May 5th, 1796.
It has been almost two weeks since the capitulation of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia to the French Republic after the battle of Mondovi. Napoleon and the Army of Italy pursued General Beaulieu to Lombardy where they held up defensive positions behind the Po River.
Napoleon ordered his divisions, commanded by Massena, La Harpe, Augereau, and his newly formed elite advanced guards led by Dallemagne, to advance towards Piacenza. On May 7th, 1796, they crossed the Po River, with the entire troop taking almost a day to complete the crossing.
