ious, or vanquished without dishonor. This resolution being
adopted, Niccolo led his army, unperceived by the enemy, from Citta di
Castello to the Borgo, where he enlisted two thousand men, who, trusting
the general's talents and promises, followed him in hope of plunder.
Niccolo then led his forces in battle array toward Anghiari, and
had arrived within two miles of the place, when Micheletto Attendulo
observed great clouds of dust, and conjecturing at once, that it must
be occasioned by the enemy's approach, immediately called the troops to
arms. Great confusion prevailed in the Florentine camp, for the ordinary
negligence and want of discipline were now increased by their presuming
the enemy to be at a distance, and they were more disposed to fight than
to battle; so that everyone was unarmed, and some wandering from the
camp, either led by their desire to avoid the excessive heat, or in
pursuit of amusement. So great was the diligence of the commissaries and
of the captain, that before the enemy's arrival, the men were mounted
and prepared to resist their attack; and as Micheletto was the first to
observe their approach, he was also first armed and ready to meet them,
and with his troops hastened to the bridge which crosses the river at a
short distance from Anghiari. Pietro Giampagolo having previous to the
surprise, filled up the ditches on either side of the road, and leveled
the ground between the bridge and Anghiari, and Micheletto having taken
his position in front of the former, the legate and Simoncino, who led
the troops of the church, took post on the right, and the commissaries
of the Florentines, with Pietro Giampagolo, their captain, on the left;
the infantry being drawn up along the banks of the river. Thus, the only
course the enemy could take, was the direct one over the bridge; nor
had the Florentines any other field for their exertions, excepting that
their infantry were ordered, in case their cavalry were attacked in
flank by the hostile infantry, to assail them with their cross bows, and
prevent them from wounding the flanks of the horses crossing the bridge.
Micheletto bravely withstood the enemy's charge upon the bridge; but
Astorre and Francesco Piccinino coming up, with a picked body of men,
attacked him so vigorously, that he was compelled to give way, and
was pushed as far as the foot of the hill which rises toward the Borgo
d'Anghiari; but they were in turn repulsed and driven over the bridge