The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-07-09
SIXTH OF JULY.
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The left wing of The Archduke was posted
behind the Russbach, on the hills which run
from Neusiedel, which is overlooked by
strong square tower, and formed their extre'ne
left, to Wagram, where the protection Of inc
stream ceased. At Neusiedel was the corps
of Prince Rosenberg the corps OF honenAo'.
lern was on his right; and TO the nght OF
HohenzoIlern. was Bellegarde's corps winch
extended TO Wagram. where was the Arcn-
duke himself. This wing was 'o,ooo strong,
and had it's position been fortified, IT would
have been. as we have said, altogether impos-
sible to force it. From Wagram, the Austrian
line. instead of being continued in straight
line. turned of, at an obtuse angle, to meet
the Danube. The right wing began at &C.
rardsdorf, and passing through Stamersdorf,
extended to the Danube. 1t consisted of three
corps, those of KoIlowrath, Klenau, and the
Prince de Reuss. The space between Gerards-
dorfand Wagram was occupied by the Austr
an centre, which connected the two wings
and was composed only of the reserve OF gre.
nadiers and cuirassiers. In order 10 adapt it-
selfto the ground, which consisted Of range
of semicircular heights, it assumed senior
cular form. Ii was by far the weakest part Of
the line, for the Archduke, wishing to envelop
the French and drive them into the Danube,
had extended his wings so far, that his entire
line was eight miles long, and presented the
figure of two sides of a triangle, the weak port
being the apex. Another reason for proiong-
ing the left wing was to facilitate the Junchofl
of the Archduke, who was supposed to be ad-
vancing from Presberg. The weakness ofsfe
Austrian centre, induced Napoleon TO vensdre
a night attack upon Wagram, which, if ence
carried, would leave the enemy's line cat in
two. la the darkness, the troops of Mcdonald
fred upon the Saxons, under Bernadette-a
panic arose among the latter-aad the attack
was repulsed with considerable loss to the as
sailants.
The morning of the 9th at length dawned
upon the Austrian army, arranged as we have
said. Corresponding arrangements had been
made on the part of the French. On their
right, opposite to the Archduke's left, which,
as we have said, was behind the Russbach,
were the corps Of Davout and Oudinot. On
the right of their left, were the Saxons, under
Bernadette, and to the left Of these was the
corps OF Massena, forming the extreme left of
the army. The army of Italy, under the heroic
Mcdonald, was in the centre, opposite to the
reserve of grenadiers and cuirassers, and in
their rear were the imperial guard, Marmont's
corps, the Bavarians and the Saxons. This
powerful accumulation of force on his centre.
while the wings were comparatively weak, de-
veloped the plan of Napoleon, which was to
break through the line at that place. and cut
the enemy in two. From his central position,
at the same time, he could easily send rein
forcements to the right or left, as it might be-
come necessary.
The Archduke had intended that his right
should come first into action, and had issued
orders to that effect but these orders being
impefectly understood, at 4 o'clock, on the
morning of the eth, the battle was commenced
on the left, by the corps of Prince Rosenberg,
which, descending from the heights, crossed
the Russbach at Neusiedel, and furiously as
sailed the extreme right of the French which
was formed by the corps of Marshal Davout.
On hearing the firing, Napoleon, having first
. sent an aid, (Gen. Matthew Dumas,) with or.
ders to his Generals to keep entirely on the
defensive, galloped to the spot where Davout
stood. Observing, on his way, that the Aus.
trians were attacking the villages of Gliuzen-
dorf and Grosshofen, defended the first by por
tons of Friant's and Gudin's divisions, and
the last by Puthod's division, he gave orders
to Nansouty's cuirassiers and battery of light
artillery, which he had brought with him to
charge the column attacking the latter in
Hank. At the same time, the column attack
ing Glinzendorf, was assailed in front by Gu
din and Frant, and in flank by Arrighi's cui.
rassiers. The enemy was repulsed, and fel
back behind the Russbach. At this time, at
order arrived from the Archduke, which di.
rected Prince Rosenberg to content himsel
with standing on the defensive, for the present
the forward movmeent having been premature
But the firing was already generally along the
whole line, and 100000 men, with HOO can.
non, were engaged in mortal combat. The
whole scene was in full view of Vienna, and
was witnessed by 100000 spectators from the
tops of the houses and the windows of that
vast metropolis. Napoleon, determined to
seize the hills, village and tower of NewsiedeI,
in order to prevent the junction of Prince
Johns army, gave directions to Marshal Da-
veut to cross the Russbach TO the right, out of
the reach Of fire, and assail that position in flank
at the same time it was attacked in front, by
two of his divisions. As soon as the square
tower he'd been carried, Oudinot was to attack
the position of Baumersdorf, on the left of Da-
vout and the army of Italy, Wagram, where
were the forces that connected the two wings
of the enemy.
At this moment Napoleon received intelli.
gence from Massena and Bernadotte, on the
left and centre, that they had been driven back
by superior forces. He rode forward at full
gallop, accompa MED by numerous and bril-.
liant staff, in the midst Of perfect hurricane of