Virginia Argus

THE TYROLESE.

The following particulars of Lefebvre's
expedition against the Tyrol, in August
last were communicated by a Saxon major,
who escaped from the destruction of
these terrible days.

"We had penetrated to Inspruck without
great resistance, and although much
was every where talked of the Tyrolese
stationed upon and round the Brenner, we
gave little credit to it, thinking the rebels
to have been dispersed by a short cannonade,
and already considering ourselves as
conquerors. Our entrance into the passes
of the Brenner, was only opposed by small
corps, which continued falling back, after
an obstinate though short resistance. Among
others I perceived a man full eighty
years old, posted against the side of a rock
and sending death amongst our ranks with
every shot. Upon the Bavarians descending
from behind to make him prisoner, he
shouted aloud, hurrah! struck the first man
to the ground with a ball, seized hold of
the second, and with the ejaculation in
God's name! precipitated himself with him
into the abyss below.

Marching onwards, we heard resounding
from the summit of a high rock: Stephen!
shall I chop it off yet? to which a loud
nay! reverberated from the opposite side.
This was told to the Duke of Dantzic, who,
notwithstanding, ordered us to advance;
at the same time he prudently withdrew
from the centre to the rear.—The van,
consisting of 4000 Bavarians, had just stormed
a deep ravine, when we again heard
hail o'er our heads: Hans! for the
most holy Trinity!—Our terror was complete
by the sepulchral tone immediately following:
In the name of the Holy Trinity!
Our all loose above! and ere a minute had
elapsed were thousands of my comrades in
arms, crushed, buried, and overwhelmed,
by an incredible heap of broken rocks,
stones and trees, hurled down upon us.
All of us were petrified. Every one fled
through the cloud, but a shower of balls from the
Tyrolese, who now rushed from the surrounding
mountains, in immense numbers,
and among them boys and girls of ten and
twelve years of age, killed or wounded a
great many of us. It was not till we had
got these fatal mountains six leagues behind
us, that we were reassembled by the Duke,
and formed in six columns. Soon after the
Tyrolese appeared, headed by Hofer, the
inn keeper.—After a short address from
him, they gave a general fire, flung their
rifles aside, and rushed upon our bayonets
with only their clenched fists. Nothing
could withstand their impetuosity. They
darted at our feet, threw or pulled us down,
strangled us, wrenched the arms from our
hands and, like enraged lions, killed all—
French, Bavarians, and Saxons, that did
not cry for quarter! By doing so, I, with
300 men, was spared and set at liberty.

When all lay dead around, and the victory
was completed, the Tyrolese, as if
moved by one impulse, fell upon their knees,
and poured forth the emotions of their
hearts in prayer, under the canopy of Heaven;
a scene so awfully solemn, that it will
ever be present to my remembrance. I joined
in the devotion, and never in my life
did I pray more fervently."