First Battle of Dego

First Battle of Dego
Part of the French Revolutionary War
Date 21 September 1794 Location Dego, Liguria, present-day Italy Result French victory
Belligerents
French Republic	Habsburg monarchy Kingdom of Sardinia
Commanders and leaders
André Masséna Napoleon Bonaparte	Olivier, Count of Wallis
Strength
18,000	c. 8,000
Casualties and losses
80–2,000	200–1,000

The Battle of Dego took place on September 21, 1794, in present-day Italy, during the War of the First Coalition. The battle was fought between French and Austrian armies resulting in a French victory. ^[1] The battle is notable for being described in Napoleon's correspondence, as he was present at the battle.

The Austrian army attempted to seize Savona, but were checked by the French at Dego. The French plan of battle was drawn up by General of Artillery Napoleon Bonaparte. The commander-in-chief of the French forces, Pierre Jadart Dumerbion, reported the victory to the French government, writing of Bonaparte's involvement, "It is to the ability of the General of Artillery that I owe the clever combinations which have secured our success." The French did not follow up on this success, due to the grand strategy of the French government for a defensive war. ^[2]

Notes

1. Smith, p. 92.
2. Adlow, p.8.

References

• Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN   978-1-85367-276-7.
• Napoleon. Correspondance de Napoléon Ier publiée par ordre de l'empereur Napoléon III. Paris, 1858–69, no. 37
• Adlow, Elijah (1948). Napoleon in Italy. Plano: Wagram Press. ISBN   978-1-78625-498-6.

External links

• The text of Napoleon's letter describing the battle. Archived 2017-10-30 at the Wayback Machine

44°27′00″N8°19′00″E / 44.4500°N 8.3167°E / 44.4500; 8.3167