Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-03-03
2
The Battle of Dirnstein.
BY J. r. HEApLEY.

The Battle of Dirnstein.
BY J. T. HEApLEY.
After the capitulation Of Ulm, Napole
on continued his progress along the Dan
uoe, waiting moment to strike morta
blow at The enemy. The Aus,rians hear
ing OF the surrender OF Mae, began to re
treat towards Vienna, pressed by the vic
torious French. Napoleon was movin.
dawn the right flank of the Danube Will,
Mortier, at the head OF 10000 men, was
to keep nearly parallel on the left shore
Murat, with the advance guard, was pres
sing with his accustomed audacity towards
| Vienna. In the meantime, the Russian
allies, finding they could not save the cap.
Itol, crossed over the Danube to the LEFT
shore, to escape the pursuit of Napoleon
and effect junction with reinforeements
that were coming up. Mortier was a.
ware Of this, snd pressed eagerly forward
to intercept their march towards Moravia.
AS you pass from Dirnstein to Stein,
the only road lies by the Danube, and be-
tween it and range of rocky hills, form
ing deep and narrow defle. Mortier
was at the place, Fastening the march of
his columns, and eager to advance, pushed
forward with only the single division of
Gazan, leaving orders for the army to fol-
low close in the rear. Passing through
the defile, he approached Stein at day
break, and found the rear guard of the
russian army posted on the heights in front
OF the icwn, sustained by powerful! bate
ries, which sweps the road along which
he was marching. notwithstanding the
inferiority of numbers, and tie muitercas
fire he should be forced to eneour'er, he
resolved ilnmedia'sfyfo attack tho enemy's
position.
AS The broad day ngnr OF ~r,rr,.,er
morning spread over the Danube ne
opened h; e. On them ami fushet to the
assault. In short n.~s theaction became
desperate, and the grenadier, on both sides
could almost touch each othe in the close
encounter. The Russian toops came
pouring back to sustain the rearsuard,
while the French advanced with rapid step
along The road TO aid their companions
With headlong courage on enc side, and
steady tirmness on The other, the struggle
grew hotter every moment Neither would
yield, and Moftier stood hour after hour
amid the wasting storm; till at len 9Th he
began 10 grow anxious Tor the issue. and
at eleven o'clock 10 hurry up his troops,
galIoped back TO Dirn.tien. Squirting tu-
riously along tie defe he came up to Du-
points divisional little beyond the far
Their entrance-and urged him t2redouble
his speed. Then, putting spurs to his
horse, he again fastened back to the scene
OF strife. But what was his astonishment
on emerging irom the defle, to behold a
Russian army issuing from the hills, and
marching straight for its entrance-Doct-
croft with his whole division, had made
circu,ous march during the combat; and
cutting of Morlier's retreat, was about to
take possession of the defle. AS the Mar
shall left the main road TO escape being
taken prisoner himself and wound along
the hill sides. and saw the dense masses
pouring silently into that narrow pass, his
heart for moment stopped beating; Cor
his own doom and that of his brave troops,
seemed to be sealed Crashed between
two armies there was no hope for him, I'M
less Dupont came to his relief. The morn !
ing that had dawned so brilliantly upon
him had suddenly become as black as mid
night but there was but one course left for
him, unless he intended TO surrender, and
llat was to mar h back, and endeavor to i
cut his way through the deiile 10 his army.
Behold the single division, pressed in
front by the whole Russian army, and cut
off in rear, slowly retiring towards that
silent gorge, battling back the host that
pressed after him, and sent their destruc, :
tive storm of grape shot through his torn
ranks. Mortier formed his men irto |
solid column, and without drum
or trumpet to cheer them on, moved
with firm step into the dark entrance,
resolved to cut his way through or die i'll
the effort. But sight dread enough to
appal the stoatest heart, met his gaze as
he looked along the marrow strip of road
between the rocks and the Danube. As
far as the eye could see, there was moth
ing but dense battalions of the enemy in
order of battle. Without shrinking, how
ever, the steady column moved with fixed
oayonels into the living mass. A deadly
fire received them, and the carnage at
,nce became dreadful. With the cannon
numbering On their rear, ana burying their
iery loads in their ranks, swept in from;
~ incessant discharges of musk etry, tram
oled under foot by the cavalry, and crush
I'd between two armies, the escape Of that
,rave division seemed utlerir- f'opeless.
indeed, the work OF annlhilation had begun
With frieh,ful rapidity. Mortier, after
he most desperate fighting, had pierced
,ut little way into the pass, and hope grew
ainter every moment, when the thunder
# cannon al the further extI entity shot a