8] 
The French army was vow dis- 
engaged, and the main strength 
of the Austrians broken: but there 
still remained considerable divi- 
sions, without the dispersion, or 
the capture of which, the victory 
obained over them would rot be 
complete, as they would either 
throw themselves into Mantua, join 
the papal forces, or retreat into the 
Imperial territories, where they 
‘would help to form a new army. 
For these reasons, as not a moment 
“was to be lost in preventing the 
vanquished Austrians from eflecting 
their retreat; on, the very night 
of the ‘ourteenth, as scon as the 
battle had terminated in favour of 
“the French, divisions wére imme- 
diately dispatched to pursue every 
body of Austrians that still kept 
together. They had not quitted 
‘a strong position at Corona, near 
Rivoli, where ‘they femained in ex- 
pectation of beiny able to collect 
and arrange their retreating troops : 
but before this covld be etlected, a 
large division of the Fretch, after 
marching with al] expedition during 
the night of the fourteenth, came 
upon their rear next morning, while 
they were attacked in front by ge- 
neral Joubert. ‘They resisted vigor- 
ously at first; but were at last thrown 
into disorder. Those who were 
able to make a retreat, directed it 
towards the Tyrol: but noless than 
six thousand were so completely sur- 
rounded, that they were obliged to 
Jay down their arms. 
Buonaparte himself, with a strong 
division, having left the necessary 
orders with general Joubert, pro- 
ceeded, inmimediate!y after the bat- 
tle, in quest of Provera, an Aus- 
trian general, who-had, on several 
oceasious, highly distinguished bim- 
self, by the skiifulness of his ma- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
neeuvres. He was at the head of ° 
ten thousand men, and had crossed 
the Adige, where he had forced the 
French, that guarded the passage, to 
retire, and he was now marching 
with all speed towards Mantua. 
But he was overtaken, early in the 
morning of the 15th, by general 
Augereau, who cut off the whole 
of his rear. He made his way, 
however, by a running fight, to 
the French lines of circumvallation — 
at Mantua, where he arrived at 
noon, after losing two thousand 
men, and fourteen pieces of can- 
non. He was now reduced through 
this last, and the other encounters 
on his“march,; to no more than 
six thousand men. With this di- 
minished force, he did not, how- 
ever, hesitate to assauit the en- 
trenchments of the besiegers at the 
suburbs of St. George, by carrying 
which he would have seeured his 
entrance into the, city: but they 
were so strong and well defended, 
that he was repulsed. His situa- 
tion was now such, that unless he 
could enter Mantua, he must yield 
to the enemy. To avoid this dis- 
aster, Provera made a resolute at- 
tack on the French post of La 
Favorita, another suburb, while a 
strong detachment from the garrison 
supported him. But this attempt, 
‘which was made in the night of 
the fifteenth, in hope of surprising 
the en:my, failed in every point. 
The Austrians, who had sallied out 
of the city, were driven back by 
general Victor: and general Ser- 
rurier took a position between La 
Favorita and St. George, which 
secured this latter post, and enabled 
the corps stationed there to join 
that of Serrurier. Thus reinforced, 
he fell upon Provera’s rear, while 
his front was occupied in the attaek 
of 
