More of Napoleon's deception feats(archived)

There were also more layers to Napoleon's stratagem if we continue on. For instance, by amassing his forces at Geneva, he could debouch in three directions. Either head to Basel and Lower Germany so as to directly support Moreau, head through Switzerland, invading the Vorarlberg and Tyrol so as to threaten the heartland of Austria itself and outflanking the strategic rear of Kray and Melas, or to debouch through the Alps into Italy. These various options he could take made it more difficult for the Allies to ascertain his actual intentions. Furthermore, he made Berthier commander of the Army of the Reserve, so as to make his enemies believe that it was his chief-of-staff leading, when in actuality, he was the de facto general in charge of the upcoming operations. When he finally invaded Italy, we must also look at the various dispositions of forces. Between the mountains and the coast lay Suchet's corps demonstrating against Nice. Turreau commanded a small brigade to demonstrate through the Mt. Cenis Pass at Susa, between the St. Bernard and the coast. Meanwhile, a bit east of the St. Bernard, Moncey's corps threatened a crossing of the St. Gotthard Pass. Therefore, the Austrian observation forces primarily concentrated their forces opposite these threats, exposing their strategic center along the St. Bernard Pass to Napoleon's main army, which debouched down that route, smashed through Haddick's column, and sent both Haddick and Vukassovich (guarding the St. Bernard and …