1-155-450 - Art Media/Heritage Images

'Battle of Marengo', 14 June 1800. The talented General Louis Desaix (1768-1800) heard the cannons firing, turned around his divisions and marched to the sound of the guns. Arriving back at the field of Marengo in northern Italy he approached Bonaparte (1769-1821) and said that while the battle was lost, there was still time to win another. Launching a counterattack closely supported by a wedge of cannon, Desaix's men threw themselves at the Austrians. The assault cost Desaix his life, but won the day against the Austrians who broke and fled leaving behind 14,000 casualties. The French suffered 7000.