Ceva falls: a hard and bloody fight...
The General sat down, pulled a filthy handkerchief from his pocket, and looked around the room. The Piedmontese Grenadiers had evidently vacated in a hurry, there was still plenty of wine to be had. 'Donnez, there's a good lad - bring me that bottle and write this down...what time is it?'
'Three hours past midday, citizen General,'; the aide uncorked the bottle and handed it to his commander. There was an infernal racket outside, women screaming and kids crying, or the other way round.
'The men are out of hand' said Donnez.
'What do you expect?' replied General Massena, 'those Grenadiers put up a good fight- nearly stopped us': he took a long pull on the bottle, wiped his lips with the back of his hand and examined the label with an appreciative look.
"Write this down, for immediate dispatch to the Chief:
'Ceva is ours my General, Serieur got here just in time, Dommartin's brigade is knocked about but they will rally...wait, make that Dommartin's brigade took heavy losses but will recover with food and a nights rest. The enemy put up a good fight but has taken heavy losses - around three and half thousand including prisoners.
'That'll do. He's on his way anyway, might encourage him to get here sooner.'
The aide finished scribbling and went off in search of ribbon and the General's seal.
Massena, looked around and made a decision. 'Citizen Sergeant!'
'Yes, Citizen General,' came the answer from outside the door.
'Are there any women in this town who haven't got the pox?'
'I believe so Citizen General,' said Sergeant Bertu, filling the door frame with his considerable bulk.
'Then we must make our introductions Citizen Sergeant, to the victor the spoils...and get the men in order, letting off steam is one thing but those Italian bastards didn't run away that fast, I want to be ready if they come back''
The Piedmontese Grenadiers retire in good order across the Tarrano river covered by the remaining infantry of Vitali's division. (I had to use Austrian figures as proxies for Piedmontese as I have none of the latter..)
Full report to and more photos to follow...
'Three hours past midday, citizen General,'; the aide uncorked the bottle and handed it to his commander. There was an infernal racket outside, women screaming and kids crying, or the other way round.
'The men are out of hand' said Donnez.
'What do you expect?' replied General Massena, 'those Grenadiers put up a good fight- nearly stopped us': he took a long pull on the bottle, wiped his lips with the back of his hand and examined the label with an appreciative look.
"Write this down, for immediate dispatch to the Chief:
'Ceva is ours my General, Serieur got here just in time, Dommartin's brigade is knocked about but they will rally...wait, make that Dommartin's brigade took heavy losses but will recover with food and a nights rest. The enemy put up a good fight but has taken heavy losses - around three and half thousand including prisoners.
'That'll do. He's on his way anyway, might encourage him to get here sooner.'
The aide finished scribbling and went off in search of ribbon and the General's seal.
Massena, looked around and made a decision. 'Citizen Sergeant!'
'Yes, Citizen General,' came the answer from outside the door.
'Are there any women in this town who haven't got the pox?'
'I believe so Citizen General,' said Sergeant Bertu, filling the door frame with his considerable bulk.
'Then we must make our introductions Citizen Sergeant, to the victor the spoils...and get the men in order, letting off steam is one thing but those Italian bastards didn't run away that fast, I want to be ready if they come back''
The Piedmontese Grenadiers retire in good order across the Tarrano river covered by the remaining infantry of Vitali's division. (I had to use Austrian figures as proxies for Piedmontese as I have none of the latter..)
Full report to and more photos to follow...
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