The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-09-12
Napoleon at MOSCOW.

We suhJoin from lleadley's new work
Napoleon and his Marshall" brief account
ofthe burning of Moscow, which is well spo-
ken ofin the American Wing Review, as SUI
perior even to Croly's picture in Salathe, of
the conHagration of Rome. Headley's des-
criptive powers have rarely, if ever, been
surpassed:- ....,.. ..
"At length Moscow, with it's domes and
towers aud palaces, appeared in sight;
and Napoleon, who had Joined the
advanced guard, gazed long and thought
fully on that goal of his wishes. Murat went
forward and entered the gates with his splen-
did cavalry; but as lie passed through the
streets he was struck by the solitude that sur
rounded him.. Nothing was heard but the
heavy tramp of his squadrons as he passed a.
long, for deserted and abandoned city was
the meagre prize for which such unparalel-
ed efforts had been made. As night drew its
curtain over tho splendid capitol, Napoleon
entered the gates and immediately appointed
Mortier governor. In his directions he COM
manded him to abstain from pillage. "For
this said he, "you shall be answerable with
your life. Defend Moscow against all ,wheth-
er friend or foe" r...G ..D.... .......
HE bright moon rose over the mighty city
tipping with silver the domes of more than
two hundred churches, and pouring flood
oflight over n thousand palaces, and the
dwellings of three hundred thousand inhabi-
tants. The wearied army sunk to rest, but
there was no sleep for Mortier's eye. Not
the gorgeous and variegated palaces and
their rich ornaments-nor the parks and gar
dens, and oriental magnifccnce that every
where surrounded him, kept him wakefIl, but
the ominolls foreboding that some dire caIam-
ity was hanging over the silent capitol
When he entered it scarce living soul met
his gaze as helooked down the long streets;
and when he opened the buildings, he found
parlors and bedrooms and chambers all fur
nished and in order; but no occupants. This
sudden abandonment of their homes betoken-
ed some secret purpose yet to be fulfilled
The midnight moon was sailing over the city
when the cry of Sire" reached the ears of
Mortier; and the first light over Napoleon's
falling empire was kndled and that most
wondrous scene of times commenced a
THE BURNING OFMOSCOW.
Mortier;* as governor of the city, immedi-
ately issued his orders and was putting forth
every exertion, when at daylight Napoleon
hastened to him. Affecting to disbeeve the
reports that the inhabitants were firing their
own CITY, he put more rigid commands on
Moltier to keep the soldiers from the work
Of destruction. The Marshal simply pointed
to sotne iron covered houses that had not yet
been opened, from every crevice of wlich
Smoke was issuing like steam from pent-up
volcano. Sad and thoughtful Napoleon turn
cd towards the Krelim, the ancient palace of
the Cars, whose huge structure rose high a.
bove the surrounding edifces. ,H't' n0s y
In the morning, Mortier,by great exeitiors,
was enabled to s1bdue the fire. But the next
night, September 18th, at midnight, the SEN
tinels' on watch Upon the lofty Krelim, saw
beiowtheni the flames bursting through the
houses and palaces, and the cry Of "fire! fire"
passed through the city. The dread Scene
had now fairly opened. Fiery balloons were
enIdropping from the air and lighting upon
the houses-dull explosions We're heard on
every side from the shut up dwellings, & the
next moment a bright light burst forth, aud
the flames were raging through the apart
rnents. All was uproar, and confusion The
serene air and 1noolight Of the night before
had given way to driving clouds and wild
*Mortier Due de Treyse, it will be retnem-
bered, escaped from these perils and a thou
sand more, to perish in Paris, at home, and
ina time ofpeace, by the bullets Of Fieseh5
being one of the victims Of the Internal Ma
chine.