The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-30

ING OF NAPOLEON'S MIGHTY AR
ElIES-ONE OF THE CREATES
CHARGES IN HISTORY-AFTER MA
POLEON'S ABDICATION.
It is at Wagram that we are to lool
for Macdonald greatest deed. On
never thinks of that terrific battle with
out feelings of the profoundeSt wonder a
his desperate charge that then and ther,
saved Napoleon and the Empire. TIL,
battle of Aspern had proved disastrous t.
the French The utmost efforts of Ma
poleon could not wiring victory from The
hands of the Austrians.
Massena had stood under a tree while
the bouChS were crashing with cannon
balls overhead, and fought as never ever
he fought before. The brave LanneS had
been nlangled by n cannon-Shot, and dice
while the victorious guns of the enemy
were still playing on his heroic but flying
column; and the fragments of the mag
nificent army, that had in the morning
moved from the banks of the Danube in
all the confidence of victory at nightfall
were crowded and packed in the little
island of Lobau.
Rejecting the counsel of his officers,
Bonaparte resolved To make a stand here
and wait for reinfOrcementS to come up.
From tie latter part of May TO the first
of July he had remained ccoped up in
this little island, but not inactive. He
had done everything that could be done
on the spot, while orders had been sent to
the different armies to hasten 10 his re-
lief; and never was there such an ex-
hibition of the skill and promptitude with
which orders had been issued and carried
out.
Like an exhauStlesS stream the nlagnfi-
cent armies kept pouring into that little
isle; while. To crown the whole, Eugene
came up with his veterans from the
plains of Hungary.
In two days they had all assembled,
end on the evening OF the 9TH of July
Napoleon glanced with exultant eye over
$50 600 Warriors, crowded and packed into
the small space of two miles and half in
: breadth, and a mile and half in length.
Bridges had been constructed to fling
across the channel and during that
evening were brought out from their
places of concealment and dragged to the
bank. In 10 minutes one was across and
fastened at both ends. In little longer
time two others were thrown over and
made firm To the opposite shore. Bona
parte was there. walking backwards and
forwards in the mud, cheering on the men
and accelerating the work, which was
driven with such wonderful rapidity that
by 3 O'Clock in the morning six bridges
were finished and filed with the march
ing columns.
down the river, as if he intended TO cross
there, in order To distract the enemy from
the real point OF danger. On these the
AustrianS Kept up an incesSant fire of
artillery, which was answered by the
French from the island with 100 cannon
lighting up the darkness of the night with
their incessant blaze. The village of
ErzerdOrf was set on fire, and burned with
terrific fierceness-for tempest arose, as
if in harmony with the scene, and blew
the flames into tenfold fury.
MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.
BY O'Clock in the morning. $50. 900
infantry and 80, 600 cavalry stood in battle
array on the shores OF the Danube, from
whence month before the Austrans had
driven. the army in alright. The clouds
had vanished with the night, and when
the glorious sun arose over the hilltops
his beams glanced over countless array
of helmets-and nearly BOG, 900 bayonets
glittered in his light. ii was a glorious
spectacle-fhose two mighty armies
standing in the early sunlight amid the
green fields, while the air fairly spanked
with the flashing steel that rose like
forest over their heads. Nothing could
exceed the surprise of the Austrians
when they saw the French legions across
the river, and ready for battle. That
bright scene was to see the fate OF Europe
settled for the next four years, and that
glorious Summers sun, as il rolled over
the heavens, was to look down on one of
The most terrific battles the world ever
saw.
The battle, the first day, was fierce and
sanguinary, and clearly indicated the
sternness with which the field would be
contested. Bonaparte, at the outset, had
his columns-converged to a pont-rest-
ing at ono end on the Danube, and radi-
ating off into the field, like the spolles of
wheel The AuStrIans, on the contrary
stood in d vast semi-circle, as If about to
inclose and swallow up their enemy
Macdonald's division was among the first
brought into the engagement, and bravely
held its ground during the day When
night closed the scene Of strife the Aus
TRANS had gained on the French. They
nevertheless sounded retreat, while the
exhausted army of Napoleon lay down on
the field Of blood, Ia sleep.
Early in the morning, the Austrians
taking advantage Of their success the day
before, commenced the attack, and the
thunder OF their guns at daylight brought
Napoleon into his saddle. The field was
again alive with charging squadronS and
covered with the smoke of battle From
daylight till nearly noon had the conflict
ragged without moments cessation.
everywhere, except against the Austrians.
left, the French were defeated.
From the steeples Of Vienna the multi
tude saZed ON the progress OF the dou btiul
fight, till they heard the cheers Of their
countrymen above the roar of cannon.
dryIng the flying enemy before them
when they shouted in Joy, and believed
the victory gained. But Napoleon gal
Topped up, and restoring order in the dis
ordered lines, ordered Davoust TO make a
circuit, and ascending the plateau of
Hagram. carry Neusiedel.
NAPoLEoN's EXAMPLE
While waiting the result of this move
ment, on the success of which depended
all his future operations, the French lines
under Napoleon's immediate charge were
exposed 10 a most scourging fire from the
enemy's artillery, which tore them into
fragments. Unable TO advance. and TOO
distant 30 return the fire, they were com
PEELED TO stand as Idle spectators. and
see The cannon~shot pillow through them
Whole batialions, driven frantic by this
lnaciloH in the midst Of such fearful
carnage, broke and fed. But everything
depended on the infantry holding firmly
their position till the effect OF Davoust s
assault was seen. Yet, nothing but Ma
poleon's heroic bravery kept them steady.
Mounted on his mills-white charger.
Euphrates, given him by the King oil
Persia, he slowly rode backward and for
ward before the lines while the cannon
balls whlsiIed and ratified like hailstoncs
ABOUT hIm-casting ever and anon an
anxious look towards the spot where
Davoust was expected To appear with his
3O,OO0 brave followers. For a whole hour
he thus rode in front of his men and
though they expected every moment to see
him shattered by cannon ball he moved
unscathed amid the storm. At length
Dayoust was seen charging like fire over
the plateau Of Wagram, and finally appear
with his cannon on the farther side OF