CHAP. LVII. 1809. its romantic character the sublimity of the Gasteren Thal and the Oeschinen Thal, at the upper extremity of the valley of Kandersteg in Switzerland, the finest and most impressive scenery in the vast amphitheatre of the central Alps. No words, in particular, can do justice to the Konig See-a noble sheet of water, eight or ten miles in length, thirty miles to the south of Salzburg, shrouded amidst stupendous mountains, whose summits, ten thousand feet high, wrapped in eternal snow, almost overhang the lake which nestles in their bosom. Vast forests of fir lie immediately below the region of rock and snow in these lofty piles; and the cliffs which shut in the lake, several thousand feet in perpendicular height, descend abrupt and sheer to the water's edge, varied at intervals by noble woods of beech and oak, whose tints, especially Observation. in autumn, add inexpressible beauty to the near points of this matchless landscape. 1 Personal 6. The great superiority which the Alps in this quarter possess over those in the central cantons of Switzerland Causes of its consists in this, that from their not rising from so elevated extraordinary a plateau, the pine and the fir do not occur so uniformly beauty. and early in the scene; but rich forests of walnut, sycamore, beech, and oak, surmount, in the first instance, the green and grassy vales, where mountain freedom and laborious industry have spread a velvet carpet amidst the shapeless piles of rock, which primeval earthquakes have detached from the overhanging mountains. The pine and larch occur in a more elevated region, forming a sable band between the brilliant tints of the foliage beneath, and the pure glitter of the snow, or the gray hue of the rocks above. The mountains are not of such height as to be overloaded, or have their ravines filled with snow; naked, or sprinkled only in the upper parts with a silvery mantle, they exhibit all their romantic forms to the eye; and the enormous strata are disposed with such regularity, that at the distance even of twenty or thirty miles, every layer is distinctly visible, and the traveller feels as if he were approaching the ruined castles of the giants of the earth, some standing erect, some cast down and scattered in fragments around. Yet so steep and perpendicular are their sides, and so completely do they in many places overhang the lakes, that in rowing along you can see reflected in the mirror all the gradations from the smooth shaven meadow, on the margin of the water, through the inaccessible cliffs rising abruptly from their sides, to the dark forests of the middle zone, and bare rocks of the upper region-you can touch with your hand the snowy summits of the mountains.* CHAP. 1809. 7. Descending from the lofty summit of the Alps by lateral branches to the great valley of the Danube, several mountain streams between Munich and Vienna Description of the position present scenes, the beauty of which is for ever engraven of Ebersberg. on the mind of the traveller, and afford, at the same time, favourable positions to dispute the advance of an invading army. Of these, the most impetuous and savage in its character is the Traun, which, issuing from the wild cliffs of the Alter and Aber Sees, and descending through the Traun See, makes its way through narrow ravines and steep pine-clad hills, to the Danube, a little below Ebersberg. A long wooden bridge crosses the stream in front of that place, which is commanded by the precipitous heights and old castle on its right or western bank: another existed some leagues higher up, at Wels. But the road over it crossed, a little farther on, another mountain torrent, the Krems Munster and as all these bridges were of wood, which were easily destroyed, and required a considerable time for their reparation, the wing of the invader's army, which attempted the passage by that circuitous route, was liable to very serious interruption. Every thing, therefore, recommended an immediate attack upon the bridge of Ebers-1 Pel. ii. 198, berg; and Massena, who commanded the advanced guard, 176, 184. and was perfectly alive to all these considerations, resolved Jom. ii. 181. to pursue the enemy with such vigour, that they would servation. not have time to apply the torch to the combustible arches.1 203. Stut. Personal Ob 8. The prudence of this determination, considering the vital importance of anticipating the Archduke at the And of the bridge of Mauthausen, could not be disputed; but, when Austrian the French arrived on the left bank of the Traun, beyond occupied it. Scharlentz, in front of Ebersberg, the spectacle which *The author visited these incomparable scenes two-and-twenty years ago; but the assistance of numerous sketches then made is not requisite to recall the features of the scenery to his memory; they are indelibly imprinted there, and will remain engraven to the latest hour of his life. corps which LVII. 1809. CHAP. presented itself was sufficient to daunt the most intrepid breasts. Right in front of them lay the bed of the impetuous Traun, nearly eight hundred yards broad, intersected by many sand-banks and islands, clothed with stunted wood, traversed only by a single chaussée, terminating in a bridge three hundred yards long, over the largest arm of the river, which flows in a deep and rapid torrent, close to the right bank. The bridge, closed at its western extremity by the gate of Ebersberg, was enfiladed by the houses of the town, which were all filled with musketeers, and commanded along its whole extent by a plentiful array of artillery, disposed on the heights above. On the summit of the whole stood the old square castle, its walls bristling with bayonets, and with artillery planted on its mouldering battlements, to command the bridge, at the distance of a hundred toises. The hills, or rather swelling eminences next the river, were covered with deep masses of infantry interspersed with powerful batteries of cannon, who stood prepared to dispute the passage; while, immediately in their rear, rose a second range of heights, considerably more elevated than the former, clothed with pines, over which, equally with Observation. those in front, the road passed, and which afforded Pel.. 202, another position stronger than the first, to which, if driven from their original ground, the enemy might retire.1 1 Personal 205. Stut. 192, 195. 9. Massena resolves to attack. Des perate gallantry of the French. May 3. It required no ordinary resolution to attack, with no greater force, thirty-five thousand men, supported by eighty pieces of cannon, in such a position; but Massena burned with desire to illustrate his name by some brilliant exploit in a campaign where hitherto he had not had an opportunity to signalise himself. He was in hopes, too, that, if the combat should be prolonged for any length of time, he would be aided by a flank attack from Marshal Lannes, who was to pass at Wels and force his way across the lesser streams in his front. He resolved, therefore, to hazard an assault. The French troops at that period were in such a state of exultation from their triumphs, that, under the eye of the Emperor at least, nothing was impracticable to their audacity. Four battalions of Austrian grenadiers had been injudiciously left on the left bank, occupying some houses CHAP. LVII. 1809. and walled enclosures, which formed a sort of tête-du-pont to the bridge. Upon them the attack was first made, and being speedily overwhelmed by numbers, they were driven at the point of the bayonet along the chaussée ; and, in spite of a gallant resistance, all the islands and little bridges over the branches of the torrent were wrested from the enemy. But when the pursuers reached the long bridge over the principal branch of the Traun, the fire of grape and musketry from the batteries and houses on the opposite side was so violent that the head of the column hesitated, and recoiled. Instantly General Cohorn, a descendant of the illustrious engineer of the same name, advanced to their head, and, animated by his gallant example, the French troops returned to the charge. A frightful scene, exceeding in horror even the terrible passage of the bridge of Lodi, ensued. At the point of the bayonet, amidst showers of balls, the heroic French, headed by Cohorn, pursued the retiring Austrians; 1 Sav. iv. 60, while the troops on the opposite bank, seeing the enemy's 61. Jom. ii. colours advancing through a cloud of smoke, and in the 181. Pel. ii. midst of a frightful contest, closed the gate at the further 194, 196. end, and fired incessantly with grape, round-shot, and canister, indiscriminately on friend and foe.1 202, Stut. 10. tained. Numbers of the Imperialists, threatened with death on both sides, threw themselves into the water, and were swept away by the impetuous torrent; others were After a frighttrampled down by the advancing columns, or sought the post is ful struggle refuge in the wooded islands, and were made prisoners. still mainSeveral ammunition waggons blew up on the middle of the bridge, and the dauntless foemen were scattered in the air by the tremendous explosion. But nothing could withstand the enthusiastic gallantry of the French. Side by side, Cohorn and Campy, aide-de-camp to Massena, headed the column: soon the gate and palisades flanking it were levelled by the pioneers, and the assailants penetrated into the town. Here, however, they were exposed at once to a plunging fire from the castle, and a flanking one from the houses, while fresh battalions assailed them in front. Torn in pieces by the terrific discharge, to which, in the crowded streets of an ancient village, they could make no reply, they speedily fell victims to their daring valour. In a few minutes two-thirds of their number VOL. XII. R CHAP. 1809. 1 Pel. ii. 202, 209. Stut. 194, 199. Sav. iv. 61, 62. Jom. ii. 181, 182. perate 11. After a desstruggle the French gain the pass. were stretched upon the pavement; the survivors were driven back in confusion to the entrance of the bridge; its barricades, hastily re-established, were closed, lest it should again fall into the hands of the enemy, and the Austrians were preparing a column to clear it of the assailants, and set fire to the combustibles already provided, which, in the suddenness of the former assault, had not been fired.1 Massena, however, who had now come up to the opposite bank, was well aware of the importance of following up the extraordinary advantage gained by the brilliant courage of his advanced guard. Accordingly, he instantly despatched powerful succours to Cohorn and his handful of heroes, now cooped up between the gate at the end of the bridge and the rapidly increasing forces of his assailants. Three fresh brigades, headed by Claparede, were soon passed over; and at length the division Le Grand having come up, it also was sent forward,* through a storm of grape and musketry, over the bridge, and lent its powerful aid to the attacking force. Strengthened by such assistance, Claparede regained his ground in the village, and gradually forced his way up the narrow lanes leading to the castle, and stormed that stronghold itself. Hiller, however, recovered from his first surprise, renewed his efforts to regain the post: two fresh divisions came up, drove the French out of the chateau, and forced them down again into the low streets adjoining the bridge. Again the French returned to the assault: Massena ordered a division to cross over farther up the river to the right, in order to attack the left of the Imperialists, while engaged with their unwearied antagonists in front. Amidst a frightful storm of shot, Le Grand swiftly passed over the narrow open space which separated the town from the castle: but even in that distance of two hundred yards, the path of every regiment was marked by a long 2 Pel. ii. 209, and melancholy train of slain: arrived at the gates, they 203, 205. Nor. were found to be closed, and the whole head of the column was swept away by the plunging fire from the battlements.2 Again reinforced, Le Grand returned to 213. Stut. iii. 209. * As Le Grand debouched from the bridge, the French general in command there rather officiously tendered his advice :-"I want none of your advice," said he, "but room for the head of my columns ;" and instantly passed on to the attack of the castle.-PELET, ii. 211. |