The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-07-11

three thousand French soldiers forth into the
1 plain, when 10, ut the foot ofMount Tabor he
saw the whole Turkish army drawn up in or
der of battle. Fifteen thousand infantry and
twelve thousand splendid cavalry moved
down in majestic strength on this band of
three thousand French. Kleber had scarce
y time to throw his handful of men into
squares, with the cannon at the angles, before
those twelve Thousand horse, making the
earth shake and thunder as they came: burst IN
n headlong gallon upon them. But round those
steady squares rolled fierce devourng fire,
emptying the saddles of those wild horAemen
with frightful rapidly and strewed the earth
with the bodies ofritlers and steeds together.
Again and again did those slendid squadrons
wheel, reform and charge with deafening
shouts, while their uplifted and flashing
scimetars cleaned like a; forest of steel
through tile smoke ofbattle: but that same
wasting fire received them! Those squares
seemed bound by girdle of flame, so rapid
and constant were the discharges. Before
their certain and deadly aim as they stood
fighting for existence, the charging squadrons
fell so fast that n rampant of dead bodies was
soon formed around them. Behind this en-
bankment ofdead men and horses this band
of warrisrs stood and fought for six dreadful
hours, and was steadily thinning the ranks
ofthe enemy, when Napoleon debouched
with single division on Mount Tabor, and
turned his eye below. What scene met lis
gaze. The whole plain was filed with march
ing columns and charging squadrons Of
wildly galloping sieeds, while the thunder of
cannon and fierce rattle of nusketry, amid
which now and then was heard the blast OF
thousands oftrunpets, and strains of martial
music; filed all the air. The smoke of bat
tie was rolling furiously over the hosts, and
all was confusion and chaos in his sight. A.
mid the twenty-seven thousand Turks that
crowded the PLAN and enveloped the enemy
like cloud, and amid the incessant dis
charge of artillery and musketry, Napoleon
could tell where his own brave troops were
struggling only by the steady Simultaneous
vollies which showed where discipline was
contending with :!::c ."ild valor of overpowcr-
ing numbers. The constant flashes from be-
hind that rampant of dead bodies were like
spots of'flame OH ii,5 tumultuous and chaotic
field. Napoleon descended from Mount Ia
Dor with his little band, while single twelve
FOUNDER fired from the heights, told the wea-
ried kleber that he was rushing TO the rescue,
Thrown into confusion, and trampled under
foot, that mighty army rolled turbulently back
towards the Jordan, where Murat was anx-
iously waiting to minge in the fight. Dash
ing with his cavalry among the dsordered
ranks, he sabred them down without mercy
and ragged like lion amid the prey. This
chivalric and romantic warrior declared
that the remembrance of the scenes that
once TRANSFERRED on Mount Tabor, and on
these thrice cousecrated spots. came to him
in the hottest of the fight and nerved him with
tenfold courage. -..
As the sun went down over the plains of
Palestine, and twilight shedits dim ray over
the rent and trodden and dead-covered fed,
Il.
of Mount Tabor. The smoke of battle had
settled there where once the cloud of glory
rested, while groans and shrieks and cries
rent the air. Nazareth, Jordan and Mount
Tabor! what spots for battle fields! .
Roll back twenty centuries and again view
that hill. The day is bright and beautiful as
then, and the same rich oriental landscape is
smiling i'll the same sun. There is Nazareth
with its busy population--and the same Naz-
nreth from which kleber marched his army
and there is Jordan rolling its bright waters
llong-the same Jordan along whose banks
charged the glttering squadrons of Murat'S
cavalry; and there is Mount Tabor-the same
On which Bonaparte stood with his cannon.
md the same beautiful plain where rolled
he smoke of battle, and. struggled thirty
thousand men in mortal combat. But how
different is the scene that is passing there
The son ofGod stands on that height and
lasts his eye over the quiet valley through
which Jordan winds its silver CURRENT
Three friends are besdeIlim: they have walk
ID together up the toilsome. way, and now
he four stand mere specks on the distant
ummit. But the glorious landscape at
heir feet is forgotten in sublimel scene that
; passing before them. The son of Mary
he carpenter of Nazaretl--the wapderer
With whom they ate and drank and travelled
N foot many weary league, mall intimacy
f companions and friends began to change
efore their eyes Over his soiled aud
oarse garments is spreading strange light
teadily Frightening into intenser beauty till
nat form CLOVIS with such splendor that is
Gems to waver 20 and fro and dissolve IN the
till radiance The three astonshed friends
axe Oh it in speechless admiration,th turn
} that familiar face. But 10, greater change
as passed over it. The nah has put on the
'od, and that sad and solemn face that had
cen so often STOPPING over the couch of the
ying, and entering the door of the hut OF
overly, and in the streets ofJerusalem, aud
y the weary way side---aye believed wills
re tears of pity, now burns like the sun in
id7day splendor. Meeknuess has given
ay TO Majesty sadness to dazzling glory
e look ofpity to the grandeur of God
he still radiance of heaven sits on that SCI
me brow, andaii around that divine form
ows an atmosphere of strange and Won
GUS beauty. Heaven has poured its hriglr-
,ss over that consecrated spot, and on the
,ams of light that glitter there, Moses and
las have descended, and wrapped in the
me shining vestments stand beside him---,
'onder follows wonder, for those three gilt
ring forms are talking with each other,amid
e thrilling accents are heard the words
ount Oivet,' Calvary the agony 2ond the
nth, of the crucifixion. Peter awestruck
d overcome, feeling also the influence of
ut heavenly atmosphere, and carried away
= A T.. ~ t. -.