Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

FROM THE FRENCH PAPERS.

The General in Chief of the Armies of Italy at Naples, to the Executive Directory.

Head-Quarters at Marmirolo,
6th April, 1799

Citizens Directors,

From my last dispatches you would foresee that I would soon be obliged to engage the enemy a second time, in order to compel him to quit the right side of the Adige, and to prevent him from taking me in flank and rear at the moment of passing that river.—

This battle took place yesterday. The action was in an instant extended throughout the whole line.

Generals Victor and Grenier proceeded along the banks of the Adige below Verona to take possession of the village of St. James. Gen. Delmas, with his advanced guard, was to penetrate by Dolobono, and protect the attack of these two divisions. Gen. Moreau, with Harry's and Montrichard's divisions was charged with engaging every corps of the enemy he might find between Villafranca and Verona.—Finally, Serrurier, who was charged with the attack of Villafranca, who having taken that little town, was to pursue the enemy and drive him into the Adige. I know not whether the enemy was acquainted with my plan. But be this as it may, Gen. Serrurier, after having been repulsed at the attack of Villafranca, succeeded, however, in obtaining possession of it by a vigorous charge, and took more than nine hundred prisoners. J. Moreau, with his two divisions, having forced the enemy in the plain to fall back, marched straight to Verona. Gen. Delmas, notwithstanding his wound, which was re-opened by a fall from his horse, during the night, would command his division. I took my post at this attack, as forming the central point, and also to lend assistance to any other place where it might be wanted. The action lasted from eleven in the morning to four in the afternoon. The four divisions on the left had a marked advantage over the enemy, notwithstanding his immense superiority.

Generals Victor and Grenier, who at first obtained some advantage by the impetuosity of their troops, were compelled to slacken their attack about four o'clock; and as the enemy continually received reinforcements from Verona, they were obliged to order a retreat about 6 o'clock.