The Battle of Novi (took place on August 4 (15), 1799) is a battle that took place after the Battle of Trebbia. A major victory of the Russian-Austrian troops under the command of A. V. Suvorov over the French army during the Italian campaign. One of the longest (15 hours) and bloodiest of Suvorov's field battles.
Background
1796 - the young general Napoleon Bonaparte made a brilliant campaign in Italy. During the campaign, it was absolutely unexpected not only for the leading European states, but also for the then French government, Napoleon was able to conquer all of Northern Italy, which forced Austria to sign peace with the French. The rulers of the European monarchies did not want to put up with the fact that the "rebellious republicans" were so successful. The "revolution", which, in truth, had largely lost its initial fervor and radicalism, threatened to spread to other states. Russia acted as the "gendarme" of Europe. And the outstanding Russian commander, Field Marshal Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, turned out to be the military leader of the reaction. It was he who, in his old age, had a chance to return to the autocrats what the future emperor Napoleon took from them.
The course of events before the battle
When the Russian commander heard about Napoleon's conquests in Italy, he said: “Well done! He ought to chop off his wings! Fortunately (or unfortunately), the two great generals never met on the battlefield.
In the struggle against the French Republic of England, a new coalition was organized at the end of 1798, which included Austria, Turkey, the Kingdom of Naples and the Russian Empire. The commander-in-chief of the Russian-Austrian army, which was supposed to operate in Northern Italy, was appointed, as already mentioned, A. V. Suvorov. He arrived in the Austrian capital in March 1799. A month later, Russian troops were already fighting against the French army in Italy.
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Alexander Vasilievich, even before arriving in Vienna, drew up a certain general plan of action against the republican army. Basically, it set out the same principles that the field marshal adhered to all his life: only the offensive; good eye; complete authority of the commander; do not waste time in sieges; do not split forces for the sake of protecting occupied facilities; attack and beat the enemy in the field; move quickly on hikes. Through the Russian ambassador in Vienna, the commander categorically demanded that the Austrian court council "from 4 corners to 1000 versts should not be included in my operations."
Under the command of the field marshal there were 100 thousand people, including 20 thousand Russians. The Allied offensive began successfully. The French retreated to the river. Adda and to Genoa. The Russian-Austrian army was able to occupy several cities, including Milan, the capital of the Cisalpine Republic, and Turin, the capital of Piedmont. In six weeks, almost all of Northern Italy was freed from the French.
1) Barthelemy Joubert; 2) Jean-Victor Moreau; 3) Baron Pavel Krai.
Victory at Trebbia
The battle of Trebbia took place on June 6-8. The battle against MacDonald's troops lasted three days. Suvorov commanded three columns here, each of which acted in a given direction to great depths. This kind of tactic was an innovation in the art of war. the French army was defeated at Trebbia, and 2 months later another major battle took place near the city of Novi.
After Trebbia, the Russian commander believed that it was necessary to continue pursuing the French and completely destroy their forces in Italy, but the Austrians insisted that the allies take up the capture of the fortresses in which the French garrisons were located. While the field marshal was engaged in solving this hated task, the French managed to assemble a new "Alpine army". The talented General Joubert became its command. General Moreau became a consultant to him.
Positions of the French before the battle
In July, the troops of the directory were concentrated in the Genoa region. The remnants of MacDonald's army defeated at Trebbia also came here. At the head of an army of 38,000, Joubert moved from Genoa to Alexandria, where Suvorov stood. Having reached the town of Novi at dawn on August 3, the French saw a 65,000-strong Allied army and took up a position on the heights. Clausewitz absolutely reasonably later noted that the position of the French at Novi was stronger.
The position of the French army stretched for several kilometers along the last spurs of the mountain range, which stretched from east to west until it crossed the river. Lemmo. From the height at which the French were located, the entire flat area was shot through, where the enemy could lead an offensive. The approach to the heights was very rugged terrain. The heights were covered with orchards and vineyards. In the center of the position was the city of Novi, which was surrounded by a stone wall.
For a while, Suvorov waited for the enemy to descend into the plain and begin a battle, but Joubert did not do this. And because he assumed that the Russians and Austrians would not launch an attack on strong positions, he went to bed without having developed any battle plan. And on the morning of August 4, the Russian commander launched an attack.
1) M. Miloradovich; 2) A. V. Suvorov; 3) P. I. Bagration.
The course of the battle
His plan was to divert all French forces to their left flank. Therefore, at 5 o'clock in the morning, the offensive was led by the right flank of the Allies under the command of the Austrian Krai. All his attempts were unsuccessful. He was able to press the French, but General Joubert, who arrived in time, repulsed the attack. True, the young French talent himself was mortally wounded. The general's last words were "Advance!" But Moro, who took command, gave the order to conduct a strictly defensive battle.
The region sent several times for help to the Russian general Bagration, who was standing in the center, but he hesitated, knowing about the general plan of the field marshal.
At 9 o'clock in the morning, Suvorov ordered Bagration and Miloradovich to advance on Novi. 10 Russian battalions went forward under the command of Peter Bagration. Approaching the city, the general began to bypass it from the east, but the French, under the leadership of General Vatren, were able to repel the onslaught. The second attack of Bagration was supported by Miloradovich, but also unsuccessfully. The Russian commander himself led the Derfelden division on the French center, the French were driven out of the plain, but the heights remained completely behind them.
That afternoon the French army showed tremendous resilience. The French fought off blow after blow, went over to bayonet counterattacks. Moreau appeared in the hottest places of the battle, repeatedly found himself on the verge of death. Commandant Novi Gardann also showed remarkable talent for leadership. They were not inferior in courage to the 70-year-old Russian field marshal. In one shirt, he rushed about on horseback between the units, encouraging them, sending each regiment personally to battle.
The heat was terrible, and many of the soldiers fell not from blows or bullets, but from exhaustion.
By noon, the forces of both sides were practically exhausted. In this situation, the approach of the allied reserve under the command of Melas, who was hastily summoned to the battlefield by the field marshal, was able to solve everything. After a long break at three o'clock in the afternoon, Melas attacked the enemy's right flank. At the same time, the Edge once again launched an offensive on the left flank, and the rest of the troops hit the center.
The French army no longer had the strength to continue the battle. With difficulty fighting off the advancing enemy, General Saint-Cyr withdrew the right French flank. After some time, Melas went to the rear of Novi. Then Bagration and Derfelden burst into the city. At 6 pm Moreau ordered a retreat, but the retreat soon turned into a flight. The French left wing withdrew to the village of Pasturano, where it came under the crossfire of the Krai and Russian battalions moving from the city. While trying to stop the flight of this flank and cover the retreat of the remaining units, General Grushi was surrounded and captured.
After the battle
The Battle of Novi ended at 8 pm with the complete defeat of the French army. They lost 7 thousand killed, 3 thousand were taken prisoner. All the artillery of the "Alpine Army" fell into the hands of the Allies. There were 6-7 thousand killed in the allied army.
All Russian soldiers who took part in the Battle of Novi received generous awards from Emperor Paul 1. The soldiers were ordered to salute Field Marshal Suvorov even in the presence of the sovereign.
After the defeat at Novi Moro, he retreated to the Genoese Riviera. This army could not resist further. The field marshal intended to continue the offensive and go to France, but the Austrian command was again opposed. It ordered the army to head for Switzerland. Maybe, if not for this decision, we would never have heard of the Emperor Napoleon I.
Outcome
In the battle of Novi, according to military historians, Alexander Vasilyevich showed an amazing example of the ability to win even when using the old tactics. The fact is that the French at that time fought their battles in more progressive ways - in deep columns. Suvorov had to reckon with the old linear orders. But he was able to understand all the advantages of the column in time and placed his troops in parts one after another, although he observed a linear formation in each part. Having accustomed the soldiers to a swift attack, he was able to replace a deep column with such a formation. The main factor in the victory was the surprise and boldness of the attack, the amazing energy that historians note in the Russian commander and with which he infected his soldiers.
After the battle, the field marshal exclaimed: "Oh, and tacticians will scold me for this day!" Tactics disagree - some believe that Suvorov successfully used a diversionary blow on the left flank and due to this he was able to achieve victory, others point to the consistent and timely introduction of new units into battle, others speak of the amazing energy of the field marshal, who by personal example raised soldiers in attack. In any case, it should be noted that this battle was not easy for the Russian commander, but he won again, as he always did. Maybe this is fate?
V. Karnatsevich