A thousand thousand kisses
as tender as my heart! I am somewhat better. I leave to-morrow. The
English are cruising on the Mediterranean. Corsica is ours. Good
news for France and for the army.
"BONAPARTE."
Bonaparte had gone to wage the last decisive battle. He writes to
her from Verona a few lines that he has arrived there, and that he
is just going to mount his horse to pursue the march. In this
letter, however, he does not tell Josephine that General Vaubois,
with his fugitive regiments, has been beaten by the Tyrolese, and
that, driven from their mountains, he has arrived in Verona; that
Alvinzi occupies the Tyrol and has pushed on to Brenta and to Etsch.
Bonaparte was gathering his troops to drive away General Alvinzi,
who had occupied the heights of Caldiero, from these important
positions, and to take possession of them by main force. A violent
and desperate struggle ensued, and the day ended with victory on the
side of the Austrians. Bonaparte had to return to Verona; Alvinzi
maintained himself on the heights.
To the irritated general, disappointed in his plans and humiliated,
his love becomes his "bete de souffrance," upon which he takes
vengeance for the defeat of Caldiero.
Pages:
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473