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

niucch. seeing mdt AL was lOSt WllnOut n desperate
effort, and apparently not caring for his life, if defeat
must be endured, he spurred his steed among the
shaking ranks, rallying them by his voice and bearing
the standard OF Zachs corps, which was already
yielding to the onset, charged at their head like a
storm. His Generals, reused by his example, dashed
into the thickest of the fight, and at the head of their
respective divisions fell like so many rocks on the
head of Lannes' column. Those brave officers almost
TO n man, sunk before the destructive fire that opened
upon them, but that dreadful column was checked for
the first time in Its advance, and stood like a living
rock amid Its foes. The Austrians were thrown into
squares and stood like so many checkers on the field.
Into the very heart of these, Lannes had penetrated
and stopped. The empire stopped with him, and
Napoleon saw at once the peril Of his chief. The
brave cuirassieurs that had broken the best infantry
of the world were Immediately ordered to the rescue.
Shaking the ground over which they galloped-their
glittering armor rafting as they came-they burst into
the midst of the enemy and charged the now steady
battalions with appalling fury. Round and round the
firm squares they rode, squirting their steeds against
the very points of the bayonet, but in vain. Not a
square broke, not a column fled and, charged in turn
by the Austrian cavalry, they were compelled to fall
back on their own infantry. Still Lannes stood amid
the wreck and carnage of the battlefield around him.
Unable to deploy, SO as to return the terrific fire that
wasted him, and disdaining to fly, he let his column
melt away beside him. Being in squares, the Austri-
ans could FIRE to advantage, while Lannes could only
return ii from the edge of his column. Seeing that
he dare not deplOy MS men, Inc ArcnQuke Ha0 the
cannon wheeled to within five rods of them, and there
played on the dense masses.
Every discharge opened huge gaps, and men seemed
like mist before the destructive storm. Still the shi-
vering columns stood as rooted to the ground, while
Lannes surveyed with flashing eye the disastrous field
from which he saw there was no relief. Added to
this, the ammunition began to fail, and his own can
non were less holly worked. This completed the
! disaster; while, to render his situation still more
desperate, a regiment had dashed in between his lines,
which being Immediately followed by others, cut them
in twain. Added to all, the news began to fly over
the field that the bridges over the Danube had been
carried away by the heavy boats that had been foated
down against them. Still Lannes and his column
diSdained TO fly, and seemed to resolve to perish in
their footsteps. The brave Marshal knew he could
not win the battle, but he knew he could die on the
spot where he struggled for a continent. Bonaparte.
as he looked over the disordered field from his position
saw at once that the battle was lost. Still in this
dreadful crisis he showed no agitation or excitement.
Calm and collected, as if on a mere review, he sur
veyed the ruin about him, and by his firm bearing
steadied the soldiers and officers amid whom he moved.
Seeing that no time was to be lost, if he would save
the regiments of his army, for the bridges were fast
Welding to the swollen stream, he ordered a general
retreat. Lannes and his column then began to retire
over the field. In a moment the retreat became gene
raj, and the whole army rolled heavily towards the
bridge that crossed the island of Lobau. As they
concentrated on the shore it became one mighty mass
where not a shot could fall amiss.
The Archduke wishing TO complete his victory BY
a total route, Immediately advanced with his whole
army upon them. His entire artillery was brought
up and arranged in a semicircle around this dense
mass crowding on to the bridges, and pouring their
awful storm into a perfect mountain of flesh. 1t
seemed as if nothing could prevent an utter over
throw but LanneS, cool and resolute as his Emperor,
rallied his best men in the rear, and covered the
retreating and bleeding army. With Massena by his
cida po,vs faodvinU their trOonS hv his vvOr1- onJ
actions, now charging like fire on the advancing lines,
he saved the army from burial in the Danube.
Lannes never appeared to better advantage than on
this occasion. His impetuosity was tempered by the
most serious and thoughtful actions and he seemed to
feel the importance of the awful mission with which
he had been trusted. At length dismounting from
his horse, to escape the tempest of cannon balls which
swept down every thing over the soldiers heads, he
was struck by a shot as he touched the ground which
carried away the whole of the right leg. and the foot
and ANGLE of the left. Placed on a litter, he was
Immediately carried over the bridge into the island
where Bonaparte was experimenting some batteries
with which to protect his passage. Seeing a litter
approach him. Napoleon turned, and 10, there lay the
bleeding and dying Lannes. The %fainting Marshal
seized him by the hand, and III a tremulous voice
exclaimed, Farewell sire. Live for the world, but
bestow a passing thought on one of your best friends,
who in a few hours will be no MORE"
The roar of battle was forgotten, and reckless
alike of his defeat and the peril of his army, of all
save the dying friend by his side, Napoleon knelt over
the rude couch and wept like a child. The lip thai
had seemed made of iron during the day, now quivered
with emotion, and the eye that had never blenched in
the widest of battle, now flowed with tears. The
voice of affection spoke louder than the thunder of
artillery: the marble hearted monarch wept and well
he might. For there, before him.. torn and mangled,
lay the friend of his youth, and the companion of his
early career-he who charged by his side at Lodi and
Arcola-saved his army at Monticello, and Italy at
Mardeno- who opened Ratisbon to his victorious
army-nay, the right hand of his p~ower-broken and
fallen forever.
SPoTs IN THE SUN.-There are now five spots to be
cnnn 4 N tho cmn Tho lnrnnct ir about ID nnO nils