the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

surrender. Austrian dragoons under Colonel Joseph Nimptsch pursued the fleeing Poles
and captured 230 of them. Finally, Dombrowski ordered retreat, loosing 500 killed, 600
captured, a flag and two guns. 68
Macdonald dispatched part of Victor’s and Rusca’s divisions to reinforce the
Poles. 69 The French effectively used the terrain and the vineyards, covering their
movement on Bagration’s right flank. Prince Bagration was in the precarious position of
being cut off the main forces. He later recalled “[The French] were seized by exuberant
pride and advanced under the music, the beating of drums and shouts of ‘Vive,
Republique, Vive Liberté, Egalité! Vive, Vive! En avant!’ Chains of skirmishers
extended acrss the front of their column and along its flanks, and their cannon mowed
down our ranks.” However, Prince Peter rallied his troops to halt the French advance.
The sides became engaged in fierce fighting and the casualties mounted; General Rusca
was wounded and Colonel Leblanc died, exclaiming, “Vive la république!” 70 The French
finally displodged Bagration, who deployed skirmishers behind the fences and ditches to
cover his retreat. The French divisions of Rusca and Victor threatened to envelop Prince
Bagration’s flanks. However, General Rosenberg moved several battalions to reinforce
Bagration and led the rest of his division in a bayonet charge against the French. 71
68
Suvorov to Paul, 30 June 1799, Correspondence of Suvorov, 252; A.V. Suvorov:
Documents, IV, 172. Another official account of the battle referred to two flags, one cannon, 800
killed and 600 captured, including two colonels and Dombrowski’s aide-de-camp. “Journal of
Military Actions of the Allied Armies,” in Correspondence of Bagration, 28; Orlov, Suvorov on
Trebbia, 61. Chodzko did not indicated losses, though acknowledged the Polish casualties were
high. Histoire des légions polonaises en Italie, 173-74. Pachonski referred to 400 killed and 300
captured Polish. Austrian Dragoon Lorenz Bauer captured flag of the 3 rd Polish battalion with
inscription, “Tutti uomini liberi sono fratelli; Legione Polacca Auxiliare fucilieri” (‘All people
are free and brothers. Auxiliary Battalion of the Polish Legion.’). Pachonski, Legiony Polskie, II,
494-95.
69
Weinzierl, Career of Victor, 122 (based on Victor’s report at Service Historique,
Correspondance: Armée des Alpes et d’Italie, Carton B 3 62); Clausewitz, Die Feldzuge von 1799,
V, 452-53; Buturlin, Campagne de 1799, 90-91; Petrushevsky, Generalissimo Prince Suvorov,
584; Chodzko, Histoire des légions polonaises en Italie, 174; Bogoliubov, Suvorov’s Art of War,
98.
70 Gachot, Souworow en Italie, 250; Chodzko, Histoire des légions polonaises en Italie, 175.
81