the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

a brief clash with the French. 49 Suvorov sent one of his aide-de-camps, Prince Andrei
Gorchakov, to report on Bagration’s progress in the siege at Serravalle.
During the night of 5 August, Bagration began the construction of batteries. He
chose excellent positions on the nearby hill of Monte Buffo, to the west of the fortress, to
built his central battery. However, the massive ridge delayed the supply trains and
complicated the construction. 50 Bagration’s engineers had to lift the cannon by the ropes
to the peak; some guns fell into precipice and had to be brought up by the troops. 51
Despite these complications, Bagration’s troops managed to finish constructing the
battery in a single night 52 and, at 4:00 a.m. on 5 August, four guns began to bombard the
fortress. 53 The French launched several sorties, which were repulsed. After several hours
of an artillery duel, the French guns were silenced and a breach was made in the
donjon; 54 Bagration also learned that the French maintained communications through the
town so he dispatched a battalion to occupy it. The town deputies presented him with the
keys of the town, which he sent to Suvorov. 55 Prince Peter then negotiated with the
French commandant to withhold fire on the town to prevent any damage to civilians and
pledged not to attempt siege works in that direction.
49 Bagration to Suvorov, 4 August 1799, Ibid., 35, No. 101. Dalheim’s detachment suffered
light losses (3 killed and 20 wounded) in this engagement. Bagration urged the field marshal to
dispatch a cavalry regiment to reinforce Dalheim in case the French attacked. Suvorov deployed
some 13,000 men to prevent any French reinforcements from reaching Serravalle or threatening
Bagration’s siege. Suvorov to Paul I, 8 August 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 246.
50 Artileriiskii zhournal o ekspeditsii na krepost Seravalskuiu [Artillery Journal of the
Expedition Against the Fortress of Serravalle, hereafter cited as Artillery Journal of Expedition
on Serravalle], in Ibid., 40-41.
51 Artillery Journal of Expedition on Serravalle, 41.
52 Bagration to Suvorov, Bagration to Grand Duke Constantine, 4 August 1799, Ibid., 35-36,
No.96., 104
53 Suvorov to Paul, 8 August 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 246.
54 Artillery Journal of Expedition on Serravalle, in Ibid., 41-42. The Russians fired 4,120
rounds, including 1,400 shells. Austrian Captain Perzel commanded the battery and skillfully
directed the gunfire to breach the walls.
55 Bagration to Derfelden, Bagration to Suvorov, 5-6 August 1799, Ibid., 36-38.
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