370 



A HISTORY OF (JAVALllY. 



[period IV. 



' 



upon the exposed flunk of the heavy column, cutting it 

 asunder, capturing 2,000 prisoners, including Zach, the 

 chief of staft', and driving the remainder in utter rout 

 back upon the supports advancing in their rear. Keller- 

 man's own statement is concise. He says : " I see it. I 

 am in the midst of them. They lay down their arms. 

 The whole affair did not occupy so much time as it took 

 me to write these six lines."' 



This great achievement won the victory for the French. 

 The Austrians retreated into Alessandria. An armistice 

 was concluded the next day, by which all Piedmont and 

 the Milanese were handed over to the French, and the 

 Austrian army allowed to retreat beyond the Miucio. 

 By this battle Napoleon obtained the cession of twelve 

 fortresses, armed with 1,500 cannon, and all this was the 

 immediate result of the stubborn resistance of Desaix's 

 infantry, aided most effectually by the magnificent 

 charge of Kellerman's handful of horse. 



The first combat of the campaign of 1805 took place 

 at Wertingen, on the 8th of October, betw^een 8,000 

 cavalry, under Murat, and twelve battalions of Austrian 

 grenadiers, with four squadrons of cuirassiers under 

 General Auffemberg. 



The Austrians, who were marching in fancied security, 

 were suddenly enveloped by the immense force of French 

 horsemen. Auffemberg at once formed his division in 

 one great square, with the cuirassiers at the angles, and 

 awaited the attack.^ The French dragoons charged 

 impetuously, and soon swept away the small body of 

 Austrian cavalry, but were unable to effect an entrance 

 into the square, which maintained a steady fire from 

 every face. In vain the heavy cavalry, under Nansouty, 

 made repeated charges with heavy losses. The issue was 

 long doubtful, until some grenadiers arrived under 

 Oudinot, and, supported by artillery, soon staggered and 

 shook the Austrian formation, and gave an opening tc 

 the horsemen, who, plunging into the gap, broke th( 

 square, and won a complete victory. Three thousant 

 prisoners were taken, as well as all the enemy's artillery. 

 ' Alison, ii. 106. " Ibid. ii. 318, 



