Battle of Carpi (1815)

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=
conflict=Battle of Carpi
partof=the Neapolitan War
date=10 April, 1815
place=Carpi, present-day Italy
result=Austrian victory
combatant1=flag|Austrian Empire
combatant2=flagicon|Two Sicilies|1811 Kingdom of Naples
commander1=Frederick Bianchi
commander2=Guglielmo Pepe
strength1=2,500
strength2=5,000
casualties1=116 killed or wounded
casualties2=~1,000 killed or wounded
612 captured

The Battle of Carpi was a battle in the Neapolitan War between a brigade of Neapolitan soldiers under the command of Guglielmo Pepe and an Austrian force under the command of Frederick Bianchi. The battle took place in the town of Carpi and resulted in an Austrian victory, with the Neapolitans being driven from the town.

Battle

After Murat was defeated at the Battle of Occhiobello, the Neapolitan advance was stopped on the banks of the Po River. From here, the Austrian launched a counterattack against the Neapolitan position in northern Italy. A corps under the command of Bianchi was ordered to march of the Neapolitan position around Modena and drive the Neapolitans out of the duchy. Half of Bianchi's corps marched on the town of Carpi, whilst the other half were sent to cut off the Neaplotian line of retreat.

The Austrians reached Carpi on 10 April, opening with an artillery barrage on the town's north gate. However, the Austrian column came through the south gate surprising the Neapolitan garrison of 5,000 men commanded by Guglielmo Pepe and crushing any Neapolitan opposition. Having already received news of the defeat at Occhiobello, the Neapolitan morale crumbled and most of the surviving garrison deserted after the battle. Meanwhile, Michele Carascosa who was in command of all the Neapolitan forces in the Duchy of Modena realised the remaining troops were in danger of being surrounded, ordered a general retreat from the area.

References

*Capt. Batty, [http://www.napoleonic-literature.com/Book_29/002-Events.htm "An Historical Sketch of the Campaign of 1815"] , London (1820)
* [http://www.clash-of-steel.co.uk/pages/battle_details.php?battle=CARPI01 Details of battle at Clash of Steel]