Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1895-08-27
BATTLE OF RIvOLI.
nAPoLEoN SAID THAT HIS LIFE REAL
~ BEGAN THERE.

me Snort Waa Nno turning
Point Of me war and shaped the MA
tory Of Europe For Twenty Tears-The
Austrians Five Minutes Lats.
Professor sloano's life Of Napoleon"
IN The Century Describes the mastery
Italian campaign, In which Napoleon's
military genius first won worldwide
recognition. Professor Sloane TINS de-
acribes the battle Of Rivoli;
A. early dawn began the conflict
which was 10 settle the fate e Mantua
Tho first foree contest was between the
Austrian left and the French right at
st. Mark. but IL quickly spread along
the whole line as far rs Caprino. For
some time the Austrians had the advnn-
tngo, and tho result was in suspense,
since the French left, at Caprino, yield
ed for an instant before the onslaught Of
the main Austrian army made in nc
oordanco with Alvinczy's first plan,
and, as he supposed, upon an inferior
force by m vastly superior in numbers.
Borthier, who by his calm courage was
fast rising high in his commanders
favor, came to tho rescue, aud M~assena,
following with a Judgment which has
inscparably linked his name with that
famous spot, finally restored order to
the French ranks. Every successive
charge Of the Austrians was ~repulsed
with a violence which threw their right
and contor back toward Monte Baldo in
ever growing confusion.
The battle waged for nearly three
hours before Alvinczy understood that
II was not JOubert's division, but Bona
parties army, which was above him. In
his zeal he then pressed forward ON the
plateau beneath the height TO bring
more Of his troops into action, and Jou-
bert somewhat rnshly advanced to check
the movement, leaving the road to st.
Mark unprotected. The Austrians,
prompt to take advantage of his blunder,
charged mp the hill, and seized the COM
manding position, but simultaneously
there rushed from the opposite side three
French battaliOns, ~clambering mp to re-
trieve the mistake. Their physical
strength and nervous activity brought
them first to the top, and again the
storming columns were thrown back in
disorder.
At that instant appeared in Bona
parties rear an Austrian corps estimated
by him as 1000 strong, which, having
come down the valley IN the left bank,
had now crossed the river to take the
French right at Rivoli in its rear. Had
they arrived but a minute sooner the
hill Of Rivoli would have been lost to
tho French. AS It was, instead Of max
ing an attack, they had to await one.
Bonaparte directed a CALLING artillery
fire againt them, and thus gained timo
both to reform his ranks and hold the
newcomers in check until his own re-
serve, coming in from the next hamlet
westward, cut them entirely of from
the r~etreating 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 decentralization Of the flying and dis
i~ntegrated columns that a young French
officer named Rene, who was in COM
mand Of 80 men at a hamlet ON Lake
Garda, successfully initiated Bonaparte's
ruse at Tomato, and displayed such an
imposing confidence to n flying troop Of
1000 Austrians that they surrendered
20 what they believed to be a force su-
perior to their own. Next morning at
dawn Murat, who had marched all night
TO gain the point, appeared on the slopes
Of Monte Baldo above the pass Of COro-
ma, and united with Massena and Jou-
bert to drive the 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 Rivoli wal
the turning point Of the war, and may
be said TO have shaped the history OF
Europe for 20 years. Chrmiclers dwell
upon those few moments at the hill
above tho plateau Of Rivoh, aud wonder
what the result would have been if th'
last Austrian corps had arrived hyI
minutes sooner. But M accurate ant
dispassionate criticism must decide tina
every step in Bonaparte's success wa
won by careful forethought and tn.
most effective disposition Of the force
ut his command. So sure was he Of sue
cess that even in the crises when Mas
sena seemed 10 save the day ON the lef
and when the Austrians seemed destinel
90 wrest victory from defeat mt the las
moment ON the right, he was self relian
and cheerful The now system OF hel
operations had triumphant vindicatiol
Mt the hands Of its author.
The c%onquering general meted out IN
stinted praise to his invincible squad
rons and their leaders, but said nothin
Of himself, leaving the world to judg
whether this was man or demon who
still a youth, and within a public caree
Of but one season. had Inundated III
proudest empire ON the continent, ha
subdued Italy and on her soil had creaI
cd states unknown before without III
consent Of any great power, not except
ing his own. IL Is not wonderful thl
this parsonage should sometimes hay
said Of himself, "Say that my life b
gan at Rivoli,n as at other times l
dated his military career from Toul0n.
Whom9
yes, " said tho practical politician
sfit Is true that / have made 5000, 90