Marengo order of battle

The Battle of Marengo (14 June 1800) was fought between the French army of First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte and an Habsburg army led by General der Kavallerie Michael von Melas. With Napoleon's army lying across the Habsburg army's line of communications to the west, Melas resolved to attack. Early in the morning, the Habsburg army advanced from the city of Alessandria and took the French army by surprise. It was not until 9:00 am before Melas' army completely moved through a bottleneck at the Bormida River bridges. At first the Austrian attack stalled, slowed by bitter French resistance. By 3:00 pm, the Habsburg army compelled their outnumbered opponents to retreat.[1] Sore from having two horses killed under him, Melas handed over command of the pursuit to a subordinate and went to the rear.[2] Later in the afternoon, a newly-arrived French division suddenly attacked the pursuing Austrians. Combined with a quick burst of cannon fire and a well-timed cavalry charge, the surprise assault caused a complete collapse of the Austrian center column, which fled to the temporary safety of Alessandria.[3] The French suffered at least 7,700 casualties, including two generals killed and five wounded. The Austrians admitted losing 9,416 killed, wounded and missing, but some estimates range as high as 11,000–12,000 casualties. The Austrians lost one general killed and five wounded.[4] The next day, Melas requested an armistice. The victory gave Bonaparte enough bargaining leverage to gain control of northwest Italy during the subsequent negotiations.[3]

Painting shows a battlefield where there are blue-coated soldiers on the left and gunners in the foreground attacking white-coated soldiers in the center. The front three ranks of the white-coats are firing a volley, but behind them there is a melee between infantry and cavalry. Napoleon is at left, outlined by a puff of smoke.

Battle of Marengo

French Army

General Staff

First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte[5]
- Commander-in-Chief: General of Division Louis-Alexandre Berthier (acted as Chief of Staff and Reserve Commander)
- Chief of Staff: General of Division Pierre Dupont de l'Étang
- Chief Engineer: General of Division Armand Samuel de Marescot
- Chief of Artillery: General of Brigade Auguste de Marmont

Napoleon Bonaparte
Louis-Alexandre Berthier
Pierre Dupont de l'Étang
Armand de Marescot
Auguste de Marmont

Corps Commanders

Jean Lannes
Claude Victor-Perrin
Louis Desaix
Joachim Murat

Organization

First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte's French Army at Marengo[5]
Corps	Division	Strength	Brigades[6][note 1]	Units	Strength
Corps Lannes General of Division Jean Lannes	Advance Guard	1,577	General of Brigade Joseph Mainoni (WIA)	28th Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	1,577
	Division Watrin General of Division François Watrin	5,071	General of Brigade Jean-Pierre Firmin Malher (WIA)	6th Light Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	1,408
			General of Brigade Jean-Pierre Firmin Malher (WIA)	40th Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	2,136
			General of Brigade Claude Ursule Gency	22nd Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	1,527
	Artillery	–	None	2nd Horse Artillery Regiment, 2nd Company	6 guns, caliber?
	Cavalry	214	None	5th Dragoon Regiment	214[note 2]
Corps Victor General of Division Claude Perrin Victor	Division Gardanne General of Division Gaspard Amédée Gardanne	3,178	None	44th Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	2,248
				101st Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	930
				Unknown	2 3-pound cannons
	Division Chambarlhac General of Division Jacques-Antoine Chambarlhac	6,564	General of Brigade Jean-Baptiste Herbin Dessaux	24th Light Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	2,171
			General of Brigade Jean-Baptiste Herbin Dessaux	43rd Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	2,326
			General of Brigade Olivier Macoux Rivaud (WIA)	96th Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	2,067
			Artillery	5th Horse Artillery Regiment, 4th Company	1 4-pound cannon 4 guns, caliber?
	Cavalry	262	None	3rd Cavalry Regiment, 2 squadrons	262
Corps Desaix General of Division Louis Desaix †	Division Boudet General of Division Jean Boudet (WIA)	4,856	General of Brigade Louis François Félix Musnier	9th Light Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	1,833
			General of Brigade Louis François Félix Musnier	30th Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	1,200
			General of Brigade Louis Charles de Guénand (WIA)	59th Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	1,823
			Artillery	2nd Horse Artillery Regiment, 3rd Company	4 4-pounder cannons
			Artillery	2nd Horse Artillery Regiment, 4th Company	4 8-pound cannons
	Division Monnier General of Division Jean-Charles Monnier	3,983	General of Brigade Claude Carra Saint-Cyr	19th Light Infantry Demi-brigade, 2 battalions	673
			General of Brigade Claude Carra Saint-Cyr	70th Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	1,410
			General of Brigade Jean Jacques Schilt	72nd Line Infantry Demi-brigade, 3 battalions	1,900
			Artillery	1st Foot Artillery Regiment, 5th Company	1 8-pound cannon 1 howitzer, 110 men
			Artillery	6th Foot Artillery Regiment, 10th Company	2 3-pound cannons
	Cavalry	120	None	1st Hussar Regiment, 1 squadron	120
Reserve Cavalry General of Division Joachim Murat	None	2,898	General of Brigade Bernard Étienne Marie Duvignau	6th Dragoon Regiment, 4 squadrons	393
				8th Dragoon Regiment, 4 squadrons	443
				12th Horse Chasseur Regiment, 4 squadrons	391
			General of Brigade François Etienne de Kellermann	1st Cavalry Regiment	123
				2nd Cavalry Regiment, 1 squadron	258
				20th Cavalry Regiment, 3 squadrons	191
			General of Brigade Pierre Champeaux †	9th Dragoon Regiment, 3 squadrons	150
			General of Brigade Pierre Champeaux †	15th Horse Chasseur Regiment	249
			General of Brigade Jean Rivaud (Not engaged)	12th Hussar Regiment, 4 squadrons	340
			General of Brigade Jean Rivaud (Not engaged)	21st Horse Chasseur Regiment, 4 squadrons	360
Reserve General of Division Louis-Alexandre Berthier	Consular Guard	1,232	Colonel Jérôme Soulès	Foot Grenadier Regiment	c. 400
			Colonel Jérôme Soulès	Foot Chasseur Regiment	c. 400
			Colonel Jean-Baptiste Bessières	Guard Horse Grenadiers	c. 240
			Colonel Jean-Baptiste Bessières	Guard Horse Chasseurs	c. 120
			Artillery	Guard Artillery Company	2 8-pound cannons 1 howitzer, 72 men
	Reserve Artillery General of Brigade Auguste de Marmont	421	None	Unknown	2 6-pound cannons 3 guns, caliber?
	Military Engineers General of Division Armand Samuel de Marescot	269	None	Sappers	269
Grand Total	–	29,942	–	–	29,942, 33 guns

Habsburg Army

General Staff

Commander-in-chief: General der Kavallerie Michael von Melas[7]
- Chief of Staff: General-major Anton von Zach (POW)[8]

Habsburg commanders

Michael von Melas
Anton von Zach
Karl Joseph Hadik
Peter Karl Ott
Vinko Knežević (Vincenz Knesevich)
Johann Philipp Frimont

Organization

Michael von Melas' Austrian Army at Marengo[7]
Wing	Division	Strength	Brigades	Units	Strength
Advance Guard	None	1,290	Oberst (Colonel) Johann Maria Philipp Frimont	Mariassy Jäger Battalion, 4 companies	164
				Am Ende Light Battalion Nr. 3	291
				Bach Light Battalion Nr. 4	277
				Pioneers, 1 company	100
				Kaiser Dragoon Regiment Nr. 1, 2 squadrons	272
				Bussy Horse Jäger (French Émigré) Regiment, 2 squadrons	186
				Cavalry Battery	–
Right Wing	Feldmarschall-Leutnant Andreas O'Reilly von Ballinlough	2,997	General-major Franz Rousseau d'Heriamont	Mariassy Jäger Battalion, 1 company	40
				Ottocaner Grenz Infantry Regiment Nr. 2, 1 battalion	298
				Oguliner Grenz Infantry Regiment Nr. 3, 1 battalion	602
				Banater Grenz Infantry Regiment Nr. 4, 1 battalion	533
				Warasdiner-Kreutzer Grenz Infantry Regiment Nr. 5, 1 battalion	755
				Nauendorf Hussar Regiment Nr. 8, 3⅓ squadrons	426
				Hussar Regiment Nr. 5, 2 squadrons	230
				Württemberg Dragoon Regiment Nr. 8, 1 squadron	113
				Cavalry battery	–
Center General der Kavallerie Michael von Melas	Feldmarschall-Leutnant Karl Joseph Hadik von Futak †	5,039	General-major Franz (Giovanni) Pilati von Tassulo	Kaiser Dragoon Regiment Nr. 1, 3 squadrons	309
			General-major Franz (Giovanni) Pilati von Tassulo	Karaczay Dragoon Regiment Nr. 4, 6 squadrons	1,053
			General-major Friedrich Joseph Anton von Bellegarde (WIA)	Archduke Anton Infantry Regiment Nr. 52, 2 battalions	855
			General-major Friedrich Joseph Anton von Bellegarde (WIA)	Johann Jellacic Infantry Regiment Nr. 53, 1 battalion	613
			General-major Franz Xaver Saint-Julien	Michael Wallis Infantry Regiment Nr. 11, 3 battalions	2,209
	Feldmarschall-Leutnant Konrad Valentin von Kaim	4,939	General-major Auguste-François Landres de Briey	Franz Kinsky Infantry Regiment Nr. 47, 2⅓ battalions	1,640
			General-major Vinko Knežević (Vinzenz Knesevich)	Tuscany Infantry Regiment Nr. 23, 3 battalions	2,188
			General-major Ludwig Wolff de la Marselle (WIA)	Archduke Josef Infantry Regiment Nr. 63, 3 battalions	1,111
	Feldmarschall-Leutnant Anton von Elsnitz	4,214	General-major Johann Baptist Nobili von Loptay	Archduke Johann Dragoon Regiment Nr. 3, 6 squadrons	859
			General-major Johann Baptist Nobili von Loptay	Liechtenstein Dragoon Regiment Nr. 9, 6 squadrons	1,014
			General-major Joseph Nimptsch von Fürst und Kupferberg (Not engaged)	Hussar Regiment Nr. 7, 8 squadrons	1,353
				Erdödy Hussar Regiment Nr. 9, 6 squadrons	988
	Feldmarschall-Leutnant Ferdinand Johann von Morzin[6][note 3]	4,756	General-major Christoph von Lattermann (WIA)	Paar Grenadier battalion	2,116[note 4]
				Pers Grenadier battalion	–
				Sciaffinati Grenadier battalion	–
				Weber Grenadier battalion	–
				Czerwenka Grenadier battalion	–
			General-major Karl Philippi von Weidenfeld	Pertusy Grenadier battalion	2,240[note 5]
				Piret Grenadier battalion	–
				Khevenhüller Grenadier battalion	–
				Gorschen Grenadier battalion	–
				Weissenwolf Grenadier battalion	–
				Saint-Julien Grenadier battalion	–
			Attached Pioneers	Pioneers, 4 companies	400
Left Wing Feldmarschall-Leutnant Peter Karl Ott von Bátorkéz	Advance Guard	811	General-major Friedrich Heinrich von Gottesheim (WIA)	Mariassy Jäger Battalion, 1 company	40
				Frölich Infantry Regiment Nr. 28, 1 battalion	523
				Lobkowitz Dragoon Regiment Nr. 10, 2 squadrons	248
	Feldmarschall-Leutnant Ludwig von Vogelsang (WIA)	2,194	General-major Josef Kajetan von Ulm zu Erbach	Hohenlohe Infantry Regiment Nr. 17, 2 battalions	912
	Feldmarschall-Leutnant Ludwig von Vogelsang (WIA)	2,194	General-major Josef Kajetan von Ulm zu Erbach	Stuart Infantry Regiment Nr. 18, 3 battalions	1,282
	Feldmarschall-Leutnant Joseph von Schellenberg	4,597	General-major Anton von Retz	Pioneers, 1 company	100
				Frölich Infantry Regiment Nr. 28, 2 battalions	1,046
				Joseph Mittrowsky Infantry Regiment Nr. 40, 3 battalions	853
			General-major Franz Seraph Sticker von Haymingthal	Splenyi Infantry Regiment Nr. 51, 2 battalions	737
				Josef Colloredo Infantry Regiment Nr. 57, 3 battalions)	1,369
				Lobkowitz Dragoon Regiment Nr. 10, 4 squadrons)	492
Grand Total	–	30,379	–	–	30,379 92 guns[note 6]

Notes

Footnotes

Smith provided the French brigade organizations, the fact that the 19th Light had only 2 battalions, and the number of squadrons per regiment.
One squadron of 72 troopers was detached to army headquarters.
Arnold did not list the grenadier battalions, other than to show Lattermann had five and Weidenfeld had six. Smith listed the battalions without noting which brigade they belonged to. However, the way they were ordered suggested that the lists in this table are probably accurate.
This is the total strength of Lattermann's brigade.
This is the total strength of Weidenfeld's brigade.
Battalion guns are not counted in the total.

Citations

Chandler 1966, pp. 290–293.
Arnold 2005, p. 171.
Chandler 1966, pp. 293–296.
Arnold 2005, pp. 190–191.
Arnold 2005, pp. 270–271.
Smith 1998, pp. 186–187.
Arnold 2005, pp. 272–273.
Arnold 2005, p. 60.

References

Arnold, James R. (2005). Marengo & Hohenlinden: Napoleon's Rise to Power. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword. ISBN 1-84415-279-0.
Chandler, David G. (1966). The Campaigns of Napoleon. New York, N.Y.: Macmillan.
Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.

External links

Broughton, Tony (2010). "Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789–1815". napoleon-series.org. Retrieved 24 April 2018. This is the source of the full names of French generals.
Smith, Digby; Kudrna, Leopold (2008). "Austrian Generals during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1792–1815". napoleon-series.org. Retrieved 14 April 2018. This is the source of the full names of Habsburg Austrian generals.

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[7] Smith provided the French brigade organizations, the fact that the 19th Light had only 2 battalions, and the number of squadrons per regiment.

[8] One squadron of 72 troopers was detached to army headquarters.

[11] Arnold did not list the grenadier battalions, other than to show Lattermann had five and Weidenfeld had six. Smith listed the battalions without noting which brigade they belonged to. However, the way they were ordered suggested that the lists in this table are probably accurate.

[12] This is the total strength of Lattermann's brigade.

[13] This is the total strength of Weidenfeld's brigade.

[14] Battalion guns are not counted in the total.

[FOOTNOTEChandler1966290–293-1] Chandler 1966, pp. 290–293.

[FOOTNOTEArnold2005171-2] Arnold 2005, p. 171.

[FOOTNOTEChandler1966293–296-3] Chandler 1966, pp. 293–296.

[FOOTNOTEArnold2005190–191-4] Arnold 2005, pp. 190–191.

[FOOTNOTEArnold2005270–271-5] Arnold 2005, pp. 270–271.

[FOOTNOTESmith1998186–187-6] Smith 1998, pp. 186–187.

[FOOTNOTEArnold2005272–273-9] Arnold 2005, pp. 272–273.

[FOOTNOTEArnold200560-10] Arnold 2005, p. 60.