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


string buglc sounded from large encampment
beside the city Wsis,and At the same time the
heavy boom Of evening gun rom the Caliph's
tower announced that the Eagles Of France
bad folded their .silken wings upon the shore Of
Egypt, The drums Of France had now beat
70 arms. The army Of The East started to tie
feet
aTO Cairo and the pyramids !" cried sa-
van.
'To beard the Bsys Of Mameluke ~ cried
the impatient Mural.
ETC find home for the citizen soldier ~
cries the muslachied granadier.
fro iound an empire upon the ruins of cen
turieal" cried Napoleon, a. hg mounted his
wafzsleea.
ASoldiers Of The Republic advance ~
aIong i've the Repuhlic!'i Numbered along
the martial line, as il broke into open column,
and moved onward, preceded b. the guides.
Soon thesenlinels looking, towards Daman-
mOuf from the moss-decked tower of ages,
saw the glittering files fade into the dim sha-
doWs ofevening. A faint strain Of martial mu-
sic struck upon the cara hum, as though q
multitude bad spoken passed upon the breeze
Napoleon entered the desert Who can
AEAA AlN ENAAlAA VI NAANA MNNNN hAINAA sc
night soon passed away, and the Virticai sun,
undimned BY Clouds without q tree q shrub g
offer a momentary shade looked down upon
the seHied ranks Of the army Of the East.
The leader and his generals now dsmounled
and endured the soldiers sufierings. Onward
they march-a band Of fierce and indomiiable
spirits-led by the conqueror Of the Alps.
Thirst could not tame them-the schorching
sand offered no hindrance. Clouds Of torn
enting insects waited from the Shiny Nile, de-
TERED Them not. The Arabs yell at midnight
was music to their car. "Ouward p shouted
the leader from the h0undless highway of the
desert, and onward rushed the tide Of life
Around them what q prospects, They were
fresh from the plains Of sunny ltaly-from the
orange bowers upon the bill sides, gemmed
witt emples ballowed BY genius and cottages
redolent with life and love How changed The
Gene On every side the desert, like an oc-
can, waved in Voiceless tide. The crystal
mountaineering, fed from the ghmmering peak
Of Jusa, flashed before their Thirsty eyes no
more. The chesnut Of Languedoc and Prov
ence wooed them no longer to lie whispering
shade. All was sand--soolehing. whitening.
searching Sandwich acre and there the mirage
looming ahead ike the coast Of an inland lake,
tantalizing their longing visions. Night came
without twilight, cold and piercing bu. no re-
lief-Far in the distance looming in giant pro-
portions against the sunset west, The desert
ship pursued is iavorite course. And now the
shivering solder laid down BY bis toil-won
general 70 die. Black bread, teeming with YER
min, sokened the voFaCious appetite, and the
brackish water Of The s.agnant pool made the
thirst stl gteaier.
Il IS said that launess and Murat occasion
ally lot command Of themselves, and once,
when boiling with age, they dashed their
laced hats on the sands and iFamped on them
before the soldiers. Napoleon dashed among
the throng with bis mighty spirit flashing from
his eagle ewes .aGonrals," said be, atraiiors -
YOU have used mutinons language take care
that do not fulfill my duly' It Is not your
being sig feet high that should save you from
being shot ia a couple ofhours." The haugh'
q genearls trembled before the master, and
shunk ashamed.
The soldiers, ike al French soldiers, were
light Of heart They coon forgot past sufier.
ings The present alone ever existed with
them and, Il the guides saw evidences Of an
Arab wen At sunset al was right The song
and merry tale awake the sleepers from their
dreams often on sands ana the hope Of glory
banished gloomy ioreboding from the ranks.
Cyflarell (who, il supposed advised Napoleon
to embark in this Wild crusade against the
Mamelukes) was a wooden legged general
and, as he hobbled past, the soldiers ioked
freely.
aHe is sure Of having one loot in France"
said they, elet what willhappen,"
When their General was seen, as the col
ums wound round the hills Of sand, they pleas
anty said,
ale promised rs seven acres Of land, the
rogue how moderate he might as safely prom
ised US q township; would not have abused
bis goad nature"
fiThe learned commission did not escape the
satire Of the light hearted sodiery and Jack
asses that boreithe philosophers camp,ketiles,
and the scientific instruments, we're called de-
misavins. Bultoned up TO the throat 10 bis
gold laced coat, with his burning sword under
Bis arm with a compressed lip and Thoughtful
look, the leader firmly trod at the head Of bis
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 n-chef ere the
order forest Numbered 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 were
now inspected. Terrible as was the sun even
here, still the iron law Of military despolism
was enforced. The uniforms Of the stragglers
were now brushed up the ranks now closed
their files. The eagles waved IN the centre /;
and the army, in order Of battle, drew near the
river Nile.
Noon came and, all at once, the river-the
beautiful fiver-roIied in is majesty at the
the feet Of the adventures. At a little
foated the folillla,with the flag Of the republic
waving proudly Ger i and green fields and
waving groves spread in beauty around them.
sThe Nile the Nile ~ Numbered along The
line, and then officers and men, without due
consideration, rushed hoadlong into It's Shiny
waters. Not soldier threw offhis knapsaek
or stacked his musket. aWater ! water ]
Oh, God, a drop Of water r. cried the weary
and sick nor did theory cease until the fore
most soldiers, having satisfied themselves
minislered 10 tho. wants of theilifeElows. 4 be
army soon reached Danhour, and eneamped
upon field Of grain.
Hearing that the Aiamelukes were at Che
bfeissa to.dispule his pTogress,th leader gave
the word, and the army moved up the Nile m
solid squares. A hoFseman splendidlT dressed
20 - =. fha kHanan