Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-08-19

reused, and he had fully resolved TO exc.
cute the awful task given him, or fall in the
! field. Sill be lowered unhurt amid bis fall.
ing guard. and with his eye fixed steadi,
on the enemy's centre, continued to ad.
vance.
Al the close and fierce discharges oil
these cross batteries on its mang led head
that column would sometimes stop and
stagger back, like strong ship when smil.
ten by wave. The next moment the
drums would beat their hurried charge,
and the calm, steady voice of Macdonald
ring back through his exhausted ranks
his own spirit. Never before was such a
charge made, and it seemed at every mo,
menl tie Torn and mingled coulumn must
break aud 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 ncessant tenn
pes, ofead against taeir boSoms. But the
stern warriors close in and ill up The
iright!ul cape made at every discharge, ard
still press en-
NJ lcdonald has communicated his own
settled purpose to CONG er or 10 die to his
devoted followers. There is no excite
ment-no enthusiast suck as Murat was
wont TO iniuse into his men when making
one of his desperate charges Of cavalry.
No cries of .Vioe . Empcrear,n heard
along the lines; but in their place is an ur-
alterable resolution that nothing but anhila.
ton can shake. The eyes ofthe army and
the world are on them, and they carrv
Napoleon's fate as they 90. 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 he
70 at lis head But now he balls and casts
his eye over his little surviving band
all alone in the midst of the enemy. He
looks baci, 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. Ous of the si.rteen thousand men
stith 'raics ae started baS fifteen hundred are
behind hnR. Ten oM Of elepca Lare fallen
and here at length The tired hero pauses,
and surveys with stern and anxious eye
i'to ~ p" iOhioihtiiS iS'ioWS1S.
The heart Of Bonaparie stops heating at
the sight, and well il may, Tor his throne
is where Macdonald stands. He bears The
Empire on his single brave heari--ae is
the EMPIRE. Shall he turn at last, and
sound The retreat? The Empire iotters on
the cnsangoined field, for, like a speck in
the distance. Macdonald is seen still 10
pause, whilethe cannon are piling the
dead IN heaps around him. tWill he turn
at lasig" is The secret and agonzing ques-
lion yapnseon pbts ~ihfnssesif,, MAST my
throne go down?o No! he is worthy Of
the mighty trust committed in him. The
Empire stands or falls with him, but shall
stand while HE stands. Looking away 10
where his Empsror sits, he sees a move
ment as if aid were at hand Coward"
breaks from his iron lips. The roll Of
drums and the peaIing of trumpets answer
the volley that smites that exhausted
column, and the next moment it is seen
piercing The Austrian centre. The day is
won-the Empire swaziland the whole
Austrian army is in retreat.
Such was the awful battle or Wagram,
and such the charge Of Macdonald. We
know Of nothing elual to it excep, Ney's
charge at Waterloo,and that was not equal,
for il failed