On 4 April 1800, Michael von Melas led the 62,000-strong Austrian army in operations against the French-held city of Genoa. Despite savage fighting, especially on 7 April, the Austrians invested the city and began the Siege of Genoa. At dawn on 30 April, the Austrian "Kray" and "Alvinczi" Infantry Regiments seized the "Deux-Frères" (Two Brothers) redoubt atop Monte Fratelli. André Masséna sent a column of grenadiers to retake the fort and the French ejected the Austrians from the fortification. Now a staff officer, Stutterheim was on the scene and sent an urgent message requesting reinforcements, though he neglected to mention how many were needed. With typical Austrian rigidity, the local general refused to honor the request until his superior, Ludwig von Vogelsang approved it. By the time Vogelsang acted on the information, the fort was firmly back in French hands. He received promotion to Oberstleutnant in 1801 and Oberst (colonel) in 1803.