Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-27
LAST IMPERIAL VICTORY.
1Napoleon's Battle Against the Allies at Dres-
den-Most of His Troops We're
Mere Boys.

& On the 25th, as he passed Bautzen, he
learned that Oudinot had been defeated
at Luckau; but he gave no heed to the
report and the next day he reached
Dresden at in the morning. An hour
later the guard came up, having per-
formed the almost incredible feat of
marching seventy-six miles in three
days. Vandamme, with 10000 men, had
reached Pirna, a few miles above the
city, and st. Cyr was drawing in behind
the temporary Notifications of Dresden.
The head of Napoleons defensive line
was to be kept at any cost. The enemy,
too, was at hand, but they had no plan.
In council OF war held by them the
same morning there was a protracted
debate, and nnally Moreau's advice to
advance in seven columns was taken.
He refused Ito fight against his coun-
try" but explained that the French could
never be conquered en- masse. and If one
assaulting column were crushed the rest
could still push on.
This long elaboration cost the allies
their opportunity, for at In the after
noon, when they attacked, the mass of
the French army had crossed the Elbe
and completed the garrison of the city.
For two hours the fighting was fierce
and stubborn from three different sides,
Russians, Austrians and Prussians, each
made substantial gains; at Napoleon
determined to throw in his guard. With
fine promptness Mortier, with two divi-
sions of the young guard, sailed forth
against the Russians, and, fighting until
midnight, drove them beyond the ham,
let of Striefen.. St. Cyr dislodged the
Prussians and pushed them to Strehla,
while Ney, with two divisions of the
young guard, threw portion OF the
Austrians into Plauen, and Murat, with
two divisions of infantry and Latour-
Maubourg's cavalry, cleared the suburb
Friedrichstadt of the rest. Napoleon,
alert and ubiquitous, then made his usual
round, and knew when he retired to rest
that with 10000 men or boys he had re-
pulled 10000 Of his foe. His inspiriting
personal work might be calculated as
worth $4,000 of his opponents best men.
That night both Marmont and Victor,
with their corps. entered the city; and
Vandamme in the early dawn began to
lombard Pirna, thus drawing away
forces from the allies to hold that out
post
The morning of the 9th opened in a
tempest of wind and rain, fact which is
considered as having been most adj
vantageous to the French. since 1t en-
abled them to hide their movements and
interfered with the enemy's guns and
ammunition. In any case, the second
days fighting was more disastrous to
the allies than the first. At both sides
were arrayed. On the French right Vic
tor and Latour-Maubourg; then Mar
mont; then the old guard and Ney. with
two divisions of the young guard; next
ST. Cyr, with Mortier ON the left Oppo-
site stood Russians, Prussians and Aus
TRANS in the same relative positions, on
higher ground, encircling the French all
the way westward and around by the
south to Plauon; between their center
and left was reserved q gap for the Aus
TRANS under Klenau, who were coming
up from Tharandt In the binding storm
and were overdue. At began the ar
tilIery fire of the young guard, but be-
fore long 1t ceased for an instant. since
the gunner's found the enemy's line too
high for the elevation of their guns
continue" came swiftly the emperor's
order, 1--WE must occupy the attention Of
the enemy on that spot"
The ruse succeeded. At 10 Murat
dashed through the apparently unno-
ticed gap. and turning westward toward
the Elbe killed or captured all who COM
posed the enemy's extreme left. The
garrison of Pirna stood firm until after
noon, and then retreated toward Peters
wald, Elsewhere there was continuous
lighting, but the French merely held
their own. Napoleon lounged all day in
q curious apathy before his camp fire,
his condition being apparently due to the
incipient stages of digestive disorder.
Early in the afternoon Schwarzenberg
heard of Murat's great charge, but he
still held firm. When, however, the
fight from Pirna was announced, he pre-
pared to retreat. and at 5 his columns
were slowly withdrawing from the con-
fiict. BY Napoleon was aware that the
conflict was over, and mounting his
horse. he trotted listlessly to the palace,
his old gray overcoat and hood stream
ing with rain.
n a c,m - -EI