of the Austrian empire.  It was appointed as the rendezvous of the imperial troops, and all the energies of the now exhausted empire were expended in gathering there as large a force as possible.  But, notwithstanding the utmost efforts, in May but thirty thousand men were assembled, and these but very poorly provided with the costly necessaries of war.  Another auxiliary force of ten thousand men was collected at Temeswar, a strong fortress twenty-five miles north of Peterwardein.  With these forces Wallis was making preparations to attempt to recover Orsova from the Turks, when he received positive orders to engage the enemy with his whole force on the first opportunity.

The army marched down the banks of the river, conveying its baggage and heavy artillery in a flotilla to Belgrade, where it arrived on the 11th of June.  Here they were informed that the Turkish army was about twenty miles below on the river at Crotzka.  The imperial army was immediately pressed forward, in accordance with the emperor’s orders, to attack the foe.  The Turks were strongly posted, and far exceeded the Austrians in number.  At five o’clock on the morning of the 21st of July the battle commenced, and blazed fiercely through all the hours of the day until the sun went down.  Seven thousand Austrians were then dead upon the plain.  The Turks were preparing to renew the conflict in the morning, when Wallis ordered a retreat, which was securely effected during the darkness of the night.  On the ensuing day the Turks pursued them to the walls of Belgrade, and, driving them across the river, opened the fire of their batteries upon the city.  The Turks commenced the siege in form, and were so powerful, that Wallis could do nothing to retard their operations.  A breach was ere long made in one of the bastions; an assault was hourly expected which the garrison was in no condition to repel.  Wallis sent word to the emperor that the surrender of Belgrade was inevitable; that it was necessary immediately to retreat to Peterwardein, and that the Turks, flushed with victory, might soon be at the gates of Vienna.

Great was the consternation which pervaded the court and the capital upon the reception of these tidings.  The ministers all began to criminate each other.  The general voice clamored for peace upon almost any terms.  The emperor alone remained firm.  He dispatched another officer, General Schmettan, to hasten with all expedition to the imperial camp, and prevent, if possible, the impending disaster.  He earnestly pressed the hand of the general as he took his leave, and said—­

“Use the utmost diligence to arrive before the retreat of the army; assume the defense of Belgrade, and save it, if not too late, from falling into the hands of the enemy.”