Brenta, while Davidovich, marching through Tyrol by the valley of the Adige, was to meet him with the remainder near Verona.  As Jomini has observed, the Austrians gave themselves infinite trouble and encountered grave risks in order to compass a junction of forces which they might quietly have effected at the outset.  Despite all Bonaparte’s lessons, the Aulic Council still clung to its old plan of enveloping the foe and seeking to bewilder them by attacks delivered from different sides.  Possibly also they were emboldened by the comparative smallness of Bonaparte’s numbers to repeat this hazardous manoeuvre.

The French could muster little more than 40,000 men; and of these at least 8,000 were needed opposite Mantua.

At first the Imperialists gained important successes; for though the French held their own on the Brenta, yet their forces in the Tyrol were driven down the valley of the Adige with losses so considerable that Bonaparte was constrained to order a general retreat on Verona.  He discerned that from this central position he could hold in check Alvintzy’s troops marching westwards from Vicenza and prevent their junction with the Imperialists under Davidovich, who were striving to thrust Vaubois’ division from the plateau of Rivoli.

But before offering battle to Alvintzy outside Verona, Bonaparte paid a flying visit to his men posted on that plateau in order to rebuke the wavering and animate the whole body with his own dauntless spirit.  Forming the troops around him, he addressed two regiments in tones of grief and anger.  He reproached them for abandoning strong positions in a panic, and ordered his chief staff officer to inscribe on their colours the ominous words:  “They are no longer of the Army of Italy."[66] Stung by this reproach, the men begged with sobs that the general would test their valour before disgracing them for ever.  The young commander, who must have counted on such a result to his words, when uttered to French soldiers, thereupon promised to listen to their appeals; and their bravery in the ensuing fights wiped every stain of disgrace from their colours.  By such acts as these did he nerve his men against superior numbers and adverse fortune.

Their fortitude was to be severely tried at all points.  Alvintzy occupied a strong position on a line of hills at Caldiero, a few miles to the east of Verona.  His right wing was protected by the spurs of the Tyrolese Alps, while his left was flanked by the marshes which stretch between the rivers Alpon and Adige; and he protected his front by cannon skilfully ranged along the hills.  All the bravery of Massena’s troops failed to dislodge the right wing of the Imperialists.  The French centre was torn by the Austrian cannon and musketry.  A pitiless storm of rain and sleet hindered the advance of the French guns and unsteadied the aim of the gunners; and finally they withdrew into Verona, leaving behind 2,000 killed and wounded, and