Decisive Stand on the Ticino
The resolute Austrian 7th Army kept a close watch on the Ticino River.
Sardinia had three likely crossing points: Pavia, Vigevano, and Sesto Calende.
Benedek's gaze went first to Pavia. Stone bridges, railway lines, a road leading to the Po.
"If Sardinia trusts in their army and comes at us, it'll be here."
"Shall we deploy mainly with artillery?"
"Do it."
'If Sardinia's aiming for a quick decisive battle, this is definitely the spot.'
Even if Sardinia relied on their breech-loading rifles, speed meant nothing on the bridges.
Next was Vigevano.
"Here... the embankment's low."
Not a perfect crossing point, but the next highest possibility.
The artillery staff officer interjected cautiously.
"When they lay down pontoons, couldn't we just respond with shelling?"
"Sardinia can't drag this war out. They have to push all at once."
Vigevano, if successful, would neutralize Pavia.
"Links straight to southern Milan, right above. Connects to Sesto Calende."
Sesto Calende had water shallow enough to ford without bridges.
"Even a small force could attempt it."
"So failure costs little."
Straight at Pavia and die there? Or use the exact same ploy Austria had chosen in the Second War of Unification?
"Artillery and infantry stay deployed at Pavia as is."
"And Vigevano and Sesto?"
"Send out only cavalry and engineers for reconnaissance. Watch every inch of that area."
The staff officers offered their opinions with dark expressions.
Austria's disadvantage was Sardinia's forces numbering three times theirs.
"If they feint their main force at Pavia and open a shelling battle, it'll be too late to pursue."
Sardinia couldn't possibly be unaware of what Austria knew.
"Cavalry's great for plains recon, but inefficient in the northern mountains. Garibaldi could exploit that gap to raid our flanks or rear supply lines."
"When they start laying pontoons or crossing, on our scouts' signals, burst the dikes or collapse the ground. We might not drown them outright, but we can bog them down in the mud and buy time."
Delaying tactics were needed to grab the ankles of any who bypassed while the 7th Corps was pinned at Pavia.
"Any bypassers will be handled by the 9th Corps' mobile strike force. The 7th focuses only on the enemy in front."
Fifth day of the Sardinian declaration of war.
Vigevano was shrouded in thick fog as always.
Sardinian engineers revealed themselves just before dawn.
A small Austrian force across the river watched them.
"Too early to assume a crossing."
The observer raised and lowered his telescope uncertainly.
The messenger moved quickly regardless.
"Only engineers?"
"Yes, sir. No troops spotted yet."
"Hold the current posture."
Moments later, a second messenger arrived.
"General, structures are going up over the river. Looks like a pontoon bridge."
The artillery staff officer cut in.
"This is our chance. Before the pontoon's complete..."
"Move one battery only."
Trees were added to the river, ropes pulled taut, and the first squad waded in.
Murmurs spread among the soldiers in the positions.
"Why aren't we firing...?"
Benedek just kept slowly watching through his telescope.
At the sight of Benedek like that, the soldiers' murmurs faded again.
The title of 'Lion of Solferino' wasn't won lightly. In '48 and '59 alike, Sardinia had always retreated before Benedek.
The moment Sardinian infantry began crossing the river.
"Open fire."
Boom—!
The first shell roared out.
Twice, three times...
Explosions kept ripping across the river, sending Sardinian troops and timber flying together.
"Definitely different from before."
Benedek made his immediate judgment.
'Stricter discipline than last time.'
"Prepare to fire."
At Benedek's order, the cavalry who had dismounted into ambush took firing positions.
Another soldier grabbed a comrade's collar and yanked him down as he tried to stand.
"Hey, don't stand up."
This was the Italian front, operating modified Lorenz rifles as breech-loaders, but the doctrine wasn't fully ingrained yet.
"Fire."
Tat-tat-tat—!
Immediately, Sardinia across the way returned fire.
Tat-tat-tat—! Tat-tat-tat—!
'...Even in victory, we need a full switch to breech-loaders.'
Benedek revised his tactics watching Sardinia's rapid counterfire.
'Abandon line battles. Focus on range and artillery fire.'
"General, demolition prep complete."
"Fall back 800 meters. To the first village beyond the dike."
He ordered retreat only to artillery effective range.
Confirming the troops successfully withdrawing under supporting artillery fire, Benedek issued the next order.
"Blow it."
Boom—!!
With the thunderous blast, river water surged upward before crashing back down.
"The dike's breaking!"
Shouts erupted from the Sardinian lines.
From below the pontoon, the river twisted like a writhing snake.
The pontoon tilted in an instant, ropes snapped, sucking men into the current.
Troops still crossing tangled with the swollen torrent and collapsing bridge, unable to move.
The Sardinian ranks collapsed outright.
"Back! Fall back!"
Austrian artillery calmly lowered their angles.
"Don't stop until they've fully fled across the river. Make sure they never dare eye this river again."
Boom—! Boom—!
Shells hammered precisely the rear of the crossing forces, the points where follow-ups were assembling.
'That seals the Vigevano route. Their main force is pinned at Pavia, and any Sesto Cal