A VISIT TO ASTERN AND WAGRAM. 
611 
eye is arrested by a massive round tower wliicli juts out abruptly 
from the monotony of the remaining scene. It was towards this 
tower that Napoleon’s eyes now cast many a furtive glance. If 
Davout could carry out the movement which bad been entrusted to 
him with success, the fate of tbe battle now hovering in the balance 
would be decided. The Austrian left would be turned and doubled 
back on their weak centre, which would be assailed with the accumu¬ 
lated force he held in hand for this purpose, and if driven in tbe whole 
of the left wing retreating before Davout would be taken in reverse. 
The success of the Austrian right would then be but an isolated 
advantage which could lead to nothing decisive. Indeed, if it continued 
to hold its advanced position while the centre and left were compelled 
to give way, it must be cut off and destroyed eventually in detail. As 
it advanced beyond Essling it must also become exposed to tbe fire of 
the powerful artillery which protected the French bridges, and would 
expose its flank and rear to Massena’s advance. On the other hand, if 
Davout were unable to make progress on the right, as the day wore on 
he would become exposed to the danger of being* assailed in rear by the 
Archduke John, whose tardy advance could not much longer be delayed, 
and the French, hemmed in between the two forces threatening their 
rear on either side, would have to fight for their very existence as an 
army. All hung, therefore, on Davout, and the troops in the fire-swept 
angle near Aderklaa must wait patiently for the development of his 
attack. 
And well did the hero of Auerstadt fulfil his trust. Sending two of his 
divisions across the Russbach with ten thousand cavalry under Grouchy 
and Montbrun to turn the Austrian extreme left, he himself with the 
remainder of his force and supported by Oudinot, who held Hohen- 
zollern in check in front of Baumersdorf, assailed the front at Neusiedel. 
After a desperate struggle, during which the place was several times 
captured and recaptured by either side, the Austrians were forced from 
its houses, and, although the tower on the edge of the plateau held out 
obstinately when the buildings below it had been evacuated, the French 
drove their opponents eventually from the edge of the plateau. The 
attack on the Austrian extreme left was meanwhile carried to an 
equally successful issue, and Rosenberg’s corps was obliged to fall back 
and take up a position on the top of tho plateau with its left thrown 
back at right angles to the Russbach and the remainder of the Austrian 
line. Oudinot rushing on when he saw Davout appear on the plateau 
penetrated into Baumersdorf after some severe fighting, and the 
Austrian commanders, seeing how hopelessly their troops were now 
placed, commenced to retreat slowly across the level plain behind them 
towards Bockfluss. 
While these events had been taking place on the right, Napoleon 
with the centre was, as we have said, eagerly watchiug the signs of 
how the battle was going with Davout. During those anxious moments, 
between 12 and 1 o’clock, the situation of the two armies was indeed 
a most singular one. The Austrian line extended from Essling to 
Aderklaa, and on along the Russbach to Baumersdorf and Margraf 
Neusiedel, where it was being bent back by Davout at right angles to the 
