92] 
they might have done for native 
princes. 
To the praises bestowed by Buo- 
naparte on his army, the direétory 
added its acknowledgments to him, 
and those of his officers who had 
signalized themselves in the late 
actions. It wrote to them separately, 
specifying, in the most gracious and 
satisfactory manner, the particular 
motives for which the thanks of the 
public were due to them. 
This homage paid to their moe- 
rit, in the name of the nation, 
by, those who were invested with 
its supreme authority, was received, 
by the French officers, as the highest 
honour that could be conferred 
upon them, to be considered as de- 
serving of it was now become the 
summit of their wishes; so effectually 
had the republican notions of patri- 
otism taken possession of their minds. 
The moment after the suspension 
of arms between the French and 
the king of Sardinia had been signed, 
Buonaparte lost no time in availing 
himself of itto the utmost. Hein- 
stantly put his army in motion from 
all quarters, in order to cross the 
Po, and to render it doubtful to 
the enemy, by his various move- 
ments, at what place he would at- 
tempt the passage over that river. 
The Austrian general did not doubt 
but the French would endeavour to 
pass it at the town of Valenza, which 
they had: stipulated with the Sar- 
dinian ministry should be ceded to 
them for that purpose. For this 
reason, he made every disposition 
necessary to obstruct their passage at 
this place: but Buonaparte deceived 
him; and,by rapid marches,reached 
the banks of the Po, opposite to 
the city of Placenza. A body .of 
horse prepared to oppose him; but 
a, chosen corps of French infantry, 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
having seized a number of boats, 
rowed to the other side, protected 
by so heavy a dischargeof musketry,. 
that the enemy was obliged to re- 
tire, and leave them to land, which 
they did in the compactest order. 
This was effected on the seventh of 
May. Assoon as Beaulieu was ap- 
prised of it, equally astonished at an 
event he had so little expected, and 
anxious to repair the mistake he had 
committed, he selected the best -of 
his troops, with whom he advanced 
on the French, in hope of coming 
upon them before a sufficient numa 
ber could have crossed to secure the 
passage of the rest; but they were 
not only om his side of the river, 
but marching towards him, On re- 
ceiving this intelligence, he in- 
trenched himself at Fombio, a vil- 
lage advantageously situated, ex- 
pecting the arrival of reinforce. 
ments’; but he was immediately 
attacked on every side by the 
French, who forced him to break 
up his camp in the utmost disorder, 
and with the loss of a large quan- 
tity of horses and baggage, as well 
as of men. 
Another body of Austrians was, 
in the mean time, hastening to his 
aid, and came up with the French 
early the next morning: but ge- 
neral Laharpe, an officer of great 
merit and intrepidity, charged them 
with such vigour, that they were 
instantly defeated, and put to flight. — 
The Joss of this officer, who fell 
on this occasion, was more than a 
counterpoise to the success of the 
French. He was a Swiss by birth ;, 
and, being driven from his country, 
on account of his republican prin- 
ciples, he took refuge in France, 
and entered into the service of the 
republic, where his military talents 
raised him to the rank of a sage 
° 
