Chapter 868: The Siege of Mantua · The First Breakthrough
"As for Colonel Dessalles' troops," Napoleon lightly shook the reins and continued, "Do you really think they have been conducting sniping missions in Verona all along?"
Verona was the city north of Mantua. Over a month ago, Napoleon had ordered Dessalles to lead over 20,000 soldiers there to delay Wurmser's reinforcements.
Ogero was surprised: "Isn't that so? But Dessalles' corps indeed slowed Wurmser's southward advance."
"Not at all. Three days after the Austrians bypassed Verona, I had Colonel Dessalles maneuver east along the Adige River, near Mantua."
The Adige River was Italy's second-largest, north of Mantua.
Verona was the crucial crossing midway along the Adige. Controlling it seriously disrupted Austrian supply routes to Mantua.
To avoid it, Wurmser had to use the Trento crossing north of the Adige, while the left army circled south to Mantua.
Of course, if the French relied too heavily on Verona and neglected other defenses, they risked sudden encirclement by Austrians bypassing.
But no one expected Napoleon to simply give up the strategic Verona.
…
West of Lake Garda.
Wurmser sat proudly on horseback, outlining a victory plan to several officers.
Yesterday, Boilly had reported to Vienna: "Wurmser and I repelled tens of thousands of French, lifted Mantua's siege, captured much military materiel, and continue pursuing the French."
Wurmser admitted the report was exaggerated but didn't care, for his coming victory would far surpass it.
No one could stop his marshal promotion then!
Years ago, he had underperformed during the Brabant uprising in the Southern Netherlands and was still a lieutenant general.
He was nearly seventy; the Italian campaigns were his last chance for promotion.
Suddenly, distant bugle calls sounded.
An officer galloped over and reported, "General, our vanguard encountered about four to five thousand French."
Before Wurmser could react, cavalry rushed up and shouted, "General, after engaging Colonel Bonarotti, the enemy routed."
A staff officer nearby wondered, "Four to five thousand French defeated so quickly?"
"Yes, Captain Ferrari. The enemy barely formed ranks and collapsed immediately."
Wurmser tapped his palm with his whip and looked afar: "It seems we've caught Napoleon's rearguard.
"Order Bonarotti's corps to pursue immediately. And send Deluca with five hussar squadrons to assist interception."
"Yes, General."
Wurmser instructed his staff: "Send orders to march faster and prepare for battle."
The Austrians accelerated, eager to reach Limone before Costadnovich's corps and claim glory.
Two hours later, a messenger reported: "General, the French retreating west. Colonel Bonarotti asks whether to continue pursuit."
Wurmser smiled: "Cowardly French abandon their main forces. The decisive battle is near. Let Bonarotti continue, and assign the Aquila corps as the vanguard."
Napoleon's main force was in the north; if the French rearguard fled west, it betrayed his back to Wurmser.
Half a day later, as the Austrians neared Limone, just 22 kilometers away, Bonarotti reported: "Enemy Victor corps near Idro formed a defensive line, stalemating us."
Wurmser frowned in displeasure.
Bonarotti's corps had nearly 6,000 men plus 750 cavalry from five squadrons, yet were deadlocked with four to five thousand fleeing French.
Wurmser hesitated and asked an aide, "Still no sign of the enemy main force?"
"Yes, General," Captain Ferrari replied. "Our hussars scouted north over two miles with no French sighted."
That was Ori, about 16 kilometers.
Wurmser nodded.
West of Idro was the Chiese River, so Victor's French troops had no route of retreat.
Before facing Napoleon's main army, defeating this force would prevent it from restraining Wurmser's flank and boost morale.
He told the orderly: "Midline forces advance on Idro, with left-wing Ranieri corps assisting Bonarotti in swiftly destroying the enemy there. The reserve will reinforce the left wing."
"Yes, General!"
Focused on defeating Victor's corps, Wurmser didn't notice his army stretched thin in east-west formation.
Three hours before dispatching the left-wing corps to Idro, Napoleon launched a fierce attack on Costadnovich's corps advancing toward Mantua.
With the Royal Horse Artillery, Napoleon felt as if he had regained his wings.
Twelve 6-pounder cannons, sheltered by cavalry, arrived first southwest of Limone and bombarded the Austrians as they formed battle lines.
The Austrians, once delighted watching French horse artillery bomb Prussians in the Southern Netherlands, now painfully felt it as shells fell on their own heads.
Within minutes, the Austrian right wing of the Costadnovich line began retreating under cannon pressure.
Napoleon decisively launched infantry columns against them, while skirmishers engaged the Austrian left wing.
French soldiers equipped with bulletproof plates charged within about 60 paces of the Austrian right, switched to line formation, and unleashed two volleys, shattering the weakening enemy.
Napoleon immediately ordered his limited cavalry to chase fleeing troops deep, while infantry turned east to coordinate with the center army, encircling Costadnovich's main force.
When Costadnovich hurriedly reinforced the center with left-wing troops, French infantry and cavalry completed the northern pincer from behind him.
Watching panicked Austrians screaming and fleeing through his binoculars, Napoleon leisurely told his aide:
"Constant, bring me a cup of coffee."
"Would you like brandy, General?"
"Oh, yes, thank you."
Napoleon looked as the horse artillery moved east, using grapeshot to block retreating Austrians and thought: commanding such elite troops is truly a pleasure.
(END CHAPTER)
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