Battle of Marengo 14th June 1800 during
1800 a French offensive in the Northern Italy caused the Austrian Commander
General Baron Michael von Melas to move his forces to Alessandria.
Napoleon Bonarpart commander of the French Army moved to give battle.
arriving at Marengo on the evening of 13th June 1800. (Marengo being just
over 2 miles from Alessandria.) The Austrian Army attacked the
French at Marengo, with larger force of 31,000 men, the Austrians with the
support of 80 artillery pieces battered the French positions, the French
held the line until 3 pm when they were finally driven back to San
Giuliano. At this point General Melas believing they had one the
day, left the field for Alessandria leaving the command to a
subordinate. The Austrian pursuit of the French was to slow which
gave Napoleon time to re organize and with the arrival of General Louis
Desaix with a Fresh Corp. The French Counter attacked late in the
afternoon. almost immediately General Desaix was killed. The Austrian
forces had been surprised by the counter attack, and with a French furious
attack and the French cavalry under General Francois E Kellerman
slashing their way through the Austrian infantry. The Austrian
advance was turned into a retreat and with the French cavalry repeatedly attacking
their lines, it was turned into a rout. By midnight the battle was over
and a French victory for Napoleon. The French casualties were 5,835,
compared to the Austrian Losses of 9,402.
On hearing the news General Melas agreed
to a truce and withdrew his troops east of the Mincio River and north of
the Po.
