Dramatic Moments. TIME ENOUGH

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 121, 15 February 1935, Page 9

Dramatic Moments. TIME ENOUGH

Here is the story of a battle won and lost on the same day. Kellerman's charge at the battle of Marengo is not as famous.as the charge of the Light Brigade, but it deserves to be. In 1800 the Austrian Army of about 100.000 faced Napoieon with about 40,000. Napoleon had led his army secretly across the St. Bernard Pass over the Alps, entered Italy, and met the Austrians at Marengo. The French were greatly, outnumbered, and though fighting went on magnificently, they were compelled to fall back. Napoleon .himself was in command; but the main army (portionsof I lie army being separated by a considerable number of miles) was driven back by the Austrians. , In the afternoon the Austrians made another push, and the French retreating again, it was plain that the Austrians were victorious. Encouraged by success, they drove the French still further back, and at last one of the French generals, Desalx, rode up to Napoleon and spoke those memorable i words which gave the battle of Marengo its everlasting moment. ■ "Sire,” he said, “the battle is completely lost, but as it is only four o’clock there is time to win another battle!” So it proved. Kellerman, with 400 cavalry, made his way t>o the flank of the Hungarian armv, and with a shout, a mighty charge was made, a charge which routed the Austrians, and turned the defeat into a glorious and surprising victory.