登陆注册
5426900000124

第124章

THE BATTLE OF WAGRAM.

"At length!" exclaimed the Archduke John, joyously, holding up the letter which a courier of the generalissimo had just brought him from the headquarters of Wagram. "At length a decisive blow is to be struck.--Count Nugent, General Frimont, come in here! A courier from the generalissimo!"So saying, the archduke had opened the door of his cabinet, and called the gentlemen who were in the anteroom.

"A courier from the generalissimo," he repeated once more, when the two generals came in.

"Your highness's wish is fulfilled now, is it not?" asked Nugent.

"The generalissimo accepts the assistance which you offered to him.

He permits you to leave this position with your troops and those of the Archduke Palatine and re-enforce his own army?""No, he does not reply to my offer. It seems the generalissimo thinks that he does not need us to beat the French. But he writes to me that he is about to advance with his whole army, and that a decisive battle may be looked for. He says the enemy is still on the island of Lobau, busily engaged in erecting a TETE-DE-PONT, and building a bridge across the Danube.""And our troops do not try to prevent this by all means!" cried General Frimont, vehemently. "They allow the enemy to build bridges?

They look on quietly while the enemy is preparing to leave the island, and do not prevent him from so doing?""My friend," said the archduke, gently, "let us never forget that it does not behoove us to criticise the actions of the generalissimo, and that our sole duty is to obey. Do as I do; let us be silent and submit. But let us rejoice that something will be done at length.

Just bear in mind how long this inactivity and suspense have lasted already. The battle of Aspern was fought on the 22d of May, to-day is the 3d of July; and in the mean time nothing has been done. The enemy remained quietly on the island of Lobau, nursing his wounded, reorganizing his troops, erecting TETES-DE-PONT, and building bridges; and the generalissimo stood with his whole army on the bank of the Danube, and took great pains to watch in idleness the busy enemy. Let us thank God, therefore, that at last the enemy is tired of this situation, that he at length takes the initiative again, and brings about a decision. The generalissimo informs me that the enemy's artillery dislodged our outposts yesterday, and that some French infantry crossed over to the Muhlau. The generalissimo, as Itold you before, advanced with his troops, and hopes for a decisive battle within a few days.""And yet the generalissimo does not accept the assistance which your imperial highness offered to him?" asked Count Nugent, shaking his head.

"No, he does not. The generalissimo orders me, on the contrary, to stay here at Presburg and operate in such a manner against the corps stationed here, that it may not be able to join Napoleon's main army. Well, then, gentlemen, let us comply with this order, and perform at least our humble part of the generalissimo's grand plan.

Let us help him to gain a victory, for the victory will be useful to the fatherland. We will, therefore, form a pontoon-bridge to-day, and make a sortie from the TETE-DE-PONT. You, General Frimont, will order up the batteries from Comorn. You, General Nugent, will inform the Archduke Palatine of the generalissimo's orders. Write him also that it is positive that the enemy is moving all his troops to Vienna, and that all his columns are already on the march thither.

Tell him that it is all-important for us to detain him, and that I, therefore, have resolved to make a sortie from the TETE-DE-PONT, and request the Archduke Palatine to co-operate with me on the right bank of the Danube. Let us go to work, gentlemen, to work! We have no time to lose. The order is to keep the enemy here by all means;let us strive to do it!"

And they went to work with joyous zeal and untiring energy; all necessary dispositions were made for forming a pontoon-bridge, and preventing the enemy from joining Napoleon's main army. The Archduke John superintended every thing in person; he was present wherever difficulties were to be surmounted, or obstacles to be removed. In his ardent zeal, he did not hesitate to take part in the toils of his men, and the soldiers cheered enthusiastically on seeing him work so hard in the midst of their ranks.

Early in the morning of the 5th of July the bridge was completed, the TETE-DE-PONT was fully armed, and every thing was in readiness for the sortie. The Archduke, who had not slept all the night long, was just returning from an inspection of the preparations, when a courier galloped up to him in the middle of the bridge. On beholding the archduke, he jumped from his horse, and handed him, panting and in trembling haste, a letter from the generalissimo.

"You have ridden very rapidly? You were instructed then to make great haste?" asked John.

"I rode hither from Wagram in ten hours, your imperial highness,"said the courier, breathlessly; "I was instructed to ride as rapidly as possible.""You have done your duty faithfully. Go and rest."He nodded kindly to the courier, and repaired to his head-quarters to read the letter he had just received from his brother.

This letter revoked all orders which had been sent to him up to this time. The archduke had vainly offered his cooperation and that of the Archduke Palatine four days ago. At that time not even a reply had been made to his offer; now, at the last moment, the generalissimo called impetuously upon his brother to hasten to his assistance. He demanded that the Archduke John should set out at once, leave only troops enough to hold the TET-DE-PONT, and hasten up with the remainder of his forces to the scene of action.

同类推荐
  • Ancient Law

    Ancient Law

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 弘赞法华传

    弘赞法华传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 痴绝道冲禅师语录

    痴绝道冲禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 燕丹子

    燕丹子

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Ban and Arriere Ban

    Ban and Arriere Ban

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 情归何处

    情归何处

    彭海到现在也说不清,那次同学聚会自己为什么要去。2004年2月7号是个周六,有几个已经退了休的女生来电话,说要举行一个同学聚会。原本彭海说不去,没兴趣,也没时间,但不知怎么三弄两弄的,就开着车去了,并且还特意绕了一个弯子,接上了家住翠微路的一个女同学。这个女同学就是后来和他一起生活了两年的李彬彬。
  • 白丁古帝

    白丁古帝

    他只是一个想种田的远古大帝!却为何稀里糊涂的穿越到了21世纪?为何别人都是废柴穿越到远古成为震古烁今的大帝,可偏偏他这大帝穿越到了现在成了白丁?为何生活总是不按套路出牌?曾经左手掌生死,右手掌阴阳的轮回大帝该如何解开这一切迷题?他又会在21世纪掀起怎样一番风云?都市+玄幻。故事的进程以解谜形式展开。不乏诙谐幽默,紧张刺激,热血修炼,爽快打脸,你们没见过的全新剧情。点一下看三年。投资不花一分钱。敬请……字数是不是太多了欢迎加入书友群:702776643
  • 毒妃逆袭:巅峰召唤师

    毒妃逆袭:巅峰召唤师

    神级魔法难求?顶级神兽难寻?至尊毒术难学?珍奇异宝难得?紫夕勾勾手指:“这些分分钟值得拥有,从废物到天才的逆袭就是这么自信!”本该就此踏上人生巅峰,找个高富帅,升任大盟皇,却引来各路妖孽挡住去路……紫夕眯起眼眸:“不管劫财还是劫色,保证你们哭的很有节奏!”(群【萌杀派】18031685,微博搜索霜月眸可关注)
  • 世世禁宠

    世世禁宠

    明枪易躲,暗箭难防,她不过是一缕异世的幽魂,两世恩怨,世世被帝王宠爱,却屡次被抛弃。轮回前世,他们之间谁负了谁?人进宫廷,斗得过皇后,强的过帝王。她不是懦弱之辈,只是时机未成熟。只是她的爱已经这般伤,到不如伤的彻底。弃妃翻身争天下,暴君冷眼夜夜宠。情节虚构,请勿模仿!
  • Steep Trails

    Steep Trails

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 不可思议的明星路

    不可思议的明星路

    想走明星路,无非被潜潜,被炒炒。实在不行可以向某姐学习,以不怕人恶心死的姿态傲然的爬上这条路,她属异数,只因借了钱,签了卖身契。
  • 法华五百问论

    法华五百问论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 紫荆王妃

    紫荆王妃

    [穿越架空]那年,她被推进囚笼里,以一个俘虏的身份,走进那座命运纠葛之城。烟花地,温柔乡,那些年少单纯的时光,命运却辗转卷入一场惊天阴谋之中,就在她带着满身的伤于世绝望之时,却遇见了他```事隔七年后,当神秘的“银面七夜”如慧星般惊现于世时,昔日的人们纷纷猜测,这个“他”,到底是不是当初的那个“她”?似曾相识的感觉,为何是如此不同的一个人?由一个俘虏,到紫荆山恶人谷声名赫赫的银面七夜,再到战场上威震八方的紫荆王```她的人生,便是如此般破茧成蝶```然而妖孽霸道的他、美到令人哀伤的他、亦或是单纯认真的他```群雄并起的天下,究竟谁才是她最终的选择?```
  • 勿惹外星帝凰妃

    勿惹外星帝凰妃

    【本文一对一,女强加宠文,男女主1V1,清白干净】她,殷朝左相嫡女花舞月,天生废材祸国命,爹不亲娘不爱,单纯外带运势衰,摘朵花还被外星人砸死。她,传说中的外星人,代号五月,超能力霸气侧漏,耍计谋运筹帷幄,鞍前马后造神舟,却被人类一脚踹下外太空。尼玛,穿越一次容易吗?妹子挑衅是吧?抽你耳光!庶母装逼是吧?让你生娃!玩腹黑?装深沉?老娘十倍玩回去!大家闺秀白莲花?对不起,老娘可是外星人。【片段一:斗得了妹纸】水仙不开花,还真当老娘是蒜头?“花舞月,你竟敢打我?”“不好意思打的就是你。理由很简单,我是嫡,你是庶,我是长,你是幼,姐姐教育妹妹,合情合理,你到底要我打几次才能明白啊?”“你…贱人。”“那就请贱人转告楚王,老娘还在披荆斩棘的路上,还有龙床未上,美女未看,帅哥未泡,叫他继续作死吧。”【片段二:逆得了女主】“花舞月,我才是临王看上的女人,你只不过是替身而已,嚣张什么?”“抱歉,人生就像茶几,上面摆满了杯具。你是女主,可惜我是外星人。”“你既然休了他,为什么还霸占他的床?”“老娘就是喜欢占着茅坑不如厕。不过,害得老娘下不来床的罪魁祸首还是苏长夜!”【片段三:败得了节操】一日,某女屁颠屁颠逃离皇宫,在郊外寻了个地摆摊,继续打着神医的幌子招摇撞骗。忽然,一绝世佳人款款而来,巧笑倩兮,美目盼兮。某女两眼发直,色眯眯的把脉,“姑娘,你有了。”“恩?谁的?”“我的。”某女凑上前去,捏着绝世佳人的下巴,狂吃豆腐,“老娘最爱看美人了,跟了我,有肉吃哦。”绝世佳人抬眸,顾盼生辉,“那你还舍得休了朕吗?”“…你还有没有节操了?”某女雷到在地,男扮女装,丫的,够无耻?!“节操一物,朕早已败光。”某男唇角勾着极浅的笑意,霸气的封住某女的唇。某女心里咆哮,“苏长夜,总有一天,老娘要给你戴绿帽子去。”
  • 哭京兆庞尹

    哭京兆庞尹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。