Louis Charles Antoine Desaix (17 August 1768 – 14 June 1800) was a French general and military leader. According to the usage of the time, he took the name Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux.
The campaign of 1800 was close to its climax when Desaix at last arrived in Italy. He was immediately assigned to the command of a corps of two infantry divisions. Three days later (14 June), detached, with Boudet's division, at Rivalta, he heard the cannon of Marengo on his right. Taking the initiative he marched at once towards the sound, meeting Bonaparte's staff officer, who had come to recall him, half way on the route. He arrived with Boudet's division at the moment when the Austrians were victorious all along the line. Exclaiming, "There is yet time to win another battle!" he led his three regiments straight against the enemy's centre. At the moment of victory Desaix was killed by a musket ball. Louis Charles Antoine Desaix was killed the same day his good friend and comrade, governor-general of Egypt Jean Baptiste Kléber, was assassinated in Cairo.
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