Chapter 810: Fierce Battle in Piedmont
On the way, Joubert had studied the terrain around Alexandria and immediately said, "It seems Melas intends to attack Pavia from the north."
Napoleon hesitated.
He couldn't pinpoint what felt wrong, but everything seemed a bit too smooth.
It made him uneasy.
So he told Cavalry Battalion Commander Garda, "Send someone to carefully reconfirm the situation at the Bormida River, then report back to me."
"Yes, Commander!"
Garda obeyed and personally led half a company of cavalry scouts to the east bank of the Bormida River.
Soon, through his telescope, he saw large numbers of Austrian engineers working busily; the western bridge decking was gone, matching previous reports exactly.
However, the dense trees near the riverbank made it hard to see clearly, so he risked riding closer to scout the area.
Suddenly, just over a kilometer from the large northern bridge, cannon fire erupted rapidly.
An oak beside him was struck, splitting in two and sending wood splinters flying onto the cavalrymen.
Garda nervously glanced at the broken tree trunk, then hurriedly looked back at the bridge, noticing the west-side piers appeared dismantled.
When the cannon fire sounded again, he dared not hesitate, turned his horse, and retreated.
At the French camp, Napoleon stared at Garda. "Are you sure even the bridge piers were removed?"
"I'm sure, Commander," he answered confidently. "At least four main supports are gone. The bridge is definitely unusable."
Napoleon nodded and ordered Joubert, who stood in the tent, "You and the Toulouse and Moulins Corps, proceed at once to Mede. Prepare for the Austrians having crossed.
"I will personally lead the forces at Pavia and arrive by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."
Mede lies six kilometers north of the Tanaro River—the optimal point to ambush the crossing Austrians south of Mede.
"Yes, Commander!"
Joubert was about to leave but then asked, "You didn't mention the Lyon Corps just now?"
"Yes," Napoleon nodded, "leave them at Sant'Illiano."
"But—"
"No argument. That's decided."
He could not explain why, but his intuition told him to guard against threats east of Alexandria.
At most, he would position the Lyon Corps further north and prepare logistics so they could reach Mede in a day's time to join battle.
As dusk approached,
the Bormida River grew even busier than during the day.
Hundreds of Austrian engineers carried timber from nearby woods and quickly repaired the bridge piers.
Indeed, the piers were never torn down; they had been painted a dull gray-black to blend with the riverbank and were hard to distinguish from afar.
This trick had successfully misled Garda.
The next morning, the bridges over the Bormida were fully restored, and two new pontoon bridges had appeared beside them.
Melas's corps had finished mustering and silently crossed under their officers' command without even sounding the bugle.
Heavy artillery and wagons crossed on the wooden bridges; soldiers used the pontoons.
In just two hours, 50,000 Austro-Saxon troops and all their equipment reached the river's east bank.
Only then did Garda's scouts discover the Austrian movement during routine patrol.
Unclear on enemy strength and intent, Garda sent a cavalry company to probe but was quickly repelled.
Only then did the French realize Melas had tricked them.
The closest French force east of the Bormida, Ozeri, hurriedly led over 4,000 troops from the Lyon Corps to block and sent an urgent message to Napoleon in Pavia.
His eastern flank, Marmont's corps, rushed to reinforce as well.
Upon reaching Marengo village by the riverbank, they encountered the Austrian vanguard.
In the Austrian command post, Melas's face darkened after hearing the front-line report.
"Why are there still French troops here?"
He believed having crossed the Tanaro's north bank undetected meant fooling the French, but they were hit with a sudden attack immediately after crossing.
The surprise French troops were fierce, quickly scattering two battalions of his forward units.
Beside him, Cervoni pondered, "General, if there were only a few thousand French, they may have just been passing through."
Melas nodded gravely, "This is our only chance. We must crush them before the French can react!"
He ordered the courier, "Assign the Argenteau Corps the main assault. Argenteau and Colli Corps will encircle the enemy from left and right flanks.
"Bring up all artillery.
"I want full control of Marengo village by noon!"
"Yes, General!"
Inside the church at Marengo, Ozeri wore a relaxed smile, discussing battle plans with officers while chatting evenly.
After these Italian campaigns, the French had established a huge psychological edge over the Austrians.
They had won almost every fight despite being outnumbered, feeling the Austrians were utterly vulnerable.
"Perhaps by the time Colonel Bonaparte arrives, we will have already defeated Melas."
Just then, intense cannon fire sounded from the west.
He immediately identified at least fifteen 12-pound guns with accompanying 8-pound and 4-pound artillery.
His heart tightened.
Had Melas brought all his main forces?
As if to confirm, two cavalrymen burst outside the church shouting,
"Colonel, over 15,000 Austrian troops are closing in from the west! Enemy signs also spotted to the north and south…"
Known for his fiery temper, Ozeri showed no sign of retreat, instead addressing his officers loudly:
"Major Bernard, your infantry is to hold the front line.
"Captain Bonnet will attack the enemy flank from the village's north. That elevation offers cover for troop movements.
"Also, send word to Major Marmont to hurry here with reinforcements."
"Yes, Colonel!"
The Austrian Argenteau Corps was caught off guard—upon their arrival at Marengo village's edge, fewer than 3,000 French troops launched an aggressive attack.
The French surged fiercely, with six assault columns charging through whistling artillery fire, emerging within a hundred paces of the Austrians almost instantly.
(END CHAPTER)
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