The Arkansas banner., 1847-04-28
LAST STRUGGLE AND DEATH OF MAR.
 sHAL PoNlATowsRI.
nY Tns Rxv. | T. HrAplEr.

The allies brought to the encounter 6. Leipsic nsaFiy three hundred thousand men, and thirteen hundred cannon, while Bona I'arte had but one hundred and twenty-.iye thousand, and seven hundred and fifty can non. The latter were drawn up around Leip- sic-- with the city and the river Els,er lying
 n rear--awaiting the onse, of the immense host that was moving to the attack. Al nine o'clock the battle opened, nearly half a million of men engaged in mortal eombat.---- The scene al this moment was indeseribahiy awful: the whole plain was black with the moving masses, save where the myriads oi gliitering helmsts arose and fell in the sum- light, while eight hundred cannon, in one huge senicircle opened their uniied thunder on the French. Clouds of dust filled the air and amid the roar oi artillery, the strains of of martial music, the shriii neighing of tens of thousands of horses moving to battle, and all the dealening clamor and solemn mur- murs of mighty army, the shock caple.-- Nearly two thousand cannon opened with terrific explosions on the living masses, and the frighiful carnage began. Ponia,woski on the righ, was first engaged Made Marshal of France the day bgfore by the Emperor, he burned 10 distinguish himself, and though a. first forced back by the heavy charge, he firmly held his position against the united onsets of artillery, cavalry, and infantry that from morning ill nigh, thundered in over whelmiDg numbers and power on his dimin-
 shed combatan,s, both armies sunk down exhausted, and silence solemn ard awful, fell over the bloody field.
 Napoleon was beaten, and soon gave or ders to retreat All night long. the weary thousands went pouring over the bridge and when daylight dawned, inc allies behel( with joy, the resreating masses of the ene- my. 4 general movement on Leipsic im,ne- .e,liaiely followed, and the sictnrious columns went rushing with shouts to it's attack. All was uproar and confusion Artillery, inlan. try, and cavalry, ammunition and baggage wagons, and chariots were crowded and roll. ed together, and went Airaaniing over the only remaining bridge. 4 rear-guarsi uader Macdonald, LSurision and Poniatowski, was formed to cover this tlisorderlv retreat As Napoleon gave his directions to eaeh, he said to Poniatoyski:
 aPriacg you will defend the suburbs ol Pthe soaiii.n
 ..efre,n he replied, .'r have but few follow. bsfs left.n He had but two thousand seven hundred left ou. of all the brave Poles he led two days before into baiile.)
 s.whai ihen,n added Napoleon, s.vou will defend Ii with what you havcso
 s-Ah, sire" replied the exhausted, bu. s.ill unconquered chiefiain, sswe are all ready to die for your majesiy.n
 have already spoken in my sketch ol Macdonald, of the defence those two leader. made, and of the consternation and woe tha, followed the premaiura blowing up of the bridge Foniatowskl struggled bravsly to arrest the victorious allies, until he heard the explosion that sent ii into ihe air and then he drew his sword, saving to the of5- cers around him. sGentlemen. it now be- heoyes to die with houos.n Wish h,s li,sIe bsnd around him, he dashed on a column q the enemy that crossed his payl,, and though severely wounded, fought his way ,hroush | to the fiessso, small ssisam be must cross hsfoss he sssehsd the Elsssr. Dismosntina from h,s hosse. he passed II on foot. bu iindlng he vas hinting through fatigue and loss of blood. he attempted 10 mount ano thcr. With dikNcuity va,Asine to the saddl, he surged boldly into the Elsser His guo. sseed bore him zdely across, but as he va struggling uP be upposiis hank, tlzs esrtl gave way under hhN feet, and he iell back ., his r'der, and po'iiasnwski disappeared i, the water aud never rose ssain' Wsssy wounded, and bleeding, shis last rsism,i