"General Beaumont has no cavalry left. I withdrew them all to-night to send to Castelnovo.--Yours, SERRURIER. "I am counting greatly on General Miollis and on a battalion I have sent to Governolo. On second thoughts, to save time, I am returning to Roverbella, where I hope to receive news from the commander-in-chief." My father sent on copies of these two letters to General Miollis, who was at St. Georges. The day was employed in keeping a strict look-out. My father spent the night at the outposts. At nine o'clock on the morning of the 26th, he received this despatch:-- "GENERAL SERRURIER, etc. "I advise you that the enemy is appearing on the Due-Castelli side. "Issue your orders in accordance with this.--Yours, "SERRURIER. "ROVERBELLA, _26 Nivôse._" Two hours later he received this second letter:-- "SERRURIER, etc. "It is imperative, General, that you should prevent the enemy from disembarking: to effect this, take as many as 1500 men to that quarter. "We are not short of troops at present, so do not be anxious.--Yours, SERRURIER. "_26 Nivôse_, ROVERBELLA." If 1500 men had to be taken to the place appointed by General Serrurier, it was necessary to have that number to take. My father therefore wrote to his friend Dallemagne at Montanara to spare as many men from his division as he could and to send them him. Dallemagne replied immediately:-- "MONTANARA, _26 Nivôse, Year V._ "DALLEMAGNE to his friend DUMAS. "Although I do not expect to be attacked, my dear friend, yet the means at my disposal are too weak to allow of my sending much of a force to Formigosa; a third of my division is unable to get on its feet, and its whole strength is but 2000 men. Judge therefore, my dear fellow, if I have any to spare. Nevertheless, directly I got your letter I gave orders to General Montant to hold a few troops ready to march. Moreover, I must inform you that General Serrurier gave me notice in his letter of last night that he was about to give orders to destroy the bridge at Formigosa. If, therefore, he executes this order, it will be impossible for me to send you aid; furthermore, if the enemy, which has crossed the Adige, succeeds in the attack on St. Georges, the sortie from Mantua is certain to take place, and we shall be forced to succumb in spite of all our efforts to withstand the shock, because the enemy will engage without running great risks where he has the stronger force. Good-bye, my dear friend. Rely upon it that I shall always eagerly seek every opportunity to serve you, as to serve my country.--With affectionate regards, "DALLEMAGNE."