French and Russian artillery in 1799 campaign

[Chad]

I have been collecting information on the above campaign but although I have OOB information there is almost no reference to artillery. Can any one help? Thanks.

[wkeyser]

Hi Enrico Acerbi has a series of articles on the Napoleon forum board https://www.thenapoleonicwars.net/ , with lots of information if rather hard to located in the numerous articles. These where also turned into books that you can get from Amazon I think. 

The books are The 1799 campaign in Italy volume 1-4
Luca Cristini Editore (Soldiershop)


The books are for the most part just the same information as the articles on the web site but with color maps and colour uniform plates. Beware the book is really badly edited and is hard to read and follow, however, it has an amazing amount of detail.

If you are just looking for the info just go to the forum and find the articles there.

[ChrisBBB]

I think this is the link you meant?
https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/battles/1799/Italy/c_1799a.html
(The dropdown menu at the bottom takes you to a lot of more detailed articles.)

[wkeyser]

Thanks Cris it is kind of hard to find old articles in the forum. I had copied it years ago when it was originally posted.

[Chad]

Thank you both. Had a quick look on the Napoleon Series and the work you listed still appears to be available. I will start to work my way through the many articles to see if there is any information regarding the artillery.

[ChrisBBB]

Happy to help, Chad. I did have a search through my translations of Clausewitz's histories of the 1799 campaign:
https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700630257/
https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700630332/
Lots of mentions of guns and cannon but usually of the "X was defending the town of Y with four battalions and eight guns" variety rather than any proper OOB other than for the Austrians. Hopefully Enrico Acerbi's work can fill the gaps for you.

Chris

[ChrisBBB]

Chad, what are you planning to do for your 1799 project? What scale, size of armies, plans to refight particular battles, etc? (So many fascinating and neglected actions in this campaign!)

[wkeyser]

And dont forget the Helder and the Batvian/French vrs British/Russian campaign of 1799.

[Chad]

I have a book on that and will look at that. 👍

[Chad]

Chris

I am only doing research at the moment, which is why I was looking for artillery information. At this point of time I have not decided anything other than figure scale will be 15mm. I have spent the last few years working on the Early French Revolutionary period ( essentially pre Bonaparte), including a set of rules. So I have French and Austrian figures amongst others so it is a question as to whether or not I add Russian for the later period. As to game scale, I am not looking at refights. I have been wargaming for 50 years and now just enjoy simple and enjoyable games.

[Chad]

Interestingly, while looking for something else, I found the following work I downloaded from the net some time ago.

History of the War between Russia and France during the reign of Emperor Paul I in 1799 by Colonel Milyutin. 1853

Will start to read this.

[ChrisBBB]

OK, got it. I think if I was going generic 1799 rather than refights I'd be attracted to do the forces of the various short-lived Swiss and Italian republics: Helvetic, Cisalpine, Parthenopean, Ligurian ... and exotica like Venice's Albanian troops or Piedmontese brigands etc.

Anyway, best of luck with finding the info you need, building your armies, creating your rules and having some enjoyable games!

[wkeyser]

Just found this, I have the book and typical Duffy it is fantastic and will give you most of what you need for the 1799 campaign in Italy/Switzerland.

It is also available as ebook.

https://www.helion.co.uk/search-results.php

[Chad]

I have Eagles Over the Alps but again information on artillery does not appear in any of the OOBs

[SirRoystonPapworth]

Situation of the Russian Corps in Italy on April 14, 1799
 
Artillery Battalion Lieutenant General Ejler
     632 men
(with 1st Artillery Company  Ivanov and 2nd Artillery Company  Kuzmin)
Divisional (regimental) Light Artillery
      672 men

I think the guns were 1.5 lb Piedmontese mountain guns.

If it was Suravovs army you are interested in, I hope this helps..