At three o’clock in the afternoon, Napoleon took up his position on the
road to San Juliano. “Soldiers!” he cried, “we have retreated far
enough, now let us advance! You know it is my custom to sleep on the
battle field!” Desaix was ordered to throw himself with his fresh troops
upon the 6000 grenadiers of Colonel Zach. Desaix prepared to carry out
these orders, but was shot dead at the first fire. “Alas! I must not
weep,” said Napoleon; but the loss of this esteemed general redoubled
the fury of the troops. Zach himself was taken prisoner; and the next
day Melas entered into a negotiation, offering to abandon Genoa, and all
the strong places in Piedmont, Lombardy, and the Legations,--provided
Napoleon would allow him to march the shattered remains of his army
unmolested to the rear of Mantua; this offer Napoleon accepted, and thus
became the conqueror of Italy.
[Illustration: THE DEATH OF DESAIX.]