Historical Note
On November 12, 1796 the French Divisions of Masséna and Augereau attacked Hohenzollern at Caldiero. Augereau made a direct assault while Masséna moved to outflank Hohenzollern. Masséna encountered stiff resistance on the Colognola Heights. During the day Provera's Division and the reserve artillery came up to support Hohenzollern. Augereau was slowly taking ground but Masséna was outflanked and heavily out gunned forcing him to fall back. Without any flank support Augereau also withdrew.
Briefings and Orders of Battle
General Baron Joszef Alvintzi :
General order of the day issued at 6:00am November 12, 1796: "Today we will consolidate our army at Caldiero."
General Prince Friedrich Franz Xaver von Hohenzollern-Hechingen : Along with Placzek
and Lipthay you will hold Vago, Caldiero and Colognola until Provera relieves you.
General Marchese Giovanni Provera : You will consoldate your command at Caldiero.
Order of march is Brabeck, who is expected to arrive at 3:00pm, Schubirz, who is expected to
arrive at 3:30pm, and Provera, Rosemini, with the Artillery Reserve at 4:00pm. Pittoni and
Mittrovsky are expected, but their arrival time is uncertain.
Note: Yesterday Hohenzollern attacked Verona but was repulsed with heavy losses.
For a detailed Austrian Order of Battle click HERE.
General-in-Chief of the Army of Italy : Général Napoleon Bonaparte :
General order of the day issued by the commanding General Bonaparte at 6:00am November 12, 1796:
"Today we will attack and defeat the Advance Guard of the Austrian army that stands before us at Caldiero."
Général André Masséna : Massena: Your command will move north and attack the right wing of the Austrian army holding the heights of
Colognola. Once captured you will pivot your force southwards towards Caldiero and attack it from the east.
Général Pierre-Francois-Charles Augereau : Augereau: Your command will attack the Austrian army holding Caldiero, directly from the road from Verona.
After Masséna takes the heights of Colognola he will attack Caldiero from the east.
It's now 11:00am and your troops are approaching the battlefield. What order of march are
they in and what orders do your brigadiers have?
Note: Yesterday the Advance Guard of the Austrian army tried to take Verona but
they were repulsed by the troops from these divisions.
For a detailed French Order of Battle click HERE.
Caldiero - November 12, 1796 : After Action Report
After failing to take Verona on the previous day, Hohenzollern expected the French may very well attack him this day. Alvincy ordered him to hold Vago, Caldiero and Colognola. He in turn ordered Liptay to hold Caldiero while he placed his own infantry in Vago. The Banal 5th Battalion was sent to occupy Colognola, Placzek was held in reserve north east of Caldiero.
Bonaparte's plan was simple, Augereau would take Vago then attack Caldiero. Masséna would make a flank attack, first taking Colgnola then move to support Augereau's attack on Caldiero.
The majority of the French troops were concentrated on the west side of Verona. By the time they cleared the city and approached the battlefield it was very late in the morning. A very heavy snow fall started about 11:30am reducing visibility to half and movement on the slopes of Colognola Heights to about a quarter.
Masséna encountered no opposition until Colognola, but his troops were reduced to a crawl on the heights. Augereua ordered Robert to attack Vago. By 2:00pm both Colgnola and Vago were in French hands.
At 2:30pm Bonaparte became aware of Brabeck's force approaching from the north east. Victor was ordered to attack them immediately.
Rampon and Pigeon who were leading Masséna's advance observed Schubirz's arrival from the east at 3:00pm.
By 3:30pm Provera's reserve artillery started to arrive from the north east, quickly followed by Roselmini at 4:00pm.
Victor's attack failed to stop Brabeck and part of the reserve artillery was now starting to fire on Masséna's right flank. Bonaparte now realizing he was outnumbered, outflanked and out gunned ordered a withdrawal at 4:10pm.
Caldiero 12 November 1796 Map:
Conclusion
Both sides gave a good account of themselves. Since they pretty much played an historical outcome, the Austrians win.
