Bataille d'Essling et Passage du Danube. |
 |
 |
| Obverse - |
Troops passing over a wooden bridge, allegorically
representing the army by the various degrees and ranks which are here
seen; these are -- two pioneers in front, one of which has the initial
x marked on his left arm, two standard bearers, with the French eagle
standards, two infantry soldiers and four cavalry, over them hovers
the genii of Victory; her right arm is stretched out, as if directing
them onwards; in her hand the olive wreath, which she holds over the
eagle standards; in her left hand she bears the palm-branch of peace. |
| Legend, |
ITERVM IBIDEM. BRENET F. DENON D. |
| Exergue, |
TRAIECTVS V. IULII MDCCCIX. |
|
| Reverse - |
a River God, allegorical of the Danube, crowned with
sedgy reeds, and an ample flowing beard; he appears half sunk in the
curling waves, towing boats across the river; on these are platforms
with artillery, and the eagle standard erect. On the right side of
the river is seen a wooden bridge, demolished; and on its banks the
eagle standard is erected. |
| Legend, |
DANVVIVS PONTEM INDIGNATVS. |
| Exergue, |
PROELIVM AD ESLINGAM XXII.
MAII MDCCCIX. |
|
| Size, 1 5/8 inches. |
|
This medal alludes to the destruction of the bridges on the Danube, at the
battle of Essling. The Archduke had intended to make a grand effort for
the preservation of Vienna, by suddenly crossing the Danube, and hazarding
a battle in front of the capital; but the rapid operations of Napoleon having
frustrated his design, he took a position near the left bank of the river.
The French Emperor had taken his position on the right side of the river,
and had fixed his headquarters at Ebersdorff, about six miles below Vienna.
Thus the two hostile armies, on the operations of which the fate of Europe
was suspended, were posted on the opposite sides of the Danube; and the
passage of such a river, in the face of a formidable enemy, must be considered
as one of the most difficult and daring enterprises recorded in military
history. |
| Opposite to Ebersdorff, the headquarters of Napoleon, the
Danube divides into three branches, formed by two islands. The distance
from the right flank to the first island, which is only about 130 toises
in circuit, is about 1000 toises. From this island to the larger, which
is named Inder Lobau, and is about six English miles in length, and four
and a half in breadth, the distance is 120 toises; in this branch of the
river the stream runs with the greatest force. The third branch, which separates
Inder Lobau from the left bank, is only seventy toises in breadth (the French
toise is about six feet English measure). Napoleon, sensible of the expediency
of bringing the contest to a speedy decision, on the 19th of May ordered
bridges of pontoons to be constructed over the first two branches. This
was speedily effected, and the Emperor having passed over, took possession,
on the 20th, of Inder Lobau. He then caused a bridge to be thrown over from
that island to the left bank, and this arm of the river requiring only fifteen
pontoons, they were fixed in the space of three hours. This being completed,
the French began to pass over in the night; and early in the morning, the
Emperor, accompanied by the Prince of Neufchatel and the Dukes of Rivoli
and Montebello, arriving on the left bank, examined the localities, and
determined the position for waiting the impending attack, posting his right
at the village of Essling, and his left at that of Gross Aspern, situated
at about four miles to the westward. |
| On the 21st, the Archduke receiving intelligence from the outposts,
that a considerable part of the French army had passed the river, and that
the rest were rapidly following, judged the moment to be arrived in which
an attack might be made with the greatest hope of success. According to
the French accounts, his army consisted of 90,000 men, with 200 pieces of
artillery: of the number of the French no positive statement has ever appeared,
but it is certain that they had got only a small part of their artillery
over the river. At four o'clock in the afternoon, the battle commenced,
and at night the victory remained undecided: and the two hostile armies
retaining their positions, remained all night under arms, employed in preparations
for renewing the combat. During the night, General Oudinot's corps, St.
Hilaire's division, two brigades of light cavalry, and the train of artillery,
crossed the Danube by the bridges. |
| On the 22nd of May, the battle recommenced at four o'clock
in the morning; at seven, intelligence was brought to Napoleon, that a sudden
swell of the Danube having set afloat a great number of trees which had
been cut down near Vienna, the accumulated mass had carried away the bridges
thrown over the two first arms of the river. Some of the Austrian accounts
say they were destroyed by the means of fire-boats floated down the Danube.
All the reserve parks of artillery which were advancing, were, by the loss
of the bridges, detained on the right bank, as was also part of the heavy
artillery, and the whole of the Duke of Auerstadt's corps. The cartridges
for the artillery and infantry being with the reserve park, could not be
brought across the river. These circumstances induced Napoleon to put a
stop to the movements in advance, and at length retired, in regular order,
to their former position in the island of Inder Lobau. |
| |
Bramsen - 859
Bataille d'Essling et passage du Danube. (Brenet.) |
| DANVVIVS PONTEM INDIGNATVS. Le dieu du Danube détruisant
un pont de bateaux. D'un côté, une pièce de canon et une aigle française;
de l'autre, un aigle. |
Rev: ITERVM IBIDEM. Des troupes traversant un pont.
La Victoire, qui plane au-dessus, couronne leurs étendards. |
| Exergue: PROELIVM AD ESLINGAM XXII. MAII MDCCCIX. |
Exergue: TRAIECTVS V. IVLII MDCCCIX. |
| Médaille, 40 mm. - T. N. 32, 12. |
