Battle of the Bridge of Arcole
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The Battle of the Bridge of Arcole (Bataille du Pont d'Arcole in French), occurred between November 15 and November 17, 1796. The battle was the culmination of a manoeuver game between the 19 000 man strong French army led by general Napoleon Bonaparte, and the 24 000 man strong Austrian army, led by general Alvinczy.
The battle was concluded with a feint and a furious charge over the bridge of Arcole, over the Alpone River. Young Bonaparte personally led his troops across the bridge, rallying his troops, but the assault was unsuccessful. A three-day battle of attrition in the marshy confluence of the Rivers Alpone and Adige resulted in victory for the French, and continued the siege of Mantua into the following February, which ultimately kept the Austrians out of northern Italy.
The event on the bridge was depicted in a famous painting by Horace Vernet where Bonaparte can be seen holding a battered flag valiantly leading his troops across the bridge; however, in reality, a French military officer feared for his leader's safety, and pushed him into the river. Bonaparte almost drowned.
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