608 
A VISIT TO ASPERN AND WAG RAM. 
one can see that it would be possible to trace the progress of a battle 
on the plain of the Marchfeld, and we are told that the steeples of the 
Capital on the following day were crowded with anxious spectators of 
the combat which was to decide the destinies of their country. Never 
perhaps was a battle on such a scale, and on which such issues hung, 
fought in such an arena before such an audience. Something like three 
hundred and fifty thousand combatants, with from eight to twelve 
hundred guns, according to some accounts, were preparing to join issue 
in an amphitheatre almost, it might be thought, intended for such a con¬ 
test of giants, and never has a fight exhibited so much incident, such 
swift interchange from defensive to offensive, or such activity as that 
displayed on both sides. The balance of fortune swung now in favour 
of one, now of another, while even in the moment of triumph the victors 
gave signal proof of how near they w r ere to defeat. 
Napoleon's force was drawn up on two sides of the triangle of Aspern, 
Wagram, and Neusiedel, and his greatest strength was collected in the 
northern angle. Finding the Austrian line so extended, and having had 
a proof of the strength of their position along the Bussbach, he now 
determined to utilise the concentration of his forces in an attempt to 
break their centre, and at the same time cut off their left from any 
hope of reinforcement from the Archduke John, who might at any 
moment be expected to appear from Pressburg. In order, therefore, 
to prepare the great central blow, Massena was moved towards Ader- 
klaa from Aspern during the night, and the division of Boudet was left 
alone to defend the neighbourhood of that village. The French 
strength was thus drawn completely to their centre and right, where 
Davout was placed, and the corps of Oudinot, Eugene, Bernadotte, 
and Marmont were assembled between him and the neighbourhood of 
Aderklaa. Hound Baasdorf lay the Guard and reserve cavalry under 
Bessieres. 
While Napoleon thus prepared to attack his adversary, the Archduke, 
emboldened by the brilliant success of the previous night, had decided 
to anticipate the impending blow, and fall upon the French instead 
of waiting for them. Ilis brother should, it was calculated, have been 
near enough to co-operate by an attack on the French right, and with 
his help the Austrians would be about evenly matched as regards 
numbers with their opponents. Assisted by the reinforcements from 
Pressburg the left wing might crush the French right, while a powerful 
blow at their left might sever their communications with the Lobau. 
In the early dawn, therefore, the Austrians commenced a general 
forward movement. 
Bellegarde advanced against Aderklaa, where the successes of the 
previous night had been gained, and Bernadotte's men fell back slowly 
before him and evacuated the village. Further to the south Klenau 
and Kollowrath, reinforcing Hiller and Lichtenstein, were pushed 
towards Breitenlee and Aspern and were soon threatening the French 
left flank in a very dangerous manner at a point where the withdrawal 
of Massena to the centre had left it comparatively unguarded. 
On the extreme left of the vast arc which their line of battle formed, 
Bosenberg meanwhile advanced to the attack of Glinzendorf. The 
