easants by any detachment of regular troops. On the retirement of
Lefebre, they issued from their hills and wasted the neighbouring
territory of Bavaria; but the general issue of the campaign left them at
the mercy of Napoleon, who suppressed the insurrection, finally, by
overwhelming numbers, and avenged it by massacring Hofer and all who had
taken a prominent part in the cause of freedom.

These popular movements, however, could not be regarded with
indifference by him who had witnessed and appreciated the character of
the Spanish insurrection. Napoleon well knew, that unless he concluded
the main contest soon, the spirit of Schill and Hofer would kindle a
general flame from the Rhine to the Elbe; and he therefore desired
fervently that the Austrian generalissimo might be tempted to quit the
fastnesses of Bohemia, and try once more the fortune of a battle.

The Archduke, having re-established the order and recruited the numbers
of his army, had anticipated these wishes of his enemy, and was already
posted on the opposite bank of the Danube, which river, being greatly
swollen, and all the bridges destroyed, seemed to divide the two camps,
as by an impassable barrier.

Napoleon determined to pass it; and after an unsuccessful attempt at
Nussdorff, met with better fortune at Ebersdorff, where the river is
broad and intersected by a number of low and woody islands, the largest
of which bears the name of Lobau. On these islands Napoleon established
the greater part of his army, on the 19th of May, and on the following
day made good his passage, by means of a bridge of boats, to the left
bank of the Danube; where he took possession of the villages of Asperne
and Essling, with so little show of opposition, that it became evident
the Archduke wished the inevitable battle to take place with the river
between his enemy and Vienna.

On the 21st, at daybreak, the Archduke appeared on a rising ground,
separated from the French position by an extensive plain; his whole
force divided into five heavy columns, and protected by not less than
200 pieces of artillery. The battle began at four p.m., with a furious
assault on the village of Asperne; which was taken and retaken several
times, and remained at nightfall in the occupation, partly of the
French, and partly of the assailants, who had established themselves in
the church and churchyard. Essling sustained three attacks also; but
there the French remained in complete possession.