The National tribune., 1898-04-28
Der, found himself at the head of nearly
$4,000 men.
EVE OF AUSTERLITZ.


His army was drawn up In plain, witt
| the right resting on Lake Mnnitz, and the
| left six miles distant on hill, which was
| covered with artillery. Two little streams
| flowed past the army into the lake, bordereo
with marshes to protect it, while on high
slope was pitched the Emperor's tent, over
looking the whole scene.
Opposite the French army was waving
line of nights the highest of which, Mount
Pratzcn, few miles distant, formed the
center of the allied forces, numbering
SO, 600 men, commanded by the Emperors
OF Russia and Austria in person.
Under Soult was placed the finest corps
in the army, for the weight of the battle was
designed to rest on him, and the nights OF
Pratzen, forming the enemy'S center, was
to be his field of combat.
Napoleon had been on horseback all day
long, and after dark was riding along the
lines previous to his departure to ms tent,
when the news of his approach spread IKE
lightning through the whole army. :,
Suddenly the soldiers seized the bundles
of straw that had been supplied them Tor
their beds, and lighting them at one end
lifted them on poles over their heads, max
ing an illumination as Sssplendld as IT was
unexpected. All along through the valley
those blazing torches lighted the path OF
the astonished NapoleQn-the first ami
versary of his coronation.
IEmpereuri" burst around him. The cry
was caught by the next the next pat
talon as he advanced, eand prolonged by
those he had left, TIL the shout OF that I'M
mense host filled all tie valley, and rose
like the roar of the sea over the nights,
miles. away, falling with an om'nous
sound on the camp of the enemy
1t was a scene that battles description.
Those myriad torches, blazing and swing
ing to and fro i'm the darknesS-a broad
mass of flame losing itself in the distance
and the shout of that army, rolling IN sucl,
deafening accents after Napoleon, 1ormed
together a far more imposing ceremony
than his coronation in the Capital.
Next morning, at O'Clock, Napoieoh
was on horseback beside his tent. Inc
moon had Just gone dOwn-the stars Shohe
pale and tremulous in the sky, ana all was
silent and tranquil around him.
But amid this deep hush his quick ear
the nights of Pratzen, like the heavy tread
Of marching columns and the rumbling ol
artillery carriages over the ground: me
leep murmur passed steadily from rlght 10
eft, showing that the allies were gathering
heir force against his right wing. =,
At length the sun rose slowly aDoVe the
lorizon tinging with gold the nights OF
oratZen, on which were seen moving dense
masses of infantry, and poured its glorious
light over the sea of mist that slept IN the
alleys below. 1t was the "Sun OF Auster-
it,"
A FALSE MOVEMENT.
The allies, intent on Outfianking the
were weakening their center by
lrawing off the troops to the lett Inc
.iarshals who stood around the Emperor |
Jaw the fault Of the enemy, and eagerly
Lsked permission to take advantage OF IL. |
But turning to Soult, whose troops were /
nassed in the bottom of the valley near
he nights, covered by the fog, he asked
.im how long it would take to reach the
summit of PratZen. :, =,
LESS than 20 minutes" replied the
farshal.
eTWait a little, then" said Napoleon; /
when the enemy is making false move
nent, it is necessary to be careful not 10
him."
1t was now o'clock in the morning, and
oon after he gave the impatIently ex-
,ected signal, and Murat, Lannes, Der,
,adotte, and Soult. who had stood around |
i'm. parted like lightning from his side, |
md swept in headlong gallop TO their
espective corps.
Napoleon rode towards the center, and as
le passed through the troops, said: SOL
Iiersi the enemy has imprudently ex-
posed himself to your strokes. Flnish the
by a clap of thunderp,
give PEmpereurp' answered HIM In one
Ong protracted shout. 80,
In the meantime, Soult emerged, with
lis strong battalions, from the covering
mist, and clothed in the rich sunileht,
lscended, with an intrepid step, the slopes
If Pratzen. 1t was a magnificent sight.
In a moment the top OF Pratzen was
covered with smoke, from whose bosom Is
sued thunder and lightning, as If vol
,ano was there hurting its fiery fragments
n the air Covered from sight, those two
1osts-mixed in mortal combat struggled
or the mastery, while the curtain OF smoke
At length the fire and smoke which
Pratzen had belched forth for two hours
midday sun, LILO, there waved the
French standards, while.a victorious shout
vent pealing over the armies struggling IN
Scult. having pierced the enemy's center,
,ext descended like an avalanche on their
eft wing. Bessiers was charging like fire
below it'll the Imperial Guard, ana the
whole field shook with
the shock of cavalry and
thunder Of cannon while