( I9G )

propitious to the enterprise;—a heavy rainincreased the obscurity of the time, and there-by concealed the movements of the French troops.

At about nine o’clock in the evening, the bat-teries, 8, e, all along the offensive line, openeda tremendous fire, under cover of which, theflotilla of row-boats, which had been assembledin the first branch of the river, landed a bodyof 1500 men, without much opposition, on theleft bank of the Danube , near Muhlleuten.The bridge which had been prepared in themiddle channel followed the flotilla, and wassoon laid across to the main land.

The French troops soon got possession ofEntzersdorf, which was set on fire, and theconflagration served to throw light upon theoperations of the pontoneers, and greatly faci-litated their work. The five large boats imme-diately came forth, from behind the island Alex-ander, 16 , and landed their troops (2,500 men)to co-operate with those which had crossed inthe flotilla, in establishing a lodgment and incovering the operations of laying the bridges.

The bridge, 4, already described, followed thefive boats ; and in proportion as it’s parts arrivedat the lower end of the island, ie, they werehauled into contiguity by the ropes which held