rd in the beginning of October that Alvinzi's columns were
in motion: he had placed Vaubois to guard Trent, and Massena at Bassano
to check the march of the field-marshal: but neither of these generals
was able to hold his ground. The troops of Vaubois were driven from
that position of Calliano, the strength of which has been already
mentioned, under circumstances which Napoleon considered disgraceful to
the character of the French soldiery. Massena avoided battle; but such
was the overwhelming superiority of Alvinzi, that he was forced to
abandon the position of Bassano. Napoleon himself hurried forward to
sustain Massena; and a severe rencontre, in which either side claimed
the victory, took place at Vicenza. The French, however, retreated, and
Buonaparte fixed his headquarters at Verona. The whole country between
the Brenta and the Adige was in the enemy's hands; while the still
strong and determined garrison of Mantua in Napoleon's rear, rendering
it indispensable for him to divide his forces, made his position
eminently critical.

His first care was to visit the discomfited troops of Vaubois. "You have
displeased me," said he, "you have suffered yourselves to be driven from
positions where a handful of determined men might have bid an army
defiance. You are no longer French soldiers! You belong not to the army
of Italy." At these words, tears streamed down the rugged cheeks of the
grenadiers. "Place us but once more in the van," cried they, "and you
shall judge whether we do not belong to the army of Italy." The general
dropped his angry tone; and in the rest of the campaign no troops more
distinguished themselves than these.

Having thus revived the ardour of his soldiery, Buonaparte concentrated
his columns on the right of the Adige, while Alvinzi took up a very
strong position on the heights of Caldiero, on the left bank, nearly
opposite to Verona. In pursuance of the same system which had already so
often proved fatal to his opponents, it was the object of Buonaparte to
assault Alvinzi, and scatter his forces, ere they could be joined by
Davidowich. He lost no time, therefore, in attacking the heights of
Caldiero; but in spite of all that Massena, who headed the charge, could
do, the Austrians, strong in numbers and in position, repelled the
assailants with great carnage. A terrible tempest prevailed during the
action, and Napoleon, in his despatches, endeavoured to shift the blame
to the elements.

The coun