the Russian commander-in-chief arrived at this last town,
Moreau heard of the surrender of Bergamo and its castle, and on 23rd
April he saw the heads of the columns of the allied army.

The same day the Russian general divided his troops into three strong
columns, corresponding to the three principal points in the French line,
each column numerically more than double the strength of those to whom
they were opposed. The right column, led by General Wukassowich,
advanced towards Lake Lecco, where General Serrurier awaited it. The
left column, under the command of Melas, took up its position in front of
the Cassano entrenchments; and the Austrian division, under Generals Zopf
and Ott, which formed the centre, concentrated at Canonia, ready at a
given moment to seize Vaprio. The Russian and Austrian troops bivouacked
within cannon-shot of the French outposts.

That evening, Foedor, who with his regiment formed part of Chasteler's
division, wrote to General Tchermayloff:

"We are at last opposite the French, and a great battle must take place
to-morrow morning; tomorrow evening I shall be a lieutenant or a corpse."

Next morning, 26th April, cannon resounded at break of day from the
extremities of the lines; on our left Prince Bagration's grenadiers
attacked us, on our right General Seckendorff, who had been detached from
the camp of Triveglio, was marching on Crema.

These two attacks met with very different success. Bagration's
grenadiers were repulsed with terrible loss, whilst Seckendorff, on the
contrary, drove the French out of Crema, and pushed forward towards the
bridge of Lodi. Foedor's predictions were falsified: his portion of the
army did nothing the whole day; his regiment remained motionless, waiting
for orders that did not come.

Souvarow's arrangements were not yet quite complete, the night was needed
for him to finish them. During the night, Moreau, having heard of
Seckendorff's success on his extreme right, sent an order to Serrurier
commanding him to leave at Lecco, which was an easy post to defend, the
18th light brigade and a detachment of dragoons only, and to draw back
with the rest of his troops towards the centre. Serrurier received this
order about two o'clock in the morning, and executed it immediately.

On their side the Russians had lost no time, profiting by the darkness of
the night. General Wukassowich had repaired the bridge at Brevio, which
had been destroyed by the French, whil