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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 I
told 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。
When the archduke real this order； a bitter smile played round his
lips。 〃See；〃 he said； mournfully； to General Frimont； 〃now I am
needed all at once； and it seems as if the battle cannot be gained
without us。 It is all…important for us to arrive in time at the
point to which we are called so late； perhaps too late。 Ah； what is
that？ What do you bring to me； Nugent？〃
〃Another courier from the generalissimo has arrived； he brought this
letter。〃
〃You see； much deference is paid to us all of a sudden； we are
treated as highly important assistants；〃 sighed the archduke。 He
then unfolded the paper quickly and read it。
〃The generalissimo；〃 he said； 〃informs me now that he has changed
his plan； and will not give battle on the bank of the Danube； but
take position in the rear of Wagram。 He instructs me to make a
forced march to Marchegg； advance； after resting there for three
hours； to Siebenbrunn； and take position there。 Very well；
gentlemen； let us carry the generalissimo's orders into effect。 At
one o'clock to…night； all must be in readiness for setting out。 We
need the time between now and then to concentrate the extended lines
of our troops。 If we are ready at all earlier hour； we shall set out
at once。 Make haste； Let that be the password to…night！〃
Thanks to this password； all the troops had been concentrated by
midnight； and the march was just about to begin when another courier
arrived from the generalissimo； and informed the archduke that the
enemy was advancing； and that it was now the generalissimo's
intention to attack him and force him to give battle。 The Archduke
John was ordered to march as rapidly as possible to Siebenbrunn；
whither a strong corps of the enemy had set out。
The Archduke John now advanced with his ten thousand men with the
utmost rapidity toward Marchegg。 The troops were exhausted by the
toils and fatigues of the last days； they had not eaten any thing
for twenty…four hours； but the archduke and his generals and staff…
officers always knew how to stir them up and induce them to continue
their march with unflagging energy。 Thus they at length reached
Marchegg； where they were to rest for three hours。
But no sooner had they arrived there than Count Reuss； the
generalissimo's aide…de…camp； galloped up on a charger covered all
over with foam。 The count had ridden in seven hours from Wagram to
Marchegg for it was all…important that the archduke should
accelerate his march。 The battle was raging already with great fury。
The generalissimo was in urgent need of the archduke's assistance。
Hence； the latter was not to rest with his troops at Marchegg； but
continue his march and advance with the utmost speed by Siebenbrunn
to Loibersdorf。 At Si