Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-08-05

{ wing was at the village OF Essllng, and the
left At Grofspren; both these villages were
1 taken. AT four in the afternoon. on the
a1st. the enemy Showed themselves, and
attempted to drive our advanced guard into
I the river. Vain attempt .
The duke Of Rivoli was first attacked Al
I Grofisperen, byBellegarde. He maneuvred
with Moltor's and Legrand's divisions, and
rendered all their attacks abortive. The
t duke Of Monticello defended Essling.--
| The duke of Istrja covered the flank wits
cavalry. The action was severe. The enc
my having 200 cannon and $4,000 men, be-
INC the remains of their armies.
lI'HGeneral D.Espagne divided his corps IN
aNisquares, but he was killed with amuske'
ball at the head of his troops, and general
! Foulers was also killed. General Nansou-
ty arrived in the evening on the field Of
battle, and distinguished himself highly
At eight in the evening the battle ended,
and we remained masters Of the field. Du-
ring the night Oudinot's corps, Hillaire's
division, and two brigades of cavalry eros
sed from the right bank to the left. On the
21st, at four, P. NJ. the duke of Rivoli
was engaged with the enemy, who made
several successive attacks on the village !;
but Rivoli at last completely defeated them.
The enemy occupying large space between
the right and left wings, we took the .reso-
luton of penetrating their centre. The
duke of Montebello headed the charge
Oudinot was ON the left, St. Hillaire III the
centre, and Boudet on the right. The CEN
ire of the enemy could not withstand us ;
in moment all WAS overthrown.
The duke of Istria, made several fine
charges. Itseemed all over with the Aus
trian army, whenat 7 in the morning, an
aid-de-canp of the emperor came to intorni
him that the rising of the Danube had drift
ed a great numb.r of trees and booms,
which in consequence of the events at VI
emma, had been cut down and laid Oh the
bank, and that they had broken down the
bridges which communicated from the right
bank with the little island and with the IS
land la-der-Lobau.
All the reserve corps which were advanc-
ing were upon the right bank, as also part
of our heavy cavalry and all Auerstad's
corps. In consequence of this shocking &C
cident the emperor resolved to stop the
troops from advancing. He ordered the
duke OF Montebrllo to stop on.the field OF
battle and take his position with the lett
wing against curtain which the duke OF
Rlvllo covered, and his right wing at Ess-
ling. The cannon, infantry, and cartridges
which belonged to our parks, could not be
broughtover. The enemy was in the great
est disorder just at the moment when he
learnt eur bridges had been broktn down.
The slackning of our-6re, and the concen-
trating of our army left him no doubt re-
speeding the unforeseen accident that had
happened. AIlh cannon and artillery G.
quipage were again brought IN line, and
from nine A. ". I'LL sevcnsp. N. he had made
the greatest efforts, supported by 200 can
non, to overthrow the French army; but
all hiseeAorts turned only to his dlscomh-
ture. Three times he attacked the villages,
and three times he filled them with his
dead. The enemy resumed the position
which they had left before thetattack began,
and we remained masters OF the h-ld OF bat
tie. Their loss has been great. Prisoners
who have. been taken say, that they lost 2S
general and 60 superior officers. Marshal
Webber and 1900 prisoners are in Our
hands. Ourloss has also beenvery consi
derable; 100 killed and 5000 wounded.
/ The duke of Montcbeilo, Lasnes) was
wounded by a cannon ball in the thigh, on
| the e2d, in the evening. Gen. Hilaire is
| also wounded. General Durosnel was XII
led. The waters of the Danube did mol
permit the bridges to be rebuilt during the
t night, and the emperor ordered the army
ITO pass the little arm from the lett bank
and to take position on the island OF In