ARCO'LA, or Anco'Lk, a village on the left bank of the Adige,In northern Italy, 15 m. e.s.e. of Verona, famous for the victory gained by Bonaparte over the Austrians, 17th Nov., 1790. The Austrians, relieved by the retreat of Moreau from the Rhine, had begun to take the offensive in Italy, and gen. Alvinzy appeared at the head of 50,000 men, with the main body of which he advanced to Caldiero, and threatened Verona. Bonaparte, recognizing the danger, descended by night the course of the Adige, crossed that river at Ronco, and was thus in a position to threaten the left flank of Alvinzy's army, which was posted at A. A causeway leads from Bone° across the morasses to A., before reaching which, the road crosses the small stream of the Alpon by a narrow bridge. This bridge was defended by the Austrian general, Mittrowsky, with 14 bat talions of infantry, and 2 squadrons of cavalry. On the 14th of Nov., Augereau
attacked the bridge with two battalions of grenadiers, but being exposed in flank to the Austrian fire, was obliged to withdraw. Bonaparte now seized the standard him self, and rushed on the bridge, followed by the grenadiers; but again the fire of the Aus trians, who were in much greater force than the French, made it necessary to draw back. The struggle was renewed on the 16th, with a similar result; and it was only on the 17th that the French succeeded in getting possession of A., not, however, by forcing the bridge, but by sending a column across the Alpon, lower down; and getting in rear of the Austrians. On this Alvinzy was obliged to retreat to Vicenza. It fared DO better with the other column of the Austrians under Davidovich. In this series of battles the Austrians lost 18,000 men killed, and 6000 prisoners. The French loss was 15,000.