The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14

parallel on the left shore. NTurat, with the
advanced guard, was pressing with hls
accustomed audacity towards Vienna.
In the meantime, the Russian allies,
finding they could not save the Capital,
crossed over the Danube to the left shore
to escape the pursuit Of Napoleon and
effect a junction with reinforcementS> that
were coming up. Mortier was aware OF
this, and pressed eagerly forward 10 inter
cept their march towards Moravia.
As you pass from DirnStein TO Stein, the
only road winds by the Danube, and be
tween il and a range Of rocky hills. form
ing a deep and narrow defile. Mortier was
at the former place Fastening the march
of his columns; and eager to advance,
pushed forward with only the single di-
vision OF GaZan, leaving orders Tor the
army TO follow close in the rear.
Passing through this defle, he approached
Stein at daybreak, and found the rear
guard OF the Russian army posted on
nights in front OF the town, sustained by
powerful batteries, which swept the road
along which he was marching.
Notwithstanding his inferiority OF mum
bers and the murdcrous fire he should be
forced TO encounter, he resolved immedi-
ately TO attack the enemy's position.
AS the broad daylight Of a November
morning spread over the Danube, he
opened his fire on them, and rushed to the
assault. In a short time the action be
came desperate, and the grenadiers on
| both sides could almost touch each other
in the close encounter. The Russian
troops came pouring back to sustain the
rear-guard, while the French advanced
with rapid step along the road to 3id their
companions With headlong courage on
the one side and steady firmneSS on the
other, the struggle grew hotter every mo
ment.
Neither would yield, and Mortier stood
hour after hour amid the wasting storm;
till at length he began to- grow anxious for
the issue. and at II O'Clock, to hurry up
his troops. galIoped back to DiTnstein.
Squirting furiously along the defile, he
came up TO Duponts division-a little
! beyond the farther cntTance-and urged
him TO redouble his speed. Then,
putting spurs to his horse, he again hast
ened back to the scene of strife. But
what was his establishment, on emerging
from the road, to behold d Russian army
issuing from the hills, and marching
straight for its entrance.
A DANGEROUS PERIOD.
DoctoroT, with his whole division, had
made ciTcuitOus march during the com
! bat: and cutting off MortIer5 retreat, was
| about 10 take possession Of the dcfiie. AS
| the Marshal left the main road TO escape
! being taken prisoner himself, and wound
along the hillsidCs and saw the dense
masses pouring silently into that marrow
pass, his heart for a moment stopped beat
| ing; for his own doom, and that OF his
! brave troops, seemed to be sealed. Crushed
| between the two armies, there was no
| hope for him, unless Dupont came 10 bis
relief. The morning that had dawned SO
! brightly upon him. had suddenly become
| black as midnight
| But his resolution was Immediately
| taken. There was but one course left for
| him, unless he intended TO surrender; and
| that was, to march back, and endeavor 10
| cut his way through 10 his army.
| Behold that single division pressed in
| front by the whole Russian army, and cut
| off in the rear, slowly retiring towards that
| silent gorge. Battling back the host that
| pressed after him, and sent their dcstruc-
| tive storms Of grapeshot through his torn
| ranks, MoTtier formed his men into Ii solid
| column, and without u drum or trumpet
note to cheer them on, moved with firm
! step into the dark entrance, resolved 10
| cut his way through, or die in the effort
But a sight, dread enough TO appal the
| stoutest heart, met his gaze IS he looked
along the narrow strip Of road between the
| rocks and the Danube. AS far as the eve
could see, there, was nothing but dense
| battalions OF the enemy in order OF battle
| Without shrinking, however. the steady
| column moved with fixed bayonets into the
| living mass.
| A deadly fire received them, and the
/ carnage at once became dreadful With
| the cannon numbering on their rear, and
! burying their fiery loads in their ranks
| swept in front by inceSsant discharges oil
| musketry- under foot by the
| cavalry, and crushed between two armies
| the escape Of that brave division seemed
| utterly hopeless. Indeed. the work Of an