"Battle of Caldiero - 1805" Topic

A buddy of mine is investigating this as a possible preamble to a refight of Austerlitz later in the year. However, it appears to be extremely difficult to find out much about this battle in Northern Italy, other than the briefiest details.
Does anyone out there know much about the battle itself, the pre-battle manouvering, the campaign. Or, know a good source for locating such information?

Per Digby Smith's Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book, the battle of Caldiero was fought 29 - 31 October, 1805. Caldiero is a small town in NE Italy, between Verona and Vicenza. The battle between the French (Massena with about 46,000 men) and Austrians (Archduke Charles with about 49,000 men) was a draw. There is an OOB in the Data Book, which anyone interested in this period will find useful. The book comments that this was a hard-fought battle, with Charles, upon hearing of the catastrophy at Ulm deciding to fight an action to allow him to organize a withdrawal.

The Data Book notes that Massena and Charles clashed at Verona on 18 October, and following this first action of the campaign, went on to Caldiero. The next clash of French (Solignac) and Austrians ( Hillinger) was 2 November at Forano. Again, the Data Book lists the chronological order of events, gives details of the OOB, lists the totals involved, and even gives losses in men and guns.

Hope this helps...get the book from Greenhill Books!

I have a draft article on it, but it really needs some more work as it was written really to focus on Charles' direction of the battle. However, here is the OB, so far:

Austrian Army of Italy:

Commander: Archduke Charles

Chief of Staff: FML Freiherr von Zach

Artillery Director: FML de Vaux

Advance-Guard: FML Vukassovich (replaced by GM Frimont)

GM Sommariva

1. (Licca) Grenz Reg (3)

2. (Ottocac) Grenz Reg (2nd Batt + 1 co)

11. (2nd Banal) Grenz Reg (3)

3. Erzherzog Ferdinand Hussars (4)

GM Hillinger

IR37 Auffenburg (3)

IR34 Davidovich (4)

Centre: GdK H. Graf Bellegarde

FML Simbchen

Oberst Soudain

IR22 Coburg (4)

IR26 Hohenlohe (4)

GM Kottulinsky

IR29 Lindenau (4)

IR7 Schroeder (4)

FML O’Reilly

1. Kaiser Chevauleger

8. Kienmayer Hussars

Oberst Siegenfeld

5. (Warasdin-Kreuz) Grenz Reg (3)

8. (Gradiska) Grenz Reg (1)

Right Wing: FML Rosenberg

GM Radetzky

4. (Szluin) Grenz Reg (3)

5. Ott Hussars

GM Gavisini

IR16 Erzherzog Rudolph (4)

IR45 Latterman (3)

GM Knesvich

2. Erz Josef Hussars (6)

IR63 Erz Josef (4)

GM Lowenberg

10. (1st Banal) Grenz Reg (3)

2. Erz Josef Hussars (2)

Left Wing: FML Davidovich

FML Nordmann

8. (Gradiska) Grenz Reg (2)

IR10 Ansbach (1)

9. Erdody Hussars

GM Kalnassy

IR48 Vukassovich (4)

IR52 Franz Karl (4)

GM Walther

3. Erz Karl Uhlans (8)

5. Savoyen Dragoons (8)

FML Prince Reuss-Plauen

GM Wetzel

IR2 Erz Ferdinand (4)

IR53 Jellacic (4)

Reserve: FML Argenteau

FML Lindenau

Grenadier Battalions (1st Battalion of each regiment) where
just one battalion shown

GM Lippa

IR22 Coburg (1)

IR26 Hohenlohe (1)

IR27 Strassoldo (1)

IR29 Lindenau (1)

GM Mihailovich

IR32 Esterhazy (4)

IR51 Splenyi (4)

GM Hohenlohe

IR2 Erz Ferdinand (1)

IR33 Sztaray (1)

IR34 Davidovich (1)

IR37 Auffenburg (1)

IR53 Jellacic (1)

FML Vogelsang

GM J. Graf Colloredo (1)

IR48 Vukassovich (1)

IR51 Splenyi (1)

IR52 Erz. Franz Karl (1)

IR61 St. Julien (1)

GM Koller (1)

IR7 Schroeder (1)

IR13 Reisky (1)

IR16 Erz Rudolph (1)

IR44 Bellegarde (1)

IR45 Latterman (1)

IR56 W. Colloredo (1)

IR63 Erzherzog Josef (1)

FML Prince Lothringen

GM Vincent
4. Levenehr Dragoons

10. Stipicz Hussars

Reserve artillery

Facing Verona:
2 x 3pdr, 2 x 6pdr, 2 x 7pdr howitzer

Right wing:
3 Cavalry batteries (4 x 6pdr, 2 x 7pdr howitzer each),

At Caldiero:
14 x 6pdr, 4 x 12pdr, 2 x7pdr howitzer

Centre:
2 x 12pdr, 8 x 6pdr, 4 x 7pdr howitzer, 2 x 3pdr, 1 x Cavalry battery (4 x 6pdr, 2 x 7pdr howitzer)

Left wing at Bevilaqua:
12 x 6pdr, 6 x 7pdr howitzer, 2 x 3pdr,

With 10. Ott Hussars:
1 x Cavalry battery (4 x 6pdr, 2 x 7pdr howitzer)

French Army of Italy:

Commander: Marshal Massena

1st Division: Gen de Div Gardanne

Gen de Brigade Compere

22e legere (3) 1,484

52e ligne (3) 1,335

Combined Carabinier & Voltigeur Cos ?

(1 batt of 8 cos)

Gen de Brigade Lenchantin

29e ligne (3) 1,564

101e ligne (3) 1,587

23e Chasseurs a Cheval (3) 499

15th Co. 2e Artillerie a Pied 55

4th Co. 6e Batt bis du train 64

8 x 6pdr, 2 x 3pdr, 2 x 5pdr howitzers

2nd Division: Gen de Div Verdier

Gen de Brigade Digonet

23e legere (3) 1,409

10e ligne (3) 1,292

Gen de Brigade Brun

56e ligne (3) 1,090

62e ligne (4) 1,438

Adjutant General Ormancey

4e Chasseurs a Cheval (4) 429

19e Chasseurs a Cheval (4) 413

Dragoons a pied (1 batt of detachments

from 23e, 24e, 28e, 29e, 30e Dragoons) 324

Combined Grenadiers (2 batt) 981

17th Co. 2e Artillerie a Pied 59

3rd Co. 4e Artillerie a Cheval 49

1st, 4th & 6th Cos 4e Batt du train 150

8 x 6pdr, 7 x 5pdr howitzer

3rd Division: Gen de Div Molitor

Gen de Brigade Launay

23e ligne (4) 1,802

79e ligne (2) 1,231

Gen de Brigade Herbin

5e ligne (3) 1,690

Gen de Brigade Valory

60e ligne (4) 2,089

29e Dragoons 410

5th Co. 4e Artillerie a Cheval 51

8th Co. 2e Artillerie a Pied 58

2nd & 4th Co. 4e Batt bis du train 109

5 x 6pdr

4th Division: Gen de Division Duhesme

Gen de Brigade Goulu

1er ligne (3) 1,578

102e ligne (3) 1,611

Gen de Brigade Lecamus

14e legere (3) 1,571

20e ligne (4) 2,164

25e Chasseurs a Cheval (3) 434

19th Co. 2e Artillerie a Pied 53

2nd & 3rd Co. 6e Batt bis du train 86

5 x 6pdr

5th Division: Gen de Division Serras

Gen de Brigade Gilli

Tirailleurs Corses (5 cos) 484

8e legere (2) 1,062

53e ligne (3) 1,587

Gen de Brigade Guillet

81e ligne (2) 989
106e ligne (3) 1,576

Elite du Bataillon de Pioneers 300

(2 cos and a detachment of 3rd co)

Gen de Brigade Mallet

Dragoons de la Reine 495

13e legere (2) 973

Gen de Brigade Schilt

9e ligne (3rd Batt) 550

Italian Artillery (1 co) 60

Italian Artillery train 64

2 x 6pdr, 2 x 3pdr, 7 x 5pdr howitzer

Cavalry: Gen de Div d’Espagne

Gen de Brigade Debelle

3e Chasseurs a Cheval (4) 386

14e Chasseurs a Cheval (4) 428

Gen de Brigade Maurin

15e Chasseurs a Cheval 506

24e Chasseurs a Cheval 424

4th Co. 1er Artillerie a Cheval 46

1st Co. 6e Batt bis du train 59

4 x 6pdr, 7 x 5pdr howitzer

Gen de Division Pully

Gen de Brigade Fresia

4e Cuirassiers (4) 369

6e Cuirassiers (4) 353

Chef de Brigade Davenay

23e Dragoons (4) 286

Reserve: Gen de Division Partonneaux

Gen de Brigade Solignac

1st – 4th Combined Grenadier Batts (4) 501/496/498/498

Gen de Brigade Valentin

5th – 8th Combined Grenadier Batts (4) 495/415/416/498

4th Co. 4e Artillerie a cheval 64
1st Co. 4e Batt bis du train 68

4 x 6pdr, 2 x 5pdr howitzers

Gen de Division Mermet

Gen de Brigade Lacour
24e Dragoons (4) 319
30e Dragoons (3) 193

Chef de Brigade Offenstein
7th Cuirassiers (4) 456
8th Cuirassiers (4) 452

3rd Co. 1er Artillerie a Cheval 51
3rd & 5th Co. 6e Batt bis du train 65

4 x 6pdr, 7 x 5pdr howitzer

The main French source for this was Koch: memoires de massena. For Austria, it was Angeli, the Relation, Criste on Charles, Hitenfeld and the history of 9. Hussars. However, I need to have a look in the KA at the Austrian numbers, although Charles' total is around the 70,000 mark.

You are however in good company - I sent my draft to the Musee de l'Armee in Paris as they didn't know much about it either! One wargames group may be doing it at the Fair in April. I do have some decent maps from the KA, but they are so full of lines for ditches that it is hard to make much out!

Sorry, i should have added that the 70K figure for Charles included his right wing way up in the Tyrol!

Hey guys, thanks very much for your help. I'm sure this information will come in very handy.

Phil

maybe a little bit late (okay over five years) but today somebody has uploaded a new OoB to wikipedia:

link

seams to be the best OoB I've seen so far…

Greetings,
Lars

Lars, It's never too late. <;^}

So how about another 11 years later then….?
To expand on that OB-

Given DH has cited:
Gen de Brigade Gilli
Tirailleurs Corses (5 cos) 484

I'm concerned because from either him or his source, there is nothing I've seen [by 2021] that suggests the single battalion regiment of the "Tirailleurs Corses' aka Chasseurs Corses at the time as well, from Soults Camp at St.Omer [aka Boulogne] was ever diluted for personnel or used in any other theatre than Germany.

It is more likely and probable, though again there's no evidence unless one can get to it, that like this source:-
link

they were likely the 'combined factions' of the Garde Nationale batalions spread around the isle, used to reinforce the Army of Italy, referred to as 'Légion Corse (1 battalion)'.

regards
~d

@ Dave,

Interesting – and I would agree with you. Looking at Nafziger OOBs – in December Serras' Division had:

5th Division: Général de division Seras
Brigades: Généraux de brigade Gilly & Guillet
8th Line Infantry Regiment (2)(l,045)
l06th Line Infantry Regiment (3)(l,565)
Corsican Chasseurs (480)
l03rd Line Infantry Regiment (3)(935)
53rd Line Infantry Regiment (3)(l,573)
8lst Line Infantry Regiment (3)(l,023)
Pionniers noirs (l)(286)
Dragons de la Reine (4)(477)
Artillery & Engineers (l9l)

Under various garrisons is listed:
Corsican Legion (l,478)

Source given as: Liskenne & Sauvan, Bibliotheque Historique et Militaire dedieer à l'Armée et a la Garde nationale de France, Paris, l853

Listing for October:

5th Division: Général de division Serras
Brigade: Général de brigade Gilli
Corsican Carabiniers (5 cos)(484)
8th Légère Regiment (2)(l,062)
53rd Line Regiment (3)(l,587)
Brigade: Général de brigade Guillet
8lst Line Regiment (2)(989)
l06th Line Regiment (3)(l,576)
Brigade: Général de brigade Mallet
l3th Line Regiment (3)(973)
Queen's Dragoon Regiment (4)(495)
Brigade: Général de brigade Schild
3/9th Line Regiment (555)
Artillery
Italian Foot Artillery Company (2-6pdrs, 2-3pdrs
l How)(60)
Italian Train Company (64)

Source given as Gachot….

Also for October:

5th Division: Général de division Seras (HQ at Piovezzano)
Brigade: Général de brigade Gilly
8th Légère Regiment (2)(l,062)
53rd Line Regiment (3)(l,587)
Chasseurs Corses (5 companies)(484)
Brigade: Général de brigade Guillet
l06th Line Regiment (3)(l,576)
8lst Line Regiment (3)(989)
Elite Pioneer Battalion (300)(2 l/2 companies)
Brigade: Général de brigade Mallet
l3th Line Regiment (973)
Italian Queen's Dragoon Regiment (4)(495)
Brigade: Général de brigade Schilt
3/9th Line Regiment (550)
Artillery:
Italian Foot Artillery Company (60)
Italian Train Company (64)3
2-6pdrs
2-3pdrs
l-5.7" howitzer
3-6pdr caissons
2-3pdr caissons
6 howitzer caissons
2 Munition wagons
l Field forges

But no source given.

Ian

Looking at pages 144 to 146 of Bucquoy's "Tome 8 Gardes d'Honneur et troupes etrangeres" and taking into consideration the first of the October OoBs posted above, I surmise that the battalion was the carabinier companies taken from the 5 battalions which constituted the "Legion Corse".

The memoirs below I found would support Prince's view that it was carabiniers from the Legion Corse.

Supplement aux Memoires Historiques Sur La Mort De Joachim Napoleon, par le General Francesschetti, p. 35
"Entre dans la legion corse, a sa formation, j'y commandais deja une compagnie a la bataille de Caldiero, et partageai avec elle les fatigues et les dangers du siege de Gaete. Quand on organisa la garde royale a Naples, je fus incorpore, avec ma companie de carabiniers, dans le regiment de granadiers avec lequel je fis les campagnes de 1807 et 1808, dand les Calabres."

And a Berthiers letter to Messena of September 28, 1805 says "The Emperor is surprised that the Legion Corse has not yet arrived".

I don't know the units well enough to know the difference between the Legion Corse and the Tirailleurs de Corse. Is one a subset of the other or two different units?

That said, there's two contemporary sources that say it was units of Legion Corse there.

And these, Corsican gentlemen, are the bleeders marching around in the 'goat' brown uniforms who have fooled illustrators into misrepresenting the uniforms of the famous and elite 'Tirailleur Corse' in French legere uniform so created by N. !

If you think about it rationally, 5 battalions of 'Garde' spread over the island were more of a youth club/ community police/ anti-vandalism corps than any chance of a great defence against British invasion again. There was of course an established French military garrison completely separate to these 'petty' units.

But N. was smart enough to control them and their Corsican tempers by organising them and giving employment to his homeland.

And a third note, the army cited Ian is another 'pretty one' with diverse French and italian units that could make an interesting table force!

@chaosman – we were replying at the same time and crossed over.

This became relevant when a false-record was created, so this article is both the error and our multiple corrections.
TMP link

I don't know the units well enough to know the difference between the Legion Corse and the Tirailleurs de Corse. Is one a subset of the other or two different units?

1- Absolutely not. See history in link above.
2- The 'Legion' was so named to identify the 'Garde Nationale' 'conscripts, some volunteers, and not a few 'impressed malcontents' which much of Italian speaking Corsica did not identify with.
3- Tirailleurs Corse- no 'de'. [This differs from the designation of the other italian unit from Piemont, the Tirailleurs du Po- sharpshooters 'from' the Po region.]
4- To clarify, the Tirailleurs Corse were entirely the creation of N. and the best youth his Generals could find were transferred from Corsica after baasic training and vetting directly to the Army of the Ocean Coasts, starting in 1803. As they were from his homeland he took special and significant steps to employ, train and manage them.
They provided significant service under him in all European campaigns till 1809.
When, in 1810 the 'single battalion unit' theme had run its course, the first 4 battalions that formed the 'new' 11eme Legere could be considered 'elite' among the legere corps.

That said, there's two contemporary sources that say it was units of Legion Corse there.

Agreed and a more accurate one; contemporary both in space and time with the formations and usage of the nomenlcature

A solution to several issues I feel,
Regards d

seems to be the Légion Corse at Caldiero and not the Tirailleur Corses, the later served in the Grande Armée in Germany, the Légion Corse was 5 companies strong, which would fit.