1800. | 
ed. The Auftrians had 15,000 infantry, 
and 2000 cavalry. The French had 60 
men killed, and goo wounded ; among 
thefe laft was Schreiber, Chief of the 22d 
of the line. 
_At this period, the Ttalian legion occu- 
pied Brefcia, and the remainder of the 
French army, with Bonaparte at their 
head, marched againft the main army of 
the Aultrians, under General Melas. On 
the 13th of June, at day. break, the army 
directed its march towards Tortona and 
Caftel Nuovo di Scrivia. The corps of 
General Vi&tor, which formed the ad- 
vanced guard, paffed the Scrivia at Dora ; 
that of General Lannes obtained poffeffion 
of Caltel Nuovo, where the Aultrians aban- 
doned 1500 fick, among whom were 600 
in a (tate of recovery, and ready to refume 
active fervice in the army. The fame day, 
the army marched towards San Juliano, 
which the advanced guard of the Auftrians 
evacuated, for the purpofe of occupying a 
pofition at Marengo. They were how- 
ever attacked by the divifion of Gardanne, 
and forced’ to retire to the bridge on the 
Bormida. 
The Auftrians refufed to give the French 
battle in the plain fituated between San Jo- 
liano and Marengo, where they might have 
derived the utmoft advantage from their 
numerous cavalry. In the mean time, a 
divifion of the corps under the command of 
General Deffaix advanced towards Rivalta, 
by turning Tortona. Flying bridges were 
eftablithed on the heights of Caftel Nuovo, 
in order expeditioufly to pafs the Po, end by 
a movement in flank united the divifions on 
the left bank of that river: but on the 
14th of June, at feven in the morning, the 
divifion of Gardanne, which formed the 
advanced guard, was attacked. The Auf- 
trians, by the developement of their 
forces, manifefted the object of their plans. 
The troops under the command of General 
Viétor were immediately ranged in order 
of battle. One part of it formed the 
centre, which occupied the village of Ma- 
rengo; another formed the left’ wing, 
which extended to the Bormida ; the corps 
of General Lannes conitituted the right 
wing: the army formed into two lines, 
and its wings were fupported by a formi- 
dable corps of cavalry. 
The Auftrians made fucceffive attacks, 
advancing in three columns. Their right 
advanced towards Figoralo, by proceeding 
up the Bormida ; their centre by the great 
road; and their left by Cattel Ccriolo. 
General Victor at length informed General 
Berthier that he was attacked by the whole 
of the Auftrian forces. He immediately 
Monruiy Maa. No. 62. 
State of Public Affairs in uly, 1800. 
65 
marched the referve of the cavalry, and 
the corps of General Deffaix. 
The Firft Conful rufhed with eagernefs 
to the field of battle. The action was 
now general, and both fides fought with 
equal fury. General Gardanne futtaised 
for two hours the attack of the right and 
centre of the Auftrians without lofing 
ground, notwithfanding the inferiority of 
his artillery. - The brigade under the 
command of Gen. Kellermann, compofed 
of the 2d and 2oth regiments of cavalry, 
and of the 8th of dragoons, fupported 
the Icft of General Viétor. The right 
was to the village of Marengo, and the 
left towards the Icft bank of the Bormida. 
General Gardanne, in this new fituation, 
took in flank the column which marched 
towards Marengo, and directed a terrible 
and flaughtering fire of muiquetry. 
The Firft Conful, being informed that 
the referve of General Deffaix was not yet 
ready, immediately haftened in perfon 
to the divifion of Lannes, to favour his re- 
treat. In the mean tiie the Auftrians 
advanced. He ordered the 72d demi-tri- 
gade to make different movements ; he en- 
cGeavoured to take the Auttrians in flank, 
and charge at the head of that demi-bri- 
gade, but a general cry iffued from the 
ranks, ‘© We will not fuffer the Firft Con- 
ful to expofe himfelf.”” 
The retreat was {oon effe&ted under the 
fire of eighty pieces of artillery, which 
preceded the march of the Auftrian bat- 
talions, and vomited forth a fhower of 
balls among the French ranks. Therank 
which had been juft in a manner anuihi- 
lated, was immediately fucceeded by other 
troops. The Auftrians believed them- 
felves fure of victory. A numerous ca- 
valry, fupported by many fquadrons of 
light artillery, prefled upon the French 
on their right, and threatened to turn 
their army. The grenadiers of the Con- 
fular Guard marched to fupport the right ; 
they advanced and fuftained three fuccef- 
five charges. At that moment arrived 
the divifion of Monnier, which formed 
part of the Army of Relerve. Berthier 
dire&ted two demi-brigades againft the 
village of Caftel Ceriolo, with orders to 
charge the batialions which fupported the 
Auftrian cavalry. ‘This corps traverfed 
the plain, and obtained poffeffion of Caftel 
Ceriolo, after having repulfed a charge of 
cavalry; but the French centre and their 
left continued their retrogade movements. 
Thefe were foon obliged to evacuate that 
village, and in retiring followed the motions 
of the army, furrounded by the Au&rian 
cavalry, which they held in check, The 
army 
