the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

The next morning, Suvorov intended to resume pursuit, 123 but his troops were still
exhausted and could not move. So, there was no real attempt to destroy the disorganized
French before they reached the mountains. 124 Moreau exploited the Allied inactivity and
successfully extricated the remaining troops to the Riviera. The Russians troops were
discontented with the situation, and, as a participant recalled, some of them grumbled,
“How can this be possible? How can we be so close to the enemy and not be allowed to
finish them off? Oh! Letting them slip from our hands like that is not the Russian
style!” 125 However, Suvorov was now consumed by different concerns. He withdrew his
forces to the positions they occupied prior to 15 August and began preparations for his
favorite plan – the expulsion of the French from the Riviera and the invasion of the
southern France. 126
The battle at Novi was a decisive Allied victory. The French army was shattered,
losing almost 6,500 killed and wounded, 4,600 captured, including four generals, eightyfour
officers, four flags and most of the artillery. 127 The Russian troops lost 1,900 killed
and wounded, while the Austrian casualties amounted to 5,800 men. 128 Bagration
reported his casualties as 76 killed, 458 wounded and 25 missing; 11 officers were killed
123 Suvorov issued a new disposition: Generals Derfelden and Rosenberg were to march
through Gavi and Bocketta to Genoa; Melas (with Bellagarde) was ordered to advance through
Aqui to Savona and Kray to Asti and Cherasco. Disposition of Army, 15 August 1799, in
Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, III, 330-31; A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 259.
124 Saint Cyr, Memoirs, I, 264; Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, III, 74; Duffy, Suvorov in Italy
and Switzerland, 150.
125 Razskazi starogo voina o Suvorove, 169; Also, see Orlov, Gryazev’s Notes, 72.
126 However, Suvorov had to postpone offensive because the Austrian commissariat failed to
gather the mules for transportation of supplies and ammunition.
127 Suvorov to Paul, 16 August 1799; Suvorov to Ushakov, 22 August 1799; Suvorov to Paul,
25 August 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 260, 266, 274. The number of guns varies,
ranging from 37 to 40. However, Gachot claimed the French abandoned 18 guns and 21 caissons.
Gachot, Souvarow en Italie, 385; Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, III, 65, 325-26; Duffy, Suvorov in
Italy and Switzerland, 148; Petrushevsky, Generalissimo Prince Suvorov, 621.
128 Suvorov to Ushakov, 22 August 1799, Suvorov: Letters, 350; Suvorov to Paul, 25 August
1799, Correspondence of Suvorov, 277; Petrushevsky, Generalissimo Prince Suvorov, 621;
Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, III, 65, 325-26; Razskazi starogo voina o Suvorove, 172; Gachot,
Souvarow en Italie, 385; Duffy, Suvorov in Italy and Switzerland, 148.
128