Battle of Carpi (1815)

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 of Carpi
Part of the Neapolitan War
Date 10 April 1815 Location Carpi, present-day Italy Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Austrian Empire	Kingdom of Naples
Commanders and leaders
Frederick Bianchi	Guglielmo Pepe
Strength
2,500	5,000
Casualties and losses
116 killed or wounded	~1,000 killed or wounded 612 captured

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 Austrians 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, and ordered a general retreat from the area.

References

• Capt. Batty, An Historical Sketch of the Campaign of 1815, London (1820)
• Details of battle at Clash of Steel