General Causse, crossed the Bormida, | finding they had chosen him to conduct and attacked the right of the enemy's left the army of Italy to victory. "To-day, wing. General Cervoni with the second General,” said they, “receive the tribute column, also passed the Bormida, covered of national gratitude; merit it more and by one of the French batteries, and ad- more, and prove to Europe, that Beauvanced against the enemy; while the lieu, by changing the scene of action, third column, under Adjutant-general has not changed his opponent; that, Boyer, turned a ravine, and cut off their beaten in the north, he shall be constantly retreat. The imperialists had not time defeated by the brave army of Italy: and to capitulate; and the French columns, that, with such defenders, liberty shall spreading terror and death, put them to triumph over the impotent efforts of the the rout. The brave General Provera, enemies of the republic." General La with the corps he commanded at Copalia, Harpe, and the chief of brigade, Rampon, surrendered prisoners of war. By this also received honorable testimonies of the victory, the French acquired from seven regard which the Directory had of their to nine thousand prisoners, and the Aus- exertions. trians had near 3000 men killed, besides the loss of 40 field-pieces, and the greater part of their baggage and magazines. While the Austrians, abandoning the important post of Bochetta, were in full retreat towards Tortona, by the road On April 15th, before the French leading through Acqui and Gavi, on purtroops had scarcely returned to their pose to form a junction with the Neapocamp, Beaulieu, with the flower of his litan and pontifical troops, the Piedmonarmy, attacked the village of Dego at tese army, entrenched at Ceva, was exbreak of day, and carried it by a sudden posed to the most imminent danger, in charge with the bayonet. The French, consequence of the vicinity of Bonaparte, taken by surprise, fled on all sides. who immediately advanced, with the asMassena, when he had formed part of surance of a certain victory. Nor was his troops, attempted to stop Beaulieu's he disappointed; for the Generals Augeprogress, but was repulsed in three at- reau and Serrurier having commenced tacks. General Causse was still more an attack, April 16th, the greater part of unfortunate; he attacked the enemy, and the redoubts thrown up by the enemy was on the point of charging with the were immediately carried; and General bayonet, when he fell mortally wounded. Colli, being afraid lest his flank should In this situation, observing General Bo- be turned before morning, took advantage naparte, he collected his strength, and of the approaching darkness to retire to asked him if Dego was retaken." The an admirable position at the confluence` posts are ours," replied the general. of the Cursaglea and the Tanaro. Being "Then," said Causse," Vive la Repub- nearly surrounded by these two deep and lique! I die content." The affair, how-serpentine rivers, he immediately fortified ever, was not yet decided, and it was already two o'clock in the afternoon. Bonaparte ordered a demi-brigade to form under General Victor, whilst Adjutant-general Lasnes, rallying a demibrigade of light infantry, threw himself on the enemy's left. These movements carried Dego; the cavalry completed the rout of the enemy, who left 600 dead and 1400 prisoners. General Rusca took the post of San-Giovanni, which commands the valley of the Bormida. General Augereau, having driven the enemy from the redoubts of Montezemo, communicated with the valley of the Tanaro, which Serrurier's division had already occupied. The Directory, in their dispatches to Bonaparte, expressed what they felt, in their banks with strong batteries, and waited for succours either from the court of Turin or Field-marshal Beaulieu. In the mean time General Serrurier entered Ceva, in which was a garrison of between seven and eight hundred men. The heavy artillery had not been able to keep pace with the army in the mountains, and were not yet arrived. The Piedmontese army, driven from Ceva, took a position at the confluence of the Cursaglea. On the 20th, Serrurier attacked their right by the village of St. Michael, and, passing the bridge, compelled them, after three hours' fighting, to evacuate the village; but the Tanaro not being fordable, the division destined to attack their left could harass them only by its riflemen. General Serrurier there that as the king had sent plenipotentiaries to Genoa, to treat for peace, under the mediation of the court of Spain, he thought the interests of humanity required, that hostilities should be suspended during the dependence of the fore retreated: the enemy's position was formidable, surrounded by two deep and impetuous rivers; they had destroyed all the bridges, and erected strong batteries on the banks. Both armies reciprocally sought to deceive each other by false manœuvres, to conceal their real inten-negociation. He therefore proposed an tions. General Massena crossed the Tanaro by means of a bridge, April 21st, and occupied the village of Lezegno. Guieux and Fiorello, generals of brigade, took the bridge of the Torra. Bonaparte meant to bear down on Mendovi, and compel the enemy to change the field of battle; but General Colli, dreading the issue of an action, which must have been decisive on so extended a line, retreated. At day-break, the two armies were in sight of each other, and the engagement began in the village of Vico. General Guieux bore down on the left of Mendovi, while the Generals Fiorella and Dammartin carried the redoubt which covered the enemy's centre; the Sardinian army abandoned the field of battle, and on that evening the French entered Mendovi. The enemy's loss amounted to 1800 men, of whom 1300 were pri soners. armistice, in order to prevent the effusion of human blood. Bonaparte replied, that the Executive Directory preserved the right of treating for peace; it was therefore necessary that the plenipotentiaries of the king should repair to Paris, or wait at Genoa the arrival of those whom the French government should send thither. He further observed, that the military position of the two armies prevented every unqualified suspension of arms; and although he was convinced that his government was disposed to grant reasonable conditions of peace to his majesty, yet he could not arrest his march. There was, however, he remarked, a means by which General Colli might attain his purpose, conformable to the true interests of his court, and which would prevent an effusion of blood; and that was to put into his possession two of the three fortresses of Coni, Alexandria, or Tortona; they could then wait the issue of negociations, which probably might be protracted. A peace was granted to the unfortunate monarch, who, by the treaty of Cerasco, surrendered Exilles, Tortona, Coni, Alexandria, and Chateau Dauphin, as the pledges of his faith, and relinquished Savoy and the county of Nice for ever. Immediately after this, Bonaparte addressed his head-quarters at Cerasco, in the following manner: The enemy crossed the Sturâ, and took a position between Coni and Charasco. The French entered the town of Bena. General Serrurier, on the 25th, marched to La Trinité, and cannonaded the town of Fossana, the head-quarters of General Colli. General Massena advanced against Cerasco, and drove in the enemy's grand guard. Bonaparte sent General Dujard, and his own aid-decamp, Marmont, to reconnoitre the place, and plant howitzers to beat down the pallisades. The enemy evacuated the town, and repassed the Sturâ. This victory was of the greatest consequence; for, besides supporting the right wing, it gave an ample supply of subsistence. The French threw bridges of boats across the Sturâ, and Fossana surrendered to Serrurier. General Augereau marched against Alba, which surrendered, and threw several bridges of boats across the Tanaro, to enable the army to pass the river. The King of Sardinia, shut up in Turin,tute of all, you have acquired every thing ; determined to treat for peace. General Colli, commander-in-chief of his army, addressed a letter to Bonaparte, stating, "Soldiers! in the course of fourteen days you have gained six victories, taken twenty-one stand of colours, fifty pieces of cannon, several strong fortresses, and conquered the richest portion of Piedmont; you have already seized 1500 prisoners, and killed and wounded more than 10,000 men. "You have as yet, however, only fought for sterile rocks, illustrated indeed by your valor, but useless to your country. Yet you already equal the victorious armies of Holland and the Rhine; desti you have gained battles without cannon, crossed rivers without pontoons, made forced marches without shoes, and watched all night under arms without brandy, and sometimes even without bread. Republican phalanxes, the soldiers of liberty are alone capable of suffering such priva tions as these. "But, soldiers, notwithstanding two vanquished armies flee before you, it is needless to dissemble that you have achieved nothing, since Turin and Milan are not yet yours, and the ashes of the conquerors of Tarquin are still trodden under the feet of your enemies. "You were bereft even of necessaries at the commencement of the campaign, and now you enjoy plenty; the magazines taken from your enemies are numerous; the heavy artillery is arrived, and your country has a right to expect important events. Will you realise her hopes? The greatest obstacles are, doubt- | less, overcome; but you have still battles to win, cities to take, rivers to pass. Is there one among you whose courage is subdued? Who would prefer to return again to the summit of the Appenines and the Alps, patiently to listen to the reproaches of a soldiery composed of slaves? No, there are none such among the conquerors of Montenotte, Milessimo, Dego, and Mendovi. "All burn to extend the glory of the French people; all are desirous to humble those haughty sovereigns, who dared to menace us with chains; all wish to dictate a glorious peace, calculated to indemnify our country for the immense sacrifices it has made; all are eager to be able, on returning to their native villages, to exclaim with pride, I also belonged to the victorious army of Italy.' "Friends! I promise you this conquest; but it is on the express condition, that you respect the people whom you are about to deliver from bondage, and avoid all thoughts of pillage, only dreamed of by those vile wretches set on by our enemies. Without this, you will not be the liberators, but the scourgers of enfranchised nations; you will not be an honor to the French, for they will disavow you; your victories, your carnage, your successes, the very blood of your brethren shed in battle, will all be lost, and your honor and glory gone for ever!!! "Nations of Italy! the army approaches, on purpose to burst your fetters; France is the friend of every people: approach our standards with confidence. Your religion, your property, and your customs, will all be respected. We will carry on the war like generous enemies, for you have no dispute but with the tyrants who keep you in servitude.” These words prove that Bonaparte, at the age of twenty-six, was a perfect master of dissimulation. The facts hereafter recorded are sufficient tests, that neither religion nor property was ever respected by him or his army. After signing the armistice with the King of Sardinia, Bonaparte marched his army towards the Po.` Massena had reached Alexandria, and seized on the magazines, which the Austrians had sold to the town. On the 6th of May, the army of Italy took possession of Tortona; they found here more than one hundred pieces of brass cannon, and immense magazines. Ceva and Coni were in an equal state of defence, and liberally provisioned. Thus the war supported itself, and the successes of the French furnished them with the means of making new conquests. The stipulations of the fourth article of the armistice, induced the general of the Austrian army to believe that Bonaparte wished to cross the Po at Valentia; but Bonaparte hastened by a forced march to Castel San-Giovanni with 5000 grenadiers and 1500 horse. Andreossi, chief of battalion of artillery, and Adjutant-general Frontin, with 100 dragoons, reconnoitred the Po as far as Placentia, and took five boats loaded with rice, on board of which were 500 sick, and all the army medicines. On the 7th, at nine in the morning, Bonaparte reached the Po, opposite Placentia. Two squadrons of hussars on the opposite side of the river seemed determined to dispute the passage. The French troops got into the boats, and landed on the other side, when the enemy's cavalry retired. The divisions of the army passed the river in the course of the day. In the mean time, Beaulieu, acquainted with the march of the French, was convinced of the uselessness of his entrenchments on the Tesino, and his redoubts at Pavia. On the 8th, at noon, Bonaparte heard that a division of the enemy was near; he advanced, and found them entrenched in the village of Fombio, with twenty pieces of cannon. After a spirited re sistance, the Austrians, retreated, and were pursued as far as the Adda. Another body of the imperialists reached Codogno, the head-quarters of General La Harpe, at two in the morning, and drove in the French videttes. General La Harpe ordered a demi-brigade to advance, when the enemy were driven back and disappeared; but La Harpe was killed by a ball. General Berthier went directly to Codogno, pursued the enemy, and took Casal, with a vast quantity of baggage. The passage of the Po, which was effected May 20th, was a great operation, as in many places that river could not have been passed in two months. This alarmed all the states of Italy, and the Infant Duke of Parma signed an armistice with Bonaparte, in which he engaged to pay a military contribution of 2,000,000 livres, French money; to furnish 2200 draught horses and harness, and others for the officers and the cavalry; to give up 20 paintings, and lodge a quantity of wheat and oats, and furnish 2000 oxen for the French army. Bonaparte informed the Directory of his intention of sending to Paris, as soon as possible, the finest pictures of Correggio, and among others a St. Jerome, said to be his master-piece. "I confess," observed Bonaparte, "this saint has chosen an unlucky moment to arrive at Paris; but I hope you will grant him the honors of the museum.' Accordingly, the Duke of Parma, conscious of his weakness, suffered all the masterpieces of painting and sculpture, which had hitherto adorned; his states, amounting to twenty pictures, to be forthwith transmitted to Paris. No sooner had the French crossed the Po, than the potentates of Italy became eager to consult their own safety. The senate of Venice ordered Louis XVIII. to quit its territories, and the Grand Duke of Tuscany sued for favor. The King of Naples sent to Genoa to make peace, and all the sea-ports of the peninsula were shut against the English. Abundance reigned in the French camp, and the treasury of the army was filled by extorted contributions, notwithstanding the fair promises of the French general, who was well aware that his conquests could never be consolidated, until he had overcome the Austrians and seized all their Italian possessions. The The road to Milan, which was opened to the French, was not safe until the Austrians were driven from the banks of the Adda. Bonaparte had so disposed the march of his divisions, that, in less than three hours, he could unite them; but Beaulieu had placed the Adda between himself and the French, and waiting for them at the end of a bridge, 100 toises in length, he hoped to stop their progress by covering it with a numerous artillery. This bridge lay at the town of Lodi; it was at the head of it, on the side next the city, that Bonaparte was to plant, under a shower of grape-shot, two pieces of cannon, to prevent the enemy from breaking it down, whilst a column was forming to carry the pass. French entered Lodi, May 12th, and Beaulieu, with his whole army, and thirty pieces of heavy cannon, defended the passage of the bridge. Bonaparte formed all his artillery, and the cannonade was kept up for many hours with great vivacity. The troops formed in close column with a battalion of carabiniers at their head, followed by all the grenadier battalions, at charge-step, amidst reiterated acclamations of "Vive la Republique !" They shewed themselves at the bridge; but the Austrians kept up so tremendous a fire, that those who advanced fell by columns; they retreated, but were rallied, and the slaughter was again dreadful; a second time they retreated, but Bonaparte was immoveable in his determination again they darted forward, over the dead bodies of their comrades, and the Generals Berthier, Massena, Cervoni, Dallemagne, the chief of brigade Lasnes, and the chief of battalion Dupat, placed themselves at the head of the column, and passed the bridge; the Generals Rusca, Augereau, and Bayrand, with their divisions, passed the Adda, a few miles below Lodi, when the French began to force the bridge, and attacked the Austrians suddenly in the rear, when they thought the French only on one side of the river, and this decided the fortune of the day. The line of artillery was instantly carried, Beaulieu's order of battle broken, and the French troops spread terror and death in every direction; the hostile army was dispersed, though the Austrian cavalry strove to protect the retreat of the infantry, and charged the French. The imperialists lost twenty pieces of cannon, and between two and three thousand men, killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. The brave, but unfortunate Beaulieu, with the remains of his army, took refuge under the cannon of Mantua during the night, and abandoned Pizzighitone, Cremona, and all the Milanese, to the French. Bonaparte, in his dispatches to the Directory, after stating this memorable battle, observed, that although the French had been engaged in many warm contests, none approached the terrible passage of the bridge of Lodi; the French pursued the Austrians as far as Pizzighitone, and entered it on the 13th, after a brisk cannonade, and took about 400 prisoners. Cremona surrendered to them, and the vanguard of Bonaparte took the rout to Milan, and entered it on the 14th, having received the submission of Pavia, where they found immense magazines of the imperial army. The conquest of Lombardy might now be regarded as complete; for, although the castle of Milan still held out, the tri-coloured flag floated from the Lake of Como, and the frontiers of the Grisons, as far as the gates of Pavia. Such rapid success, in so short a time, made some days of repose necessary to an army so much engaged. The Austrians had quitted Milan soon after the news of the battle of Lodi; and, when the French were about to enter the city, a deputation of the inhabitants carried them the key of its gates. The court of the archduke departed, and the archduke and duchess shewed great sorrow at quitting their capital; the streets and squares, through which they passed, were crowded with people, who evinced neither joy nor sorrow, and few of the nobility attended the court in its flight. people collected in great crowds to witness the entry of the French, and almost all wore the national cockade; the imperial arms were taken away from most of the public buildings, and many of the nobility took the arms off their carriages. On the 14th of May, the tree of liberty was planted in the grand square; and, on the same day, General Massena entered the city with his troops. A deputation, with the archbishop, went out to meet him; upon entering, he clapped the keys, which had been given him, one against the other, in token of rejoicing. The The conqueror's entry was extremely brilliant; the nobility and gentry of the city went out to meet Bonaparte in their most splendid carriages, and returned in the procession, amidst the shouts of an immense populace; the cavalcade went to the archducal palace, where he was to lodge, with several bands of musicians, playing patriotic tunes; and, soon after his arrival, he sat down to a dinner of two hundred covers. The day was concluded by an elegant ball, where the ladies vied with each other in patriotism, by wearing the French national colours in every part of their dress. The next day, Bonaparte received visits from the citizens; and in the evening there was a concert of vocal and instrumental music at the theatre. All the chests, which contained the property of the archduke and the city, were emptied into the French coffers; and a splendid fête was given the day after, with much enthusiasm, which finished in the evening with a general illumination; the whole was terminated by sending deputations into the different towns and villages, to instruct the people in the principles of liberty and equality. |