Campaign Move 2 – Contact at Fossano

Move 2 - 1200 to 1600  9 April 1796

Serurier makes contact with 1^st 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 5^th division and orders them to prepare to attack Fossano at first light

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

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

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

2^nd Austrian division commanded by Sebottendorf is at Mortara

3^rd 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

1^st Sardinian division commanded by Brempt is at Fossano

2^nd 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

3^rd French division commanded by Massena is at Genova

4^th French division commanded by Argereau is at Albenga

5^th French division commanded by Serurier is at Mondovi

6^th French division commanded by Laharpe is in reserve at Savona