Marengo Read online

  Marengo

  Marengo

  The victory that placed the crown of France on Napoleon’s head

  By

  T.E. Crowdy

  First published in Great Britain in 2018 by

  Pen & Sword Military

  An imprint of

  Pen & Sword Books Ltd

  47 Church Street

  Barnsley

  South Yorkshire

  S70 2AS

  Copyright © T.E. Crowdy 2018

  ISBN 978 1 47385 920 3

  eISBN 978 1 47385 922 7

  Mobi ISBN 978 1 47385 921 0

  The right of T.E. Crowdy to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is

  available from the British Library.

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  In memory of my parents-in-law

  Dennis and Marion Lear

  (1942‑2014)

  (1944‑2016)

  and

  Romain Baulesch

  (1953‑2015)

  Contents

  Maps

  Picture credits

  Author’s Preface

  Prologue On the battlefield of Marengo

  Chapter 1 1799: A Secret History

  Chapter 2 Brumaire

  Chapter 3 The Savona Plot

  Chapter 4 French Preparations

  Chapter 5 Melas Attacks

  Chapter 6 Over the Alps

  Chapter 7 The Fall of Genoa

  Chapter 8 The Armies Concentrate

  Chapter 9 ‘This time we have this Bonaparte’

  Chapter 10 That Miserable Ditch

  Chapter 11 The Battle for Marengo

  Chapter 12 The March of the Consular Guard

  Chapter 13 This New Thermopylae

  Chapter 14 Vengeance!

  Chapter 15 Victory

  Chapter 16 The Convention of Alessandria

  Endnotes

  Orders of Battle

  Author’s note on the sources

  Acknowledgements

  Bibliography

  Maps

  MAP 1 Bonaparte’s strategy – April 1800

  MAP 2 Zach’s strategy – 30 March 1800

  MAP 3 Zach’s deception

  MAP 4 Zach’s battle plan – 14 June

  MAP 5 French movements, morning and afternoon, 13 June

  MAP 6 Night of 13/14 June

  MAP 7 Tactical situation – 9.00‑10.00 am

  MAP 8 Tactical situation – 11.00‑12.00 pm

  MAP 9 French positions at midday

  MAP 10 Tactical situation – 12.00 pm

  MAP 11 Tactical situation – 1.00 pm

  MAP 12 Tactical situation – 2.00 pm

  MAP 13 Tactical situation – 2.30 pm

  MAP 14 The French retreat, 4.00 pm

  MAP 15 French positions – Approx. 5.00 pm

  MAP 16 Kellermann’s charge – Approx. 5.30 pm

  MAP 17 The Austrian retreat – Approximately 8.00 pm

  Picture credits

  Mono Plates

  1. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) in 1800 after Appiani. Appiani, Andrea, ‘N. Bonaparte’ (1800). (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection, Brown Digital Repository, Brown University Library)

  2. Alexandre Berthier (1753–1815), commander-in-chief of the Army of the Reserve. Duplessis-Bertaux, Jean, ‘Alexandre Berthier Général de Division: Chef de l’Etat-Major, et depuis Général en Chef de l’armée d’Italie’. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  3. André Masséna (1758–1817), commander-in-chief of the Army of Italy. ‘Massena, General der Franz. Armée’. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  4. Jean Moreau (1763–1813), commander-in-chief of the Army of the Rhine. ‘Général Moreau’. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  5. Michael Friedrich Benedikt, Baron von Melas (1729–1806), commander of imperial forces in Italy. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  6. Anton von Zach (1747–1826), quartermaster general (chief of staff) of the imperial army in Italy. (Gian Lorenzo Bernini)

  7. Joseph Graf von Radetzky von Radetz (1766–1858), the general adjutant. Mansfeld, H., ‘Joseph Graf von Radetzky: Kais. Ost. General Feldmarschall Lieutenant und Chef des General-Stabs der Haupt Armee’ (1815). (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  8. General Bonaparte on the morning of the Brumaire coup (10 November 1799). Schopin, Frédéric, ‘The Morning of the 18th Brumaire’ (1851). (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  9. The First Consul reviews his troops at the Palace of the Tuilleries, Paris. Desrais, Claude-Louis, ‘View of the grand parade passed by the First Consul in the courtyard of the Tuilleries Palace’ (1799). (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  10. Bonaparte crossing the Great St Bernard with the monks. ‘View of the hospice of the Great St Bernard, taken from the banks of the lake; passage of a French army of 8,000 men and 58 pieces of cannon, 16 May 1800 in the presence of the First Consul Bonaparte.’ (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  11. French army crossing the Alps. Muller, ‘Passage du grand St. Bernard effectué par l’Armée du Réserve, le 24 Floréal an 8 de la République, (le 14 mai 1800)’. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  12. Consular Guard grenadiers and a hussar at the monastery on the Great St Bernard pass. ‘France, 1799–1800. Campaign in Italy’. (General Research Division, The New York Public Library, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-b5a9-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99)

  13. French artillery convoy snaking its way down from the Alps towards Fort Bard. Taunay, Nicolas Antoine, ‘Défilé d’un convoi près du Fort de Bar: wash drawing.’ (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection, Brown Digital Repository, Brown University Library)

  14. The Battle of Casteggio-Montebello, 9 June 1800. Muller, ‘Bataille de Casteggio Montebello Gagnée par l’Armée de Réserve’ (1800). (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  15. Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux (1768–1800). (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  16. Adam Albert, Count von Neipperg (1775–1829). ‘Il Tenente Maresciallo Conte de Neiperg: Cavaliere d’Onore di S.M. la Duchessa di Parma.’ (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  17. The French counter-attack at Marengo, 14 June 1800. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  18. Horse grenadiers of the Consular Guard at Marengo. ‘France, 1799–1800. Campaign in Italy’. (General Research Division, The New York Public Library, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-b5b9-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99)

  Colour Plates

  19. Officer of the Consular Guard. Hoffmann, Nicolas, ‘Officier de Grenadiers de la Garde des Consuls’ (1795). (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  20. Officer of the Horse Chasseurs of the Consular Guard. Hoffmann, Nicolas, ‘Officier, Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde des Consuls’ (1795). (Anne S.K. Brown Mili
tary Collection)

  21. French horse artilleryman. ‘France, 1799–1800. Campaign in Italy.’ (General Research Division, The New York Public Library, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-b5e0-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99)

  22. Gunner of the Consular Guard. ‘France, 1799–1800. Campaign in Italy.’ (General Research Division, The New York Public Library, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-b5dc-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99)

  23. Officer of the 12th Horse Chasseurs in walking out dress. ‘France, 1800–1802.’ (General Research Division, The New York Public Library, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-3de0-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99)

  24. French heavy cavalry. ‘France, 1797–99.’ (General Research Division, The New York Public Library, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-b598-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99)

  25. French dragoon. ‘France, 1799–1800. Campaign in Italy.’ (General Research Division, The New York Public Library, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-b5dd-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99)

  26. French line infantry grenadier, 1800. ‘France, 1799–1800. Campaign in Italy.’ (General Research Division, The New York Public Library, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-b5db-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99)

  27. French infantry captain. ‘France, 1803.’ (General Research Division, The New York Public Library, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-b602-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99)

  28. Flag awarded to the ‘Incomparable’ 9th Light Infantry in reward for leading Desaix’s counter-attack at Marengo. ‘France, 1800-1802’ (General Research Division, The New York Public Library, http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-3ddb-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99)

  29. Hungarian line infantry in 1799. Kininger, Vincenz Georg, ‘Gemeine der Hungarischen Linien Infanterie, 1799’. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  30. Austrian jäger light infantrymen. Kininger, Vincenz Georg, ‚Gemeine Jäger, 1798. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  31. Austrian and Hungarian grenadiers. Kininger, Vincenz Georg, ‘Gemeine Kayserliche Grenadiers’. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  32. Austrian artillerymen. Kininger, Vincenz Georg, and Mansfeld, Johann Georg, ‘Gemeine der Artillerie’, 1798. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  33. Austrian light dragoon. Kininger, Vincenz Georg, and Mansfeld, Johann Georg, ‘Gemeiner Dragoner rechts’, 1798. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  34. Imperial Austrian hussar trooper. Kininger, Vincenz Georg, and Mansfeld, Johann Georg, ‘Gemeiner Hussar links’, 1798. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  35. The General Adjutant – a position held by Radetzky in 1800. Kininger, Vincenz Georg, and Mansfeld, Johann Georg, ‘General Adjutant’, 1798. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)

  36. View of Marengo from the north-east. (Author’s photograph)

  37. The Fontanone in front of Marengo. (Author’s photograph)

  38. The Tower of Theodoric at Marengo. (Author’s photograph)

  39. View towards Castelceriolo, where Ott’s forces deployed. (Author’s photograph)

  40. Torre Garofoli – Bonaparte’s headquarters during the battle. (Author’s photograph)

  41. Desaix’s mausoleum at the monastery on the Great St Bernard (detail). (Author’s photograph)

  Author’s Preface

  The Battle of Marengo was the first Napoleon Bonaparte fought as French head of state. Although comparatively small compared to the apocalyptic encounters marking the end of his military career, Marengo has an almost mythical status because of the nature of the victory. Plucked from the jaws of defeat, the victory confirmed Napoleon’s military genius and saw his political power cemented.

  This new popular account of Marengo is a retelling of the great battle and the key decisions which led to it being fought. Much of the book is dedicated to the battle itself and the days immediately before and after; but in the first half I have explored some of the lesser-known events and paid particular attention to the principal Austrian protagonists and the full part they played in the drama. I have also dedicated a significant amount of space to the enigmatic ‘Marengo spy’, an Italian double agent who was responsible for much of the confusion on the day of battle – neither commander was expecting to fight the battle as it happened.

  This account draws on two decades of detailed research. It uses primary source evidence from the military archives in Paris and Vienna, a wide range of oral history sources, scholarly studies into the battle conducted to mark its centenary, regimental histories, local tradition and the author’s visits to the battlefield and principal landmarks on the preceding campaign. The bibliography is accompanied by a short essay detailing the sources, profiling the authors and unmasking their reliability and prejudices. Readers may wish to study this essay and the accompanying bibliography in advance of reading the central narrative.

  Wherever possible, place names are given in their modern, familiar style. Some of the military ranks and terminology have long fallen from use. In the revolution, the French banished infantry regiments, instead labelling them half-brigades; colonels too were retitled ‘chiefs of brigade’. At the time of Marengo, and before becoming emperor in 1804, Napoleon was General Bonaparte, or the First Consul. References to the ‘emperor’ are for Francis II, the Holy Roman Emperor and Habsburg monarch. I have followed the Austrian style of identifying infantry regiments (IR) with their number and proprietary name, or Inhaber. The Austrians also abbreviate the ranks of their generals; for example Feldmarschallleutnant is rendered FML.

  T.E. Crowdy

  June 2017

  Prologue

  On the battlefield of Marengo

  ‘We were all young in those days, soldiers and generals. We had our fortunes to make. We counted the fatigues for nothing, the dangers still less. We were carefree about everything, except for glory, which is obtained only on the battlefield.’1

  Napoleon Bonaparte

  On 5 May 1805, Emperor Napoleon I of France rode onto the fields behind the little Italian village of Marengo. Thirty thousand men, all the French troops then in Piedmont, had been assembled there to mark the passage of the French emperor and his empress on their way to Milan, where Napoleon was to be crowned King of Italy three weeks later. How Napoleon Bonaparte came to wear the French imperial Crown of Charlemagne and the Iron Crown of Lombardy – a golden bejewelled band mounted on an iron bar beaten from a nail of the True Cross – was largely due to the victory won at Marengo five years before. This victory stunned Europe and confirmed the general’s pre-eminence as the greatest captain of his age: invincible on the field of battle and watched over by a lucky star. It was also a mighty political victory, one which, in the parlance of the time, ‘consolidated the French Revolution’ and secured Napoleon’s position at the head of the French republic. Within hours of the battle ending, it was remarked Marengo had placed the crown of France on Napoleon’s head.

  On the fields behind Marengo, on a gentle rise in the ground, a large podium had been erected so Napoleon and Josephine might view the troops on manoeuvre. Two thrones were placed upon the podium, which was surrounded by flags and imperial eagles. On this day, Napoleon dressed in the uniform he had worn at the famous battle five years before. He had brought with him his general’s habit – a dark blue tailed-coat rich with gold embroidery and buttons, albeit a little faded and, as Napoleon’s secretary, Bourrienne, would have us believe, somewhat moth-eaten. On Napoleon’s brow was the very same bicorn hat he had worn that fateful day, weathered by the elements on a campaign that saw him march an army across the snowbound Alps. Wearing the uniform was no act of nostalgia, but a simple message to the troops stood before him. Although now raised by the French people to the imperial dignity, the equal of kings, the French emperor remained above all the first general of France; and the victory at Marengo was the foundation of his legitimacy.

  Twenty-two battalions of infantry, four regiments of horsemen, twenty-four field guns and their train were assembled
for manoeuvres and inspection.2 Alongside Napoleon were three of his most important marshals: the eldest was 51-year-old Alexandre Berthier, the titular commander of the famous Army of the Reserve which had fought the battle. Alongside him was Napoleon’s brother-in-law, Prince Joachim Murat, a tall and lavish cavalry commander, who was apparently always ‘dressed for a carnival’; and the svelte Jean Lannes, a hardened soldier dedicated to Napoleon’s meteoric career. Unlike the vast majority of the troops assembled (none of these infantry regiments were present at Marengo), the three stalwarts of Napoleon’s rise to glory had been present on that fateful day five years before. They had all shared the dangers and had reaped the rewards since.

  Another veteran of the battle present that day was Napoleon’s stepson, Prince Eugène de Beauharnais. Still just 23 years old at the time of this commemoration, the prince was the natural son of a noble general sent to the guillotine in 1794, and already a veteran of two campaigns in Italy and a military expedition to Egypt and Syria. Under the emperor’s direction, Eugène directed the manoeuvres of the blue-coated troops. Long, smart battalions presented arms in salute, wheeling by company and sections from line to column; marching, halting, redressing their ranks; a formidable sight, somewhat different from the dusty, half-starved soldiers who fought like demons in the long battle. After presiding over the manoeuvres, Napoleon returned to the throne alongside Josephine, and from there distributed the awards of the Legion of Honour to soldiers of long, meritorious service, and those who had been decorated in the previous campaigns. He had done much the same the previous summer at Boulogne, where his Grand Army was camped in preparation for the much-anticipated invasion of England.