Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-06-06
THE DESERT MARCH.


day with golden splendor tipt the mosques
and minarets of Alexandria. a spirit-stir-
ring bugle sounded from large encamp-
ment beside the city walls, and at the same
time the heavy boom Of the evening gun
from the Kalph's tower announced to the
lazy turk that the eagles of France had
folded their silken wings upon the shores
Of Egypt. The drums of France now beat
10 arms. The army Of the East started to
its feet.
To Cairo and the Pyramids' cried the
Savan.
To beard the Bevs of Mama,ouke'
CIR ed the impatient Murat.
ITO find homo for the citizen sold
ierr cried the mousached grenadier
ITO find an empire upon the ruin Of
cen'uries,' cried Napoleon, as he mounted
his war steed'
Soldiers Of the Republic, advance
Long live the Repuhlic!' Numbered
along the martial line, AS it broke into open
columns, and moved onward, preceded by
the guides.
Soon the sentinel looking toward Da-
mlnhour, from the moss-decked tower of
ages, saw the glittcring files fade into the
dim shadows Of the evening A faint strain
.or martial music struck upon the ear-a
hum as though multitude had spoken.
passed upon the breeze-Napoleon entered
the desert Who can tell the sufIerings
of that weary march The night soon
passed away, and the virtical sun, undim-
med by the clouds. without a tree or shrub
to offer a momentarv shade, looked down
upon the scrricd ranks OF the army Of the
East. The leader and his generals now
dismounted, and endured the sailors suf-
tcrings. Onward they march, a band of
fierce and ndomitable sprits led by the
conQucror Of the Alps.
Thirst could not tame them-the scorch-
ing sand offered them no hinderancc.-
Clouds Of tormonting insects waited from
the Shiny Nile deferred them not. The
Arabs veil at midnight was music to their
ear. Onward! shouted the leader from the
boundlcss highway Of the desert, and on
ward rushed the tide Of life. Around them
what prospect. They were fresh from
the plains Of sunny Italv-rrom the orange
bowers upon the hill sides, gemmod with
temples hallowcd by genius, and cottages
rcdolent with life and love. How changed
the scene! On every side the desert. like
an ocean. waved its voicclpss tide. The
chrvstal fountain spring. fed from the glm-
mering peak Of Jura, flashed before their
thirsty eyes no moro. The chestnut Of
Langucdoc and Provence wooed them no
longer to It's whispering shade. All was
sad, scorching, whitening, searching slnd,
with here and there the mirage, looming
ahead like the breast Of an inland lake, to
tantalizc their longing vision. Night came
without twilight, cold and piercing, but
brought no relief. Far in the distance,
looming in giant proportions against the
sunset west, the desert ship pursued lis IA
vortc course. And now the shivcring sold
Ter laiddown by his toll worn general to die.
Black bread tecming with vprmin. sickcned
the voracious appetite; and the brackish
water Of the stagnont pool made the thirst
still greater.
1t is said that Lanncs and Murat occa-
sionally lost command Of themselves. and
when once boiling with rage. they dashed
their laced hats on the sands and trampled
upon them before their soldiers. Napoleon
dashed amid the throng, with his mighty
spirit flashing from his eagle eve Gen
erals, sad he, TRAITORS YOU that have
used mutinouS language. take care that |
do not fulfil my dutv. It is not your being
six feet high that should save your being
shot in a couple Of hours The naughty
generals tromb'cl before the master spirit
Sunk away ashamed
The soldiers. like all French soldiers,
were light Of heart. They soon forgot past
su.leringS The present alone existed with
them, and if the guides saw an evidence of
an Arab we'll nj sunset, all was right. The
song anil the merry tale awokc the sleeper
from his dreams on the sands, and the hope
Of glory banishcl gloomy foreboiings from
the ranks. CalarclG, who it is supposed
advised Napoleon to embark in this wild
crusade against the Mamaloukcs, was a
woodcn-lcggcd general, and as he hobbed
past the soldiers joked freely.
He is sure of having one foot in
France said they, let what will happen.
When their general was seen. as the
columns wound round the hills Of sand
1hcy pleasantly said
He promised us seven acres Of land,
1he rogue; how moderate he might as
,. safely promise us a township; we should
> not have abused his good nature
The learned commissioner did not escape
the satire Of the light-hearted soldiery, and
the jackasScs that bore the philosophers
complexities and the scientific instruments
we're called 'demi-Savans.' Buttoned up
to the throat in his god-laced coat. Nth
his burning sword under his arm--with
compressed lip and thoughtful look, the
leader firmly trod OF the head of his staff,
tie looked not to the right or the left The
Course was regularly laid down by the as
,ronomer, and the amount of each days
march was laid before the commander-in-
chlnc Ia .,c.lor - rnSt thlnl LII,