The Gazette

Invasion of Naples.

PARIS, JAN. 18.

Gen. Championnet writes thus to the Directory:

"Head Quarters, Capua, Jan. 14, 1799.

"I waited with great impatience the result of my operations, to give you news of the army.

"In order to obtain it, we have had a great many obstacles to conquer; for continual rains, snows and torrents, as well as the insurrections of the peasants which harassed our flanks, intercepted the communication, prevented the passage of the bridges, and frequently caused me great uneasiness; but the valor of the troops and the energy of the Generals overcame everything; and now I am able to inform you that in consequence of the taking of Pescara, the two provinces of Abruzzo, are in the power of the French Republic: That her troops are garrisoning the fortress of Gaeta and that the right wing of my army is encamped before Capua. I shall only mention here the places where the army passed, leaving to the care of the chief of the staff officers to relate all the actions more individually. The 1st division under the command of Gen. Macdonald, after very tiresome marches, passed the Garigliano in two different places, viz. at Ceprano and Isola the roads were almost impassable, and the intrenched posts that the enemy had before that river were formidable; they left in them 80 guns. Whilst the said division was doing this, I had detached Gen. Rey with two regiments of chasseurs, the Polish legion and some light artillery against Terracina. He had orders to take possession of the batteries placed in the defiles, from Fondi to Itri, which had 7 guns and he did so; to make himself master of Gaeta, to cross the Garigliano and present himself before Capua. We did it all to my entire satisfaction. In the mean while Gen. Kellerman, whom the resistance of Viterbo, and the residue of the Sicilian column under the command of Gen. Damas, obliged to remain far from the army, finally informed me that after routing Gen. Damas, subduing Viterbo, and setting at liberty the French prisoners, that that rebellious city kept as hostages, he marched to join the army; he gave orders to his cavalry to go and join the first division at Ceprano, and he himself with the light infantry and cavalry, joined at Fondi, the troops of Gen. Rey. The first division, after crossing the Garigliano, arrived in three marches only, before Capua, and summoned the place to surrender. Mr. Mack, the commander of it, answered, That being covered by the Volturno, and with a strong place, and an entrenched camp, he was determined to defend himself. At this answer Gen. Macdonald gave orders to attack. The grenadiers carried the redoubts. We lost some men, and the valiant Gen. Methier had one of his arms broken.
General Rey complying with his instructions, and being reinforced with the troops of Kellerman, presented himself before Gaeta, which being defended by 4000 men, 70 guns, and 22 mortars, all of them well provided with provisions and ammunition for one year, and in its harbour seven vessels of war, a bridge equipage and a great many vessels loaded with grain, prepared itself for defence, Gen. Rey had a howitzer placed before the place, and was ordered to discharge it a few times, which soon put the garrison in disorder. The enemy's General proposed to capitulate; he was answered he must surrender, otherwise no quarters would be given, which he obeyed. The garrison remain prisoners of war, except the General and 63 officers, who have gone to their homes, having given their word not to serve against the French Republic. We found in the place 100,000 pounds of gun powder, 20,000 stands of arms, &c. &c. (Here follows the detail.) General Rey left a garrison at Gaeta, and having thrown a bridge over the Garigliano, he joined the first division before Capua, and now he forms part of the line of attack." The preparations of defence that Mack makes, leaves a hope for a pitched battle, and I shall begin it, as soon as the column of Gen. Lemoine, which is gone from Aquila, towards Sulmona, and a part of the division of Duhem shall have joined my troops.
The left wing of the army, under the command of the general of this name, after the most skilful and difficult marches, has arrived before Pescara, which Gen. Monnier took possession of. 3000 men, 44 guns, and several mortars, defended this place. The garrison marched out with the honors of war, leaving their arms on the glacis. In the city, and in the harbour, we found two millions of cartridges; 12,000 pounds of powder, and magazines most abundantly provided. Every intelligence confirms, that the King has left Naples, and that Sir Pignatelli has remained in that city as Viceroy. "Gen. Mack sent me the day before yesterday, at St. German, proposals for an armistice.
Private news add that the adjutant Pignatelli proposed as conditions of the armistice, to deliver to the French the place of Capua, and to draw from thence a military line. That hostilities being suspended, Pignatelli would go to Paris with proposals more advantageous; finally he offered in the name of his court to make a treaty of alliance offensive and defensive against England and to give to France all her navy.

[OFFICIAL.]
From the Gazette of Madrid, dated 29th January,

PARIS, JAN. 5.

On the first day of this month the two Councils of the Legislative Body received a message from the Directory which stated; "Eighty thousand Neapolitans had inundated the territory of the Roman Republic. No declaration of war having preceded this act, the French army could not preserve in Rome but the castle of St. Angelo, and when our troops left that city, they said to the Romans, 'we shall be back in 20 days;' but seventeen had not elapsed, when that city was free from enemies. Our soldiers fought and conquered successively, at Porto Ferretto, Ferni, Civita Castellana, Monterecci, Orricoli, Calvi, Rietti, Civitella, Cantalupo and Storta. In these actions and in a campaign of less than 20 days, we have taken 12,000 prisoners, 99 guns, 21 colours and standards, 3000 horses and mules, the baggage and military chests of the fugitives. The enemy's army is flying in confusion: the King and General Mack going before them; that of the French is marching towards Naples."

This message was read twice, amidst acclamations and plaudits, and finally it was ordered to be printed, with the speeches pronounced on that occasion by some of the members, and that six sets should be distributed to each Representative.