The Battle of the Arcole Bridge

Part of the First Italian Campaign, the Battle of the Arcole Bridge in November 1796 pitted the 19,000 French troops of the Army of Italy, under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte, against the 24,000 men of the Austrian army.
The French forces attempted to capture the village of Arcole by crossing a bridge over the Alpone River, but they came under heavy fire from the Austrian forces and were forced to retreat. Generals Lannes and then Augereau charged forward, flag in hand, in an attempt to rally the troops, but the soldiers did not follow. Bonaparte, commander of the Army of Italy, then seized the flag, charged forward in defiance of the danger and planted it on the bridge.
An eyewitness described the scene: ‘The battle was underway; it was a case of victory or death, and (Bonaparte) did something worthy of his glory. We suddenly saw him appear on the embankment, surrounded by his staff and followed by his guides; he dismounted, drew his sabre, took a flag and charged onto the bridge amidst a hail of fire.”
This victory forged the young general’s heroic legend.