594 
A VISIT TO ASTERN AND WAG RAM. 
the Danube,, bearing swiftly down fire-ships and heavy barges, gave 
almost certain promise of the collapse of the French bridges. His 
country’s oppressor lay in front of him badly shaken, with inferior 
numbers and in a most dangerous position, and, even if the attempts 
against the bridges were unsuccessful, prompt succour, such as could 
hardly be expected to reach him over the narrow causeway, alone could 
save him. Yet the Archduke, whose enterprise fell short of his know- 
ledge of war, neglected to bring all his forces to bear on the decisive 
point, let the precious moments slip, and contented himself with the 
qualified measure of success which was already his. 
During the night, in spite of the difficulties of the passage, the 
Infantry of the Guard, the corps of Lannes, and the troops of Oudinot 
were got across the river, and early the next day, in spite of all his 
losses, Napoleon had again 70,000 men in line and Davout with 30,000 
more was just beginning’ to lead his men across. On the other side 
the Archduke moved his reserve from the Bisamberg to the village of 
Breitenlee, about a mile to the north of the field of battle. Some 
authorities even place the reinforcements which Napoleon received 
during the night at a higher figure than I have done, and estimate his 
available force on the following morning as high as 85,000 men. The 
fatal error in not following up his advantage committed by the Arch¬ 
duke becomes, however, sufficiently apparent when it is considered that 
but for the long bridge having become impassable for a time during 
the night, and the disastrous delay thus caused, a far more powerful 
force of artillery must have been at the Emperor’s disposal, and the 
corps of Davout might have begun its passage several hours earlier 
than it did. Even as it was, the troops which closed up from the 
rear during the night must have brought his effective force to, at any- 
rate, the strength at which I have placed it. 
Towards three o’clock in the morning the combat was renewed again 
on both sides. Massena supported by the fresh troops of Cara St. 
Cyr’s division again assailed Hiller’s and Bellegarde’s regiments, which 
were in occupation of the greater portion of the village of Aspern. 
The cemetery and church were once more captured by the French at the 
point of the bayonet, and the Austrians were driven out to the positions 
held by them on the previous evening. At the other end of the line, 
however, in the early twilight they made a vigorous effort against 
Essling, and drove Lannes’s troops before them out of the village, 
except those in the great granary who still were enabled to hold out. 
Both parties, however, speedily advanced to retrieve these important 
losses. On the east St. Hilaire pressed forward to the assistance of 
Lannes, and again expelled the Austrians, who in spite of the most 
determined efforts were never again able to establish themselves in 
this village. 
At Aspern meanwhile the combat swayed back and forward with 
uncertain result. St. Cyr’s men were speedily expelled from what 
were little more than bloody ruins by the Grenadiers of Klebeck, but 
reinforced by some battalions of the Imperial Guard in turn forced 
their assailants once more from the much contended-for cemetery and 
adjacent houses. Hiller, however, did not long allow them to retain 
