1797+] 
fagacity of this general induced him to 
relinquifh his favourite cbjeét of placing 
the republican flag upon the capitol at 
Rome, and to haften the peace with the 
head of the church, to enable him to re- 
turn and to attack the Imperial troops 
under the command of the archduke 
Caarles, 
After the battle of Rivoli, the French 
army occupied the banks of the Piavé 
and Lavis, The Imperial army occupied 
the other bank of the Piavé, had its cen- 
tre behind the Cordevolo, and fupported 
its right on the Adige, from the fide 
of Salurne. On the roth of March, in 
the morning, a divifion of the French 
army, under general Maffena, repaired 
to Feltre ; at his approach, the Auftrians 
evacuated the line of Cordevolo, and 
marched to Bellurne. On the 12th, at 
day-break, a divifion of the French army, 
under general Serrurier, crofled the Pi- 
avé, facing the village of Vider, and de- 
feated the Auitrians who- oppofed their 
paflage, and then advanced rapidly to 
St. Salvador : the Auftrians, upon per- 
ceiving this, and apprehenfive of being 
furrounded, evacuated their camp of La 
Camparia. The French general, Guieux,.: 
at two o'clock in the afternoon, paffed 
the Piave at Ofpedaletto, and arrived in 
the evening at Conegliana. In the courfe 
of that day the French cavalry frequently 
attacked the Auftrian cavalry, which they 
defeated, with fome lofs. On the 13th of 
March, the French general Guieux, with 
his divifion, arrived at Saifle, fell on the 
Auftrian rear-guard, and, notwithftand- 
ing the darknefs of the nighr, took one 
hundred prifoners from them. At the 
fame time general Maffena’s divifion hay- 
n~-3* 
ing reached Bellurne, purfued the Auf- 
trians who had retreated towards Cadore, 
hemmed in their rear-guard, and took 
~feven hundred prifoners, among whom 
was general Lufignan, who commanded 
the centre. 
On the 16th of March general Guieux’s 
divition fet out from Pardepone, and that. 
of general Serrurier left Pafiano, both 
directing their march to Valvafone. Thefe 
forces, with the troops under general 
Bernadotte, arrived on.the banks of the 
‘Tagliamento at eleven o’clock in the 
moraing. The Auftrian army was en- 
.trenched bm the oppofite fide of the river, 
ef which it difputed the paffage 3. but 
fome French troops, led on by the gene- 
ral Duphot, threw themfelves into the. 
river, and prefently gained the other 
fide ; others of the French troops fol- 
lowed the example; the river was croff- 
ed, and the Auftrians routed in every 
Montaty Mac.No, XVI. 
Public Affairs——Francé. 
again at the 
315 
direction; their cavalrv' were defeated, 
and the general who commanded it was 
taken. General Guieux attacked and 
took the village of Gradifca, and routed 
the Auttrians; prince Charles had juft 
time enough to fave himielf.. The fupe- 
riority of French artillery, it is faid, 
alarmed the Aufirians to fuch.a degree, 
that they would not make a fland, and 
took flight in the night. 
After thefe fuccefles-of the French, in 
the p iffage of the Piavé, of the battles of 
Longara, of Saifle, and of Tagliamento, 
the French army took a pofition on the 
torrent of the Torre. 
The Aufirians, 
at their approach, evacuated Polmanova, ~ 
where the republicans found 30,009 ra= 
tions of bread, &c. It was but ten days 
before, that the Imperial general had 
feized that place from the Venetians. 
The French troops next paffedthe Ifono, 
reached the town of Gradifca, and ad- 
vanced to the walls with tixed bayonets. 
They were there received with a dif- 
charge of mufquetry and grape-fhot. Ge- 
neral Bernadotte, obliged to fupport them, 
brought. forward four pieces of cannon» 
to force the gates; but they were de- 
fended by a flecbe well entrenched. Ge- 
neral Serrurier, in the meantime, arrived 
with the troops under his command ; the 
Auftrians perceiving this, defpaired of 
making their efcape, and immediately. 
capitulated. Five thoufand prifoners, 
the Hower of prince Charles’s army, ten 
pieces of cannon, and eight ftandards, 
were the advantages which the French 
acquired by this movement. General 
suonaparte took up his head-quarters gt 
Gradifea. 
The French army followed up thefe 
advantages, and defeated the Auftrians 
bridge of Cafafola, and took 
fix hundred prifoners. On the 21ft of 
March, the French entered Goritz, the 
Auftrians having effeéted their rétreat 
with fo much precipitation-as to leave in 
the hands of the French four hofpitals, 
containing fifteen hundred fick, and all 
the magazines of provifions and ammu- 
nition. General Maffena purfued: the 
Auftrians as far as La Pontieba, and the 
republicans became mafters of the cele= 
brated mines of D’Ydria. 
The French general Maflena, being 
arrived at Tarvis, was attacked by a di- 
vifion of Auftrians, and, after a conflict 
extremely obftinate, he put them to the 
rout, and took a great number of prifo- 
ners, among whom were three generals*, 
* This engagement of Tarvis, GBuonaparte 
obferves, was fought above the clouds, on a 
height which commands Germany. 
Best _-.. Meanwhile. 
