Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-13
WAGRAM.
It Is 100 Years Since Napoleon Met the
Austrians.

WhGHaMs
It Is 100 Years Since Napoleon Met the
Austrians.
Wagram was a two days fight. 1t
covered the 9Th and 9Th Of July. 1909.
All through one long summers day the
Austrians had stood stubbornly on the
defensive. They held their position
when light fell-a quiet night. Dawn
on the 9Th saw the combat renewed.
The formation Of both armies was that
of an anglican acute angle In the
case Of the French, an obtuse angle on
the other side. Wagram was the point
de mire on both sides; 1t was the key
of both positions. The object Of the
emperor and Of Prince Charles, both,
was the turning Of the enemy's left
Hank But the Austrian commander
mad planned turning movement tnat
was far too wide. He had In conse-
quence to give his orders In writing,
with the result that they were either
or badly effected by his
subordinates. Napoleon had kept nis
reserves under his hand and the em-
peror could thus transmit orders there
could be no mistaking and personally
see them carried out It was this that
won the day for him.
The day no doubt began with sur
prise. The Austrians assumed the Of
fensive; they assaulted and took
Aderklaa, the French centre. Prince
Charles at the head Of three columns
engaged Davout and Davout was put
to his trumps. The emperor himself
had to intervene with q formidable re-
serve. What Prince Charles expected
and what Napoleon thought might be
the case was the arrival Of a Hungar-
ian army some 10000 strong under
Prince John to the assistance Of the
Austrians. That Hungarian army,
however, was then no nearer Wagram
than is Presburg; Prince Charies.s
expectations were falsified and his at
tack ended In a repulse
1t was a gunner's day. within the
emphatically, such an artillery force
naa never taken part In a battle be-
fore. There were In fact something
like 1,200 guns brought into action.
Artillery preparation" followed by
charge Of heavy cavalry, 30 demoral-
Lied Bernadotte's corps that Massena,
advancing to recapture Aderklaa, was
brought to temporary standstilL
The marshal himself, who directed the
OF ,rations from q caleche rendered all
tn more conspicuous by q team Of
fos.r white horses, was the object Of
tiss importunate attentions Of q bat
trry. Yelled in clouds Of smoke the
Austrian turning movement at ono
time was not without its chances Of
success. The change Of front which
Massena was ordered to execute In
was done under the heav-
lest cannonade Of the day, but It was
done; the emperor taking seat In
Massena's caleche to see 1t done. The
French left was beaten; but the new
set 1t going toward the Is
land Of Lobau, where Napoleon had
hundred gums, which
opened fire and made further
advance Of the Austrian right impos-
sible. Massen was enabled to reform
his corps It seemed the right mo-
ment to order q general advance and
bring up all the reserves to take part
In 1t.
The emperor, however, held his hand.
He had his eyes fixed on that tall
tower Of Neusiedel, which marked the
position of the Austrian left. Davout
had been ordered to leave Aderixlaa
alone and attack Neusiedel. II the
smoke Of Davout's guns became visible
on the far side Of the tower it would
mean tina, the Austrian left was beat
en, and then Massena might go to
work and the battle would be won
So 1t proved. Davout's smoke pass
ed the tower. The emperor gave the
order for the final forward movement.
Under cover Of Lauriston's heavy bat
terfes Bessieres led six regiments OF
cuirassiers to a charge that broke up
the Austrian squares. Macdonald
swept up Aderklaa. Davout crowned
The heights Of the Russback and plant
ed the victorious eagles in the insigni-
icant little bursh which had become
famous for all time.
The Austrian retreat was not mo-
ested. The emperor was wise enough
not to risk night action over ground
30 perfectly favorable to a retreating
Toe. Besides, for aught he knew, he
might have had that fresh Hungarian
army on his rear. He was not always
30 prudent.-Pall Mall Gazette.