Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-09-08

Vienna vanished; still, however, if that
city hadbcen able to hold out for FIVE days,
u might have been relieved, and the arch
duke resolved on venturing the utmost to
rescue that good city, which, by the en-
ceilent disposition Of its citizens, the faith
'ul attachment To its sovereign and its noble
DEVOTION, has raised To itself an C..
srnal monument in the annals of Austria.
NJ his plans were now direced towards
raining the bridges across the Danube,
near Vienna, and endeavouring to save
the imperial residence, by a combat under
its walls.
Vienna, formerly an important fortress,
Was in vain besiegcd by the Turks, and
would even now from the sol'diiy Of its RAM
parts, the strong proflss of its works, and
the extensive systems of its mines, be-
capable of max ng p otracted resistance,
had M, for upward. Of a century back,
he luxury Of a large metropolis, the wants
OF ease, the conflux Of all the magaa es
IN the c n pire. and the pomp of spen.
did Court, totally efTlced every cpnsidera.
ton of military defence. Palaces dprn
the ramparts, III" easements and di,cbss
were converted into workshops OF trades
men, pianta,i ms mar. ,hc coun,erscarps
oil the fortress, AMI avenues of trees ira
verse the glacs, uniting the most bcautI-
'nl suburbs in the world to the Corps della
Place.
Although under such circumstances, no
obstinate resis,a zee Of the capital was ex
pectel, vet, from the unexamplel loyalty
jpf the inhabitants, it was confidently no
ped that Vienna might, for few days,
serve as a tetc.de.pont to cover the pas
sage OF the river, whence all prepare lons
amounted O no more than to secure the
place against coup ds.nain; and for
his reason the archluke had some time
before difectel fed marsha Hitler to send
part ofhis corps along the RICH, bank to.
wards The caDi'ai, IN the event of his Che
archduke's) passage to he left shore.
Fleld-marshal Hitler now received or
ders 10 bun he hriIgc near SIAM in hi.
rear, u leave SIN II corps Of observation
near Arens, 10 hasten by forced marches
"lih he bu!k t his army % the eDvirons
| OF V'cnna, and as circumstances would
permit, by occupying the small islands,
! % keep up the co nnulca ion with me
city and the dcbouche &C oss the bridges
! the army of the archduke now advan.
csd, without interruption, by Nempolla,
| Horn, and We,krndorf, upon Sock srsn !;
and, in order 10 overave such enterprises
as the enemy might project from the envi-
rons of Lin z, part ofthe corps of the gen-
eril OF artillery, count K pIlowraih, which
ill then had remained near Pilscn with a
| view to secure tine north and west from Ter
| of Bohemia, was ordered to march to
| RudweIs.
( Napoleon had used so much expedition
on his march 70 Vienna, that on the 9th
OF May his advanced troops appeared on
! the Slscls OF the fortress, whence they
were driven by same cannon shot. From
three to four thousand regular troops, a.
many armed cltizens, and some battalions
of country militia defended the city ord.
nance of various caiibre was placed upon
the ramparts the suburbs were abandon
ed, on account of their grea, ex enl, and
J the numerous islands and low bushy
, ground behind the town were occupied by
some light troops of the corps OF Hitler,
as well as by the m lilia.
! The corps Itself was posted on VIVA, is
'erned 6 he Pyini," on the left shore of
the river, WAITING III arrival Of the army,
which was advancing in haste.
The occupation If Vienna formed too
essential part in the extensive plans o!
The French emperor; its conquest had
lbeen announced by him with too much
confidence, and was of too great imp9r-
lance towards confirming the prejudice OF
his irresis'abie power, for him no, to EN-.
ploy every method Of taking before the
assistance which was so near could arrive.
For tie space OF twenty -four hours the
howizers played upon the town and
though several houses were set on fire, the
COURAGE Of the inhabitants remained un.
! shaken. But general devastation threat
ened their valuable property, and when al
leng the enemy, aval'ng himself OF the
numerous craft which lac found there
crossed the smaller branches AT the Dan.
nbe, dIslodged the troops from the nearer
Stands, and menlced their communication
With the left bank the cry was JUSTIFIED
IN captivating, while the troops retreaiec
BY the great bridge OF Tabor, which theJ
At erwards set OF fire.
The arChduke received this in;ell.genc,
- his head quarters, between Heirn an,
4 Nfsfea nj