At the start of the War of the Second Coalition, Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor acquiesced with Suvorov's request to let his friend Karaczay take the field. Since Suvorov's Russian army had mounted Cossacks but no regular cavalry, Karaczay split up his own six squadron "Karaczay" Dragoon Regiment Nr. 4 among the Russian brigades. For example, during the Battle of Bassignana on 12 May, two squadrons were serving with Russian units. Karaczay led the 5,271-strong Austrian advance guard at the First Battle of Marengo on 16 May but only his outposts were engaged in the action. On that occasion his command included five battalions of Infantry Regiments Nr. 8 and Nr. 28. Karaczay fought at the Battle of Trebbia on 17–20 June 1799, the Siege of Alessandria, and the Battle of Novi on 15 August.