Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-11-26

from the city 10 Petersburgb, towards the
imperial palace OF Petrowsky.
But we were encircled by sea OF fire,
which biockaded up all the gates OF the
citadel, aud frustrated the first attempts
that were made 10 depart. After some
search we discovered a postern gate
leading between the rocks TO the Mosk-
wa. 1t was By this narrow passage that
Napoleon, his officers and guard escaped
from the Kremlin. But what had they
gained BY this movement? They had APP
preached nearer to the fire, and could
neither retreat nor remain where they
were; and how were they to advance
how force passage through the waves
of this ocean of fame? Those who had
iraversed the CITY, stunned by the ten
pest, and blinded by the ashes, could not
find their way, since the streets them.
selves were no longer distipguishable
amidst smoke and ruins.
There was no time to be lost. The
roaring of the flames abound US became
every moment more violent. A single
narrow winding street, al ! on FIRE, appear
ed rather to be the centre thru the out
let TO this heli.-The Emperor rushed
on loot and without hesitate into this
narrow passage. He advanced amid the
cracking of the flames, the crash OF
floors, and the fail OF burning timbers,
and of the red-hot iron roofs which tum-
ble9 around him. These ruins impeded
his progress. The flames which, with
lmpetuous roar, consumed the effects be-
tween which we were proceeding beyond
the walls, were blown about by the wind,
and formed an arch over our heads. We
walked on a ground of fire, beneath a
fiery sky, and between Two walls o! fire.
The intense heat burn. our eyes which we
were nevertheless obliged TO keep open
and fixed on the danger. A consuming
atmosphere, glowing ashes, detached
flames, parched our lhroa,s, and render
cd Our respiration short and dry; and
we were almost suffoca,ed by the smoke.
Our hands were burnt, either in endea-
voring 10 protect our faces from the in
supportable heat, or IN brushing of the
sparks which every moment covered and
penetrated our garments.
In this inexpressibc distress and when
a rapid advance seemed our only means
of safety, our guide stopped in uncertain
,y and agitation. Here would probably
have terminated our ven.urous career,
had not some pillsgers of the first corps
recognized the Emperor amidst The
whirIing flames; they ran up and guild.
ed him towards the smoking ruins of a
quarter which had been reduced to ash
es in the morning.
II was then we met the Prince of Eek
muhl.-This Marshal who had been
wounded at the Moskwa, had desired to
be carried back among the flames TO
rescue Napoleon or perish with him
He threw himself into his arms with
transport; the Emperor received him
kindly, but with that composure which
| in danger he never lost for a moment.
To escape from this vast region
calami'es, it was further necessary to
pass a long convoy powder witch was
defiled amidst the fire. This was not the
least of his dangers, but it was the last,
and by nghtfali he arrived at Pctrow
sky.
Next morning, the 18th Of September,
Napoleon cast his first look at Moscow,
hoping TO see that the contlagration had
subsidized. He beheld it again raging
with the utmost violence; the whole
city appeared like vast spout Of Fire ri
sing in whirling eddies to the sky, which
j, deeply colored. Absorbed by the
melancholy contemplation, he observed
long and gloomy silence, which b.
broke only by the exclamation, This
forbodes great misfortunes to US! J"
AN OLD +" REVOLUTIONER'"
I" Here boys are the marks of war
said an old veteran the other day, as h.
opened an old revolutionary vest full Of
bullet and bayonet holes, and showed the
scars on his breast. He was dreadfnIIy
wounded, nine times wounded in the bat.
tie of For, Griswold. His breast was
literally torn open by the bayonets and
musket balls, so that the beating of bis
heart was distinctly seen. Would you
still fight if you were able? said g
British officer as he passed by him
weltering in his blood, eyes," was
the bold reply, and the opportunity
for thus expressing his devotion to the
cause Of his country, rekindIed the ex-
piring lamp of life. This officer hap.
pened to possess spark Of humanity