The Yazoo Democrat., 1859-07-09
Incidents of the Wharf.-The MOmtnbellO OF
The FIrst and ThIrd Nap0leons.

Incidents of the Wharf.-The MOntabello OF
The First and Third NHpOleOns,
1t is a curious historical coincidence that
the battle of Montabello was the first fought
by the troops Of Napoleon after crossing
the Great S.. Bernard in 1900 1t was one
Of the bloodiest and farcest ever fought. In
disparity of numbers the somblance is also
remarkable, The New York Herald groups
the facts Of the first contest:
Napoleon | had then only 10000 men,
two thirds of whom were new soldiers, who
had never seen d shot fired and with Il e c
he was to arrest the desperate march of an
army of 10000 veteran Austrians. 1t was
necessary for him IT, divide this little band
to save it from being cut to pieces before be
could receive reinforcements. With charac
teristic rapidty he moved from point to
point through Lombardy; with lightning
glance his eagle eye perceived the movements
and combinations Of the enemy under Afelas
He knew that great and decisive battle
must soon take place, for Mcos was rapidly
concentrating his army from all points. To
Lannes and Murlt he issued the following
brief but remarkable order "Ga,her yoor
forces at the liver Stradelh. o. the 8th. or
9Th at the latest, you will have on your
bands $4,000 or Is 900 Austrians. Meet
them, and cut then 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 Nelas.'
The prediction turned out true. An
Austrian force $4,000 strong advanced and
posted themselves strongly on the heights Of
Montebclo with batteries planted upon the
bill sides which swept the plain 1t was Of
the greatest moment that this body sboul4
be prevented from combining with the other
vest forces Of the Austrians. Lnnnes me-
them with only 5000 men. Yet they rush,
ed on the foe with a shout Of enthusiasm.
Their ranks were swept with a storm OIL
grape shot Said Lannes, ~ could hear the
bones crash in my division like glass in
hail storm" " For nine hcurs-from eleven
in the day till eight at night-the carnage
continued, Again and again the mangled
corps of the French rallied to the charge
aud it was not until three thousand of their
men lay dead on the field that the Austrans
broke and fed, also leaving three thousand |
dead behind them, with six thousand prison.
ers Il
Napoleon, hastedine to tie aid of bis gen
eral, arrived jdst in time to see the battle
Won. He rode up to Lannes, surrounded by
the dying and the dead, his sword dripping
ii blood, his face blackened with powder,
aad his uniform soiled and torn with the
long strife. Napoleon smiled in silence, but
did bot forget the heroism Of Lannes, V Lom
he afterwards created, from this battle fld.
NDuke of MOntebello'-a title which has
descended to his family to this day. IT was
The same hero who had before saved the feht l
on the terrible bridge of Lodi, when the
French were moved down by the Austrian
like grass, and Napoleon's generals
'ad it was impossible to advance. "Impos. )
'lble is not French said Bonaparte, as he {
'elzad a standard aud rushed forward shout
ug "Folow your General" Lannes, how.
.ver, was the first to cross the bridge. lie
lashod past his leader, plunging bis horse
nto the very midst of the Austrian ranks
nd grasped one of their banners. At thai
moment his steed fell dead beneath him, and
af dozen swords glittered above his bead
With Hercuean strength and agility. he
xtricaed himself from his fallen steed, h
capped upon the horse of All Austrian, behind {
he rider, plunged his sword into the body
f his rider, and hurled him from bis saddle.
ia fought bis way back to his followers,
aving slain six of the Austrians with bis
wn hand. The bridge and the battle were
ION. For this deed Of t3rriblo energy, Ma
oleon promoted him on the spot,
The battle Of Moneb5llo was not without
IS influence on the immortal victory Of Ma
ongo, which was fought Immediately after,
June IA, and was closely connected with
/. There were 10000 Frenchmen under
Tapoleon, met by 10000 Austrians, inclu
ing 1000 cavalry aud 200 pieces of cannon.
hch irresistibly swept Napoeons tloops
afore them till Dessaix, so anxously ex
ectcd with his reserve of 5000 mon, ar. Z
we'd, and charged when the battle was
ecmed lost, The tide was turned. The
-ustfiaus were overthrown with terrible
aughter Twenty thousand men of both
des lay dead in the field Dessaix, the
'eatest general Napoleon ever had, was
nong them. The First Consul went, and
I'd the battle was dearly bougl.G No
'ubt another Marengo, Or an equally san
linary and decisive battle of some other
Ime, will soon be fought, when we shall
obably k3ow something of the qualities of
apoleon LII as a general