Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-11-10
Jeccmiair, chap HSxi. yer. IS.
hftr7rtJro" Me Life Of .fHpoie0a BOsdparA6, lySir va
pAssAGE Or rnE BRinGr an 1nn1

ter Scott.
PASSAGE or II BRIDGE OF LODI.
Though the bridge was left stardin-, il was swert
by twenty or thirty Austrian pieces Of artillery, whose
;t.nudcrs menaced death TO any who should atie,nn!
that pass OF peril. the French, with great aleTtuess,
got as many guns in position on tie iefi bank. and
answered this tremendous iia, with equal spirit.
During this cannonsde, Bona pal tc threw hirls. If person.
ally amongst the fire, IN ordar to station two GUNS load
cd with grapa shot. in srch a rus!Iicr as rendered 1t
InposS!h!e for any one To approach for The purpose OF
undermining or destroying the fridge; and then calmly
proceeded 10 make arrangements for a desperate
attempt. lis c.Falry was directed 10 crosq, if possible.
at a place where the AIDA was SID 10 be fordabIe-
a task which they accofnP! shed with d .Gicuity. Mean
:ime Napoleon observed that the Ausirian line If infant
~ was thrown considerabIy behind The batteries of mr.
ti!ery which they supported, in order that they mirh,
Lave tho advantage Ola bending sicps Of ground which
afforded them shelter from the French fire. lie there
lore, drc" NJ . close column of $500 greuadieIs, pro-
Ieote.. fF":o Ire artillery OF tho .austrjans bv the walls
and houses .! tie io'VD, and get considerably nearer
20 the enemy line D; guns On tue opposite side OF the
AIDA then were their oiEn infantry which ought 60 have
protected them. The Colucln OF granadiers, thus secu
red, waited in comparative safety, until the appearance
Of the French cavalry, who had crossed the ford, began
TO disquict the hHEE Of the Austrians. This was the
critical moment which Bonapartc expected. A sin
Gle word of command wheeled TIE head of The column of
gTenadjers TO tho loft 4 placed it on the peIIlous bridge.
The RCr5 was given 10 advance, & titsy rushed on witn
loud shouts Of Pre- Ia I:npY5hyvr! But their appear-
snCe upon the bridge vas the signal for redoubIed show.
es Of graPc-siiot, while from the windows of the houses
on the LEFT side OF tie river the soldiers who occu-
pied ii:cm poured = Hey after volicy OF rnusletry ON tia
thick column, AZ il erGoavoured TO force Us way over
the long bridge. ~ ore time The French grenadiers
unable 10 sustain this dreadful Storm, appeared for an
instant Go hesitate. But ~ie5thicr, the Chief of Bo-
raphrtc'S Staff, with Aiasacna, LpAllemagne, and Cor
Tiui, hurried to tie head OF The column, and Sy their
presence and gaLan'ry renewed the resolution OF Tie
soldiers, who poured 5cgCss Tie bridge. The Aus-
TRANS lad but ong rcsoatce lef: 10 rush on the French
With the bay onc', and kii or drive back into The AIDA,
those who had forced their passage, before they cnall
:gu!Gy iafO line. or receive srDnOtt from ti,pir cc,prsJes
aho we're sjll fling along Ire bridge. But the 3.nor
luniy was neglected, either because the tr3ops ,?iIo
-houid have executed The r3anoeuvre had been, as we
have already noticed, withdrawn too far from the river;
or because the sO!iiery, as hapQeus when they rcposc
TOO maci confidence in a strong position, became pa.
aic-st'':ck when they saw il unex pectedly carried.
Or it may be that Gen. Eeaulcu, 50 old G. unfortunate.
lad somewhat lost that energy and presence Of mind
Which the critical moment demanded. Whatever vas
thc cause, the French rushed on the artillery men,
from whose ire they had lately suffered so Tremendous
", and, unsupported as hey were, had htIe diiculty
III hGyorctt0g thGra. The Austrian army now coui-
pIejciy gave way, aoA lost in their retreat, ANNOYED as
il was by the French Cavalry, upTards of twenty guns,
n thousand prisoners ant perhaps two thousand more
wounded or slain. Such was the famous passage OF
he Bridge Of Lodi, achieved with such skiilan gal
lantTy as gave tao victor the same character for fearless
ir!re pidity aud practical talent IN actual battle. which
The former part Of The campaign had gained hin IS 4
most able general.
Tie Datc OF Wellington entered the army IN 17S7, as
an Ensign in the Aui regiment of foot. lie was theu in his
iGlh year, aud had received an excellent military educa-
iior uudci the celebrated Pisnerol, President Of TIE Acade-
my Of A"gers. His rise was fspid, Trough not more 50
than tie situation Of his family, and the custom Of the army
" that period might lead rs TO expectation a series Of
p.,r0tious and ~excilrgss DC was on tho Sob Sept. 1875,
sazet.ed a Lieutvuan; Colonel, by purchase, in the SD
infantry.
. 1tisa matter Of rlioiiaiion 10 find a toast that is not
stale, like the follow iug, given at the Plymouth, Mass
cauie-shov: "Ihe Hmcican Fd1r-To wise 10 take the
veil, and TOO 5cau;I u 10 need H."
country paper says, ";hc most whoIceomc method OF
~ctosjs'H2 a wife is by Using" This surpusscs our intel
!, iscuce. u a KISS be punishment, what is the reward 10
consist iu:-But we atc bachelors, and cannot be expected
to understand these thugs. What an ex9uisite!y delicate