The Austrian army, commanded by Field-marshal Alvinzi, was divided into
two corps, destined to act independently, until they should accomplish
their junction before Mantua. The first of these corps, consisting
of forty-five thousand men, was under the orders of Alvinzi. It was
to debouch by Monte Baldo, upon the positions occupied by the French
army on the Adige. The second corps, commanded by General Provéra,
was destined to act upon the lower Adige, and to raise the blockade
of Mantua. Napoleon, informed of the enemy’s movements, but not
entirely comprehending his projects, confined himself to concentrating
his masses, and giving orders to the troops to hold themselves in
readiness to manœuvre. In the meantime, fresh information satisfied the
general-in-chief of the French army that the corps which had debouched
by La Coronna, over Monte Baldo, was endeavoring to form a junction
with its cavalry and artillery--both which, having crossed the Adige at
Dolce, were directing their march upon the plateau of Rivoli, by the
great road leading by Incanole.
Napoleon immediately foresaw that, by having possession of the plateau,
he should be able to prevent this junction, and obtain all the
advantages of the initiative. He accordingly put his troops in motion,
and at two o’clock in the morning occupied that important position.
Once master of the point fixed upon for the junction of the Austrian
columns, success followed all his dispositions. He repulsed every
attack, made seven thousand prisoners, and took several standards and
twelve pieces of cannon. At two o’clock in the afternoon, the battle of
Rivoli was already gained, when Napoleon, learning that General Provéra
had passed the Adige at Anghiari, and was directing his march upon
Mantua, left to his generals the charge of following up the retreat of
Alvinzi, and placed himself at the head of a division for the purpose
of defeating the designs of Provéra.
By a rapid march, he again succeeded in the initiatory movement, and
in preventing the garrison of Mantua from uniting its force with
the relieving army. The corps intrusted with the blockade, eager to
distinguish itself under the eyes of the conqueror of Rivoli, compelled
the garrison to retire into the place, while the division of Victor,
forgetting the fatigues of a forced march, rushed with impetuosity on
the relieving army in front. At this moment a sortie from the lines
of St. George took him in flank, while the corps of Augereau, which
had followed the march of the Austrian general, attacked him in rear.
Provéra, surrounded on all sides, capitulated. The result of these two
battles cost the Austrians three thousand men in killed and wounded,
twenty-two thousand prisoners, twenty-four standards, and forty-six
pieces of cannon.