Napoleon's Third Attempt to Relieve Mantua

Bonaparte had just scored a major victory against the austrians and was now poised to drive all the way to vienna itself. The near success of the third attempt to relieve mantua encouraged the austrians to give it one more try. As 17 96 gave way 17 97, they organized another 50 thousand men for yet another attempt at relief. Their plan was to basically come at the french from the same directions as last time, but with two differences. They knew where napoleon had stationed his forces, and also knew that the french were down to maybe 30 thousand men.