Napoleon's Letters To Josephine Part 10

_January 13th.--Joubert attacked; retires from Corona on Rivoli in the morning, joined by Bonaparte at night._

_January 14th.--Battle of Rivoli: Austrian centre defeated.

Bonaparte_ _at close of day hurries off with Ma.s.sena's troops to overtake Provera, marching sixteen leagues during the night.

Ma.s.sena named next day enfant cheri de la victoire by Bonaparte, and later Duc de Rivoli._

_January 15th.--Joubert continues battle of Rivoli: complete defeat of Austrians. Provera, however, has reached St. Georges, outside Mantua._

_January 16th--Sortie of Wurmser at La Favorite repulsed. Provera, hurled back by Victor (named the Terrible on this day), is surrounded by skilful manoeuvres of Bonaparte, and surrenders with 6000 men. In three days Bonaparte had taken 18,000 prisoners and all Alvinzi's artillery. Colonel Graham gives Austrian losses at 14,000 to 15,000, exclusive of Provera's 6000._

_January 26th.--Combat of Carpenedolo: Ma.s.sena defeats the Austrians._

_February 2nd.--Joubert occupies Lawis. Capitulation of Mantua, by Wurmser, with 13,000 men (and 6000 in hospital), but he, his staff, and 200 cavalry allowed to return. Enormous capture of artillery, including siege-train abandoned by Bonaparte before the battle of Castiglione. Advance of Victor on Rome._

No. 21.

TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA.

_Forli, February 3, 1797._

I wrote you this morning. I start to-night. Our forces are at Rimini.

This country is beginning to be tranquillised. My cold makes me always rather tired.

I idolise you, and send you a thousand kisses.

A thousand kind messages to my sister.

BONAPARTE.

_February 9th.--Capture of Ancona._

No. 22.

TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA.

_Ancona, February 10, 1797._

We have been at Ancona these two days. We took the citadel, after a slight fusillade, and by a _coup de main_. We made 1200 prisoners. I sent back the fifty officers to their homes.

I am still at Ancona. I do not press you to come, because everything is not yet settled, but in a few days I am hoping that it will be.

Besides, this country is still discontented, and everybody is nervous.

I start to-morrow for the mountains. You don't write to me at all, yet you ought to let me have news of you every day.

Please go out every day; it will do you good.

I send you a million kisses. I never was so sick of anything as of this vile war.

Good-bye, my darling. Think of me!

BONAPARTE.

No. 23.

TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA.

_Ancona, February 13, 1797._

I get no news from you, and I feel sure that you no longer love me. I have sent you the papers, and various letters. I start immediately to cross the mountains. The moment that I know something definite, I will arrange for you to accompany me; it is the dearest wish of my heart.

A thousand and a thousand kisses.

BONAPARTE.

No. 24.

TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA.

_February 16, 1797._

You are melancholy, you are ill; you no longer write to me, you want to go back to Paris. Is it possible that you no longer love your comrade? The very thought makes me wretched. My darling, life is unbearable to me now that I am aware of your melancholy.

I make haste to send you Moscati, so that he may look after you. My health is rather bad; my cold gets no better. Please take care of yourself, love me as much as I love you, and write me every day. I am more uneasy than ever.

I have told Moscati to escort you to Ancona, if you care to come there. I will write to you there, to let you know where I am.

Perhaps I shall make peace with the Pope, then I shall soon be by your side; it is my soul's most ardent wish.

I send you a hundred kisses. Be sure that nothing equals my love, unless it be my uneasiness. Write to me every day yourself. Good-bye, dearest.

BONAPARTE.

No. 25.

_February 19th.--Peace of Tolentino with the Pope, who has to pay for his equivocal att.i.tude and broken treaty._

TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA.

_Tolentino, February 19, 1797._

Peace with Rome has just been signed. Bologna, Ferrara, Romagna, are ceded to the Republic. The Pope is to pay us thirty millions shortly, and various works of art.