A VISIT TO ASPERN AND WAG RAM. 
587 
bank of tlie river, that on which we now stand, the Archduke Charles, 
who had been driven across at Batisbon into Bohemia, still remained 
in command of an army numerically equal to that of the French, and, 
in spite of its misfortunes, in good heart, and animated by all the 
devoted courage patriotism and loyalty can inspire. Not only was such 
a force a menace in itself, but, while it held the field, it supplied a nucleus 
and rallying point for the Imperial resources to gather round against 
their country's invader, and, what was still more dangerous, its exist- 
ance and any slight success it could obtain, might inspire the numerous 
States, now unwilling vassals of Napoleon's, to join cause against him, 
and raise the standard of revolt in his rear. Austria could not be 
looked upon as powerless while she wielded such a weapon, even though 
her capital were lost to her for the present, nor would even Eckmiihl 
and the capture of Vienna sufficiently owerawe Europe, and humble his 
immediate adversary, unless followed by a more stunning blow. 
Napoleon felt that another victory was a political, even if not a military 
necessity, and his active mind was soon intent on casting about for 
some means of getting within striking distance of his only dangerous 
opponent on the other side of the broad river which lay between them. 
The passage of such an obstacle in the presence of an enemy has 
always been looked upon as one of the most dangerous operations a 
General can undertake. To cross one so broad as that now in front of 
Napoleon under the fire of such a force as that of the Austrians would 
almost have been impracticable but for certain topographical circum¬ 
stances peculiar to the neighbourhood of Vienna which considerably 
minimized the risk. 
The Danube presented a far more formidable obstacle to the passage 
of an army above that city than it did in and immediately below it, 
where its swift, deep current, hitherto flowing but in one channel, 
widens out over the plain and is subdivided between islands into 
portions more manageable for bridging. Modern science has now 
embanked and modified the river's course, but even at the present day 
enough remains as it was to exemplify the problems Napoleon had to 
grapple with. At two points the facilities were obviously greater than 
elsewhere. At Nussdorf, opposite the city, which we left a little above us 
as we crossed the river to-day, an island close to the northern bank for¬ 
merly divided the river into two channels of unequal width, the narrower 
being next the northern shore. But the quick eye of Napoleon was soon 
attracted by an even more favourable site for an enterprise such as he 
contemplated at a spot opposite Kaiser Ebersdorf, or Ebersdorf as it 
was then called. Here, formerly, the Danube was divided into no less 
than four different branches, the various islands offered concealment 
and space for the collection of boats and bridging material, while the 
large island of Lobau, two-and-a-half miles long, with its grassy pastures, 
and patches of wood, offered a singularly suitable site for the concen¬ 
tration and encampment of a large force. Moreover, the northern arm 
of the river here formed that re-entering bend which is so eagerly 
sought for by all commanders who would cross a stream in the presence 
of the enemy, and artillery on the Lobau could be easily placed so as to 
sweep the peninsula on which the leading troops would establish them- 
