The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-07-11
st. JOhnsbury, Vt, July II, lS4S,

'"o '''u u"Y chIile, ana the General began TO be
aware that the river of Egypt at hand. The arms
OF the careless wanderers now Inspected. Ter
ribc as was the sun here, still the iron law of
military despotism was enforced. The uniforms of
the srogglers were now brushed up-the ranks clos
cd files. The e0ges waved in the centre, and the
army in order of battle drew near the river Nile.
Noon came, and all AT once the river rolled in its
majesty nj the feet of the adventurers At little dis
lance oated tho flotila with the flag of the republic
waving proudly Ger it; and green field and waving
groves, spread IN beauty around them. 'rhe Nile!
the Nile" Numbered along the lne and then officers
and men, without due consideration rushed headlonr
into its Shiny waters. Not soldier threw off his
knapsack or stacked his musket Water! Water!
Oh God, drop of waterp cried the weary and sick
nor did the cry cease until the foremost soldiers having
satisfied themselves, mnisered to the wants Of their
fellows. The army soon reached Danhour, and en-
camped upon field of grain.
Hearing that the Mameukes were at Chebressa
to dispute the progress, the leaders gave the word,
and the army moved up the Nile, in solid squares
A horseman splendidly dressed with his turban wav-
ing gaiIy in the breeze, lowered along the edge
of the horizon rening in his melted steed. Another
and another appeared until respectable number had
mustered; and with horrid yell rushed upon the al
vancing army. 1t was the onset Of the Nlamelukes
under Mourad Bey, and dearly did the Frenchmen
suffer- Though near the Nile the soldiers were living
with thirst, and if one adventurous enough to
seek draught from the swollen river the next mo-
ment he either pierced by the spear, or beheaded
by stroke Of the scimtar from the Arab horseman
where is Cairo? it is but city of mud huts,
cried the ignorant sufferers, if we are 10 die in the
desert-f we to thirst by the rivers and starve by
the green pastures, let die by the sword Of
the Namelukes.'
Observation-Disclosures cred thousand voices,
as the morning Of The 18th dawned upon the Army of
the French.
Mourad Bey and his machless cavalry awaited
the approach Of the weary squares, and the
war cry of the horsenen struck upon the Generals
ear The battle now commenced in earnest. The
Mamelukes, fresh and powerful, on the most splcn-
did horses ofthe East, gIitterng with gold and silver
jewels, charged upon the squares of the French in.
lanry Dreadful was the onset, terrible the meeting
death hung upon blow, aud destruction upon Il
horse's hoof
It a battle of stern necessity on the part Of the
invaders. The desert and shame lay behind-Cairo
J
ed-the bugles sounded shri, and the Nlameukes
again threw themselves upon the solid squares.
When stabbed wounded with gunsho, the
wild horseman the desert chung his steed land he
was dragged along on the ground leaving a bloody
trail behind he CRASHED his teeth in bitter hatred
and swept his flashing scnar the knee Of the
foremost ranks of the bris,liug squares
The Turkish fleet attacked the French hota.
Heavy cannon Numbered up the Nile and walked the
echoes of the Pyramids but after several hours hard
fighting Mourad Bey pronounced the French to be in
vincible, leaving three hundred CORY dead upon the
field of battle The Turkish feet hauled off in great
distress, and the lannon's melted into the bugles
melodous note upon the arid plains of Chcbreissa.
'fIa, Murat!' said Napoleon, as he rode over the
field Of the dead, and saw the wild dog feastng upon
turbaned coroses, "give the Mameluke cavalry and
the French infantry, and will conquer the world.
'You will conquer it Without said Murat, with a
smile; 'but see, the columns wait
Onward, said the leader, with wave ofhis hand
ten days, and sup in Cairo
For eight days the army continued to advance row
resting amid the ruins of ancient city, and now
cooling their thirst from the sluggish tide Of some
muddy stream. The General, too, as he had done
throughout the march, Stlafeu III All
meanes soldier His head rested upon the sand stone
cfthe waste-his- marquee. was the jewelled canopy
of Heaven-hs lull the howl Of the jackas, and his
reveilIe the yell Of the diminishing Mameluke.
in squares six deep each side, with the artillery
at right angles and the cavalry, baggage and aHmu-
milton in the centre, the French army drew near the
plain of Cairo.
1t was on the 10th day of July, at daybreal, when
a shout from the vanguard broke upon the luggard
ear and peaked cloud seemed to rise from the
Nile, and caught his eager eye as he gazed around
the horizon. Napoleon and his staff mounted on
swift dromedaries rode to the front Of his columns
The night on its black wings passed swiftly among
the mountains of Upper Egypt. The sun rose In
Eastern spendor from the desert and lit the sombre
sands-a bright ray flashed on the far distant object
II was spectacle, equalled in subliinty The
whole army exclaimed as man, She Pyramids!'
and as the squares advanced with martial music, a
train orcames came tin!<ng round tho base Of the
Sphyux an Arab horseman galloped out Of sight be-