Radetzky's Marches

by Michael Embree

  As the 4th and 14th Infantry Regiments approached Olengo, fire began to be exchanged from a considerable distance.14 The Duke, by weight of numbers, forced his way into the lower part of the village. Hubel, Toth, and Streicher were able to hang on to the upper part, launching frequent bayonet attacks from all directions.15

  Behind the village, the confused milling mass of Imperial troops was slowly being rallied, reformed and reordered. From these, a group of men of Landwehr/IR Kinsky, had been rallied by Captain Trobin. Likewise, the acting Brigadier, and Colonel of the regiment, Colonel Bianchi gathered about a hundred men, and led them forward in support of Hubel. These were followed by two companies, led by Captain Steinhofer, and then, the rest of Landwehr/IR Kinsky. This attack, combined with Hubel and his subordinates’ continued repeated assaults drove the Duke’s troops from the lower part of Olengo, back towards La Bicocca.16

  This repulse coincided with a despatch from General Chrzanowski to Prince Ferdinando, with instructions to pull his troops back to Castellazzo. The General feared that the Prince might overextend his force, and in any case, wished to use this division for the knock-out blow, when the time came. At heart, he still worried as to the morale of the troops.17 Had Olengo been taken by the Prince, the situation would unquestionably have been very different.

  The Arrival of III Corps

  FML Appel’s Corps, upon receiving D’Aspre’s plea to support him at Novara, had begun to move at about 13:00, Count Lichnowsky’s division leading that of Prince Taxis. As his lead troops reached Garbagna, four kilometres south of Olengo, Appel was handed D’Aspre’s second request, this time with great urgency. Unfortunately, it was necessary for the Corps to navigate through II Corps’ baggage and supply trains, which had been posted here. Not until 15:00, did Appel’s advance troops, III/ Feld-Jäger Battalion, of Major-General Maurer’s brigade, reach Olengo, two companies deploying east of the village, and four west of it. It was none too soon

  Lieutenant Bruna, reflecting the feeling in II Corps, put the matter succinctly:

  Almost five hours of uninterrupted struggle had taken place, as it approached 4 o’clock. The entire Corps of D’Aspre was in action; it also stood, however, alone, and must succumb should no support arrive. Already, our fatigue was at the highest level; already, we thought that our line could no longer be held. However, encouraged by the words and example of our Serene Highness, the Divisional Commander, we moved into danger for a great effort for Archduke Albrecht. We trembled at the tenure of this hero at whose side we so often saw fall dead and wounded.18

  Lichnowsky’s two brigades were placed as follows:19

  A.

  Major-General Maurer, with I/IR Archduke Leopold, I/IR Archduke Sigismund, and the 20th Foot Artillery Battery went in support of Kolowrat and his mixed force east of the main road.

  B.

  Major-General Alemann, with III Styrian Volunteer Battalion, II/IR Leopold, III/IR Archduke Sigismund, Landwehr/IR Sicily, and Foot Artillery Battery Nr. 12 was sent to reinforce Archduke Albrecht.

  C.

  In Reserve, around Olengo, stood the remaining units of Prince Taxis’ Division. These were I and II/Deutsch Banat Grenz IR, I and II/IR Archduke Carl, Landwehr/IR Deutschmeister, and the 8th and 9th Foot Artillery Batteries.

  By around 16:00, these troops had been deployed. On the (Austrian) right, Hubel’s II/ Kaiser Jäger, and I/IR Sigismund moved forward, followed by Kolowrat’s patchwork quilt of units. Just to their left, came 3rd Feld-Jäger Battalion and I/IR Archduke Leopold. This advance was accompanied by the guns of 20th Foot Artillery Battery. As these approached Castellazzo, they were met by a heavy bombardment from the 9th Field and 4th Position Batteries, which dismounted three guns of the 20th Foot Battery. Quickly, Foot Artillery Battery Nr. 6, and 12 Pounder Battery Nr. 4, were both brought up into the line. A lengthy artillery exchange developed. Under cover of the reinforced gun line, Maurer and Kolowrat made slow but steady progress towards La Bicocca.

  To the west, the Archduke and General Alemann were advancing between the main road and the Arbogna Valley. III/Styrian Schützen Battalion covered the advance on the right flank, and Archduke Albrecht, without doubt the mainstay of II Corps’ defence this day, assembled his various units at C. Cavalotta, also to advance in support of the primary effort. Major-General Alemann then led the fresh main force here, II/IR Archduke Leopold, and Landwehr/IR Sicily in the van, and III/IR Archduke Sigismund in support, forward. This attack reached C. Visconti, but was repulsed from the building itself by Colonel Filippa’s 11th Infantry Regiment, and much of the 13th Regiment, General Alemann being wounded. Further reinforcements from the The Duke of Savoy’s Reserve Division were also brought forward to this key point, including elements of the Guard Cacciatori, and the 7th Infantry Regiment, Colonel Gozzani. The Duke of Genoa also felt it necessary to be here.

  Meanwhile, quickly reforming, their ranks, the Welden and Sigismund battalions pressed forward again, with the support of the reformed Gyulai battalions, the whole attack led by Colonel Benedek. The fighting here continued, without a decisive result. At the same time, further artillery was committed on both sides. As Prince Troubetzkoi stated, “Only the artillery and skirmisher fire continued unabated.”20

  Chrzanowski orders a Feint Towards Torrione Quartara (see map in colour section)

  While Marshal Radetzky awaited reinforcements, particularly Count Thurn’s IV Corps, approaching from the west, General Chrzanowski, at about 17:00, decided upon another offensive move of his own. Concerned by the constant enemy attacks along the Arbogna, he decided to threaten the enemy’s left. Orders were despatched to General Durando’s 1st Division to advance in support of General Bes’ 2nd Division. Durando’s men were eager to finally take part in the battle, although his Chief of Staff, Major Giustiniani, had reported to him that the situation on his own left was far from good.21

  In accordance with his orders, Durando prepared an attack. After a bombardment by 16 guns, Major-General Lovera’s Aosta Brigade advanced directly on Torrione Quartara.22 Against such a force, Colonel Kielmansegge had no chance whatsoever, although he made a most courageous effort.

  Lieutenant Bruna, fighting on the opposite flank, naturally wrote romantically of his battalion’s sister unit:

  Our Second Battalion, meanwhile, at Torrione Quartara, behaved like super-humans – a fact, for which up to now, their due respect is still little known. Colonel Count Kielmansegge, a second Leonidas, held here, with this battalion, and a few Jäger and Hussars, almost the entire enemy right wing. These heroes held the enemy in check so successfully, that it helped to better shape the battle on our front. Unfortunately, during this brilliant action, he was badly wounded, and died shortly afterwards. Fate had thus decreed that in this campaign, our Regimental Commander was to be an offering to the Gods of War. At the same time, a captain of the battalion, and the Regimental Adjutant were wounded; the first had his collarbone shattered, and the second, hit by one ball, had four holes in his arm and side.23

  The reality, of course, was far from romantic. I/6th Infantry Regiment, Major Papa managed to push into the village, but was then counterattacked by the two companies of 11th Feld-Jäger Battalion, and unceremoniously driven back in disorder. Other troops were also caught up in the confusion, and only a timely assault by II/6th Infantry, Major Orti, regained the initiative. An attack by the entire Aosta Brigade now stormed the village, taking about 100 prisoners. During this fighting, Colonel Kielmansegge was mortally wounded, as related by Bruna. His small force retreated to the south.

  Durando’s other brigade, Major-General Trotti’s Regina Brigade, was to have supported Lovera, but without becoming entangled in fighting on the right. Due to confusion over the wording of the order, and uncertainty as to what was happening at Torrione Quartara, however, General Trotti, hearing the sound of battle on his left, moved towards La Bicocca, leaving two battalions and a half-battery to hold the conquered positions.

  Genral Trotti moved his main body to
wards La Bicocca, where he supported Prince Ferdinando’s troops there. Shortly thereafter, Trotti was ordered back to the right. A new threat had appeared.

  The Intervention of IV Corps

  At about noon, Count Thurn’s IV Corps had reached the village of Confienza, some 12 kilometres south-southwest of Novara. The level of cannon-fire made it obvious that D’Aspre was involved in a major engagement. In order to comply with the spirit of the orders given for cooperation in the attack on Novara, Thurn accelerated his march in that direction, recalled a flank column, under Colonel Zobel, and despatched a troop of Windischgrätz Chevauxlegers to make contact with II Corps. Shortly after this, with the roar of cannon from the direction of Novara increasing yet more, he resolved to march immediately in support of D’Aspre, leaving Zobel’s detachment to watch for enemy activity in the direction of Vercelli.24 Near 14:00, a detachment of Archduke Carl Uhlans had an inconclusive clash with a patrol of the Savoy Cavalry.

  As his columns moved towards the sound of the guns, Thurn received a request for help from D’Aspre, brought by Colonel Count Paar. Thurn’s seizure of the initiative was all the more commendable, as the officer carrying the Marshal’s order to that effect had been unable to deliver it. A little after 17:00, the point unit, a half-squadron of Windischgrätz Chevauxlegers clashed with a troop of the Savoy Cavalry, under Second-Lieutenant Giardino. The lieutenant was bundled back towards Novara.

  Shortly after this, Prince Vittorio-Emanuele was informed of the danger approaching his right flank. Unfortunately, as he received the news, Thurn’s troops were already crossing the Agogna River, although as yet, not in great strength. At around 17:30, only the chevauxlegers, two companies of IR Nugent, and two guns of 22nd Foot Artillery Battery were on the east bank, and under fire from the walls of the town.

  After some confusion in the deployment of II/IR Nugent, due to a failed charge by chevauxlegers against the two Piedmontese guns there, the combined efforts of the Divisional commander, FML Culoz, and the Brigade commander, Major-General Degenfeld, restored order. As the two 6 pounders proved inadequate, two 12 Pounders of the 8th Battery were brought forward in support.

  Due to the commitments elsewhere, as Thurn crossed the Agogna, General Biscaretti only had the 1st Grenadier Regiment, nine horse artillery pieces, the six squadrons of the Savoy Cavalry Regiment, and four of the Novara Cavalry. As regards the latter, the ground was not conducive for the use of cavalry. The bulk of Division Culoz now deployed around S. Marta. Both sides continued to exchange fire.

  As Piedmontese troops withdrew on Novara from the east, FML Culoz incorrectly perceived a threat to his right flank, to the west of Cittadella. Consequently, he detached I and II/IR Nugent, and I/Peterwardeiner Grenz IR into that area, and also formed II/IR Schwarzenberg and I/Brooder Grenz IR south of S. Marta, as a reserve. The troops seen by Culoz were those of Durando’s 1st Division, withdrawing towards the town.

  As Durando’s men pulled back, they were unexpectedly fired upon by the column sent by Culoz to cover his right. To screen his troops from this, Durando instructed his Chief of Staff, Major Giustiniani, to neutralise this threat. First, the major pushed II/5th Regiment, Major Cavalli into the attack. Cavalli immediately launched a bayonet attack, but the broken terrain here was most unfavourable, and the attack was repulsed. Another attempt was made by I/5th Regiment, Major Arnaldi, but this was also repulsed. There followed a brisk exchange of fire, after which, the two battalions began a shaky withdrawal towards Novara, covered by III/5th Regiment, Major Raybaudi. Degenfeld’s troops pushed ahead against this rearguard, but, as darkness began to fall, halted their advance around some farmhouses between Cittadella and Cordara.

  The Arrival of I Reserve Corps and the End of the Battle

  At approximately 18:00, the head of FML Wocher’s I Reserve Corps, the Grenadier Brigade, reached Olengo. FML Hess now suggested a major attack, with the Grenadiers to assault La Bicocca. Radetzky, however, first wished to ascertain the situation west of the Arbogna. The Marshal considered it of such importance, that Hess himself was sent to discover this. In the meanwhile, four fresh artillery batteries were sent forward along the main road, and deployed before La Bicocca. Their bombardment overwhelmed the Piedmontese batteries there, which had, as Giacchi points out, “…had already sustained losses and run out of ammunition.” They were forced to withdraw.25

  FML Hess having assured the Marshal that the situation on the left was well in hand, Radetzky now allowed the infantry attack to go ahead. The battalions of IR Kinsky, I/ IR Archduke Sigismund, and Major Hubel’s II/Kaiser Jäger advanced from C. Farsada, at the bottom of the rise up to La Bicocca, which Hubel had earlier stormed. Further to the right, the units of IR Leopold, IR Kaiser, and the 3rd Feld-Jäger Battalion moved to outflank the Piedmontese left. West of the main road, Colonel Benedek, with his two IR Gyulai battalions, joined by a hotch-potch of other units made their advance.

  The Storming of Casa Farsada by II/Kaiser Jäger, Novara, March 23rd 1849 (von Myrbach)

  Before these new attacks, and seeing their artillery support driven off, the exhausted men of 2nd and 4th Divisions began to retreat. The courageous Duke of Genoa, never one to give up, saw immediately that further resistance would not be possible, and he therefore concentrated his efforts making the withdrawal as orderly as possible. Carlo Alberto, who had kept a low profile throughout the day, leaving command to General Chrzanowski, now appeared wherever the fire was hottest, just as he had at Milan, very possibly seeking death in battle.

  The 9th Field Artillery Battery, Captain di Revel, and the 4th Position Battery, Captain Mattei, were both enabled to withdraw largely the efforts of units of the Aosta Cavalry, although the latter lost three pieces, which had damaged wheels. All three were, nevertheless, spiked. North of La Bicocca, the closeness of the Austrian pursuit required the 7th Infantry Regiment, Major Pais di Maramaldo, to be deployed. The three battalions, along with elements of The Guards, held the advance for a time, before being pushed back.

  Not far from La Bicocca, Chrzanowski met Carlo Alberto, and Prince Ferdinando. Chrzanowski asked if a final effort was possible. The Prince rallied three battalions, and led them forward. This effort also failed in the face of superior odds. There was no more to be done. On the Peidmontese far left, General Solaroli had spent the day pushing back small enemy probes from the east. About 20:00, he judged the battle lost, and withdrew into Novara, later moving to Cameri, some seven kilometres to the north-east.

  At about 20:00, the onset of darkness coincided with a heavy thunderstorm, effectively ending the battle. The Austrians encamped on the battlefield. II and III Corps camped in and around La Bicocca, with IV Corps in Cittadella and along the Vercelli Road. I Reserve Corps bivouacked in and around Olengo. Wratislaw’s I Corps, which had been en route since 16:00, upon receipt of the news of the end of the battle, promptly halted for the night. Army Headquarters was established in Vespolate.

  That night, the Marshal wrote a report to the War Minister on the day’s events. The essentials of the battle were described thus;

  Headquarters Novara, 24th March 1849. Midnight

  … I have, today, a most important and decisive victory to announce. The enemy army, having already taken position near Mortara, with their only real line of retreat cut, resolved, with a strength of 50,000 men, to once again try their luck in a position near Olengo, close to Novara. The Second Corps, which formed the Advance-Guard, under the orders of the brave Feldmarschall-Lieutenant, Baron D’Aspre, marched yesterday from Vespolate towards Olengo, and encountered the same enemy on the heights there. Their unexpected strength rendered the action doubtful for some hours, since the Second Corps could not be immediately supported by those marching behind. Likewise, I had placed, on the right flank of the enemy, the Fourth, and behind this, the First Corps, in order to take him completely in the rear, on the other side of the Agogna. His Imperial-Royal Highness, the Archduke Albrecht, commanding the advance-guard division, held here, with heroic courag
e, the frontal attack of the enemy for several hours, until Feldmarschall-Lieutenant Baron D’Aspre, together with the commander of the Third Corps, Feldmarschall-Lieutenant Baron Appel, with great determination, brought up their forces on the two wings of the Division Archduke Albrecht, whilst I myself ordered up the Reserve Corps, to support the centre behind this division. With unsurpassed courage, and comparable determination, my brave troops succeeded in triumphantly maintaining our front, until the Fourth Corps, judiciously directed by its commander, Feldmarschall-Lieutenant Count Thurn, acted so successfully on the enemy’s right wing, on the other side of the Agogna, that this decisive manoeuvre, by evening, forced them into hasty retreat on all sides in great disorder, obliging them to withdraw to the north, and seek shelter in the mountains.26

  Carlo Alberto’s Abdication and the Second Armistice

  Inside the walls of Novara, matters were less easy. It was most fortunate that no attack on the town occurred, as the flood of fugitives precluded the shutting of the gates. Once within the city, some units of the army virtually disintegrated, as Le Masson comments:

  A certain number of soldiers, furious at being press-ganged into the war, were guilty of great violence against their fellow citizens, and, on the pretext that they had been deprived of supplies, threatened to pillage. Both during the battle, and especially after the defeat, their frustration boiled over. They threatened not only to pillage but also to burn and sack the town, so great was their resentment against those whom they accused of wishing for war. No doubt they would have carried out their ignoble plans had they been in Milan rather than in Novara. It was only with the greatest difficulty that their abominable excesses were brought to an end. Cavalry had to be brought in to charge down the looters, several of whom were killed. The same scenes were re-enacted for the next three or four days as the army passed through, especially in areas where groups of stragglers banded together, against which the inhabitants were obliged to take justice into their own hands.