Italian Wars - Comments

From LoveToKnow 1911

About the battle of Custoza (not Custozza) 1866 - it is simply not true that the Austrians, "brigade by brigade", were "much superior" to their Italian opponents. There were instances of Austrian troops shaken and falling back under fire, and a whole regiment routed. Admittedly some Italian regiments were brittle, and two divisions, Cerale's and Sirtori's, not brilliantly or badly led into battle. The cavalry was not used throughout the battle (BTW Pulz did not "broke one battalion after another" by his charge. One battalion was smashed, another wavered, but the others stood their ground and the charge was bloodily repulsed).

If properly employed by a decent army HQ the Italians would have won the battle, that can't be seriously questioned. (Ditto with Custoza 1848, and despite the odds, the Piedmontese might stand some good chances even at Novara 1849). Both battles of Custoza were lost by the Italians rather than won by the Austrians.