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

superintending some works on the
Danube, his horse milling he fell tt
the ground, and was so injured that he
was unable for q long time 10 sit on horse.
back. There seems a fatality about some
| men. MaSSena had more than once faller
from his dying stecd in the headlong fight
and moved in front of his column into z
perfect storm of muskeiry without receiv-
ing scratch; and yet. in a peaceful hunt
where there was no apparent danger, he
lost an eye, and, riding leisurely alonG
the shores of the Danube, was well nigh
killed by n fall from his horse. But this
last accident did not keep him out O
battle. He was too important a leader Il
be missed from the field. LanneS was
gone, and To lose two such men was like
losing 30 900 soldiers.
ON THE FIELD OF WAGRAM.
At the battle of Wagram, which took
place soon after, he went into the field al
the head of his corps in calash Being
| still an invalid, one OF the surgeons be-
longing To the medical staff accompanied
him, as he did in several other battles.
| 1t is said that MaSSena was exceedingly
amused by the agitation the timorous
doctor exhibited the moment the carriape
| came within range of the enemy's bat
| teries. He would start at every explosion
| of the artillery, and then address some
careless remark to the old Marshal. as
| much as to say, You see, am not fright
ened at all; and again, as a cannon ball
went whiZzing by, or plowed up the
ground near the wheels, would grow pale.
and turn and twist in the greatest alarm,
asking of the probabilities and chances OF
being hit. The old veteran enjoyed his
| distress exceedingly, and would laugh
and Joke at his fears in great delight.
| But when the storm grew thick and the
| battle hot, his face would take its stern
| aspect, and, forgetful of the poor doctor by
| his side, he would drive hither and
/ l,itI I,nr foil
orders in a tone that startled this son of
, EsculapiuS almost as much as the ex-
| plOSion of cannon.
On the second day of the fight at
Wagram, Massena's troops, after having
carried the village of Aderklaa. were re-
pulsed by terrible discharge of grape
| shot and muSketry and charge of
Austrian cavalry This being followed
up by an onset from the Archduke
Charles himself with his grenadiers, they
fell back in confusion on the German
soldiers, who, also, breaking and fee
ing, overturned Massena in his carriage
He was so enraged at the panic of his
soldiers, that he ordered the dragons
about his person to charge them as enc
mics. But it seemed impossible to arrest
the disorder Spreading every moment,
this part of the field appeared about to be
lost. Massena, unable to mount his horse
or head his columns, chafed like a lion in
the tolls. Dlsdalning to fly, he strove
with his wonted bravery to rally his fugi-
tive army. 1t was all in vain and the
disabled veteran was left almost alone in
his chariot in the midst of the plain.
Bonaparte, in the distance, saw the dis
tress of his Marshal, and came on a swift
gallop over the field, pressed hard after by
ms brave cuiTassiers and the horse artil-
lery OF the guard, which made the plain
: smoke and tremble in their passage.
Refining up his stced beside Massena's IS
carriage, he dismounted, and springing
into the seat beside him, began To dis
course. in his rapid way, of his plans.
with his finger pointing now towards the
steeples OF Wagram and now towards the
tower OF Neusiedel, he explained in few
seconds the grand movement he was
about to make. Remounting his miIk-
white charger he restored order byshis
presence and personal exposure, so that
the designed movements were sucCtss- .
fully made.
MasSena commanded the advance
guard after this battle, and pursued the
Archduke to Znaym, where the Austr:ansi
mace a stand The position was an ad-
mlrable one for defense, and there was
evidently to be hard struggle before it,
could be carried. But Massena advanced
boldly to the assault. After various sue
ceSSeS and defeats amid the most dread
full carnage enraged at the obstinacv Of
the resistance and the frequent recoil of
his own troops, he declared his resolution
disabled as he was, to mount on horse
back and charge at the head OF his troops
in person. His staff strove in vain to
prevent him: With single glance at his
recolling columns, he Ieaped from his
carriage and sprung to his saddle but his
feet had scarcely touched the earth be-
fore cannon-ball crashed through the
center OF the vehicle, tearing il into frae-
ments. III he had remained a moment
longer he would have been killed instan-
taneOusly. Fate seemed to have a pecu-
liar watch over him in battle. leaving him
quite at the mercy of the most ordinary
chance when out of it.
INVASION OF PORTUGAL.
His conduct of the invasion of Port,o.,
was masterpiece of generalship. With
a force OF between &c, 900 and so 900 men
he was directed to drive Wellington out OF
the kingdom. Probably, Massena in no
part OF his military career exhibited the
qualities OF a great commander so strik
ingly as in this campaign Resistless in
a charge-firm as rock in the hour of
dlSaSter-pOSGeSSed with power of en-
durance se.dcm equalled by any man. he
here demonstrated also his great abilities
when ieft alone to plan and execute a
protracted war
1t would be uninteresting to go over the
details OF this memorable pursuit and
retreat. From the 1St of June to the
middle OF October, he chased Wellington
through Portugal, and for four months
q
England backwards until he came to the
lines of the Torres Vedras The English
had been engaged on these lines for a !
year, and they now rose before Massena
an lmpregnable barrier from which the
tide OF success must at last recoil This |
monument Of human skill and enterprise |
consisted of three lines of intrenchments |
one within Notwithstanding for ,,
nearly 30 miles. On these lines were $50 |
redOubts and 600 mounted cannon This
impregnable defense received Wellington
and his exhausted army into it's bosom |
and MasSena saw his foe retire from his |
grasp, and take up his position where his |
utmost exertlOns to diSiodge him must
prove abortive. To add to the security of :
Wellington, he here received reinforce
ments that Swelled his army to 13O 900 ,
men, or more than double that of the |
French Marshal. To march his weary
and diminished troops on these stupen- |
dous notifications, defended by such a !
host, MaSSena saw would be utter mad
ness. His experienced eye could some
times see the way to success through the
most overwhelming obstacles, bu; here
there was none.
Besides the defenSeG which here prO-
tected Wellington, there were 20 British
Ships-o OF the-line, and 100 transports ready
to receive the army If forced to retire |
Unwilling to retire, Massena sat down
before the Torres Vedras, hoping first to
draw Wellington forth with his superior
force to a pitched battle in the open field
But the British commander was too wary
to do this, and chose rather to provoke an
assault on his intrenchmentS or starve
his enemy into a retreat. MaSsena sent |