140 



CHARACTER AND MANNERS OF THE TYROLESE. 



French had gained the first ascents from Inspruck, and the out- 

 posts of the contending parties were stationed on the opposite 

 sides of the torrent of Eisack. Steep rocks, fringed with brush- 

 wood, rose above the bridge on the southern side, which the 

 Tyrolese occupied. From these rocks they kept up an irregular 

 fire on the French infantry, who were endeavouring to make their 

 way through the defile. Notwithstanding the utmost courage on 

 the part of the French, they found it impossible to make their 

 way round a corner of the rock, where the road wound round the 

 face of the precipice, full in view of the marksmen on the oppo- 

 site bank. The grenadiers who advanced, were instantly shot, 

 and so great was the slaughter which this irregular fire occasion- 

 ed, that, in a very short time, the road was literally blocked up 

 with dead bodies. In this emergency, an officer of the Bavarian 

 dragoons volunteered to gallop over the bridge with his squadron, 

 and dispossess the peasantry who occupied the opposite cliflfs. 

 The Tyrolese, perceiving the cavalry winding up the ascent, set 

 fire to the bridge, and, in a very short time, the flames spread 

 rapidly along the fir beams on which it was supported. Not de- 

 terred, however, by this circumstance, nor by the dreadful fire 

 which the peasantry directed towards this point, the brave horse- 

 man pressed forward, and spurring his horse with much difficulty 

 over the dead bodies of his comrades, dashed into the midst of the 

 flames. The eyes of both armies were anxiously turned upon 

 this brave man, and the hoofs of his horse were just touching the 

 rocks on the opposite side, when the burning rafter broke, and he 

 was precipitated from an immense height into the torrent beneath. 

 A momentary pause, and a cessation from firing ensued, till the 

 heavy splash in the deep ravine below announced his fate ; and 

 instantly a loud shout from the whole Tyrolese army, re-echoed 

 through the impending rocks, announced to the neighbouring val- 

 leys that the French army was stopped at this important defile. 

 This success, trifling as it may appear, was of the utmost conse- 

 quence to the Tyrolese, for it gave the peasants, from the remote 

 valleys, time to assemble ; and though the French succeeded at 

 the end of two days in turning their position, and forcing them to 

 retire into the higher parts of Mount Brenner, yet the time which 

 was thus gained, contributed, in a great measure, to the glorious 

 victory which soon followed. 



Hofer and Speckbacher, finding their forces continually increas- 

 ing, and that the drooping spirits of the peasantry were some- 



