The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-02
LAST IMPERIAL VICTORY.
Napoleon's Battle Against the Allies
at Dresden.

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 Dresden
at nine In the morni ne. An hour later
the guard came up, having performed the
almost incredible feat OF marching
10 miles in three days. Vandamme,
with 10000 men, had reached Pirna, q
few miles above the city, and st. Cyr was
drawing In behind the temporary fortifi-
cations OF Dresden. The head OF Nspol-
cons defensive line wxs to be kept at
any cost. The enemy too, was at hand,
but they had no plan. In q council OF
war held by them the same morning
there was protracted debate, and finally
Moreau's advice to advance in seven
columns was taken. He refused to slight
against bis country" but explained that
mass, and that II 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 guar1. With
fine promptness Mortier, with two di-
against the. Russians, and fighting until
midnight, drove them beyond the
hamlet Of Striefen. st. Cyr dislodged
the Prussians and pushed them to
Strehls, 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-M -Maubourg'a cavalry, cleared the
suburb Friedrichsta6t of the rest. Napol-
con, alert aud ubiquitous, then made his
usual round, and knew when he retired
TO rest that with 20, 600 men or boys he
had repulscd $50, 600 Of his foe. His in
spiriting personal work might be calcu-
lated as worth 81, 600 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
sSStposs; sSrpo t; o,n,,r =, -. ,z., or.,.a :,
tempest of wind and rain, a fact which
Is considered as having been most advan-
tageouS to the French, since 1t enabled
them TO hide their movements, and In
terfered with their enemy's guns and
ammunition. In any case, the second
days fighting was more disastrous TO tho
allies than the first. At six both sides
were arrsyed. On the French right Vic
tor and Latour-Mau bourg then Marmont;
then .the old guard, and Ney, with
two divisions CT the young guard; next
Sr. 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
the south to Plauen; between their CEN
ter and left was reserved gap for the
Austrians under Klenau, who were
coming up from Tharandt In the blind
ing storm, and were overdue. At seven
began the artillery fire of the young
guard, but before long ii ceased for an
instant, since the gunners found the
enemy's line too high for the elevation
of their guns. "Continue'' came swift
ly the Emperor's order; "we must occu-
py the attention Of the enemy on that
spot"
The ruse succeeded; at 10 Murat dashed
through the apparently unhot.ced gap,
killed or captured oil who composed the
enemy's extreme LETT. The garrison of
Pirna stood firm until afternoon, and
then retreated toward Peterswald. Else
where there was continuous fighting, but
the French merely held their own.
Napoleon lounged all day in a curious
apathy before his camp fire his condition
being apparently due to the incipient
stages of q digestive disorder. Early in
tho afternoon Schwarzen berg, heard of
Murat's great charge, but be still held
firm. When, however, the flight from
Pirna was announced, he prepared to
retreat, and at his columns were slowly
Withdrawing from the conflict. BY Ma
poleon was aware that the conflict was
over. and, mounting his horse, he trot-
ted listlessly to the palace his old gray
overcoat and hood streaming with rain.