Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-02-17

tngunWts Tailed 70 note. IN the INT plhcn
the Austrian artillery was planted along
the river heights as N 10 stay and was pa
tiently firing upon the French position to
make II hazardous for hssailants 10 reach
the bridge from the streets Of Lodi.
This fire. however, was chiefly aimed at
the French end Of the bridge near the
gate. tho rest Of Il being untouched. The
French battery, carefully trained by Ma
poleon, was doing the same for the Aus.
trlan end, 70 that the latter could not
station guns or riilomcn 20 sweep the whole
course of the bridge. Hence n storniug
column would not be In danger uxrapt At
tho yery entrance 10 the bridge, fow frct
Mt most, aud " sudden dash were made
through that narrow belt Of nro the loss
would he comparatively Hight aud the
worst would b. over until the bridge was
crossed. Hut once acres. the bridge. Whit
them What u the GUO1 Austrans stu
toned on the hillside to resist the Frnoh
advance beyond the bridge should they
succeed Ia crossing ~ This Napoleon saw
that the Austrian infantry had backed
away from his death dealing canronule
along the river brink, and that, with the
exception Of skirmish line and the few
artillcrlst- who handled the Austrian cnn
non, his own troops were the nearest TO tho
oncny's stronghold.
II the French charge could carry beyond
the fiery Lodi cud 81 the bridge the storm
ing column could rush across and no the
heights and uverpowcr the artillcrists BE-
fore the Austrian infantry could take
alarm and come 10 the rescue N their bat
tcrio-. These were simple matters when
once thought 81, hut no one did think, aud
act "a we'll. except Napoleon.
But this was not all Nothing was Ia
misoarry, ifpossible 90 forcsec H. The NJ
tack was delayed until REORGANIZATION
got near enough on the match 10 support
II II need he. Then the final preparations
were made. A solid Htorning column OF
400 grcnndlcrs WIS masscd near the hcnd
Of the bridge with q battalion II 800 foot
oarbIuoora. OF light infantry, In front. The
ranks were the exact width Of the bridge
aud were NO arranged that nj the word
"Forwsrdl' the leading sections could
wheel from the cover Of the rampant wall
cross the shot ridden space around the
gateway ne n single spring, and then make
the run along the cauaewRy to the Austrian
side quite irco from danger Napoleon
went among the troops and spoke familiar
aud encouraging words II was the N rklug
contrast between his slight figure aid the
massive grenndiets who stood In the front
ranks that suggested the nickname OF
Little Corporal" lie looked like ~ little
boy In such company.
II was lAtc In the afternoon, o or :
o'clock, when the sound " beaumont
guns ut the distant ford rcsounled
through the valley. aud the Austrians ut
once showed signs OF uneasinosA Napo
leon quickly ordered the charge. Drums
beat the signal "Forwardw the foremost
atsailants issued from behind the ram
parts, wheeled under terrible hail Of
Rupc and canister aud attempted to pas.
the gateway TO the bridge The front
ranks went down like row Of grain
stalks before the reaper the column stag
gcrcd and fceled backward. and the val
liant grcnadlcrs were appalled, by the task
before them. Hut this emergency had al-d
been provided for. The moment the
charge sounded. force o. sharpshooters
that had oropt along the river walls mud
down the bridge piers, and otherwise niiult
their way unseen TO the water below,
emerged from their cover and by swim
ming and wading reached tho rock. aud
Islands In the stream and opened firr upou
the Austrian gunncrA Seeing this, the
grcnadicrs took courage aud rallied for
another attempt To crown all, Napoleon
placed himself ut their head, and his aid,
and goucrals-Ccryonl, Dallemagnc, Her
thicr. Maasena aud Lannes-rushed to bis
side.
Forward again; this time over the heap
Of dead bodies that ohokod the passage
and a quick run, counted by seconds only