The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1918-06-07

1
dangerous and powerful opposition,
recorded in the annals of history.
Washington's crossing the Delaware,
that very daring and brilliant feat,
could not be compared to it. Meth
er do I believe that Alexander's
crossing the Granicus, though quick
ly and successfully carried out in
the face Of a powerful force, was
equal to it, all things considered.
Nevertheless, that one feat was
enough to make Alexander eternally
famous.
The village of Ebersdorf, on the
Traun River, was the key to Vienna.
Massena could only reach this village
by crossing the Traunway River on
narrow causeway and bridge, both
of which together were one-half
mile in length; while the Austrians
in large force in the village were
well fortified, and had their heavy
batteries trained to sweep every inch
of the causeway and bridge. The
planted batteries frowncd in threat
ening and horrid defiance, while the
Austrians waited in fateful silence to
see if the French on the opposite
bank would dare to attempt the
passage. Massena took in the situa-
ton. He knew what it meant to
cross the River in the teeth of the
Austrian guns and batteries. But
Massena was on his way to Vienna;
to reach his objective he must cross
the Traun and carry the village
Ebersdorf. He therefore had but one
resolution, and that was to cross.
He gave the command and his army
began to file over the causaway in
close column. They could not make
a rapid dash, like the Charge of the
Light Brigade, but had to move
cautiously and with measured tread.
1t was a dreadful moment. The
Austrian batteries opened up like
belching volcanoes, and hurled their
shells of leaden tempests into the
head of the advancing column, lit
orally shattering it to pieces; while
every house in the village, as the
column under the stern command of
Massena still steady advanced, sent
forth its Kissing messengers of death
into the French Army. Yet unfalter-
ingly they advanced; but on reach
ing the bridge they were mown down
in heaps, so that the dead and
wounded had to be rolled off into
the river to clear the way for the
advancing column. Massena, stern
and undaunted, still urged his vast
ing army onward, and, finally reach
cd the opposite bank. The French
then charged and silenced the thun-
dering batteries, stormed and took
the village, routed the enemy; and
amid burning houses and a bedlam
of mingled shouts, cries and groans,
Massena stood victorious, while
twelve thousand of the dead attested
in dreadful muteness how stubborn
ly the crossing was opposed and how
heroically the French had fought.
But Massena, it seems, went thru
the fearful conflict unscathed.
Napoleon lost the battle of Aspern;
and / need to say no more to convey
just idea as to how that battle was
waged. In this battle Massena
fought with the calm yet reckless
daring that is characteristic of the
firmest and most persistent heroism.
When a column would recoil before
the whitening fire, Massena, rushing
to front, sent his stentorian For
ward!" back down the line, like
peal of thunder. Then the division
would steady, and dash forward with
more deadly resolution. In one of
these audacious charges, everyone of
his guards was struck down dead or
wounded on the spot, and Massena
was left standing alone, like some
stern mountain peak whose fellows
had suddenly been shattered by an
earthquake or terrific thunderbolt.
Yet such an incident only intensified
Massena's poise, quickness of
thought and accuracy of decision.
At the battle of Wagram, Massena,
having been recently hurt by the
falling of his horse, went into the
battle in calash, accompanied by
physician. AS soon as they began to
get within the immediate vicinity of
the batteries, the Doctor, unaccus-
toned to such scenes, gave a jump
in his seat at each terrific explosion
of the artillery, which was very
amusing to the rugged and veteran
Marshal. But when the battle
waxed warm, and Massena saw that
it was stubborn and doubtful con-
fiict, and that Napoleon's throne was
wavering in the balance, he forgot
all about the frightened Doctor; his