the French.

The surrender of Provera and Wurmser, following the total rout of
Alvinzi, placed Lombardy wholly in the hands of Napoleon; and he now
found leisure to avenge himself on the Pope for those hostile
demonstrations which, as yet, he had been contented to hold in check.
The terror with which the priestly court of the Vatican received the
tidings of the utter destruction of the Austrian army, and of the
irresistible conqueror's march southwards, did not prevent the Papal
troops from making some efforts to defend the territories of the Holy
See. General Victor, with 4000 French and as many Lombards, advanced
upon the route of Imola. A Papal force, in numbers about equal, lay
encamped on the river Senio in front of that town. Monks with crucifixes
in their hands, ran through the lines, exciting them to fight bravely
for their country and their Faith. The French general, by a rapid
movement, threw his horse across the stream a league or two higher up,
and then charged with his infantry through the Senio in their front. The
resistance was brief. The Pope's army, composed mostly of new recruits,
retreated in confusion. Faenza was carried by the bayonet. Colli and
3000 more laid down their arms; and the strong town of Ancona was
occupied.[15] On the 10th of February the French entered Loretto, and
rifled that celebrated seat of superstition of whatever treasures it
still retained; the most valuable articles had already been packed up
and sent to Rome for safety.[16]--Victor then turned westwards from
Ancona, with the design to unite with another French column which had
advanced into the papal dominion by Perugia.

The panic which the French advance had by this time spread was such,
that the Pope had no hope but in submission. The peasants lately
transformed into soldiers abandoned everywhere their arms, and fled in