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XVIII. 1795.

drove back the first assailants; but such was the vehemence CHAP. of the fresh columns which the Republicans brought up to the assault, that they were compelled at length to retire to a second line on the right bank of the Bormida. Massena soon forced that position also, and, by so doing, got into the interior of the Austrian line, and was able to take all their positions in rear. The result of this first day's combat was, that the centre of the Allies being forced, their left wing was liable to be overwhelmed by the combined attacks of the French centre and right wing. No sooner was the Austrian general made sensible of this disaster, than he took the most precipitate steps to draw back his left wing. But he was not permitted to do this without sustaining the greatest losses. By break of day Augereau was climbing the heights of the Apennines, while his victorious battalions were driving every thing before them. In conducting their retreat, the Imperialists did not display the vigour or decision which could alone save them in such perilous circumstances, and which, on the preceding day, had extricated the division commanded 310, 315. by Roccavini from equal danger.1

1 Toul. v.

379, 381.

Jom. vii.

16.

retreat of

and

the battle.

The consequence was, that one column was beset on all sides in a ravine, which formed their only line of retreat; Disastrous the head of the column, seized with a panic, was driven the Allies, back upon the centre, and thrown into utter confusion; sive deniseand, in the midst of an unparalleled scene of carnage and quences of horror, forty-eight pieces of cannon, and one hundred caissons, were abandoned. The other column of the left wing only escaped by betaking themselves to almost inaccessible paths, and abandoning all their artillery, and at length, with great difficulty, effected their retreat by the road of the Corniche. Five thousand prisoners, eighty pieces of cannon, and an immense quantity of ammunition. and magazines, fell into the hands of the victors; the total loss on the side of the Austrians was not less than seven thousand, while that of the French hardly amounted to one thousand men. This great victory, which terminated

VOL. III.

2 M

XVIII.

1795.

the campaign of 1795 in the Alps, was of decisive importance to the Republic. It gave the French winter-quarters at Loano, Savona, Vado, and other places on the Italian side of the Apennines, and, by rendering them masters of the valleys of the Orba, the Bormida, and the Tanaro, afforded every facility, at the commencement of the following campaign, for achieving the great object of separating the Austrian from the Piedmontese troops. In Savoy, the early fall of the snows precluded active operations at that rigorous season; but the French continued to occupy their elevated position on the summits of the 380, 383. ridge of Mont Genevre, Mont Cenis, and the Little St

1 Jom. vii. 316, 324. Toul. v.

17.

which the

battle was

gained by

licans.

Bernard. 1

This battle, the most decisive yet gained from the comTactics by mencement of the war by the Republican forces, is well deserving of consideration. It was the first instance of the Repub- the successful application by the French troops of those principles of strategy which were afterwards carried to such perfection by Napoleon. It is the first victory in which the strength of the adverse army was at once broken by the number of prisoners and artillery which were taken. The same principle which the English adopted under Rodney and Howe-that of breaking the line, and falling with an overwhelming force upon one wing-was here carried into execution with decisive effect. It is worthy of observation, that this system was thus fully understood and practically exemplified by Massena, before Napoleon ever had the command of an army; another proof among the many which exist, that even the greatest genius cannot by more than a few years anticipate the lights of the age. plan is the natural result of conscious prowess, and an experienced superiority in combat, which leads the attacking force to throw itself, without hesitation, into the midst of the enemy's columns. It will never be adopted but by the party by whom such a superiority is felt; it will never be successful but where such a superiority exists.

Such a

XVIII.

18.

Spain. In

in Cata

The war on the Spanish frontier, during this campaign, CHAP. was speedily brought to a successful termination. In the Western Pyrenees, the Republicans, during the winter, 1795. had sustained the greatest losses from sickness. No less War in than twelve thousand men had perished in the hospitals decisive since the troops went into their cantonments, and twenty- operations five thousand were still sick; only twenty-five thousand, lonia. out of a nominal force of sixty thousand, were in a condition to take the field, and they, having long been reduced to half a ration a-day, looked more like spectres than men. It was not till the beginning of June that the Republican forces were so much strengthened, by reinforcements from the interior, as to be able to take the field. The fall of Figueras and Rosas gave the French a secure base for their campaign in Catalonia; but the operations there, though upon the whole successful, were not of any decisive importance. The Spanish army in that quarter was stationed on the river Fluvia. Several combats of inconsiderable importance took place, the most remarkable of which was that of Bezalu, where Augereau, with a small force, defeated all the efforts of the Spanish army. The opposing armies were still on the Fluvia, when the treaty of peace between the two powers suspended all further hostilities. 1

1 Jom. vii.

104, 110,

116. Toul.

v. 218, 221.

cesses of the

and acces

of Bâle.

It was in Biscay that the decisive action took place 19. which hastened this important event. Twelve thousand Great sucmen, detached from the army of la Vendée, and replaced Republicans in that quarter by the troops who had been engaged in in Biscay, the reduction of Luxembourg, at length put the French sion of Spain to commander in a condition to take the field. Towards the the treaty end of June, the campaign commenced by an unsuccessful June 25. attempt of the French upon the corps commanded by Filangieri; but, in the beginning of July, Moncey forced the passage of the river Deva, and, by a vigorous attack with his centre, succeeded in dividing the Spanish army into two parts, and interposing a hostile force between them. General Crespo, who commanded the Spanish left,

CHAP.
XVIII.

1795.

July 17.

was so vigorously pursued by the Republicans, that he was compelled to abandon both Bilbao and Vitoria, and found himself driven to the frontiers of Old Castile, with a force reduced by the sword and desertion to seven thousand men. The left wing of the invading army was not so successful; and preparations were making for the investment of Pampeluna, when hostilities were terminated by the intelligence of the treaty of Bâle, concluded on the 12th July between the hostile powers. By this treaty Spain recognised the French Republic, and ceded to France the Spanish half of the island of St Domingo ; an acquisition more embarrassing than valuable, in the state of anarchy to which the precipitate measures for the emancipation of the negroes had reduced that once flourishing colony. In return, the Republic relinquished all its conquests in Spain, and the frontiers of the two states were fixed as before the commencement of hostilities. The principal advantage gained to France by this treaty, and it proved in the end a most important one, was the command which it gave the government of two experienced and courageous armies, which were forthwith transferred vii. 118,125. to the seat of war in the Alps, and powerfully contributed 124. to the great achievements which in the following campaign signalised the progress of the army of Italy.1

July 12.

1 Toul. v.

226. Jom.

Martens, vi.

20.

of La Ven

dée.

During the whole winter of 1794, the unconquerable Pacification Charette maintained, with a few thousand men, the contest in la Vendée. The increase of the Republican forces, the diminution of his own followers, seemed only to augment the resources of his courage. So highly was his perseverance prized, that Suwarroff wrote with his own hand a letter expressive of his admiration; and all the princes of Europe looked to him as the only man capable of restoring the royal cause. But after the fall of Robespierre, and the execution of Carrier, more moderate ideas began to prevail in the French government; and the Committee of Public Salvation became weary of a contest apparently interminable, and which consumed in intestine

XVIII.

1795.

war a large portion of the forces of the Republic. At the suggestion of Carnot, they published a proclamation, couched in terms of reconciliation and amity; and this having led to an address in similar terms from the Royalist chiefs, conferences took place between the contending 1 Lac. xii. parties, and a treaty was concluded at la Jaulnais for the vii. 26. final pacification of the west of France.1

Jan. 18.

298. Jom.

21.

the insur

The principal conditions of this treaty were the according the free and undisturbed exercise of their religion to the Treaty with inhabitants of the insurgent district; the establishment of gents. a corps of two thousand territorial guards, composed of the natives of the country, and paid by government; the immediate payment of two millions of francs for the expenses of the war; various indemnities to the greatest sufferers from its ravages; the removal of the sequestration laid on the property of the emigrants, and all those condemned by the Revolutionary Tribunal; the tacit permission to the people to retain their arms, and an exemption from every kind of tax, levy, or requisition. On their side, the Royalists engaged to submit to the laws of the Republic, and, as soon as possible, surrender their artillery. There were also secret articles, the exact nature of which has never been ascertained; but Charette and the Royalist party always maintained, that they contained an engagement on the part of the Convention, as soon as the state of public feeling would admit of it, to restore the monarchy. This treaty, though not at the time embraced by Stofflet and the Chouans, was shortly after acceded to by them also. Nine days after the signature of this treaty, Charette and his April 20. officers made a triumphal entry into Nantes, amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants. Discharges of artillery announced the passage of the Loire, the scene of so many Lac. xii. Republican atrocities, by the Royalist hero, who was 302, 303. mounted on a splendid charger, dressed in blue, with the 142, 143. Royalist scarf, and a plume of white feathers on his head.2 26, 29. Four of his lieutenants rode by his side, arrayed in the

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Beauch. iii.

Jom. vii.

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