Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-06-04

While the echoes still rolled, the Christian
army advanced, and marched full of conf
denceagainSt the Turks, who, not less de-
terThined, awaited them on the summit OF
their rocky asylum.
"The Saracens remained motionless on
the top OF the hills-they did not even dis
charge their redoubtable arrows; their
quivers seemed to be exhausted. The
broken nature of the ground they occu-
pied rrecluded the adoption of those rapid
eVolutions which in the preceding conflict
had proved SO fatal to the Christians. They
seemed to be no longer animated with the
same spirit-they awaited the attack rather
with the resignation of martyrs than the
hope of warriors. The Count of Toulouse,
who assailed them in front, broke their ranks
by the first shock. Tancred, Godfrey and
the two Roberts attacked their TANKS with
equal advantage. D'Adhemar who, with
the reserve, had made the circuit of the
mountains, charged their rear, when already
shaken BY the attack in front, and on both
TANKS. This completed their route. The
Saracens found themselves surrounded by a
forest of lances, from which there was no
escape but in breaking their ranks and seek
ing refuge among the rocks. A great number
OF emirs, above three thousand officers, and
twenty thousand soldiers fell in the action
or pursuit. Four thousand of the Crusaders
had persisted, almost all in the first action.
The enemy's camp, distant two leagues from
the field of battle, fell into the hands of the
Crusaders, with stores of provisions, tents,
magni6cently ornamented, immense treas
ures, and vast number of camels. The
sight Of these animals, which they had not
yet seen in the East, gave them as much
surprise as pleasure. The dismounted
horsemen mounted the swift steeds of the
Saracens to pursue the broken remains of
the enemy. Towards evening they returned
to the camp loaded with booty, and preceded
by their priests, singing their triumphant
songs and hymns of victory. On the follow
ing day, the Christians inferred their dead,
shedding tears of sorrow. The priests read
prayers, and numbered them among the
Saints in Heaven."-HIsr DEs CRoIsADEs.
This extract gives an idea at once of the
formidable nature of the contest which
awaited the Christians in their attempts to
recover the Holy Land, of the peculiar char
acter of the attack and defence on both
sides, and of the talent for the graphic and
lucid description which M. Micand possess
es. 1t is curious how identical the attack
Of the West and defence of the East are in
all ages. The description of the manner in
which the CruSading warriors were here
drawn into pursuit of, and then enveloped
by the ASiatic light horse, is precisely the
same as that in which the legions of Cras-
sus were destroyed and might pass for a
narrative of the way in which Napoleon's
European cavalry were cut to pieces by the
Arab horse at the combat at Salahout, near
the Red Sea; or Lord Lakes horse worsted
in the first part of the battle of Laswaree,
in India, hef0re the infantry came up, and,
by storming the batteries, restored the com
bat. On the other hand. the final over
throw of the Saracens, at Dorislaus, was ev-
identity owing 10 their imprudence in STAND
ING FIRM, and awaiting in that position, the
attack of the Christians.
They did SO, trusting to the strength of the
rocky ridge, on which they were posted but
that advantage, great as twas, by no means
rendered them a match in close fight for the
| weighty arms and the determined resolution
Of the Europeans, any more than the dis
charge of their powerful batteries awaited
the Mahrattas in the latter Part of the bat.
ties of Assaye and Laswaree, or, more recent
ly, the Sikhs in the desperate conflict at Fe-
rozepore, in the Punjaub. The discovery Of
fire arms, and all the subsequent improve
ments in tactics and strategem, though they
have altered the weapons with which war is
carried on, yet have not materially changed
the mode in which success is won, or disas-
ter averted, between ancient and modern
times.