the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

Emperor Francis wanted to further his political interests in the region and curbed
Suvorov’s actions. Suvorov was compelled to move some 3,000 men to blockade Tortona
and another 10,000 men to besiege the citadel of Alessandria. 15 He also increased Allied
forces at Mantua to 29,000 men. 16
Meanwhile, General Macdonald rallied his battered forces forming three divisions
of Dombrowski, Montrichard and Watrin and the reserves. 17 Macdonald, realizing that he
could not remain in Tuscany any longer, 18 moved his army to Genoa to join Moreau. The
French (17,000 men) marched along the narrow routes along the seacoast and united with
the Army of Italy in early July. 19 General Gouvion Saint Cyr replaced Macdonald and
commanded the right flank of the French army. General Perignon was on the left flank
near Savona, Loano and Oneglia with headquarters at Corneliano.
On the Allied side, the main forces were deployed on the right bank of the Orba
River. The Cossack patrols were spread in the local mountains and reconnoitered area
between upper Tanaro and Trebbia rivers. The Allies also received reinforcements under
Lieutenant General Rehbinder (10,000 men) that were arranged at Piacenza to support
14 Francis to Suvorov, 10 July 1799, in Ibid., II,327-28, 610-12.
15 Disposition of Army, 25 June 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 169; Miliutin,
Campaign of 1799, II, 298-305, 585-91.
16 Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 307-308; Duffy, Suvorov in Italy and Switzerland, 123;
Cuccia, Siege of Mantua, 256. Lieutenant General Ott, before being recalled to Mantua,
continued his advance and occupied Bologna and Fort Urbano at Castel Franco. The French
garrison at Turin capitulated on 22 June. Suvorov to Paul, 30 June 1799, Correspondence of
Suvorov, 257; A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 176; William Bentinck to Lord Grenville, 23 June
1799, in The Times, 11 July 1799; Orlov, Study of Suvorov’s Military Operations, 243-45;
Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 308, 596; Clausewitz, Die Feldzuge von 1799, V, 482.
17 Pachonski, Legiony Polskie, 515-16.
18 Following the allied victory at Trebbia, the local population rose against the French in
Tuscany. The insurgents took Florence on 4 July. Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 310.
19 Steven T. Ross, “The Military Strategy of the Directory: the Campaign of 1799,” French
Historical Studies, 5/2 (Autumn 1967): 180; Orlov, Study of Suvorov’s Military Operations, 246;
Macdonald, Recollections, 270-73
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