The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-05-22

This il the anniversary of the terrible battle
of Essling Tor Aspern) fought by the French
army under the Emperor Napoleon, and the
Austrian forces commanded by the Archduke
Charles, in The year 1909. Esslng is situated
on the North side Of the Danube, about six
milesb Vienna, and directly opposite TO
the island of Lohau. We gave a very short
sketch of this great battle last year; but as
we have now more ample materials at hand,
and as the affair derives considerable mpor-
lance from the statement made by the enemies
of Napoleon, that he was defeated here, we
have thought it might not be undressing TO
those who do not care TO undergo The labor OF
searching for details in voluminous historical
works TO fill up the picture.
After the battle of Eckmuhl t20th Aprll) the
French army arrived before Vienna, which had
been put in state of defence, and entrusted TO
the command of the Archduke Maximlllan.-
1t was soon compelled to open IFS gates, and
as the Archduke Charles, recovering from his
disasters in Bavaria, was advancing along the
left bank of the Danube, Napoleon determined
TO anticipate him and TO pass that river. His
position upon the right bank was defective, IN
asmuch as the army had no tete de p0nt upon
the left bank a deficiency which would ena-
BILE the Austrians to take the initiative. This
consideration was Of such importance, that
Napoleon would have fallen back upon the
Ems, had he found it impossible to establish
himself upon the left bank. In the meantime,
the operation was difficult one. The Dam
ube, here, is a thousand yards wide, from ff-
teen to thirty feet deep, and very rapid. To
pass such q river in the neighborhood of a
powerful hostile army, required much tact,
under the circumstances for Napoleon could
not attempt it at great distance from Vienna,
for fear that the enemy, who had two complete
ponton tr ms, should pass over in his absence,
and take possession of the city. Napoleon de-
,ermined to cross two leagues above the city,
at spot, where, during the campaign ofl8O5.
he had observed considerable island, separa-
ted from the right bank by the main body of
the Danube, and from the left by branch Of
that river not more than one hundred yards
wide. If he could take possession of that
island, and establish himself there, instead of
having river of one thousand yards TO cross,
he would have to cross a branch of the same
river one hundred yards in width. He dtsig-
mated the operation carrying the Danube by
irregular siege"
On the 10th. Marshal Lannes, the army Of
the Archduke being still march in the rear,
threw 500 men upon the island. Ever since
the year 1905, the communication had been
kept up between the island and the left bank,
by means of a pier, so that in fact the island
and the main land were one. The Austrian
General Bubna, who was in the nelghbnrhood,
with 5000 men, taking advantage of this com.
munication, attacked the SUI men, and routed
them. part were taken, and part re-em-
barked under the protection of 30 pieces OF
cannon, This operation having failed, Napo-
leon marched two leagues below Vienna, OPP
posite Lobau, an island about two miles and
half in length, and separated from the right
bank by the main arm of the Danube, 1000
wards wide, and from the LETT, by branch OF
that river whose width does not exceed 100
wards. He determined to establish himself in
that island. Once there, he would establish
an entrenched camp upon the left bank of the
Danube, which would form barrier to the fur
Their advance of the Archduke, and if that
General should advance upon krembs, or any
other point, for the purpose Of passing the
Danube, and cutting off his communications,
leaving the island of Lobau, he could fall upon
his Iear, when it was in no state TO resist him.
Lieutenant General Bertrand received orders
TO throw bridge of boats and pontons over
the Danube, on the 10Th of May. An advanced
guard took possession Of the island The
bridge was finished on the morning ofthe Goth,
and the army Logan to pass. In the afternoon
the river rose three feet, the anchors were
dragged away, and the bridge was broken
but il having been mended in few hours, the
passage into the island was continued. About
six o'clock, Napoleon caused a bridge 10 be
constructed over a re-enering angle of the
lesser arm. General Lasalle, with three thou
sand cavalry, advanced upon Essling, secured
the plain in all directions, received intelligence
of an Austrian division of cavalry, with which
he had skirmish, and bivouacked at night
between Essling and Gross-Aspern.
Napoleon tivouacked upon the left bank, at
the head OF the lesser bridge. and at daybreuk
on the 2lst, advanced 10 Esslng. battalion
was posted in a strong position at Enzersdorf,
and portion Of the Spanish Cuirassiers, and
ofNansouty's cavalry passed over but at
noon the Danube had risen four feet more
The great bridge was again carried away, and
the rest of the cavalry and the reserves of ar.
tillery could not pass. Twice during the day
the bridges were restored by Count Bertrand,
and twice they were carried away. At the
time when Vienna was evacuated, the Austri-
ans had set FIRE to a number of boats, which,
carried downwards by the rise Of the waters,
lodged against the bridges. AT four o'clock
in the afternoon, General Lassalle announced
10 Napoleon that the Archduke was in motion,
and advancing apparently with the intention Of
ua,fhsar aeaauda1 he afaa 10