Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-08-13
A Vivid Sketch.
THE BURNING OF MOSCOW
BY J. T. HEADLEY,

| Al lengln MOSCOW, win lis d0mes ana
towers, and palaces. appeared in sight;
and Napoleon, who had joined the adj
vanced guard. gazed long and lhoughlfuly
on that goal Of his wishes. Murat went
forward and entered the gates with his
splendid cavalry; but as he passed through
the streets, he was struck bv the solitude
that surrounded him. Nothing was heard
but the heavy tramp of his squadron as
he passed along, for a deserted and aban.
doned city was the meagre prize for
which such unparalleled efforts had been
made. As night drew i,s curtain over
the splendid capital. Napoleon entered
The gates and Immediately appointed
Mor,er governor. In his directions he
commanded him to abstain from all pill
lage. For this, said he you shall be
answerable with your life. Defend Mos
COW against all, whether friend or foe
The bright moon rose over the mighty
city, tipping with silver the domes of
more than tive hundred churches, and
pouring food Of light over thousand
palaces. and the dwellings Of three hun
dred thousand inhabitants. The weary
army sunk to rest; blu, there was no sleep
| for Mortier's eyes. Not the gorgeous
and variegated palaces and their rich orn-
amen!s--nor the parks and gardens. and
Oriental magnficence that everywhere
surrounded him, kept him wakelul, bu,
the omnous forebodng that some dire
calamity was hanging over the silent cap
iial. When he entered il, scarcely liv-
ing soul met his gaze as he looked down
the long streets; and when he broke open
the buildings. he found psrlors and bed
rooms and chambers all furnished and in
order, but no occupants. This sudden
abandonment of their homes betakened
some secret purpose yet TO be fulfilled
The midnigh, moon was sailing over the
city. when the cry of "6re!' reached the
care Of Mortier; and the first light over
Napoleon's falling empire was kindled,
and that mos, wondfous scene of modern
time commenced.
THE BURNING OF MOSCOW.
Moriier as governor of the city, imme.
diaIely issued his orders and was putting
forth every exertion. when at daylight
Napoleon fastened to him. Affecting to
disbeIleve the reports that the inhabitants
were firing their own city, he put more
rigid commands on Mor,ier. to keep The
soldiers from The work of destruction.-
The Marshal simply pointed to some iron
covered houses that had no. yet been
opened, from every crevice of which
smoke was issuing like steam from the
sides of a pen,-up volcano. Sad and
thoughtful. Napoleon turned towards the
Kremln. the ancient palace Of the Cars,
whose huge structure rose high above the
surrounding edlfices.
In the morning. Mortier by great exer-
tons, was enabled TO subdue the fire
But the next night. Sept. 18Th at midnight
the sentnels on watch upon the lofty
| Kremlin, saw below them the flames
bursting through the houses and palaces,
and the cry of "6re! fire!" passed through
the city. The dread scene had now fairly
opened. Fiery balloons were seen drop
ping from the air and lighting upon the
houses-dull explosions were heard on
every side from the shut up dwellings,.
and the next moment a bright light burst
forth, and the flames were raging through
the apartments. All wa. uproar and con-
fusion. The serene air and moonlight of
the night before had given way to driving
clouds, and wild tempest tina, swept
with the roar of The sea over the CITY,
Flames arose on every side, blazing and
cracking in the storm, white clouds of
smoke and sparks in an incessant shower
went driving towards the kremlin. The
clouds themselves seemed turned into fire
rolling in wrath over devoted Moscow.
Morlier. crushed with the responsibility
thus thrown upon his shoulders. moved
with his Young Guard amid this desola.
,ion, blowing up the houses and facing
the tempest and the ling
nobly TO arres, the conhagraton.
He FASTENED from place to place amid
the blazing ruins, his face blackened with
the smoke and his hair and eye brows
singed with the fierce heat. At length
the day dawned, day of tempes, and OF
fame; and Mortier, who had strained ev-
cry nerve for thirty six hours. entered a
palace and dropped down from fa,igne
The manly form and stalwari arm thai
g, had so often carried death into the ranks
Of the enemy, at length gave way, and
the gloomy Marshal Law and painted in
utter exhaustion. Blu, the night of TEN
pests had been succeeded by dav OIL
tempes,s; and when night again enveloped
the ely, il was one broad fame, wavering
10 and fro in the blast. The wind had
increased TO perfect hurricane. and
shifted from quarter to quarter as if OIL
purpose to swell the sea of fire and extin
guish the las, hope. The fire was ap.
preaching the KremIin, and already the
roar Of the flames and The crash of falling
houses, and the cracking of burning
iim5ers were borne TO the ears Of The
startled Emperor. He arose and walked
, to and fro. stopping convuisively ant
gazing on the terrific scene. Mura,. Eu.
gene. and Berhier rushed into his pres
ence, and on their knees besoughi him &c
flee; but he still chung to that naughty
palace, as if it were his Empire.
But at length the shout. The Kremlr
is on fire!" was heard above the roar o
the confagra,ion. and Napoleon reluc,an,
ly consented to leave. He descended
into the streets with his staff, and locked