The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-11-17


They complained that they had had on their
hands, the armies which would have been de-
tanned on the Rhine, had the Generals there
done their duty. Napoleon succeeded, with
great difficulty, in appeasing these dangerous
discontents ; but what had the greatest effect,
was the fact, that the wounded and sick, in all
the hospitals, as soon as they heard that the
French army had sustained check, left their
beds and begged to be allowed to resume their
stations in the ranks.
| At dusk, on the night of che 1Ath, the camp
of Verona got under arms, leaving garrison
of 1900 men, under Kilmaine, and crossed to
the right bank of the river in profound silence,
under circumstances, and in a direc ton,
which seemed to indicate that Italy was about
70 be abandoned, and the blockade of Mantua
raised. Instead of keeping the Peschiera road,
whic h would have been that ofretreat, howev-
er, it wheeled Suddenly to the left. and march
ed down the Adige, as far as Romeo, where
bridge had been already prepared by Andreos-
| s.; by which they soon crossed agaia to the
side they had left. This movement placed
them on the left flank of Alvnzi's position of
Caldiero, which it had been found impossible
to carry by an attack in front. The bridge
| was about three-quarters of mile above the
mouth of the Alpon, which forms the marshes
in the midst of which krcoIe is situated
Three roads branch out tiom it, of which Bo.
naparte took immediate possession, placing
column on each. The first, or left, leads up
the Adige to Verona, passing heyillages Of
| Blonde and Porcil, and opening into a plain,
| where Alvinzi's headquarters were the cen
ire one leads through the village of Arcole to
Villa Nuova, crossing the Apor, which here
makes turn, at the former village, by stone
bridge; the right-hand one runs down the
Adige, and leads to Abaredo. The left CO.
lumn marched up the Adige, to Porcil, at the
extremity of the marshes, where it could see
the steepes Of Verona, and stood prepared TO
fall on the flank of any force whi;h should
march on that city the centre proceeded up
on Arcole, and its skirmishers got as far as
the village unperceived. Two battalions Of
| Croats, with two pieces Of cannon, were sta
toned on the opposite side of the Alpon, along
which the French column was obliged to aG-
|
| The French fell back, but were rallied by Au-
| gereau, and a second time thrown into disor-
der: Alvnzi did not comprehend this attack
OF light troops, and never imag ined that the
whole French army was on his flank. Finding
| all quiet, however in the direction of Verona,
he determined TO dislodge the enemy, and &C.
cOrdingly sent division, commanded by Me-
trouski, to attack the Arcole dyke, where
| Augereau commando, and another under
| Provera, to attack the left dyke, where Masse-
ma was in command. Massena, having al.
lowed the enemy TO get on the dyke, made a
desperate charge, took number of prisoners,
and slaughtered an immense number of his
foes, who were in such position that they es.
capped without great difficulty. Augereau did
the same thing at Arcole, charging the enemy,
routing him, and taking many prisoners. 1t
was of the last importance to carry Arcole,
since, by debouching thence, the French
could seize the bridge of Villa Nuova, over
the Alpon, and thus cut off Alvinzi's retreat
But it resisted obstinately, and Napoleon re-.
solved to make a last effort, in person. He
placed himself at the head of a column, seized
flag, rushed upon the bridge, and planted it;
but the column was obliged TO recoil by the
severe thanking fire of the enemy and the sol
diers dragged the General along with them
lie was precipitated into a morass, where he
was surrounded by the enemy. A cry was
raised, "F0ruard, letus Sare our Generaln
The grenadiers turned back, repuIsed the enc.
my, and rescued Bonaparte. Col Muiron. in
endeavoring to shield him by his own BODY,
fell dead at his feet. Lannes, though lust re.
covering from wound, threw himself before
his General, and was three times wounded in
endeavoring to cover him with his body. Gen.
Guleux, in the meantime, crossed the bridge
at Albaredo, and took Arcole in the rear. But
it was aleady abandoned, for Alvnz, having
| become aware his danger, had already aban.
| doned Caldiero, and left Verona in safety.
| In the meantime, Vaubois being at Busso-
lengo in great danger from Davidowieh, Bona.
parte determined to evacuate Arcole, and since
Verona was no longer in danger, to march up-
| on that General. But Alvnzi, appraised of his
retrograde movement, followed him, and gen.
eral battle ensued, which lasted the whole
ooy' Oh uo A''h, bouopaftc ieafueO tnet
| Davidowich had not stirred, and AIvinzi, de-
eeived by a spy, who told him the French
had marched on Mantua, debouched from his
camp, as on the day before. Another bloody
| battle upon the dykes ensued. The 18th nav
| ing broken, the General-in chief placed the 32d
in ambush. These troops rose and fred on
body Of 5000 Croats, who were pursuing the
18th, repulsed them, drove them into the mo-
rass, and the whole column persisted there
Massena was successful on the left, and the
French general, now believing from the nun.
Der of the enemy slain, prisoners and dispers.
ed that he was not superior to him by more
than third, saw that the decisive moment, was
come, when he might leave the dykes, which
| had counteracted the effects of the enenv,s an