Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar12800
Cisalpine troops , stopt the second division of the Neapolitan army , which had marched , . - .-. long the Adriatic towards Ancona , at Porto Fermio . Of the details oi this movement , the following- letter , addressed by General Cfianu yiionet to the French Executive Directory , gives . au ample acccunt . ' The Neapolitan army had entered the territory of the Roman Repub'ic three days before the head of their column appeared at Porto Fermio ; their progress had been marked b provocation to revoltand to the
y every , massacre of the friends of the . French Re-public . The houses of the Republicans had been spoiled , their families insulted , and the tocsin every where rung on the approach of our army , to excite to the murder of them . On the first rumour of so unexpected an attack , General Rusca , consulting only his own valour '
marched to Porto fermio with the 27 th light battalion , the 17 th and 73 d of the hue , and three detachments of the 1 9 th dragoons . -His trooos were in want of everything . ; those of the enemy were furnished with all '' they could require—provisions , ammunition , a numerous train of artillery , and a considerable body , of cavalry ; but the courage of the Republicans is superior to every difficulty . After an engagement of two hours , the enemy retired with tlie greatest haste , leaving ' behind them thdr tents , baggage , artillery , chests , ' and considerable number of their dead '
a ; threestandards , and more than 600 prisoners ; thirty pieces of cannon , and forty covered waggons . In short , Citizen Directors , never was there a more complete defeat " Two of the enemy ' s tartans ' , - laden with provisions , were taken , and two others sunk . I cannot sufficiently praise the courage of all the brave men who have distinguished themselves on this occasion . General Rusca himself deserves the highest eulogium , as well as the Chiefs of the 27 th light troop , ' 17 th and 73 d . of the line . . A . Serjeant of the 73 d demi-brigade , and a Brignditr of the 19 th regiment of dragoons , carried off three standards , in the midst of a fire of musquetry . I have desired Genera ] Rusca to appoint them sub-lieutenants .
I- should be happy if it were in my power to make as favourable a report of the generosity of our enemies , as of the valour of our own soldiers ; but such has been their barbarity , that two of our brave soldiers were found shot , with their hands bound , as well as the Adjutant of the Commune of Pedra , who had refused to strike the tri-coloured Roman flag . I have complained of this aft of barbarity , and . will have vengeance for it . ' . These defeats ,, so unexpected-b y the Neapolitans , thieiv them into great consternation The next
, movement we find thus narrated by General Championet , in a letter to the Executive Directory on the-6 th of December . - « After the . battles of Terni and Porto Fermio , I expected every day new attacks from the Neapolitans , and . I was very much surprized at their inactivity ; but they employed that time , to collect their scattered troops , and to advance against my right . General Macdonald was , indeed , attacked yesterday in his camp at Civita Castellana b y five columns , who proceeded from Bacano . The enemy ' s force consisted of 40 , 000 men . General Mac- , donald , surrounded on all sides , save proofs of his great talents . He
received the attact with great courage , which distinguishes the mm of a firm character , and by his , able disposition disconcerted the projects of the enemy . . ' General Kellerman , commanding the advanced guard , who was posted before Nepi , ' . was attacked with great impetuosity by the first column which advanced from , Monterosi ; the General had with him only three squadrons ofthe 19 th regiment of horse chasseurs , two pieces of li ght artillery , ancl the 1 st division of the nth regiment of the line . This handful of brave men
routed a column of the enemy consisting of Sooo men ; - killed or wounded 4 . 00 , took . 15 p ieces of cannon of diiVerent calibres , 50 caissons , sooo prisoners , 50 of whom were officers , some of them of high rank ; several pairs of colours , ei ght or nine hundred horses or mules ; the military chest , 3000 muskets , all the baggage , and pursued the fugitives to Monterosi ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar12800
Cisalpine troops , stopt the second division of the Neapolitan army , which had marched , . - .-. long the Adriatic towards Ancona , at Porto Fermio . Of the details oi this movement , the following- letter , addressed by General Cfianu yiionet to the French Executive Directory , gives . au ample acccunt . ' The Neapolitan army had entered the territory of the Roman Repub'ic three days before the head of their column appeared at Porto Fermio ; their progress had been marked b provocation to revoltand to the
y every , massacre of the friends of the . French Re-public . The houses of the Republicans had been spoiled , their families insulted , and the tocsin every where rung on the approach of our army , to excite to the murder of them . On the first rumour of so unexpected an attack , General Rusca , consulting only his own valour '
marched to Porto fermio with the 27 th light battalion , the 17 th and 73 d of the hue , and three detachments of the 1 9 th dragoons . -His trooos were in want of everything . ; those of the enemy were furnished with all '' they could require—provisions , ammunition , a numerous train of artillery , and a considerable body , of cavalry ; but the courage of the Republicans is superior to every difficulty . After an engagement of two hours , the enemy retired with tlie greatest haste , leaving ' behind them thdr tents , baggage , artillery , chests , ' and considerable number of their dead '
a ; threestandards , and more than 600 prisoners ; thirty pieces of cannon , and forty covered waggons . In short , Citizen Directors , never was there a more complete defeat " Two of the enemy ' s tartans ' , - laden with provisions , were taken , and two others sunk . I cannot sufficiently praise the courage of all the brave men who have distinguished themselves on this occasion . General Rusca himself deserves the highest eulogium , as well as the Chiefs of the 27 th light troop , ' 17 th and 73 d . of the line . . A . Serjeant of the 73 d demi-brigade , and a Brignditr of the 19 th regiment of dragoons , carried off three standards , in the midst of a fire of musquetry . I have desired Genera ] Rusca to appoint them sub-lieutenants .
I- should be happy if it were in my power to make as favourable a report of the generosity of our enemies , as of the valour of our own soldiers ; but such has been their barbarity , that two of our brave soldiers were found shot , with their hands bound , as well as the Adjutant of the Commune of Pedra , who had refused to strike the tri-coloured Roman flag . I have complained of this aft of barbarity , and . will have vengeance for it . ' . These defeats ,, so unexpected-b y the Neapolitans , thieiv them into great consternation The next
, movement we find thus narrated by General Championet , in a letter to the Executive Directory on the-6 th of December . - « After the . battles of Terni and Porto Fermio , I expected every day new attacks from the Neapolitans , and . I was very much surprized at their inactivity ; but they employed that time , to collect their scattered troops , and to advance against my right . General Macdonald was , indeed , attacked yesterday in his camp at Civita Castellana b y five columns , who proceeded from Bacano . The enemy ' s force consisted of 40 , 000 men . General Mac- , donald , surrounded on all sides , save proofs of his great talents . He
received the attact with great courage , which distinguishes the mm of a firm character , and by his , able disposition disconcerted the projects of the enemy . . ' General Kellerman , commanding the advanced guard , who was posted before Nepi , ' . was attacked with great impetuosity by the first column which advanced from , Monterosi ; the General had with him only three squadrons ofthe 19 th regiment of horse chasseurs , two pieces of li ght artillery , ancl the 1 st division of the nth regiment of the line . This handful of brave men
routed a column of the enemy consisting of Sooo men ; - killed or wounded 4 . 00 , took . 15 p ieces of cannon of diiVerent calibres , 50 caissons , sooo prisoners , 50 of whom were officers , some of them of high rank ; several pairs of colours , ei ght or nine hundred horses or mules ; the military chest , 3000 muskets , all the baggage , and pursued the fugitives to Monterosi ,