The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-04-30

brain The army took the direct route to
ward Genoa, 100 miles south of St. Der
nard pass.
The field of operations destined to result
from Napoleon's movement was the noun
tain locked region of northwestern Italy,
Piedmont and Lombardy. The Austrian
army under Baron Melas was in contact
with the French under Massena, along the
borders of the Gulf of Genoa It's line of
communication extended 200 miles from
the army front eastward through Alessan-
| dria, Piacenza and Mantua. 1t was guard
ed on the north by garrisons at Turin and
ct Milan. Napoleon's advance from Swift
Eerland south would carry his army across
the Austrian line between Melas and his
base.
Had Meias possessed the versatility of
the Confederate general, Forrest, it might
have ended in case Of ''the bitter bit" for
Napoleon. His little army was in the
Austrian rear, but should half of Melas'
army turn around and show fight, what
then? But Melas couldn't believe that
the French had crossed the Alps and he
looked upon the Army of Reserve as a
myth. Napoleon had not only his Army of
Reserve, estimated by some at $1,000 men,
but Moreau had detached column of
about 10000 from the Rhine to cross the
Alps at the Gothard pass and enter Italy
by Lake Maggiore in aid of Napoleon. By
June l, therefore, there were nearly 100,-
00O French soldiers in northern Italy or
along her frontiers.
Napoleon made feint on Turin, then
turned east and drove the Austrians from
Milan, making that his base. The column
sent by Moreau was distributed on the
of no
the Alps southwark to the River Pc, and
this movement shut Melas up in Piedmont
with but one or two loopholes of escape
South of Piacenza and Alessandria the
Apennines extend northward to the
swampy borders of the Pc, leaving but
narrow pass for the roadway between these
points. Into this pass Napoleon threw his
Army of Reserve. To Napoleon's view the
Austrians were ''bottled up" Not so,
however, for Massena had been starved out
and he had abandoned Genoa. This gave
the enemy an open port and means of
succor by their English allies The turn
of affairs at Genoa put Napoleon off his
guard just as the Union leaders were off
their guard at Shiloh. He believed that
Melas would receive English support at
Genoa, and either operate against Mas
sena's army along the coast or move north
across the Pc and then turn cast to cut his
way out across the Ticino.
Instead, Melas proposed to brush Ma
poleon from the pass south of the Pc and
recover Piacenza and the road toward
Mantua. With this view he attacked Mar
shall Lannes' division on June and was
repulsed, retiring toward Alessandria.
Napoleon lay idle until the 18th, surmising
that Melas would cross the Pc to tho
north, although spy assured him that he
was moving south toward Now and Genoa.
On the morning of June IA Napoleon's
army was at the gates of Alessandria, all
except division of 6, 600 under Gen. Desaix,
that had been dispatched to Now to head
off Melas on the south. The French were
zS,oU strong. Two DIVISIONS y,UUU sJrong,
under Victor, extended from the east bank
of the Bormida river at Alessandria to
Marengo Lannes, with 5000 infantry, and
Murat, with $500 cavalry, held the line
from Marengo northeastward to the Pc.
Massena's corps, under Gen. Suchet, had
advanced from the coast northward as far
as Acqui, but there was no communication
between the two armies other than secretly
through the Austrian lines.
The Austrians opened the battle early
on the 18th by crossing the Bormida at
Victor's line. Victor was slowly driven
back to Marengo, where small creek gave
him natural defense Lannes was at
tackled, north of Marengo and his troops
also fell back step by step.
At the village of Marengo the French
cannon under Marmont defended the creek
against Austrian guns planted on the op-
posite side OF the narrow ditch. Napoleon
was absent when the ball opened, but on
hearing the sound of battle he rode to
the front, sending courier to recall Desaix
from Now. Melas had detached body of
1900 cavalry to Acqui to head off the
French under Suchet, reported to be pass
ing that point for a junction with Napoleon.
Kellerman's French cavalry brigade, $50
strong, charged the Austrians and was re-
pulsed. The Austrians then charged and
carried Marengo. This was at II o'clock,
and following that the French began to
retreat all along the line. Napoleon led in
the Old Guard Of 800 sabers, but the I'M
perial cavalry crushed them. A division
of reserves under Monner, also led up by
Napoleon, was driven back, and in the par
lance of the field ''all was lost" 1t only
remained for Mclas to send in column of
cavalry to sweep the flying detachments
over the open plains back of Marengo, and
victory would have been his. But his
cavalry reserve had gone elsewhere
By the middle of the afternoon the
French had reiterated over two miles and
were only striving to save themselves.
Melas was man over eighty years old,
and instructing his chief of staff to form
the scattered troops into columns of pursuit
along the main road to Piacenza. he retired
to Alessandria for rest, announcing that
the enemy was flying and the day was won
Meanwhile the French had formed
rear guard for retreat. Desaix had reached
the scene. A few scattering shots an
nounced that the Austrian advance had be-
gun. Desaix was on the direct road toward
Piacenza, along which the Austrians were
marching in close columns. A vineyard
and corn field concealed his men from the
Austrians' view, and they marched to with
in 200 PAGES and halted
All hope for the French hung upon the
column led by Desaix, and he sent word to
his chiefthat he Oesaix) must either attack
or retreat. Napoleon galloped to the spot and
ordered an attack, at the same moment urg-
ing Kellerman to lead his 600 horse upon the
Austrian flank. Desaix headed the assault