14 June 1800, morning
The Austrian attack on the Fontanone
Melas has about 30,000 men and 100 guns against 22,000 French with 15 guns. His army crosses the Bormida from about 6:00 by two bridges in a narrow bend of the river, and the attack is fully under way by 9:00. On the right Frimont’s advance guard and O’Reilly’s division, about 4,500 men, push south towards La Stortiglione. In the centre Melas leads about 18,000 men against Marengo, while Ott with 7,500 waits for the road to clear and then marches north-east towards Castel Ceriolo.
Michael von Melas, portrait of the 19th centuryWikimedia Commons, Unknown author, Public domain (Michael von Melas.jpg)
Gardanne’s division, posted in front of the Fontanone, holds up the Austrian deployment for a long time before it falls back behind the stream, where Victor brings up Chambarlhac’s division. Hadik’s attack across the stream is caught by fire from two sides and fails, and Hadik is mortally wounded. Kaim’s division attacks next and is stopped by 11:00, while on the French left Kellermann’s cavalry throws back Pilatti’s dragoons.
Bonaparte, 5 km away, realises at about 10:00 that this is the main Austrian attack. He sends for Desaix and brings up his reserves. Lannes deploys on Victor’s right, north of Marengo, and at about 11:30 Ott’s column takes Castel Ceriolo.
Sources
- David G. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon (1966).
- David Hollins, The Battle of Marengo 1800 (2000).
- James R. Arnold, Marengo & Hohenlinden: Napoleon’s Rise to Power (2005).
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