Capture of Bergamo

The capture of Bergamo (Russian: Взятие Бергамо; French: Prise De Bergame; 24 April 1799) during Suvorov's Italian campaign, War of the Second Coalition, when 2 Don Cossack regiments of Prince Bagration's vanguard under the command of Colonel Grekov and Ataman Denisov quickly and unexpectedly attacked the town of Bergamo occupied by the French garrison and seized Citadel of Bergamo. The attack proved successful for the Russians. The French army was led by Barthélemy Schérer.

Capture of Bergamo
Part of the Italian and Swiss expedition of 1799
Date 24 April [O.S. 13 April] 1799 Location Bergamo (incl. Visconti Citadel), Northern Italy Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	French First Republic
Commanders and leaders
Pyotr Bagration Pyotr Grekov Adrian Denisov	Barthélemy Schérer
Units involved
Bagration's Advance Guard Grekov Don Cossack regiment Part of Denisov Don Cossack regiment	Bergamo Garrison
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Up to 130 men captured; 1 standard captured; 19 cannons captured

Action development

Before the main forces of Bagration's vanguard crossed the Oglio River, Grekov, with his Cossack regiment and part of Denisov regiment, was sent to pursue the French rearguard retreating from Palazzolo sull'Oglio to Bergamo. The Cossacks rushed in pursuit and entered the town (fortified and crowded) suddenly and unexpectedly. The French had no sooner entered the citadel of Bergamo than it was already occupied. The Cossacks captured 130 prisoners, 19 siege guns, 1 standard, many weapons, and military supplies at Bergamo.

Sources

• Milyutin, Dmitry (1852). История войны России с Францией в царствование Императора Павла I в 1799 году [The history of Russia's war with France during the reign of Emperor Paul I in 1799] (in Russian). Vol. 1. St. Petersburg: Типография штаба военно-учебных заведений. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
• Petrushevsky, Alexander (1884). "Итальянская кампания: Адда; 1799" [Italian Campaign: Adda; 1799]. Генералиссимус князь Суворов [Generalissimo Prince Suvorov] (in Russian). Vol. 3 (1st ed.). Saint Petersburg: Типография М. М. Стасюлевича. Retrieved 26 October 2024.