United States or Paraguay ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
For some hours there was vigorous fighting, but Charles saw the Emperor's manoeuver, and swiftly throwing his reserve from behind Gerasdorf into his left, gained time to call up reinforcements from his right at the Bisamberg. Bernadotte moved slowly, and did not render his force effective at the crucial moment. Napoleon was much incensed by his apparent sluggishness.
As the artillery rolled up and unlimbered, volleys of shot, shell, and grape began to follow in swift succession, and in a short time the enemy's pursuit was not only stayed, but with the approach of Macdonald's infantry to form a new flank it was turned into retreat. The Austrians made one gallant stand, but were finally forced back to the foot of the Bisamberg.
Fournier: Österreich nach dem Frieden von Wien. Strategic Preliminaries Final Orders The Defensive Plan of Austria Berthier's Failure Napoleon's Arrival at Donauwörth The Height of Napoleon's Ability The Austrian Advance The First Collision Concentration of Napoleon's Army The Austrians Divided The Austrians at Eckmühl The Battle Charles's Retreat The Five Days' Fight Its Results Charles at the Bisamberg Napoleon at Vienna The German Risings Demoralized Discrimination of the People Napoleon's Unsuccessful Appeal to Hungary Pius VII Loses his Secular Power Napoleon's Activity Charles's Sluggishness Plans of Both Generals Napoleon on the Lobau.
The forces of Charles and Hiller met and halted on the slopes of the great hill known as the Bisamberg, which overlooks Vienna from the north shore, and commands the fertile plains through which the great river rolls past the Austrian capital. Day after day, with unimportant interruptions but no real check, the French ranks marched down the right bank of the stream.
But again he became the victim of indecision. Calling for peace negotiations, he loitered long at Budweis, failed to join Hiller so as to throw their united force across the French advance to Vienna, and when at last he brought up on the slopes of the Bisamberg he seemed for an instant aimless. Thus can the hope of peace paralyze a great general's activity.
Word Of The Day