The capture of Brescia by Suvorov

Suvorov arrived in the Austrian army on April 4 , but for three days he awaited the approach of the Russian troops. The opinion of historians was divided. Some blame him for the loss of several days, when he could pursue the enemy with some Austrians. Others justify it by saying that the first victory over the French in this campaign, won on March 25, was rather dubious, as a result of which the enemy retreated calmly, and the allied forces were not to pursue, but to attack ^[1] .

At dawn on April 8, the allied Russian-Austrian army of 52 thousand people launched an offensive against the French, leaving 14.5 thousand to monitor Mantua and Peschiera . On April 10, Suvorov’s troops approached the city of Brescia, which at that time totaled 40 thousand inhabitants and was occupied by a French garrison of 1100 soldiers. Suvorov understood the importance of the impression that the first battle meeting had to make under his command and ordered to storm the fortress, and not conclude an honorary surrender with the commandant. “Otherwise,” said Suvorov, “the enemy will stay in every blockhouse, and we will lose both time and people” ^[1] .

The Austrians went up to the city, opened artillery fire and occupied the commanding heights from the north side; Bagration was located on the west and blocked the French route of retreat. The French general Buzé could not defend the vast city with little strength, and therefore retreated to the citadel. Residents of the city, annoyed by the requisitions and violence of the French, opened the city gates to the allies and put down bridges, while they themselves rushed to rob the homes of French supporters ^[2] . The Austrians and Bagration entered the city at the same time and began to prepare for the assault on the citadel, as Buze responded with shots to the offer to surrender. However, the French could not stand it. Seeing the active preparations and guessing that they were not made for intimidation alone, Buze changed his initial intention and after several hours of cannonade surrendered, without waiting for the attack. The garrison together with the hospital turned out to be 1264 people ^[2] ; the allies got 46 guns, there were no casualties killed or wounded ^[1] .

The result of the operation was quite both the Austrian and Russian command. Suvorov greatly embellished the capture of Brescia, writing in a report that the troops acted “under fierce cannon shots” and that the enemy surrendered “according to stubborn resistance” ^[1] , the city was called a fortress on the grounds that it was surrounded by a stone wall with towers ^[2] . So Suvorov tried to make a favorable impression on the allied governments, not hiding the true outcome that the capture of Brescia did without the dead and wounded by the allies. This perfectly characterizes Suvorov as a politician who constantly used similar methods to establish good relations with allies. So, for example, he exaggerated the importance of the Austrians in the seizure of the city, although the Russian troops acted on a par ^[1] .

Together with Brescia, a foundry was obtained, the army was provided with Tyrol and, most importantly, a strong influence was made both on the local population ^[2] and on the army, which “demanded that they lead him to new victories” ^[1] . Order was restored in the city not without difficulty, but Suvorov, knowing the temperament of the Italians, ordered the disarmament of the inhabitants of the entire region, having established the previous government in it ^[2] .

While in Pavlovsk, upon receiving news of this victory, Paul I ordered that a thanksgiving service be served in the court church and then proclaim the perennial “victorious Suvorov-Rymniksky”. The same prayer service is served in St. Petersburg ; in addition, the emperor awarded Suvorov a very gracious rescript. “The beginning is good,” he wrote: “God grant that there be success and victory everywhere. But you, knowing how to deal with it, are surely not to let her out of your hands in our service, which will help you to be in time for her special and long-standing personal affection for yourself. ” Rewarding, at the suggestion of Suvorov, distinguished themselves and at the head of their prince Bagration, the Sovereign ordered all officers who were in business to declare royal favor, and to issue non-commissioned officers and privates one ruble each. “May God give them health”, it was said at the end of the rescript: “let’s beat the enemy; they were and will be masters of this matter. ” The sovereign expressed his attention to Suvorov in another way. When, at the proclamation to the field marshal of many years after the service, the young Count Arkady, moved and embarrassed by such a surprise, knelt down before the Emperor and kissed his hand, the Emperor praised his filial feelings and ordered him to go to Italy, to his father, saying: “Learn from it’s better to give you an example and I can’t give it in the best hands ” ^[2] .

On April 14, Suvorov approached the Adda River, where a battle took place on April 15-17, in which the French (commander General Moro ) were defeated, losing 2.5 thousand dead and wounded, 5 thousand prisoners and 27 guns (allies - about 2 thousand killed and wounded). After the victory, Suvorov moved to Milan , where he entered without a fight on April 18 (29) .

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