Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-12-03


Austrians were full Of hope,Bu the of Lannes
corps had crossed the Danube during the night
while Davous, with nearly thirty thousand more
was marching with flying colors the bridge.
The Archduke had also reDforcemen,s, SO that |
two armios of about hundred thousand each stood
ready to contest the held ON line st cond day. At
the commencement OF the onset, Lannes was driv-
en- for the first time from Ess.ing but ST. Hillare
coming up TO his aid, he rallied his defeated troops
and led them back to the chuTge,!e-rooN
and held il though artillery, infantry aud cavalry
numbered upon il with shocks that threatened to
sweep the village itself from the plain
At length Bonaparie tired Of acting on the de-
fensive began to prepare for his great and decisive
| movements on the centre. Massena was to hold
| AsperL, Davonst to march on E.sling. while LIN
mes, the brave Lannes, who had fought with such
courage and almost with superhuman energy for
Two days, was ordered with OudIno 10 force the
centre aud cut the Austrian army in two. Bona
parte called him to his side, and from his station
behind, the lines which overlooked the field, poin-
ted out 10 him the course he wished him to take.
Lannes spurred 10 mis- post, and when all was
ready Bonaparte came riding along the lines TO
animate the soldiers in the decisive onset that
about to be made. The shouts Of"Vire L EN-
pereur ?" with which they received him, was
|
ominous sound upon the Aus ran Us. Apprised
by the shouts where the Emperor was passing.
they Immediately turned their in that d.
rection, hoping by chance shot TO strike him
down. General MonthIer, was killed by his side,
but the mighest man of blood of all not to fall
| by the sword. La u few minutes Lannes' awful
columns were on the march, aud moved with rapid
step over the field. Two hundred cannon. were
placed in front, and advanced like rapidly mo-
wing wall of fire over the currbefed ground. Be-
hind was the cayalry-the irresistible cuIrassiers
that had swept SO many battle fields for Napoleon,
and before the onset of which the best infantry of
Europe had gone down.
The Imperial Guard formed the reserve. Thus
arrayed and sustained, the terrible columns entered
the close fire Of the Austrian batteries and the
deadly voIIeys of the infantry. Lannes knew tha,
the fate of the battle placed in his hands, and
| that the eve of Napoleon vas fixed with the deep
est anxiety upon him. He fell the weight of Eu-
rope on his shoulders and determined to sustain it..
In front clearing path for his strong egIons went
the artillery sending death aud havoc over the
field Around The threatened point the whole IN
terest Of the battle gathered, and tie most wasting
and destructive fire opened on Lannes Steady ranks
But nothing could resist the weight and terror Of
their shock. Through and through tine Austrian
lines they went, with the strength OF the inrolling
tide of the sea. Into The wild battle gorge thus
made by their advance the cavalry plunged at
headong gallop, shaking their sabres above their
heads and sending their victorious shouts over the
roar of the artillery. They dashed on the ranks
with such fury that whole battallions broke and
fled crying "All is lost" Amid tine confusion and
terror still advanced the awful column of Lannes.
On it moved with the strength of fate ITSELF and
Bonapare with delight his avourlte marshall
wringng the crown from Germany and placing il
, on his mead. At length the enve!Oped host pier
ced to the reserve grensdiers Of the Austrian army
and the last fatal blow seemed about 10 be given.
, In tbs dreadful crisis the Archduke showed the
! power and herosm of Napoleon himself. Seeing
that ali was lost without desperate effort, and
apparently not caring for his hie if defeat must be
endured, he spurred his sliced among the shaking
ranks, raliying them by his voice aud bearing tc
the charge, aud selzng the standard of Zach's
corps, which was already yielding to the onset
charged at their head like Storm. His gene
rails reused by his example, dashed into the thick
est of the fight and at the head of their respective,
divisions, fell like many rocks upon the heac
of Lannes' column. Those brave officers almost
, to man, sunk before tho destructive fire that O.
pened upon them, but that dreadful column wal
checked for the first time in its advance, and stood
] ike living rock atnlu us Toes. Inc austrian!
were throw into squares and stood like as many
checkers on the field. Into the very heart o
E these Lannes had penetrated and stopped. Th,
empire stopped with him, and Napoleon saw a
once the peril of his chief. The brave cuirasser
that hac broken the best infantry of the world wer
Immediately ordered TO the rescue. Shaking th,
:, ground over which they galloped--ther glittern!
= armor rafting as they came-they burst into tn
. midst of the enemy aud charged line now stead.
battalions with appalling fury. Round and roun
q the firm squares they rode, squirting their steed
against the very points of,he bayou out in vain
:, Not square broke, not column fled an
! charged in turn by the Austrian cavalry, the
wore compelled to fall back on their own infantry
y Still Lannes stood amid the wreck and carnage Q
the battle field around him. Unable to deploy, s.
as to return terrific fire that wasted him, an
' dlsdaIning to fly, he let his column melt away be
!, side HIM. Being in squares the Austrians coul
4 fire TO advantage, while Lannes could only retur
. il from the edges of his column. Seeing he dar
not deploy his men, the Archduke had the canno
wheeled 10 within five rods Of them and Their