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

0atte o. s4fcOie, tl'Soil oes"eS" Do""P"'tS
and the Austrian General, AlvinGi.
Bonaparte had commenced operations in
Italy, as comrander-in-chief, on the 18th OF
April. He had defeated the AntiO-Sardinian
armies, commanded by Beaulieu and Coli,
though three tiGes as numerous as his own,
il number OF Bottles. The Sardinians, hav-
ing been separated from the Austrians, and
forced to capiiulate, he pursued the latter with
so much periinacity and success, that by the
middle OF May, they retained but one town in
Lombardy, Mantua, and not one in Piedmont.
To Mantua, Bonaparte Immediately laid close
siege, and the Aulic Council, feeling the i'm
portance Of relieving il, cent the veteran Zen
eral Wurmser, with $1,000 men, to raise the
siege. Bosaparte raised the siege, threw his
guns into the water, burnt the platforms, and
prepared, with only $4,000 men, to oppose the
formidable force brought against him. By the
exercise of prodgious activity. he was enabled
TO attack his enemies separately, and defeated
them, one after another, driving Wurmser back
into the Tyrol. after he had lost halt his army.
This was in the early part of August By the
LIST Of September, Wurmser, reinforced by
90 600 troops FROM the Rhine, was able to take
the field again, at the head of 10000 men. He
again divided his forces, and was again defeat.
ed and overwhelmed by an army not one-third
as large as his. He cut his way into Mantua,
and was there closely blocksded by a French
division, commanded by Serurier, while Bona
parte occupied the line of the Adige, some dis
lance in advance, and covered the blockade
The headquarters were at Verona, on the
Adige, while Vaubois' division covered Trent.
The Auiic Council determined to make anoth-
er effort to save Mantua. and for this purpose
raised its army, on the lsonzo, to $4,000 men,
destined to cross the Venetian territory, and
march directly on Mantua, while another body
of1S,000 men, under Davidowich, marched into
the Tyrol, and menaced Trent, which was GOV.
eredby Vanbois' l2,00as The two armies were
to unite before Verana and as one came from
the East, and the otssA from the North, their
lines Of march wereeat right angles to each 9th
er. The command of the whole was given to
Marshal Alvinzi, veteran of great expert
ence. His headquarters were, in the begin
ming of October, on the Isonzo, but, at the end
OF that month, they had been advanced to the
Pave. Massena, who was at Bassano, was
watching his movements.
On the lat of November, Alvinz crossed the
Piave, on two bridges, and pushed towards
the Brenta. Massena, finding his force exceed.
ed $1,000 men, retired to Vicenza, where Ma
poleon joined him, bringing with him Ange.
reau's division and the reserve, and on the 9th,
advanced TO attack Alvinzi just at break of
day. Massena's division drove back the van
Rnder General Liptay, and the division OF
General Provera, killing a great number of
men, and making many prisoners, at the same
time that the division of Augereau, where b.
naparte commanded in person, drove back an-
other division, commanded by the Austrian
General, Quasdonowich, from Lenove, as far
as BassaDo. TWAS ofimportance to take the
latter town that night, but a battalion of Cos
sacs, 900 strong, threw themselves into q viii
lsge, on the road, and defended it with so much
obstinacy, that it was found impossible.
In the meantime, Vaubois had been driven
back, with severe loss, and was in full retreat.
There was no time TO lose. Bonaparte re-
ceived the intelligence at two o'clock in the
morning, and repaired Immediately to Verona.
All the troops which could be spared were
FASTENED on TO La Corona and Rivoli, TO rein.
force Vaubois, and the next day, Joubert, with
the 4th demi-brigade, brought from the block
ade of Mantua, also joined. Napoleon repri-
manded Vaubois's division in severe terms, for
giving up positions which, he said, were i'm
pregnable, and commanded the Quarter Mas.
ter to write on their colors, "They no longer
belong to the army of Italy," The brave vete-
rams, with tears in their eyes, begged to be
placed in the most dangerous position, in the
approaching battles, that they might have an
opportunity TO redeem their character. A few
days afterwards they highly distinguished
themselves.
In the meantime, that portion of the French
army, Immediately opposed to Alvinzi, had
crossed the Brenta, TO the amazement of the
inhabitants, who had seen it victorious the day
before, and knew nothing Of what had happen
ed on its flank. Alvinzi, who was about to
cross the Piave, in retreat, changed his direc-
ion' and began to pursue the French, wls
hled through VicenZa the whole of the 9TH, He
hnaliy took post on the heights of Csdiero, to
the left of Villa Nuova, on the road from Vi
cenza to Verona. His position was an admi
faDie one. He had his right on Mount Oliyet.
10 and the village of Colognola, his left on the
marsh OF Arcole, and Verona and the French
Ia 'front.'. bonaparte determined to attack him,
and passed the bridge Of Verona at two in the
AFTERNOON OF the ll,h, for that purpose. The
hre was maintained throughout the 1o,b.
amidst torrents ofrain, which SO soaked the
ground that the French artillery could M,
move, while that of the Aus,r;ans h.;nn :.
position, played with great efsc, III.
FRENCH on The approach Of night. retired 70
Verona, and the Austrians pushed ,be;, ID
Sanced posts as far as st. Michaers.
Bonapar,e was in critical condition. On
his flank, Vaubos, after his losses .o,,a -.