VERONA.
Graf Strassoldo's brigade of 2,100 men were the best. They had six guns. It was made up of Germans and Italians. Six companies.Kopal's sixth Jagers and the Lombard/Venetian 3rd battalion of Archduke Sigismund. These Italians died for Austria notwithstanding the calls of their countrymen..The whole Italian line advanced.The General took his place in front of the men.The roll of drums and the whole brigade advanced in full ceremonial order.The Tri-colours flew and men fell but they never stopped advancing. Fabris said "Not since the days of Federick the Great had there been such a spectacle" . Here was courage,discipline and although formal one of iron.And there died a myriad.
This seems to be the Kaiser jager uniform at Santa Lucia . I've been trying to find the correct uniforms of both sides at Santa Lucia but its no easy task if you can help please do .The wars lasted from 1847 until the late 1880's so the changes in unform are important.finding the reference material is difficult but I'll try.
The Italian troops were cut to piecs .The Aosta brigade suffered 350 dead or wounded. The Italian formation was a gift from heaven to the Jagers and their artillery. The Jagers in the cemetery took a man down with each shot.. But Strassoldo had only two squadrons of cavalry so d'Aspre sent him four companies of d'Antons Grenadiers taken from Clam's brigade at Tombetta.
The Aostans proved to be the great troops that the Austrians had heard about:it was a terrible shame that the shambles of the attack had left them no chance to take Verona .
COINTINUED ABOVE IN SANTA LUCIA 4
hello... hapi blogging... have a nice day! just visiting here....
ReplyDelete