Desaix and Kellermann

Shortly before 17:00 Desaix reaches Bonaparte north of Cascina Grossa with the news that Boudet’s division, 6,000 men and 9 guns, is close behind. It deploys in front of San Giuliano, with the 9th Light Infantry at the edge of the vines, while Monnier and Lannes re-form to the north. Marmont gathers the remaining French guns against the head of the Austrian column.

Boudet’s division throws back Saint-Julien’s leading brigade, and Zach brings forward Lattermann’s grenadiers. As Marmont’s guns fire grapeshot at close range and an Austrian ammunition wagon explodes, Kellermann charges the grenadiers in the flank with about 400 heavy cavalry, and they break. Desaix is shot from his horse in the attack, and Zach is taken prisoner with at least 2,000 men.

The death of Desaix at Marengo, painting by Jean Broc, 1806Wikimedia Commons, Jean Broc, Public domain (Jean Broc - "Death of general Desaix".jpg)

Kellermann and Murat rout the Liechtenstein dragoons, and the panic spreads to the Austrian infantry, which streams back towards the Bormida. O’Reilly and Frimont hold Marengo village until dark, and Ott fights his way back to the bridgehead. The Austrians lose about 6,500 killed and wounded and almost 8,000 prisoners, the French about 4,700 killed and wounded and 900 missing or captured. On 15 June Melas agrees in the Convention of Alessandria to evacuate Italy west of the Ticino.

Sources

David G. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon (1966).
David Hollins, The Battle of Marengo 1800 (2000).
Gregory Fremont-Barnes, The French Revolutionary Wars (2001).

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