The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-05-29
BATTLE OF RIVOLT.
NAPOLEON eAlD THAT HIS LIFE REAL,
LY BEGAN THERE.

The Short Campaign Was the Turning
Point of the War and Shaped tho His.
tory of Europe For Twenty Years-The
Austrians Five Minutes Late.
Professor Sloane's Life of Napoleon"
in Tho Century describes tho mastery
Italian campaign, In which Napoleon's
military genius first won worldwide
recognition. Professor Sloane thus de-
scribes the battle of Rivoh:
At early dawn began tho conflict
which was to settle tho fate of Mantca-
The first fierce contest was between the
Austrian left and the French right at
st. Mark, but it quickly spread along
tho whole limo as far rs Caprino. For
some time the Austrians had the advan-
tage, and the result was in suspense,
since the French left, at Caprino, yield
cd for an instant before the onslaught of
the main Austrian army made in nc
cordance with Alvinczy's first plan,
and, as he supposed, upon an inferior
force by one vastly superior in numbers
Berthier, who by his calm courage was
|
favor, came to the rescue, and Massena,
following with Judgment which has
inseparably linked his name with that
| famous spot, finally restored order to
the French ranks. Every successive
charge Of tho Austrians was repulsed
with violence which threw their right
and center back toward Monte Baldo in
ever growing confusion.
| The battle waged for nearly three
hours before Alvinczy understood that
it was not Joubort's division, but Bona
parties army, which was above him. In
his zeal no then pressed forward ON tho
plateau beneath tho height to bring
moro of his troops into action, and Jou
bert somewhat rashly advanced to check
tho movement, leaving the road to st.
Mark unprotected. Tho Austrians,
prompt to take advantage of his blunder,
charged up the hill, and seized tho COM
handing position, but simultaneously
| there rushed from the opposite side three
French battahons, clambering up to re-
| trieve tho mistake. Their physical
strength and nervous activity brought
them first to tho top, and again the
storming columns were thrown back in
disorder.
At that instant appeared in Bonn
parties rear an Austrian corps estimated
by him as 4, 900 strong, which, having
come down the valley ON the left bank,
had now crossed the river to take the
French right at Rivoli in its rear. Had
| they arrived but minute sooner tho
hill of Rivoli would have been lost to
tho French. AS it was, instead OF max
ing an attack, they had to await ono.
Bonaparte directed a CALLING artillery
fire againt them, and thus gained time
| both to reform his ranks and hold the
newcomers in check until his own re-
serve, coming in from tho next hamlet
| westward, cut them entirely off from
tho retreating columns OF Alvinczy, and
compelled them to lay down their arms.
Thus ended the worst defeat and most
complete rout which the Austrian arms
had so far sustained. Such was the ut
ter Generalization of tho flying and dis
integrated columns that q young French
officer named Reno, who was In COM
mand Of 90 men at hamlet ON Lake
Garda, successfully initiated Bonapnrte's
ruse at Tomato, and displayed such an
imposing confidence to flying troop of
| 1000 Austrians that they surrendered
to what they believed to BIO force SUI
perior TO their own. Next morning ut
| dawn Murat, who had marched all night
to gain tho point, appeared ON the slopes
| Of Monte Baldo above tho pass of Coro
IA, and united with Massena and Jou-
bert to drive tho Austrians from their
last foothold The pursuit was contin-
ued as far as Trent. Thirteen thousand
prisoners were captured in those two
days.
This short campaign Of Rivol was
tho turning point Of tho war, and may
be said to have shaped tho history of
Europe for 30 years Chroniclers dwell
upon those few moments at tho hill
above tho plateau Of Rivoli, and wonder
what tho result would havo been IL tho
last Austrian corps had arrived five
minutes sooner But an accurate and
dispassionate criticism must decide that
every step in Bonaparte's success was
won by careful forethought and the
most effective disposition Of the forces
ut his command. So sure was no Of sue
cess that oven in the crises when Mas
sena seemed to save the day on tho left
and when the Austrians seemed destined
to wrest victory from defeat mt tho last
moment ON tho right, he was self reliant
and cheerful The new system of field
operations had a triumphant vindication
at the hands of its author.
Tho conquering general melted out un-
stintod praise to his invincible squad
rons and their leaders, but said nothing
of himself, leaving the world to judge
whether this was man or demon who,
still youth, and within a public career
of but ono season, had Inundated the
proudest empire on the continent, had
subduod Italy and ON her soil had Great
ed states unknown before without the
consent Of any great power, not except
ing his own 1t is not wonderful that
this parsonage should sometimes have
said Of himself, "Say that my life be-
gan ut Rivoli," as at other times no
dated his military career from Toulon.