He, who in the course of this trying day had three horses shot under him, hardly waited to see Lusignan surrender, and to entrust his friends, Massena, Murat, and Joubert, with the task of pursuing the flying columns of Alvinzi.  He had heard during the battle, that Provera had forced his way to the Lago di Guarda, and was already, by means of boats, in communication with Mantua.  The force of Augereau having proved insufficient to oppose the march of the Imperialists’ second column, it was high time that Napoleon himself should hurry with reinforcements to the Lower Adige, and prevent Wurmser from either housing Provera, or joining him in the open field, and so effecting the escape of his own still formidable garrison whether to the Tyrol or the Romagna.

Having marched all night and all next day, Napoleon reached the vicinity of Mantua late on the 15th.  He found the enemy strongly posted, and Serrurier’s situation highly critical.  A regiment of Provera’s hussars had but a few hours before nearly established themselves in the suburb of St. George.  This Austrian corps had been clothed in white cloaks, resembling those of a well-known French regiment; and advancing towards the gate, would certainly have been admitted as friends—­but for the sagacity of one sergeant, who could not help fancying that the white cloaks had too much of the gloss of novelty about them, to have stood the tear and wear of three Buonapartean campaigns.  This danger had been avoided, but the utmost vigilance was necessary.  The French general himself passed the night in walking about the outposts, so great was his anxiety.

At one of these he found a grenadier asleep by the root of a tree; and taking his gun, without wakening him, performed a sentinel’s duty in his place for about half an hour; when the man, starting from his slumbers, perceived with terror and despair the countenance and occupation of his general.  He fell on his knees before him.  “My friend,” said Napoleon, “here is your musket.  You had fought hard, and marched long, and your sleep is excusable; but a moment’s inattention might at present ruin the army.  I happened to be awake, and have held your post for you.  You will be more careful another time.”

It is needless to say how the devotion of his men was nourished by such anecdotes as these flying ever and anon from column to column.  Next morning there ensued a hot skirmish, recorded as the battle of St. George.  Provera was compelled to retreat, and Wurmser, who had sallied out and seized the causeway and citadel of La Favorita, was fain to retreat within its old walls, in consequence of a desperate assault headed by Napoleon in person.

Provera now found himself entirely cut off from Alvinzi, and surrounded with the French.  He and 5000 men laid down their arms on the 16th of January.  Various bodies of the Austrian force, scattered over the country between the Adige and the Brenta, followed the example;[14] and the brave Wurmser, whose provisions were by this time exhausted, found himself at length under the necessity of sending an offer of capitulation.