The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1846-04-11

agHn at Murat. Especially would he forget
those gilded trappings when he saw him return
from a charge, with his diamond hilted sword
dripping with blood, his gay uniform riddled
with balls and singed and blackened with pow
der, while his strong war horse was streaked
with foam and blood, and reeking With sweat.
The white plume was the banner to the host
he led, and while he continued Auttering over
the field Of the slain, hope was never ~relinquish.
ed. Many a time has Napoleon seen it glane-
ing like a beam Of light to the charge, and
watched its progress like the star Of his desti-
ny, asi struggled for a while in the hottest Of
the fight, and then smiled with Joy as he be-
held it burst through the thick ranks of infan-
Try, scattering them from his path like chaff
before the wind.
We said, the three great distinguishing traits
Of Murat were high chiyalric courage, great
skill as a general, and wonderful GOODNESS in
the hours of danger. Napoleon once said, tqat
in battle he was probably the bravest man in
the world. There was something more than
mere success to him in battle. He investedit
with a story Of glory in itself--threw an air Of
romance about it all, and fought frequently, we
believe almost in an imaginary world. The
device of his sword--so like the knights Of
old-his very costume copied from those war
rIors who lived in more chiynlric days, and his
heroic manners and bearing, as he led his troops
into battle, prove him to be wholly unlike all
other generals Of that time. In his person, al
least, he restored the days Of knighthood. He
himself unconsciously let's out popularity, in
speaking Of his baale on Mount Tabor, with
the Turks. Fifteen thousand cavalry first
came thgndering down on this band Of 5000,
arranged in the form Of a squay3. For six
hours they maintained tina. unequal combat
when Napoleon arrived with succor on a neigh
boring hill. As he looked down on Mount
Tabor, he could see nothing but a countless
multitude covering the summit Of the hill, and
swaying and tossing amid the smoke that cur
tanned them in. 1t was only by the steady vol
leys and simultaneous flashes Of musketry,
the he could distinguish where his own brave
soldiers maintained their ground. The shot of
a solitary twelve FOUNDER, which he fred to-
ward the mountain, first announced to his ex-
hausted countrymen that relief was at hand.
The ranks, then, for the first time, ceased act
ing on the defensive, and extending themselves
charged bayonets 1t was against such terri
BILE odds Murat loved to fight, and in this en-
gngement he outdid himself. Ye regarded it
the greatest battle he ever fought.
Once he was nearly alone in the centre Of a
large body Of Turkish cavalry. All around
was visible but a mass of turbaned
heads, and flashing scimetars, except in the
centre, where was seen a single white plume
like a rent banner over the throng.-
a while the battle thickened where it
stopped and rose, as Murat's strong war-horse
reared and plunged amid the sable strokes that
fell like lightning on every side--and then the
multitude surged back, as a single rider burst
through, covered with his own blood and that
Of his foes, and his arm red to the elbow, that
grasPed his dripping sword. His steed stag
gered under him, and seemed ready to fall,
the blood poured in streams from his
sides. But Murat's eye seemed to burn with
fourfold %lustre; and, with a shout those who
surrounded him never forgot to the latest day,
his exhausted steed on the foe, and at
The head Of a body Of his own cavalry tram
pied everything down that opposed his pro-
Speaking of this terrible ifghl, Murat
said that in the hottest of it he thought oil
Christ, and his TRANSPORTATION on the same spot,
nearly two thousand years before, and it gave
tenfold courage and strength. Covered
with wounds he was promoted in rank on the
'pot. This single fact throws a flood Of light
Murars character, and shows what visions
glory often iose before him in battle, giving
o his whole movements and aspect, a great
ness and dignity that could not be assumed.
About four years since an old Pennsylvania
~ the name Of Ferguson, came to this place
= IEF
or the purpose of teaching School, and being
somewhat dissiPated and very talkative, rend-
'red himself very disagreeable, and took every
to exhibit his superior knowledge and
requirements. An occasional visitor at the
rouse at which he boarded was Tom Magness.
veil known to many of our readers, who was
convened one day by the learned schoolmaster,
nd being somewhat nettled at the old mans
continued fire Of s'big talk, )" as Tom termed il,
le said:
."Look here old customer, what did you come
'ut here for, you boast of the smart men and
living, and whiskey in Pennsylvania, why
Iid'nt you stop there and enjoy themm
Mr.. Ferguson replied thath he had learned that
ichOolmasters were very scarce, and very much
Ieeded in this country, and that he had come
mt for the nnrnoae of anlfrbtr;ar H. nonnla |