The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-09
(Continued.l

PASSAGE OF THE RIVER TRAUN-A
HERCULEAN TASK HEROIC AD-
VANCE. CROWNED BY SUCCESS-AI
ASPERN AND WAGRAM - GREAT
SKILL IN PORTUGAL.
After the campaign of Eylau, in 1907,
MaSsena returned TO Paris, and appeared
at court. But his blunt, stern nature
could not bend to its etiquet and idle
ceremonies, and he grew restless and lrrl-
table. 1t was no place for man like
him. But this peaceful spot proved more
dangerous than the field Of battle; for,
hunting one day with a party of officers
at 81. Cloud, shot from the grand hunts
man. gun pierced his Left eye and de-
Stroyed it forever. He had gone through
SO pitched battles, stormed batteries, and
walked unhurt amid the most wasting
fire. and received his first wound IN a
hunting excursion.
In 1909 in the campaigns of Aspern and
Wagram, he added to his former renown,
and was one of the firm props OF Napo-
Icons empire on those fiercely-foug
battlefields. Previously to the battle OF
ASpern, and after that of Eclxmuhl, while
Bonaparte was on the march for Vienna,
chasing the ATchduke Charles before him,
MaSSena had command of the advance
guard. Following hard after the retreating
army of the Archduke. as he had done be-
fore in Italy, he came at length to the
River Traun, at Ebersberg or Ebersdorf,
small village on its banks, Just above
where it falls into the Danube. Here, for
while, an effectual stop seemed put to
his victorious career, for this stream, op-
poSlte EberSberg, was crossed by single
long, narrow wooden bridge. From shore
to shore, across the sand-banks, islands,
etc, 1T was nearly half a mile, and
single narrow cauSeway traverSed the en-
tire distance to the bridge, which itself
was about 60 rods long. Over this half
mile OF narrow path the whole army was
to pass, and the columns TO charge; Tor
the deep, impetuouS torrent could not be
forded. But gate closed the farther end
of the bridge, while the houses filled with
soldiers, enfiiaded the entire opening and
the artillery planted on the nights over 1T
commanded every inch OF the passage.
The high rolling ground along the river
was black with the masses of infantry,
sustained by heavy batteries all trained
on that devoted bridge, apparently enough
in themselves to tear it into fragments
To crown the whole, an old castle frowned
over the stream, on whose crumblng bat
Elements cannon were planted so as also
to command the bridge AS if this were
not enough to deter any man from at
tempting the passage, another row of
nights, over which the road passed rose
behind the first, covered with pine trees
affording a strong position for the enemy
to retire to if driven from their first
THE KEY TO VIENNA.
Thus defended, IS 600 men, supported by
so cannon, waited to see if the French
would attempt to pass. Even the genius
and boldneSS OF MaSSena might have been
staggered at the spectacle before him. 1t
seemed like marching his army into the
mouth of the volcano to advance on the
batteries that commanded that long, mar
w n xU1C 10 ha dor
charge over a short cauSeway but a
steady march along a close defile through
a perfect tempest of balls. But this was
the key to Vienna, and the Marshal re-
solved to make the attempt-hoping that
LanneS, who was to cross some distance
farther up, would aid him by movement
on the enemy'S flank.
The Austrians had foolishly left four
battalions on the side from which the
French approached. Theseibeing first at
tackled, were driven from their position,
and forced along the causeway at the
point of the bayOnet, and on the bridge,
followed by the pursuing French. But
the moment the French column touched
the bridge, those hitherto-Silent batteries
opened their dreadful fire on its head 1t
sank like a sand-bank that caves under
the torrent. To advance seemed impos-
sible; but the heroic Cohorn finging him
self in front, cheered them on and they
returned TO the charge, driving like an i'm
DetuouS torrent over the crashing timberS.
Amid the confusion and chaos of the fight !
between these fleeing battalions and their
purSuers, the AuStrianS on the shore saw
the French colorS flying, and fearing the
irruptlon OF the enemy with their friends
closed the gate and poured their tempest
of bullets on friend and foe alike. The
carnage then became awful. Smitten in
front by the deadly fire of their friends.
and pressed with the bayonets behind by
their foes, those battalions threw them
selves into the torrent below, or were !
trampled under foot by the steadily-ad-
vancing column. Amid the expl psion of
ammunition wagons in the midst, blowing
men into the air, and the crashing fire Of
the enemy's cannon, the French beat
down the gate and palisades and rushed
with headlong speed into the streets of
the village. But here, met by fresh bat
talions in front and riddlcd through by a
destructive crOss-fire from the houses.
while the old castle hurled it's storm of
lead on their heads, these brave soldiers
were compelled to retire, leaving two
thirds of their number stretched on the
pavement. But Massena ordered up
fresh battalions, which, marching through
the tempest that swept the bridge ioined
their companions, and regaining the viii
lage, stormed the castle itself. Along the
narrow lanes that led 10 il. the dead Law in
swathes, and no sooner did the maneIed
head Of the column reach the castle walls
than IT disappeared before the pIunpinp
fire from the battlements. as if IL sunk
into the earth. Strengthened by a new
reinforcement, the daGntless French re-
turned TO the assault, and, batteripg
down the doors, compelled the garrison to
surrender. The Austrian army however.
made good their position on the pine,
covered ridge behind the village. and dis
puted every inch with the most stubborn
resolution. The French cavalry. now
across, came on a furious gallon through
the streets Of the village. trampIinp on
the dead and dying, and amid the flames
OF the burning houses, and through the
smoke that rolled over their pathway.
hurried forward with exulting shouts and
rafting armor TO the charge Still the
Austrians held out, TILL threatened with
a flank attack, they were compelled To
retreat.
TERRIFIC COMBAT.
There was not more desperate pas
sage in the whole war than this. Mas
sena was compelled TO throw his brave
the stream, To clear a passage for the
columns. Whole companies falling at a
time, they choked up the way and in
creased the obstacles to be overcome
These must be sacrificed or the whole
shattered column that was maintaining
their desperate position on the further
side be annihilated. 1t was an appallinp
spectacle To see the advancing soldiers
amid the most destructive fire themselves.
pitch their wounded comrades. while call
ing out most piteously TO be spared by ,
scores and hundreds into the torrent
lie Grand fought nobly that day. Amid
the choked-up defile and the close fire of
the batteries, he fierceIy pressed on, and
Il