081. The Battle of Novi - WDS Campaign Marengo

15 August 1799 - Historical - Intended to be played Head to Head - Suvarov and the Allies had become masters of the Po River Valley. Only small garrisons held out against them. Following a coup d'etat in Paris, the new Directory passed the command of the Army of Naples over to General de Division Barthelemy Catherine Joubert, age 30. The General arrived in Genoa on August 4 and the change of command was complete. Rather than wait for Championnet and his Army of the Alps (approximately 20,000 men) to come up by August 20, Joubert determined to drive on Tortona from Genoa while Perignon, from the French Riviera came up from the southwest. Together he felt that they could relieve the siege of Tortona and drive the Allies back from the upper Po River. Suvarov's position at Bosco Marengo with the Austrians blocking the route from the south and Bagratian watching the route from the French Riviera was excellent. Along with reinforcements that would arrive he could concentrate 45,000 men near that position at a moment's notice. Joubert's 34,000 men would be hard pressed to win a victory in such circumstances. The march went well with only minor delays. On 13 August the two wings were in loose communication with each other near Novi and Captriata. The Allied outposts gave way to the French advance guards. General Kray was ordered to march from Mantua with 17,000 men to reinforce the army. Rosenberg's smaller corps was left to siege Tortona. Suvarov's goal was to draw the French out of the hills and use his superior cavalry and artillery strength to destroy the French army. The Allies failed to exploit a great opportunity in attacking the two divided columns before they united. Kray was up to Alessandria by the 12th but was unable to march any further. Two more days went by while his men rested. Meanwhile, the French occupied Novi and took up position on the hills. Kray determined to attack the French left flank on the morning of the 15th. The Russians would form the center and come up from Pozzolo Formigaro and strike the French center. Melas, on the left, would strike at the French to the right of Novi. Kray's column was off early on the 15th and near 5am was assaulting the French left. His wing was formed into two lines. The first line launched its attack in line but the difficult terrain caused them to form into columns which slowed down the attack and gave the French time to form up their line.