General Marmont, commanding the artillery, had already been sent forward to find a means of transporting cannon over the Alps.

It was almost an impracticable thing to do; and yet it must be achieved.

No precedent existed as a guide.

Hannibal with his elephants, Numidians, and Gauls; Charlemagne with his Franks, had no such obstacles to surmount.
During the campaign in Italy in 1796, the army had not crossed the Alps, but turned them, descending from Nice to Cerasco by the Corniche road.
This time a truly titanic work was undertaken.
In the first place, was the mountain unoccupied?
The mountain without the Austrians was in itself difficult enough to conquer! Lannes was despatched like a forlorn hope with a whole division.

He crossed the peak of the Saint-Bernard without baggage or artillery, and took possession of Chatillon.