The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-06-20
Battle of Montebello.
Marshall LaElIfcs.

VkaTSRdEA 11dE1NeS.
One of the most remarkable actions of
his ile, illustrating best the iron will and
unsurpassed bravery of the man, was his
battb with the Ausirians at Montebello,
which gave him the title of Duke. Still
leading the van guard he had carried over
the st. Bernard, he came upon the Pc,
and upon nearly eighteen thousand Aus
TRANS. Admirably posted with their right
wing resting npon the Appenines, and
their left reaching off into the plain; while
the whole field was swept by batteries
that lined the hillsides. When he beheld
this strong array, and discovered their
position, he saw at once that he must re-
treat, or fight with no hope, except to
maintain his ground till Victor, five or six
miles in the rear, should come up. indie
pendent of the superior position of the
Austrians, they had between seventeen
and eighteen thousand, while Lannes
could muster only about eight thousand
men, or less than half the number of the
enemy. But the rear rested on the Po,
and fearing the effect of a retreat in such
disastrous position, he Immediately re-
solved to hazard an attack. The cheer
fulness with which his soldiers advanced
to this unequal combat, shows the wonder
full power he welded over them. They
were not only ready to march on the enc
my, but advanced to the charge with
shouts Of enthusiasm. There can scarcely
be more striking instance of valor than
the behavior of Lannes on this occasion.
| There was no concealment of the danger,
no chance of sudden surprise, and no
waiting the effect of some other move
| ment which his own would depend. 1t
was 10 be down right hard fighting, and
| he knew it; fighting, too, against hopeless
odds for the first few hours. But all the
heroic In him was aroused, and his chiv-
| alric bearing before his army inspired
them with the highest ardor. Especially
after the battle was fairly set, and it was
necessary TO make one man equal to three,
he seemed endowed with the spirit of ten
men. He was everywhere present, now
heading a column in charge, now rally
ing shattered division, and now fighting
desperately, hand to hand with the enemy.
Without waiting the attack of the Aus
| trians, he formed his troops en- echelon,
and advanced TO the charge. Two battal-
ions marched straight on the murderous
artillery, which stationed in the road,
swept it as the cannon did the bridge of
Lodi. The third battalion endeavored to
carry the heights, while Watrin with his
remainder, marched full on the centre
The battle at once became terrible. Before
the furious onset Of the French, the Aus
trians were driven back, and seemed about
to break and fly, when reserve of the
lmperlallsts came up, and SIX fresh regl-
ments were hurled on their exhausted
ranks. The heights of Revetta had been
carried, but the fresh onset was too heavy
for the victorious troops, and they were
driven in confusion down the hill. The
centre staggered back before the superior
numbers, and the heavy fire of the artil-
lery; but still Lannes rallied them to an
other effort. Under one of the most de-
structive fires to which division perhaps
was ever exposed, he supported his men
by almost superhuman efforts. Standing
himself where the shot ploughed up the
ground in furrows about him, he not only
! cody surveyed the danger, but by his
commands and presence held his men for
long time in the very face of death. But
it was impossible for any column, unless
all composed of such men as Lannes, long
to Withstand such fire; and they were on
| the point of turning and fleeing, when one
of the divisions of Victor's corps arrived
on the field and rushed with a shout into
the combat. This restored for a time the
fight. The Austrians were again repulsed,
when, bringing up fresh reserve, the
French were forced to retire. Now ad
vancing and now retreatng, the two ar
mics wavered to and fro, like mist when
it first meets the rising blast. AS division
after division of Victor's corps came up,
the French rallied; till at length, when
they had all arrived and the two armies
stood twelve To eighteen thousand-the
whole French force and the whole Aus
trian reserve in the feld-the combat be-
came dreadful. Though pressed by such
superior numbers, and wasted by such
commanding and holly worked batteries.
Lannes refused to yield one inch of the
ensanguined field. 1t is said that his ap
pearance in this battle was absolutely ter
rife. Besmeared with powder, blood and
smoke, he rode from division to division,
inspiring courage and daring in the ex