 Bonaparte did not believe that major Austrian forces were capable of operating in the mountains west of Lake Garda.Consequently, only General of Division Pierre Francois Sauret's 4,500-man division defended the area, with garrisons in Salò on the western shore of the lake, Gavardo on the Chiese River west of Salò, and Desenzano del Garda at the southwestern corner of the lake.The French held Brescia with only three companies of infantry.