The Evansville journal., 1846-09-24

huHy!ng IN, when at fOur O'CLOCK tIle dudCh
commenced. The batteries that covered
the heights around the city, opened their
terrible fire, and in moment Dresden was
the target of three hundred cannon all
trained upon her devoted buildings. Then
commenced one of wars widest scenes
St. Cyr replied with his artillery, and thun-
der answered thunder, as if the hot August
afternoon was ending in a real storm OF hea-
ven. Balls fell in an incessant shower in
the city. while the blazing booms traversed
the sky, hung for moment like messen-
ger of death over the streets, and then
dropped with an explosion that shook the
ground, among the frightened inhabitants
Amid the shrieks of the wounded, and the
stern language of command, was heard the
heavy rumbling of the artillery and ammunl-
tion wagons through the streets; and in the
intervals, the steady stamp of the marching
columns, still fastening 10 the work ofdeath
--while over all, as if to drown all; hke
successive thunder-claps where the light
ming falls nearest, spoke the fierce batteries
that were exploding on each other. But the
confusion and death and terror that reigned
through the city, as the burning buildings
shot their flames heaven ward, were not yet
complete. The inhabitants had fled TO their
cellars, TO escape the balls and shells that
came rushing every moment through their
dwellings; and amid the hurry and busile
of the arriving armies, and their hasiy tread
along the streets, and the roll Of drum and
rafting of armor, and clangor of trumpets
and thunder of artillery, the signal was CIV
en- for the assault-ihree cannon shots from
the heights of Raecknitz. The next mo-
ment, six massive columns, with fifty cannon
at their head, began 10 move down the slopes
pressing straight for the city. The muf
fled sound of their heavy, measured tread
was heard within the walls, as in dead si-
lence and awful majesty they moved steadily
forward upon the batteries.
SIT was sight TO strike terror into the
heart of The boldesi, but ST. Cyr marked
their advance with the firmness of fearless
soul and calmly awaited the onset that even
Napoleon trembled 10 behold. No sooner
did they come within the range of artillery
than the omiAous silence was broken by its
deafening roar. In moment the heights
about the city were in blaze; the fifty
cannon at the head Of these columns belch-
ed forth fire and smoke; and amid the
charging infantry, the bursting of shells, the
rolling fire of musketry. and the explosion
of hundreds of cannon. St. Cyr received the
shock. For two hours did the battle rage
with sangunary ferocity. The plain was
covered with dead-the suburbs were over
whelmed with assailanis, aud ready TO yield
any moment-,he enemy's batteries were
playing within fifteen yards of the ramparts
the axes of the pioneers were heard on
the gates; and shouts, and yells, and exc
crations rose over the walls Of the city
The last of ST. Cyr's reserve were in the
battle, and had been for half an hour, and
Napoleon began TO tremble for his army
But at half past six, in the hottest of the
fight, the Young Guard arrived, shouting as
they came, and were received in return with
shouts by The army, that for momen
! drowned the roar of battle. Then Napo
Icons brow cleared up, and St. Cyr, for the
first time, dew sigh of relief.
"The gates were thrown open, and The
a impetuous Ney, with the invincble Guart
: poured through one like an invincible tor
: rent on the foe, followed sooa after by Mu
2 rat, with his headlong cavalry. Morter sal
n lied forth from another; and the Youns
: Guard, though weary and traveworn, burs
2 with loud cheers on the chief redoubt-
81 which after flowing in blood, had bee
g wrested from the French-and swept it lk
!, tornado.
d "Those six massive columns, thinned an
J. riddled through, recoiled before this onse
81 like the waves when they meet a wreck
f. and slowly serged back from the walls. /
g the meantime dark and heavy clouds bega
g to roll up the scorching heavens, and til
: distant roar of thunder mingled with tn
n roar of artillery. Men had turned this b.
y August afternoon into baiie-storm, an
81 now the elements were TO end il with fig
e of their own. In the midst of the deeper
d ing gloom, the allies, now for the first tim
e aware that the Emperor was in the cit
IS drew off their troops for the night. TT
Vi rain came down as if the clouds were fal
I'd ing, drenching the living and the dea
s. armies; yet Napoleon, needless Of the stor
and knowing what great results rested upc
ID the next days battle, was seen hurrying {
le foot through the streets TO the bridge, ov
~ which he expected the corpse of Marmo
n. and Victor 10 arrive. With anxious hear.
re stood and listened, till the heavy tread
I'd their advancing columns through the dar
10 ness, relieved his suspense; and then,
he they began to pour over the bridge, he ha
ntl tened back, and traversing the city, pass
c. ed out at the other side, and visited the e
10 tire lines that were now formed without Il
le walls. The bivouac fires shed lurid lig
d. over the field, and he came at every ST
y. upon heaps of corpses, while groans and
We mentaiions issued from the gloom in eve