The French victory in the Battle of Montenotte was completed on 12 April when French commander Napoleon Bonaparte concentrated about 25,000 troops near Carcare. To oppose them, Argenteau's division only had 9,000 scattered men and Giovanni Marchese di Provera was nearby with 2,000 more. Bonaparte directed Laharpe with 7,000 French troops to attack from Monte Negino while Masséna with 4,000 advanced from the south. After the defeat on the 12th, Argenteau frankly reported to Beaulieu that he was beaten and only had 700 men left. Having missed the day's combat, Rukavina was in Dego when he heard the bad news. On the morning of 14 April, he relinquished command of Dego because of his injury and retired to Acqui Terme, missing the Second Battle of Dego which began later that day.