The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-09-19
M u r A T
BY REV. ]. T. HEAnLEY.


BY REV. J. T. HEADLEY.
His three distinguishing characteristics
were high chivalric courage, great skill as Il
general, and almost unparalleled GOODNESS IN
the hour of extreme peril. Added TO all this,
Nature had layished her gifts on the mere
physical mun. His form was tall and finely
proportoned-his tread like that ofa King
his face striking and noble, while his piercing
glance few men could bear This was Mu-
rat on foot, but place him on horseback and
he was still more imposing. Henever mount
ed n steed that was not worthy of the boldcst
knight of the ancient days, his incompatible
seat made both horse aud rider an object OF
universal admiration. The English imvaria-
bly, condemned the theatrical costume he al
ways wore, as an evidence ofhs iolly,hut we
think il is all in keeping with his Character
lie was not man of deep thought and COM
pact mind, but lie was oriental in his taste,
aud loved everything gorgeous and imposing.
lie usually wore n rich Polish dress, with tie
collar ornamented with gold brocade, ample
pantaloons. scarlet or purple, and enIbroider-
ed with gold, boots ofyellow leather, while
straight diamond hilted sword, like that worn
by the Romans, completed his dashing exile
rior. He wore heavy black whiskers, long
black locks which streumed over fiery blue
eyes On his head he wore n threecorner-
ed chapeau, from which rose n magnificent
white plume that hent ulder the protusiun
of ostrich feathers, while beside it and in the
same gold band, lowered his splendid heron
plume. Over all his brilliant costume, he
wore in cold weather pelisse Of green velvet
lined and tringed with the costliest sables.--
Neither did he forget his horses i'll his gor-
'gcous appareiing, but he had him adorned
with the rich Turkish stirrup and bride, and
almost covered with azure colorcd trappings.
Ill H.; fl,a
tive1nnn or an Indifferent rider like Bonopartc
it would have nppearedridiculou button the
splendid charger and still more majestic fig
IRE and bearing ofNurat il seemed all in
place and keeping. The, dazzling exlcrior,a-
WAYS made n mark for the enemies bullets in
battle. and il is ;ewonder TINT so conspicuous
an object was never shot down.
Perhaps there never was greater contrast
between two men, than between Mural and
Napoleon, when they rode together along The
line previous to battle. The square figure
plain three cornered hat, leather hrceches,
brown stIrt0ut, and careless suit of Napoleon,
were the tlircst counterpart of the magniti-
cent display and imposing attitude of his
chivalrc brother in law. To sec Mwat deck
ed out in his eXtrnva giant costume nj Il review
might crente a smile, hut whoever once saw
that gaily caparisoned steed with its cont
handing rider, in the front rank Of battle,
plungiug like a thunderbolt on the broken
ranks, or watched the progress of TINT tower
ing white plume as it floated over the heads
of thousands lhat struggled beneath it
constant mark tothe cannon balls that wills
tied like hailstones around it, never felt like
smiling again at Murar. Especially would
he forget those gided trappings when he saw
him return from charge, with his diamond
liilipd sword dripping with blood, and his gay
uniform riddled with balls and sngcd and
bluckened with powder, and his strong war
horse streaked with foam and blood and peck
ing with sweat. The white plume was The
banner of the host he led, aud while It c0U-
tinued huttering over the field Sc the e'Gn),
hope has never relinGuisiled. Many a'tifNo
has Napoleon seen it glu1Cmg like a 'ed'a'o.
light to the Charge, and watched lis prtg,af~
like the star of his destiny, as itstrngelrdsirr
II while in the hottest oi'the battle and smile
in Joy ms he bcheldit burst through The thick
lines of infantry, scattering them from HIS
path like cImff' before the wind. a.r '6
We said the three great Distinguishing
traits of Murat were high chiVallic rournge,
great skill as a General anda wonderful cool
ness in the hour ofdaugef Napoleon once
said that in battle he was probably the bavest
man in the world. There was something
more Than success, 10 him,ln battle. lie in-
vested it with a sort ofslory in -itself4--throw
an mir ofromancc about il all and tonight ire
q,ently, we believe, in an imaginary world.
THO device on his sword, so lilo the knigbis
ofod--his very costume copied from ihofc
warriors WHO lived in more chivnlrc duys;ahIl
his heroic manner and bearing, as lie he'd his
men into battle, prove him to bewil6lly, I'M
like all other Generals of thattiirie. In his
person, at least, he restored the days oflnight-
hood. He himself uncoiisciously lets ont
His pecuiarity,in speaking Of the hattie on
Mount Tabor with the Turks. 'H 20. h'dalr
On the top ofthe hill, Kleber; yiwitIE 5000
men, found himself hemmed ini9hggS 100000
Turks. Fifteen thousand first came thunder
ing down on this. band Of 5000e arranged IN
tho form ofa square. Nor six 'lfO6rs' they
thatImeq,ial Hcoilbat, when Ma
poleon arrived with succor onu'neigllhoring
hill. fii1en a1t ~a Y1;R' 30
As lac looked down on Nouns Tabor, he
,ould see nothing bur a countless multitude
covering the summit of the'hilI, md swaying
md tossing amid the smoke hthat cuItah'cd
hem in. 1t was only by the steady flashes