BXBX NOVEL Chapter 86 The Turning Point
On July 29th, 1796. The Austrians launched attacks on French positions along Lake Garda. Austrian General Quasdanovich captured the city of Salo while General Count von Wurmser pushed Massena out of Rivoli.
In this particular battle, Napoleon would reinforce Massena to fight Wurmser but Wurmser wasn\'t the actual threat but Quasdanovich. So, in this world, Napoleon stayed at Brescia and ordered a defensive line around Brescia.
On July 30th, 1796, the Austrians descended on Brescia.
The Austrian army, led by General Reuss, approached Brescia with determination and a formidable force. They unleashed a barrage of artillery fire upon the city\'s fortifications, seeking to weaken the French defenses before launching a full-scale assault. The booming sounds echoed through the air, causing the ground to tremble and filling the hearts of both soldiers and civilians with a sense of dread.
Within the city\'s defense perimeter, Napoleon observed the enemy\'s approach from a vantage point, surveying the scene with a calculated gaze. Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against them, his presence alone infused the French soldiers with renewed determination and resolve. He knew that the outcome of this battle could significantly impact the overall war effort and solidify his reputation as one of the best generals in France.
As the Austrian forces closed in, the French defenders stood steadfast, their muskets at the ready. The streets of Brescia transformed into a battlefield, with volleys of gunfire and the cries of combatants filling the air. The narrow alleyways and stone buildings provided opportunities for close-quarters combat, and both sides fought fiercely for control of each street and intersection.
The fighting raged on throughout the day, with the outcome of the battle hanging in the balance. The Austrians fought valiantly, pressing the attack with tenacity and ferocity. Yet, the French defenders, bolstered by Napoleon\'s leadership, refused to yield.
As the sun began to set on that fateful day, the streets of Brescia were stained with the blood of fallen soldiers, mostly from the Austrians. General Reiss was on his knees, his uniforms tattered and stained with dirt and blood. The toll of the battle weighed heavily upon him, and the realization of the dire situation engulfed his once-determined spirit. General Reiss, a seasoned commander, had underestimated the strength and resilience of the French defenders, and now he found himself defeated.
With General Reiss\' detached forces surrendering to the French, Napoleon shifted his focus up north, where Quasdanovich\'s main force was located.
"Sir, a telegraph from Massena\'s division," Murat said. "They are requesting immediate reinforcements."
Napoleon\'s eyes darted across the map, his mind ablaze with strategic possibilities. It was clear to him that the time had come to lay a cunning trap for the Austrian forces, transforming their aggressive advance into their own downfall. There was no need to wait for reinforcements from Castiliogne; the opportunity to vanquish Wurmser\'s army lay before them, ripe for the taking.
With a keen understanding of his adversary\'s mindset, Napoleon foresaw that Wurmser would be singularly focused on relieving Mantua, still under the illusion that the fortress remained firmly under Austrian control. Unbeknownst to him, General Serurier had already secured the surrender of the seemingly impregnable stronghold.
The battlefield, Napoleon reminded himself, was a dynamic and ever-changing landscape. If Wurmser were to discover that his fellow commander, Quasdanovich, was facing setbacks and being pushed back by the French forces, he would instinctively retreat. He knew that Wurmser would be acutely aware that his line of retreat would be in grave danger of being cut off, jeopardizing not only his army\'s survival but also his own.
So, there\'s no way that Napoleon and Wurmser would meet in Castiglione, that is a certainty. He had already altered the flow of events of the Italian Campaign, his modern knowledge of Austrians\' positions are useless to him now, but there was no need for it, as Napoleon already adapted to the nature of war.
With a confident nod, he turned to Murat and issued his orders.
"Murat, transmit my orders swiftly," Napoleon commanded. "Send word to General Serurier in Mantua and General Augereau and La Harpe in Legnago. Instruct them to support Massena in a manner that lures the Austrians towards Mantua. We will encircle them from behind and cut off their retreat."
Junot stepped forward, looking at the map. "But what are we to do with the Austrians that are up north?"
Napoleon glanced at the last known position of Quasdanovich. Based on it, it seemed like he was heading toward Gavardo. He must have heard about the battle that had transpired earlier and is on his way to reinforce their men.
"We\'ll meet them here," Napoleon pressed his finger on a strategic point on the map, marking the town of Gavardo. "Murat, inform General Sauret to prepare for a confrontation with Quasdanovich\'s forces. We shall engage them head-on and prevent their reunion with Wurmser."
Murat quickly relayed the orders to the messenger awaiting orders. The messenger nodded his head and stepped out of the tent, sprinting towards the awaiting horse that would carry him to General Sauret. As the messenger galloped away, Napoleon turned his attention back to his officers.
"Now, in order to complete the encirclement of Wurmser\'s forces, we\'ll have to defeat Quasdanovich in Gavardo at the soonest time possible. After that, we\'ll swing east, cutting off Wurmser\'s escape route and ensuring his complete defeat," Napoleon declared.
"But, General Bonaparte," Berthier interrupted. "Quasdanovich forces are still larger than us, possibly around fifteen thousand minus the Austrian battalions that we captured. General Sauret\'s men are down to four thousand and our forces here are only two thousand five hundred. I don\'t think we would be able to match the Austrians in a direct confrontation."
Berthier raised a valid point, a direct confrontation with the larger force would be suicide. But…
"General Despinois is in Peschiera with ten thousand men," Napoleon pointed, his finger tracing along the map towards the town of Peschiera. "We shall summon General Despinois and his division to reinforce our troops. With their arrival, we will have the strength we need to face Quasdanovich\'s forces in Gavardo."
Berthier nodded understandingly, knowing that with Despinois\'s division, they could take out Quasdanovich\'s division.
***
On July 31st, 1796, in the town of Gavardo, the atmosphere was tense with anticipation. French troops, reinforced by General Despinois\' division, were positioned strategically, ready to face General Quasdanovich\'s advancing Austrian forces. The narrow streets of Gavardo echoed with the sound of soldiers preparing for battle, their muskets gleaming in the morning sun.
Napoleon stood at the forefront, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He knew that this clash would determine the success of their encirclement plan and the fate of Wurmser\'s army. He took a deep breath and prepared himself.
The Austrian forces emerged from the outskirts of Gavardo, their ranks stretching as far as the eye could see. Quasdanovich led his troops with confidence, unaware of the trap that awaited him. The moment had come for Napoleon to seize control of the battlefield and turn the tides of war in his favor.
As the first shots rang out, musket fire erupted from both sides, sending a cloud of smoke billowing into the air. The air was filled with the sounds of cannon fire and the screams of the wounded. The French and Austrian soldiers engaged in intense skirmishes, trading volleys of gunfire and engaging in vicious bayonet charges.
Napoleon, his sword drawn, darted through the chaos, rallying his troops and directing their movements. He pushed forward, leading a charge that broke through the Austrian lines, disrupting their formation and causing confusion among their ranks.
The battle raged on for an hour. Amidst the chaos, Napoleon\'s keen eye caught sight of General Quasdanovich leading a group of cavalry towards the French flank. Realizing the threat, he swiftly issued orders for Murat and his cavalry to mount a countercharge.
Murat eagerly took the reins, his men forming a formidable line of horsemen ready to unleash their devastating charge.
With a thunderous roar, the French cavalry surged forward, their horses galloping at full speed. The ground trembled beneath them as they closed in on the unsuspecting Austrian cavalry. Murat, his saber raised high, led the charge with fearless determination.
As the French cavalry was about to clash with Quasdanovich\'s cavalry, chaos ensued.
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, the Austrian cavalry struggled to mount an effective defense. Murat\'s well-trained and disciplined troopers cut through their ranks like a scythe through the wheat, unleashing a flurry of sabers and musket shots from their pistols.
Quasdanovich, witnessing the devastation inflicted by the French cavalry, desperately tried to rally his men. But the surprise and ferocity of Murat\'s charge had already thrown their formation into disarray. The Austrian cavalry crumbled under the relentless assault, with many fleeing the battlefield in a desperate bid to escape the French onslaught.
With each passing moment, the French cavalry\'s advantage grew, their momentum and superior training overwhelming the disorganized Austrian forces. Murat\'s leadership and audacious maneuvers ensured that the enemy had little chance of regaining their composure or mounting an effective counterattack.
And in the next moment, Murat spotted Quasdanovich.
Quasdanovich, realizing the dire situation he was in, turned his horse and tried to escape the pursuing French cavalry.
"You are not getting away from me," Murat growled.
With a burst of speed, Murat closed in on Quasdanovich, his saber raised high to deliver a decisive blow. With a downward swing, Quasdanovich\'s blood streaked across the battlefield as Murat\'s blade found its mark. The Austrian general\'s lifeless body slumped over his horse, marking the end of his command and the collapse of his forces.
The sight of their leader\'s demise sent shockwaves through the remaining Austrian troops. Panic spread like wildfire as they witnessed the decisive defeat of their cavalry and the loss of their esteemed commander. Disarray and confusion reigned within their ranks, leaving them vulnerable to the advancing French infantry.
Napoleon, observing the crumbling Austrian lines, seized the opportunity to press the advantage. With a resounding cry, he rallied his troops and ordered a full-scale assault on the disheartened enemy. The French soldiers, emboldened by their recent victory and driven by their unwavering loyalty to their commander, surged forward.
Some tried to fight back, while others surrendered, but in the end, Napoleon emerged victorious. The Battle of Gavardo was a resounding French victory, with casualties totaling two thousand five hundred for the French and double that number for the Austrians, with the remaining forces surrendering to him.