Democratic banner., 1847-04-12
MARSHAL PONIAToWisKI. % .
H'Aast struggle at Leipsie-hNs tragic0i
, " 'Hruth, and imposing Funeral


The allies brought to the encounter Al
Leipsic nearly three hundred thousand men
and thirteen hundred cannon, while Bona.
parte had but one hundred and seventy
five thousand, and seven hundred and ffty
cannon. The latter weie drawn up around
Leipsic-with the city and the river Elsie,
lying in rear-awaiting the onset Of the i'm
mehsa host that was moving TO the attack.
At 9 O'Clock tho battle opened, and nearly
a half a million of men engaged in mortal
combat. Tho scene at this homer " as
'ildsscribably awful--thc whole plain was
black with the moving masses, save where
the myriads ofnghttering helmets rose and
fell in the sunlight, wIil6 eight hundred
cannon, in one huge semi circle, opened
their united thunder on the French. Clouds
of dust filled the air; and amid the roar of
artillery, the strains of martial music, the
sarill neighing of tens Of thousands of hor-
ses moving to battle, and all The deafeninn
and solemn murmurs Of Almighty army, the
shock came. Nearly two thousand cannon
opened, with terrific explosions on the living
masses, amd the frightful carnage began
Ponia.owiski on the right was first cngar-
ell. Made Marshal of France the day be.
fore b. the Emperor, he burned to distin-
ga!sh himself; and though at first forced
blckby the heavy charge, lie firmly held
lis POSITION against the united onscts of ar
ti!le.y, cavalry, and infantry, that from
inoraing till night Numbered il overwhelm-I
Ing numbers and pow rr on lis diminished
troops, A wilder day this earth never sa W,
and when darkness separated the combat
ants, both armies sunk down exhausted;
and silence, solenn and awful, fell over the
bloody Gclj.
Napoleon was beatcn, and soon gave or
ders 10 retreat. AL night long the weary
thousands went pouring over the bridge,
and when daylight dawned, the allies be-
held with jos, the retiring masses OF the
enemy. Ageneral movement on Leipsict
Immediately followed, aud the victorious
c~Innlns vent rushing with shouts to, tic
attack. Al was HproaT aud conluslon.-l
Artillery, infantry, and cavalry, ammunition
and baggage wagons, and cAasio,s werc.
crondcd and rolled together, aud went
streaming over the "aly remaining bridge.
\ rear guard under Macdonald, LauristonI
aud PJnistcw;ski, was formed 10 cover this
'.iSDrder!y ~Ieigeat. As Napoleon gave his
directions to zach, LIZ said 10 Pouiatowiski,
..Prinrc, Jill viii defend the suburbs Of the
South" "Sire," lie replied, Il lave but
few followers l"!!.' (IIe had but two thou
sand seven t.urlred left out Of all the
brave Poles ha ed two days beforeinto bat
tie "What them" added Napoleon, "you
will defend it with what you have..' "Ah,
sire" replied t. exhausted, but still un-
conquered chieftain, "we are all ready to
die for your majesty"
| have already spoken in my sketch of
Macdonald, of the heroic defence these
two leaders made, and Of the CONSERVATION
and woe that followed the premature blow
ing up Of the bridge. Poniatowiski strug-
gled bravely to arrest the victorious allies,
until he heard the explosion that sent it into
the air; and then he drew his sword, saying
to the officers around him, "Gentlemen, it
now behooves us to die with honor" With
his little band around him, he dashed on al
column Of the enemy that crossed his path,
and though severely wounded, fought his
way through to the Pleisse, a small stream
he must cross before he reached the Elster.
Dismounting from his horse, he passed it on
foot, but finding he was fainting through IA
tigue and loss of blood, he attempted to a. +
another. With difficulty vaulting 7
TO tho saddle, he spurred boldly into the Ell
stcr. His good steed bore him safely across,
but as he was struggling up the opposite Z
bank the earth gave way under his feet, and
he fell back on his rider-and P~oniatowiski
disappeared in the water and never rose /;
again. Weary, wounded, and bleeding,
this last calamity was too much for his q
strengthened he had done as he said, e
'died with honor" Il
The allies celebrated his funeral with q
great magniicencc, and those kings who
had driven his family from the throne, buri- r
ed his capital in ashes, plundered and diyi- 6
q his country, as iii were common booty, p
now gathered in silent pomp around his n
coffin. Countless banners dropped mourn 8
fully over the fallen chief-mighty armies :
formed his funeral procession, and elegiac
strains from a thousand trumpets were .
bFeathed over his grave. But amid all this v
imposing mockery Of woe, the noble-heart- t
ed Pole vas not without some sincere mour- h
ner': Ills few remaining followers who !
had hattlaJ L. ia Il - : .-A- = U