Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-10-21

III MelaS, ndVlng accunhlateu IoFly tHbueduu
men, including seven thousand cavalry, and
two hundred cannon, made an lmpetuous
assault upon the French, but twenty thou
sand in number were drawn up upon the
plain of Marengo. Desaix, with reserve
Of six thousand men, was at such distance,
nearly thirty miles from Marengo, that he
could no, possibly be recalled before the
close Of the day. The danger was fright
full that The French would be entirely cut
to pieces, before any succor could arrive
Bu, the quick ear of DesaiX caught the
sound of The heavy cannonade as it came
booming over the plain, like the dis.an,
thunder. He sprung from his couch and
listened. The heavy and uninterrupted
roar, proclaimed pitched battle and he was
alarmed for his beloved chief. Immediate
ly he reused his troops, and they started
upon the rush TO succnr their comrades.-
Napoleon dispatched courier after courier
to hurry the division along, while his troops
stood firm through terrific hours, as their
ranks were ploughed by the mufderous dis
charge of their foes. Al last the destruc
duEe. Many divisions of the army broke
and fled, crying, s.fV is lOst-save himseLf
acho can"
A scene of frightfu disorder ensuod.-
The whole plain was covered with luglives,
swept like all inundation before the multi
tudinous Aus.risns. Napoleon still held a
few squads together, who slowly and sui
enIy retreated, while two hundred pieces
of artillery, closely pressing them poured in
cessanl death into their ranks. Every foot
Of the ground was left encumbered with the
dead. 1t was now three O'Clock in the si-
ternoon. McIas, exhausted with toll, and
assured tha, he had gained complete VIC
tory, lief. Gen. Zach to perform his work.
He retired TO his head quarters, and immc-
diately dispatched couriers all over Europe
TO announce the great victory Of Marenso.
Said an Austrian veteran, who had before
encountered Napoleon al Ercola add 2ivo!,
I"MeIas is too sangune. Depend upon it,
our days work is no; Jet done. Eapoleon
will yel be upon US with reserve"
Just .hen The anxious eye cf the First
Consul espied the solid columns of Desa;x
entering The plain. Desai:,. p!"ngng his
spurs into his horse, and ols,rirped all the
rest, ealloped in the presence Of Napoleon.
As he cas-, glance over the confusion and
wild devastation Of the field, be exclaimed
hurriedly, III see the! he battle ia lest. !
suppose can do no more for you than to
secure your retreat" "By no means," Ma
poleon answered, with apparently as much
composure as if he had been sitting by his
own firesde, SHE battle, | trust, is ge;Eed.
Charge with your column. The disorder
ed troop will rally in your rear" Like a
rock, Desaix, with his solid phalanx Of ten
thousand men, met the enrolling billow Of
Austrian vic,cIy. 81 The same time Ma
poleon dispatched an order to kellermsn,
with his calvary, to charge the triumphant
Column of the Austrians in the flank. Il
was the work of moment, end the whole
aspect of the field was changed. Napoleon
rode along the lines of those on the retreat,
exclaiming, 'My friends we have re,reated
far enough. ]! is now our turn II advance.
Recolect that am in the habi, Of sleeping
on the field Of battle" The fuglives, re-
animated by the arrival of the reserve i'm
mediately rallied in their rear. The double
charge in the front flank was instantly made.
The Aus,rians were checked and staggered.
A perfect tornado Of bullets from Desaix' s
division swept their ranks. They poured
an answering volley into the bosoms of the
French. A bullet pierced the bosom Of
Desaix and he fell and almost Immediately
expired. Hislast words were, Tell the First
Consul that my only regret in dying is, to
have perished before having done enough
to live in the recollection of poslerily."-
The soldiers, who devotedly loved him, saw
his fall and rushed more madIy to avenge
his death. The swollen tide Of uproar, con-
fusion, and dismay, now turned, and rolled
in surging billous in the opposite direction.
Hardly one moment elapsed before The Aus
TRANS, flushed with victory, found them
selves overwhelmed by defeat. In the midst
Of this terrific scene, an aid rode up to Ma
Poleon and said, "Desaix is dead" But a
moment before they were conversing side
by side. Napoleon pressed his forehea
! convulslvely with his hand, and exclaimed
mournfully. 'Victory at such price is
dear"
The French now made the welkn ring
with shouts OF victory. lndescribable dis
may filed the Austrian ranks as wildly thew
rushed before their unrelen,ing pursuers.-
! The route was utter and hopeless. When
the sun went down over this field of blood
after twelve hours Of frighlful carnage, a
scene was presented horrid enough to ap-
! pal the heart Of demon. More than 90.
900 human bodies were strewn upon the
ground, the dying and the dead welerine
in gore, in every conceivable disfigura,ion
Horses, with limbs torn from their bodies
were struggling in convulsive agonies.-
Fragments of guns and swords and Of mill
,ary wagons of every kind were s,rewet
around in wild ruin. Frequent piercing
cries which agony exlofted from the lace