80 NAPOLEON9S CAMPAIGN JN POLAND.

Petit's left. Finally, 2 guns and 30 picked marksmen,
moving up the right bank, slightly in advance of Perrin,
flanked with their fire any attempt to attack his or Petit's
front on the left bank.

No great difficulty was found in expelling the Eussians
from the low ground, and Morand advanced against the left
of the main position in echelons by his right.

The^lTth Eegiment, in advance of Morand's main body,
hurried forward, with more valour than wisdom, to the
attack of Czarnowo. The fury of its onslaught, for the
moment, staggered the defenders, and the French infantry burst
triumphantly into the batteries in front of the village. Their
triumph was short-lived, for the defenders, quickly rallying,
drove their rash assailants back with the bayonet. Support
was not at hand, and the advance was for the moment stayed.
The main body, however, soon came up, and a fresh attack was
organised. One battalion of the 30th turned Czarnowo by a
ravine leading to the Bug, another advanced against the front
of the village, and the third against the (French) left of it,
through a pine wood. The rest of Morand's division, with
cavalry behind the centre, followed in support. Still, the
first attacks were met and repulsed by Osterman's infantry
with a stubborn calmness which was proof against the &lan
of the enemy. Osterman, however, could not but perceive
that, with fresh troops constantly feeding Morand's fighting
line, it was impossible for him long to hold out with his
inferior force. Fearing the loss, with that of Czarnowo, of
his heavy artillery, he despatched it in the direction of
Nasielsk. The fight for Czarnowo continued long with the
greatest fury. In the end, the superior numbers of the
French enabled them to gain a firm footing in the village
and, forcing the enemy out, they were able to deploy on the
plateau beyond.

On the opposite wing, Petit's attack had, in the mean-
while, been equally successful. At first he had only 400
men, besides Perrin's detachment on his left. Aided by a