ed
afterwards Duke of Montebello. It was from the prisoners taken here that
the Consul learned the fate of Genoa. He immediately concluded that
Melas had concentrated his army; and, having sent messengers to Suchet,
urging him to cross the mountains by the Col di Cadibona, and march on
the Scrivia (which would place him in the rear of the enemy), halted his
whole line upon the strong position of Stradella.

It was on the evening after Montebello, that General Dessaix, whom
Napoleon considered as second only to himself in military genius,
arrived at headquarters. Buonaparte had, as we have seen, on leaving
Egypt, ordered Kleber to send Dessaix to France in the course of
November. He had accordingly landed at Frejus shortly after the
establishment of the new government, where he found letters from the
Chief Consul, urging him to join him without delay. In these letters
there were some melancholy phrases, and Dessaix, who really loved
Napoleon, was heard to say, "He has gained all, and yet he is not
satisfied." A hundred obstacles rose up to keep Dessaix from joining his
friend so speedily as both wished. He was yet in France when the news of
St. Bernard came thither, and exclaiming, "He will leave us nothing to
do," travelled night and day until he was able to throw himself into his
arms. Napoleon immediately gave him the command of a division; and they
spent the night together in conversing about the affairs of Egypt.

The First Consul was anxious to tempt Melas to attack him at Stradella,
where the ground was unfavourable to cavalry movements; but, after lying
there unmolested for three days, he began to fear that the Austrian had
resolved, either on moving to the left flank, crossing the Ticino,
occupying Milan, and so re-opening his communications with Vienna;--or,
on falling back to Genoa, overwhelming Suchet, and taking up a position
where the British fleet could supply him with provisions--or even, in
case of necessity, embark his army, carry it round to the other side of
Italy, and by that means place him once more between his enemy and the
German states. Buonaparte, being perplexed with these apprehensions, at
last descended into the great plain of Marengo, on which he had, not
without reason, feared to abide the onset of Melas and the Austrian
horse. He was at Volghera on the 11th, and the next day at St. Juliano,
in the very centre of the plain; but still no enemy appeared. On the
13th, he advanced to the vill