Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1846-01-17
The Battlefield Of Marenso.

VdSiHitSLOHs lICCs ~, AC4Os 8s8s# M38
The Battlefield Of Marengo.
by REV. ). r. HEADLEY.
/ have been four years on tile way to
Milan, in order to visit the battle field Of
Marengo, which is half days journey
out Of the way. was struck with the care
taken Of the road over the Apennines. It
is not only smooth, and in excellent order.
but men are stationed at certain intervals
during the summer months to wet it once
a day as we do Broadway, to keep the dust
down. We should regard this al home an
entire waste Of labor. asti Il si5....s g
We did not arrive at Marengo in time
to visit the field that evening, so passed on
TO Allessandria, were we stopped over
night. This is the strongest fortified in
land place have ever seen. Well man
ned and provisioned it would be impossible
10 take it. It is singular city, and SOL
diers seem to form the majority Of thc,pop-
ulation. The peasanlry that come in 81
morning to sell fruit, &c. are . squalid look-
ing race. II. 5 III aa.aIa ai4.u sHf
The field of Marengo. is not like most
other modern battle grounds. overrun with
guides, who tell you some truth and good
deal Of fable. 1t is left undisturbed and
not guide can be found. Few visit it,
and | found written description / had in
my pocket indispensable. This was one
Of those battles where Bonaparte escaped.
as by miracle, utter defeat. The Aus
trians were full 10000 strong, while Ma
poleon could muster but little more than
half that number. Napoleon formed three
lines, one in advance Of Marengo at Padre
Buona; one at Marengo; and one behind
this little hamlet, which indeed consists of
scarcely more than half dozen houses.
The first line was under Gardonne, the
second under Victor, and the third com
manded by Napoleon in person. 1t is a
broad plain, with nothing to interrupt the
charge Of cavalry for miles, besides scat
tering trees and huts: with the exception
of a narrow, but deep stream, with a miry
bottom, that passed directly in front Of Ma
rengo. Here Victor stood. The Austrian
heavy infantry formed in the open field and
came down on Gardonne, driving him back
on Victor, posted on the other side Of the
ravihe. The tiralleurs Of both p---'es were
ranged on opposite sides OF TINS stream,
and there win the muzzles of their pieces
almost touching, stood and fired into each
oIner's faces and bosoms for two hours.
1t did not seem possible, as stood on that
stream, so narrow could almost leap across
it, that two armies could stand for that
length Of time, so close to each other, and
steadily fire at each other. They were
but few rods apart, and the cannon and
mnsketry together, swept down whole lines
of living men. At length the indomitable
Victor was compelled to retire before such
a superior force, and fell back on Lannes,
who was advancing to meet him. The two
formed second line Of defence, but the
furious charge Of the Austrian drove them
back while General Elsnitz having march,
ed around, attacked him on the right flank.
and began 10 pour squadron after squadron
Of his splendid cavalry on the retreatiag
colums of Lannes. But the stern hero inn
mediately formed his troops zen enchelon''
and retired without confusion. But the
retreat had become general, and had the
Austrian commander Melas pushed the
battle here: nothing short Of miracle could
have saved Bonaparte from utter ruin.-
But he thought the battle already won, and
that it was now only pursuit, and retired
to the rear, weary and exhausted; and no
wonder, for he was eighty four years of
age. But at that moment, Desaix appear
ed in the field, bringing up the reserve,-
Desaix, rode up to Bonaparte and said, II
think this must be put down as battle
lost.'' II think it is battle won,'' re-
piled Napoleon "push on, and will rally
the line behind you. Riding along the
army he had just stayed in its rapid re-
treat, he said: "Soldiers, we have retired
far enough-let us now advance-you
know it is my custom to sleep on the field
of battle.'' AT the moment Desaix led on
fresh column Of 5000 grenadiers, but at
the first fire he fell dead, shot through the
heart. "Alas! it is not permitted me to
weep" said Napoleon. "On!'' and they
did on, sweeping line after line, till the
whole army was routed, and the battle be-
came slaughter. The Austrian cavalry
fell back on their own Infantry, tramplinc
them to earth; while the French horse
charged like fire over the broken columns.
The routed army at length reached the
Bor,nida, and were precipitated down its
steep banks till its stream was choked with
bodies of men and horses rolled by thou
sands into its purple food. III
Bonaparte's star was still in the ascend
ant. aani#safsl8 saa tYs
How changed was the scene as look
ed upon it. 4, .,.
The herdsman was watching his herd on
the quiet plain, and the careless husband
man driving his plough through the earth,
once heaped with the dead. The Bor-
mida looked as if it never had received a
slain army in its bosom, nor its bright wa
ters been discolored with the blood Of men.
81 st3a4 Ell Mexico. ~
I There are those in Mexico, as well As
the Uniteh States, who anticipate the an
neration Of the former country. The Lon
don Times Of the 4 lth ult., coatains let
ter from its Mexican correspondent, who
appears to entertain the opinion. He saws:
In the opinion Of many, the existence,
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