Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1896 — LAST IMPERIAL VICTORY. [ARTICLE]

LAST IMPERIAL VICTORY.

Napoleon's Battle Against the ’Alite. # at Ilrepdcn. On the 25t1», as be passed Bautzen, be learned that Oudinot had been defeated at Luckau: but he heed to the report, and next day lie reached Dresden at nine in the morning. <An hour later the guard earns up, having performed the almost Incredible feat of marching heventy-six miles In three days. Vandamme, with 40,000 men, had reached Pirna, a few miles above the city, and St. Cyr wps drawing, in behind the'temporary fortifications of Qresden. Tlie bead of defensive line was to be kept at ahy cost. The enemy, too, was at hand, but they had no plan. In a council of war held by them the same morning there was a protracted debate, and finally Moreau’s advice to advance in seven columns He refused to “fight against his country." but explained that the I reneh couldt never tit* conquered in mass, and that if one assailing column were crushedxthe rest eould still push ori. This long, deliberation cost the allies their opportunity, for at four in the afternoon, when they attacked, the mass of the French Army had crossed the Elbe and completed the garrison of the city. For two hours the fighting was fierce and stubborn; from three different sides,. Russians, Austrians and Prussians, each niade substantial gains; at six Napoleon determined so thrpw tn his guard. With fine promptness MorrieikAvlth two divisions of the _ young guard, sallied forth against the Russians, and, fighting until, midnight, drove them beyond the hamlet of Striefen. St. Cyr dislodged the Prussians and pushed them to Strebla, while.Ney, with two divisions of the young guard, .XUfew a portion of tlie Austrians into Plauen, and Murat, with two divisions of infantry and Latour-Maubourg's cavalry, clenrea tlie suburb Friedrichstadt of the rest. Napoleon, alert and übiquitous, then made-bls usual round, and knew when he retired to rest that with 70,000 men or boys lie had repulsed 150,000 of his foe. His inspiriting personal work might be calculated as worth SO,- ■- 000 of his opponents’ best men. That night both MatdMHtt and Victor, with tliefr corps. .mtered'the city; and Van- - damme in the early,"dawn began to bombard Pirna,' finis drawing away forces from the allies to hold that outpost. ’ , The morning of tlie 27th opened in a tempest of wind and rain, a fact which, is considered as having been most advantageous to the French, since it enabled .them to hide their movements, and interfered with their enemy’s guns and ammunition. Imrnyrease; the see- — ond day’s fighting was more disastrous' to the allies than the first. At six botji sides were arrayed. On the French right Victor and Latpur-Maubourg; then Marmont; then the old guard, ana ‘ Ney, with two divisions of the young guard: next St. Cyr, witli Mortier on the left. Opposite stood Russians. Prussians find Austrians, in the same relative positions, on higher ground, encircling tlie French all the way westward and around by the south to Plauen; between their center and left was reserved a gap for the Austrians under Klenau, who were coming up from Tharandt in. the blinding storm, and were overdue. At seven began the artillery fire of the young gun rd. but before long it ceased for an Instant, since the gunners found the enemy’s lipe too high for the elevfition of their guns. tinue,” came swiftly the Emperor’S order; “wo must occupy the attention of the enemy on that spot.” 1 —The—rusesueeeedod;at—ton Murat dashed through the apparently unnotired .gap, and, turning westward toward the Elbe, killed or captured all who coriiposed the enemy’s extreme left. The garrison of Pirna stood firm until afternoon, and then retreated toward Peterswald. Elsewhere there was continuous fighting, but the French merely held their own. Napoleon lounged all day in a curious apathy before his camp-fire, Ids condition being apparently due to the incipient stages of a digestive disorder. Early in the afternoon Schwarzenberg heard of Murat's great charge, but ho still held firm. When, however, the. flight from Pirna wqs announced, he prepared to retreat, and at five his columns were slowly withdrawing from the (nnflict. By six Napoleon was aware that tlie conflict was over, and. mounting his horse, ha trotted listlessly to the palace, his old gray overcoat and hood streaming with rain.—Century. <