The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-10-28

head, began to move down the slope and
| over the field. No drum, or trumpet. or
marshal strain cheered them on. They
needed nothing to fire their steady courage.
| The eyes of the world were on them, and the
fate of Europe in their hands. The muffied
tread Of that magnificent legion alone was
| heard. For a moment the firing ceased
along the British lines. The terror of Eu
rope was on the march. and the last awful
charge of the Imperial Guard, which had
never yet failed, was about to be made.
| Kings and thrones, tottered on the ensan-
guined field, and the Empire of Napoleon
was carried by that awful column as ii disap-
peared in the smoke Of battle. The firing
ceased only for an instant; the next moment
the artillery opened, and that column was
rent as if hurricane had passed through 1t.
Ncy's horse sank under him, and he noun
ted another and cheered on his men.-With
out waverins or haltine, that band of heroes
closed up their shattered ranks; and moved
on in the face Of the most wasting fire that
ever swept over field of battle. Again and
again did Ney's horse sink under him, till
five had fallen, and then on foot, with his
drawn sabre in his hand, he marched AT The
head of his colum. On, on, like the enrolling
tide of the sea, that dauntless Guard pressed
up to the mouth of the cannon, and, taking
their fiery load full in their bosoms, walked
over artillery, cannoniers and all, and push
ed on through the British lines till they came
within few feet of where Wellington stood.
| The day seemed lost 10 the allies, when a
rank of men, who had laid fiat on their faces
behind low ridge of earth, and hitherto
seen by the French, heard the order of Wei
lington, up and at 'em!' and springing TO
their feet. poured an unexpected volley into
the very faces of that advancing Guard. Ia
ken by surprise, and smitten back by The
sudden shock, they had not time to rally
before another and other volley completed
the disorder. and that hitherto uncoDquerable
Guard was hurrying in wild confusion over
the fields. The Guard recoils' the Guard
recoiIsl.' ruus in desparing shrieks over the
army, and all was over. Butcher effected
his junction, and Wellington ordered a sim
uItaneous charge along the whole lines
The Old Guard. disdaining to fly, formed in
to two immense squares, and attempted TO
STAY the reversed tide battle. They stood
and let the artillery ploagh through them in
vain. The day was lost.-Bonaparte's star
had set forever. and his empire crumbled be-
meath him.
Wellington met Butcher at La Belle ALI
ance, the head quarters of Napoleon. The
former returned back over the field, while
the latter continued the pursuit all night long.
strewing the road for thirty miles with
mangled corpses,
And | was standing on this awful field,
waving with grain just as it did on that mild
morning. AS my eye rested on this and that
spot where deeds of valor were done, and
saw in Imagination those magnificent armies
struggling for a continent; and heard the
roar of cannon, the shocks OF cavalry. and
the rolling fire of infantry, and saw the wa
wing of plumes and torn banners, amid the
smoke of battle that curtained them in, what
wonder is it that for moment forgot the
carnage and The awful waste of human life
in the excitement and grandeur ofthe scene?
But let him who is in love with glory, 20
over the ensanguined field after the thunder
Of battle is hushed and The excitement of the
strife is over. The rain is passed, the heav-
clouds have melted away, and behold the
bright and tranquil moon is sailing through
the starry heavens and looking serenely down
on the bloody field. Under its reprovng
light you see flashing swords, and glittering
uniform and torn plumes, and heaps of man.
glcd men. More than $4,000 cumber the
field, while thousands of wounded horses,
still alive, rend the air with their shrll
cries; and at intervals break in the mingled
curse and groan and prayer of tens Of thous
ands that are writing amid the slaughtered
heaps i'll mortal agony. Dismembered limbs
are scattered about like broken branches af
terra hurricane, while disembowelled corpses
are scattered like autumn leaves on every
side. CHASTITY wounds meet the eye at every
turn, while ever and anon comes the thun-
der ofdistant cannon on the night air, telling
.l,o
destruction.
And the bright round moon is shining down
on all this, and the sweet sumner air is
breathing over it. Oh what a scene for God
and angels to look upon What a blot OH ma
lures pure bosom, Even Wellington, as he
slowly rode over the field by moonlight ,cept.
Tn. heart trained in the camp, and. school
ed in the brutal life Of the soldier, could not
endure the sight. But this is all. Mourn
full as is the spectacle, and terrific as is the
ghastly sight Of the dead and dying army, and
| heart-rending as are the shrieks and groans
and blaspbemies that might make night hor-
rible, the field is alive with moving forms
STOPPING over the PROSTATE dead. Are they
ministers ofheaven come hither 10 bind up
the wounded, and assuage their suf1erings, or
are they beasts Of prey STOPPING over the car
cases still warm with human blood Meth
i err. They are men roaming the field for
| plunderi The dead and the wounded are
alike ruthlessly trampled upon, and their
| garments rified of their treasures. And this
is glorious war, where heroes are made and
defed, As my Imagination rested on this
picture, no longer felt sympathy for Napo-
leon, as he fled, fugitive, through the long
night, while the roar of cannon behind him
told where his empire lay trampled to the