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A. C. Defign; and every thing being in readinefs, Colonel 1706. Patee marched without Baggage fecretly the 4th of July in the Night, with a Detachment from Merlara, down the Adige, to find out a proper Place where to pass that River. His Highness also went fecretly that Night from his Head Quarters at St. Martino, and came about 10 the next Morning to Merlara, . from whence he proceeded towards Caftelbaldo; near to which Place the Palatine Troops, thofe of SaxeGotha, and the Imperial Regiment of Bagni, were advanced, and had ranged themselves in a Line which reached near Mezzi, a Place which the French had fortified. The Enemy were much alarm'd with the Arrival of the Germans near Mezzi; and having fent a Reinforcement thither from La Badia, on the other fide of the Adige, they fallied out, to the number of 1200 Foot, upon the Palatine Troops which lay nearest to 'em; but were repulfed with confiderable Lofs. Towards the Evening the Troops near Caftelbaldo received 4 Pieces of heavy Cannon; and Prince Eugene gave Orders for the erecting of a Battery against the Enemy's Poft at Mezzi. The 6th his Highness received Advice from Colonel Patee, That He paffes being march'd as far as Rotta-Nuova, he had fent the Adige. 500 of his Men over the Adige in Boats, who had taken Poft on the other fide; upon which, Orders were fent immediately to make a Bridge there to pafs over the River with the rest of his Detachment, and to fecure himself of fome advantageous Poft, where the Enemy might not furprize or force him. His Highnefs alfo detach'd his Adjutant-General Count Beaufort, with fome Troops, with Orders to poft himfelf on the Banks of the Adige, between Mezzi and Rotta-Nuova, and to obferve whether the Enemy fent any Troops along that River, towards the Place where Colonel Patee had paffed it, and to give notice thereof to his Highness and to the faid Colonel. Orders were fent, at the fame time, to the Imperial Troops that had been left behind at S. Martino, and the other Pofts along the upper Adige, to be in a readiness to march upon the firft Notice they fhould receive. The 7th, Colonel Patee fent an Account, That his whole Detachment had pafs'd the Adige: That the Enemy had thereupon quitted all their Pofts thereabouts as far as La Badia, and that a Bo

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dy of them was drawing together at Canda: Upon A. G. which his Highnefs fent him Orders what he fhould 1706 do further; and withal acquainted him, That he had receiv'd Advice, that the Enemy were fending a Detachment of three or four Thoufand Men to the Lower Adige, who were already advanced beyond Legnago. In the Evening his Highnefs receiv'd Advice from Colonel Patce, That he was marched with the Horfe under his Command to Lucia, and that his Foot was come as far as Boara: That Lieutenant Colonel Meffina, with a Party of the Palatine Regiment of Horfe of Hatzfeldt, had beat one of 150 of the Enemy's Horfe, kill'd between 40 and 50 upon the Spot, and brought in a Captain, a Lieutenant, and 18 Troopers Prifoners, and 30 Horfes, and purfued the rest of them, within a Mile of La Badia. Orders were thereupon dispatch'd to him, to fend out Parties to view the Country, and obferve the Enemy. The Troops under the Command of Major-General Count Reifing, and the Regiments of Herberstein and Guttenfein, which lay along the Upper Adige, were order'd to come down to Caftel-Baldo; and the Pofts which they quitted, were taken up by the Regiments of Reventlau, Kirchbaum and Zumjungen. The Battery against Mezzi being finish'd, the Imperialifts began in the Night, to mount two Pieces of Cannon of 24 Pounders, but the 8th of July in the Morning, to their great Surprize, (for the Batteries had not begun to fire,) the French abandon'd that Poft, which they had fortify'd fo well, that they might have held it a long time. His Highness immediately caufed his Troops to take Poffeffion of it; and judging the Enemy might alfo quit La Badia, he gave Orders to Lieutenant Colonel Hoffman, who commanded the Regiment of Bagni, upon the firft Notice of their having fo done, to pafs the Adige in Boats with that Regiment, and fecure that Poft. His Highnefs himself croffed the River, and went to Colonel Patee's Detachment; and upon his Arrival there, was inform'd, That the Enemy had actually quitted La Badia; upon which he fent out Count Forger, Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Herbeville, with 200 Horfe, towards that Place, and follow'd in Perfon with the rest of Colonel Patee's P 3

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A. G. Detachment. Being arrived there, he found Lieu1706. tenant Colonel Hoffman, with the Regiment of Bagni, before one of the Gates of the Town, ready to enter it, the French being then actually marching out at another Gate. The Enemy had no fooner evacuated the Place, but fome Venetian Troops took Poffeffion of it, and refafed to admit thofe of the Emperor: Whereupon Prince Eugene reprefented to the Governor, that that Place was not properly a fortify'd Town, but a Poft occafionlly fortify'd, and that the French having juft evacuated it, he Prince Eu- could not, according to the Rules of an exact Neugene forces trality refufe him Entrance: But, having in vain, enis Entrance deavoured, by fair means, to bring the Governor to a into La Compliance, he gave Orders for breaking down the Badia.

Gate, and took Poffeffion of that Important Poft protcfting against the Governor's Proceeding, and that he alone fhould be anfwerable for any Confequences that might attend it. The Troops commanded by Major General Reifing, that day, came to Caftelbaldo, and brought with them feveral Pontons for a Bridge to be made over the Adige below Mezzi, for the better Communication of the Troops on either fide of that River. The 9th, Prince Eugene receiv'd an Account, That the Enemy had alfo quitted the Canal of Malopera, and were retir'd towards Caftagnato, behind the Canal Bianco; and that they were under great Confternation, which indeed was evident, from their abandoning, with fuch Precipitation, fo many Pofts; which they had fortify'd with fo much Art and Labour, that 'twas expected they would have difputed the Ground, Foot by Foot." Before the Imperialifts pafs'd the Adige, the French had given out, that if they did get over, they would ftop them, by cutting the Banks of that, and the neighbouring Rivers, and laying the Country under Water: They had, indeed, begun to do fo at Mezzi, but retir'd before they had finifh'd that Work: They attempted the fame at Anguilara, but were again prevented by the Imperialifts coming upon them,

The French, whofe Vanity feems to encreafe with their Difgraces, endeavour'd in their publick Accounts, to put a Glofs on the fading Laurels of the: the Duke of Vendofme, by giving out, "That his Highness who had view'd all that Country, quite

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down to the Sea, had never any Delign to keep it, A. C. because he was fatisfied, that fhould the Enemy 1706. pafs the Adige there, the Tartaro, or Canal Bianco, and a great number of Canals and Moraffes; that fhould they furmount all thofe Difficulties, and eren pafs the Po into the Ferrareze, which is a Country no lefs Impracticable, he could be too quick For them, by paffing the Po, over the Bridge he had cafed to be laid below Palantone, and posting himself on the Arm of the Po, that runs by Ferrara. He knew befides, that the greatest Part of the Imperial Army were ftill between Verona and Legnago: So he contented himself with marching with 8 Battalions from his Camp at Santa Maria de Zevio, to wards San Pietro de Legnago, to obferve them the nearer. And that upon Advice, that Prince Eu gene had augmented the Body of Troops that had pafs'd the Adige to 8 or 10000Men,and that they were advanc'd between the Adige and Cerefolo towards Lufid, within 7 or 8 Miles of la Badia, the Duke of Vendofme had abandon'd là Badia, that he might have the lefs Extent of Ground to defend: Thinking it fufficientto Guard the Canal Bianco, and the Foffa Po licella, which he had entrusted to the Care of the Marquis de St. Fremont, and the Right of the Po, whi ther he had fent the Marquis de Senneterre, with 12 Battalions, and 15 Squadrons.

A Letter from the Baron de Bette, Commiffary of the StatesGeneral,containing fome remarkable Par ticulars, relating to the Pafling of the Adige,it is not improper to infert it in this Place. It is as follows:

High and Mighty Lords,

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Gave, in my laft to your High Mightieffes, an Baron de Account of the Difpofitions made by Prince E-Bette's gene for the Execution of his Defigns, and now ILetter to take the Liberty to acquaint you, that fince that the States time 6 Palatine Battalions with all the Cavalry ofGeneral as that Elector and the Troops of Saxe Gotha, march'd from their Refpective Incampments, and came the lifts P Imperia4th near Caftelbaldo. Collonel Parce decamp'd at the the Adige. fame time and march'd to Anguillara on the Adige below Caftelbado, with a Detachment confifting of 6000 Men. The 5th at Night 600 Palatines, and

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A. C. 200 Saxe Gothans were detach'd to attack the ad'vanc'd Pofts of the Enemy near and at Caftelbado, but they retir'd upon their Approach to Mezzi, 'where they had a Bridge on the Adige, defended by a good Intrenchment. Our Troops pofted 'themselves on the Banks of that River, and made a fhew of intrenching themfelves there, as if they 'had intended to erect Batteries to beat down the Bridge of the Enemy, or diflodge them from their Pofts, whereupon they fally'd out of their Intrenchments with 1200 Men, and attack'd our Detachment with a great deal of Vigour. They were receiv'd with the like Bravery, and after a Skirmifh which lafted about half an hour, they were repuls'd with a confiderable Lofs, leaving our Men mafters of the Banks of the River. We had but 5 Men kill'd and 22 wounded. Our Troops continued to intrench themfelves and prepare Batteries as if they had a mind to attack the Intrenchments in form, and our Cannon being advanc'd in fight of the Enemy, they did not question then but that 'Prince Eugene intended to force his Paffage in that Place; whereupon they drew all their Forces that way. This Stratagem had the defir'd Effect; 'for Colonel Patee with his Detachment pafs'd the Adige, between Borgoforte and Rotta Nova, without any manner of Opposition, and advanc'd the 7th towards Badia, keeping along the Banks of the Adige. He met, in his March, with a Party of the Enemy of 120 Horfe, who were all kill'd or taken Prifoners. The News of that Colonel's having pafs'd the Adige, caus'd a great Confternation among the French: They quitted the Poft of Mezzi in the Night between the 7th and 8th Inftant, and broke down their Bridge, retiring on the other fide of the River; whereupon our Troops took Poft in an Island. Yesterday morning the Enemy quitted alfo la Badia, upon Advice of the Approach of Colonel Patce whereupon Prince Eugene fent over 'the Adige 3 Battalions in feveral Boats, which feiz'd that Place, notwithstanding the Oppofition of the Venetian Garrifon, which had taken Poffeffion. "thereof as foon as the French had quitted the fame. That Detachment was foon after reinforc'd by the "Forces under Colonel Patce. The Enemy netir'd

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