276 
MINUTES OF PBOCEEDINGS OF 
THE INTRENCHED CAMP AT FLORISDOREF. 
BY LIEUT. J. P. NOLAN, E.A. 
Last summer’s brief campaign revealed a want of foresight on the part 
of the Austrian government for which it has received just censure; still 
upon one score, namely, the construction of an intrenched camp in front of 
the capital, the military advisers of the Kaiser may fairly claim to have 
exhibited more than ordinary prudence. 
The works constituting this camp were commenced before the opening of 
hostilities, and while a reverse such as Konigratz, appeared, at least to out¬ 
siders, to be a most improbable contingency. 
Their object is the protection of Yienna, the centre to which the officials 
who administer the various provinces forming the Austrian empire look for 
orders, and where its arsenal, a grand one, even when judged by the Woolwich 
standard, is situated. 
Yienna has 530,000 inhabitants, it is built on the right bank of the 
Danube, but is distant a mile and a half from that stream, it has outgrown 
its old enceinte, and is now an open town. 
To completely girdle it with fortifications would demand much time and 
money, however its position offers peculiar facilities for cheaply covering it 
against an army advancing from the north, by the erection of defensive works 
on the left bank of the Danube. 
Two fine bridges built on piles connect the capital with Elorisdorff, a 
suburb of insignificant size on the left bank, one of these is for carriages, 
and is 500 yards long, the other 400 yards lower down is used by the 
northern railway. 
The Danube is here a broad, deep, and rapid stream, subject to sudden 
risings. 
The Elorisdorff bridges derive their great importance from the fact that no 
other bridge crosses the river nearer than Krems* above, nor below nearer 
than Theben and Presbourg. 
In 1805, Murat gained the Elorisdorff bridge for Napoleon, winning it 
by a daring stratagem executed at great personal risk. This feat was 
considered to have had a great influence on the ultimate fortunes of the 
campaign of Austerlitz. 
In that year Yienna fell without resistance; Napoleon made it the base 
of his manoeuvres against the combined Prussian and Austrian armies, and his 
line of communications crossed the Danube at Elorisdorff. 
^ Krems and Presboiirg tire £aeh distant 40 miles from Vienna j all bridges below the capital 
Ure built on boats; 
