The Arkansas advocate., 1830-08-04

ieit tidt inusl appear cailous to the weaknesses of humanity, and stoically i insensible to danger.
 At the expiration of another hali hour the enemy's fire had preeeptibly diminished, and quitting the retreat which had sheltered us, we then march ed upon the redoubt. We were wei comed by several discharges ofmusket- ", which however did us no considera- ble mischief. The whistling of the balls caused me some surprise, and induced me now and then to turn .ay head, at the risk of exciting the jokes of my com rades, who were more familarized with the sound. 'sAfter all" repeated l to l myself, "a battle is not so terrible affair as had imagined.''
 We advanced in double quick time, covered by our skirmishers. On sud- den the Russians gave three huzzas- three distinct huzzas, and then awaited our chargein silence, and without draw ing a trigger. 9s.That dead stillness,'' sald my Captain, ''bodes no good. thought so too, and could not help in- ternally contrasting the tumnltuous cla- nor of our troops with the imposing and awful silence of the enemy.
 We arrived at the base of the re- doubt, the mounds and palisades of which had been leyeled by ourfire. Our soldiers rushed into the gaping ruins i with cries of Vtve rEnnpere,vt' Con- sidering that they had already shouted so loudly, Twas really astonished that their threats could hold out any longer. Never shall l forget the spectacle which l witnessed at that moment.
 The volume of smoke had gradually risen and remained suspended like a canopy at an elevation of twenty feet above the redoubt. Throughan atmos- phere of thin bluish vapour, we could perceive the Russian grenadiers. mo- tlonless like statues, behind their half destroyed parapet, each soldier with lnusl<et in readiness, his left eye fixed upon his advancing foe, his right con- cealed by the barrel of his piece. At one of the bastions, at few paces dis tance, stood an artillery man by his gun, with a lighted match. An involuntary chill crePt through my veins; l felt as if my last hour was at hand. ssNow the dance begins cried my Captain;- "Good nightf' they were the last words he ever spoke.
 The drums beat; in an instant every naslset vas lescled and presented. closed my eyes; horrible crash was heard,succeeded by the cries and groans of the wounded. l looked around, surprised to find myself still an inhabi- tant of the world. The redoubt was again enveloped in smoke. At my feet lay the dying and the dead. Among the latterwas my poor Captain; ;his head was shattered by musket ball, and his llfe-blood plentiful besmeared me. Of my whole company but six men, be- sides myslf remained standing.
 A moment of stupor succeeded this fearful carnage. The Colonel fixing his chako on the point of his sword, was the first to scale the parapet, with shouts of 'spa1e FEmpereatr.n All thesuryived oi the regimentinstantly followed him. have no precise recollection of what ensued- ] only know that we rushed 1 into the redeubt pell-mell, and fought | hand to hand in the midst of a thick smoke that prevented us from distin- gushing the slightest object. Istruok at random, but yet struck home, for my sabre was covered with blood. At last shout of Victory reached my ear, and asthe smoke gradually dispersed, lcould perceive the bleeding corses with which the ground was thiclSly strewed, and the cannon encountered with heaps of the slain. About two hundred men in French uniforms were grouped togeth- CT in disorder; some loading their mus kets, whilst others wiped the clotted gore from their bayonets. Eleven Rus sian prisoners graced the triumph ofthe vietors.
 The Colonel was stretched bleeding upon a shattered ammunition chest. 4 few soldiers eagerly surrounded him, and offered their assistance. As ap- preached, "Where is the seniorcaptain?' asked he of a sergeant who supported his head. A shrug was the significant reply. "The senior Lieutenant then!'' -"Here isMonsieur P-,who joined yesterday from Fontainebleau,'' said the sergeant in tone of the most enyi- able sangjroid. The Colonel smiled bitterly, and turning towards me-@You are in cnmnand af fha nlacn ,, ra;d ho