[189] Napoleon the same night visited the field of battle, and he told this anecdote of it at St. Helena--"In the deep silence of a beautiful moonlight night," said the Emperor, "a dog leaping suddenly from beneath the clothes of his dead master, rushed upon us, and then immediately returned to his hiding-place, howling piteously. He alternately licked his master's face, and again flew at us; thus at once soliciting aid and threatening revenge. Whether owing to my own particular mood of mind at the moment, the time, the place, or the action itself, I know not, but certainly no incident on any field of battle ever produced so deep an impression on me. I involuntarily stopped to contemplate the scene. This man, thought I, must have had among his comrades friends; and here he lies forsaken by all except his dog! What a strange being is man! and how mysterious are his impressions! I had, without emotion, ordered battles which were to decide the fate of the army; I had beheld with tearless eyes, the execution of those operations, in the course of which numbers of my countrymen were sacrificed; and here my feelings were roused by the mournful howling of a dog. Certainly at that moment I should have been easily moved by a suppliant enemy; I could very well imagine Achilles surrendering up the body of Hector at the sight of Priam's tears."--LAS CASES, tom. ii., p. 403. See also Arnault, Hist. de Napoleon; and Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 11. [190] Montholon, tom. iii., p. 266; Buonaparte, in his letter to the Directory, says 5000; Jomini, tom. ix., p. 116, reduces them to 2000. [191] Jomini, tom. ix., p. 116; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 54; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 267. [192] Montholon, tom. iii., p. 271; Jomini, tom. ix., p. 126. CHAPTER VII. _Corsica reunited with France--Critical situation of Buonaparte in Italy at this period--The Austrian General Alvinzi placed at the head of a new Army--Various Contests, attended with no decisive result--Want of Concert among the Austrian Generals--French Army begin to murmur--First Battle of Arcola--Napoleon in personal danger--No decisive result--Second Battle of Arcola--The French victorious--Fresh want of concert among the Austrian Generals--General Views of Military and Political Affairs, after the conclusion of the fourth Italian Campaign--Austria commences a fifth Campaign--but has not profited by experience--Battle of Rivoli, and Victory of the French--Further successful at La Favorita--French regain their lost ground in Italy--Surrender of Mantua--Instances of Napoleon's Generosity._ [Sidenote: CORSICA REUNITED WITH FRANCE.]