6] 
him, it would be the last effort of 
Austria for the recovery of its lost 
dominions. 
Alvinzi was now advancing from 
the Brenta, with the utmost expe- 
dition. His army, fifty. thousand 
strong, was composed of the best 
troops that could be procured, It 
counted large numbers of volun- 
teers from the best families in 
Vienna, most of them young men 
in the prime of life, and desirous 
of signalizing their attachment and 
loyalty. to the emperor on this cri- 
tical occasion. 'The- intentions of 
the Anstrian commander were, to 
force a passage to Mantua, where 
the junction of the garrison would 
give him a decided superiority over 
the French, wliose strength was 
greatly reduced, by the numerous 
battles they had fought. The re- 
inforcements, promised to Buona- 
parte, were not yet arrived, and 
the knowledge of this circumstance 
was an additional motive for Al- 
yinzi to quicken his motions. 
A strong division of his army at- 
tacked on the eighth of January, 
1797, a French post in front of 
Porto Legnago, on the Adige. The 
French, though inferior in number, 
maintained their position the whole 
day, and retired at night in good 
order to this place: apprised of this 
attack, the whole of the French 
line, along that river, was obliged 
to concentrate itself, in hope of 
being able to resist the Austrians 
until it was relieved by the suc- 
cours that had been dispatched by 
Buonaparte. 
This general, after inspecting the 
posts in the vicinity of Mantua,and 
providing astrong reinforcement for 
general Augereat, who commanded 
the line on the Adige, hastened to 
- Verona, where he arrived in time 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1797. 
to be present at the action, thaé 
took place on the twelfth, between 
Massena and the Austrians. These 
were successful on the first onset : 
but after an obstinate dispute were 
repulsed, and lost some hundreds 
slain or captured. The corps under 
the command of general Joubert, at 
Montebaldo, was atttacked the very 
same day : but this also repulsed the 
enemy, and at night a body of 
Austrians, who attempted to take 
the citadel of Verona by surprize, 
were completely defeated. 
In the mean time, the Austrian 
general had crossed the Adige; and, 
with the whole of his force, fallen 
upon Joubert, who had not half 
his number, and compelled him to 
withdraw to Rivoli, between the 
Adige and the lake of Guarda. 
This happened on the thirteenth. 
As soon as Buonaparte was informed 
of what had passed, and particularly 
of the line of march observed by 
the Imperialists, which was obvi- 
ously directed towards Mantua, he 
set out for Rivoli, where he arrived 
at midnight, with as powerful re- 
inforcements as be had been able to 
collect in the course of the day, 
Unfortunately for the Austrian 
general, he was totally unapprised 
of the arrival of Buonaparte, and 
of the reinforcements that aecom- 
panied him. He adhered of course 
to the plan of attack which he had 
previously projected: nor did he 
discoyer the real strength of the 
French, tili they had commenced 
their attack upon the Ausirians, 
whom they drove from a post which 
they had taken from them on the 
preceding day. 
This first success was obtained 
early on the morning of the four- 
teenth. It enabled general Jou- 
bert to occupy the high grounds ea ' 
Fay. ~ tae 
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