The Recorder, Or, Lady's And Gentleman's Miscellany

MARENGO
THE CAMPAIGN OF ITALY:

[Continued from our last]

X. Description of Ivrea,

The Marquissate in which this town is situated was founded by Charlemagne. It is situated partly on a plain and partly on a hill, and contains about seven thousand inhabitants. There are still some remains of an ancient fortress, called Il Castellazzo, supposed to have been built by Ardouin, first Marquis of Ivrea. Its inhabitants are the descendants of a Roman colony, sent hither during the sixth consulship of Marius. It is about eight leagues north of Turin, and is a bishop's see.

The main army having climbed over the mountain of Albaredo, in the manner described, filed off by this town, which seasonably furnished the troops with bread, wine, meat, and rice, objects so indispensably necessary to their subsistence. No sooner were they supplied with these articles than their spirits were again elated with joy, and the present abundance effaced the remembrance of the cruel hardships and privations they had endured.

Here it will be proper to relate an occurrence, which will show in a striking manner, how little the enemy seem to have been prepared for the disasters which were suspended over their heads.

XI. Battle of Romagno.

Four or five thousand of the enemy assembled in haste, from Turin and the adjacent garrisons, united themselves to about two thousand we had driven before us the preceding day, and took up a position at Romagno, where they intrenched themselves. They were covered by a deep river, the bridge of which had not been cut down, owing, as it is imagined, to the contempt they held us in, from entire ignorance of our force, as well as our designs. They said openly among themselves that the report of Bonaparte commanding this army in person, was false, that it was an adventurer who resembled him, or it might be one of his brothers who had put himself at the head of a collection of Italian refugees, without artillery, and without cavalry: that we were only throwing ourselves away in this manner, to turn or divert their main operations before Genoa. One part of them boasted besides, that they only feigned to retreat, in order to draw us into more open ground, to cut us with more ease to pieces.

The next day, the valor of General Lannes, at the head of his advance guard, put an end to their ridiculous stories and their vain hopes together. Romagno was carried by the bayonet; the bridge and the redoubts were soon cleared of the enemy. The dead and the wounded were left on the spot, and the fugitives were pursued as far as the road to Turin. This was a dearly paid-for lesson they acquired of the bravery of those troops they had so much despised a little while before. Their cavalry, indeed, taking advantage of an open space, and a favourable terrain, faced about, charged our infantry which from too much ardour in the pursuit had separated; but, luckily for them, the 5th and 6th demi-brigades of the hussars were near at hand, united to the 6th light, to the 30th and 44th of the line, and again drove off the enemy by prodigies of valor.

XII. Entrance into Vercelli.

Buonaparte, in order the better to conceal his designs, on the 25th of May, caused two divisions to go towards Turin, whilst the advanced guard, under General Lannes, immediately proceeded to the Chiusella and the Po, which obliged the enemy to cross the latter, where they took up a position on its right bank. Thus, while the attention of the Austrians was occupied by the movements of this corps, the division of cavalry under the orders of General Murat, took the route of Milan, and on the 27th of May, entered Vercelli. On the same day, the Italian Legion, commanded by General Lecchi, came down the Sesia. The division of Gen. Turreau advanced by Mount Cenis, and took possession of Susa and the Brunette. A column of our troops penetrated from the Simplon, and marching towards Domo d'Ossola, turned the Austrian position there, on the 28th of May. Gen. Moncey's division, after passing Mount St. Gotthard on the 26th, pushed its advanced guard to Airolo, driving the Austrian General Dalovich to the Lago Maggiore. In the mean time, General Lannes's corps continued its march to the Po, which induced the Austrians to believe it was his intention to take up a position at Asti, in order to intercept the convoys on the Ticino. But our army, after a day's halt at Chivasso, suddenly on the night of the 27th, crossed the Dora; and skirting the Po, joined General Murat at Vercelli.

XIII. Entry into Novara. With the Passage of the Tessino.

The Staff of Ivrea, which was transferred to Vercelli, staid there but one night; next day, removing to Novara, which the enemy had evacuated that morning. We left this latter place at midnight; the Consular guard accompanied us. Already, many divisions attended with the utmost impatience upon the banks of the Tessino, waiting for the General to cross it in their turn. What an interesting spectacle was it to see the generous disputes which arose thereupon. Every one would be of the General's division. The rapidity of the river had destroyed the bridge of boats; and to add to our misfortune, we found ourselves without the means of constructing another. These were obstacles sufficient to have stopped the progress of any other than a French army. A few crazy wherries, or barges, were collected in which the soldiers embarked, and shovels served for oars. Some carabineers of the 6th light darted forward, under the protection of a well-directed fire of musketry, and a few pieces of cannon. The grenadiers of the 28th followed, and the opposite bank was presently cleared of the enemy. As they had less infantry than cavalry, they were obliged to quit the marshes, as also some other fields, and a little wood which had incommoded them more than it had protected them.

Buffalora was the principal point against which the chief of our efforts was directed. The passage was effected a league lower, on the Tessino. Our troops menaced the enemy with taking them in the rear.

(To be continued.)