Radetzky's Marches

by Michael Embree

  The US Army Staff College study of the campaign placed special emphasis on the lie of the land:

  The country between the (Rivers) Sesia and Ticino is much cut up with canals of irrigation: and the mulberry plantations, where vines are trained in festoons from the trees, and the deep, soft rice fields, are serious obstacles to the movements of troops, especially of cavalry, who can rarely find there ground on which to act in a body; hence the columns moving there must chiefly keep to the roads, which are bordered with wet ditches, and often pass along causeways raised above the swampy fields.4

  On his right flank, General Chrzanowski placed Lieutenant-General Durando’s 1st Division. Durando was, as a result of the past two days, almost a brigade short. His extreme right was where the weakest units were posted, IV/3rd, and 1/5th Infantry Regiments, with four guns. These were on the west bank of the Cavo Dassi, north of Torrione Quartara. To their left and slightly to their rear, the Aosta Brigade, and one 4th Battalion occupied the Cittadella farmhouse, and the area around it. Finally, two 4th Battalions occupied the C. Arasario, left and slightly forward of the Citadella, with four guns on either side of it.

  The centre was held by General Bes, with his 2nd Division, placed in two lines, part deployed, and part in column, as far as La Bicocca. To his right-rear, Bes had the Nizza and Royal Piedmont Cavalry Regiments. An outpost of one squadron of the Nizza cavalry was posted above Torrione Quartara.

  On the left, was General Perrone, with his 3rd Division. Perrone occupied the key position of La Bicocca, and the area to the left, as far as the Roggia di Olengo (Olengo Ditch). Further to the left, a Provisional Regiment and III and IV Bersaglieri battalions covered the area to the Valley of the Terdoppio. The Duke of Genoa, with his 4th Division, was drawn up behind Perrone, with Major-General Solaroli’s 3rd Composite Brigade east of Novara, outside the Milan Gate.

  Finally, the Duke of Savoy’s Reserve Division was posted south of the city, in support of Durando. Chrzanowski’s main line was some 3,600 metres in length.5 It was the firm decision of the ‘Major-General’ to fight a defensive battle, because of his concerns about the morale of the troops. For this reason, he had chosen a position where the avenues of attack were both limited, and funnelled. Dawn, on the 23rd of March, brought a murky start, with apparent promise for a beautiful day.6

  D’Aspre’s troops started their advance after breakfast, at about 10:00. The Division of Archduke Albrecht marched first, followed, after too long an interval, by that of FML Schaaffgotsche. For the officers and men of the Archduke’s division, it was to be a long day.

  11:00 to 13:30 (see map in colour section)

  At about 11:00, the Piedmontese sentinel in the Bell Tower of the Church of Santa Maria della Biccoca tolled the bell once. The advancing enemy was in sight, marching along both the road from Pavia, and on the east bank of the Agogna. Shortly afterwards, firing broke out in the direction of Olengo.

  II Corps’ Advance Guard, 9th Feld-Jäger Battalion, Colonel Weiß, and a squadron of Reuss Hussars had encountered Bersaglieri pickets just south of the village of Olengo. These rapidly fell back on the village. Immediately upon hearing the initial firing, D’Aspre, never far from the fray, made his way forward. As ever impatient, flushed with the success of Mortara, and certain that the enemy force was only a rearguard, which itself was withdrawing towards Vercelli, he ordered an immediate attack.

  Upon hearing the sound of cannon fire to the north, the Austrian Chief of Staff, Baron Hess, remarked, “If the Piedmontese Army awaits us at Novara, only God can be of any help to them.”7 Certainly, at first, it might have appeared rather differently on the spot.

  D’Aspre’s First Attack

  Colonel Weiß’s battalion pushed the Bersaglieri screen north of Olengo. These then withdrew behind Major-General Ansaldi’s Savona Brigade, south of La Bicocca. D’Aspre, behaving like a brigade commander, hijacked Major-General Kolowrat’s command. On the left of the road to La Bicocca, he pushed I and II/IR Archduke Franz Carl forward, along with Rocket Battery Nr. 2. To the right, I and II/IR Kaiser advanced, supported by Horse Artillery Battery Nr. 2. 12 Pounder Battery Nr. 2 was sent straight along the main road itself.

  At the hamlet of Castellazzo, the main battle began, with the leftmost companies of the 15th Infantry Regiment, Colonel de Cavero, supporting the Bersaglieri. Kolowrat, after a spirited action, was finally able to take the place. To the left, I/IR Franz Carl stormed Ca Briola and La Boiotta, before moving on towards Ca Cavalotta. Here, however, the battalion was halted by units of III and IV/Bersaglieri, the right hand companies of de Cavero’s regiment, and the fire of 3rd Field Artillery Battery, Captain Gresy. Shortly afterwards, II/IR Franz Carl, which had been delayed by ditches and mud, arrived. The Archduke himself, also appeared, to galvanise efforts. With the support of the rocket battery, the column was able to advance to Villa Visconti, a strongpoint immediately south of La Biccocca. Here, at the bottom of the rise to the village, their advance was stopped by the fire of 15th Regiment, and 7 and 8/Bersaglieri. A protracted struggle took place here, during which Major Lions, commander of III/Bersaglieri, was killed.

  On the Austrian right, Kolowrat attacked with the three battalions from his position north of Castellazzo. A section of the 7th Field Battery, Lieutenant Spalla, was able to drive off the Austrian guns, although Spalla’s own losses also forced him to withdraw. At this, Major-General Ansaldi, commander of the Savona Brigade, led forward elements of the 16th Regiment, and III/2nd Regiment, Major de Coucy, despatched to him by General Perrone. He was able to push back the Austrians, and advance, in his turn, as far as Castellazzo.

  While these actions took place, Kolowrat’s two weak cavalry squadrons (together, 240 officers and men), attempted to flank and capture the Piedmontese batteries. Both attempts failed, the first due to a counter-charge by 5/Genoa Cavalry, Captain Bovis, and the second, by an equally successful attack by 1/Genoa Cavalry, Captain Buschetti.

  With Kolowrat’s attack bogged down, D’Aspre began to feed Major-General Stadion’s brigade into the battle. He had already sent a detachment, under Colonel Kielmansegge, with one of the colonel’s own battalions, II/Paumgarten, two companies of the 11th Feld-Jäger Battalion, a half-squadron of Reuss Hussars, and two guns, further to the left. Kielmansegge was to move in the direction of Torrione Quartara, to protect the Archduke’s left flank8. Now, at around 12:00, I/Paumgarten, four companies of 11th Feld-Jäger Battalion, and four guns of Foot Artillery Battery Nr. 4, were sent to the aid of the two battered battalions of IR Franz Carl, around C. Visconti.

  Josef Bruna, now Lieutenant Bruna, was commanding a platoon I/IR Paumgarten that day. As the rest of the battalion moved up, his company was assigned to guard the Brigade Battery:

  Just imagine our dismay and desperation when we were supposed to deploy behind the cover of the guns, while our comrades were rushing forward towards the enemy. Namely, our captain, one of the most competent and valiant officers I have ever known, was deeply annoyed, and wished to alter this. The name of my former captain, Karl Manger von Kirchsberg, had a good reputation in the army; his valour at Novara was rewarded by His Majesty by the award of the Iron Crown. Just then, our brigade commander was arriving to give some orders to the battery commander. At this, my captain requested permission to advance towards the enemy. He was supporting his plea with the comment that the Regiment Franz Carl, which was just rallying, was near the battery anyway, and could cover it in the worst case.

  The General (Count Stadion) knew the captain to be a very capable officer, and ordered him to employ his company where it was needed, as he saw fit. On the flank of our assaulting battalion, there was a house that our company was to take. Running swiftly, we arrived at the house, suffering few casualties; the enemy positioned in the building did not seem to be good marksmen. As we entered the first rooms, though, a bitter melee ensued. Friend and foe, officers and common soldiers, crowded in a wild melee. One side tried to climb the stairs, while the other attempted to throw the assaila
nts down, all keen to destroy their opponents; in a cruel crush, they shoot one another with the rifle against the enemy’s breast, slash and thrust at each other, use the corpses of the fallen as walls or stairs to attack or defend those stairs.9

  In the end, Bruna’s company was pushed back. While this repulse occurred, Division Schaaffgotsche arrived in the area of Olengo, and deployed, with Brigade Friedrich Liechtenstein as the first line, and Brigade Bianchi, the second.10 All of D’Aspre’s Corps was now present on the field, with the exception of III/IR Kinsky, Major Csèh, and two squadrons of Reuss Hussars, who had been left as outposts along the River Ticino, and had yet to reappear.

  D’Aspre, by now, about 13:00, as a result of observation and the reports of prisoners, fully appreciated the great strength of the forces opposing him. He sent couriers to III and IV Corps, as well as the Field Marshal, requesting help. Radetzky had anticipated him. As soon as he had heard the heavy artillery fire to the north, he realised the scale of the action, and sent orders for III Corps to support D’Aspre, with I Reserve Corps to follow on. In addition, he had diverted IV Corps, on the road to Vercelli, to march on Novara, directly on the Chrzanowski’s right flank. I Corps was to support the latter.

  Back at Novara, the Archduke had committed Colonel Benedek’s IR/Gyulai, supported by Count Stadion’s 4th 6 Pounder Foot Artillery Battery, and the rocket battery, against C. Visconti. Shaken by the cannon and rocket fire, the already tired troops of the Savona Brigade fell back under Benedek’s attack, leaving the building in his hands. During this action, Major-General Stadion was badly wounded. Unable to accept the loss of this important position, General Perrone instructed Colonel Mudry, with his as yet uncommitted I and II/2nd Infantry Regiment, to retake it once again.

  Mudry’s two battalions moved forward, but in doing so, came into contact with the men retreating from C. Visconti. This demoralised and disordered Mudry’s troops, who then retreated into the Arbogna Valley. Here, the ranks were ordered and reassembled.

  Seeing this, Mudry ordered forward III/2nd Infantry Regiment, Major de Coucy. De Rolland advanced towards C. Visconti, but was stopped in his tracks by Benedek, and then also forced to retreat into the Arbogna Valley, there joining the rest of the regiment.

  General Perrone now had only one reserve left. Since the beginning of the battle, Colonel Jaillet’s 1st Infantry Regiment had been feeding troops to support other units. At around 13:00, III/1st, Major Perrier, was detached to protect the 3rd Field Artillery Battery, near La Bicocca Church. Shortly thereafter, three further companies were sent to the assistance of 2nd Regiment.11 The Colonel now had only five companies at his disposal. Nevertheless, in accordance with his orders from General Perrone, Jaillet traversed the difficult ground and approached C. Visconti, to find himself supported by Major de Rolland’s battalion, which had been hurried over from La Bicocca. Both units exchanged a heavy small arms fire with the defenders, until flanked on Jaillet’s right, forcing him to withdraw to his former position, west of La Bicocca. Shortly afterwards, 2nd Regiment joined him there, reuniting the brigade, which then took the opportunity to pull itself back into order.

  As D’Aspre was requesting help, troops of Brigades Liechtenstein and Bianchi were being fed into the line. II/Vienna Volunteers and II/IR Kinsky were assigned to Archduke, while Landwehr/IR Kinsky and I/IR Fürstenwärther went to Kolowrat. II/Kaiser Jäger was posted in Olengo. The two brigade batteries, 5th and 6th Foot Artillery Batteries, were hurried forward to add their fire support. Shortly afterwards, the next attack began.

  During the lull, General Chrzanowski, around noon, had sent orders to the Duke of Genoa to bring his division forward, and to relieve General Perrone’s. He then despatched another staff officer to Major-General Mollard, commanding the Savoy Brigade, to launch an immediate counter-attack. Mollard, when this officer arrived, was in the process of changing the brigade’s position, to lessen the effect of the increased enemy artillery fire. Chrzanowski’s aide, instead of reporting to Mollard, moved straight into the front ranks of the troops, shouting, “Forward Savoy!”12 This, naturally, caused a confused rush forward by many men, whilst others hesitated. The chaos was, unfortunately, only increased by Mollard and his officers rightly attempting to regain control.

  1st Vienna Volunteers at the Caschina Visconte, Novara, March 23rd 1849 (Adam Brothers)

  This move coincided with the renewal of the Austrian attacks. The Savoy Brigade, a confused mob, was routed and dispersed, although gallant bands of officers and men withdrew, disputing the ground in their retreat. During the withdrawal, General Perrone was mortally wounded. The Brigade eventually rallied at the top of the Arbogna Valley. Many men, though, fled to Novara and further. The Austrian advance took La Bicocca.

  D’Aspre had effectively knocked out Perrone’s division, and taken key positions. He had also, however, committed his own last reserves, and was, he now knew, facing the main enemy army. Although he had requested, and would undoubtedly receive, support, there was no way to know how long he would have to wait for it. In the meanwhile, the best commander in the enemy army was approaching, with two fresh brigades.

  Occupation of Torrione Quartara

  As related, Colonel Kielmansegge, with seven companies, a half squadron, and two guns, had been sent towards Torrione Quartara, to the left of the main force, to act as a tripwire. At approximately 12:30, his advance developed Piedmontese vedettes, south of the village. These withdrew before him, and his troops were able to occupy the place. As he continued north, however, he encountered large enemy forces, and rapidly pulled back to Torrione Quartara. Unknown to Kielmansegge, his small force was facing the whole of Lieutenant-General Durando’s 1st Division. Once in the settlement, he occupied the majority of the buildings, and with his two guns, attempted as best he could to counter the much heavier cannonade directed at his force. Durando, for the moment, made no further move.

  Prince Ferdinando Counter-Attacks

  On the Piedmontese far left, Austrian detachments had worked their way north, coming into contact with the Solaroli Brigade, east of Novara. Only light skirmishing developed in this area, as no major effort was mounted here. Nevertheless, Solaroli remained ready to react to any threat from the east.

  After the replacement of 3rd Division by the Duke of Genoa’s 4th, Prince Ferdinando prepared to attack Kolowrat’s positions south of La Bicocca. The Prince placed the Piedmont Brigade in the first line, backed up by the Pinerolo Brigade. The assault was to be supported by two batteries (16 guns), 9th Field and 4th Position Batteries, emplaced in fields south of the walled Saint Nazzaro Cemetery. The 3rd Infantry Regiment, accompanied by accompanied by General Passalacqua, advanced west of the road through Olengo, and the 4th Regiment, with the Prince, marched to the east of it.

  3rd Regiment was directed towards the heights west of the Arbogna Valley. However, after a brief skirmish, there were found to be very few enemy troops in this area. Passalacqua thereupon re-crossed the valley and joined the fighting at La Bicocca. He first sent a company, and then the whole of I/3rd Infantry Regiment against a particularly tenaciously held building west of the church. While encouraging his men, the general was struck and killed by a bullet in his left side. At this, II/3rd Regiment, Major Cerale, and II/3rd, Major Faa di Bruno, joined the attack. Passalacqua’s enraged men stormed the building, taking some 300 prisoners, and the regiment then pushed on, pursuing the Austrians as far as C. Cavallotta.

  At this place, however, the advance was abruptly stopped by guns of the 4th Foot Artillery Battery, placed on the road, and firing grapeshot, behind which the infantry were rallied, and reformed by the efforts of the Archduke and Colonel Benedek. Colonel Giacosa was forced to withdraw to his original position behind La Bicocca. In the meanwhile, the Duke of Genoa had ordered the 13th Infantry Regiment, Colonel Fara (Pinerolo Brigade) forward, to replace the 3rd. At about the same time, too, General Chrzanowski committed the 11th Infantry Regiment, Colonel Filippa, a formation belonging to 2nd Division, to joi
n the fighting in the Arbogna Valley.

  On his own left, Prince Ferdinando had been equally active. The 4th Infantry Regiment, Colonel Cucchiari, led by the Prince, advanced from La Bicocca against Castellazzo The defenders resisted for some while, but, tired, scattered, and low on ammunition, were forced from the farm house, losing a number of prisoners. Major-General Kolowrat was able to organise a number counter-attacks, but these were beaten back by Cucchiari’s troops, assisted by an assault on the Austrian left by III/14th Infantry Regiment, Major San Vitale. Kolowrat’s force was pushed, in some confusion, back towards Olengo.

  San Vitale’s intervention had been possible because the 11th and 13th Regiments, with elements of other units, had been pushing forward, pivoting on their left flank, and swinging forward with the right. This was achieved in the face of repeated counter-attacks by Archduke Albrecht. The Archduke was forced back to C. Cavallotta. The Duke of Genoa’s attack had placed him before both that place, and Olengo. It was about 14:30.

  Prince Ferdinando pushes to Olengo (see map in colour section)

  At about this hour, Prince Ferdinando launched an attack on the village. Olengo was held by II/Kaiser Jäger, Major Hubel, five and a half companies (half of 8/ Kaiser Jäger was acting as artillery escort). Hubel held the village itself, and the northern approaches with his 5th division, 9 and 10/ Kaiser Jäger, under Captain Toth. On Toth’s left, extending west across the main road, was positioned 6th division, Captain Streicher. In a cluster of buildings west of the village, linking the 5th and 6th divisions, was half of 8/ Kaiser Jäger, Oberlieutenant Freireisen. In reserve, stood 7/ Kaiser Jäger, Captain Röth.13

  The defence of Olengo by II/Kaiser Jäger led by Major Christian Hubel, Novara, March 23rd 1849 (unknown artist)