The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-08-17
TEE DESERT MARCH-
] PAssAGRIIN THE cAREER nr ~

Jay Win sne ggtaen splendor tipped the mos.
q1ea and minarets Of Alexandria, spirit
SaHng Dugic sounded from large encampmenl
beside the city wals,and at the same time the
heavy boom ofevening gun from the Calipb,s
tower announced that the Eagles Of France
had folded their isilken wings upon the shore Of
Egypt, The drums Of France had now beat
to arms. The army Of the East started to its
1 feet. w 6asea-o .-.. 800
4 %TO Cairo and the pyramids !" cried Sa-
van. 60 a-f
'To beard the Beys Of Mameluke 100 cried
the impatient Murat. 81 rfs,ar fe. e..- \.
@To linda home for the citizen soldier ~
cries the mustaehied granadier. @
i "To found an empire upon the ruins Of cen
ltuFesl" cried NapOleon, AZ he mounted his
iwar-steea. =. - ~
1 s.Soldiers of the Republic advance 20
aeLong live the Republic!'' Numbered along
the martial line, as It broke into open column,
and moved onward, preceded by the guides.
Soon the Rentinels looking, towards Daman-
mouf from the moss-decked tower of ages,
| saw the glittering files fade into the dim sha-
/ dows of evening A faint strain of martial mu-
/ sic struck upon the cara hum, as though a
| multitude had spoken passed upon the breeze
/ Napoleon entered the deserts Who can
tel the sufferings of that weary march The
night soon passed away, and the virticai SUM-
undimned by clouds, without tree CT shrub 90
| offer momentary shade looked down upon
! the serried ranks of the army of the East
| The leader and his generals now dismounted
and endured the soldiers sufferings. Onward
they march-a band of fierce and indomitable
spirits-led by the conqueror of the Alps.
Thirst could not tame them-the schorchng
sand offered, no hindrance. Clouds oftorm-
enting insects waited from the Shiny Nile, de-
tered them not. The Arabs yell at midnight
was music to their ear. @Onward !" shouted
the leader from the b0undless highway of the
desert, and onward rushed the tide Of life.
Around them what q prospect! They were
fresh from the plains Of sunny ltaly-from the
orange bowers upon the hin sides, gemmed
with, emplea halIowed by genius and cottages
| redolent with life and love. How changed the
Genes On every side the desert, like an oc-
can, waved in voiceless tide. The crystal
Mountaineering, fed from the gImmering peak
| of JuSa, flashed before their thirsty eyes no
more. The chestnut of Languedoc and Prov
ence wooed them no longer to its whispering
shade. AL was ching, whitening.
searching Sand-with acre and there the mirage
l looming ahead ike the coast Of an inland lake,
tantalizing their longing visions. Night came
without twilight. cold and piercing blu. no re-
Iief-Far IN the distance looming in giant pro-
portions against the sunset west, the desert
| ship pursued its favorite course. And now the
shivering soldier laid down by his toil-worn
general 70 die. Black bread, teeming with YER
min, sickened the voFacious appetite, and the
brack;sh water Of the ssagnant pool made the
thirst still greAteFs
1t IS said that Lanness and Murat occasion.
ally Loot command of themselves, and once,
when boiling with rage, they dashed their
laced hats on the sands and trampled on them
before the soldiers. Napoleon dashed among
4 ~
his eagle eyes .sGenrals." said hes @tralIors 90
you have used mutinOns language; take care
that lido not fulfill my dHty' It Is not your
being six feet high that should save you from
| being shot in q couple of hours" The haugh'
~ generals frembled before the master, and
| shrnnk ashamed.
The soldiers, like all French soldiers, were
| light Of heart. They soon forgot past suffer-
ings. The present alone ever existed with
them anE, II the guides saw. evidences Of an
Arab well at sunset all was right. The song
and merry tale awake the sleepers from their
dreams often on sands ana the hope of glory
banished gloomy forebodinr from the ranks
Cyffarelli (who, il supposed advised Napoleon
to embark in tins wild crusade against the
Mamelukes) was wooden legged general I;
and, as he hobbled past the soldiers joked
freely.
aEe is sure of having one foot in France"
said they, elet what willhappen,"
When their General was seen, as the col
uns wound round the hills Of sand, they pleas
anty said,
rogue : how moderate he might az safely prom
ised US a township would not have abused
bis goad nature"
FSThe learned commission did not escape the
satire Of the light hearted soldiery; and Jack
asses that borelthe philosophers, camp kettles,
and the scientific instruments. were called de-
misavins. Buttoned up to the throat N his
gold laced coat, with his burning sword under
bis arm with compressed lip and th0ugbfnl
look, the leader firmly trod at the head Of his
staff He looked to the right nor to the left
The course was regularly laid down by the as
tronomer and the amount Of each days march
was laid before the commander in-chief ere the
order forest thundered along the weary line.
The third day came and the General be-
gan to be aware that the river Of Egypt was at
handThe arms Of the careless wanderers we're
now inspected Terrible az was the sum even
here, still the iron law Of military despotism
was enforced. The uniforms Of the stragglers
4 were now brushed up the ranks now closed
\ their files. The eagles waved in the.centre I;
and the army, in order Of battle drew near the
river Nile.
Noon came and, all al once. the river--the
/ beautiful fiVer-roIled IN It's majesty at the
/ the feet Of the adventures. AT little
Ioated the f1otiIIIawfTE the flag of the republic
1 waving proudly oserit; and green fields and
waving groves spread IN beauty around them,
aThe Nile! the Nile r., thnndefed along The
llIine, and then officers andI mem without doe
Reconsideration, rushed headlon9 into its Shiny
/ waters. Not soldier threw or knsrsack
kcr stacked his musket. aFVhEek water !
Oh, God, : drop Of waterI cried the weary