Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-08-20
MI S C E l. l. An Y.
RATTLE OF MOUNT TABOR.
CAMPAIGN IN EGYPT
BY ]. T. HEADLY

Forty seven years ago, this month, form was
seen Standing on Mount Tabor, with which the
world has since become familiar 1t was a BRIGHT
morning, and he sat on his steed i'm the clear sun
light his eye rested a scene in the vale below
which was sublime and appalling enough to quick
en- the pulsations of the calmest heart That form
was Napoleon Bonaparte, and the scene before him
the fierce and terrible ''Batte of Mount Tabor. )"
j. rom Nazareth, where the Saviour once trod,
kleber had marched forth with three thousand
french soldiers into the plain when at the foot of
Mt Tabor, he saw the whole Turkish army drawn
up In order of battle. Fifteen thousand infantry
and twelve thousand splendid cavalry moved down
IN majestic strength this band of three thousand
French. kleber had scarcely time to throw his
handful OF men into Squares with the cannon at the
angles, before those twelve thousand horse, making
the earth smoke and thunder as they came, burst
INTO headiong gallOp upon them. But round those
steady squares rolled fierce devourng fire. empty
ing the saddles Of those wild horsemen with fright
iu Iapidiy, and strewing the earth with the bodies
OF riders and steeds together Again and again did
those splendid squadrons Wheel reform and charge
with deafenlng shouts, while their upliiied and
flashing sclmetars CLEANED like forest OF steel
through the smoke of battle but that same vast
ing fire received them.-Those SQUARES seemed
bound by grdle of flame, so rapid and constant
were the discharges. Before their certain and dead
ly aim, as they stood fighting for existence, the
charging squadron fell fast that rampant of dead
bodies was soon formed around them. Behind this
embankment of dead men and horses this band of
warriors stood and fought for six dreadful hours and
was still steadily thinning the ranks Of the enemy
when Napoleon debouched with single division
on Mount Tabor, and turned his eye below-What
scene met his gaze. The whole plain was filled
with marching columns and charging squadrons of
wildly galloping steeds while the thunder of cannon
and fierce rattle of muskery, amidst which now
and then was heard the blast of thousands of trum-
pets, and strains of martial music filled the air.
The smoke OF battle rolling urously over the
hosts, and all was confusion and chaos i'm his sight
Amid the twenty-seveD thousand Turks that cover
ed the plain and the smoke that enveloped the enc
my like cloud Napoleon, could tell where his own
brave troops Were struggling by the steady and stimuli
taneous voley which showed where discipline was
conending with the wild valor corresponding NUM-
bers. The constant flashes from behind that ram
part of dead bodies were like spots of flame on the
tumuluous and chaotic field. Napoleon descended
from Mount Tabor with his little band, while sin
gle twelve FOUNDER fired from the heights, told the
wearied kieber that he was rushing to the rescue
Thrown into confusion and tramped under foot
that mighty army rolled turbuentlv back toward
the Jordan, where Murat was anxiously waiting to
mingle in the fight Dashing with his cavalry
among the disordered ranks, he sabred them down
without mercy and ragged like lion amid the prev.
| This chivalric and romantic warrior declared the
remembrance Of the scenes that once transpired on
Mount Tabor and these thrice consecrated spots
came to him in the hottest Of the fight and nerved
him with teu-fold courage.
As the sun went down over the plains OF Pales-
tine, and twilight shed its dim rays over the rent
and trodden and dead covered field a sulphurous
cloud hung around the summit of Mount Tabor
The smoke of battle had settled there where once
the cloud of glory rested, while groans and shreks
rent the air. Nazareth, jordan and Mount Tabor
| What spots for battle fields