Battle of the Mincio (1814)
| date | February 8, 1814 |
|---|---|
| place | on the Mincio |
| output | undecided stalemate |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
| Troop strength | |
| 28,000 men with 70 guns | 35,000 and 130 guns |
| losses | |
|
about 6,000 men, 2,500 of them prisoners |
3,940 dead and wounded |
The Battle of Mincio on February 8, 1814 took place in northern Italy between the French Viceroy of Italy, Eugen Beauharnais and the Austrians under Field Marshal Bellegarde and was part of the Sixth Coalition War . The fighting broke up into the skirmishes at Pozzolo and Valeggio , which were fought partly on the right and partly on the left bank of the Mincio and ended in a stalemate in which neither of the opponents could achieve his goals.
prehistory
By Napoleon's collapse in the Battle of Leipzig (October 1813), his isolated forces in Italy were in danger. The Austrians under FZM Johann von Hiller recaptured Laibach and broke through the positions of the troops of the viceroy of Italy, Eugen Beauharnais between Tarvisio and Weißenfels and pursued to the Isonzo .
The new Austrian Commander-in-Chief, Count Heinrich von Bellegarde , arrived in Vicenza on December 15, 1813, and took command of the Austrian army in northern Italy on. He had the order to free Lombardy from the French. An independent corps was organized under General Count Nugent for operations in the eastern coastal region and advanced via Ferrara to Ravenna . Count Bellegarde used his diplomatic skills before the expected new battles and sent Count von Neipperg to Naples for negotiations in mid-January 1814 . King Joachim Murat of Naples concluded an alliance treaty with the Austrians, from which he hoped to preserve his throne.
On January 18th the Neapolitan 1st Division had reached the city of Bologna , on the 20th the 7,000-strong Guards Division also arrived there. On January 20th, the 2nd Division occupied Ferrara and contacted the Austrian Brigade Starhemberg there . The French occupation of Ancona had been trapped in the citadel there by the Neapolitans since January 17th . On the 14th, when the first Neapolitan regiments approached, the garrison had withdrawn from the Citadelle of Ferrara undisturbed to Mantua . On January 19th, Count Nugent had concluded an agreement with the Neapolitan General Ambrosio at Forli , in which both pledged support. Murat moved his headquarters to Bologna and his troops occupied Florence on January 31st . Viceroy Eugene learned of the betrayal in Verona and issued a proclamation on February 1st informing his troops of Murat's defection and the state of war with Naples. Eugen's position on the Adige was now untenable, the Neapolitans had appeared with 40,000 men on the south bank of the Po .
Parade on the Mincio
The viceroy Eugen had to shorten his overstretched front because of the threat from Murat's troops and take a central position on the Mincio between Mantua and Peschiera. The divisions under Severoli and Gratien had to be drawn closer from Emilia . Fressinet's 3rd Division and the Italian Guard were in Verona; Quesnel's 1st division was concentrated at Veronetta and San Michele, Rouyer's 2nd division at Vallese and Isola Porcarizza, and Marcognet's division at Legnago.
On February 3, the viceroy ordered his army to retreat behind the Mincio. An Italian brigade under General Zucchi remained as a garrison in the Mantua fortress. General Bonnemains and his cavalry brigade were entrusted with the evacuation of Verona and commanded the rearguard. The other cavalry brigades were still scattered between Vigo, San Giovanni Lupatolo, Vago and Bovolone and withdrew to Goito . In order to spare the citizens of Verona the war damage, Eugen enabled the Austrian troops to occupy the city on February 4th without a fight. On the evening of February 3, the Austrian division under FML Radivojevich with the Steffanini brigade appeared in front of the city and occupied the heights east of Verona. The rest of the Austrian army followed a short distance away. Field Marshal Bellegarde pulled his Sommariva division from the Upper Adige and gathered his remaining troops between Trento and Rovereto , and his infantry was ready to advance to Peschiera, Dolce or the area north of Rivoli .
The French rearguard left Verona at 8:00 a.m. on February 4th. In the evening Eugen had moved into his headquarters in Mantua , the army was in its new positions: the 1st Corps under General Greiner formed the right wing. Rouyer's 1st Division (not assigned to General Garconi's Brigade and the Italian Guard in Mantua) and Marcognet's 4th Division took up positions west of Mantua along the Oglio to reduce the distance to Severoli's division. The 2nd Corps under General Verdier on the left wing had its headquarters in Goito , south of the city secured Quesnel's 2nd Division, while on the left Fressinet's 3rd Division extended north along the Mincio to Borghetto, where Palombini's division secured the walls of Peschiera. Eugen's army held two fixed bridgeheads on the left bank of the Mincio at Goito and Monzanbano. The Austrian Sommariva division pursued Peschiera and based its right wing on Lake Garda and the left wing on Castelnuovo. The division under Baron Merville followed the enemy retreating across the Adige and occupied Verona on February 4th , where hundreds of sick and wounded surrendered. The bulk of the Austrian army reached Villafranca, where Bellegarde set up its headquarters, the avant-garde the Mincio, where the Franco-Italian troops were preparing for new resistance.
Viceroy's plan of attack
The viceroy placed about 7,000 men (Gratien division) to protect his southern flank on the Po and was able to deploy about 34,000 men for the upcoming battle on the Mincio. Eugen planned a double encirclement of the Austrians, eventually the forces of Grenier and Verdier were to unite, but for this operation he lacked sufficient numerical superiority from the outset. Although King Murat's troops had already reached the Po, Eugene believed that he could prevent the opposing armies from uniting by making a quick attack of his own. On the morning of February 8th, he wanted to cross the Mincio at three different points (Monzambano, Goito and Mantua) to concentrate his army in front of Villafranca to attack Bellegarde. In the event of defeat, the Viceroy was convinced that he could save his army behind the Mincio under the protection of the walls of Mantua and Peschiera. The viceroy's attack was to be supported by additional losses by the Zucchi division from Mantua and the Palombinis brigades from Peschiera.
I. Corps General Paul Grenier with 14,347 men with 24 guns.
- Division Marie François Rouyer Brigade Schmitz (5 battalions); Arnaud's Brigade (5 battalions); 6668 men with 12 guns.
- Division Pierre de Marcognet Brigade Jeanin (5 battalions); Deconchy Brigade (6 battalions); 7079 men with 12 guns
The right wing remained in its old positions on the right bank of the Po.
II Corps General Jean-Antoine Verdier with 12,500 men with 20 guns (24 battalions, 7 squadrons and 36 guns).
- Philibert Fressinet Division : Montfalcon Brigade, (6th Battalion); Brigade Pegot, 6th Battalion) 1,440 men with 14 guns, secured the Mincio near La Pilla and advanced to the eastern bank near Monzambano.
- Division François Quesnel Brigade Campi (6 battalions); Forestier Brigade, (4 battalions); 6,400 men with 12 guns secured the river crossing at Goito, their vanguard stood opposite Pozzolo.
- The cavalry division under General Julien Mermet (2,420 men with 8 guns) was ready as a reserve at Guidizolo and Cereto: Cavalry Brigade Pierre Bonnemains , (6 squadrons); Brigade St. Alphonse, (8 squadrons; Brigade Raniborg, (6 squadrons)
- Reserve division of General Theodore Lecchi with guards division (4 battalions of infantry, 2 squadrons); 5,548 men with 12 cannons. The Italian guard troops stood to observe the enemy at Desenzano on Lake Garda.
Military topography
The viceroy's new positions on the Mincio River now ran about 18 miles between the fortresses of Peschiera and Mantua. Along this stretch, the river bed was between 40 and 120 meters wide and 5 to 7 feet deep. On the extreme left wing, the Italian division under General Giuseppe Palombini (5000 men) stood at Peschiera and secured between Castelnuovo and Oliosi against the heights of Cavalcasella and Salionze. Across the street, the Austrian division of FML Sommariva rallied and held a bridgehead with the Vlasits Brigade near Monzambano. The Franco-Italian troops numbered 47 battalions and 22 squadrons with 34,127 men with 70 guns, of which only 28,000 men were used in the following battle.
Although the current could be stronger in spring, the Mincio could be crossed at several points, stone bridges were present in Valeggio and Mantua. On the right bank, a road roughly followed the course of the river that connected Mantua with Peschiera and that ran through Goito and Monzambano. On the right bank a ridge stretched about eight miles south from the shores of Lake Garda to the village of Volta. On the opposite bank, another height stretched between the lake and south of Valeggio. Those who controlled the heights on the left bank usually dominated the opposite ground with the exception of the heights of Monzambano, which gave the artillery on the right bank of the river an excellent strategic position.
The Austrians march
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On February 7th, Count Bellegarde moved his headquarters to Villafranca . After the French retreat behind the Mincio, Field Marshal Bellegarde had considered blocking the fortresses of Mantua and Peschiera . Without the brigade of General Stanisavljevich (deployed in Val di Leys) and that of Major General Rilseis (secured at Legnago), Count Bellegarde on the Mincio had a total of 35,000 men and 130 guns at his disposal, 8 batteries with 48 guns formed the artillery reserve.
- The blockade of Mantua was entrusted to the FML division Anton Mayer von Heldensfeld . Major General Vlassits Brigade (6 battalions, 6 squadrons and 6 guns) occupied the dominant heights at Cavaleaselle off Peschiera.
- In the evening of the day, the FML Paul von Radivojevich division (Brigade Bogdan, Steffanini and Vecsey) was given the order to cross the Mincio at Valeggio and Pozzolo at dawn.
- The division of FML Franz von Pflacher (Brigade Quosdanovich and De Best) should remain in reserve after the advance at Valeggio.
- The division of FML Franz Mauroy de Merville (Grenadier Brigade Stutterheim and Dragoon Brigade Wrack) was to follow FML Pflacher's troops after the first instruction and, like the former, take a position in front of Valeggio. Overnight the Merville division was diverted further south towards Pozzolo in order to cross the Mincio from there. This precautionary order from the Field Marshal later saved his army from a crushing defeat. Eugen's army would have had the opportunity in the following battle to break through at Valeggio and thus split the Austrian army in two.
- The division of FML Hannibal Sommariva (Brigade Paumgarten and Abele) stood between Castelnuovo and Oliosi under the direction of FML Fenner.
The battle on February 8th
On the night of February 8th, the viceroy ordered his outpost to retreat and then to cross the Monzambano bridge. On the same night bridges were built by the Austrians near Valeggio, the division of FML Radivojevich was set up for the crossing here. Since the division of General Fressinet had left the Monzambano section opposite , the passage of the Austrian Brigades Steffanini and Bogdan could be carried out in thick fog. The left wing of the viceroy under General Verdier had retreated early in the morning with the Fressinet division before Monzambano. Before the arrival of the Neapolitans, the viceroy decided to attack the Austrians themselves at Villafranca and ordered the advance in three columns. The first column with the guards and the Marcognet and Royer divisions and the Perreymont cavalry brigade were to advance from Mantua. The second column, formed by Quesnel's division and Bonnemain's cavalry brigade, had to attack Roberbella from Goito. The third column, formed by the Fressinet division, advanced from Monzambano via Valeggio to Villafranca.
The Austrians anticipated the planned attack of the viceroy: Field Marshal Bellegarde had deployed his 35,000 soldiers in a way that allowed the threat to Peschiera and Mantua and at the same time enough troops to lead an attack around the village of Borghetto. At 8 o'clock the Bogdan and Steffanini Brigades left for Monzambano and spread out towards Olsino and Castellaro. Opposing advance troops were quickly thrown at Borghetto. The brigade of FML Vecsey simultaneously crossed the Mincio at Pozzolo and occupied the heights of Volta, while behind it the Merville division and two dragoons regiments (Savoven and Hohenlohe) secured the position at Pozzolo and advanced against Cereto and Cerlongo. General Pflacher's division followed as reserve and advanced its first brigade under Paul von Radivojevich near Valeggio, the second under General Quasdanovich remained behind as reserve.
Fighting on the right bank of the river near Valeggio
The French under General Verdier learned too late that the opposing vanguard had appeared at Valeggio on the right bank of the Mincio. He had the marching division of Fressinet stop immediately and take up position on the heights of the Olsino. Italians under General Zucchi left Bancole at 7:00 a.m. to advance in two columns to Castiglione and Mantua. General Quesnel's column, with which the viceroy was, passed over to the left bank of the Mincio at Goito. The right-wing column under General Grenier (Marcognet and Rouyer division and the Perreymond cavalry brigade) advanced on Casteletto and against Marmirolo and Soave. The cavalry of General Bonnemains acted as the avant-garde of the Quesnel division, pushed the advance troops of FML Mayer back to Roverbella and expanded into the Marengo plain. Bonnemains marched in front of the Quesnel division, on the far right the troops of General Zucchi Castiglione, which was heavily occupied by the Austrians, approached. The Quesnel division advanced in the center towards Monte Belvedere and Querni in order to establish a connection via Valeggio to the Fressinet division advancing from Villafranca. The division FML Mayer von Heldenfeld had left Roverbella and was advancing on the left wing to the line Marmirolo, St. Lucia, Castiglione, Mantovano in order to reject missions from Mantua. Austrian cavalry captured large parts of the train of Bonnemain's cavalry brigade, which had to withdraw to Volta.
Decision battle at Pozzolo
The vanguard of the main column, the Brigade of FML Vecsey, advanced from Pozzolo to Volta, pushing its wings against Cereta and Cerlongo. From Pozzolo General Vecsey had sent a few trains of Uhlans on the left bank of the river via Massimbona against Goito and left the Mincio there and he began the advance from Cerlongo against the Oglio, while the main thrust was set at Borghetto. At 10 o'clock in the morning, the French avant-garde of the troops advancing from Goito met the advance troops of FML Mayer. As a result of this procedure, part of the advance guard of the opposing Mayer division was cut off and captured, which then retreated against Roverbella and Mozzecane. The Marcognet division and the Perreymond and Bonnemains brigades advanced from Volta against the left flank, the Fressinet division from Monzambano against the right flank of the Austrians. At the same time General Grenier advanced on the right wing, turned left against Marmirolo and Soave and right against St. Lucia and Canedole.
The viceroy overlooked the course of the battle at a height near Massimbona, he heard the thunder of cannons of the ongoing battle of Monzambano and recognized hostile masses of troops in the plain of Volta. He found the enemy army divided in half by the Mincio, and only the smaller one passed over on the left bank. and decided to attack the part standing on the right bank. The viceroy ordered the troops of Quesnel to turn left and take Pozzolo. Rouyer's troops were to follow this movement, but the Marcognet division remained in front of Roverbella, in order to completely separate the troops of FML Mayer from the troops of Merville who had gathered at Pozzolo. The cavalry under Perreymond was instructed at Marengo to concentrate to the left of Quesnel's division.
The Austrians held themselves in Borghetto, threatened on the right flank, the French General Verdier leaned against Monzambano with his left flank and took a new good position on the heights behind the brook. Through FML Merville, Field Marshal Bellegarde became aware of the danger that a French column would advance towards Pozzolo and at the same time another column would be pushing against the division of FML Mayer. To counter this danger, Bellegarde ordered the Quosdanovich Brigade, which was in reserve at Valeggio, to intervene in a hurry to support Merville's troops. This deployment was immediately made difficult by the cavalry of General Bonnemain, which was advancing on Remelli. General Joseph von Stutterheim's grenadier brigade arriving first took up position between Pozzolo and Remelli and threw the French cavalry back again.
Radivojevich's division attacked again and was turned back. After the Austrian withdrawal, the French were able to win back the village of Pozzolo. The crew of the bridge there, which was still held by imperial forces, was able to effectively fire the French advancing via Pozzolo. General Quasdanowitsch inflicted heavy damage on the French with his light gun, until they gave up their advantages and had to retreat to Mantua and the Goito bridgehead, losing 400 prisoners. In order to ensure the retreat across the Goito bridge, the guard had to advance there from the reserve. The ranks of the French were briefly on the verge of disintegration when a brigade of the Marcognet Division arrived at the right time, which General Grenier used as reinforcement for the counterattack. The French and Italian troops advanced with three infantry and several cavalry brigades against the hamlet near Mazzi. Dodging the pressure of five times superior enemy infantry, FML Merville ordered the retreat on Furoni at 3 p.m. From the northern flank, Italian troops under General Palombini von Peschiera advanced against Salionze and Cavalcaselle, while General Zucchi advanced unsuccessfully against Castellaro and Due Castelli. FML Sommariva strengthened General Vlassits' brigade and pushed a failure of Palombini's troops back into the fortress of Peschiera.
Result
The separate battles at Pozzolo and Valeggio formed in their entirety the so-called Battle of Mincio. The French suffered losses of around 6,000 men, 2,500 of whom were prisoners, the Austrians 3940 men. The victory could not be attributed to any of the opponents: Viceroy Eugen neither managed to reach the Adige line, nor did the Austrians manage to cross the Mincio. On the night of February 9th, the viceroy took the bulk of his troops back to the right bank of the Mincio; only the Fressinet division and the Italian Palombinis brigade remained standing in front of Monzambano and Peschiera. By March 10, 1814, the Austrians reached the taro, occupied Fornovo and pursued Piacenza .
From February 11, the Neapolitan army, which had converted to the Allied side, began the attack on the citadel of Ancona - it was now at war with the French viceroy Eugene without a declaration of war. After receiving Napoleon's renunciation of the throne, Eugene signed a convention on April 16, 1814 with the Austrian general Karl Ludwig von Ficquelmont , according to which he laid down his arms. Milan was surrendered and the command of the Italian troops ceded to Field Marshal Bellegarde. As further conditions, Venice , Palmanuova , Legnago and Osoppo were evacuated by the French on April 20th. On April 19, General Grenier and the French troops marched into the fatherland via Brescia and Cremona .
literature
- Valentin von Streffleur (ed.): Austrian Military Journal Vienna 1861, Volume 3, pp. 152–170, 326–330 and 376–402
- Ludwig von Welden : The war of the Austrians in Italy against the French in 1814 , Graz 1853
- Karl Ferdinand Rau (Emil von Cronenthal): The war of the allies against France in the years 1813, 1814 and 1815 , Volume 3, Maurersche Buchhandlung, Berlin 1826, p. 53 f