June 14, 1800 · Northern Italy Theater
June 14, 1800
Napoleon crossed the Alps in spring 1800 to relieve French forces besieged in Genoa. At Marengo, Austrian General Melas launched a morning attack that appeared to have succeeded — by early afternoon, Melas had sent a courier to Vienna announcing victory. Napoleon's army was in full retreat across a broad front. Then General Desaix arrived with a fresh division. Desaix famously remarked: 'The battle is lost, but there is time to win another.' His counterattack crashed into the overconfident Austrians. Desaix was killed in the charge; the Austrians broke and fled. Melas signed an armistice the next day.
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