress.
1:48 To Eugene. From Broussier. St. Daniel on verge of falling. Will fight to last man.
1:50 To Eugene. From Lemarque. Do you wish my division to attack now?
1:58 To Grouchy. From Eugene. Move north to Tolmezzo and Plucken Pass. Attack Austrians at Lienz and Toblach.
2:00 To: Archduke John. From: Gen. Wolfskeel. Engaging heavy French forces. Will fight to the last.
2:06 To: Pacthod. From Eugene. I am sending Grouchy to Lienz.
2:07 To Archduke John. From A. Gyulai. French in force in Oseppo. Planted the artillery. Will bombard them until out of ammo.
2:08 To: Grouchy. From Eugene. Move along Tagliamento from Splimlago, then east to Pontebba and Tarvis. Then, attack south towards Caporetto.
2:10 To Lemarque. From Eugene. Attack to your left (north). Prevent Austrians from crossing river and threaten their flank. Don't get too exposed.
2:14 To: Eugene. From Grouchy. Do you want me to attack the guns?
2:15 To Eugene. From Broussier. Dead men cannot write notes.
2:35 Mountains block my route north. I can go back through Pordenone to Sacile to Congliano to Feltre to Belluno to Cadore to Tolmezzo and then attack to Tolmezzo and Plunken Pass.
2:43 To: Archduke John. From: Gen. Wolfskeel. I am sustaining severe casualties but I am still able to hold. Request orders to Defend instead of Probe.
2:51 To Archduke John. From A. Gyulai. I misread the map. I will move towards Malfalcone--Palmanova into the flank.
2:55 To: Eugene. From Grouchy. I am fighting in Cadore.
3:00 To Fontanelli. From Eugene. Please advise on status.
3:00 To Pacthod. From Eugene. Please advise on status. Be specific.
3:31 To: Eugene. From Fontanelli. Locked in combat on road to Cortina from Toblach. Other uniots moving to Lienz.
3:38 To: Eugene. From Fontanelli. Enemy leader wounded and one regiment routed. Also repulsed two waves. Have friendly unknown cavalry to rear. Will hold the high ground. Change my orders.
3:43 To Archduke John. From Jellacic. Gallant Tyrolians have utterly destroyed 1 French division. We are under new attack from French infantry and cavalry from south. Situation is perilous near Toblach.
3:43 To Eugene. From Pacthod. Grouchy's column has just arrived. My division is advancing towards Lienz. Rusca has taken over 80% casualties. An Austrian division is attacking our center and has taken some ground, but it was paid for in blood. We routed one cavalry brigade, wounded a general, and forced two infantry brigades to fall back. We are within range of Lienz, with only a garrison in a nearby villa.
3:43 To Eugene. From Rusca. My forces were forced back by overwhelming Autrian armies. Received no support from higher command. My division died to the last man for the everlasting glory of the Emperor.
3:53 To: Eugene. From Fontanelli. My Conscripts will hold Neumarkt, but it will probably fall to the enemy. Then they will have flanked me and may move to my rear or to St. Michael.
3:54 To Archduke John: From Jellacic (Tyrol) The road to Innsbruck is open. Request permission to march on the city! Davidovich is hard pressed near Toblach.
3:55 To Jellacic. From Archduke John. I cannot re-inforce your area any further. Hold as best you can. Tie down the French.
4:02 To: Eugene. From Grouchy. Am helping Fontanelli. He is getting flanked.
4:03 To Jellacic. From Archduke John. Probe to Innsbruck. See if you can help Davidovich.
4:03 To Davidovich. From Archduke John. Hold as best you can. No reinforcements are availavble. Tie down the French as best you can.
4:22 To: Archduke John. From Jellacic (Tyrol). I am marching to Innsbruck. Davidovich is doomed. French are headed to Tolmezzo.
4:22 To: Eugene. From Pacthod. The situation has changed slightly. Our center is being pushed back. Rusca's division has been totally destroyed. The Austrian forces are moving on our left flank, defended by 1 brigade. Grouchy is advancing to our left to reinforce flank. I doubt he'll make it in time. We have begun the bombardmengt of Tolmezzo and its garrison. It is the only thing that protects the Austrian rear.
4:45 To: Archduke John. From: Gen. Wolfskeel. I have been forced to withdraw to Gorizia. We will not permit the French to cross the river. Help!
4:47 To: Archduke John. From: Jellacic (Tyrol). I'm forced to move to aid Davidovich (as per your orders) and secure supply lines. Davidovich is doomed.
4:55 To: Archduke John. From: Jellacic (Tyrol). Davidovich is gone. I will follow Probe order and gamble on taking Innsbruck. Will place French out of supply if Neumarkt not open.
5:00 To: Eugene. From Broussier. I'm burning the bridge.
5:01 To: Eugene. From Pacthod. We have beaten the Austrians back from our center. Grouchy is heading to our left flank. The Austrians will beat them to it. Tolmezzo will soon fall.
5:02 Message for Austrian Big Cheese. From Gen. Davidovich. M'sieu Le General: It is with great regret that I must inform you of the loss of my superb division of troops. Despite my excelllent and superior tactical maneuvering, the troops failed to do battle as instructed. I have returned to Vienna.
5:07 To Broussier. From Eugene. Infantry come north to crossing near fortress of Palmanova.
5:08 To: Archduke John. From Jellacic. We hold Innsbruck! Leaving a garrison there and sending the rest of the forces to fight French.
5:10 To: Eugene. From Fontanelli. Have killed all but one regiment of Davidovich. Army will move into Toblach and cut off supplies to Jellacic.
5:13 To Eugene. From Pacthod. Davidovich's division has been annihilated by Fontanelli.
5:15 To: Severoli. From Eugene. Let's go back across the river--a fighting retreat. Use the bridge by the fortress.
5:37 To Archduke John. From A. Gyulai. The French are running. Should I follow up?
5:45 To A Gyulai. From Archduke John. Pursue French across the Tagliomento River and destroy.
5:45 To Wolfskeel. From Archduke John. Pursue French.

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