destroyed, more than fifty colours taken by the victors, and that forty thousand Austrians have laid down their arms; that, in fine, these prodigies have been accomplished by a young warrior only twenty-five years of age, with an army of Frenchmen only thirty thousand strong." In the address of Marmont there was this passage "The army set forward; it overthrew every thing which opposed its march, and for the first time since the existence of the republic, French troops saw the sources of the Brenta, and entered the ancient walls of Trent. Then, changing suddenly its course, it reached, with the rapidity of lightning, the rear of the enemy, and general Bonaparte forced marshal Wurmser to receive battle even at his headquarters." After présenting the twenty-two Austrian colours, the aide de camp with much propriety added, "I have the honour also to present to you, two colours taken from the troops of the Pope. To these trophies, which cost us but little exertion, we attach but small value, yet they serve to attest the activity of the army of Italy, and to mark the extent of country which it has overrun."

The president of the directory, who closed the ceremony by presenting a pair of pistols to Marmont, spoke as follow-"We give thanks to the brave army of Italy, and to the superior genius which directs it. The executive directory, in the name of the republic, receive with the liveliest satisfaction the trophies of so many astonishing actions; and we charge you to convey to your brave brother soldiers this testimony of the national gratitude.

"And you, youthful warrior! to whose courage and good conduct the general testifies, wear these arms as a mark of esteem on the part of the directory; and never forget that it is as glorious to employ them at home, in maintaining our republican constitution, as to use them in the destruction of our foreign enemies."

These presentations and discourses, designed upon classical models, and associating the ornaments of the army with the chiefs of the state, were well calculated to quicken the emulation, elevate the spirit, and confirm the fidelity of the troops. From sobriety of taste, or perhaps from incipient umbrage on the part of the directors, and egoistical intoxication on that of the aide de camp, their language echoed but faintly the sentiments of the minister's address. The emphasis of their applause was converged upon the army, while but transient notes of praise were bestowed upon the general. But he, intent only on great actions and immortal

T

glory, was indifferent to the small distinctions of contemporary fame. Had he not been, the following inofficial letter from Carnot, dated the 19th of September, and written in answer to his despatch of the 6th from Trent, in which he had said, "You may soon expect to hear of a more bloody and decisive action," as well as to his report of the battle of Bassano, would have soothed his self-love, although it held out no hope of reenforcements from the government, nor of cooperation from the armies on the Rhine (14).

"We waited, my dear general, with an impatience which you may readily conceive, the result of the action you announced to us by your former courier. We have just received your last report, and though accustomed to the most extraordinary things on your part, our hopes have been surpassed by the victory of Bassano. What glory for you, immortal Bonaparte! what a terrible blow for haughty Austria! She could never have recovered from it, had all our armies been as successful as that of Italy. But the miserable falling back (reculade) of Jourdan, disconcerts all our projects. The army of the Rhine and Moselle, which was about reaching out its hand to you, finds itself exposed, almost surrounded, and obliged to retreat precipitately in order to defend its flank; and it will require all the ability of Moreau to extricate it from this embarrassment. Nevertheless Beurnonville, who relieves Jourdan, brings with him a considerable reenforcement. He will resume the offensive, and I hope the result of all this will be the general discomfiture of the army of prince Charles.

"It is not the less certain, however, that we shall be deprived of the resources of Bavaria, that your left is no longer supported, that we shall have great difficulty in furnishing you with succours, équivalent to the column that was to unite with you by the way of Inspruck. It is then in your own energy, that our resources must be found.”

CHAPTER XVII.

From the 1st of October to the 1st of November 1796.

Armies of the Rhine-Repulse of Jourdan and retreat of Moreau-Instructions of the directory-Nullified by the victories of Bonaparte, and falsified by the retreat of Moreau-Their erroneous views of the war-Their abortive and contradictory orders-Bonaparte applies for reenforcements-Increasing sickness of his troops-His absurd project for reducing Mantua— His efforts to obtain auxiliaries in Italy-The people of Lombardy anxious for independence-Popular revolution in Reggio and Modena-Seconded by Bonaparte, and discountenanced by the directors-CorrespondenceCongress of Modena-Cispadan and Transpadan republics-Bonaparte's proclamation at Bologna-Mission of cardinal Mattei-Conflicting policy of the directors-Their military and political plans, equally absurd-Operations of the archduke Charles-Incapacity of Beurnonville.

It has been already mentioned that when the destruction of Beaulieu's army and the first investment of Mantua, compelled the cabinet of Vienna to change its plan of campaign on the Rhine, and to confine itself on that frontier to the defensive, Jourdan and Moreau received orders, a second time, from the directory, to pass that river and to penetrate into Germany. In pursuance of their instructions the two generals, Jourdan opposed by Wartensleben, and Moreau by the archduke Charles, advanced from the Rhine, and after several successful but not decisive actions, succeeded in conducting their forces, into the valley of the Danube. But on the 24th of August, the archduke Charles having marched rapidly with a large part of his force from the front of Moreau, across

the Danube, to the assistance of Wartensleben, attacked and worsted Jourdan at Amberg, and following up his blow, overtook and defeated him on the 3rd of September at Wurtsburg, compelling him to retreat with loss and disgrace to the Rhine. This unexpected reverse, exposing Moreau to an encounter with the united armies of the archduke and Wartensleben, caused him to abandon the positions he had gained on the Lech and the Iser, and renouncing all hope of forming a junction with Bonaparte in the Tyrol, to turn his undivided attention to the task of effecting his retreat to the Rhine. This painful operation he conducted with gallantry and success, repelling attacks upon his rear, overcoming resistance in his front, passing rapid rivers, scaling steep mountains, threading dismal forests, traversing gloomy defiles; constantly pursued, incessantly opposed, halting as often to fight as to rest, sometimes surrounded, never appalled, and always victorious (1).

But this famous retreat of Moreau, though in regard to national feeling, it was in some degree a compensation for the miscarriage of Jourdan, was not the less fatal to the hopes of the directory, nor the less likely to disconcert the plans of Bonaparte. Its commencement was thus announced to him by Moreau in a letter of the 9th of September.

"I have received, citizen general, your letter of the 31st of August. I was prepared to attack the gorges of the Tyrol; the Lech and the Iser were already passed, which afforded us excellent openings upon Inspruck. But the army of the Sambre and Meuse, when upon the point of arriving at Ratisbon, has been repulsed in a succession of affairs as far as Amberg, report says even as far as Wurtsburg. This compels me to change the direction of my movements. The enemy, who was unable to resist in this quarter, keeps the field only with heavy parties of cavalry on our flanks and in our rear, which occasionally annoy us. I cannot venture to impart to you my present intentions, for fear this letter should fall into the hands of the enemy. As soon as they are determined I will inform you. Our advanced posts occupy Newburg and Newstadt; the army is encamped at Guesserfeld. The corps of Ferino, occupies Mosbourg, Frankin and Munich. The right is on the sources of the Lech towards Lampten-Frunks, and Schougar. I most sincerely wish that more favorable events would enable me to second your operations."

Susenen entzuna e Larak dues after all their proEACH METAL ANw a the comiced with their immense Cemmily, Da & diuing, by the impression in that FACE. 2 JSC wwwe a day, they now hoped to be inI de sant other Troops and their frontier on the zem unsupported army of lay, and the uncherish

commander.

As: occurred II ermany, general, which, without £ vi' the success which the repubic has obtained, remowuhstanding a frest degree of energy to execute the astosition: Which. We have ordered. The army of the note: an beust, attacked suddenly by prince Charles, who zonourse, tror kavaru a reenforcement to Wartensleben, has HEER Commebel. Though without a serious action, to retreat to the Keant; an, subsequently to the Lahn.

- This postere e: affairs which might be productive of unforzumat pitch, were we no: to frustate the scheme of the enemy by menu.. an. bekk measures, has determined us to direct general BUTTON; A, TRETTE, INSstantly, with the greatest part of his force, 10 as saunties betwest, the Rednitz and the upper Rhine, in order to 9014, 11985 Chris, who will be assailed at the same time in prou ↑ memory. Heurnonville, who leads free the army of the Seattle raames to that of the Sambre and Meuse, of · possume the command. General Jourdan being in mat of the army of the North. Before

mer reau will establish a defence suftever die Lech, and make head against the ner a de war. But in order to fulfil this imanarsemitismine that you press the Austrians viThey might send reenforcements into have reached us, they have already ce on the right of their line of svou ought so to act, as to be able