The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-11-10
Volume XII.
The DEATH OF DUROC.
BY T. J. HEADLT.

the advanced posts TO direct tne movements
of his army, one OF his escorts was sudden
Ily struck dead by his side. Turning 10 Du-
roc, he said, .Duroc, fate is determined to
have one of US to-day Soon after, as be
was riding with his suite in a rapid trot along
the road, a cannon ball smore a tree beside
him. and glancing, struck Gen. Kirgener
dead and tore out the entraiIs of Duroc. Ma
poleon was ahead at the time, and his suite,
four abreast, behind kim. The cloud ofdust
that their rapid movements raised about
them, prevented him from knowing a first
who was struck. But when it vas told him
that Kirgener was killed and Duroc wOun-
ded, he dismounted and looked long and
%sternly at the battery from which the shot
had been fired /; then turned towards the
cottage into which the wounded marshal had
been carried.
DurOc was grand marshal of the palace
and the bosom friend OF the Emperor. or
a noble and generous character, OF mistaken
integrity and patriotism, and firm as steel in
the hour Of danger, he was beloved by all
who knew him. There was a sentleness
about HIM and purity Of feeling, the life of a
camp could never destroy. Napoleon loved
him-for through all the changes of his tu-
multuous life, he had ever found his affec-
ton and truth the same-and it was with an
anxious heart and sad countenance he en-
tered the lowly cottage where he lay. His
eyes were filled with tears as he asked if there
was hope. When told that there was none,
he advanced 10 The bedside without saying a
word. The dying marshal seized him by the
hand and said-'My whole life has been con-
secraied to your service, aud now my only
regret is, that ] can no longer be useful to
YOU 'Duroc y replied Napoleon, with a
voice choked with grief, there is another
lile-there you will await me, and we shall
meet again Yes SIR replied the %fainting
sufferer, hut thirty years shall first pass
away, when you will have triumphed over
your enemies, aud realized all the hopes oil
our country. l have endeavored 10 be an
honest man ! have nothing with which 10
reproaCh myself He then added, with a
falterin5 voice, Il have a dausbter-your
majesty will he a father to her. Napoleon
srasped his righl hand, and sitting down by
The bedside, and leaning his head on his left
hand, remained with closed eyes a quarter OF
III hour in profound silence. Duroc first
spoke. Seeing how deeply Bonaparte was
novel, he exclaimed, .Ahl sire, leave me !;
his spectacle pains you The stricken EN-
peror rose, and leaning on the arms OF his
rquery and marshal Soult, he left the apart
ment, saying, in heart breaking tones as he
went. Farewell, then, my friend
The hot pursuit he had directed a moment
before was forgo:ten-yIttOr.es, trophies,
/, prisoners and al, SINK into utter worthless
ness, and rs the battle of Asperu, w hen Lam
IL SIS was brought TO him morally wounded,
: lie forgot even his army and the great inter
E csts at stake. lie ordered his tent TO be
pitched near the cottage in which his friend
! was dying, and entering it passed the night
a all alone in incOnsolable grief. The lmperi-
II ii Guard formed their protecting squares, as
e usual around him, and the fierce tumult Ct
he battle gave way to one ofihe most touch
@ ing scenes in history. Twilight was deep
G cning over the field, and the heavy tread OF
If The ranks g"ins to their bivouacs. The low
- rambling of artillery wagons in the distance,
i and all the subdued, yet confused sounds of
mighty hosts about sinking ~ repose, rose
q On the evening air, impdrting still greater So
e lemniIy 10 the hour. Napoleon, with his
cloak wrapped about him, his elbows on bi>
knees, and his forehead resting OF his hands.
n SIT apart from all. buried in the profoundest
mela: choly. His most intimate friends
n dared not approach him. and his favorite Of
d iceis stood in groups at a distance. gazing
g anxiously Oh that silent tent. But immense
r consequences were hanging on the move
menis of the following morning. powerful
n enemy was near, with their array pet unbro-
ken-and thsy at length ventured to ap-
proach and ask for orders. But the broken
rs hearted chirtIain only shook his head. en-
claiming, Every thing Tomorrow and still
kept his mournful attitude. Oh, how over
whelming was the giief that could so master
that stern hearti-The magnificent specta-
Gle of The day had passed, the glorious vic
tory he had won was remembered no more,
and he saw only his dying friend before him
N No sobs escaped him, but silent and motion.
less he sat, his pallId face buried in biz
hands, and his noble heart rung with agony.
le Darkness drew her curtain over the scene,
Ie and the stars came out one after another up.
on the sky, and, dt length, the moon rose
above the hills, bathing in her soft beams
er The tented host, while the flames from the
Is burning villages in the distance, shed a lurid
liz BIT the gloom-and all was sad, mournful
yet sublime. There was a dark cottage with
the sentinels al the door, in which DuroC
lay dying and there, TOO, was the solitary
/ tent Of Napoleon, and within, the bowed
form of the Emperor. Around it, at a dis
ID rance, stood the squares Of the Old Guard
;" and nearer by, a silent group of chieftiaus,
;;e and over all lay the moonlight. Those brave
a. soldiers, filled with grief TO see their beloved
- CHIEF borne down with such sorrow, stood fol
a long tune silent and fearful. At length, to
break the mournful silence, and TO express
the sympathy they might not speak, the band
y struck up a requiem for the dying marshal.
&c The melancholy strains arose and fell in
&c prolonged schoes over the field, and swept ia
:" solemn cadences on the ear of the faint.
u ing warrior-but still Napoleon moved not.
They changed the measure to a triumphant
20 strain. and the thrilling trumpets breated
forth the most joying notes, till the heavens
b. ruug with the melody. Such bursts of mu.
sic had welcomed Napoleon as he returned
an flushed with victory, till his eyes kindlet
&c with exultation but now they fell on a dull
in and l~istless ear. 1t ceased, and again the
mournfrl IT QUEEN filled the air. But moth
n ing could arouse him from his agonizIng re-
fection-his friend lay dying, and the hear
N he loved more than his life was throbbing il
last pulsations.
txTI-. A.. g., ~,s.,,- ~ H..