Napoleon at the Bridge of ArcoleOne of Napoleon Bonaparte’s most significant battles of his early ca

Napoleon at the Bridge of ArcoleOne of Napoleon Bonaparte’s most significant battles of his early career occurred in November of 1796. After facing stalemate after bloody stalemate with the Austrian Army who greatly outnumbered his forces, Napoleon formulated an audacious plan to outflank the Austrians.  The Austrian Army was weakest at Arcole, whose flank was protected by a river and very swampy terrain.On the 5th of November, 1796 Napoleon led a battalion of troops to Arcole, where the only thing standing between him and the Austrian army was a small river crossed by a very narrow bridge.  On the other side of the bridge, the Austrians had heavily fortified the bridgehead with cannon and entrenched infantry. After several assaults the French were unable to break through the Austrian defenses and suffered heavy losses.  This was a pivotal moment for Napoleon, for if his plan did not succeed, the Austrian Army would surely counterattack and drive the French Army out of Northern Italy.Taking the French battle flag in hand, Napoleon personally led his men on one last charge across the bridge, all the while braving Austrian musket fire and cannon shot.  The charge was so fierce that the French swept away the Austrian defenders from the bridge, allowing the French Army to pass across unhindered.  Napoleon’s Army was then able to outflank the bulk of the Austrian Army, taking it by surprise and forcing it to fall back.  Today the event is forever immortalized in the painting above, created by Horace Vernet in 1826. -- source link

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