Battles of Millesimo – Cosseria April 1796

Continuing with WR’s General Bonaparte’s early 1796 campaign, WR has posted the scenarios of Voltri, Monte Negino and Montenotte which leads WR swinging the French Army of Italy westwards for the next battle of Millesimo (Cosseria) on April 13, 1796.

Millesimo (Cosseria) was a small skirmish action around the area of Millesimo. The advancing French divisions of Augereau and Joubert pushed back the puny Austrian Auxiliary Corps under GM Provera and Piedmontese detachments of FML Colli towards Montezemolo and Ceva. Would be just a footnote in military history except for the heavy French casualties suffered on the slopes before an old dilapidated castle atop a hill. Cosseria castle was one of those battles… coup de main siege storming type which, on hindsight, should never have happened. But it did….

French Army of Italy advances from the victorious win at Montenotte to engage the Austro-Sardinian-Piedmontese at Millesimo and Dego. Note that “Montenotte Inferiore” should be a little further east of Montenotte named on this map diagram. Map location Montenotte represents “Cairo Montenotte” of modern times.

….‘Know’, he said, ‘that you are dealing with grenadiers, and that Piedmontese grenadiers never surrender.’ 

…‘this blasted castle will force us to turn back to the Riviera.’

Those words from Colonel Del Carratto, the commander of the Piedmontese grenadiers and General Bonaparte during the Cosseria siege set the tone for April 13-14, 1796. A small garrison without supply and water, in a ruined hill castle, holding the French advance cold just after the battle of Montenotte. Very few war gamers even know of Del Carratto and his 3rd Piedmontese Grenadier battalion (composed of Monferrato, La Marina and Susa companies). You can drive right past this hilltop without even an upwards glance but back in April 1796 this was the center of General Bonaparte’s history making grand campaign plan. So a brief narrative of events back on April 13-14, 1796.

Battle of Montenotte April 1796

After the opening campaign manuevers by Beaulieu at Voltri (see linked scenario), FML Argenteau had spent April 10th collecting his infantry battalions towards Montenotte Superiore while FZM Beaulieu marched on Voltri. During the morning of April 11th, FML Argenteau marched southward towards Savona, pausing at the open fields near Cascina Garbazzo. He pushed aside small French detachments near Montenotte Superiore till his afternoon progress was blocked at the French held Monte Negino redoubt. This useful defensive complex, originally built by the Austrians, was to go into history with one of the first grand gestures incorporated into Napoleonic legend; the swearing of an oath to fight to the death. The late afternoon struggle for this small mountain pimple and redoubt, with several assaults close and bitter, ended with the Austrian army retiring for the night and renewing the effort the next day.

A small Monte Negino mini scenario is at end of this post.

Attack on Monte Negino redoubt. Note the steep hillsides on each side of the redoubt complex which severely constrained the Austrian assault. Savona and the sea in the right distance.

Colonel Rampon, with 32nd DB Ligne flag in hand, holding the small Monte Negino redoubt. The oath….”It is here, my friends that we must conquer or die”.

Battle of Voltri April 1796

While perusing the warren’s book library, WR’s eye wandered to a book titled Castiglione 1796 (info below). For reasons unknown, but maybe just WR’s known interest of off beat battles, the book was read again over several nights, leading to thoughts of finally putting down scenario information on Bonaparte’s early 1796 campaign battles. Not just the famous ones like Montenotte, Lodi, Arcole and Rivoli, but bring some uncommon early 1796 Italian battles to the tabletop. So, using Bonaparte’s arrival of March 28th as a start date, the first major action didn’t even involve Bonaparte. The Battle of Voltri 1796 started with the French government action towards the neutral Republic of Genoa. Events unfolded with a French infantry column (GB Pijon replaced later by GB Cervoni) marching to Genoa to back French claims given by representative-on-mission Saliceti. The Austrians, under the recently promoted Feldzeugmeister Beaulieu, reacted with their own invasion of the neutral Genoese state on the March 31st. Several days pass and Beaulieu elected to march on GB Cervoni’s positions along the coastal Mediterranean shore. His plan was for two columns to “surround” Cervoni along the coast and force the French Army of Italy outposts back towards Savona.

Image of Voltri in a later period. I think the image is reversed as the sea should be on the left side looking westward. Does give a good impression of the hillsides near the coastal road.

Card Table Napoleonics

While digging around the WR’s computer files yesterday, WR found an old game scenario summary sheet for setting up small “card table sized” (poker table) games. These napoleonic games were used as a game teaching system for high school students several years ago. Quick and short, with the game scenario design to have the game completed in 90 minutes plus some set up / take down time. Divisional level games of 12 units (about 70 miniatures) on each side representing 7,000 soldiers (1:100 ratio).

Card table scenario initial set up example. Kleve-Berg (left) vs. Baden (right) divisions. Center line objective was the building besides the road. Woods, low hills, hedges and light orchard completed the terrain. The haystacks just for tabletop show along with the “roadside monument.”

The one page game scenario outlined below:

Battle of Gaza 1799 Bonaparte vs. Ahmed Jezzar

Something different from the normal Napoleonic game. Dan and WR elected to play a French expedition Syria vs. the forces of Ahmed Jezzar (Levant Ottomans) game featuring the Battle of Gaza 1799.

Game map, order of battle and notes: Gaza 1799 Scenario Notes (updated)

Initial deployment: Lannes’ Division with Murat’s cavalry crossing the Gaza wadi. Levant Ottomans deployed behind hills or in Gaza.

Game start set up. French in foreground (Gaza wadi), Levant Ottomans in background near Gaza town and behind low hill.

Gaza 1799 Game map. Black arrow shows French entrance point to table.