Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-04-09
Lannes.

RevIew-of the closing scene in that gallant hero's life,
and the fearful rout at Lobau, will be read with INTEREST,"
In the summer of 1909, after Vienna had fallen
into his hands, Napoleon determined to cross the
Danube and give the Archduke Charles battle on the
farther shore. The Danube, near Vienna, flows in a
wide stream, embracing many islands in its slow and
majestic movement over the plain. B~onaparte re-
solved to pass it at two points at the same time,-at
Nussdorf, about a mile above Vienna, and against
the island of Lobau, farther down the river. Lannes
took charge OF the upper pass, and Masenna of the
lower-the two heroes of the coming battle of As
perm. Lannes, failing in his attempt, the whole ar
my was concentrated at Lobau. On the evening of
the 18th of May, B~onaparte surprised the AustrlanS
on the island, and, taking possession Of it and the
other islands around it, had nothing to do but to throw
bridges from LObau to the northern bank of the Dam
u5e. in order to march his army over to the extended
plains of Marchheld, that stretched away from the
bank to the heights of Bisomburg, where lay the
Archduke with a hundred thousand men. Through
unwearied efforts, Bonaparte was able to assemble on
the farther shore, on the morning of the 2lst, forty
thousand men. The Archduke saw, from the heights
he occupied, every movement Of the French army,
which seemed by Its rashness and folly, to be rushing
into the very jaws Of destruction.
Ii was a cloudless summer morning, and as the
glorious sun came flashing over the hill tops, a forest
of glittering bayonets sent back its beams. The
grass and flowers looked up smilingly to the blue hea-
vens, both of which seemed unconscious Of the car
mage that was to end the day. Just as the sun had
reached its meridian, the command to advance was
heard along the heights, answered by shouts that
shook the earth, and the roll of drums and thousands
of trumpets, and wild choruses of the soldiers.
While BOnaparte was still struggling TO get his army
over the bridge, while Lannes' corps was on the far
Their side, and Danvoust In Vienna, the Austrian ar
my, eighty thousand men, came rolling down the
mountain side and over the plain, like a resist
less flood. Fourteen thousand cavalry accompanied
this magniicen host, while nearly three hundred can
,~a ,opo N~rndlfnn NTH tho sound of fb.tpIar ovor
the ground. The army advanced in five awful COL
umns with a curtain of cavalry in front to conceal
their movement and direction. Bonaparte looked with
an unquiet eve on this advancing host, while his own
army was still separated by the Danube. In a mo-
ment the field was in an uprOar. Lannes, who had
crossed, took possession of Esshng, a little village
that stood half a mile from the Danube and Masen-
ma of Aspern, another village, standing at the same
distance from the Danube, and a mile and a half from
Essling. These two villages were the chief points of
defence between which the French army was drawn
ND in line. Around these two villages, in which
were entTenched these two renowned leaders, were to
be the heat and strength of the battle. Three mighty
columns were seen marching with firm and rapid step
to Aspern, while towards Essling, where the brave
Lannes lay, a countless host seemed moving. Be-
tween, Numbered the two hundred and ninety pieces
of cannon, as they slowly advanced, enveloping the
field in a cloud of smoke, blotting out the noon-day
sun, and sending death and havoc among the French
ranks. As night drew on, the conflict became awful.
! Bursting shells, explosions of artillery, and yoHeys
of m~usketry, were mingled with shouts of victory and
cries of terror while over all, as if to drown all,
was heard at intervals the sound of trumpetS and
strains of martial music.
The village in which Massena and Lannes main
tanned their ground with such unconquerable frmness,
took fire, and burned with a red flame over the night
ly battlefield, adding tenfold horror to the work Of
death. But we do not intend to describe the first
days battle. We shall refer to it again when we
speak of Massena and Bessieres, who fought with a
desperation and unconquerable frmness that astonish-
ed even Napoleon. At eleven o'clock at night the
uproar of battle ceased, and through the slowly retir-
ing cloud that rolled away towards the Danube, the
stars came out one by one, to look on the dead and
the dying. Groans and cries loaded the midnight
blast, while the sleeping host lay almost IN each 9TH
er's embrace. Bonaparte wrapped in his military
cloak, lay stretched beside the Danube, not half a mile
from the enemy's cannon. The sentlnels could al
most shake hands across the space that interviewed
and thus the living and the dead lay down together
upon the hard fought field, while the silent cannon
loaded with death, were pointing over the slumbering
hosts. Lulled by the Danube, that rolled its turbu-
lent flood by his side and canopied by the stars, Ma
poleon rested his exhausted frame while he revolved
the disastrous events of the day, and pondered how
he might redeem his error. Massena had lost most
of Aspern but Lannes still held Essling, and had
held it during one of the most sanguinaIy struggles
of that fercely fought battle. Early in the morning,
as soon as the light broke over the eastern hills, the
two armies were again on their feet, and the cannon
opened anew on the walls of living men. The French
troops were dispirited, for the previous day had been
one of defeat; while the AustIans were full of hope.
But the rest of Lannes' corps had crossed the DAN
ube during the night, while Davoust, with nearly
thirty thousand more, was marching with flying col
ors over the bridge. The Archduke had also received
reinforcements, so that two armies of about a hundred
thousand each stood ready to contest the field on the
second day. At the commencement of the onset,
Lannes was driven for the first time from Essling
but St. Hillare coming up to his aid, he rallied his
defeated troops and led them back to the charge, re-
took the place, and held it, though artillery, infantry
and cavalry Numbered upon it with shocks that threat
ened to sweep the village itself from the plain.
At length, Bonaparte, tired of acting on The defen-
sive, began TO prepare for his great and decisive
movement on the centre. Massena was TO hold As
perm, Davoust to march on ESsling, while Lannes,
the brave Lannes, who had fought with such courage
and almost s%uperhuman energy for two days, was or
dered with Oudinot to force the centre and cut the
Austrian army in two. Bonaparte called him to his
side, and from his station behind the lines which
overlooked the field, pointed out to him the course he
wished him to take. Lannes spurred to his post, and
when all was ready B~onaparte came riding along the
lines to animate the soldiers In the decisive onset that
was about to be made. The shouts Wire u Empe-
reur . with which they received him, was heard above
the roar of battle, and fell with an ominous sound
upon the Austrian lines. Apprised by the shouts
where the Emperor was passing, they Immediately
turned their cannon in that direction, hoping by a
chance shot to strike him down. General Monthier
was killed by his side, but the m~ightiest man of blood
of all was not to fall by the sword. In a few minutes
Lannes' awful columns were on the march, and
moved with rapid speed over the field. Two hundred
cannon were placed in front, and advanced like a
rapidly moving wall of fire over the numbered ground.
Behind was the cavalry-the irresistible cuirassiers
that had swept so many battle-felds for Napoleon, and
before the onset of which the best infantry of Europe
had zone down.