The Imperialists, overburdened by long marches and faint now for lack of food, could not maintain their first advantage.

Some of their foremost troops, that had won the broken ground in front of St.Mark's Chapel, were suddenly charged by French horse; they fled in panic, crying out, "French cavalry!" and the space won was speedily abandoned to the tricolour.

This sudden rebuff was to dash all their hopes of victory; for at that crisis of the day the chief Austrian column of nearly 8,000 men was struggling up the zigzag ascent leading from the valley of the Adige to the plateau, in the fond hope that their foes were by this time driven from the summit.

Despite the terrible fire that tore their flanks, the Imperialists were clutching desperately at the plateau, when Bonaparte put forth his full striking power.

He could now assail the crowded ranks of the doomed column in front and on both flanks.