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eceived reinforcements and felt so secured that he bragged, “If the French dared to
attack me with superior forces, I would be able to chastise them.” 141 He also captured the
“military commissar and secretary” of General Victor’s division. 142 Bagration informed
Suvorov about the anti-French sentiments among the residents. He received a letter from
local authorities of Oneglia, Asti and Aqui, describing the uprising against the French
and offering to support the Allied army. 143
Meanwhile, Suvorov, still believing the French had left Valenza, ordered General
Rosenberg, who was at Dorno, to cross the Po towards Valenza for a coordinated
offensive. 144 While Rosenberg was on the march, Suvorov learned that the French were
still at Valenza and he ordered Rosenberg to turn to Torre. 145 However, Rosenberg
continued his movement across the Po at Bassignana, where he encountered entire French
army. 146 On 12 May, the French attacked and inflicted heavy casualties on Rosenberg’s
troops, who fought courageously with their backs to the river. 147 The Russians held
ground for eight hours and the fighting ended after darkness fell. Rosenberg re-crossed
140 Journal of Military Actions of the Allied Armies, in Correspondence of Bagration, 26;
Bagration to Suvorov, 11 May 1799, Bagration’s Journal, 12, No. 21; Suvorov to Paul, 27 May
1799, Correspondence of Suvorov, 241; A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 100.
141 Bagration to Suvorov, 11 May 1799, Bagration’s Journal, 12, No. 21.
142 Bagration to Suvorov, 11 May 1799, Ibid., 13, No. 22.
143 Bagration to Suvorov, 11-12 May 1799, Ibid., 13-14, Nos. 21-23.
144 Suvorov to Rosenberg, 11 May 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 62.
145 Suvorov to Rosenberg, 10 May 1799, Orlov, Study of Suvorov’s Military Operations, 120-
21; Suvorov to Rosenberg, 11 May 1799, Suvorov: Letters, 335.
146 One of the reason for Rosenberg’s attack was the arrival of Grand Duke Constantine.
Young arrogant Constantine urged Rosenberg to attack. Count Komarovsky recalled, that when
Rosenberg argued that the French were superior, Grand Duke told him, “I think, you became
accustomed to service in Crimea [against the Turks]; you have never seen [real] enemy there.”
General Rosenberg was irritated; he replied to Constantine, “I will prove I am not coward,” so he
led the troops in attack across the river. Orlov, Gryazev’s Notes, 41-42; Zapiski Grafa E.F.
Komarovskogo [Recollections of Count E. F. Komarovsky] (St. Petersburg, 1914), 84. This
excerpt was also printed in Russkii Arkhiv, 4 (1867): 530-31. Also see, Miliutin, Campaign of
1799, II, 51-52; Petrushevsky, Generalissimo Prince Suvorov, 555-560.
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