Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-07-18
MISCELLANY,
BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS.

Those who have read SCOTS life Of Na>
Poieon will remember the description OF the
battle between the Mamelukes and the
French furces, commonly called the battle of
the Pyramids. The description below trans.
lated from late French writer, is much SUI
perior to that Of Scott, which was necessari>
ly briei. A hsr reading il one can well ap>
precia,e the remark made by Napoleon after
The battle, that "wiih the French in iaatry
and the Mameluke cavalry, be could con
quer the world"
Dan,as on TIE Battle field Of NapoIeoa-
On the 23d, at day break, DesaiX, who was
s'lll with the vanguard discovered party Of
5O0 Mamelukes accommodating, who at his
approach retired, bui within sight. Al 4 o..
clock, Murad heard loud shouting it was
our entire army saluting the Pyramids.
Al o'clock The two armies were IN full
view Of each other.
Survey for moment The baiiie field II
was the same that Cambyses, the other cons
lueror, who came from the other extremity
of the world, had chosen On which to meet
and oyerwhelm The Egyptians Since that
period twenty four centuries had rolled
way I; the Nile, the Pyramids were still the
same, The granite Sphinx, WHOSE face had
been muiIlaIed by the Pers,ans, reared only
her gigantic head above the sand the CO.
lossus, Of which Herodolus speaks, was falls
len; hlsmphis had diappeared, and Cairo
had risen. XII these thrilling recollections
OF The past, distinct and present TO the minds
OF the French officers, lowered vaguely over
the head oil The soldiers like the strange
birds which in ancient days fuuered over
the battle and presaged victory.
The ground was a vast sandy plain favor
| able TO the nanauvres OF cavalry. The VIII
lage OF Ell Bekir arose in The middle OF il.
small stream partly enclosed j, in front Of
Gizeh.
Napcleon's Inten lion was not merely 10
defeat but TO extermiU ale the Mamelukes.-
lie derluyed bis troops into a semi-circie,
forming each division into squares Of unusu>
al SIZE, IN the centre OF which he placed his
artillery. Desaix, accustomed to the front,
commanded the FIRST square, whicb W as STA
toned belm cen Embsbeh and Gizeh. Then
came III order The division Of RegDier; the
division OF Kleber, Commanded by Dugua !;
the division OF h1enou, commanded by Vial !;
and lastly, The division Of General Bon =,
forming the extreme left, resting upon the
Nile, and nearest 10 Embsbch.
AL these squares were directed 10 put
Embsbeb, 10 drive horses, mame'ukes, eve
ry thing, before them into the Nile.
But Murad was moi the man to await, be,
hind few ssDdhils, the onset and sirolagie
OF the French troops.
Scarce were the squares formed, when the
| Msmelukes burst forth from their cDtrench>
ments, in irregular masses, and without
method or order, dashed towards The nearest
squares these were The divisions OF Dessix
and Regpier.
| When within point blank musket range
they separated iDto TWO columns, dropped
their heads TO The saddle bow, aud rushed
seyerally, 10 The left angle Of The division OF
Regnier. and the right OF The division Of De-
ssix. The squares reserved their fire until
the Mame!ukes were within ten PAGES Of
their lines, and then, with deliberate aim
poured upon them volley that was aston.
ishiogly fatal
The heads Of the columns sunk 10 the
ground as il an earthquake had swsllow cd
item; The rest Of The squadrons arrested in
| their course by this wall Of fame and steel
yet unwilling 10 retreat, ranged along the
whole face Of the square Of Regnier, whose
sustained fro, however, al such murder on:
| proximity, threw them IN some con fusion on
! The division Of Dcsaix, around which they
flew like a whirlwInd This division, find
ing itself enveloped with such o tempest o.
cavalry, now poured forth storm Of mus