Capture of Brescia
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The capture of Brescia took place on 21 April 1799,[lower-alpha 1] during the Second Coalition war: General Field Marshal Count A. V. Suvorov's Russian and Habsburg troops took the fortress city of Brescia, having captivated the French garrison of General Bouzet.[1]
Alexander Suvorov-Rymniksky, realising the importance of the impression of his first encounter with the French, sent here the vanguard of Kray and the division of Zopf, a total of 15,000 men assembled, and ordered Vukassovich to descend from the mountains also to Brescia; in all, more than 20,000 men. Field Marshal Suvorov ordered to assault the fortress, and not to conclude with the commandant of the honourable capitulation: "otherwise, — he said, — the enemy will hold in every blockhouse, and we will lose both time and men".[2]
The Austrians, approaching the town, opened artillery fire and occupied the dominant heights on the north side; Bagration positioned himself on the west side and blocked the French possible escape routes. Bouzet would not have been able to defend a vast city with a small force, so he retreated to the citadel. Perhaps because the inhabitants were annoyed by French extortions and force, they opened the city gates to the Russo-Austrian coalition and rushed to chop down the arbres de la liberté[fr]. Bouzet responded to an offer to surrender by firing shots. However, the French did not endure.[1] Suvorov was right: after a harmless skirmish commandant, frightened by the active preparations for the assault, agreed to send him a firm offer of unconditional surrender; 46 cannons were taken; losses killed and wounded were not. The capture of Brescia provided the Allies with a good foundry, ensured communication with Tyrol, opened a better road for communication with the Mincio and further with the Adige, made a strong moral impression on the country (the anti-Republican party raised its head) and on the troops: "the army demanded to be led to new victories".[2][1]
The Allied army would further clash with Schérer's army at Lecco.
Contents
See also
- Battle of Cassano
- Battle of Bassignana (1799)
- First Battle of Marengo (1799)
- Battle of Modena (1799)
- Battle of the Trebbia
- Second Battle of Marengo (1799)
- Battle of Novi
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Petrushevsky 1884, p. 47.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Orlov 1892, p. 69.
Sources
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