On Easter morning 1799, the...
Illustration
On Easter morning 1799, the Austrian citizens of Feldkirch awoke to find their peaceful village besieged by Napoleon's army. Knowing the town's defenses could not withstand Napoleon's Army, who stood in regimental formation outside the city walls, the town's officials called a meeting to decide whether or not to hoist the white flag and surrender to the enemy. The pastor rose at the meeting, and in a trembling voice, said to the somber assembly, "This is Easter Day. This is the day of our King's resurrection. We must have one moment of triumph. Let us at least ring the bells. If the town falls, it falls; but we must ring all the bells of Easter." His counsel prevailed and soon from the church towers and steeples the bells rang and rang out their joyous sound; the vibrant music reverberated through the valleys and hills of all Austria, filling the frosty air of Easter morning with gladness and victory.
Napoleon and the soldiers who amassed outside the gate became confounded. "Why should there be such celebration?" Concluding that the Austrian Army had arrived during the night, Napoleon's Army broke ranks and ran in full retreat before the bells of Easter that were ringing.
Napoleon and the soldiers who amassed outside the gate became confounded. "Why should there be such celebration?" Concluding that the Austrian Army had arrived during the night, Napoleon's Army broke ranks and ran in full retreat before the bells of Easter that were ringing.
