Word: montelegino
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...crossing of the Adda, when the French troops, made heroic by two months of victory, audaciously rushed a bridge under direct fire. Thereafter Napoleon's progress had about as much dramatic conflict as the passage of a knife through butter. During the earlier battles in the vicinity of Montelegino he had perfected his tactics, staking everything on a swift and varied attack, compensating for the numerical weakness of his troops by rapid concentrations and fast marches, counting heavily on the timidity of enemy generals for the success of his plans...
...only real victory of his enemies was the result of an Austrian order incorrectly dated. The methodical Austrian commander, thus instructed to arrive at Montelegino the day after the battle, and the day after he was needed, followed his bungled orders to the letter. Napoleon had already taken the stronghold. The main Austrian army had retreated. At this point the small Austrian detachment, running 24 hours behind schedule, marched in quietly, as astonished as the French, who fled in disorder. That was a maneuver so unexpected that even Napoleon could not have conceived it. It suggested that in warfare...
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