The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-05-26

NAPOLEON GALLoPED TO THE SPOT
2,OOO strong. Two divisions 5000 strong
under Victor, extended from the east bank
OF the Bormida river at Alessandria tc
Marengo. Lannes, with 5000 infantry, and
Murat, with 800 cavalry, held the line
from Marengo northeastward to the Po
Massena's corps, under Gen. Suchet, had
advanced from the coast northward as fa1
as Acqui, but there was no communication
between the two armies other than secretly
through the Austrian lines.
The Austrians opened the battle early
on the 18th by crossing the Bormida at
several points 81 600 strong and assailing
Vlctor's line. Victor was slowly driven
back to Marengo, where a small creek gave
him natural defense. Lannes was at
tackled, north of Marengo, and his troops
also fell back step by step.
At the village of Marengo the French
cannon under Marmont defended the creek
against Austrian guns planted on the OBJ.
posite side of the narrow ditch Napoleon
was absent when the ball opened, but on
hearing the sound of battle he rode to
the front, sending a courier to recall Desaix
from Now. Melas had detached body OF
1900 cavalry to Acqui to head off the
French under Suchet, reported to be pass.
ing that point for a junction with Napoleon.
l.. kellerman's French cavalry brigade, 45C
strong, charged the Austrians and was re.
pulsed. The Austrians then charged and
carried Marengo. This was at II O'Clock,
and following that the French began to
retreat all along the line. Napoleon led in
the Old Guard of 800 sabers, but the I'm
perial cavalry crushed them. A division
of reserves under Monner, also led UP by
Napoleon, was driven back, and in the par-
lance Of the field "all was lost" It only
remained for Melas to send in a column of
cavalry to sweep the flying detachments
over the open plains back of Marengo, and
victory would have been his. But his
| cavalry reserve had gone elsewhere.
BY the middle of the afternoon the
French had retreated over two miles and
were only striving to save themselves.
Melas was a man over eighty years old.
and instructing his chief of staff to form
the scattered troops into columns of pursuit
along the main road to Piacenza he retired
to Alessandria for rest, announcing that
the enemy was flying and the day was won.
Meanwhile the French had formed a
rear guard for retreat. Desaix had reached
the scene: A few scattering shots an
nounced that the Austrian advance had be-
gun. Desaix was on the direct road toward
Piacenza, along which the Austrians were
marching in close columns A vineyard
and corn field concealed his men from the
Austrlans' view, and they marched to with
in 200 PAGES and halted.
All hope for the French hung upon the
column led by Desaix and he sent word to
Mischief that he Nesaix) must either attack
or retreat Napoleon galloped to thespot and
ordered an attack, at the same moment urg-
ing Kellerman to lead his 600 horse upon the
Austrian flank. Desaix headed the assault
in front and was shot dead at the first
fire. Both attacks were so bold that the
Austrians turned and fled toward the Bor-
mida. Kellerman took 1900 prisoners.
among them the Austrian chief Of staff.
The. French followed their fleeing enemies
to the river opposite Alessandria and cut
them down without mercy, and at night
fall Napoleon was master Of Marengo and
/ of Italy. On the heels of that triumph the
fates began to pose him for the master of
all Europe. GEORGE Ia KILMER.