‘Order them to drop their packs,’ Napoleon said to Lannes. ‘There’s two hundred paces of open ground before you reach the near end of the bridge, then perhaps another hundred to the far side, all of it covered by the enemy. They have a couple of guns over there as well. Your men are going to have to cover the distance as quickly as possible, understand?’

‘Yes, sir.’ Lannes’s smile faded as he turned to his men. The coming assault was going to cost his battalion dearly. He filled his lungs and bellowed out, ‘Down packs!’

The order was relayed along the column and the men lowered their muskets as they wriggled out of their straps and placed their backpacks and other superfluous belongings in a low pile on each side of the track. The sergeants shouted at them to get back into formation and when the column was ready Lannes drew his sword and without any preamble swept it towards the bridge.

‘Quick march! Forward!’

The head of the column lurched forward and Lannes turned to Napoleon with an excited grin. ‘I’ll see you on the far side, sir!’

‘Good luck, Colonel.You’ll need it.’