The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-03-19
THE BATTLE FIELD OF MARENGo
BY REV. ]. t. HEADLEY.

| have been tour DAYS on the way TO Milan
in order 10 visit the battle field of Marengo,
which is a half days journey out of the way.
was struck with the care taken of the road
over the Apprentices. Ii 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 in Broadway,
10 keep the dust down. We should regard
this at home an entire waste of labor.
We-did not arrive at Marengo in time 10
vststhe field that evening, SO passed on 10
Allessandria, where we stopped over night
This is the strongest fortified inland place
have seen. Well mannede and provisioned;
it would be impossible 10 take it. Ii is a
singular city, and soldiers seem 10 form the
majority ofihe popu lation. The peasaniry
that come in at morning 10 sell fruit, al
cetera, are squalid looking race.
| The field o! Marengo, is not like most 9th
er modern backgrounds, oveTrun with guides
who tell you some truth and a good deal Of
| fable. Ii is left undsturbed, and not guide
can be found Few visit it, and found an
written description had in my pocket, in
Indispensable. This was one of those. battles
where Bonaparte escaped, as by miracle,
Iutler defeat. The Auslrians were foil 10000
strong while Napoleon could muster but lii
lie more than one halftlat number. Napo-
leon formed thee lines; one in advance of
Marengo at Padre Buona; one at Marengo;
and one behind this little hamlet which in
deed, consists of scarcely more than half a
dozen houses. The first line was under Gar
donne, the second under Victor, and The third
commanded by Napoleon in person. seItis a
III
charge of cavalry for miles, besides scatter
ing trees and .hnls; with the exception OF
narrow, but deep stream, with a'miry bottom
that passes directly in front of Marengo.-
Here Victor stood. The Austrian heavy in
fantry formed in the open field, and came
down on Gardonne, driving him back onVic-
ltor posted on the other side of the rayine.-
4 The tiraileurs of both armies were ranged on
opposite sides of this stream, aud there with
the muzzles of their pieces almost touching,
stood and fired into each others faces and
blossoms for two hours. 1t did not seem pos
sble, as stood by that stream, SO narrow
could almost leap across it, that two armies
could stand for that length of lime, so close
to each other, and steadily fire at each other.
They were but a few rods apart, and the
cannon and muskelry together, swept down
whole ranks of living men. Al length the
ndomitable Victor was compelled 10 retire
before such superior force, and fell back on
Lanes, who was advancing to meet him. The
two formed second line of defence, but the
, furious charge OF the Aastrians drove them
back while General Elsnitz, having marched
around, attacked him on the right flank, and
lbegan to pour squadron after squadron ofhis
splendid cavalry on the retreatng columns of
Lannes. But the stern hero Immediately
formed his troops Gen echelon," and retired
without confusion. But the retreat became
general, and had the Austrian commander,
Melas, pushed the battle here, noting short
ola miracle could have saved Bonaparte from
utter ruin. But he thought the battle already
avon, and that it was now only a pursuit, and
retired to the rear, weary and exhausted;-
= and no wonder, he was eighiy-four years OF
age. But at that moment, Desaix appeared
on the field, bringing up the reserve. De-
saix rode up TO Bonaparle, and said, IL think
this must be put. down as a battle lost" 81
think il is battle won," replied Napoleon,
''push on and | will rally the line behind
you.n Riding along the army he had just
; stayed its rapid retreat, he said, ''Soldlers,
we have retired far enough-iet US now adj
vance-you know it is my custom TO sleep
ON the field of batIle.'' At that moment
: Desaix led on fresh column of 5000 gren-
: adiers, but at the first fire he fell dead, shot
$ through the heart "Alas! it is not permit
J ted me to weep said Napoleon. SON. and
Z they did on, sweeping line after line till the
whole army was routed, and the battle be
! came slaughter. The Austrian cavalry
/ fe back on their own infantry, trampling
a them 10 death; while the French horse char
; ged like fire over the broken columns. The
: routed arm at length reached the Bormida
d and were precipitaied down lis steep banks
n till IFS stream was choked with the bodies Of
: men and horses rolled by thousands into lis
a purple flood.
e Bonaparte's star was still in the ascend
!. ant.
o How changed was the scene as | look
ed upon it. The herdsman was watching
r his herd on the quiet plain, and the careles;
j. husbandman driving his plough through tht
$ earth once heaped with the dead. The Bor
" mida looked as if it never had received ;
r slain army on lt-hAsom, nor lis bright waite
been discolored with the blood Of men.