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mingling with the enemy； a frightful slaughter took place。
The Saxons rallied； however； courageous discipline presided over
unskilled valor； and the column advanced slowly and painfully in the
direction of the bridge； through a murderous fire； and surmounting
the ruins which obstructed the road and covered the bodies of their
comrades。
All at once exultant shouts and cheers resounded at the entrance of
the defile； and the clarion…notes of martial music joined in these
stirring acclamations。 Fresh troops； re…enforcements of the Saxons；
were coming up from the rear。 The Bavarians had arrived with their
artillery； which they had placed in a very favorable position； they
had already taken the two farm…houses at the entrance of the gorge
where the Tyrolese had taken position； and were now rushing into the
defile。 The Tyrolese； dismayed at this impetuous advance； retreated
into the mountains。
For two days the struggle was continued in these gorges near
Mittewald。 For two days Saxons and Tyrolese opposed each other in
this fratricidal contest； in which Germans fought against Germans in
obedience to the behests of the tyrant who had subjugated all
Germany； and to whom only the undaunted Tyrol still offered a
stubborn resistance。
The victory was long undecided。 Once the forces of the Duke of
Dantsic succeeded at one extremity of the defile in driving back the
sharpshooters under Joachim Haspinger； the Capuchin； and clearing a
passage for the Saxons struggling in the gorge。 But the Capuchin had
retreated only to bring up fresh forces； dispatch messengers to
Speckbacher； Peter Mayer； Andreas Hofer； and Anthony Wallner； sound
the tocsin； and concentrate more armed peasants。 And Speckbacher
came up with his brave sharpshooters in the rear of the Saxons：
Anthony Wallner and his men made their appearance like…wise； Peter
Mayer brought up fresh forces； and Andreas Hofer sent word that he
would be on hand speedily。 But the Saxons were likewise re…enforced；
both by the French； who moved up from Brixen； and the Bavarians； who
approached from Sterzing。
The contest was continued with unabated violence； and both sides
struggled obstinately for the victory。 But the Tyrolese fought for
their rights； their liberty； their German country； the Saxons and
Bavarians fought for tyranny； for the foreign oppressor； and the
subjugation of their countrymen。 God granted victory to the
Tyrolese； and in the defile of Mittewald upward of a thousand Saxons
had to atone by their death for having fought at the bidding of the
French conqueror on German soil against their German countrymen。
The Tyrolese fought for their rights； their liberty； their German
country； and the Duke of Dantsic； the proud marshal of France； was
defeated by the despised peasants； he had to flee from their wrath；
and arrived without his cloak and hat； trembling and deathly pale；
on his foaming horse at Sterzing； which he had left a few hours
previously with the firm conviction that he would inflict a crushing
defeat upon the 〃haughty peasant…rabble。〃 Now this 〃haughty peasant…
rabble〃 had defeated him。
God is with those who fight for the rights and liberty of Germany。
God is with those who rise boldly against French tyranny and French
arrogance！
CHAPTER XXXII。
THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST AT INNSPRUCK。
God is with those who fight for the rights and liberty of Germany。
He had granted another victory to the Tyrolese。
Animated by their brilliant successes； the patriots no longer stood
on the defensive； but； flocking from all quarters to the standard of
Hofer； assembled in great multitudes on Mount Isel； the scene of
their former triumphs； and destined to be immortalized by a still
more extraordinary victory。 Lefebvre had collected his whole force；
consisting of twenty…six thousand men； of whom two thousand were
horse； with forty pieces of cannon； on the little plain which lies
between Innspruck and the foot of the mountains on the southern side
of the Inn。 They were far from being animated； however； by their
wonted spirit； the repeated defeats they had experienced had
inspired them with that mysterious dread of the mountaineers with
which regular troops are so often seized； when； contrary to
expectation； they have been worsted by undisciplined bodies of men；
and a secret feeling of the injustice of their cause； and the
heroism with which they had been resisted； paralyzed many an arm
which had never trembled before a regular army。
The Tyrolese consisted of eighteen thousand men； three hundred of
whom were Austrian soldiers who had refused to follow their
officers； and remained to share the fate of the inhabitants。 They
were tolerably supplied with ammunition； but had little provisions；
in consequence of which several hundred peasants had already gone
back to their homes。
Joseph Speckbacher commanded the right wing； whose line extended
from the heights of Passberg to the bridges of Hall and Volders；
Hofer was with the centre； and had his headquarters at the inn of
Spade； on the Schoenberg； Haspinger directed the left； and advanced
by Mutters。
At four in the morning； the brave Capuchin roused Hofer from sleep；
and； having first united with him in fervent prayer； hurried out to
communicate his orders to the outposts。
The battle commenced at six； and continued without intermission till
midnight； the Bavarians constantly endeavoring to drive the Tyrolese
from their position on Mount Isel； and they； in their turn； to force
the enemy back into the town of Innspruck。
For a long time the contest was undecided； the superior discipline
and admirable artillery of the enemy prevailing over the impetuous
but disorderly assaults and deadly aim of the mountaineers； but
toward nightfall the bridge of the Sill was carried after a
desperate struggle； and their left flank being thus turned； the
French and Bavarians gave way on all sides； and were pursued with
great slaughter into the city。 They lost six thousand men； of whom
seventeen hundred wounded fell into the hands of the Tyrolese； while
on the side of the latter not more than nine hundred had fallen。
Lefebvre had to retreat hastily toward Salzburg； where his whole
army was collected on the 20th。
This great victory was immediately followed by the liberation of the
whole Tyrol； and when； on the morning of the 15th of August； the sun
rose over Innspruck； Andreas Hofer and his victorious host stood on
Mount Isel； gazing with profound emotion on the reeking； gory
battle…field； on which； two days ago； war had raged with all its
horrors； and on the city of Innspruck； whose smoking and burning
houses betokened the last outburst of the rage of the fugitive
French marshal。 ＇Footnote： 〃Gallery of Heroes： Andreas Hofer；〃 p。
126。＇
〃See how much blood it has cost； and how many wrongs had to be
committed； that we might obtain our rights！〃 sighed Andreas Hofer；
pointing to the battle…field。 〃My heart overflows with pity on
seeing these horrors； and I implore you all to be merciful with the
wounded and to treat the prisoners leniently。 Among these prisoners
are about one thousand Bavarians and Saxons。 See； they are standing
down y