The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-07-11
Miscellaneous,
r. Ia G Des crt Mare n.

On the llth of July, 1898, as the dying day with
golden spendor tipt the mosques aud minarets of AL
eSandria spirit stirring bugle sounded from large
encampment beside she city walls, and at the same
time the heavy boom Of the evening gun from the
Kaphs tower announced to the lazy Turk that the
eagles of France had folded their silken wings about
the shores of Egypt. The drums of France now beat
to arms The army of the east started to its feet
'To Cairo and the pyramids' cried Savan.
''To beard the Beys Of kamelukcp cried the i'm
patient Mu rat
'To find home for the citizen solder!' cried the
musached grenudier.
TO found empire on the ruin of centuries, 'cried
Napoleon, as he mounted his steed.
Soldiers Of the Republic! advanced
'Long live the repub!cr Numbered along the maj
tal line, as it broke into open columns, and moved
onward, preceded by the guides
Soon the sentnels, looking towards Damanmour,
from the mossdecked tower Of ages, the glitter
ing files fade into the dim shadows of evening. A
faint strain of martial music struck upon the ear,
hum as though multitude had spoken, passed upon
the breeZe-Napoeon entered the desert! Who can
tell the suferngs Of that wearv march. The night
soon presed away, and the vertical sun, undlmmed
by clouds without tree shrub offer momenta-
~ shade, looked down upon the SERTED ranks of the
army Of the east. The leader and his generals now
dismounted and endured the soldiers sulcrings. On
ward they march, band of fierce and udomable
spirits-led by the conqueror of the Alps
Thirst could not tame them--the scorching sands
offered them hindrance. Clouds of tormenting in
sccts waited from the Shiny Nile, deferred them not
The Arabs yell at midnight was music to their ear.
Onward, shouted the leader from the boundless high
way of the desert and onward rushed the tide OF lie.
Around them what prospect! TREY fresh
from the plains of sunny Italy-fom the orange bow
ers upon the hill sides, gemned with temples haow-
cd by genius and cottages redoent with life and love.
How changed the scene! On every side the desert,
like an ocean, waved in voiceess tide. The crystal
fountain spring fed from the gimmerng peak Of Jura,
flashed before their thirsty eyes no more. The chest
nut Of Languedoc and province wood them no longer
to its whispering shade All was sad, scorching,
whitening, searching sand, with here and there the
mirage looming ahead like the breast Of inland lake
to tantaze their longing visions. Night came with
out twilight, cold and piercing, but brought no relief
Far in the distance, looming in g liant proportions
ganst the sunset west, the desert ship pursued it,
favorte course And the shivering soldier
laid down by his toil-won general TO die. Black
BREAD tcemng with vermin, sckened the voracious
appetite and the brackish water flhe stagnan pool
made the thirst still greater.
It is said that Lannes and Murat occasionally lost
con.nand of themselves, and once, when boiling with
rage they dashed their laced hats on the sands and
| tramplcd upon them before the soldiers. Napoleon
dashed amid the tlnong with his mighty spirit flash
ing from his eagle eyes-'Generals, said he, traitors
you have used mutinous language; take care that
do not fulfil my duty. 1t is not your being six feel
high that should your being shot in couple oil
hours The naughty Generals trembled before the
master spirit and shrunk away ashamed.
The soldiers, like all French soldiers, were light Of
heart. They soon forgot past sufferlngs The pres
ent alone existed with them and if the guides e,
idcnce of an Arab well at sunset, all right. The
| song and merry tale awoke the sleepers from the
dreams on the sands and the hope Of glory banished
gloomy foreboding from the ranks. Coiar ELI, who il
| was supposed advised Napoleon to embark in this
wild crusade against the Mamcluke, was wooden
legged General, and as he hobbled past the soldiers
| joked freely.
He is sure Of having foot in France said they
| 'let what will happen
| When their General was seen, as the column:
wound round the hills of sand, they pleasantly said -
Sic promised US acres of land, the rOgue
moderated he might have safely promised US town
| ship; we would not have abused his good nature.
The learned commission did not escape the satire
of the lighthearted soldery, and the jackasses that
bore the philosophers camp kettles and the scientific
| instruments, were called demi-Savans. Butloned up
to his throat in his god-laced coat, with his burning
sword under his arm-with compressed lip and
! 10, dar oJ head 10
his staff lie looked not to the right or the LETT The