Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-08-27

wreaths on The rivers brink. No pen can
describe the intense anxiety with which |
Napoleon watched its progress. On Just
such charge rested his empire at Water |
loo, and in its failure his doom was sealed. |
But all the lion in Macdonald's nature was |
reused, and he had fully resolved to exc
cute the awful task given him, or fall on1
the field. Still he lowered unhurt amid |
his falling guard, and with his eyes steadi.
ly fixed on the enemy's centre, continued
TO advance. At the close and fierce dis
charges of the cross batteries on its
mangled head, that column would some
times stop and stagger back, like strong
ship when smitten by wave. The next
moment the drums would beat their hurri-
ed charge, and the calm, steady voice of
Macdonald ring back through his exhaust
ed ranks, nerving them to the desperate
valor that filled his own spirit. Never be-
fore was such charge made, and it SEEM
ed at every moment that the torn and
mangled column must break and fly. The
Austrian cannon are gradually wheeled
around till they stretch away in parallel
lines on each side of this band Of heroes,
and hurl an incesant tempest of lead a.
gainst their bosoms. But the stern war.
riors close in and fill up the frightful gaps
made at every discharge, and still press on.
Macdonald has communicated his own
settled purpose 10 conquer or die, to his
devoted followers. There is no excite
ment-no enthusiasm such as Murat was
wont to lnfuse into his men when making
one of his desperate cbsfges of cavalry
No cries Of " Viue J. Ehnpereur," are heard
along the lines; bot in their place is an
nnalterable resolution that nothing but an
Inhalation can shake. The eyes of the
army Rnd the world are on them, and they
carry Napoleon's fate as they go. But
human strength has its limits, and human
effort the spot where it ceases forever
No living man could have carried that
column to where it stands but the IRON
hearted hero at its head. But now he hats
and casts his eye over his little surviving
band that stands alone in the midst of the
enemy. He looks back on his path, and
as far as the eye can reach, he sees the
course of his column by the black swath
of dead men that stretches like huge
serpent over the plain. Out of the sac.
teen thousand men lrith rhich he started.
but fifteen hundred are left beside him
Ten out Of eUery eIeUen hare fallen, and
here at length the tired hero pauses, and
surveys with stern and anxious eye, his
few remaining followers. The heart OF
Bonaparte stops beating at the sight, and
well it may, for his throne is where Mac
donald stands. He bears the empire on
his single brave heart--he Is the EMPIRE.
Shall he turn at last, and sound the re-
treat? The Empire totters on the ensan-
guined field, for, like speck in the dis
lance, Macdonald is seen still to pause,
while the cannon are piling the dead in
heaps around him. "WilI he turn at last2''
is the secret and agonizing question Ma
poleon puts to himself. --' must my throne
go down f1 No! he is worthy of the
mighty trust committed to him. The en-
pire stands or falls with him, but shall stand
while he stands. Looking away 10 where
his Emperor sits, he sees movement as
if aid were at hand. Coward" breaks
from his iron lips. The roll Of drums and
the pealing of trumpets answer the volley
that smites that exhausted column, and the
next moment it is seen piercing the Aus
trian centre. The day is won--the En-
pire saved-and the whole Austrian army
is in full retreat.
Such was the awful battle of Wagram,
and such the charge of Macdonald. We
know of nothing equal to il except Ney's
charge at Waterloo, and that was not
equal, because it failed.
On riding over the ensanguIned field,
Bonaparte came where Macdonald stood
amid his troops. As his eye fell on the
calm and collected hero, he stopped, and
holding out his hand said Shake hands,
Matchmaking more hatred between US
we must henceforth be friends, and as
pledge of my sincerity, | will send your
marshal's staff, which you have SO glorI-
ously earned" The frankness and kind
ness of Napoleon, effected what all his
neglect and coldness had failed to do
subdued him. Grasping his hand, and
with voice choked with emotion, which
the widest uproar of battle could never
agitate, replied, All! sire, with us it is
henceforth for life and DEATH" Noble
man. kindness could overcome him in a
moment. 1t is no wonder that Bonaparte
felt at last that he had not known Mac
donald's true worth.
SALLY CARTER,
rrrmpp no rEETFv ANT CARTER'S ONLY SON.