the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

The Allies first crossed the Bormida River, rested at San Juliano for three hours
and then commenced their forced march. Suvorov rode alongside the troops, repeating
“Forward, forward! The head does not wait for the tail!” and cheered them up, “You are
wonder-warriors [chudo-bogatiri]! You are fearless heroes! You are Russians!” 29
Bagration later recalled that Suvorov instructed him to teach the troops a few French
words. He told Bagration, “Prince Peter, you must ensure that everyone learns these
words. I will ask them.” Bagration spelled the French words in Cyrillic and the soldiers
repeated them on march. 30 The troops moved with remarkable speed and after covering
over thirty miles in twenty-four hours in hot weather, they bivouacked between
Casteggio and Casatisma.
Bagration marched ahead of the main forces and bivouacked some four miles
from Stradella in the evening on 16 June. 31 His troops were exhausted after covering
forty-three miles in twenty-four hours, but he kept them in order and now rested for a
night. He was ordered to reach the Trebbia River by late morning on 17 th , while the rest
of his troops arrived at San Giovanni. 32 However, during the night, Suvorov received
urgent news from Ott, who was attacked by superior French forces. Macdonald did not
expect to engage Suvorov’s entire army on the Tidone. 33 He was unable to direct the
troops on the positions since he was wounded and had to stay at Borgo San Antonio. He
29 Razskazi starogo voina o Suvorove, 129-30.
30 Suvorov ordered to shout ‘bas les armes’, ‘jettez les armes,’ ‘pardon’ during the attack on
the French. Order to Cossack Troops, circa 17 June 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 153;
Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 246, 249, 566; Razskazi starogo voina o Suvorove, 129-30; Order
to Army, 15 June 1799, Correspondence of Suvorov, 247.
31 Clausewitz, Die Feldzuge von 1799, V, 442-43; Miliutin, Campaign of 1799, II, 562-63.
32 Disposition of Army, 16 June 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 152; Miliutin,
Campaign of 1799, II, 564. Suvorov also dispatched a detachment under Major General Mikhail
Veletsky to protect his flank at Bobbio. Suvorov to Veletsky, 17 June 1799, A.V. Suvorov:
Documents, IV, 153.
33 Macdonald also recalled Olivier’s and Montrichard’s divisions from Modena. Jomini,
Histoire critique et militaire, XI, 353-54; Macdonald, Recollections, 248-49; Suvorov to Paul, 30
June 1799, A.V. Suvorov: Documents, IV, 171; Clausewitz, Die Feldzuge von 1799, V, 442-43;
Bogoliubov, Suvorov’s Art of War, 91; Bogdanovich, Suvorov’s Campaigns in Italy and
Switzerland, 61;
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