25.12.2013 Views

the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

to allow <strong>the</strong> flanking columns to lead and <strong>the</strong>n launch a frontal assault on St. Gothard. 36<br />

The French troops at Airolo consisted <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 38 th , 67 th and 109 th Demi-brigades. Three<br />

batta<strong>lion</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 38 th were on <strong>the</strong> St. Gothard, one batta<strong>lion</strong> <strong>of</strong> 67 th was on <strong>the</strong> road near<br />

Furka and two batta<strong>lion</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same Demi-brigade were at Ober-Alp. In total some 4,300<br />

men, prudently deployed on <strong>the</strong> strong positions in <strong>the</strong> passes. In addition, General<br />

Loison’s troops were spread along <strong>the</strong> valley towards Altdorf. 37<br />

Bagration’s advance guard (2,400 men) was first to move at 3.00 a.m. on 24<br />

September. However, his troops were delayed by <strong>the</strong> terrain and wea<strong>the</strong>r, and <strong>the</strong>y only<br />

reached Airolo by 2.00 p.m. After a brief engagement, <strong>the</strong> French, some thousand men<br />

strong, 38 retreated. Bagration divided his detachment in two columns, with smaller one<br />

under Lieutenant Egor Lutovinov pursuing <strong>the</strong> French, and <strong>the</strong> remaining troops<br />

outflanking <strong>the</strong>m. He also dispatched Major General Mikhail Baranovsky to climb <strong>the</strong><br />

cliffs on <strong>the</strong> extreme right. 39 Soon <strong>the</strong> French rallied behind <strong>the</strong> positions at Cima del<br />

Bosco and met advancing Russians with a close fire. The Russians lost some 150 men,<br />

including Lutovinov. Colonel Paul Shuvalov led ano<strong>the</strong>r attack against <strong>the</strong> French, but it<br />

also failed and Shuvalov was seriously wounded. 40 The French fought valiantly and<br />

repulsed subsequent attacks until arrival <strong>of</strong> Russian reinforcements, forcing <strong>the</strong>m to fall<br />

back behind <strong>the</strong> ragging Sorescia at <strong>the</strong> entrance to <strong>the</strong> narrowest part <strong>of</strong> Val Tremola. 41<br />

36 Disposition for an Attack on St. Gothard, 21 September 1799; also, Suvorov to Paul, 14<br />

October 1799, Generalissimo Suvorov, 299-300, 303; Additional Disposition for Attack, 23<br />

September 1799, in Miliutin, Campaign <strong>of</strong> 1799, IV, 276-77; A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 335-<br />

38;<br />

37 Miliutin, Campaign <strong>of</strong> 1799, IV, 34-35.<br />

38 Koch estimated 600 men. Mémoirs de Masséna, III, 379.<br />

39 Suvorov to Paul, 14 September 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 350-51; Baranovsky<br />

led Nizovskii Musketeer Regiment and Miller Jager Regiment. Miliutin, Campaign <strong>of</strong> 1799, IV,<br />

38.<br />

40 Suvorov to Paul, 14 September 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 351.<br />

41 Bagration to Derfelden, 10 October 1799, Bagration’s Journal, 49; Suvorov to Paul, 14<br />

September 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 351; Miliutin, Campaign <strong>of</strong> 1799 IV, 38; Duffy,<br />

140

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!