The attackers were, in fact, a detachment sent on a sortie from Palmanova by General Zucchi. It consisted of the 2nd Company, Treviso Line Battalion, Captain Bosa, the 3rd Company, Captain Galateo, the Crusaders of Belluno, Agordo, and Buia, led by Pietro Barnaba, and those of Colloredo, led by Count Filippo Colloredo, a total of about 400 men7. They had left the fortress at 07:00.
Straight away, Captain Grimm moved from S. Vito to support his colleague, but could make no headway. Around 13:45, a company of Peterwardeiner Grenzer next attempted a move against the place, but likewise failed. Finally, a force of 14 companies, with a howitzer, came up, under the personal command of Prince Felix Schwarzenberg. The howitzer was pushed to within 40 paces of the village, and opened fire with case shot. With this, the defenders were forced to withdraw from Visco, and retreated to the fortress. Austrian losses were light, one officer and two men killed, 14 men wounded, and five missing. The Venetian column lost five dead, 21 wounded, and 85 taken prisoner. At 18:00, Prince Schwarzenberg, with the Liccaner Battalion, finding the village of Privano occupied by hostile elements, drove these out. Both Visco and Privano were burned.8
The following day, Nugent was joined by FML Schaaffgottsche, with two battalions, two squadrons, and a rocket battery. Leaving Prince Liechtenstein’s brigade to mask Palmanova, the Count continued his advance. His target was the city of Udine, 20 kilometres to the north.
Bombardment and Capitulation of Udine
Udine, with a population of about 22,000, was walled, and had a moat. Nugent, during the 20th, attempted to negotiate the city’s surrender, but was unsuccessful. The garrison consisted primarily of the Galateo Legion of Captain Maiolarini, about 370 men, many of them Austrian deserters from the former garrison, and the Friuli Line Battalion, Colonel Count Alfonso, some 450 strong, with many more volunteers and Civic Guard.
On the morning of the 21st, Major Count Crenneville was despatched to parley with the defenders. This was refused, and an attack on city commenced. The Advance Guard dislodged the defending troops from the buildings around the Pascole Gate, on the western face of the city, and placed a rocket battery there. Directly south of here, at the Grazzano Gate, 7, 8, and 9/IR Kinsky, led by Major Engelhofer, likewise cleared the approaches to that gate, although Engelhofer was wounded in the process. With this battery, six howitzers, and three additional rocket batteries, a bombardment of the city commenced at 16:30. Two of the howitzers were posted on the road, only some 500 paces before the Aquileja Gate, at the south-east corner of the walls. During these exchanges, Lieutenant-Colonel Smola, Nugent’s Chief-of-Staff, attempting to parley, was wounded by case shot.
The bombardment, though not particularly heavy, had a signal effect upon the city authorities and the populace, and, on the 22nd, through the offices of these, and the Archbishop, a capitulation was drawn up. These terms were very generous, inducing the military authorities to accept them. The city was occupied on the 23rd, with 300 of the Italian troops, along with three guns, withdrawing to the forress of Osoppo, now under command of Major Zannini. This fort, Zannini declined to give up.9 Count Nugent now faced his first major physical barrier, the River Tagliamento, like all of the north Italian rivers at present, swollen with large amounts of rain water and melting snow.
Whilst Nugent was engaged in this march, Alberto La Marmora, on April 19th, arrived in Treviso. Learning of Nugent’s advance, he set about gathering troops for an attempted relief of the threatened points. He was able to quickly despatch those of Major Galateo’s Treviso Line Battalion not already involved, and a Free Corps commanded by Colonel Count Gritti. He then settled in to await the arrival of Papal troops in the city. Hearing of the fall of Udine, however, La Marmora began to walk eastwards to assess the situation.10
By the 23rd, he was on the east bank of the Tagliamento, near a town named Codroipo, about 25 kilometres south-west of Udine. Here, he found a disorganised mass of military and civilian fugitives from the city, learning that the enemy was close behind. La Marmora, as quickly as he was able, got the milling mass across to the west bank, and then had the main bridge burned, with the others to follow, along with a stock of timber. Continuing to retreat, the column was able to reach Sacile by dawn on April 25th. From here, La Marmora wrote to Colonel Constante Ferrari, who had arrived in Treviso with his Civic Guard Battalion from Senio, ordering him to Narvesa, to guard the Priula Bridge. He then ordered Colonel Zambeccari’s Alto Reno Battalion east to Barbarana, to cover the crossing there. Unfortunately, Ferrari’s men would not follow him. Finally, after an impassioned speech by Major Sammaritani, 120 men out of 600 agreed to go. Equally bad, although Zambeccari moved as ordered, his men were out of ammunition, and were awaiting a fresh supply (note that the Alto Reno Battalion was equipped with special carbines). This information understandably caused the general great anxiety, as he had no immediate support.
In the meanwhile, Nugent was doing his best to cross the Tagliamento. As La Marmora had not only destroyed the bridges, but also burned all spare timber, there was no choice other than to wait for the bridging train. This apparatus, pulled by oxen, caught up on the 25th. For the next two days, 1/Pioneer Company, Captain Maidich, greatly assisted by General Staff Engineer Captain Radó, struggled to construct a bridge some 190 metres long. Finally, on April 28th, the Corps Advance Guard, Brigade Schulzig, crossed the river, soon followed by the main body.11 From here, it would take the main body until May 2nd to reach Sacile, about 40 kilometres away.
Overnight on the 27th, the Priula Bridge was burned down, either on La Marmora’s orders, or upon the initiative of Engineer Colonel Forbes. In any case, the action precluded any immediate crossing by the enemy, and, fortunately, to La Marmora’s surprise, General Durando entered Treviso on the April 29th forestalling Nugent’s advanced elements. The 29th also saw a meeting between Durando, accompanied by his Chief of Staff, and General Alberto La Marmora, at the ruins of the Priula Bridge. From here, they rode through Nervesa, along part of the long line of the Piave which they had to defend. La Marmora gave Durando a list of the troops, and their intended positions along the river.12
On April 30th, Nugent had his headquarters in Pordenone, with his Advance-Guard at Sacile, the main body being in and around Pordenone, and his left flank between La Motta and Portogruaro, making contact with the coastal flotilla, which, on the 29th, was in Porto Legnano, and on the 30th, had moved on to Caorle, from where it would successfully operate against the Venetian coastal trade.13 By May 2nd, Schulzig’s patrols had reached the Piave, finding the opposite bank occupied, and the bridges destroyed. That same day, Nugent’s main body arrived in Conegliano.
THE PIAVE CAMPAIGN
Durando’s Dilemma
General Durando, in the meanwhile, after the conference with La Marmora on April 29th, had placed the Papal Grenadier and Cacciatori Regiments in the area between the Priula Bridge ruins, and Barbarana, and the Venetian forces of La Marmora, defending Treviso. He partly reconsidered this though, and on May 3rd, ordered General Ferrari to that city with his division. Ferrari was to take command there. Durando also moved his own Headquarters and troops to Montebelluna, on the 4th. He does not appear, at this point, to have considered a northern move by Nugent likely, and left the local volunteers there to themselves, merely despatching a staff officer, Captain Quintini, to encourage and assist them in their own defence.14
Ferrari reached Treviso late in the evening of the 6th. At this point, his force was composed of the following:
Three Civic Guard Legions
3000
Three Volunteer Regiments
3000
Student Battalion
500
Alto Reno Battalion
500
Battalion Constante Ferrari
500
Galateo Battalion
400
Venetian Volunteers
500
Neapolitan Crociati
150
Samaritani Battalion
200
Mounted Cacciatori
200
Half Battery
Total:
9,050
Attached (under the command of General Guidotti):
Two Papal Grenadier and two Cacciatori battalions
2,500
Durando’s column, at Montebelluno, comprised:
Two Swiss regiments
3,400
Foot Carabinieri
200
Dragoons
300
Mounted Carabinieri
751
Swiss Battery
Total
4,65115
Nugent across the Piave
Count Nugent had made a successful advance so far, with light loss. However, he was now facing a major river line, which was well defended. After careful consideration, he judged that he would force the Piave to the north, since he felt that with only field artillery, and a single bridging train, it would be foolish to attempt a crossing near to Treviso. He decided to move north, and cross the Piave at Belluno, thus avoiding the main enemy force. This advance would also force local insurgents to submit or flee, and would secure better communications with the Tirol.
The main force was sent, during May 2nd and 3rd, from Sacile to Conegliano, then to move towards Belluno. Division Schaaffgottsche was to hold the Middle and Lower Piave, and, by means of demonstrations, fix the enemy’s attention there, until the blow fell.
Nugent’s Advance Guard, commanded by Major Baron Handel, composed of one division each from 1st and 2nd Banal Grenzer, Captain Lasich, and a half rocket battery, Lieutenant Jäger, moved directly north towards Santa Croce. Covering Handel’s left flank in the Val Mareno, were four more companies of 1st Banal Grenzer, Major Geramb, Geramb’s advance guard commanded by Captain Henikstein.
On the 3rd, Handel encountered a force of Bellunese volunteers, about 400 men with four guns, led by a local doctor, Antonio Palatini. They were well emplaced in a position near Serravalle, from which Handel could not dislodge them. The next morning, Major-General Culoz sent forward two battalions of IR Archduke Carl in support, but before their arrival, Handel had taken the adjacent heights, and driven the Bellunese back. Handel’s loss was one killed, and six wounded. The volunteers’ loss is unrecorded. Major Geramb, on Handel’s left, also had several clashes, but his advance was unhindered.
Both Handel and Geramb continued their advance on Belluno on May 5th, noting little resistance. Sensing an opportunity, Captain Henikstein hurried forward to the city, and concluded a capitulation with the municipal authorities, as the volunteers quickly abandoned it. Belluno was occupied that evening. General Culoz, upon his arrival, pushed a small force forward to secure bridges, and placed a further four companies on the right flank, north of the city, to secure the advance of the main force. These were a division of 1st Banal Grenzer, and the 8th division of IR Hohenlohe.
These latter units would face considerable resistance in the mountain areas to the north, a wild and remote region, the Cadore. FZM Nugent had no intention of being diverted in this direction. Firstly, his prime objective was the reinforcement and re-supply of the Field Marshal’s Army in Verona. Secondly, he correctly judged that the Cadorini offered no military threat outside their region. There would be prolonged relatively small-scale fighting there, but nothing that could affect the eventual outcome of the campaign.
The next day, after breakfast, Culoz moved six companies along the west bank of the Piave towards Feltre. This force, four companies of Banal Grenzer, and two of IR Archduke Carl, led by Major Handel, occupied the town that evening, in the process capturing the unfortunate Captain Quintini, who had been sent forward by General Durando, to galvanise the local volunteers. Nugent now chose to move south, towards Treviso.
On the morning of the 7th, as the main force moved towards Quero, a platoon of I/ Banal Grenzer, 23 men under Oberlieutenant von Magdeburg, was sent along the road to Primolano to reconnoitre the positions of the volunteer units which had withdrawn in that direction from Feltre. Near Arsiè, Magdeburg encountered a force of some 300 volunteers. The Grenzer occupied a building, and for the next hour and a half, proceeded to defend it until ammunition began to run low. At this point, Magdeburg decided upon an attempt to break out. This was, after another hour, successful, though with loss, and what was left of the platoon was able to escape across the Arsiè Bridge, and return to Feltre. The volunteers subsequently burned the bridge. The total losses in this skirmish are not known. The Bassano Crusaders lost two killed and four wounded, whilst taking one prisoner. Co-incidentally, this minor action served to confirm in General Durando’s mind, that the intended enemy advance was aimed at Bassano16. Indeed, the despatch of four companies of Deutschbanater Grenzer to Arsiè, in the wake of Magdeburg’s debacle was also to be viewed this way.
Durando’s Reaction
Having been advised that Ferrari’s troops had reached Treviso the previous night, at dawn on May 7th, General Durando began to march his force north. Realising that Belluno was lost, the General proposed to occupy and defend Feltre, from where he had received word that the town was safe for another day. Only when his column had reached Quero, a three hour march from Feltre, was he advised of the town’s fall. He rapidly realised that the enemy now had a free hand, especially since, on orders from Nugent, much materiel was being ostentatiously gathered near Conegliano, as if for an attempted crossing of the Piave there. Faced with these concerns, and certain that Nugent’s purpose was the earliest possible arrival in Verona, Durando decided that he would occupy a line between Primolano and Montebelluna, and place a reserve in Bassano. His dispositions were:
Primolano
One Foreign Battalion
850
Dragoons
200
Carabinieri
200
Bassano
Three Foreign Battalions
2,700
Dragoons
100
Mounted Carabinieri
75
Foreign Battery
50 – eight guns
Between Ponte Di Piave and Montebelluna
Three Roman ‘Legions’
3,000
Three Volunteer Regiments
3,000
Alto-Reno Battalion
500
University Battalion
500
Battalion C. Ferrari
500
Galateo Battalion (C. Ferrari)
500
Venetian Volunteers
600
Neapolitan Crociati
150
Samaritani Battalion
200
Dragoons
100
Grenadier Regiment
1,300
Cacciatori Regiment
1,10017
In the key area immediately south of the Bassano-Pederobba Road, Ferrari had placed the following troops:
Onigo
Bersaglieri of the Po, Captain Mosti-Trotti
100(?)
Belluno and Agordini Crociati, Dr. Palatini
400(?)
Mounted Cacciatori, two squadrons, Major Savini
200
Also on the 7th, Ferrari ordered the 2nd Roman Legion to Cornuda, and the 1st to Montebelluna. Subsequently, he moved I/3rd Roman Legion to the area west of Visnadello, and II/3rd to Montebelluna, and then on to Cornuda. In addition, General Durando also despatched a dragoon squadron, a half battery, and the two small cannon of the Belluno Volunteers to Montebelluna. These arrived there at noon on the 8th. In all, Ferrari had some 3,800 men immediately available. It was now beyond doubt that the Austrians were moving in force towards Treviso.
The Actions of Cornuda, May 8th and 9th (see map on page 165)
May 8th
At about 14:00, on May 8th, Major-General Culoz led the advance guard of his brigade, two companies of IR Archduke Carl, a troop of uhlans, and half of Rocket Battery Nr. 3, south, to occupy the village of Pederobba. As the force approached,
Captain Dangel, commanding the two infantry companies, was ordered to take the Chapel of San Sebastiano, on a height just north of Pederobba, and also a nearby mill. This episode is briefly narrated in the regimental history:
Cornuda and the Defence of the Piave, April 29–May 9 1848
The chapel was occupied by Papal troops who opened a lively, but ineffective fire on the division advancing through the valley. When, however, Lieutenant Holm, who had climbed the rock with a platoon of 7th Company, suddenly appeared on the enemy’s left flank, they left the height, and retreated to Onigo. In the meanwhile, Captain Albertini, with two platoons of the 8th Company, occupied the mill not far from the road.18
As Culoz continued his advance, he summoned the four companies of 1st Banal Grenzer forward, at the double, from Quero. The two forward companies of IR Archduke Carl, now entirely deployed in skirmish order, were advancing across the valley towards Onigo, driving Mosti and Palatini’s men before them. The fire of the rocket half-battery had a considerable effect on the retreating troops, who pulled back through Onigo, and across the Nassone Torrent. Here, Mosti rallied some 300 men.
With the arrival of the four Grenzer companies, Culoz resolved to push the volunteers from the new position. He assaulted the front with four companies (two Archduke Carl, and two Banal Grenzer), whilst Major Handel demonstrated on Mosti’s right flank with the remaining two (Banal Grenz) companies. The move was successful, and the volunteers pulled back to Cornuda.
At about 17:00, General Ferrari arrived in Cornuda. Later that evening, firing broke out, and two companies of the 2nd Roman Legion retreated behind some cover, causing disruption to Ferarri’s line. After this incident, conflict ceased for the night. Austrian losses for the day were extremely light, three dead, and 17 wounded. The loss amongst the Papal troops is uncertain. At around 22:00, Ferrari wrote to General Durando, informing him of developments and requesting his assistance, also stating his own intention of maintaining his positions.
Radetzky's Marches Page 23