Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-02-07

+
discharge of the hostile batteries" said
Lannes, " [ could hear the bones crash in
my division like glass in hail storm"
For nine hours the carnage continued
Just as the Austrians were routed, and
were flying before their victors, Napoleon
appeared upon the field. Lannes had
been the hero of this bloody day. As he
stood amidst mounds of the dead, black
ened with smoke, and with his uniform
soiled and tattercd with the terrible strife,
Napoleon grasped his hand with a smile
of gratitude, and conferred upon him the
title of the Duke Of Montcbello.
Four days after this Napoleon, with
but twenty thousand men, encountered
Melas with 10000 troops upon the plain
of Marengo. The Austrian force inciud-
ed I 1000 cavalry and 200 pieces Of ar
tllery. The French General Desaix,
with 5000 men, was nearly thirty miles
from the field. Fortunately, when re-
clining in his tent he heard the first crash
of the battle, as it came booming over
the field like distant thunder. His troops
were instantly on the march, and they
pressed forward with all possible speed to
the aid of their comrades.
All the day long Napoleon held his
ground against foe outnumbcrlng him
two to one. 1t was now 3 o'clock in the
afternoon. The contending hosts were
within pistol shot of each other, and in
many eases blending in the fiercest fight.
On parts Of the field the French, exhaust
ed and overpowered, were retiring in
confusion, pursued and cut down by the
cavalry of the foe Napoleon, by his
personal supremacy, still held few
squares together, slowly, reluctantly, but
in good order retiring, while the victori-
Gus Austrians closely followed them,
ploughng their ranks with two hundred
pieces of artillery Melas doubted not
that he had gained the day, and dispatch
ed couriers throughout Europe to announce
his victory.
Just then the solid columns of Dcsaix
appeared, impetuously entering the plain.
Desaix east an anxious glance over the
confusion around him, and upon the brok-
en-, bleeding and retrcating battalious OF
the French, and squirting his horse, gal
Topped to the point where Napoleon stood
cnvcloped in the smoke and the dust Of
the conflict.
al see" said Desaix, that the battle
is lost. can do no more for You, | sup
pose, than to cover your retreat.
" BY no means" Napoleon replied
= The battle is gained. Charge with your
column. The disordered troops will rally
in your rear"
Dcsaix, at the head OF his division,
made an impetuous charge upon The front
of the advancing foe. At the same time
kellcrman received an order to eh rye
the foe in flank with his cavalry. The
change was like one Of magic. la an ln-
slant the whole aspect of the field was
transformed. Those on the retreat were
promptly rallied by the voice OF NaPo-
leon as he rode along their broken ranks.
Ny friends SAID he, " We have re-
treated far enough 1t is now our turn
to advance. Rccollcct that am in the
habit Of sleeping on the field OF battle. y
The French now raisel shouts OF We
tory which rose above the thunders Of
the cannonade. \ panic, and 4 well
founded one, now pervaded the ranks OF
the Austrians. In the widest confusion
they broke and fled. They were pursued,
cut down, anl tramplci beneath the iron
hool5 of kclIermau's dragons. When
the sun went down behind the distant
Alps, after witnessing twelve hours OF
this trighttul carnage, more than twenty
thousand human beings were strewn upon
the plain, welterng in blood.
The rout of Melas was SO entire that
escape was hopeless, and he was at the
mercy of his victor Napoleon rode over
the field, aud gazcd sadly upon the aspect
of misery spread everywhere around him
As some ambulances passed him laden
with the mutilatcd forms of the wounded
he stopped, ami uncovered his head, say
ing
We cannot but regret not bcing
woundei. like these unhappy men, that
We might share their sufferings.
Under the influence of such feelings he
took pen, upon that CORY field, and
wrote as follows to the Emperor Q! Aus
tria;
SrGR:-It is on the field Of battle
amid the sufferings OF multitude o
wounded, and surrounded by fifteen thou
sand corpses, that besecch your majesty
to listen to the voice Of humanity, anC
not to suffer two nations to cut each 9th
ers throuts for interests not their own.-
1t is my part to press this upon youI
majesty, being upon the very theatre o
war. Your maiesty's heart can not fee
it as keenly as does mine.
The letter was long and eloquent, bu
unavailng. England and Austria still
continued the strife until the Frencl
armies, within sight of the steeples o
Vienna, compelled a peace.
THE SPREADING OF REpoRT.-Tht
servant at No. told the servant at No
>, that her master expected his old friends
the Bayleys, to pay him visit at Christ
mas and No. ,, told No. 3 that No. l ex
pectcd the Battles in the house every day
and No. 3 told No. 1 that it was all VI
with No. |, for they couldn't keep tn
baliffs out; whcreupon No, 4 told No.
that the officers were after No, |, AM
that it was as much as he could do +
prevent himself from being taken int