Thursday, August 30, 2012

Campaign Move 2 – Contact at Fossano


Move 2 - 1200 to 1600  9 April 1796


Serurier makes contact with 1st Sardinian division at Fossano.
He halts out of sight in the hills
He sends an urgent message to Bonaparte

Brempt has orders to hold Fossano
He is unaware that the French are so close

Bonaparte joins 5th division and orders them to prepare to attack Fossano at first light

Monday, August 27, 2012

Campaign Move 1 – French Advance North

Move 1 - 0800 to 1200  9 April 1796


All divisions start the campaign with sufficient supplies for 6 moves (two days). 
When they are reduced to 3 moves (one day) they can resupply
To do so they must halt, and avoid contact with the enemy, for one day

Bonaparte is aware that the Sardinian Army is deployed between Turin and Alessandria, and that an Austrian army is marching from Milan to join them.   He does not however know their exact location.

His plan is to defeat the Sardinians before the Austrians can arrive

He orders 3rd division to advance to Fossano, where a body of Sardinans have been reported.   2nd division will follow to support them.

1st and 4th divisions will move to Alba and Acqi to determine whether the enemy also occupy them.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Piedmont Campaign – April 1796

Strategic Map of Italy

On 2 March 1796 General Bonaparte is appointed commander in chief of the Army of Italy.  

The campaign in Italy has ground to a halt, and the French army is a low state of morale.

Despite the daunting task ahead of him, the young Bonaparte is determined to take the initiative and destroy the combined Sardinian/Austrian army he faces.

Tactical Map of Piedmont at Start of Campaign


The French army of 60,000 men hold a narrow strip of coast from Savona to Genoa.

General Colli commands 30,000 Sardinians who hold the northern towns of Turin and Alessandria.

General Beaulieu has just arrived at Mortara with 30,000 Austrians with orders to join forces with Colli and drive the French out of Italy.

Austrian Army

General Beaulieu has two divisions
Their supply base is at Mortana
They have orders to march to Allesandria and join forces with Colli
2nd Austrian division commanded by Sebottendorf is at Mortara
3rd Austrian division commanded by Argenteau is also at Mortara

Sardinian Army

General Colli has two divisions
Their supply base is Turin
They have orders to hold Fossano and Alessandria until the Austrians arrive
1st Sardinian division commanded by Brempt is at Fossano
2nd Sardinian division commanded by Provera is at Alessandria

French Army of Italy

Bonaparte’s plan of battle is to attack and defeat the Sardinians before the Austrians can come to their assistance.

He is aware that the Sardinian army is deployed to cover Turin and Alessandria, but is not aware of their exact locations.

French supply depot is at Albenga and Genoa
3rd French division commanded by Massena is at Genova
4th French division commanded by Argereau is at Albenga
5th French division commanded by Serurier is at Mondovi
6th French division commanded by Laharpe is in reserve at Savona