1809. } 
Gen. Le Grand distinguished-himself; Gene- 
neral Boudet was stationed at Esling, and had 
orders to defend that important position, Ob- 
serving that the enemy hada very wide space 
between hisright and left wing, it was resolved 
to penetrate his centre. The Duke of NMonte- 
bello led the atrack-—-General Oudinot was 
on the left, St. Hillaire’s division was in the 
centre, and Boudet’s division was on the 
right wing. The enemy’s centre could not 
withstand the sight of our troops. In a mo- 
ment, every thing was borne down before 
them. The Deke of Istria.made several suc- 
cessful attacks. Three columns of infantry 
were charged and cut down by the cuirassiers. 
The Austrian army was on the point of being 
destroyed, when, at seven in the morning, an 
aide-de-camp of the Emperor came to inform 
him, that a sudden rise of the Danube had set 
afloat a great number of trees, which were 
cut down during the late events at Vienna, 
and rafts, which had been left on the bank; 
and that the bridges, which formed the com- 
munication between the right bank and the 
little island, and between the little island and 
that of Inder-Lobau, had thereby been carried 
away. This rapid swell, which usually does 
not take place until the middle of June, on 
the melting of the snow, has been accelerated 
by the great heat which has for some days 
prevailed. All the reserve parks of artillery 
which were advancing, were, by.the loss of 
the bridges, detained on the right bank, as 
was also a part of our heavy cavalry, and the 
whole of the Duke of Auerstadt's corps. This 
dreadful accident induced the Emperor to put” 
a.stop to the movement in advance. He or- 
dered the Duke of Montebello to keep the 
field of battle, and to take his. position with 
his left wing resting ona cartain-work, which 
the Duke of Rivoli covered, and his right 
wing at Esling. 
The artillery and infantry cartridges, which 
were in our reserve park, could not now be 
brought aeross the river. The enemy was in 
a most frightful state of disorder, at the mo- 
ment when he learned that our bridges were 
broken down. The slackening of our fire, 
and the concentrating movement of our army, 
soon left him no doubt respecting this unfore- 
seen accident. Axl his cannon and artillery 
equipage. which were before on the retreat, 
were again drawn out in line; and, from nine 
in the morning to seven in the evening, he 
made the most astonishing exertions, support- 
ed by the fire of 200 pieces of cannon, to 
throw the French army into disorder; but all 
his efforts tended to his own disgrace. Thrice 
he attacked the villages of Esling and Gros- 
Aspern, and thrice he filled them with his 
dead. The fusileers of the guard acquired 
great glory ; they defeated the reserve, torm- 
ed of all the grenadiers of the Austrian army, 
and the only fresh troops which remained to 
the enemy. General Gros put to the sword 
700 Hungarians; who had succeeded in ens 
Montury Macs, No, 188. . 
State of Public Affairs in Furie. 
615 
trenching themselves in the church-yard of 
Esling. The tiralleurs, under the command 
of General Cur‘al, performed their first ser- 
vice this day, and proved that they possessed 
courage. General Dorsenney colonel, com- 
manding the Old Guard, posced his troops im 
the third line, forming a brazen wall, which 
was alone capable of withstanding all the ef- 
forts of che Austrian army. ‘Ihe enemy dis- 
charged 40,000 cannot-shot against us, while 
we, deprived of our reserve parks, were under 
the necessity of sparing our ammunition, lest 
some unforeseen events should occur. 
in the evening, the enemy returned to his 
old position, which he had left previous to the - 
commencement of the attack, and we re- 
mained masters of the field. His loss is very 
great’ it being estimated chat he leit more 
than 19,000 dead on the field. According to 
the reports of the prisoners, the enemy have 
had 23 geaerals,and 60 superior officers, killed 
or wounded. Lieutenant Field Marshal We- 
ber, 1500 men, and four standards, have fallen 
into our lands. Our loss has also been con 
Siderable. We have 1100 killed, and 3000 
wounded, 
The Duke of Montebello was wounded by 
acannon bail, in the thigh, in the evening 
of the 22d; but an ampu_ation has taken’ 
place, and hig life is out of danver. At first 
it was thought that he was killed; and, be~ 
ing carricd, on a hand-barrow, to where the 
Emperor was, his adicu was most ahiec ving, 
In the midst of all the anxieties of the dayg 
the Emperor gave hisisel’ up to the expres 
sion of that tender iriendship which, during 
so many years, he has cherished for his brave 
companions inarms, Some ‘ears rolled from 
his eyes; and, turniog to those who sure 
rounded him, he said—-‘* My heart required a 
painful stroke, like this, to make me have 
any other concern to-day than for my army.’? 
The Duke of Montebello was senseless; but 
recovered himself, in the presence of the Em- 
peror: he embraced him, aud said—+** With. 
in an hour, you will have lost Aim, who dies 
with the glory and consolation of being your 
best friend.” ou 
The General of Division, St. Hillaire, is also 
wounded: he is one of the first generals of 
France. General Durosnel, aide-de-camp to 
the Emperer, was also killed by a tannons 
ball, while he was carrying an order. ‘The 
soldiers displayed all that coolness and intres 
pidity whieh is peculiar to the French alonez 
‘The waters of the Danube still increasing, 
the bridges couid not be restored during - 
the night ; the Emperor, therefore, ordered 
the army, on the 23d, to pass the left bank, 
across the little atm, and take a position in 
the island of Inder-Lobau, protecting the 
étes-de pont. The works for replacing the 
bridges are continued with agsiduity; ant 
nothing will be undertaken until tney are 
secure, not only against the accidents of the 
water, but against any thing that may be ate 
Ake ; tempted 
a 
