a4] ANNUAL REGISTER, ‘1797. 
-were making for another trial of 
fortune, to be the last that could 
possibly be made. Full of this per- 
suasion, a mostformidable army was 
again collected, from the numerous 
divisions and garrisons in the Aus- 
trian service. Their patriotism and 
honour were equally excited by 
every motive that could stimulate 
either. To dothe Austrians justice, 
they had displayed enough of both 
to preserve their character unsul- 
lied. But the extremity to which 
their sovereign and their country 
was now reduced evidently called 
for greater exertions than ever. 
The archduke Charles, though 
a prince of high spirit, and of an 
enterprizing disposition, was not 
by, the public reputed an adequate 
match for Buotaparte. This latter 
had raised himself entirely by his 
talents and merit ; but the former 
owed what he was evidently to his 
royal birth. No expectations were 
formed, by those who attended to 
their respective characters, that he 
would be able to cope with the 
abilities of the French general. 
The Austrians had been so com- 
pletely defeated at the battle of Ri- 
voli, that they had ever since been 
averse to take the field against the 
French. They were cautiously post- 
ed on the northern side of the Piava, 
waiting for the reinforcements of 
which’ the Archduke’s army was 
chiefly to consist. The French, .on 
the south of that river; and of the 
Lavisio, were watchful of their mo- 
tions, constantly repelling them 
whenever they attempted to cross 
either. Part of February and of 
March were consumed in hostilities 
of this nature. 
As soon as the archduke had as- 
sumed the command, tke French 
determinsd so march against him, 
before he had received a farther ad+ 
dition to the strength already arri- © 
ved. To thisintent they advanced 
to the Piava, inthree divisions. The 
first commanded by Massena, eftect- 
ed its passage over, near Feltri, om 
the tenth of Maich, and compel. 
led the Austrians to withdraw to 
Belluno, higher up that river. The 
second division, under Serrurier, 
proceeded to Asola, in the neigh- 
bourhood of which, he also crossed 
on the twelfih, after putting to the 
rout a body of Austrians that oppo-_ 
sedhim. Several other corps were 
encamped near this one: but they 
did not venture to support it, and 
they all made a precipitate retreat,_ 
in apprehension of being surrounded 
and cut off by the two divisions that 
had already crossed, and by another 
that was’ then crossing the river, 
It was headed by general Guiaux, 
who advanced that very evening to 
Conagliono, and, on the next day, 
the thirteenth, to Sacali, where he 
overtook the rear guard of a large 
division of the Austrians, and made 
a number of prisoners. Massena, 
after taking possession of Belluno, 
pursued fhe enemy that was retreat~. 
ing toCadora, and took some hun. — 
dreds. On the sixteenth, all the 
French divisions directed their. - 
march to the Tagliamento. The 
Austrians were entrenched on the 
opposite side, ins hope of being 
more successful, in defending the 
passage of this river, than of the 
Piava. ‘The archduke commanded 
them in person, and was duly sen- 
sible of the necessity of stopping the 
progress of the French, and that, by 
passing this river, they would be 
able to over-run a large extent of 
country. This action, which both 
he and Buonaparte considered as 
decisive, began at mid-day. The 
French 
