March 23rd, 1797.
The French dragoons charged relentlessly toward the bridge, their eyes fixed on the prize—a vital passage that stood between them and their ultimate objective. As they thundered forward, a storm of lead hailed down upon them, unleashed by the Austrian forces entrenched at the bridgehead.
Leading the charge was a man of legendary reputation, Thomas-Alexander Dumas, known to his enemies as the Black Devil. His determination was unwavering as he spurred his steed forward, his aide-de-camp at his side. The crackle of musket fire filled the air, and chaos engulfed the bridge.
Suddenly, tragedy struck as a bullet found its mark, piercing the aide-de-camp's shoulder. The man stumbled, the pain etched across his face. In that fleeting moment of vulnerability, Dumas became the sole target of the Austrian snipers.