Marengo 1800

Just made first consul after the Brumaire coup Napoleon crosses the Alps to fight off a renewed austrian offensive in northern Italy. Unaware of the position of the enemy the corsican spreads his army to search for the kaserlichs, and one of his divisions under Victor is caught  by the entire enemy army in the village of Marengo. Now the french must endure the onslaught while Bonaparte comes to their aid.

With only one serviceable bridge the austrians take their time in crossing the river

Fanning out on the opposite shore

In a daring flanking maneuver the bulk of the imperials move left to close on the french rear

Leaving Marengo untouched during the whole morning

It is now 15:00 and Bonaparte comes into the field with the first wave of french reinforcements

Moving the cavalry in support of Marengo while the infantry holds the village of San Giuliano

Two hours later Desaix's men come into the field and the counterattack begins

With most of their army far away on Castel Ceriolo the austrians are surprised by a french offensive that like in Austerlitz breaks their center and takes the guns

The austrian hussars on the right are also destroyed

Leaving the would be flankers with their flank exposed and a formidable gunline before them

The french proceed to roll the flank by cutting to pieces an austrian division

Falling another to a charge from the Marengo garrison

To little to late the austrian ulhans ride back

But as night falls into the battlefield the day ends in victory for the First Consul