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continue his march and advance with the utmost speed by Siebenbrunn
to Loibersdorf。 At Siebenbrunn he would find Field…Marshal
Rosenberg； he should then； jointly with him； attack the enemy。
〃Let us set out； then； for Loibersdorf；〃 said John； sighing； 〃we
will do all we can； and thus avoid being charged with tardiness。 Up；
up； my braves！ The fatherland calls us； we must obey it！〃
But the soldiers obeyed this order only with low murmurs； and many
remained at Marchegg； exhausted to death。
The troops continued their march with restless speed； and mute
resignation。 The archduke's face was pale； his flashing eyes were
constantly prying into the distance； his breast was panting； his
heart was filled with indescribable anxiety； and he exhorted his
troops incessantly to accelerate their steps。 Now they heard the
dull roar of artillery at a distance； and the farther they advanced；
the louder and more terrific resounded the cannon。 The battle；
therefore； was going on； and the utmost rapidity was necessary on
their part。 Forward； therefore； forward！ At five o'clock in the
afternoon they at last reached Siebenbrunn。 But where was Field…
Marshal Rosenberg？ What did it mean that the roar of artillery had
almost entirely died away？ And what dreadful signs surrounded the
horizon on all sides？ Tremendous clouds of smoke； burning villages
everywhere； and added to them now the stillness of death； which was
even more horrible after the booming of artillery which had shaken
the earth up to this time。 Where was Field…Marshal Rosenberg？
An officer galloped up at full speed。 It was a messenger from Field…
Marshal Rosenberg； who informed the archduke that he had been
repulsed； that all was over； and that the day was irretrievably
lost。
〃I have been ordered to march to Loibersdorf；〃 said the archduke；
resolutely； 〃I must comply with my instructions。〃
And he continued his march toward Loibersdorf。 Patrols were sent out
and approached Wagram。 The fields were covered with the dead and
wounded； and the latter stated amid moans and lamentations that a
dreadful battle had been fought； and that the Austrians had been
defeated。
The archduke listened to these reports with a pale face and
quivering lips。 But he was still in hopes that he would receive a
message from the generalissimo； hence； he remained at Loibersdorf
and waited for news from his brother。 Night came； profound stillness
reigned all around； broken only now and then by dull reports of
cannon and musketry fired at a distance； and there was no news yet
from the generalissimo！
One of the patrols now brought in a French officer who had got
separated from his men； and whom the Austrians had taken prisoner。
The archduke sent for him； and asked him for information regarding
the important events of the day。
The officer gave him the required information with sparkling eyes
and in a jubilant voice。 A great battle had been fought during the
previous two days。 The French army had left the Island of Lobau on
four bridges； which Napoleon had caused to be built in a single
night by two hundred carpenters； and had given battle to the
Archduke Charles at Wagram。 A furious combat had raged on the 5th
and 6th of July。 Both armies had fought with equal boldness；
bravery； and exasperation； but finally the Archduke Charles had been
compelled to evacuate the field of battle and retreat。 The Emperor
Napoleon had remained in possession of the field； he had gained the
battle of Wagram。
Large drops of sweat stood on the archduke's forehead while he was
listening to this report； his eyes filled with tears of indignation
and anger； his lips quivered； and he lifted his eyes reproachfully
to heaven。 Then he turned slowly to General Frimont； who was halting
by his side； and behind whom were to be seen the gloomy； mournful
faces of the other officers。
〃The generalissimo has lost a battle；〃 he said； with a sigh。 〃This
is a twofold calamity for us。 You know that we could not come
sooner。 We arrived even at an earlier hour than I had promised。 You
will see that the whole blame for the loss of the battle will be
laid at our door； and we shall be charged with undue tardiness。 This
pretended tardiness will be welcome to many a one。 A scapegoat is
needed； and I shall have to be this scapegoat！〃 ＇Footnote： The
archduke's own words。See Hormayr's work on 〃The Campaign of 1809；〃
p。 286。＇
The Archduke John was not mistaken； he had predicted his fate。 He
was really to be the scapegoat for the loss of the battle。 In the
proclamation which the Archduke Charles issued to his army a few
days afterward at Znaym； and in which he informed it that he had
concluded an armistice with the Emperor Napoleon； he deplored that；
owing to the too late arrival of the Archduke John； the battle had
not been won； despite the admirable bravery which the troops had
displayed at Wagram； and that the generalissimo had been compelled
thereby to retreat。
The Archduke John did not defend himself。 He lifted his tearful eyes
to heaven and sighed： 〃Another battle lost； and this battle decides
the fate of Austria！ Now Prussia will not ally herself with us； for
we did not strike the second blow which the king demanded； and she
will look on quietly while Austria is being humiliated！ O God； God；
protect Austria！ Protect Germany！ save us from utter ruin！〃
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE ARMISTICE OF ZNAYM
The guests of Anthony Steeger； the innkeeper of Lienz； had been
greatly excited to…day； they had talked； debated； lamented； and
sworn a great deal。 In accordance with the request of Andreas Hofer；
the most influential leaders of the Tyrolese had met there and drawn
up； as Hofer proposed； a petition to the Emperor Francis； who was
now in Hungary at one of the palaces belonging to the Prince of
Lichtenstein。 The disastrous tidings of the battle of Wagram had
been followed a few days afterward by news fully as disheartening。
The Archduke Charles had concluded an armistice with the Emperor
Napoleon at Znaym； on the 12th of July； 1809。 By this armistice
hostilities were to be suspended till the 20th of August； but in the
mean time the Austrians were to evacuate the Tyrol； Styria； and
Carinthia entirely； and restore to the Bavarians and French the
fortified cities which they had occupied。
These calamitous terms of the armistice had induced Andreas Hofer to
summon some of his friends to Lienz； and draw up with them a
petition to the emperor； in which they implored him with touching
humility to have mercy upon them in their distress； and not to
forsake his faithful Tyrol。 They stated that they had been told that
the Austrian troops； in accordance with the stipulations of the
armistice； were to evacuate the Tyrol； but this did not confer upon
the French and Bavarians the right of occupying the Tyrol。 They
besought the emperor to prevent this； and not to permit the enemy to
occupy the country。
Such were the contents of the petition which Andreas Hofer and the
other leaders of the Tyrolese had signed to…day at the inn of
Anthony Steeger； at Lienz； and which Jacob Sieberer was to convey as
the last cry of the despairing Tyrol to the headquarters of t