Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-05-30

JOitiinS MS lrlcnd so speedily as both
wished. He was yet in France when
the news of St. Bernard came thither,
and exclaiming, ale will leave us no.
thing to do" travelled night and day
until he was able to throw himself into
his arms. Napoleon Immediately gave
him the command of division: and
they spent the night together in CONVEX
sing about the affairs Of Egypt.
The first consul was anxious to tempt
Melas toattack him at Stradella, where
the ground was uniavourable to caval.
ry movements, but, after living there
unmolested for three days, he began 10
fear that the Austrian had resolved, eli.
Their on moving to the left flank, cross.
ing the Ticino, occupying Milan, and
so re-opcnlng his communication with
Vicnna;--or on falling back to Genoa,
overwhelming Suchet, and taking up
position where the British fleet could
supply him with provisions--or even,
in case OF necessity, embark his army,
carry it round to the other side of Italy,
aud by that means placohim oncomore
between his enemy and the German
states. Bonaparte being perplexe1
with these apprehensions at last dcs.
cended into the great plain ofMarengo,
on which he had, not without reason
feared to abide the onset of Melas and
the Austrian horse. He was at Vol
ghera ON the 18th, and next day at st.
Jullano, in the very centre ofthe plain,
but still no enemy appeared. On the
18th, he advanced to the village of
Marengo itself, and finding nothing e.
ven there but scanty outpost, which
retreated before him, concluded Ger.
tainly that Melas had given him the
slip, and marched either TO the left on
the Ticino or to the right on Genoa.
In great anxiety he detached one divi-
sion under Dcssaix to watch the road
to Genoa, and another under Murat TO.
wards the Scrivia. Dessax was alrca.
dy half days journey from the head
quarters, when Napoleon received in.
telligence which made him hastily re.
call all his attachments. The Austrian
general, after long hesitation, had at
length resolved to let fair field once
moro decide the fate of Italy. On the
evening of the 18th, his whole army
mustered in front Of Alexandria, hav-
ing only the river Bormida between
them and the plain of Marengo; and
early in the following morning, they
passed the stream at three several points
and advanced towards the French po-
stion in as many columns.
The Austrians, were full 10000
strong; while, in the absence OF Des.
saix, and the reserve, Napoleon could,
at most oppose to them 30, 1000, of whom
only $500 were cavalry. He had
however, no hesitation about accepting
the battle. His advance under Gar.
denne, occupied the small hamlet of
Padre Bona little in front of Maron-
go. AT that village, which overlooks
a narrow ravine the channel of ri
vulet, Napoleon stationed Victor with
the main body of his first lne---the ex-
IRENE right Of it resting on Castle Ce-
riola, another hamlet almost parallel
with Marengo; Kellerman, with bri.
gade of cavalry was posted Immediate
ly behind Victor for the protection of
his TANKS. A thousand yards in the
rear of Victor was the second line UNI
der Lannes, protected in like fashion
by the cavalry of Champeaux. At a.
bout an equal distances again, behind
Lanncs was the third line, consisting
of the division Of St. Cyr, and the con-
sular guard, under Napoleon in per-
Ison. The Austrian heavy infantry, on
reaching the open field formed into two
lines, the first under general Haddick,
considerably in advance before the o.
Their, which Melas himself command.
ed, with general Zach for his second.
These moved steadily towards Maren-
go; while the light infantry and caval-
ry, under general Elsnitz, made de-
tour round castle Ceriolo with the pur-
pose of outhanking the French right.
Such was the posture of the two ar
mics when this great battle begun
Gardenne was unable TO withstand the
shook, and, abandoning Padre Bona
fell back to strengthen Victor. A flu.
|rious cannonade along the whole front
of that position ensued: the tirailleurs
Of either army posted themselves along
the margins of the ravin-, and fred
necessarily at each other, their pieces
almost touching. Cannon and muske-
TRY spread devastation every where
for the armies were but a few toises
Iapart. For more than two hours VIC
tor withstood singly the vigorous as
saults of a far superior force; Marengo
had been taken and retaken several
times, ere Lannes received orders to