before Mantua. A second time the hurrying French engaged their foe
almost on the same field. A second time they were easily victorious.
In fact, so terrible was this second defeat that the scattered bands
of Austrians wandered aimlessly about in ignorance of their way. One
of them, four thousand strong, reaching Lonato, found it almost
abandoned by the French, Bonaparte and his staff with but twelve
hundred men being left behind. A herald, blindfolded, as was then the
custom, was at once despatched to summon the French commander to
surrender to the superior Austrian force. The available remnant of the
victorious army quickly gathered, and the messenger was introduced in
the midst of them. As the bandage was taken from his eyes, dazzled by
the light falling on hundreds of brilliant uniforms, the imperious
voice of his great enemy was heard commanding him to return and say to
his leader that it was a personal insult to speak of surrender to the
French army, and that it was he who must immediately yield himself and
his division. The bold scheme was successful, and to the ten thousand
previously killed, wounded, and captured by the conquerors four
thousand prisoners were added. Next morning Wurmser advanced, and with
his right resting on Lake Garda offered battle. The decisive fight
occurred in the center of his long, weak line at Castiglione, where
some fifteen thousand Austrians had happened to make a stand, without
orders and so without assurance of support. Again the French position
was so weak as apparently to throw Bonaparte into a panic, and again,
according to the memoirs of General Landrieux, Augereau's fire and
dash prevailed to have the battle joined, while Bonaparte withdrew in
a sulky pet. Whatever the truth, the attack was made. Before evening
the sharp struggle was over. This affair of August fifth was always
referred to by Napoleon as the true battle of Castiglione. Two days
later Wurmser, who had fondly hoped that Mantua was his and the French
in full retreat, brought up a straggling line of twenty-five thousand
men. These were easily routed by Bonaparte in a series of clever
manoeuvers on the seventh and without much bloodshed. That night saw
the utter rout of Wurmser and the Austrians in full retreat towards
the Tyrol. Had the great risk of these few days been determined
against the French, who would have been to blame but the madcap
Augereau? As things turned out, whose was the glory but Bonaparte's?
Th