Napoleon’s plan for gaining access to the fair regions of Italy differed from that of all former conquerors:  they had uniformly penetrated the Alps at some point or other of that mighty range of mountains:  he judged that the same end might be accomplished more easily by advancing along the narrow strip of comparatively level country which intervenes between those enormous barriers and the Mediterranean Sea, and forcing a passage at the point where the last of the Alps melt, as it were, into the first and lowest of the Apennine range.  No sooner did he begin to concentrate his troops towards this region, than the Austrian general, Beaulieu, took measures for protecting Genoa, and the entrance of Italy.  He himself took post with one column of his army at Voltri, a town within ten miles of Genoa:  he placed D’Argenteau with another Austrian column at Monte Notte, a strong height further to the westward; and the Sardinians, under Colli, occupied Ceva—­which thus formed the extreme right of the whole line of the allied army.  The French could not advance towards Genoa but by confronting some one of the three armies thus strongly posted, and sufficiently, as Beaulieu supposed, in communication with each other.

It was now that Buonaparte made his first effort to baffle the science of those who fancied there was nothing new to be done in warfare.  On the 10th of April, D’Argenteau came down upon Monte Notte, and attacked some French redoubts, in front of that mountain and the villages which bear its name, at Montelegino.  At the same time General Cervoni and the French van were attacked by Beaulieu near Voltri, and compelled to retreat.  The determined valour of Colonel Rampon, who commanded at Montelegino, held D’Argenteau at bay during the 10th and 11th:  and Buonaparte, contenting himself with watching Beaulieu, determined to strike his effectual blow at the centre of the enemy’s line.  During the night of the 11th various columns were marched upon Montelegino, that of Cervoni and that of Laharpe from the van of the French line, those of Augereau and Massena from its rear.  On the morning of the 12th, D’Argenteau, preparing to renew his attack on the redoubts of Montelegino, found he had no longer Rampon only and his brave band to deal with; that French columns were in his rear, on his flank, and drawn up also behind the works at Montelegino; in a word, that he was surrounded.  He was compelled to retreat among the mountains; he left his colours and cannon behind him, 1000 killed, and 2000 prisoners.  The centre of the allied army had been utterly routed, before either the Commander-in-Chief at the left, or General Colli at the right of the line, had any notion that a battle was going on.

Such was the battle of Monte Notte, the first of Napoleon’s fields.  Beaulieu, in order that he might re-establish his communication with Colli (much endangered by the defeat of D’Argenteau) was obliged to retreat upon Dego; the Sardinian, with the same purpose in view, fell back also, and took post at Millesimo; while D’Argenteau was striving to re-organise his dispirited troops in the difficult country between.  It was their object to keep fast in these positions until succours could come up from Lombardy; but Napoleon had no mind to give them such respite.