Battle of Campo Tenese : Invasion of Naples 9 March 1806 marks the Battle of Campo Tenese in the 3rd Coalition War. When General Jean Reynier’s 8,345 French, 2,510 Polish and 624 Swiss infantry along with 948 French cavalry defeated General Roger de Damas’ 14,000 Neapolitans.
France invaded Naples on 8 February & rapidly moved south. Naples’ army of 22,000 was divided in 2 parts – Damas’ 15 battalions & 5 squadrons & Rosenheim’s 13 bns & 11 sqns. Damas retreated to Campo Tenese in Calabria to await Rosenheim.
Reynier marched south to prevent this. He led the 1e & 23e Légère, 6e, 10e & 42e Ligne, the 1st Polish Legion & 4th Swiss Regiment & the 6e & 9e Chasseurs à Cheval. His men were well-trained & enthusiastic but poorly paid, clothed & fed. Their habit of living off the land alienated the locals. On 6 March, his vanguard defeated Damas’ rearguard, inflicting losses of 300 men & 4 guns. On 8 March, he located Damas’ main army.
Damas deployed 2 lines behind breastworks along a 1,500-yard front. Line 1 had 9 battalions, the cavalry & 3 artillery redoubts. His remaining men formed Line 2. He led 6-7,000 men of the Royals Abruzzi, Calabria, Carolina, Ferdinand, Presidi, Principe, Principessa & Sanniti Inf., the Royal Guard Grenadiers & 5 squadrons of Principe, Principessa & Val di Mazzana Cavalry. The rest were militia. The Morano Calabro Mountains anchored both flanks. He made no provision to guard them.
On 9 March, wind blew heavy snowfall into the Neapolitans’ eyes. Reynier attacked at 15:00. The 1e (1,946 foot) moved along the unguarded mountain paths in single file. They emerged along Damas’ right flank & rear, deployed & attacked. Their sudden appearance panicked Damas’ men. The 42e (1,627) attacked his right. After exchanging fire, they charged the right redoubt. The Principessas & Sannitis quickly broke.
Compère’s brigade (3,239, 23e Légère, 6e Ligne) attacked Damas’ center. It was repelled. But with the French dominating the mountains, Damas saw he’d be trapped. He ordered a retreat. The 42e, advancing, cut the main road from Campo Tenese to Morano. Damas’ retreating army advanced right onto the 42e’s muskets. Compère attacked again. Attacked on 3 sides, Damas’ army collapsed. Many surrendered. Others retreated up the mountain paths.
Siege of Cuidad Rodrigo
Reynier lost 500 dead/wounded. Damas lost 1,000 dead/wounded, 2,000 captive including 2 generals, 8-9,000 deserted & all his guns, supplies & baggage. Reynier occupied Monte Calabro. His starving men robbed, raped & murdered villagers. Pursuit began on 10 March. At the same time, Rosenheim was located & attacked. During the pursuit, both armies completely dissolved. Only 2-3,000 men reached Messina to be rescued by Britain’s navy. King Ferdinand IV retreated to Sicily. His army no longer existed.
Joseph Bonaparte was installed as ruler. He tried to be fair, but his men ran out of control. His officials were grasping & greedy. The infuriated Calabrians rose in revolt. The French responded with violence & cruelty. Joseph tried to reign them in – shooting soldiers for criminal offenses & trying corrupt officials. But the war degraded into an ugly cycle of atrocities & vendettas.
In conclusion, French eyewitness Paul Courier later called it “one of the most diabolical waged in many years.”
Battle of Campo Tenese : Invasion of Naples
Written by Garrett Anderson
