Democratic banner., 1846-07-04
THE BATTLE OF MOUNT TABCk,
EGYPT.
EGYPT.
BY J. T. HEADLEY.

was Sccu SIdLulIS Ou NApuhs AoOol1 VIII
which the world has since become familiar
1t was a bright morning, and as he sat OF
his steed in the clear sunlight, his eye rest
ed on a scene IN the vale below, which
was sublime and appalling enoughto quick
en- the pulsations of the calmest heart
That form was Napoleon Bonaparte, ane
the scene before him the fierce and terrible
"Battle of Mount Tabor" From Nazareth
where the Savior once trod, Kleber had
marched forth with three thousand French
soldiers into the plain, where, at the foot
of MI. 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 on this band of three thousand
French. Kleber had scarcely time to thro'
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 in a head
long gallon upon them. But round those
steady squares rolled a fierce devouring fire
enptying the saddles of those wild horse
men with frightful rapidity, and strewing
the earth with the bodies of riders and
stoeds together. Again and again did those
splendid squadrons wheel, reform, and
charge with deafening shouts, while their
uplifted and flashing scimetars cleaned like
a forest of steel through the smoke of bat
tie; but that same wasting fire received
them Those squares seemed bound by a
a girdle of fame, so rapid and constant
were the discharges. Before their certain
and deadly aim, as they stood fighting for
existence, the charging s~quadrons fell so
fast that a rampant of dead bodies was soon
formed around them. Behind this embank-
ment 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 de-
bouched with a single division on Mount
Tabor, and turned his eye below. What a
scene met his gaze. The whole plain was
hled WI" marching columns and charging
~squadrons OF wn'lv g~alloping steeds, while
the thunder Of cannon and free rattle of
musketry, amidst which nu- and then was
heard the blast of thousands Of .rnmnets.
and strains Of martial music filed the air.
The smoke Of battle was rolling furiously
over the hosts, and all was confusion and
chaos in his sight. Amid the twenty-seven
thousand Turks that covered the plain and
enveloped the enemy like a cloud, and aim
ed the incessant discharge If artillery and
musketry, Napoleon could tell where his
W brave troops were struggling by the
steady and simultaneous volley which show
ed where discipline was contending with
the wild valor of overpowering numbers
The constant flashes from behind that ram
part of dead bodies were like spots of flame
on the tumultuous and chaotic field. Ma
poleon descended from Mount Tabor with
his little band, while a single twelve pound
er, fired from the heights, told the wearied
kIeber that ne was rushing to the rescue.
Thrown into confusion and trampled I'M
der foot, that mighty army rolled turbulent
ly back toward the Jordan, where Murat
was a%nxiously waiting to mingle in the
fight. Dashing with his cavalry among the
dlsordered ranks, he sabred them down
without mercy, and ragged like a lion amid
the prey. This chivalric and romantic
warrior declared that the remembrance Of
the scenes that once transpired on Mount
Tabor and on these thrice consecrated
spots, came to him in the hottest of the
fshs, and nerved him with ten-fold cour-
age.
As the sun went down over the plains of
Palestine, and twilight shed its dim RAYS
over the rent and trodden and d~ead-coyer-
ed 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
shrieks and cries rent the air. Nazare eth.