106] 
which was surrounded and taken; 
but the centre, forming into a com- 
pact body, charged them with such 
vigour, that they soon gave way, 
and were broken on every side.» A 
division of them endeavoured to 
make good’ iis retreat to Salo: but 
‘that place was already occupied by 
the left wing of the French, and 
this division, in attempting to gain 
the mouvtains, towards the 'I'yrol, 
fell mostly into the hands of the 
French. General Augereau, who 
commanded the right wing, assailed 
the left of the Austrians, posted at 
Castigliona. Here a furigus fight 
was maintained the whole day be- 
tween both’parties. The French at 
Jength prevailed, and the Austrians 
sustained an entire defeat. Between 
two and three thousand fell in the 
field, and about four thousand were 
made prisoners, among whom were 
three generals. ‘lhe French also lost 
a considerable number, and some 
officers of great note. 
On the fourth, a division of the 
French attacked a large body of 
Austrians; who were posted at 
Gavardo, towards the western side 
of the lake. The conflict was warm, 
but the Austrians were again worst- 
ed, with the loss of near two thou- 
sand men. 
Notwithstanding the successes of 
the third and fourth, Buonaparte 
was not yet assured of a fortunate 
termination of this obstinate dispute. 
Marsbal Wurmser had drawn toge- 
ther all the troops that could be ral- 
lied, to which he added a part of 
the garrison of Mantua, now re- 
lieved from the siege, and every 
other corps within reach. -Whea 
assembled, they formed an army 
formidable enough to renew the 
contest with Buonaparte, who was 
fully convinced that the most dan- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
-tillery to advanceagainstthem. This’ 
generous and difficult part of thé 
business still remained to be des 
cided. Rat 
He collected the whole of his 
force; and made the most advan- 
tageous arrangements to meet the 
enemy, whose attack he hourly ex 
pected. He visited every post, in 
order to ascertain the numbers that 
could be. spared to reinforce his 
main body. Repairing for this pur- 
pose to Lonade, he found it occu- 
pied by no more than twelve hun- 
dred of his troops, while a division 
of the Austrians, consisting of four 
thousand men, had encompassed ity 
and sent an officer to summon the 
Trench to surrender. Buonaparte 
concluding, from certain circum- 
stances, that this body of Austrians 
belonging to the defeated part of 
their army, and was endeavouring to 
make good its retreat, with remark- 
able presence of mind, told the offi- 
cer, that he was mistaken in think 
ing that he had met only with a de- 
tachment of the French army, the 
main body of which was there with 
Buonaparte himself, who now spoke 
to him, and required him immedi- 
ately to return to his general, and 
require that he should surrender in- 
stantly. The commander of thé 
Austrians, struck with astonishment, 
requested a parley to settle con- 
ditions. But Buonaparte, aware of 
the danger attending the least delay, 
insisted that they should direetly sur- 
render themselves prisoners of war. 
On their still demanding time to con- 
sider, Buonaparte gave orders for a 
body of chosen grenadiers and ar- 
decided the matter, and they all 
laid down their arms, without at- 
tempting to make the least resistance. 
Escaped from this imminent peril,’ 
in s9 extraordinary a manner, the 
French 
