The St. Johns herald., 1896-09-05
LAST IMPERIAL VICTORY.
Napoleon's Battle Against the Allies
 at DresGer

Napoleon's Battle Against the Allies
 at Dresden.
 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 next day he reached Ores
 den at nine in the morning. An hour
 later the guard came up, having per
 formed the almost incredible feat of
 marcnlng seVenty-Six miles in three
 days. Vandamme, with 10000 men
 had reached Pirna, few miles ahove
 the city, and St. Cyr was drawing in
 behind the temporary Notifications of
 Dresden. The head of Napoleon's defens-
 i've line was to be kept at any cost. The
 enemy, too, was at hand, but they had
 no plan. In council or war held by
 them the same morning there was a
 protracted debate, and finally Moreau's advice to advance in seven columns
 was taken. He refused to flight against
 his country" but explained that the
 French could never be conquered in
 mass, and that if one assailing column
 were crushed the rest could still push on.
 This long deliberation cost the allies their opportunity, for at four in the afternoon, 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 six Napoleon determined to throw in his guard. With fine prompt ness Mortier, with two divisions of the young guard, sallied forth against the Russians, and, fighting until midnight, drove them beyond the hamlet of Strie- fen. St. Cyr dislodged the Prussans and pushed them to Strebla, while Ney, with two divisions of the young guard, threw a portion of the Austrians into Plauen, and Murat, with two divisions of infantry and Latour-Maubourg's cav airy, cleared the suburb Friedrichstadt or the rest. Napoleon, alert and ubiqui- tous, then made his usual round, and knew when he retired to rest that with 7O,OOO men or boys he had repulsed 15O,- 900 of his foe. His inspiriting personal work might be calculated as worth SO,- 900 of his opponents best men. That night both Marmont and Victor. with their corps, entered the city; and Van damme in the early dawn began to Lombard Pirna, thus drawing away forces from the allies to hold that out post.
 The morning of the 27th opened in a tempest of wind and rain, a fact which Is considered as having been most ad- vantageous to the French, since it ena- bled them to hide their movements. and interfered with their enemy's guns and ammunition. In any case, the sec ond days fighting was more disastrous to the allies than the first. At six both sides were arrayed. On the French right Victor and Latour- Maubourg; then MarmOnt; then the old guard, ana Ney, with two divisions of the young guard; next St. Cyr, with Mortier on he left. Opposite stood Russians, Prus- ;ians and Austrians, in the same rela- i've positions, on higher ground, encir- ,ling the French all the way westward md around by the south to Plauen; be- ! .ween their center and left was reSery- ed gap for the Austrians under KIe- lau, who were coming up from Thar lndt in the blinding storm, and were overdue. At seven began the artillery ! ire of the young guard, but before long | t ceased for an instant, since the gun lers found the enemy's line too high Or the elevation of their guns. Con inue," came swiftly the Emperor's or Ter; i've must occupy the attention # the enemy on that spot"
 The ruse succeeded; at ten Murat dashed through the apparently unnO- iced gap, and, turning westward to- ward the Elbe, killed or captured all who composed the enemy's extreme eft. The garrison of Pirna stood firm lntil afternoon, and then retreated to- ward Peterswald. Elsewhere there was continuous fighting, but the French merely held their own. Napoleon loung 'd all day in a curious apathy before lis campfire, his condition being ap- due to the incipient stages of digestive disorder. Early in the after loon Schwarzenberg heard of Murat's treat charge, but he still held firm. When, however, the flight from Pirna vas announced, he prepared to retreat, md at five his columns were slowly wing from the conflict. By six Napoleon was aware that the conflict vas over, and, mounting his horse, he routed listlessly to the palace, his old ,ray overcoat and hood streaming with ain.-Century.