Aspern, thought defended by 12,000 of the best of the enemies' troops, was carried by storm; Bacquant being assisted by the regiment of Reuss-Plauen, by a battalion of Archduke Rainer, and by the brigade of Maier of the third column.

To frustrate this attack, the enemy advanced with two columns of infantry, supported by his heavy cavalry, upon the main army, repulsed the two regiments of Klenau and Vincent's light horse, and fell upon the infantry. The latter expecting him with their firelocks ready, and with cool intrepidity, fired at ten paces distance so effectually as totally to rout the enemy, upon which Gen. Veesey, at the head of a division of Klenau, attacked the enemies' cuirassiers with such energy, that their retreat was followed by that of the infantry. Hereby the army along the whole of its line--was disengaged from the enemy, obtained communication on the left with the corps of Prince Hohenzollern, and became possessed of the important post of Aspern. The enemy being in full retreat attempted no further attack, and confined himself merely to a cannonade, The corps remained during the night under arms. The enemy repeated, indeed, his attacks on Aspern, but they all proved unsuccessful.

Third Column.

This column, according to its destination, had began its march from its position at Seiering, by the road of Sussenbrunn and Britenlee. Some divisions of O'Reilly's light horse and chasseurs formed the advanced guard of the column, and at three o'clock in the afternoon met near Hirschstetten, the left wing of the enemy, which consisted mostly of cavalry. As about this time the first and second columns advanced intrepidly upon Aspern, and the enemy began to fall back to his position between Esslingen and Aspern, Lieut.-Gen. Hohenzollern ordered up the batteriers, and a very brisk cannonade commenced on both sides.

The first line formed in close columns of battalions, and advanced with the greatest resolution upon the enemy, when his cavalry suddenly rushed forward in such disproportionate numbers, and with such rapidity, that there was scarcely time to save the artillery which had been brought up, and the battalions were left to defend themselves by their own ansupported exertions. This was

the remarkable moment in which the regiments of Zach, Joseph Colloredo, Zettwitz, Froon, a battalion of Stein's, and the second battalion of the Archduke Charles's legion, under the conduct of Lieut.-General Brady, and Generals Buresch, Maier, and Koller, demonstrated with unparalleled fortitude what the fixed determination to conquer or die is capable of effecting against the most impetuous attacks. The enemy's cavalry turned these battalions on both wings, penetrated between them, repulsed the squadrons of O'Reilly's light horse, who were unable to withstand such a superior force, and in the confidence of victory, summoned these corps of heroes to lay down their arms. A well directed and destructive fire was the answer to this degrading proposition, and the enemy's cavalry abandoned the field, leaving behind them a considerable number of dead. This corps, as well as the others, passed the night on the field of battle.

Fourth and Fifth Columns.

These were both composed of the corps of Lieut.-Gen. Prince Rosenberg, on either bank of the Russbach, and directed their march from their position, to the right and left of Deutsch-Wagram. The fourth proceeded through Roschdorf straight to Esslingen. Col. Hardegg of Schwarzenberg's Uhlans conducted the advanced guard. The fifth directed its march towards the left, in order to go a circuit round the little town of Enzersdorf, and drive the enemy out of that place. It was reinforced by Stipsic's hussars, under the command of Colonel Frolich. Lieut.-Gen. Klenau led the advanced guard of both columns. As this circuit round Enzersdorf obliged the fifth to describe a longer line, it was necessary for the fourth to advance rather more slowly. Enzersdorf, however, was quickly taken possession of by a detachment of Stipsic's hussars, and of the Wallacho-Illyrian frontier regiment, as it was already for the greatest part evacuated by the enemy, from whom no more than thirty prisoners could be taken. Both columns now received orders to advance upon Esslingen. The fourth in close columns of battalions of Czartorisky's, Archduke Louis's and Coburg's, who were twice successively attacked by upwards of two thousand of the enemy's heavy cavalry; but these were each time put to flight by our brave infantry with considerable loss. Of the fifth column

the heroes of Austria the laurels which they had acquired.

Napoleon's glory was obviously at stake. New efforts were to be expected the following day; but he was also obliged to fight for his existence. By means of fire-ships sent down the Danube, the Archduke had caused the enemy's bridge on the Lobau to be broken down, and its repairs would take up several hours. Meanwhile Napoleon had already in the evening been joined by the corps of Gen. Oudinot; and all the disposable troops followed from Vienna and the Upper Danube, and were transported across the river in vessels as fast as they arrived. The Archduke, on his part, ordered the grenadier corps which had not had any share in the first engagement, to advance from its position near Gerasdorf to Breitenlee; and the short night was scarcely sufficient to complete the respective preparations for the commencement of a second tragedy.

BATTLE OF THE 22D OF MAY.

Corps of Lieut.-Gen. Hiller. With the morning's dawn the enemy renewed his attacks, which far surpassed in impetuosity those of the preceding day. It was a conflict of valour and mutual exasperation. Scarcely had the French guards compelled Gen. Bacquant to abandon Aspern, when the regiment of Klebek again penetrated into the burning village, drove back the choicest troops of the enemy, and engaged in a new contest in the midst of the conflagration, till, at the expiration of an hour, it was also obliged to give way. The regiment of Benjovsky now rushed in, and at the first onset gained possession of the church-yard, the walls of which Field-Marshal Lieut. Hiller immediately ordered the first division of pioneers to pull down, and the church, together with the parsonage, to be set on fire. Thus was this regiment, supported by some battalions, commanded by Gen. Bianchi, at length enabled to maintain itself at the entrance of the village, after overcoming the resistance, bordering on despair, opposed by the flower of the French army. Neither could the enemy produce any farther effect upon the bushy meadow, after Lieut.-Gen. Hiller had ordered the force there to be supported by two battalions of Anton Mittrowsky's, and a battery; on which the Jagers, St. George's, and two battalions of Vienna volunteers,

drove him from his advantageous position, which he never afterwards attempted to recover.

At about this time the left wing of the corps was likewise placed in security by three batteries sent by the lieut.-gen. to support the general of cavalry, Count Bellegarde, and the latter maintained his ground against the most desperate attacks of the enemy: the Lieut.-Gen. Hiller kept his position on the left flank of the enemy, and the victory was decided in this quarter. The corps was therefore again formed in two lines, and thus awaited the approaching events. Corps of the General of Cavalry,

Count Bellegarde.

Count Bellegarde, having received a message from Gen. Bacquant that the enemy was assembling in force before Aspern towards the Bushy meadow, and apparently had in view an assault upon that point, was going to throw a fresh battalion of Argenteau's into Aspern, when the enemy, in heavy columns of infantry and cavalry, supported by a numerous artillery, began to advance upon the centre of the corps in the plain. The troops stationed at Aspern, exhausted as they were with the incessant fire kept up during the night, were unable to withstand the impetuosity of the attack: their ammunition both for artillery and musquetry began to fail, and Gen. Bacquant retreated in good order to the church-yard. This post, gained at so dear a rate, was again ta ken from him, after several attacks sustained in conjunction with Lieut.-Gen. Hiller; the place was alternately taken and lost, till at length the superiority of our fire obliged the enemy to abandon the houses, and a last assault of Hiller's corps prevented all further attempts.

From the moment of the retaking of Aspern, it became possible to oppose an offensive movement to the enemy advancing upon the centre, and to ope rate upon his left flank and communica tion. The defence of Espern was therefore left entirely to Hiller's corps, and while Count Bellegarde applied his right wing on Aspern, he formed his left and the centre in the direction of Esslingen, in such a manner that by de grees he gained the right flank of the enemy, compelled him to retreat, and by the complete effect of the artillery, brought to bear upon the left wing, which commanded the whole space from

Aspern to Esslingen, gave him a most severe defeat.

Corps of Lieutenant-General the

Prince of Hohenzollern.

The dawn of morning was with this corps also the signal for the renewal of the gigantic conflict. The enemy's infantry was drawn up in large divisions, and between it the whole of the heavy cavalry was formed in masses. The ge neral of cavalry Prince Lichtenstein, on observing this order of battle, perceived the necessity of keeping up a close communication with the infantry placed near him; he therefore drew up his right wing en echiquier, behind the corps of infantry, but kept his left wing, together with reserves, posted in the rear. A prodigious quantity of artillery covered the front of the enemy, who seemed desirous to annihilate our corps by the murderous fire of cannon and howitzers. Upwards of two hundred pieces of cannon were engaged on both sides, and the oldest soldiers never recollect to have witnessed so tremendous a fire. Vain was every effort to shake the intrepidity of the Austrian troops. Napoleon rode through his ranks, and according to the report of the prisoners, made them acquainted with the destruction of his bridge, but added, that he had himself ordered it to be broken down, because in this case there was no alternative, but victory or death. Soon after the whole of the enemy's line put itself in motion, and the cavalry made its principal attack on the point where the corps of cavalry of Prince Lichtenstien communicated with the left wing of Lieut.-Gen. the Prince of Hohenzollern. The engagement now became general; the regiments of Rohan, D'Aspre, Joseph Colloredo, and Stain, repulsed all the attacks of the enemy. The generals were every where at the head of their troops, and inspired them with courage and perseverance. The Archduke himself seized the colours of Zach's, and the battalion, which had already begun to give way, followed with new enthusiasm his heroic example. Most of those who surrounded him were wounded; his adjutant-general, Count Collo redo, received a ball in his head, the wound from which was at first considered dangerous; a squeeze of the hand sig-, ified to him the concern of his sympathizing commander, who, filled with contempt of death, now fought for glory and for his country. The attacks of our impenetrable corps, both with the sabte

VOL. VI.

and the bayonet, so rapidly repeated and so impetuous, as to be unparalleled in military annals, frustrated all the intentions of the enemy. He was beaten at all points, and astonished at such undaunted intrepidity, he was obliged to abandon the field of battle. About this time Lieut.-Gen. the Prince of Hohenzollern observed on his left wing, near Esslingen, a chasm, which had been formed during the heat of the engagement, and afforded an advantageous point of attack. Frolich's regiment commanded by Col. Mecsery, was ordered thither in three corps, and repulsed four regiments of cavalry, accompanied with` infantry and artillery. The corps remained in the position which they had taken, till the grenadiers of the reserve, which the Archduke had ordered forward from Breitenlee, arrived to relieve the battalions exhausted with the sanguinary conflict, and continued the attack upon the centre of the enemy's position. Lieut.-Gen. D'Aspre penetrated with the four battalions of grenadiers of of Przezinsky, Puteany, Scovaux, and Scharlach, without firing a shot, to the enemy's cannon, where he was flanked by such a destructive fire from Esslingen, that nothing but the presence of the Archduke, who hastened to the spot, could have induced the grenadiers to maintain their ground. Captain Count Dombasle had already reached the enemy's battery, when he was wounded by two balls, and quitted the field. About noon the Archduke ordered a new assault upon Esslingen, which was immediately undertaken by Field-MarshalLieutenant D'Aspre, with the grenadier battalions of Kirchenbetter and Scovaux on the left, and Scharlach and Georgy in front. Five times did these gallant troops rush up to the very walls of the houses, burning internally and placed in a state of defence; some of the grenadiers thrust their bayonets into the enemy's loop-holes; but all their efforts were fruitless, for their antagonists fought the fight of despair. The Archduke ordered the grenadiers to take up their former position, and when they afterwards volunteered to renew the assault, he would not permit them, as the enemy was then in full retreat.

Corps of Field-Marshal Lieutenant
Prince Rosenberg.

Both divisions of this corps, which in advancing to the engagement, had composed the fourth and fifth columns, were

K

formed before break of day for a new attack, for which the enemy likewise made preparation on his side, but with a manifest superiority in numbers. Prince Rosenberg resolved to attack the village of Esslingen with the Archduke Charles's regiment of infantry, to push forward his other troops in battalions, and in particular to go and meet the enemy, who was advancing in the open country between Esslingen and the nearest arm of the Danube. The village was already gained, and battalions advancing on the left, obliged the enemy, drawn up in several lines, to yield. The most violent cannonade was kept up incessantly on both sides, and it was sustained by the troops with the greatest fortitude. Favoured by a fog which suddenly came on, the enemy's heavy cavalry ventured to attack on all sides the corps formed by Sztarray's and Hiller's regiments of infantry. These brave fellows received him with fixed bayonets, and at the last moment poured in their fire with such effect, that the enemy was compelled to betake himself to flight with considerable loss. Five times were these attacks on Sztarray's and Hiller's regiments repeated, and each time they were repelled with equal courage and resolution. The cavalry contributed all that lay in their power to the pursuit of the enemy and the support of the infantry. Coburg's, the Archduke Louis's, and Czatorisky's regiments belonging to the division of Lieut.-Gen. Dedovich, stationed on the right, renewed the exertions of the preceding day with the same distinction and the same success. After this severe conflict, the enemy seemed to have no inclination to expose himself to any fresh disaster, and confined himself merely to the operation of his superior artillery. About eleven A. M. Prince Rosenberg received orders from the Archduke, commander in chief, to make a new attack upon Esslingen, and a message to the same effect was sent to Lieut. Gen. Dedovich, who commanded the right division of this corps. Prince Rosenberg immediately formed two columns of attack under the conduct of Lieut.-Gens. Princes Hohenlohe and Rohan, while Lieut.-Gen. Dedovich advanced against the citadel of the place, and the magazine surrounded with walls and ditches. The attack was made with redoubled bravery, and our troops rushed with irresistable impetuo

sity into the village. Still, however, they found it impossible to maintain this post, into which the enemy kept continually throwing new reinforcements, which was of the utmost importance for covering his retreat, which he had already resolved upon, and which he defended with an immense sacrifice of lives. Prince Rosenberg therefore resolved to confine himself to the obstinate maintenance of his own position, to secure the left flank of the army, and to increase the embarrasment of the enemy by an incessant fire from all the batte ries. In the night between the 22d and 23d the enemy accomplished his retreat to the Lobau, and at three in the morn ing his rear-guard also had evacuated Esslingen, and all the points which he had occupied on the left bank of the Danube. Some divisions pursued him closely, and took possession as near as possible of the necessary posts of observation.

Thus terminated a conflict of two days, which will be ever memorable in the annals of the world, and in the history of war. It was the most obstinate and bloody that has occurred since the commencement of the French revolution.It was decisive for the glory of the Austrian arms, for the preservation of the monarchy, and for the correction of the public opinion.

The infantry has entered upon a new and brilliant career, and by the firm confidence it has manifested in its own energies has paved the way to new victories. The enemy's cavalry has seen its acquired, but hitherto untried, glory dissipated by the masses of our battalions, whose cool intrepidity it was unable to endure. Cavalry and artillery have surpassed themselves in valour, and in the space of two days have performed achievements sufficient for a whole campaign. Three pieces of cannon, seven ammumtion waggons, 17,000 French muskets, and about 3,000 cuirasses, fell into the hands of the conqueror. The loss on both sides was very great: this, and the circumstance that very few prisoners were taken by either party, proves the determination of the combatants either to conquer or die.

The Austrian army laments the death of 87 superior officers, and 4,199 subalterns and privates.

Lieutenant-Generals Prince Rohan Dedovich, Weber, and Frenel, Generals Winzingerode, Grill, Neustader, Siegen