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small Austrian detachment and one of Bagration’s Cossack regiments to occupy Pinerolo
and locate Zimmermann. 207 Bagration received detailed instructions to occupy Suza and
its valley, which Suvorov considered of high importance for him. However, as he
commenced his march to Suza, Bagration received new order to proceed to Pinerolo,
where the French fortified a redoubt with three guns. 208 Realizing the French would fight
at this position, Suvorov sent Prince Bagration to attack them. “Nobody will accomplish
this mission better than you! Christ is with you…” 209 Prince Peter was also told to spread
proclamations among the locals, urging them to submit to the Allies. 210 He marched with
his troops the next day and sent Colonel Khvitskii to occupy Suza. Bagration arrived to
Pinerolo on 4 June, followed by the Austrian troops under Lusignan. 211 He drove the
French patrols back and pursued them to Fenestrella, where Zimmermann surrendered
with most of his detachment. Only seventy Frenchmen refused to submit and fought their
way through superior Allied forces. 212
206 The Austrians demanded his surrender and Zimmermann, at first, considered this option.
However, he then declined and withdrew his troops. On 28 May, General Vukassovich reported
that Zimmermann surrendered. Yet, neither Russian nor French sources indicate supported thius
claim and indicated that he fought until 4 June 1799. Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 485-86;
Jomini, Histoire critique et militaire, XI, 310; Georges Six, Dictionnaire biographique des
généraux & amiraux Français de la révolution et de l'empire, (1792-1814), (Paris, 1934), II, 579.
207 Suvorov to Rosenberg, 28 May 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 107; Miliutin,
Campaign of 1799, II, 487-88;
208 Bagration to Suvorov, Bagration to Rosenberg, 29 May 1799, Bagration’s Journal, 26-27,
No. 44-45; Suvorov to Bagration, 1 June 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 120-21; Bagration
to Suvorov, Bagration to Rosenberg, 29 May 1799, Bagration’s Journal, 26-27, No. 44-45.
209 Suvorov to Bagration, 2 June 1799, Suvorov: Letters, 338; A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV,
121. Suvorov urged Bagration to cooperate with Denisov and disregard previous disagreements.
210 Italian version of the proclamation is published in Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 489-90.
211 Bagration’s troops comprised of Bagration’s Jager Regiment, Lomonosov’s Grenadier
Battalion, Grekov’s Cossack Regiment. Colonel Zhukov’s battalion later reinforced him.
Khvitskii commanded Dendrygin’s Grenadier Battalion and Denisov’s Cossack Regiment.
Bagration to Förster, 3 June 1799, in Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 488; Suvorov to Rosenberg,
3 June 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 122. Denisov remained with Suvorov for several
days and later joined Bagration at Pinerolo. Denisov, Notes, 120.
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