the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

order arrived. Suvorov wrote, “I regret moving you out of Novi. Halt you movement
where you will receive this message [and return to Novi].” 153 Bagration turned his forces
back to Novi and spread a screen of Cossack patrols between the Scrivia and the Bormida
Rivers. 154 By 15 May, Bagration re-occupied Novi and cut the French communications
with Genoa. 155 Suvorov instructed him to deploy the Cossack patrols over extended
territory between the fortress of Serravalle and Vizona, near Aqui. After completing this
mission, Bagration was to return with part of his troops to San Guliano. 156
By mid-May, the Allied army was deployed on the southern bank of the Po, with
the Austrians troops at Torre and General Ivan Förster at Sale waiting for Rosenberg’s
column. Bagration was at Novi and his troops were deployed between the Scrivia and
Bormida, supporting Major General Karachay at Marengo. 157 By now, Suvorov
commanded 36,000 men, excluding Vukassovich’s 5,000 men at Casale. 158 The French
152 Suvorov to Bagration, 13 May 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 66; Also, in Miliutin,
Campaign of 1799, II, 58-59; Suvorov: Letters, 336.
153 Suvorov to Bagration, 13 May 1799, Suvorov: Letters, 336.
154 Disposition of Army, 15 May 1799, in Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 445.
155 Bagration to Suvorov, 13 May 1799, Bagration’s Journal, 14, No. 25; Miliutin, Campaign
of 1799, II, 68-69. Bagration lost around 20 wounded in clashes with the French outposts. He
captured several wounded French at Novi. Bagration to Lavrov, 14 May; Bagration to Suvorov,
15 May 1799, Bagration’s Journal, 14, Nos. 26-27.
156 Suvorov to Bagration, 13 May 1799; Disposition of Bagration’s Troops at Novi, 14 May
1799, Suvorov to Bagration, 15 May 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 67, 70.
157 Orlov, Study of Suvorov’s Military Operations, 129; Buturlin, Campagne de 1799, 57
158 Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 451-54. The Russian troops amounted to 17,591 men.
General Melas commanded 20,122 men and Vukassovich had 5,100 men. Bagration’s advance
guard comprised of the following units:
Unit On Roster Present
Bagration Jager Regiment (2 batt.) 703 624
Dendrygin’s Grenadier Battalion. 566 453
Lomonosov’s Grenadier Battalion 585 601
Rosenberg’s Grenadier Battalion 763 627
Baranovsky’s Musketeer Battalion 799 698
Grekov’s Cossack Regiment 488 414
Pozdeev’s Cossack Regiment 477 409
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