the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

marches and required extensive repair; that the horses had to be shoed. So, he appealed
for materials and tools for the repair 194
The French garrison in Turin was only 3,400 men strong under General Pascal
Antoine Fiorella. 195 The French were now facing ten-fold superior Allied army and could
not hope for support from the local population. 196 The Allies demanded surrender of
Turin on the same day, but Fiorella refused, stating he would fight to the last. 197 Suvorov
began construction of batteries and intended to bombard and storm the city on 27 May. 198
However, during the night of 27 May, General Vukassovich, aided by the local
residents, 199 seized one of the gates of Turin. His troops rushed into the city and forced
the French to retreat into the citadel. According to Suvorov, the French lost over 100
killed and 208 captured, with 300 wounded and sick in hospitals. 200 The Allies captured
194 Bagration to Rosenberg, 25 May 1799, Ibid., 25, No.40. Bagration received 40 guldens for
the repair on 30 May. Bagration to Smagin, 30 May 1799, Ibid., 27, No. 48.
195 Clausewitz, Die Feldzuge von 1799, V, 248; Petrushevsky, Generalissimo Prince Suvorov,
564.
196 For the French measures against the insurgents, see the decree of 12 May 1799 of the
French authorities in Turin, in Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 92-95, 475-77. As he ap[proached
to Turin, Suvorov issued new disposition for his troops. Prince Bagration was moved ahead of
Rosenberg’s column from Montanaro to Rivoli and dispatched his Cossacks to mountains near
Pinerolo. Vukassovich, who commanded the Austrian advance guard, reached Turin and occupied
the dominant heights of Superga, while his patrols moved on the roads to Moncalieri, Chieri and
Villanova. The main force was still divided into two columns and marched to surround the city.
Disposition of Army, 25 May 1799, Correspondence of Suvorov, 235-36. Also see Special
Disposition to Rosenberg and New General Disposition of 26 May, in Miliutin, Campaign of
1799, II, 478-81; Correspondence of Suvorov, 236-38.
197 Suvorov to Paul, 27 May 1799, Correspondence of Suvorov, 243; Casteler to Fiorella,
Gorchakov to Fiorella, Fiorella to Gorchakov, 25-26 May 1799, in Miliutin, Campaign of 1799,
II, 102-103, 478-81; A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 101-102; Orlov, Study of Suvorov’s Military
Operations, 152; Victoires, Conquêtes, X, 271-72.
198 Disposition to Rosenberg, Additional Disposition to Rosenberg, 26 May 1799, A.V.
Suvorov: Documents, IV, 94-97; Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 478-79; Orlov, Study of
Suvorov’s Military Operations, 152; Buturlin, Campagne de 1799, 72
him.
199 Vukassovich contacted Major Lucioni of the Piedmontese militia, who opened gates for
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