ige sank, and a body of Austrians charged the
small division stationed on the left bank to guard it, in the hope of
destroying the remainder of the bridge. They were repulsed and driven
back toward the marshes with which they meant to cover their flank.
The garrisons of both Arcola and Porcil, a neighboring hamlet, were
seriously weakened by the detention of this force. Two French
divisions were promptly despatched to make use of that advantage,
while at the same time an ambuscade was laid among the pollard willows
which lined the ditches beyond the retreating Austrians. At an
opportune moment the ambuscade unmasked, and by a terrible fire drove
three thousand of the Croatian recruits into the marsh, where most of
them were drowned or shot. Advancing then beyond the Alpon by a bridge
built during the previous night, Bonaparte gave battle on the high
ground to an enemy whose numbers were now, as he calculated, reduced
to a comparative equality with his own. The Austrians made a vigorous
resistance; but such was their credulity as to anything their enemy
might do, that a simple stratagem of the French made them believe that
their left was turned by a division, when in reality but twenty-five
men had been sent to ride around behind the swamps and blow their
bugles. Being simultaneously attacked on the front of the same wing by
Augereau, they drew off at last in good order toward Montebello.
Thence Alvinczy slowly retreated into the valley of the Brenta. The
French returned to Verona. Davidowich, ignorant of all that had
occurred, now finally dislodged Vaubois; but, finding before him
Massena with his division where he had expected Alvinczy and a great
Austrian army, he discreetly withdrew into the Tyrol. It was not until
November twenty-third, long after the departure of both his
colleagues, that Wurmser made a brilliant but of course ineffectual
sally from Mantua. The French were so exhausted, and the Austrians so
decimated and scattered, that by tacit consent hostilities were
intermitted for nearly two months.

CHAPTER XXX.

Bonaparte's Imperious Spirit.

Bonaparte's Transformation -- Military Genius -- Powers and
Principles -- Theory and Conduct -- Political Activity --
Purposes for Italy -- Private Correspondence -- Treatment of
the Italian Powers -- Antagonism to the Directory -- The
Task Before Him -- Masked Dictator.

[Sidenote: 1796.]

During the two months between the middle