ABSTRACT
The Austrian plan comprised a vigorous offensive in Italy as the prelude to an invasion of the South of France, while on the Rhine Kray was to maintain a defensive attitude. Nor had the campaign in Germany redressed the balance in favour of Austria. The Austrians had either to expose themselves to an attack on their communications by this route, or if they fell back to the more defensible line of the Iller, to abandon to the enemy Baden, Wurtemberg and a large part of the Swabian Circle. On the 13th he drove the Austrian outposts in from Marengo behind the Bormida, and posted Victor with two divisions at Marengo to bar Melas's route to Pavia. Taken by surprise and outnumbered, the French fell back fighting stubbornly on Hohenlinden, being succoured in their retreat by Grouchy's division of the centre; but they left 6 guns and nearly 1000 prisoners behind, and the Austrians were much elated by their success.
