Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-11
The First Battle Of Monticello.

The first battle of Montebello was fought
by the troops of Napoleon I, on the 1st Of
June 1900, immediately after crossing the
great S.. Bernard. Napoleon had only
16, 900 young, raw, undisci plined troops,
the Austrians 10000 men. Anticipating
speedy battle, and aeekingto divide this
mighty host, he wrote the following brief
order to Gen. Lannes and Alurat: Cath
er your forces at the river lStradella. On
the 9Th, or 9th at the latest you will have
on your hands Is, 900 or 1900 Austrians.
Meet them and cut them to pieces it will
be so many enemies less upon our hands
on the day Of the decisive battle we are to
expect with the entire army Of Melas."
As he anticipated, $4,000 Austrians took
a strong position on the heights of Monte
bello, and Lannes, the French General. met
them with only 5000 men. The battle is
thus sketched by a contemporary:
!. Lannes met them with only 5000 men.
Yet they rushed on the foe with a shout Of
enthusiasm. Their ranks were swept with
storm Of grape shot. Said Lannes, Il
could hear the bones crash in my division
like glass in hail storm" For nine hours
from eleven in the day till eight at night
the carnage continued. Again and again
the mangled columns of the French rallied
to the charge, and it was. net till three thou
sand of their men lay dead on the field that
the Austriaus broke and fed, also leaving
three thousand dead behind them, with six
thousand prisoners.
Napoleon, fastening to the aid Of bis
General, arrived Just in time to see the bat
tie won. He rode up to Lannes, surround
ed by, the dying and the dead, his sword
dripping with blood, his face blackened with
powder, and his uniform soiled and torn by
the long strife. NAPOLEON smiled in silence.
but did not forget the heroism Of Lannes,
whom he afterwards created, from this bat
tie field, Duke Of Monticello" "a. title
which has descended to his family to this
dav. It was the same hero who had before
saved the fight,on tie terrible bridge Of To-
d. when the French were moved down by
the Austrian cannon ike grass, aud Napo-
Icons Generals said it was impossible to
advance. Impossible is not French, said
Bonaparte, as he seized standard and
rushed forward shouting, "Follow yeur
General" Lapnes, however, was the first
to cross the bridge. He dashed past the
leader, plunged his horse into the very
midst Of the Austrian ranks, and grasped
one Of their banners. At that moment his
steed fell dead beneath him, and half a
dozen swords glittered above his head -
With Herculean strength and agility he
extricated himself from his fallen steed,
leaped upon the horse Of an Austrian behind
the rider, plunged bis sword into the body
of the rider, and hurled him from his sad :
die. He fought his way back to his fol-
lowers, having slain six Of the Austrians
with his own hand The bridge and the
battle were won. For this deed Of terri
bic energy NAPOLEON promoted him on the
spot.
The battle Ct Montebello was not with
out its influence on the immortal victory of
Marenge, which was fought Immediately
after (June 14) and was closely connected
with it.. There 20, 900 Frenchrnen Under
met 10000 Austfians, including
7 900 cavalry and 200 pieces Of cannon,
which irresistibly swept Napoeon.s troops
before them till Desaix, 50 anxiously expee-
ted with his reserve Of 5000 men, arrived,
and charged when the battle was deemed
lost. The tide vas tnfned. The Austrians
were overthrow with terrible slaughter
Fweaty thousand men of both sides lay
dead on the field. Desaix. the greatest
General Napoleon ever had, was among
5hem. The First Consul wept, and said
he battle was dearly bought. No doubt
another Marengo or an equally sanguin-
Try and decisive battle of some other name
will soon be fought, when we shall probably
NOW something Of the qualities Of Napoleon
II. as General. -Rtchnsond Examiner