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attacked the village again and again; and, inthe struggle for the possession of that importantpost, which was taken and retaken three times,an engagement of infantry, perhaps the mostbloody of the war, ensued; but the reinforce-ments sent across, by means of the boats andflying bridge, followed each other so quickly, thatthe French soon became greatly superior tothe Austrians upon that point, and forced them,at length, to yield. The construction of thebridge of boats was commenced at about sixo’clock in the morning; at eleven p.m. it wasfinished, and during the night a large forcepassed over, which, after a desperate struggle,repulsed a general attack which the Austriansmade at day-light on the French position, in thehope that their bridge was not finished, andthat it might be possible to drive the troops thathad already crossed, into the river.

This enterprise was extremely sanguinary,and at one time very doubtful. If the Austrianshad succeeded in carrying the village, Moreau’sarmy would have been ruined for the campaign;and I cite this operation to enforce the observa-tion I have already made, as to the doubtfulissue and desperate character of an attempt toeffect the passage of a river by open force, upona single point. Moreau did not intend to act