Historical Note
Lodi was fought on 10 May 1796 between Sebottendorf's Austrian detachment of 6,577 men and Bonaparte's forces under Dallemagne, Kilmaine and Masséna. Dallemagne's elite troops, some 3,000 strong, did most of the fighting. Bonaparte was trying to cut off the main Austrain army that was withdrawing over the Adda River at Lodi. Sebottendorf acting as a rearguard managed to hold off the French for most of the afternoon, then slipping away during the night.
Briefings and Orders of Battle
General-Major Baron Carl Philipp Sebottendorf :
Your command being the last to cross the Adda River has become the rear guard of the main
Austrian army that is presently withdrawing in an easterly direction. Your commander, Beaulieu
departed Lodi very early today and told you to cover the retreat by defending this area.
You are only to destroy the bridge if necessary. Your rearguard of one battalion
(not on the OB) is still about 13 miles west of Lodi at Sant Angelo Lodigiano.
The main French army is approaching from the south. Failure to delay them will put
your command at risk of being overrun and destroyed. You believe that if you can
hold the French until dark (after 7:30) you should be able to effect a withdrawal
with minimal losses. It’s 10 May 1796, 8:30am and sporadic firing can be heard to
the south. What disposition and orders do your commanders have?
NOTE: Lodi has walls around it that are only about 10 feet high and in poor condition.
The bridge although made of wood is very well constructed. The river is high.
Although a possible crossing there is no bridge at Corte Palasio. For a detailed
Order of Battle click HERE.
General-in-Chief of the Army of Italy : Général Napoleon Bonaparte :
You believe the main Austrian army under Beaulieu is in retreat towards Lodi. Anxious to
destroy this force you have been moving north along the banks of the Adda River towards
Lodi since early this morning. Your command is in the order noted on your OB and has become
strung out. Your scouts have told you that you cannot cross the Adda at Corte Palasio
(about an hour south of Lodi on the east bank) as the Austrians have established a strong
position there with about 3,000 men. It’s 10 May 1796, 8:30am and sporadic firing can be
heard south of Lodi. What orders do your commanders have?
NOTE: Lodi has walls around it that are only about 10 feet high and in poor condition.
The bridge although made of wood is very well constructed. The river is high.
Although a possible crossing there is no bridge at Corte Palasio. For a detailed
Order of Battle click HERE.
Lodi - May 10, 1796 : After Action Report
The main Austrian army under Beaulieu had crossed the Adda River at Lodi over the last few days. Only Sebottendorf's command remained in Lodi to act as a rear-guard. To defend Lodi, Sebottendorf placed IR#19, IR#39, and IR#44 in the city. The IR#16 was to hold a small village south of Lodi, the IR#43 another village to the west. The 2nd Hussars were scattered behind the villages in support. The Uhlans were held in reserve north of Lodi. Vukassovich's troops were on the east side of the river holding the old ruined defence works.
Sebottendorf's only real fear was a possible French assault from the south on the east side of the river. To help protect him from this possibility he ordered the Neapolitan Chasseurs at Fontana to move to the road south of Lodi. Nicoletti, whose force was holding further south at Corte Palasio was ordered to link up with the Chasseurs if they were forced to withdraw.
Bonaparte could not confirm the Austrian army was withdrawing over the Adda at Lodi, but he thought it was certainly a very strong possibility. If they were, he wanted to prevent them, or at least cut off and destroy a major part. With this thought burning in his mind he was driving his main army towards Lodi. Marching off early in the morning, at a fast pace, the French army on the west side of the river Adda, quickly began to become a little strung out. Dallemagne was in the lead followed by Beaumont and Masséna with four brigades.
By 8:30am Dallemagne's skirmishers ran into the advance outpost of IR#16 about a half mile south of Lodi. Their sporadic fire could clearly be heard by both Bonaparte and Sebottendorf. Sebottendorf now knew the contest would begin shortly. The firing now convinced Bonaparte that the Austrians were in front of him. He deceided to ignore the Austrian force on the other side of the Adda river at Corte Palasio and pressed on to Lodi.
Dallemagne knew he had to make the first assault on Lodi. His scouts told him the Austrians were holding a village south of Lodi and were supported with artillery and cavalry. He only had four battalions of grenadiers and a couple of guns but still he decided to attack as soon as he could consolidate his command.
By 11:00am Dallemagne had pushed his force to within sight of the Austrians south of Lodi. His Voltigeur battalions had not arrived but he felt he could no longer hold back his attack. He ordered his four battalions of Greanadiers forward. The Voltigeurs appeared at 11:30am and quickly marched up to support the attack.
The 2nd Grenadier Battalion attacked the village south of Lodi at 12:10pm and was quickly routed by the combined firepower from the village and it's supporting artillery. The 3rd squadron of the 2nd Hussars launched a counter-attack against the 1st Grenadier Battalion. This crack infantry unit was already forming square and blasted the Hussars from their saddles and routed them back into Lodi.
Early in the morning Sebottendorf had ordered the bridge to be prepared for destruction. He was looking at this work in progress at 12:20pm when he was informed by one of his officers that he had found out that there was a possible ford at Monzanica. He thanked the officer and then returned to Lodi. Although he was delighted to learn about the ford he did not take any action.
At 12:30pm the 4th Grenadier Battalion and the 2nd Voltigeur Battalion attacked the same village south of Lodi. They also could not penetrate the defensive fire and fell back. Another assault went forward at 12:40pm by the 1st Voltigeur Battalion. Using cold steel they simply shrugged off the intense fire and pressed into the village. These disciplined troops were too much for the defenders to stop as IR#16 was promptly routed and fled from the village.
Bonaparte and Beaumont had arrived on the field at about noon. Bonaparte ordered Beaumont to take his cavalry and clear the Austrian cavalry south of Lodi. La Salcette arrived at 1:00pm and was ordered to clear any Austrians north of Lodi and then draw up his command for an assault on Lodi. Dallemagne was ordered to take his Grenadiers and clear the village west of Lodi. Masséna and Meynier arrived at 1:30pm and were ordered to deploy their troops and form a grand battery south of Lodi. Orders were also dispatched to Rondeau that he should deploy his brigade when it arrives to the west of Lodi.
Sebottendorf was watching the French starting to deploy and at 1:00pm he recalled half of the Neapolitan Chasseurs to help defend Lodi. The 2nd Battalion of the Carlstädter Grenz was sent over the river into Lodi. At 2:00pm he ordered the cavalry to withdraw over the river to the east side. The IR#43 was ordered to withdraw from it's village at 3:00pm. Before they could withdraw the 1st Grenadier Battalion attacked them at 2:30pm. Muskets unloaded they pressed into the village forcing the IR#43 to withdraw. Unfortunately for the IR#43, they fell right into the middle of Beaumont's cavalry and immediately threw down their arms.
Masséna unleashed his artillery on the south of Lodi at 3:00pm, destroying two Austrian guns. Also at 3:00pm, Bonaparte learning about the ford at Monzanica ordered Beaumont and Cervoni who had just arrived to attack it.
By 3:40pm Masséna had destroyed another two guns. He then ordered Meynier's brigade to attack the city. Kilmaine arrived at 4:00pm and was ordered to take command of the troops at Monzanica. From there he was to attack Lodi from the north east.
At 4:20pm Sebottendorf was satisfied he had done his duty and started to withdraw his troops from Lodi. He received confirmation that the bridge was ready for destruction. He ordered the bridge to be destroyed as soon as the last unit had crossed. He estimated that would be at about 5:30pm.
Rondeau made the first assault on Lodi at 4:30pm with two battalions. The defenders held their fire to the last possible moment that stopped the French just short of the city walls. From his viewpoint Dallemagne thought the time was right and he sent in three of his Grenadier battalions. Dallemagne's timing was perfect. His Grenadiers quickly occupied every inch of the city just as the Austrians were leaving it.
Sebottendorf ordered a full withdrawal at 5:30pm as he could clearly see his last unit crossing the bridge. The 1st Grenadier Battalion could also see this and knew they had to capture the bridge. Their charge was magnificent. They not only captured the bridge but also routed Vukassovich's entire command who had been holding the east side of the river. All Austrian organized resistance collapsed.
Lodi 10 May 1796 Map:
Conclusion
It's amazing that after almost six hours of fighting the outcome of the battle was still very similar to the historical one. Sebottendorf's defence and responses were brilliant. Holding off the French at critical points, withdrawing most of his troops before they were overwhelmed. Even the collapse at the end worked out in his favour to some degree.
Bonaparte had to overcome a number of obstacles and did so with a well developed plan that changed and improved with every new event. He knew from the beginning that he needed his elite troops to win the battle but he still used them without reservation. In the end it was indeed the brave action of these troops that won the battle for him.
In all the games I've ever seen or played I don't recall ever seeing a battle actually won on the very last turn! It was a very dramatic ending. The Austrain performance was outstanding and deserve very high praise. The French performance was equal in every way, but the actions of the 1st Grenadiers in the closing moments of the battle were the stuff that makes legends. So in the closest battle I've ever seen the French get the nod for the victory by the slimmest possible margin.
