"Battle of Campo Tenese" Topic

Is there any source with enough information about this battle to write a convincing scenario for it? Perhaps there is a biography of Reynier somewhere with enough details in?

Or has someone in fact already designed a scenario?

Thanks in advance for any help

Twenty million links to go through from here…

also search for Damas Campo Tenese too…

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Some Stuff <;^}:

Campo Tenese 9.iii.1806 – Roger de Damas vs Jean Louis Ébenezel Reynier (Regnier):

"The province of Calabria Citeriore is entered 1 m. beyond Rotonda. A tedious ascent leads to the long and narrow strip of table-land stretching from N. to S. called Campo Tenese, one of the bleakest mountain plains in the kingdom. In winter it is covered with snow, and at all times it wears a desolate and chilly aspect. In 1806 Campo Tenese was occupied by the entrenched camp of General Damas, commanding the Neapolitan army and volunteers, amounting to 14,000 men. General Regnier advanced with the French army, drove the royal forces from Campestrino and Lagonegro in his passage, and ascending the heights above Campo Teuese,descended without opposition into the plain. The Neapolitans fled at the first fire, abandoning their entrenchments with their artillery and baggage.

Campo Tenese is a post-station. At the extremity of the plain, a winding descent leads down the defile, called the Dirupata di Moravo, and through the narrow valley at the base of Monte Pollino, …."

"Sur l'affaire de Campo-Tenese, cf. lettre de P -L. Courier à M. … datée '" Morano, 9 mars 1806 (Mémoires et correspondance cl opuscules inédits de Paul-Louis Courier. Paris, Sautclet, 1828, I. p. 98). —— Cf. Beitriige zur nahern Kenntniss von Neapel (Berlin-Posen. I821), p. 204. Sur Gaete, cf., id. 208-218." See:

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in German:
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"Campo-Tenese (bataille de). Le 9 mars 1806, le général Reynier, qui, après la reddition de Naples, poursuivait en Calabre les débris de l'arméo napolitaine, déboucha par les gorges du val San-Martino dans la plaine de Campo-Tenese, où il savait que les généraux ennemis s'étaient retranchés pour recevoir bataille. La position des Napolitains était bien combinée : leur droite et leur gauche s'appuyaient à des montagnes couronnées par plusieurs bataillons d'infanterie légère, et devant le centrede leur ligne ils avaient élevé trois fortes redoutes armées de pièces de gros calibre. Le général français n'en résolut pas moins d'attaquer. Il fit former ses troupes à mesure qu'elles débouchaient dans la plaine, puis leur donna ordre de marcher au pas de charge et à la baïonnette. L'enneini ne les attendit pas. Après quelques décharges, sans grand effet, de l'artillerie des redoutes, les Napolitains lâchèrent pied, abandonnèrent redoutes et pièces, et se dispersèrent dans les montagnes. Sans la nuit, il eut été possible d'envelopper entièrement cette armée à la débandade; cependant sa destruction fut presque complète: des dix à onze mille hommes que le général en chef, l'émigré français Roger de Damas, avait sous ses ordres, à peine put-il rallier un millier de fantassins et quelques centaines de cavaliers. Deux mille prisonniers, dont grand nombre d'officiers supérieurs, toute l'artillerie, cinq drapeaux et plus de cinq cents chevaux, restèrent au pouvoir des vainqueurs."

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Memoirs of the Comte Roger de Damas (1787-1806): p 395ff:
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Mémoires du général Griois, 1792-1822, Volume 1: p 289ff – See
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Mémoires de Massena rádigéés d'après les documents qu'il a laisséés …, Volume 5: p 174ff:

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Campo Tenese, aperta conca alluvionale a mille metri, e' il solo valico agevole fra le montagne della Basilicata e della Calabria, ittorescamente mosso da rilievi tondeggianti. La foto lo inquadra dalle pendici del Pollino.:
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Portrait of count Roger de Damas from Memoirs of the Comte Roger de Damas (1787-1806):
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Thanks very much both. I'll see if there is enough in these sources to put together at least an outline of what happened.

Regards

"The first care of Prince Joseph was to pursue the Bourbon army, which was retreating into Calabria. Having gained easy possession of the islands of Capri, Procida, and Ischia, and of many castles, with all the fortresses, except Gaeta, he concluded little else was required to drive the standard of the old dynasty from the kingdom, and complete the conquest. Ten thousand French, commanded by General Reynier, were in close pursuit of fourteen thousand Neapolitans under General Damas, with whom were the royal princes, Francis and Leopold, whose presence however rather proved a hindrance than advantage in the war. Princes and kings, if actively engaged, afford useful examples to armies, but when they keep themselves aloof from fatigue and danger, are an obstacle and discouragement. The Neapolitans were encamped at Campotanese, a vast extent of level ground in the midst of mountains, which could be only reached or quitted by two long and rugged valleys. The people of Calabria were not disposed to accept the invitation to join the Bourbons, and I have already shown what was at that time the condition of the Neapolitan army.

The French, who had routed detachments of troops under Colonel Sciarpe at Campestrino and Lagonegro, next forced a Neapolitan squadron, placed as a vidette at Rotonda, to retreat, and the fugitives gave warning to the troops at Campotanese to stand to their arms. They were ranged in two lines, and whilst preparing to defend the pass, they perceived the French rapidly descending towards the plain from the mountains above them, where they had neglected to place a sufficient guard, believing them to be inaccessible. Seized with panic, they fell into disorder, and, as the enemy approached nearer and commenced firing, they retreated in confusion. Owing to the narrowness of the gorge, and the exit being choked up by baggage-waggons, and the crowd of fugitives, each separately endeavouring to effect his escape, only a few were killed, and the bulk of the army was captured. The remainder, and the two princes, who were a considerable distance in advance of the retreat, having reached the ports and shores of the extreme south of Calabria, embarked for Sicily. The French subdued the whole country, with the exception of Maratea, Amantea, and Scilla, which were strongly fortified and well provided with arms." See

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"When Regnier, at the end of February, was on the point of marching south, the forces of the Sicilian Government were divided into two bodies. The one under Marshal Rosenheim, with whom was the Hereditary Prince, was retreating before Lecchi's advance on the Adriatic side of the Apennines; the other, under the Comte de Damas, maintained a corresponding position on the western slope, observing from a distance the French in Naples. Damas had some 6000 or 7000 regulars and a certain number of Calabrese militia; Rosenheim's numbers were somewhat less.

Regnier, at the head of about 10,000 men, advanced from Naples with exemplary celerity and plunged into the mountains of Calabria, and into winter. His advance lay along the mule track that did duty as the principal artery of communication between that remote province and the capital, and led to the town of Cassano. Towards Cassano, which lies on the Adriatic slope, lay the converging lines of retreat both of Rosenheim and of Damas. The latter, who was directly on Regnier's line of march, determined to face the French in the high mountain passes they would have to cross before they could reach that town.

On the 6th of March, at Lagonegro, the armies got into touch, and a heavy skirmish was fought between the advanced guard of the French and the rear-guard of the royal forces. This rear-guard was made up of irregulars and militia under the command of Sciarpa, one of the best-known of the leaders of the Masse in 1799. The French light infantry, manoeuvring with rapidity and skill, captured four guns and drove the royalists before them with a loss of 300. Three days later Regnier came up with Damas' main body at Campotanese and found the Sicilians occupying a formidable position in a small plateau, to which the inlet and outlet were narrow defiles. Damas had some 14,000 men, of which about one half were regulars, drawn up across the pass; his position was carefully chosen and its front was completely covered with breastworks; his two flanks were apparently protected by the mountain sides. It was a truly admirable position for defence, but had one great fault, that in case of defeat there was but a narrow outlet for retreat.

The French, with forces far inferior in numbers, far superior in quality, advanced to attack this formidable position on the morning of the 6th of March. It was cold, and a heavy fall of snow, driven by a gusty wind up the pass, blew directly into the defenders' eyes and veiled the movements of the French. Regnier sent his light infantry up the mountain flank on his left, and placed his most dashing brigadier, General Compere, in charge of a column intended to advance on the Sicilian centre with the bayonet. The light infantry, with wonderful agility, wormed their way along the snow-beaten cliffs, turned a difficult passage in single file, and finally came out on Damas' right flank and rear. They immediately advanced in skirmishing order and opened fire ; the royal troops attempted to manoeuvre so as to face this unexpected attack, and in doing so fell into confusion. At this moment Compere, who had gradually edged up nearer and nearer, rushed his column forward; one or two volleys were fired, and then in a moment the Sicilian line broke and Damas was defeated. A crowd of fugitives rushed down the pass only to find the narrow egress blocked by the first-comers, and the active French troops were able to capture not only all the artillery of the defeated army but 2000 prisoners, including two generals and many officers of rank.

On through the rain, and snow, and mud, the French kept pushing behind the melting Sicilian army, and that night Regnier's headquarters were carried as far as the village of Morano. …." See

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"General St. Cyr marched by the only route practicable for artillery, and, without encountering any obstacles, reached Matera. Reynier collected his troops at Salerno, towards the end of February, and his advanced guard reached Padula on the 5th of March. Pursuing its way through the defiles of Guaro, General Compare, who commanded, encountered the advanced guard of the Neapolitan army, consisting of about 2000 men, under Sciarpa, a celebrated mountain chieftain. They had entrenched themselves at this spot with 4 guns, and were immediately attacked in flank by the French Voltigeurs, and forced to fall back on Lagonegro, with the loss of their guns. General Reynier now received information that the Royal army, 11,000 strong, under Damas, was concentrated in a position at Campo-Tenese, which they had entrenched and armed with artillery, the flanks resting on the mountains. The French army accordingly collected at Castel Lucio, and advanced to the attack of the Bourbon troops, on the morning of the 9th, by the defiles of the Val Martino. The way was long and tedious, and the snow fell so heavily that the soldiers could scarcely see a yard before them; nevertheless, as soon as the French found themselves under the fire of the redoubts, Reynier ordered Compere to charge, and supported him by Verdier, so that in a very few moments the enemy abandoned the field, redoubts and all, and fled into the mountains, the few that kept order retiring on Morano. The rest of the Royal army, under Marshal Rosenheim, was in second line; but the defeat of Damns now obliged them to fall back behind the Coscile, which Verdier, with his division, crossed in pursuit on the 1lth, and the Prince Royal and his brother hastened, with an escort, to throw themselves, for better security, into Reggio. The rains having swelled the Coscile, the French advance could not reach Cosenza till the 13th, and it was the 19th before they came up to Seminari. The advanced guard, however, pushed on to Scylla, where their presence hastened away a flight of transports, in one of which the young princes escaped to Messina, with about 2000 men; the rest were dispersed, leaving all their guns and materiel behind them." See

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Naples sous Joseph Bonaparte, 1806-8 by Jacques Rambaud. Paris: Plon, [1911]:

"… comprit la brigade Compère, d'avant-garde, la division Verdier (Digonnet et Peyri, brigadiers), … (2) La reine à Damas, 3 février 1806, Arch. Damas." Just snippet! <:^{

I will try to view this work within the next week.

Also, see

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A better account in French:

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Beware the pink thumb!

I will also view:

Histoire militaire de Massena: Le troisième campagne d'Italie (1805-1806). Paris: Plon-Nourrit et cie., 1911 (ca p 142?)

Thanks for your tremendous help with this Steven, much appreciated! I've dusted off my French and read through the links, I think I have a reasonable understanding of the French force and the events of the battle – a pity about that wretched finger though!!

Have you come across a reasonable map of the area? I'm struggling to match-up the account with the satellite photo.

I don't suppose you have ever read this one? link

Similarly is the book "L'Esercito Borbonico dal 1789 al 1815" by Giancarlo Boeri and Piero Crociani good on the Sicilian troops? And is there any other source of information about the Sicilian Army at this time? Maybe Bentinck wrote about it? I don't suppose it has ever come up on the Napoleon Forum?

Thanks again for all of your help in this matter.

Regards

"L'Esercito Borbonico dal 1789 al 1815" is about the Piedmont/Sardinian Army.

I have the Piers Mackesy work – I like how he writes.

It appears there is a OOB for Naples in

Archivio storico per le province napoletane, No 103 (1985) ca p. 372(?). I will pick it up next week (probably on Monday), along with some materials with French OOBs.

Maps: I am not sure if the Map Library is open yet – I will check on Monday.

Working on info about:

Adolf 'Ludvig' Ulrik von Rosenheim (1758 – 5.iii.1834);
Joseph-Elisabeth-'Roger' comte de Damas d'Antigny (4.ix.1765 (Paris) – 8[3?].ix.1823); and
Jean-Baptiste-'Charles' Tschudi.

Found much info about Naples and French forces – in Italian:

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Same material but easier to read:

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I will work on it tomorrow.

Lots of pics if one uses the Italian 'Campotenese'- single word – as search term.

Library is closed on Monday – make it Tuesday. The Map Library is back in business.

Regno di Napoli 1800-1806 (date formed if different):
Note: I list only those still in existance in 1806.

Corpi di Casa Reale:

Reali Guardie del Corpo
Alabardieri di Napoli (10 marzo 1800 – febbraio 1806)
Cacciatori Reali
Reggimento granatieri guardie reali (1º aprile 1800)

Fanteria di linea (1º settembre 1799-15 marzo 1806):

Reggimento Real Ferdinando
Reggimento Carolina I
Reggimento Principe Reale I
Reggimento Principe Reale II (30 settembre 1800)
Reggimento Principessa Reale
Reggimento Reali Calabresi
Reggimento Abruzzi
Reggimento Carolina II
Reggimento Reali Sanniti
Reggimento Reali Presidi
Reggimento Alemagna
Reggimento Albania
Compagnia dei Naturali di Ischia (1799-1806)
Compagnia dei Naturali di Fondi (1804-1806)

Fanteria leggera:

1° Battaglione Cacciatori Campani (10 marzo 1800 – marzo 1806)
2° Battaglione Cacciatori Appuli (10 marzo 1800 – 6 febbraio 1808)
3° Battaglione Cacciatori Calabri (10 marzo 1800 – marzo 1806)
4° Battaglione Cacciatori Aprutini (10 marzo 1800 – marzo 1806)
5° Battaglione Cacciatori Albanesi (27 febbraio 1798 – giugno 1812)
6° Battaglione Cacciatori Sanniti (10 marzo 1800 – marzo 1806)
7° Battaglione Cacciatori Sanniti II, poi Marsi (6 luglio 1800 – marzo 1806)
Corpo Fucilieri di Montagna (1735)
Corpo dei Fucilieri di città (27 settembre 1803 – 27 maggio 1806)

Cavalleria:

Reggimento Re cavalleria (settembre 1799)
Reggimento Regina cavalleria (settembre 1799)
Reggimento Real Principe I cavalleria (settembre 1799)
Reggimento Real Principe II cavalleria (settembre 1799)
Reggimento Real Principessa cavalleria (settembre 1799)
Reggimento Valdinoto II cavalleria (6 febbraio 1799)
Reggimento Valdimazzara cavalleria (6 febbraio 1799)
Corpo Dragoni Leggeri (luglio 1800 – giugno 1801)

Corpo Reale d'Artiglieria:

1° Reggimento artiglieria Re
2° Reggimento artiglieria Regina
Compagnia artefici (1788-1806)
Artiglieri Litorali (25 marzo 1793)
Brigata pionieri (16 ottobre 1798)
Compagnia pontonieri (16 ottobre 1798)
Dipendenza del treno d'artiglieria e regi bagagli (1800-1806)

Reggimenti provinciali:

Reggimenti Urbani di Napoli (I-X fanteria, I-IV Dragoni)
Reggimenti provinciali Terra di Lavoro (I-V fanteria Nola, Aversa, Caserta, Sessa e San Germano: I-II dragoni Aversa e Venafro)
Reggimenti provinciali di Salerno (I-IV fanteria Salerno, Monte Corvino, Polla e Vallo: dragoni Nocera)
Reggimenti provinciali Montefusco (I-III fanteria Avellino, Montella e Ariano: dragoni M.Marrino)
Reggimenti provinciali di Matera (I-III fanteria Matera, Venosa e Tursi: dragoni Matera)
Reggimenti provinciali di Lucera (I-IV fanteria Campobasso, Termoli, Lucera e Foggia: dragoni Foggia)
Reggimenti provinciali di Trani (I-II fanteria Trani e Bari: dragoni Molfetta)
Reggimenti provinciali di Lecce (I-II fanteria Lecce e Manduria: dragoni Taranto)
Reggimenti provinciali di Cosenza (I-III fanteria Cassano, Cosenza e Rossano: dragoni Cosenza)
Reggimenti provinciali di Catanzaro (I-IV fanteria Catanzaro, Tropea, Reggio e Gerace: dragoni Gerace)
Reggimenti provinciali di Chieti (I-II fanteria Chieti e Vasto: dragoni Vasto)
Reggimenti provinciali di Teramo (fanteria e dragoni Teramo)
Reggimenti provinciali dell'Aquila (I – II fanteria L'Aquila e Celano, dragoni L'Aquila)

See:

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This is what I have found so far. IT IS NOT COMPLETE. MUCH IS MISSING:

Naples OOB for Campotenese 9.iii.1806:

Damas CiC: colonel Montefere CoS, maresciallo di campo baron Acton Cavalry cmdr, Brigadier Antonio Winspeare cmdr engineers, brigadier Novi cmdr artillery.

Forces were divided into two bodies:

Maresciallo di campo Rosenheim: 14 bats & 8 sqdrns: brigadiers Minichini, dell'Uva, Charles de Tschudy, Colonna & de Cesare. Rearguard: 4 bats & 4 sqdrns of brigadier Fadella. CoS: Rocca-Imperiale. Col Rodio: irregular militia.

Maresciallo di campo Raimondo Capece-Minutolo de' Principi di Canosa (5.ii.1769 – 17.xi.1827): 12 bats & 12 sqdrns [reggimento Principessa, con un battaglione del reggimento Sanniti [colonel Vito Nunziante], col reggimento Re Cavalleria]: brigadiers Ricci [tre battaglioni del reggimento Real Ferdinando], baron Pasquale [Pascal] de Tschudy [tre battaglioni del reggimento Abruzzi e con due battaglioni del Carolina 2], Penedo and the prince di Luperano. Rearguard: 2 companies of grenadiers, 2 companies of Cacciatori [Calabri] & 2 squdrns of cavalry commanded by colonel Andrea Pignatelli. Curci with a band of irregulars.

A bat of grenadiers dal reali [colonel Roth] and the cavalry regiment Principe 1, under colonel Sergardi, comanded by Lt-gen. duca di Salandra escorted the Royals: the Prince Hereditary and Prince Leopoldo.

Vito Nuziante (1775-1836):
Portrait:
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Bio:
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Vita e fatti di Vito Nunziante by Francesco Palermo:

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Il tenente generale Vito Nunziante by Raffaele Liberatore:
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WW,

I was in error. The book

"L'Esercito Borbonico dal 1789 al 1815" by Giancarlo Boeri & Piero Crociani

does concern Naples.

Sorry for the error.

Big Al

Map of Calabria Citeriore 1851 (scale1:280 000):

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Enlarge map by double clicking where wanted. Move around map by pressing (and holding) left mouse button.

Go to North-West of map. Locate Rotonda (just North of Provincial line). The road is probably the same one used in 1806. Crosses river twice.

Need more detailed map – I will work on it now that the correct area is known! <;^}

Steven,

That map link takes me to pages of this kind of thing:

VîêžTæj®‘KÞPM|O½EÙ?½7ðó"6Ãê?_ð¦WúÐYÁ%àš6p·•ûþÏ?K¿†š&£Ü÷Ûô>�OÌj à‘ðM n Éý‰?g~ê™xo¨/Ðϧ^pI

Is it the link, or am I missing a font or program from my PC?

Regards

WW,

How about this one:

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Big Al

Got it, thanks.

WW,

Two needed Italian books were not sent over, so I will be going to the library on Sunday. Sorry for the delay.

What did you find in your search?

I have a copy of "L'Esercito Borbonico dal 1789 al 1815" but it appears to be in storage. We will keep looking.

Big Al

Big Al,

I have ordered a copy of "L'Esercito Borbonico dal 1789 al 1815" so hopefully I'll get that in a week or two.

I have tried my best google-fu to come up with a detailed map of the area but no luck yet. I'm seeing if a couple of people I know have a more detailed map of the area – failing that I'll get hold of one myself next time I'm in London – my local library didn't have anything helpful.

Thanks to all your hard work, I think there is very nearly sufficient there to create a scenario. From your links, there is:

A background
An orbat for the French
A workable orbat for the Sicilians
A description of the deployment
A course of events

All that is still really missing is a map detailed enough to follow the deployment and the action – and a few more little details for the Sicilians would be nice.

Regards

I've done a map for this battle for the Shako II rules, based on some of the references mentioned above plus a couple not mentioned to date.

Whirlwind or Stephen H. Smith – please contact me at Michael.Hopper@gov.mb.ca to discuss if you're interested in my sources for the Neapolitan OB and/or the map source. I may have missed a post which discussed a couple books I used so please forgive me.

Cheers,

Michael

Big Al,

Excuse the other day – only look at TMP every couple months and didn't have time to post a polite and more detailed note.

Look at Guerres de la Révolution Française et du Premier Empire Tome VIII par A. Le Vasseur (p. 446-450)

Le 9 au matin, la brigade du général Compere, suivie de près par la division du général Verdier et par la réserve aux ordres du général Franceschi, s'avança par les défilés du val San Martino. Le général Reynier avait pris la précaution de faire explorer, par des détachements, les montagnes qui bordent ce passage. Les rapports qu'avait reçus ce général lui désignaient Campo Tenese comme le lieu choisi par les généraux napolitains pour y recevoir le choc de l'armée française. Au débouche du premier défile, les éclaireurs du général Compere repoussèrent quelques avant-postes ennemis. Cette rencontre signalant la présence de l'armée napolitaine au lieu indique, le général Reynier détacha plusieurs compagnies de voltigeurs sur les montagnes qui se trouvent a droite et a gauche de la plaine élevée qui porte le nom de Campo Tenese.

Les Français ne tardèrent pas a apercevoir le camp napolitain établi au milieu de la plain de Campo Tenese. Cette position était bien choisie. L'armée ennemie avait sa droite et ses gauches appuyées aux montagnes, sur lesquelles étaient places plusieurs bataillons d'infanterie légère. Devant le centre de leur ligne de bataille, les Napolitains avaient élevé trois fortes redoutes armées de pièces de gros calibre. Général Reynier fit former ses troupes a mesures qu'elles débouchaient dans la vallée; mais ce mouvement fut très long, parce que le défile étant très étroit dans cette partie, les soldats n'arrivaient qu'un a un. Une autre circonstance contraria encore les dispositions du général : la neige tombait alors en abondance, et une brume très épaisse empêchait de voir l'ennemi et de calculer sur ses mouvements ceux qu'il convenait de faire. Toutefois, la fusillade qui s'engagea sur les montagnes de gauche détermina Reynier a envoyer le premier bataillon du 12e régiment au soutien des voltigeurs qui combattaient sur ce point. Le 1er régiment d'infanterie légère et le deuxième bataillon du 42e de ligne ayant achève de se former a l'entrée de la plaine, la division Verdier vint se placer successivement en seconde ligne.

La brigade du général Compère, c'est-à-dire l'avant-garde, composée des deux régiments que nous venons de nommer, se trouvait déjà sous le canon des redoutes ennemies, lorsque les voltigeurs du 1er régiment d'infanterie légère et le bataillon du 42e de ligne, ayant culbuté les bataillons qui défendaient les hauteurs ou les Napolitains appuyaient leur droite, débordèrent celle-ci. Général Reynier saisit ce moment pour ordonner au Général Compère de s'avancer au pas de charge et a la baïonnette: ce mouvement fut suivi et soutenu par la division Verdier. L'ennemi n'attendit point cette attaque impétueuse; après quelques décharges, sans grand effet, de l'artillerie des redoutes, les Napolitains lâchèrent pied en désordre, abandonnèrent les redoutes et les pièces qu'elles renfermaient, et s'épar pillèrent dans les montagnes; un petit nombre prirent le chemin de Marano, ou les voltigeurs qui avaient marche par les hauteurs arrivèrent en même temps qu'eux. Les chasseurs du 1er léger ramassèrent, dans les montagnes couvertes de neige, un grand nombre de fantassins et de cavaliers. Si la nuit ne fut point survenue, il eut été possible d'envelopper presque entièrement toute cette armée a la débandade; mais l'obscurité et la neige en sauvèrent un certain nombre.

Also look at

HISTOIRE MILITAIRE DE MASSENA (La Troisieme Campagne D'Italie (1805-1806) par Edouard Gachot (p. 146-149)

Le 8, l'avant-garde abordait le mont Gualdo, alors couvert de neige. Son passage s'effectuait au travers d'un défile borde de bois très épais. Elle franchissait, derrière Castelluccio, le Laino qui séparait la Basilicate de la Calabre. De ce lieu, Rotonda est en vue. Sur ce parcours, 4 officiers et 17 soldats d'une reconnaissance attardée et quelques mulets charges d'équipements militaires étaient pris. Les hommes semblaient préférer la captivité à l'action toujours périlleuse de la guerre Même, ils renseignaient sans contrainte, quant aux positions du camp retranche de Campo Tenese.

On rapporte a Reynier que le prince Francois avait juré, par saint Janvier, que les Français n'arriveraient pas en Calabre ou une levée en masse s'organisait; d'ailleurs, il en barrait la route, et son premier lieutenant M. de Damas, avait dit aux colonels : Le tombeau des napoléoniens est déjà ouvert.

L'armée napolitaine, formant deux corps, avait 28 bataillons et 16 escadrons, indiquait un espion. Le premier appuyait sa droite au mont Pollina, sa gauche au chamelon de Papandora. Une vallée large de 1200 mètres, le 9 bataillons s'alignaient, était battue par les 16 canons armant trois redoutes. La cavalerie, abritée derrière un bois, se tenait prête a le tourner pour charger. Ces troupes avaient reçu pour quatre jours de vivres et de l'eau-de-vie. Des aumôniers lui prêchaient le nécessaire extermination des jacobins.

Le 9, Reynier pouvait masser, des 10 heures du matin, le gros de son corps devant la Rotonda. Pour s'assurer le succès ne fallait-il pas déborder une aile de l'ennemi? Des rapports reçus, la carte du pays examinée, on portait des voltigeurs, nos vélites, sur la droite napolitaine afin de couper aux ennemis leur grand chemin d'évacuation, à Morano. Ce group s'étant avance rapidement, trois colonnes abordaient, vers midi, les défilés qui entament les Apennins de l'ouest à l'est. Une 4th colonne marchait vers Orzomarzo afin d'inquiéter la gauche de Damas. Mouvements que masquait une bourrasque de neige, qui rendit les manoeuvres très pénibles. A une heure, Reynier envoyait le 1st bataillon du 42nd renforcé l'aile gauche tournante; puis, sans perdre un instant, il échelonnait des deux cotes de la route: le 1st régiment of infanterie légère et le 2nd bataillon du 42nd, lesquels recevraient, au besoin, l'appui d'une réserve formée et commandée par Verdier.

Quand, à 3 heures du soir, la fusillade annonçait la rencontre des voltigeurs et de deux régiments siciliens, Reynier fit aussitôt battre la charge aux tambours du 42nd, et 1,200 hommes marchèrent, a travers les flocons blancs, vers les redoutes. Les canons et les fusils de l'ennemi tonnèrent et crépitèrent dans une demi obscurité; feu inefficace, dirige sur des pelotons éparpilles, car les soldats n'arrivaient qu'un a un par le défile. On répondit a ces décharges, singulièrement. Les cris produisirent plus d'effet que la mousqueterie. Effrayée, la troupe de Ferdinand abandonne la place. Infanterie et cavalerie se sauvèrent dans la montagne. Des tirailleurs, lances en poursuite, exécutèrent des massacres et arrêtèrent plusieurs bataillons apeures. On prit deux généraux, Ischudi et Ricci, 107 officiers, 1,865 hommes, 15 canons et 146 chevaux. Au reste, si notre cavalerie, qui se trouvait dans les défiles, avait pu s'avancer vite pour charge les fuyards, il ne serait rentre a Castrovillari que quelques hommes des bataillons a qui, le matin, M. de Damas avait promis les bénéfices d'une grande victoire.

Al – I have to say you're amazing, not only for finding Napoleonic literature which is often unavailable to most, but for your scholarly and kind hearted methods of sharing with all. Thank you – you're quite the gentleman, on par with the best.

I don't have it handy, but one of the two aforementioned posts includes a Neapolitan order of battle but does not break the order of battle down between Ricci, Tschudi and Minutolo after Minutolo got drunk – had his advanced guard over run and then fell back into the pass to join Damas where Minutolo was again over run on the Neapolitan right flank – Ricci and Tschudi being captured with a number of the battalions on the left flank after the French 1/42nd de Ligne slowly forced its way out of the pass behind Ricci/Tschudi. My notes have Colonel Saint-Aubin in charge of the 1/42nd but I could be wrong.

Al,

I also found that reading the English version of the Memoirs of Comte Roger de Damas 1787-1806 – Roger Damas,

that pages 364-414, 481-487 provided more background detail on the Neapolitan troop movement during the campaign.

Michael (Michael.Hopper@gov.mb.ca)

What I have so far:

Naples OOB:

Cmdr: Joseph-Elisabeth-Roger comte de Damas d'Antigny (4.ix.1765 (Paris) – 8[3?].ix.1823).

CoS: Colonel Monteferre [French emigree]:
Cavalry cmdr,: Maresciallo di campo baron Giuseppe Acton (younger brother of Giovanni/Joseph);
Cmdr engineers: Brigadier Antonio Winspeare [Francescantonio/Francesco Antonio];
Cmdr artillery: Brigadier Carlo Novi.

Forces divided into two bodies:

A) Maresciallo di campo Adolf Ludvig Ulrik von Rosenheim (1758 – 5.iii.1834): [un bat reggimento Principe 2, due bats.reggimento Real Carolina 2, un bat Tedeschi, un bat Albanesi, un bat. Real reggimento Sannita [colonel Vito Nunziante (1775-1836)], un bat. reggimento Maria, due sqdrns. ‘liberi', tre sqdrns. Val di Mazzara, tre squdns. Real, tre sqdrns. reggimento Re]:

CoS: Rocca-Imperiale.

brigadiers
Angelo [Federico?] Minichini;
Dell'Uva;
col Charles de Tschudy;
Agostino Colonna-Stigliano [cav] (1765-1830); and
Francisco de Cesare.

Rearguard: 4 bats & 4 sqdrns of brigadier Giovanni-Battista Fadella (29.vii.1762 (Trapani) – 4.xi.1836 (Trapani)).
Col Giovambatista Rodio irregular militia.

B) Maresciallo di campo Raimondo Capece-Minutolo de' Principi di Canosa (5.ii.1769 – 17.xi.1827): [tre bats. reggimento Real Principessa, due bats. Real Carolina I, due bats. Principe Reale, tre bats. Real Calabrese, uno bat. regiment Real Principe 1, a ‘formazione' Real Presidi, due sqdrns. Principe II, due sqdrns. Principessa, uno sqdrn. Val di Mazzara]:

brigadiers:
Giuseppe Ricci [tre battaglioni del reggimento Real Ferdinando];
baron Pasquale [Pascal] de Tschudy [uno battaglioni del reggimento Abruzzi [e con due battaglioni del Carolina 2 ?]];
Antonio Penedo; and
Giovanni Muscettola prince di Luperano.

Rearguard: commanded by colonel Andrea Pignatelli di Cerchiara:
2 companies of grenadiers,
2 companies of Cacciatori [Calabri] &
2 squdrns [‘reparto'] of cavalry.

Capitano Gerardo ‘ Sciarpa' Curcio di Polla with a band [‘comandato'] of irregulars.

Escort for the Royals: the Prince Hereditary (Francesco, 14.viii.1777 – 8.xi.1830) and Prince Leopoldo (2.vii.1790 – 10.iii.1851). commanded by Lt-gen. Giovanni Vincenzo II duca di Salandra (9.ii.1745 – 7.x.1810):
A bat of grenadiers dal Guardia Real [colonel Filippo Roth [Rota/Rotke]] and due squdrn. cavalry, under colonel Latanzio Sergardi.

Note: Maresciallo di Campo (grado equivalente a Generale di Brigata).

I wish to view two Italian works this coming Sunday:

Blanch, Luigi, 1784-1872. Il regno di Napoli dal 1801 al 1806 e la campagna del Murat nel 1815. Reprint 2001.

Archivio storico per le province napoletane No. 102 (1984). I wrote the wrong volume number [103] for my last library visit, which has nothing of interestt for our research! <:^{

Materials securred this past Sunday:

Puca, Antonio. "L'Esercito Borbonico nella campagna de Calabria (febbrai0-mrzo 1806" in the "Archivio storico per le province napoletane", No. 102 (1984), pp 365-388.

The two attached appendices are useful:

Damas' "Riservazisi osservazioni sopra le circosranze particolari della campagna" of 29.iii.1806, pp 377-381; and

Rosenheim's "Memoria raggionata sulla campagna della truppa napoletana incominciata nel mese di dicembre 1805, e terminata in marzo 1806", of 20.iv.1806, pp 381-388.

Luigi Blanch's work "Scritti Storici", Vol 1:

"Il regno di Napoli dal 1801 al 1806 e la campagna del Murat nel 1815." 1945. Reprint 2001.

is most useful, especially Chapter 6, pp 164-292, which concerns the military, terminating in its section XIX, pp 273-279, titled "La battaglia di Campo Tenese". Pp [287]-292 contain several period documents about the battle. Price ca 46 Euros – I ordered a copy for myself.

Royal Neapolitan Army 1806 from Napoleon's Italian
Campaigns (F Schneid)

Left Wing – General Roger de Damas

Main Column:
Grenadiers de la Garde Royale (1 Bn)
Regiment Royal Ferdinand (2 Bns)
Regiment du Royale Caroline No.1 (2 Bns)
Regiment Prince Royale (2 Bns)
Regiment Princesse Royale (3 Bns)
Regiment Royale Calabrais (3 Bns)
Regiment Royale des Abruzzes (1 Bn)
Regiment Prince Royale No.1
"Royal Presidi" (1 Bn)
Regiment Prince No.2 (2 Sqns)
Regiment Princesse (2 Sqns)
Regiment Val di Mazzana (1 Sqn)

Garrison of Gaeta – Commander Prince Louis 0f Hesse-Philpstal

3/Regiment du Royale Caroline No.1 (850)
Regiment du Prince (600)
3/Regiment du Presidio (990)
Chasseurs d'Apuli (110)
Regiment Val di Mazzara (600)
Regiment Val Demone (100)
Regiment Val Dinotto (400)
Volunteers (400)

Auxiliaries – Fra Diavlo
Partisans (4000)

Right Wing – Marshal Rosenheim

Advance Guard – Neapolitan Militia (? Bns)

Main Column
Regiment Prince Royale No.2 (1 Bn)
Regiment du Royale Caroline (2 Bns)
Regiment d'Allemagne (1 Bn)
Regiment d'Albanais (2 Bns)
Royal Sannita (2 Bns)
Chasseurs d'Apulia (1 Bn)
Chasseurs Calabrais (1 Bn)
Regiment d'Abruzzes (1 Bn)
Regiment de Sammites (1 Bn)
Regmient de Marie (1 Bn)
Regiment Val de Mazzana (3 Sqns)
Regiment du Royale (3 Sqns)
Regiment du Roi (3 Sqns)
Independent Cavalry (2 Sqns)