The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-07-07

ranks. st. Cyr, though, cool and steady,
saw at once that by firm and impctuous
charge he could roll the whole unwieldy
mass into the river, and waited anXiouSly
the order To advance. In the meantime
he brought forward some OF his guns, and
trained them on the cloSe-packed troops
OF the enemy.
Finding, however, that his cannonading
failed TO draw the attention OF Moreau To
the spot he sent an officer To him request
ing permission to charge. But the former
refused, either from too great prudence, or,
as it is more probable, from want OF con
fidence in the good faith of his General.
The opportunity slipped by, and the Aus
TRANS made good their passage over the
Danube.
COMBAT AT BIBERACH.
A few days after, however, st. Cyr per-
formed one OF those brilliant actions
which stamp the man of genius. The
Austrians had retreated and Moreau did
not expect 10 overtake them for another
day. In the meantime, St. Cyr had re-
ceived orders to push on beyond Biberach,
| q little town which lay on the line Of the
eBemy'S retreat. But, to his surprise, on
coming up TO this village he found that
the Austrians had recrossed the Danube
and marched back to Biberach to defend
it on account of the magazines it con
| tanned.
The entrance TO it by the road ST. Cyr
was marching was through a narrow de
file which opened right in front of the
village. The Austrian General, thinking
it would be unsafe TO put the defile in his
rear, left 10, 600 men TO guard il while he
posted his army behind the town on an
| eminence forming an excellent position.
AS st. CyT came up he saw at once the
advantage ii gave the enemy. But think
ing the rout Of the 10000 guarding the
II Oh. ~
whole army in rear, he wished TO order an
attack Immediately, and would have done
so had his whole corps Of Is 600 men been
with him. But his best division, under
Ney, had been sent to observe the Danube,
and though orders were Immediately dis
patched 10 hasten him up he could no
where be found.
At this lucky moment, however, he
heard the firing Of Richenpanse's division,
which had come up by a cross road.
Thus strengthened, he no longer hest
tated, and without waiting for the whole
to form in order he hurled his own bat
talionS on the enemy. The order TO charge
was given, and his brave troops advanced
at dou ble-quick time to the onset
| SOyerthrown and routed. the enemy
swept in a confused mass through the
defile and through the village, hurrying
EDWARDS to the nights on which the army
was posted. Following close on their
heels, st. Cyr- entered Biberach in hot
pursuit.
Here, however, he arrested and re-
formed his men, and began 10 reconnoiter
the enemy's position. The River Riess-
crossed by a single bridge-and a marsh
lay between the village and those nights
on which nearly 10000 men were drawn
up in order of battle. II was a bold at
tempt 10 attack with a little over 20 ,O0(
men, 10000 occupying so formidable a
position; and for moment he hesitated
in his course. Pushing forward his men
however, he crossed the Riess and the
marsh and drew up in front Of the enemy
AT this moment he saw the Austrians
he had routed at the defile approach the
army on the nights. The ranks opened Il
let them pass to the rear, and in this
movement his clear and practced eye
saw evidences OF alarm and irresolutior
which convinced him at once that the
firmneSS Of the encmy's troops wa.
} shaken. He Immediately sent forward
some skirmishers to fire ON them. The
general discharge which this mere insult
drew forth, made it still clearer that tn,
whole moral power, which is ever create
than physical strength, was on his side
and though the enemy outnumbered hin
> three 70 one, and occupied splcndis