Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-05-20
THE SIEGE OF MANTUA.
BY JOHN s. C. ABBOTT.

and strength of Lembardy in Italy. 1t
was situated upon an island in a series of
lakes, formed by the expansion of the river
Mineio. 1t could only be approached by
hVe long and narrow causeways, which
were protected by batteries. In July, 1896,
the eyes of all Europe were directed to this
fortress, as the young general, Napoleon
bonaparte, whose ren0wn was just 5egin-
ming to dawn upon Europe, was attempting
Its reduction with an army of but sc, 900
men.
About sixty miles north Of Mantua, nest
LED amidst the mountains of the Tyrol, lies
the fortified town of Trent. Here the Aus.
TRANS. under Wurmser, collected an army
oil oO,UUO, to march down the valleys of the
Adigo and the Mincio, and cooperating
with the 10000 Austrians behind the
ramparts OF Man.ua. to annihilate the au>
dacious army of Napoleon. As Wurmsar
commenced his march, he rubbed bis hands
and chuckling, I'VE shall soon have the
boy, now"
Fearful that Napoleon might escape, he
sent one halt his fOrce down the right banks
OF the lake of Garda, whose shores he must
traverse--a sheet of water about thirty
miles long. and from four to twelve wide,
to cut of the French retreat. The eagle
eye OF Napoleon detected his advantage
Instantly abandoning the siege, at an ems
ormous sacrifice, under the cover OF dark
night, he put every available man and
horse in motion. The division of the Aus
TRANS marching down the right or western
bank OF the lake, were not dreaming of
danger, when suddenly the French army,
like whirlwind, burst upon them. They
were scattered like deer by the hounds. and
in bleeding, broken bands, found refuge
only among the wilds of the mountains
The division on the other side of the lake
heard the thunder of the conflict, but could
do nothing for the relief of their friends.
Without an hours delay Napoleon turn
ed upon his track to attack the division on
the other side, before they could obtain
renforcements, at the foot of the lake.
troops were urged 10 their utmost possible
speed. Soldiers" said he, cit is with
your legs alone that victory can now be Sc
cured. In three days the Austrian army
shall be destroyed. Rely on me. You
know whether or not am in the habit of
Keeping my word" Wurmser, not i'm
agining the possibility of assault, had i'm
prudently separated his force into two
divisions, marching with the Adige be-
tween them. to be reunited at the foot of
the lake. Melas, with 25 900 men, CONS
posed one division, Wurmser, with Is 900,
the other.
NapO!e IN met Melas at Tomato. A few
hours of hOrrid carnage ensued, when the
Austrains were utterly routed. Leaving
the groun covered with the wounded and
their dead. and 5000 prisoners in the
hands of the French. with twenty pieces of
cannon, they fled, panic>strickeu and de
moralzed, beyond hope ofspeedy raliance.
The French soldiers slept for few hours
on the bloody ground, but Napoleon slept
not. The dawn Of MOI ming was to usher in an
other battle with WuInser. Napoleon spent
the whole night galloping from post to post
Five horses had successfully sunk beneath
him. With the earliest break of day the
troops were again in motion. They met
the foe at Castiglione. The battle was
decisive, and night alone rescued the fugi,
tiyes from the swift and terrible blows of
their pursuers.
In this campaign Of six days, the Aus
TRANS lost 10000 men in killed, wounded
aud prisoners. Sixty thousand had march
ed from Trent, with cleaning banners and
triumphant music, flushed with anticipat-
ed victory. But 20, 900 exhausted, bleed
ing, war-scattered fugitives. ran struggling
back to seek protection behind the ram
parts of the city. With but 10000 men
Napoleon had accomplished this amazing
achievement. The soldiers proudly called
it "tRe sir days campaign"
Again Napoleon returned to Mantua
and resumed the siege. The Austrians,
humiliated and enraged by the defeat,
speedily raised an army of 50, 900 men,
Wurmser left 25 ,00U about ten miles south
Of Trent, to prevent the Tyrol from being
ravaged by the Franch, and with 10000
passe over TO the valley Of the Brenta, to
march down its narrow defle. With this
force cooperating with the 10000 Austri-
ans at Mantua, he would have $4,000 to
assail the French in front and rear.
Napoleon, who kept himself informed Of
the slightest movement Of the enemy, in
stantly and secretly put his whole army
again in motion. With hardly moments
delay for food or rest, Napoleon urged his
columns up the parallel valley of the Adige
at dOube-guick. lu the earliest dawn oil
the 4th of September, he burst like temp
est upon the astounded Zoe. The battle
was short and decisive. The routed enemy
pursued by the cavalry, and hewn dowr
by sabres, left the ground covered with
their dead. Seven thousand prisoners
with twenty pieces of cannon, fell into thu
hands of the yictors. Such was the battle
of Roveredo. The next morning Napoleon
entered Trent in triumph. In few hour
consolidating his victory, and securing ;
vast amount of the munitions of war, be-
fore the sun of that day went down, he wa
again, with his whole army. on the valley
| of the Brenta, in chase of Wurmser Ill
caught him at Bassano. and without allow
| ing him an hour for battle. fell, with th,
utmost impetuosity, upon his rear.
| The Austrians bewiidered, and striking
blows almost at random, fought despeI ate
/ ly but in vain. All but 10000 were let
| prisoners or dead upon the field. Thi
| shattered band, dish eartened and panic
stricken, fed down the river, hoping to iDt
the ramparts of Mantua. Napoleon pur-
| sued them vigorously, every step of tn
way throwing balls and shells into thei
ranks. The garrison at Mantua rushet
out to aid them. Another pitched Oattl
was fought The French were victorious
aud the Austrians, routed at every point
were driven behind their walls. Thus, il
a campaign of ten days, Napoleon marches
over two hundred miles, fought tire
pitched battles, and annihilated an arm,
twice as numerous as his own.
Again the siege was renewed and agaii
| all the resources of the Austrian empir
were called into requisition to gather
new army. All the pride and enthusi
| asm of the court were reused. Twenty
FIVE thousand Austrians were now coope
up in Mantua. Seventv,fve thousan
were speedily rendezvouse in the gorges O
the Tyrol. Napoleon has now but 80 90
with which to oppose the 10000 thus ar
ragged against him.
| Fairly in November the Austrans com
! menced their march. Snow whitened th
tops OF the mountains, and the winds G
approaching winter swept through thos
elevated gOrges. A corps of observation
| Of $4,000 men, whom Napoleon bad place
to guard defle few miles north G
Trent. alarmed by the Overpowering mas
! ses of the enemy retreated. Napoleon
II Z