the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

However, Suvorov’s actions also indicate that he had another plan of actions if
Kray failed to overwhelm the French flank. In this case, Kray was to lure French forces
from the right flank to the left. Once this was accomplished, Suvorov planned to take
advantage of the exposed center and right flank by breaking through with a decisive
assault. He even gave special instructions to Bagration, who later recalled that Suvorov
told him “to lure the enemy from the heights [in the center] down into the plain.” 91 One
of the participants also wrote, “Major General Bagration could not accomplish [Kray’s
requests], first, because the enemy forces on the height in front of him were still superior;
second, the terrain put [the French] in much advantageous positions, and third, this attack
would have been against the disposition given to him. [my emphasis]” 92
Besides,
Suvorov sent Bagration a message telling him to urge Kray to increase the pressure on
the French flank, while Prince Peter himself was “to be ready to attack [in the center].” 93
Thus, Bagration had orders to postpone his attack until the French diverted their forces
against Kray, and then to attack the French at Novi.
Consequently, Prince Peter remained at his positions and refused to support Kray.
He waited for a half an hour and, observing the increasing French pressure on the left
flank, urged Suvorov to commence the attack on the right flank. Bagration recalled,
I dispatched three aide-de-camps to [Suvorov] with the reports on the
fighting and finally requested permission to attack. However, neither of
my messengers returned. Meantime, [the French] advanced on
91 Razskazi starogo voina o Suvorove, 161. Probably, Suvorov met Bagration and gave him
verbal instructions, because no written orders are preserved. The Manuscript Section of the Lenin
State Library has a short letter in which Suvorov ordered Prince Peter to remain in the center of
the Russian troops. However, after the battle, Suvorov wrote that Bagration was “to move around
the town [of Novi] and attack the right flank of the enemy.” Suvorov to Bagration, 7 a.m., 14
August 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 257-58; Suvorov to Paul, 25 August 1799,
Correspondence of Suvorov, 274. Most Russian scholars claimed Suvorov ordered Bagration to
capture Novi and so Bagration’s troops were arranged as “the first line in the center.” However,
Duffy, based on Melas’ letters, referred to Bagration being “assigned to attack the left of Novi
and unite with Kray in the area of Serravalle.” Orlov, Gryazev’s Notes, 66; Orlov, Study of
Suvorov’s Military Operations, 293, 302-305. Duffy, Suvorov in Italy and Switzerland, 135, 149.
92 Komarovsky, Voennii Zhournal, 4 (1810): 34-35. Komarovsky was aide-de-camp to Grand
Duke Constantine.
93 Suvorov to Bagration, 15 August 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 258.
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