1796.] 
of his army took the village and bridge 
of Cerea. But fome part of the french 
troops taking a wrong route, general 
WURMSER was enabled to retake both 
the village andthe bridge. BUONAPARTE 
marched himfelf thither upon the firft 
report of cannon, but it was too late. “* We 
mutt,’ faid he «make a bridge of gold to 
an enemy which flies, or oppofe a barrier 
of fteel.’’ The Auftrians then made good 
their retreat, who, from all calculation, 
would otherwife have been obliged that 
day to’ have laid down their arms 
and furrendered themfelves prifoners. 
WurmMsex defiled all the night of the 
tith towards Mantua, with fuch ra- 
pidity, that in the morning he arrived 
early at Nogara. He learned that the 
bridges of the Molinclla were cut down, 
and that a French. divifion waited for 
him at Cafellaro. He perceived that it 
wold be imprudent to force Cefteilaro, 
becaufe at the dawn the French were in 
puefuitof him ; but the Auftrian general 
defiled by the bridge of Villa Inipenta, 
and defeated their intention. 
General ANGEREAU ariving on the 
roth of September before Porto Leg- 
nago, invefted the place. General Mas- 
sex A difpatched thither the brigade of 
General Victor, to inveft it on the 
fide of the Adize ; and after forne par- 
ley, the garrifon, 1673 ftrong, furren- 
dered themfelves prifoners of war. The 
French found there 22 pieces of field 
ordnance, and the 500 men made pri- 
foners by general WURMSER, im the 
battle of Cerea, who by theie means 
were delivered. 
On the 14th of September the divi- 
fion of general MassENna fet out at day- 
break from Caftellaro, towards Mantua, 
by the road of Deu Caftelli, in order to 
feize the Fauxbourg St. George, and 
thus compel the Auftrians to enter the 
place. The engagement began at noon, 
and the Auftrians defeated the French, 
with fome lofs. ae) 
General Massena took, on the night 
of the rqth, a pofition behind. On the 
morrow, at day-break, the French 
learnt that the Auftrians had drawn 
out nearly all the garrifon of Man- 
tua to defend two important potts, 
called the Favourite, and St.George ; 
and by this bold meafure to preferve the 
means of procuring forage for their nu- 
“Merous cavalry. At two o'clock in the 
afternoon, general Bon attacked the 
_Auftrians pofted before St, George, on 
the left of the French army. The 
French generals PrGeEON, VICTOR, and 
» MOonTHLY Mac. No. IX. 
Public Affairs—France. 
/ 
947 
KILMAINE, marched by tHe right to 
pafs the Auftrians. The battle began on 
all fides with great fpirit, but the French 
in a thort time penetrated the centre of 
the Aufirians, and carried S:. Gcorge, 
and took 3000 prifoners, with 25 pieces 
of cannon. sores 
Various reports have been in circula- 
tion fince thefe difpatches arrived, in- 
timating a change of fortune which has 
happened to this enterprifing general 5 
but as they were ftill unfanétioned by 
official authority, when this fheet was 
cominitted to the prefs, we have not pre- 
fumed to infert them. 
On the 12th of September the archduke 
Cuartezs, leaving a confiderable corps 
in referve, at Windecken, marched with. 
From 
the main body to Friedberg. . 
thence general KRavy pufhed on witha 
ftrong advanced guard towards Wetzlar, 
on the approach of which ‘the French 
abandoned the town, and took poft on 
the heights behind it. General HoTze 
was detached at the fame time towards 
Weilbéurz, but was not able to render 
himfelf mafer of the place. 
‘The Archduke, whofe chief -opera- 
tion feemed hitherto to be diretted to- 
wards Wetzlar, now turned to the left, 
and following the great road to Lim- 
bourg, encamped on the 14th near 
Weyer. His objeét was to penetrate 
the centre of the French line, at the 
points of Limbourg and Dietz, whilf — 
general Kray turned it by the left, 
from Wetzlar, and general MiItizu 
kept in check the right, pofted near 
Naflau.. The Archduke found general 
Jovapawn very advantageoully pofted, 
and in confiderable force, on the heights 
in front of Limbourg, with an appa- 
rent intention of difputing the paflage 
of the Lahn; he therefore judged it ad- 
vifable to defer the atrack till the co- 
Operation of general Neu was more cer= 
tain, and till more troops fhould arrive. 
On the 16th, the Archduke advageed 
againft the front of general JouRDAN’S 
pofition, whilft general Nev, from Kir- 
berg, turned jourean, who per- 
ceiving. himfe danger of being cut 
off, abandoned tha heights with preci- 
pitation, and being €lofely purfued, was. 
obliged to take shelter behing the Labn, 
leaving the Auffrians mafters of Dietz 
and Limbourg. © The Tira 
ace 
, 
latter with fo much obftinacy, that night 
came on before i¢ was poilible to diflodge 
them, From the refiftance made at 
Limbourg, the Archduke was in hopes 
5c that 
lleurs de» . 
fended themfelves in the fuburbs-of the © 

