Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

PARIS, 1st Prairial, May 20.

Copy of a letter from Citizen Buonaparte, General in chief of the army of Italy, to the Executive Directory.

Citizen Directors,

I was of opinion that the crossing of the river Po, would have been the boldest action of the campaign, as likewise the battle of Millesimo, one of the most vigorous actions ever known; but I have now to relate the battle of Lodi.

The cit, at three o'clock in the morning, the head quarters reached Cassano; at nine our vanguard encountered the enemy defending the approach of Lodi. I immediately ordered all the cavalry to mount, and four pieces of cannon, which had just arrived, to be placed.

General Augereau's division who had stopped at Borghetto and that of General Massena who had slept at Cassano, marched immediately; meantime the van-guard over set all the different posts of the enemy, and took from them one piece of cannon.

We entered Lodi in pursuit of the enemy, who had already crossed Adda, over the bridge. Beaulieu with all his army was ranged in order of battle; 33 pieces of cannon defended the passage of the bridge. I caused all my artillery to be placed in one battery. The canonade for several hours was very vigorous. As soon as the army arrived, they were ranged under a close column, having at their head the second battalion of the Carabineers, and followed by all the battalions of grenadiers, beating the charge and exclaiming, Vive la Republique.

We soon reached the bridge, which is one hundred fathoms in length; the enemy made on us a tremendous discharge, the head of our column seemed for a moment to hesitate, our situation was really critical, Generals Berthier, Massena, Cervano, d'Allemagne, the chiefs of the brigade Lainé, and the chief of the battalion, Dupont, all perceived it, and throwing themselves at the head of the army, decided the fate of the engagement.

Our formidable column over set all that opposed it, all the enemy's artillery was carried away from them; Beaulieu's order of battle was broke, and in its flight spread every where terror and death.

In an instant their whole army was scattered.

General Rusca, Augereau and Berthier, crossed as soon as their division arrived and completed the victory. The cavalry crossed the Adda by a ford which being very bad, delayed their march and by that means prevented their charging the enemy.

The horse of the enemy charged our troops, but did not find it an easy matter to terrify them. Night coming on and the extreme fatigue of the troops, part of whom, had already marched more than ten leagues on the same day, we were not allowed to pursue them any farther. The enemy lost 20 pieces of cannon, two or three thousand men either killed, wounded or taken prisoners. Citizen Latour, aid-de-camp of General Massena, received several wounds with a broad sword. I demand that this brave officer be made chief of a battalion.

Citizen Marmont, my aid-de-camp, chief of a battalion, had his horse wounded under him. Citizen Matrois my aid de-camp capt. had his coat riddled with balls; the courage of this young officer is equal to his activity.

If I was to give the names of all the militaires who distinguished themselves on that glorious day, I should name all the carabineers, and grenadiers of the vanguard, and almost all the officers of the Etat Major. But. I must not forget to mention the brave Berthier, who was on that day a cannoneer, a horseman and a grenadier at the same time. Sugny, chief of brigade, who commanded the artillery, behaved gallantly.

Beaulieu flies with the remainder of his army; he is now crossing over the states of Venice: several towns of which have shut their gates. Since the beginning of the campaign, though we had very warm actions, and the army of the Republic, were oftentimes forced to show a great deal of boldness.

none of them has yet been so terrible as the crossing of the bridge of Lodi. If we lost but few men, it is owing to the haste of the execution, and the sudden effect which the mass and tremendous fire of that intrepid column produced on the army of the enemy. I demand that Citizen Mounir be confirmed adjutant general, who serves in that capacity, although he is not included in this affair. I demand that Citizen Rey, aid de-camp of the brave Massena, and Citizen Thoiret, worthy adjutant of the third battalion of the grenadiers, be both made captains.

As soon as we shall be settled in a place, I will forward you a list of those who have distinguished themselves on that glorious day.