menaced the Austrian rear, while Massena’s column denied north-west, so as directly to threaten his flank at Caldiero.  The surprise, however, was by no means complete; for Alvintzy himself purposed to cross the Adige at Zevio, so as to make a dash on Mantua, and in order to protect his flank he had sent a detachment of Croats to hold Arcola.  These now stoutly disputed Augereau’s progress, pouring in from the loopholed cottages volleys which tore away the front of every column of attack.  In vain did Augereau, seizing the colours, lead his foremost regiment to the bridge of Arcola.  Riddled by the musketry, his men fell back in disorder.  In vain did Bonaparte himself, dismounting from his charger, seize a flag, rally these veterans and lead them towards the bridge.  The Croats, constantly reinforced, poured in so deadly a fire as to check the advance:  Muiron, Marmont, and a handful of gallant men still pressed on, thereby screening the body of their chief; but Muiron fell dead, and another officer, seizing Bonaparte, sought to drag him back from certain death.  The column wavered under the bullets, fell back to the further side of the causeway, and in the confusion the commander fell into the deep dyke at the side.  Agonized at the sight, the French rallied, while Marmont and Louis Bonaparte rescued their beloved chief from capture or from a miry death, and he retired to Ronco, soon followed by the wearied troops.[67]

[Illustration:  PLAN TO ILLUSTRATE THE VICTORY OF ARCOLA.]

This memorable first day of fighting at Arcola (November 15th) closed on the strange scene of two armies encamped on dykes, exhausted by an almost amphibious conflict, like that waged by the Dutch “Beggars” in their war of liberation against Spain.  Though at Arcola the republicans had been severely checked, yet further west Massena had held his own; and the French movement as a whole had compelled Alvintzy to suspend any advance on Verona or on Mantua, to come down from the heights of Caldiero, and to fight on ground where his superior numbers were of little avail.  This was seen on the second day of fighting on the dykes opposite Arcola, which was, on the whole, favourable to the smaller veteran force.  On the third day Bonaparte employed a skilful ruse to add to the discouragement of his foes.  He posted a small body of horsemen behind a spinney near the Austrian flank, with orders to sound their trumpets as if for a great cavalry charge.  Alarmed by the noise and by the appearance of French troops from the side of Legnago and behind Arcola, the demoralized white-coats suddenly gave way and retreated for Vicenza.