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Foreign News July 19, 1800

Gazette Of The United States, & Daily Advertiser

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

What is this article about?

Reports from Vice-Admiral Lord Keith detail Austrian attacks on French forces around Genoa in late April and May 1800, with British naval support. French suffer heavy losses and retreat; key captures include General Gravier and 1500 men. Austrian advances continue to Port Maurice.

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Full Text

From the London Gazette Extraordinary

Admiralty Office, May 31.

Extract of letters from Vice-Admiral Lord Keith, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels in the Mediterranean, to Evan Nepean, Esq. Secretary of the Admiralty, dated on board the Minotaur, off Genoa, the 3d and 6th May, 1800.

On the 25th ult. Gen. D'Ott communicated to me his intention of making a general attack on all sides of Genoa, and requested co-operation that we might settle the plan. At three A. M. on the 30th, the attack began on the part of gen. D'Ott, by signal from St. Pierre d'Arena, on Quarto, St. Martino, by general Ottenheim, who pressed the enemy up to the wall near the shore under cover of the fire of the Phoenix, Mondovi, Entreprenante, Victoire tender, launches and boats of the squadron. The affair continued until night, when the Austrians retired. being unable to dislodge the enemy from the little fort of St. Martin, situated on a hill about two miles from the sea. Gen. D'Ott was most successful in seizing Due Fratelli, by Escalade, and blocking up Diamonti; on the side of St. Martino the French durst not follow the Austrians, in consequence of the well directed fire of the squadron. It rained the whole day. Shells from the town fell among the ships. The French, however, on the same evening attacked and re-possessed themselves of all their former posts. It is reported they lost many men, as far as fifteen hundred. On the 2d the enemy made a desperate sortie on lieutenant general D'Ott's centre at, Setri. They kept advancing in columns to the muzzles of the cannon repeatedly for an hour, and did not retire till they lost twelve hundred men, of whom twenty officers and two hundred and eighty privates are prisoners. On the 4th I received a letter from the General, informing me that the French had retired to St. Epiratto, and had sustained a considerable loss on the 2d at Loano. He says, that he was much indebted to the fire of the Phaeton, &c. and to the good management of Captain Morris. On the 7th, two mortar boats and two gun boats arrived from Naples. The same day I heard from General Melas, that the French had burnt their magazines at Loano, and had retired to Port Maurice; and that captain Morris had seized twenty corn vessels and a depot of arms, and galled the enemy's rear through several miles of their retreat. Two of Massena's staff were taken in a small boat near Albenga in attempting to escape from Genoa.

Copy of a letter from Vice-Admiral Lord Keith to Evan Nepean, dated Minotaur, off Genoa, 10th May 1800.

SIR,

I Have the honor of enclosing a copy of a letter received by me at a late hour last night from his excellency General Melas, which will convey to their Lordships the most satisfactory accounts of the progress of the Austrian arms, and of the retreat of the enemy's army from the Genoese territory. I have the honor to be, &c. &c.

KEITH.

Head-Quarters, Oneglia.

May 8, 1800.

My Lord. we have been very successful yesterday. The right wing of the army, commanded by General Elnitz, who was on Monte Garro, attacked the enemy at Lochio della Pierre, and succeeded so well, that at nine o'clock in the morning victory was declared in his favour. The general of division Gravier, with a great number of officers and fifteen hundred non-commissioned officers and privates were made prisoners.

The right of the enemy, informed of the defeat of its left, did not delay retreating from Capo di Berta. We have pursued him beyond Port Maurice. Fifteen pieces of cannon of different sizes have been taken from him along the coasts. Our loss has not been considerable; but I regret the loss of major general Brentano, mortally wounded, and major Casté killed. The corps of gen. Elnitz is now at St. Bartholomew, and gen. Gouvion marches with his flying corps to Colla Ardente, and his van guard is already at Broglio, behind the Col de Tende. I wait for the report of the patrols, who are in the pursuit of the enemy, to make my final dispositions. In the mean while, I request your excellency to accept the respect with which I have the honor to be, &c.

MELAS.

Vice Admiral Lord Keith, K. B.

What sub-type of article is it?

Military Campaign Naval Affairs War Report

What keywords are associated?

Genoa Siege Austrian Attack French Retreat Naval Support Massena Staff Captured Gravier Prisoner

What entities or persons were involved?

Lord Keith Gen. D'ott General Melas General Elnitz Gravier Massena Captain Morris

Where did it happen?

Genoa

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Genoa

Event Date

May 1800

Key Persons

Lord Keith Gen. D'ott General Melas General Elnitz Gravier Massena Captain Morris

Outcome

french losses: up to 1500 killed on april 30, 1200 on may 2 with 20 officers and 280 privates captured; general gravier and 1500 men captured on may 7; 15 cannon taken; french retreat from genoese territory to port maurice; austrian losses minor, including major general brentano mortally wounded and major casté killed.

Event Details

Austrian forces under Gen. D'Ott and Gen. Melas, with British naval support from ships like Phoenix, Phaeton, and Minotaur under Lord Keith, attacked French positions around Genoa starting April 30, 1800. Attacks on Quarto, St. Martino, and other sites; French recaptured posts but suffered heavy casualties. On May 2, French sortie repelled at Setri. By May 4, French retired to St. Epiratto and Loano. On May 7-8, Austrians defeated French at Lochio della Pierre, capturing Gravier and 1500; pursued to Port Maurice, seizing vessels and arms. Two of Massena's staff captured near Albenga.

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