The Evansville journal., 1846-09-24


The whole work is rich mosaic of similar
gems. It's hardly TOO much to say thai Mr.
Headley describes these battles as well as
Napoleon fought them
son the evening of their approach, ST. Cyr
wrote TO Napoleon the following tetter:
DRESDEN, 23d August, lsl3.(
Ten at night.
"At6ve this afternoon the enemy approach
ed Dresden, after having driven in our caval
ry. We expected an attack this evening;
but probably ii will take place Tomorrow
Your majesty knows better than do what
time it takes for heave artillery 10 beat down
enclosed walls and PALISADES The next
night, at midnight, he despatched another
letter 10 him, announcing an immediate at
tack, and closing up with we are determined
to do all in our power; but can answer
for nothing more with such young soldiers
Immediately on the reception ofthe first let
ter, Napoleon;s his command to
Macdonald, and turned his face towards
Dresden. Murat was despatched in hot
haste, 10 announce his arrival and re-assure
the beseiged. In the middle of his Guards,
which had marched nearly 80 miles day
since .he commencement ofthe war, he took
the road 10 the city.
''To revive his sinking troops, he ordered
10000 bottles of wine to be distributed a.
mong them, but not 5000 could be procur-
ed. lie, however, marched all next day ,hav-
ing dispatc he'd messenger TO the besieged
to ascertain the amount of danger. Said
Napoleon, TO the messenger GOurgaud, "Set
out Immediately for Dresden, ride as hard
as you can, and be there this evening-see e
st. Cyr, the King of Naples and the King
Of Saxony-encourge every one. Tell
them can be in Dresden tomorrow with
forty thousand men, and the day following
with my whole army. At day-break visit
the out-p6sts and redoubts- consult The
commander of engineers as TO whether they
can hold out. Hurry back 10 me tomorrow
at Stolphen, and bring a full report of ST..
Cyr's and Mnrat's opinion as TO the real
state of things.n Away dashed Gourgaud
in hot speed, while the Emperor hurried on
his exhausted army. Gourgaud did not wait
till day-break before he returned. He
found everything on the verge of ruin-the
allied army was slowly enveloping the devo-
ted city, aud when at dark, he issued forth
from the gates, the whole summer heavens
were glowing with The lights of their bivouac
fires, while a burning village near by, threw
still more baelul light over the scene
Squirting his painting steed through the
gloom, he at midnight burst with fierce
gallop into the squares of the old Guard
and was Immediately ushered into the pres
ence of the anxious Emperor. The repor
confined his worst fears. Al y-break the
weary soldiers were aroused from heir repose
and though they had marched hundred s.
twenty miles in four days, pressed cheerfully
forward; for already the distant sound o
cannonading was borne by on the mornin!
breeze. At eight in the morning Napoleon
and the advanced guard, reached an eleva
ton that overlooked the whole plan in whicl
the city lay en.bosomed; and 10, what
subime;yel terrible sight met their gaze
The whole valley was filled with marchin,
columns, preparing for an assault; while th
beams ofihe morning sun was sent back Gor
the countless helmets and bayonets that NOV
ed and shook in their light. Here and iher
volumes ofsmoke Told where the 5aterie
were firing, while the heavy cannonadin
rolled like thunder over the hills There
two, was the French army, twenty thousan
strong. packed behind the redoubt, yet al
pearing like single regiment in the mid
of the host that enveloped them. Courier a
ter courier, riding as for life, kept dashin
into the presence of the Emperor biddin
him make haste if he would save the city
A few hours would eule its fate. Napoeo
leaving his guards to follow on, drove ava
in a furious gallop, while a crowd of du
along the road, alone told where his carrias
was whrIing onward. AS he approache
the gates, the Russian batteries swept Il
road with such deadly FIRE, that he W;
compelled TO leave his carriage and GRAY
along on his hands and knees overthe grour
while the cannon balls whistled in an Ince
SAINT shower above him.
Suddenly and unannounced, as if he ha
fallen from the clouds. he appeared at Il
ROYAL Palace, where the King of SaxoI
was deliberatlng on the terms of captulatio
Waiting for no rest, he took single pa!
so as to not attract the enemy's fire, al
went forth TO visit the outer works.
E near had the enemy approached that Il
youth by his side was struck dead by spe
nusket ball. Having finished his inspe
Fl tion. and settled his plans, he returned
the Palace, and hurried off courers TO I,
f. different portions of the army that was a
{ vancing by forched marches toward the ci
f First. the indomitable guards and the bra
cuirasseurs, eager for the onset, came POI
ING in furious haste over the bridge.
overioyed inhabitants stood by the brld
and offered them food and drink but thou