File:The first Napoleon - a sketch, political and military (1895) (14802088743).jpg

Identifier: firstnapoleonske00roperich (find matches)
Title: The first Napoleon : a sketch, political and military
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Ropes, John Codman, 1836-1899
Subjects: Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821
Publisher: Boston : Houghton, Mifflin
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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perceives by the reced-ing smoke that his left wing has been compelledto retreat; in fact, part of the troops of Davoutand Oudinot are rapidly coming up from Neu-siedel to aid in the attack on the Austrian cen-tre ; there is nothing left but to retire. Thisis effected in good order, the French being toomuch exhausted to pursue their antagonists vig-orously. The Austrians in this battle fought with greatcourage and obstinacy. And they were wellhandled by the Archduke Charles, although heprobably erred in strengthening his right at theexpense of his centre. But if Massena could berouted, it was certain that the French must re-tire ; and the Archduke thought that his centrecould hold its own until the superior force whichhe had directed against Massena should havegained the bridges. In this he was mistaken, tob(! sure ; but it was a very close thing. Had theArdididve John come up as it was expected hewould, and had the Austrian left wing, thusstrengthened, been able not only to repel the
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BATTLE OF WAGRAM July 6th. 1809. Scale of Miles. Frencli Frencli Headquarters, ■ Austrians, •^ Austrian Headquarters. WJRrS, BUFFALO. TILSIT TO MOSCOW. 149 attacks of Davoiit and Oudinot against Neusie-clel, but to take the offensive, Napoleons attackon the Austrian centre must have failed utterly.And if, with or without the aid of the Archduke,the left could have maintained itself, Napoleonsattack on the centre would have failed of halfits effect. It may be remarked, also, that theAustrian rigj-ht in its movement asrainst Massenaran no such risk of being cut off as did the Rus-sian left wing at Austerlitz; its line of retreatwas always open. On the other hand, there isno reason to suppose that Napoleons skill wasnot what it had been at Friedland or Austerlitz;the whole cause of the difference between thevictory of Wagram and those just mentioned layin the fact that the Austrian commander heremade no blunders. Napoleon was here pittedagainst a master in the art military. He won, i

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