The French commander Prince Eugene ordered the Army of Italy to cross the Piave River in the face of Archduke John of Austria. Eugene was compelled to attack quickly because Alpine meltwaters were causing the Piave to rise to dangerous heights, and it would soon be impossible to cross it. Archduke John felt he had no choice but to do battle to protect his baggage trains as he led his army out of Italy. The French and their Italian allies outnumbered his army approximately 3 to 2 overall.

Archduke John commands 2 Corps of about 10 infantry brigades and 3 cavalry brigades.

The battlefield.

French cavalry cross the Piave River at a usable ford.

French columns cross the Piave as engineers attempt to build a bridge.

Austrian forces enter the table.

The first French heavy cavalry unit advances quickly on the French right flank.

A screen of French take cover behind the dykes.

Napoleonic traffic jam at the ford.

Opposing cavalry eye each other across the stream.

The French boldly push into the foremost town, and Austrians rush to meet them.

Austrian cavalry cross the stream to threaten the French bridge.

Long columns of French infantry march across the Piave.

Austrian artillery and infantry stream on.

French cavalry move deeper into the table on the right in preparation for a flank attack.

The Austrians open the cavalry combat!

Heavy fighting for the front town.

Austrian troops within sight of the French bridge-building project.

An Austrian infantry attack surmounts a dyke and takes a dose of grapeshot.

Austrian cavalry success is tempered by the sticky situation in which they now find themselves, with plenty of opposition and their backs to the stream.

Despite the fluctuating levels of the Piave River, French engineers have provided a bridge.

A second charge--French heavy cavalry plow into the Austrian center and disarm some artillery.

A few brave Austrians face down an ever-growing force of French.

The main Austrian gun line becomes the pivot of their front lines.

The Austrian left flank is well-guarded with combined arms.

The truth of the flood--a glut of Frenchmen.

More French infantry cross at the ford on the right flank.

More and more French cavalry crosses the right ford and head for the battle.

The growing French pressure in the center.

Fighting continues in the front town, with ever more French approaching.

Deep in the Austrian center the first French cavalry are stopped cold.

French advances on the left are met with Austrian steel.

Men of France and Italy!

Austrian gentlemen contemplate their shrinking slice of the table.

French heavy cavalry is forced to hold its ground before a solid enemy defense on the Austrian left.

The Austrian center redeploys backwards.

Hale, hearty, and showing nary a smidgeon of fatigue, these generals have savored the Italian fruits of war in humble El Cerrito.