The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-22 00:00:00

A battery of twelve pieces, the sole remnant of the whole
artillery of the army, was spread upon the front of the
corps of Desaix.
" These dispositions made, the First Consul rode
through the ranks of his soldiers, and addressed the dif-
ferent corps. My friends,' said he, we have fallen
back far enough: recollect that I am accustomed to lie
on the field of battle.' Having reanimated the troops,
who, inspirited by the arrival of the reserves, burned
with impatience to resume the fight, he gave the signal
for attack. A charge was beaten along the whole line.
• " The Austrians, in order of march rather than in
order of battle, were proceeding along the high road.
The column under the command of M. de Zach came
first. A little in rear, came the centre, half deployed in
the plain, and making front to Lannes.
" General Marmont all- at once unmasked twelve
pieces of cannon. A thick shower of grape-shot fell
upon the head of the surprised Austrian column, which
expected no further resistance; for the enemy believed
that the French were decidedly retreating. Scarcely
had it recovered from this sudden shock, when Desaix
set the 9th light in motion. Go and inform the First
Consul,' said he to Savary, his aides de-camp, that I
am charging, and that I am in want of cavalry to support
me.' Desaix, on horseback, led on this demi brigade.
lle ascended with it the slight rise of the ground which
bid it from the view of the Austrians, and abruptly re-
vealed himself to them by a fire of musketry discharged
within a few paces of them. The Austrians re-
turned it, and Desaix fell, pierced by a ball in the
chest. 'Conceal my death,' said he, to General Boudet,
his chief of division • it might dishearten the troops.'
Useless precaution Of that hero ! His fall had been ob-
served, and his soldiers, like those of Turenne, insisted,
with loud shouts, on avenging their leader. The 9th light,
which on that day earned the title of incomparable, which
it bore till the termination of our wars—the 9th light,
having poured forth its fire, formed in column, and fell
upon the dense mass of the Austrians. At sight of it,
the first two regiments which opened the march, taken
by surprise, fell back in disorder on the second line, and
disappeared in its ranks. The column of Latterman's
grenadiers was then alone at the head, and received this
shock like crack troops. It stood firm. The conflict
extended on both sides of the high road. The 9th light
was supported on the right by Victor's rallied troops, on
the left by the 30th and 59th demi-brigades of Boudet's
division, which had followed the movement. Latter-
nsan's grenadiers were defending themselves with diffi-
culty, when an unforeseen storm suddenly burst over
their heads. General Kellermann, who, on the applica-
tion of Desaix, had received orders to harge, set off at
a gallop, and, passingbetween Lannes and Desaix, placed
part of his squadron en potence, to make head against
the Austrian cavalry, which he saw before him ; then,
with the rest, he fell upon the flank of the column of the
grenadiers, already attacked in front by Boud't's in-
fantry. This charge, executed with extraordinary
vigour, cut the column in two. Kellermann's dragoons
slaughtered to the right and to the left, till pressed on all
sides, the unfortunate grenadiers laid down their arms.
Two thousand of them surrendered. At their head,
Gen. Zach himself was obliged to deliver up his sword.
The Austrians were thus deprived of their commander
during the conclusion of the battle ; for M. de Melas,
as we have seen, thinking himself sure of the victory,
had retired to Alexandria. Kellermann did not stop
there ; dashing upon the Lichtenstein dragoons, he put
them to flight. The latter fell back upon the centre of
the Austrians which was deploying in the plain, in face
of Lannes, and threw it into some disorder. Lannes
then advanced, and attacked the shaken centre of the
Austrians with vigour ; while the grenadiers of the con-
sular guard and Carra St. Cyr again moved towards
Castel Ceriolo, from which they were not far distant.
Along the whole line from San Giuliano to Castel
Ceriolo, the French had resumed the offensive ; they
marched forward, intoxicated with joy and enthusiasm,
on perceiving victory returning to them. Surprise and
discouragement had passed to the side of the Austrians!,
The loss on both sides is thus given :

" The losses, considering the number of the com-
batants, were immense, and out of the usual proportions.
The Austrians lost about 8,000 men, in killed and
wounded, and more than 4,000 prisoners. Their staff
was cruelly decimated. General Haddick was killed;
Generals Vogelsang, Lattermann, Bellegarde, Lamar-
saille, and Gottesheim were wounded; and with them a
great number of officers. Thus they lost, in men hors
dc combat or taken, one-third of their army, if it was from
36,000 to 40,000 strong, as it is generally said to have
been. As for the French, they had 6,000 killed or
wounded, and about 1,000 of them were taken prisoners,
which again exhibits a loss of one-fourth, out of 28,000
soldiers present at the battle. Their staff suffered as
severely as the Austrian staff. Generals Mainony,
Itivaud, Malher, Champeaux, were wounded, the last
mortally. The greatest loss was that of Desaix. France
had not sustained one more to be regretted during a
ten years' warfare. In the estimation of the First Consul,
this loss was great enough to diminish the joy that he
felt for the victory. His secretary, M. de Bourrienne,
hastening to congratulate him on this miraculous
triumph, said to him, What a glorious day ! " Yes,' re-
plied the First Consul, It would have been glorious
indeed, could I but have embraced Desaix this evening
on the field of battle. I was going,' added he, to make
him Minister of War ; I would have made him a prince
if I could.' The conqueror of Marengo had as yet no
notion that he should, at no distant day, have it in his
u_owes to bestow. crowns. on those who served him. The
camp, Savary, who had been long attached to him, sought
out his body from among the dead, and, recognising it
by his profusion of hair, had it removed, and wrapped in
an hussar cloak ; then placing it on his horse, he con-
veyed it to the headquarters at Torre di Garofalo."