The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-08-06
From Miss Pardoe's Episodes in French History.
THE CAPTURE OF IvREE.

THE CAPTURE OF IyREE.
The French army was preparing during
the campaign Of 1900 to meet the Austrian
forces under the Arehduke Charles in the
plains of Italy, and was trayersing with all
most incredible difficulty and perseverance
the stupendous line Of the Alps which ex-
tends from st. Bernard to Nice and Monte
notte, encountering hour by hour obstacles
so formidable that neither the courage of the
troops, the immense resources of the commits
sariat, nor the military genius Of their lead
Eers, were enabled entirely to overcome them.
Nothing daunted, however. By either sur-
ferng or fatigue, they toiled on, as If they
already foresaw that the indomtable will OF
their General. in Chief was destined to make
them masters Of Milan and Turin, to lead
them to Genoa. and to dictate his own terms
of peace to his naughty rival on the battle
field Of Marengo.
Within few leagues Of Milan, in hol-
low between two hills, aud on the left bank
Of the Docia Balthea, they at length came
upon the little town and fortress Of Ivree,
which they scarcely anticipated would ven
ture 70 dispute their passage even for an in
slant, its forlifcations being almost nominal,
and the nature OF its position rendering il i'm.
possible that lis garrison could sustain a
regular siege.
They were, however, in error; conr-
agcous, wonderfully adroit, and fnatically
patriotic, the inhabitants Of the town, and
:he troops in the citadel, consisting only Of
four thousand men with twenty guns,
held The place three entire days against an
army Of thirty thousand men commanded by
three of the Youngest, but already three Of
The best generals in Europe: Bernadotte,
Masscna. and Lannes.
Furious 10 find himself arrested on his
march before so Insignificant an obstacle,
Bonaparte-who had taken Alexandria in a
day, and Cairo in an hour--and who was,
moreover, anxious TO possess himself Of a
position which would facilitate his operations
on Milan. issued an order f the dAiiEii AiEisiae Ire
town. and 10 compel a surrender. 4 bat
TALON of the 22nd demi brigade, led by Gen.
eral Cochei, first cscaladed 20 the fortress,
and carried it at The point Of the bayonet;
when the French no sooner found them
selves IN possession ii the fifteen field-pie-
ces which had defended the entrance than
they turned them upon the town. and open
ed for their legions a perilous, but unob-
struc ted path, along which they boldly adj
yaneed. singing the HarseildiSs. After
three hours Of a struggle as heroic as Il was
hopeless, driven from the citadel. decimated
in the streets Of the town, shot down on all
sides when beyond the reach Of their enc
mics, or cut down by the sabres OF those by
whom thew were Oyertaken in their flight,
few Of the Austrian soldiers and the mere
handful or inhabitants who had escaped the
carnage. took refuge in the house OF the Aus
trian Adiutant. General. resolved 10 hold oat
so long as one OF them should be left alive.
n 4 few instants the residence Of the
brave veteran was transformed into an actual
fortress: loop holes we're perforated 70 the
walls. barricades were hastily erected. and
every energy was excricd 10 accomplish an
effective defence.
Cochet was the first % enter lyree. but he
was closely followed ~ Lannes, who sent
n officer and two baitalions Of the 2snd 10
force the position Of the enemy. We re-
lrain from naming this officer out Of respect
10 his family, several of whose members
have, since the event which we are about 10
record. filed with honor 20 themselves an
elevated rank in the French army; let il
suffice that Major l., who was con-
spicuous in the Republican forces for his
lcrocity asd neadlong courage, penetrated, at
ihe head ii one of the ba,taliuns tby passing
over the bodies Of the forty gallant fellows by
whom his entrance was opposed into the
house Of thc Austrian General. This daunt-
less man, after having seen all his little gar.
rison fall and expire around him, had armed
himself with hatchet, which lie welded
with supgrhuman energy against bis adyanc.
ing foes and as Major L. appeared q
the door Of the room where he bad taken up
his last post. he aimed SO furious blow at
his head with the formidable weapon to
which his hand had already become aeeus.
toned, that had not the wary officer adroitly
struck Il aside with his sword, il must have
felIcd him 10 the earth. Il was bis closing
effort, however; in the next instant be fell,
and the apartment, was invaded BY the French
sOldiery.
N..S. ,Vhn had mayor during his