Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-05-31
THE BATTLE OF BoRoDINo.

"Before daybreak," says Labaume, "the
two armies were drawn up in order of bat
tie, aud 100000 men waited, in awful sus-
pense, the signalto engage. AT six o'clock
the thunder of artillery broke the dreadful
silence. The battle soon became general,
and ragged with tremendous fury. The FIRE
of two hundred pieces Of cannon enveloped
the two armies III smoke, and moving down
whole battaions, strewed the field with the
dead and the wounded The latter fell TO
expose themselves to death still more ter
rible, and to accumulated sufferings. How
agonizing was their situation Forty thou
sand dragons, crossing the field in every
direction, trampled them under foot, and
dyed the horses hoofs in their blood The,
flying artillery, i'll rapid, alternate advances
and retreat, put period to the anguish Of
some, and inflicted new torments on others
who were mangled by the wheels.
A redoubt in the centre of the Russian
army was several times taken and retaken,
but finally remained in the hands Of the
French. The interior OF the redoubt pre-
scented frightful scene !; the dead were
heaped on each other, and amongst them
were many wounded whose cries could not
be heard. Night alone separated the COM
batants, and left on that memorable field no
less than $4,000 men, all sacrificed on the
shrine of mad ambition
As we passed over the ground which the
Russians had occupied, we were able to
Judge of the immense loss they had sustain-
ed. In the space Of nine square miles, all
most every spot was covered with the killed
10 ,,onnAa1 Tn.
bursting of the shells had promiscuously
heaped together men and horses. The FIRE
Of our howitzers had been so destructive,
that mountains Of dead bodies we're scatter
ed over the plain; and the few places that
were not encountered with the slain, were
covered with broken lances, muskets, he'll
NETS and cuirasses, or with grape-shot and
bullets as thick as hail-stones after violent
storm. skef EvtM
But the most horrid spectacle was the in
terror of the ravines Almost all tie wound
ed who were able to drag themselves along,
had taken refuge there to avoid the shot,
These miserable wretches, heoped one upon
another, and almost sufocated NTH Giood,
uttering the most dreadful groans and in
roking death NTH piercing cries, eagerly be-
sought as to put an end to their forwents ~
Let us look at the field, after the elapse
of two months, as described by the same
eye witness The most horrible sight was
the multitude Of dead bodies which had been
ftfy-t,oo days unbured, and scarcely re-
tanned the human form My CONSERVATION
was at its height on finding near Borodino
the $4,000 men who had been slaughtered
there, lying where they fell Carcasses of
men and horses (there were more than 25,-
900 horses kiled) covered the plain, inter-
mingled with garments died in blood, with
bones gnawed by dogs and birds of prey,
and with the fragments of arms, drums, he'll
NETS and cuirasses.
As we were marching over the field OF
battle, we heard at distance pitiabie OBJ
lect demanding our assistance Touched
/ by his plalntiye cries, many of the soldiers
drew near the spot, and to their great aston
ishment, found French soldier stretched
on the ground with both his legs broken
9 | was wounded said he, on the day OF
the great battle and, finding myself in a
lonely place where could gain no assistance,
| dragged myself to the brink of riyuIet,
and have lived near two mouths on grass
and roots, and on some pieces of bread
which found among the dead bodies AT
night have lain in the caredsScs If dead
horses, and ,cith the flesh Of these animals
hare dressed up my acounds Having heard
you at distance, ] collected all my strength
and advanced sufficiently near to make N.Y.
self heard"
Such is war and must a custom like this
still continue among Christians