The Arkansas banner., 1847-01-27
Battle of Dresden.
BY T. J. HEADLY.

On the evening of their approach, St. Cyr wrote to Napoleon the following letter:
 l DRESDEN, 23d Aug, 1913.
 Ten al nigh.
 At five this afternoon the enemy approach ed Dresden, after having driven in our cavalry We expected an attack this evening, but probably 1t will take place tomorrow. Your majesty knows better than do what time i, requires for heavy artillery to beat down enclosure walls and palisades.
 i The next night, at midnight, he despatched another to him, announcing an immediate at- tack, and closing up with, i've are deter mined to do all in our power, but 1 can answer for nothing more with such young soldiers" Immediately on the reception ol the first letter, Napoleon surrendered hts command to Macdonald, and turned his face towards Dresden. Murat was despatched in hot haste, to announce his arrival and re- assure the besieged. In the middle of his guards, which had marched nearly thirty miles q day since the commencement of the war. he took the road to the city.
 To revive his sinking troops, he ordered twenty thousand bottles of wine to be distri- buted among them, but no, three thousand could be procured. He, however, marched all mex. day, having despatched messenger to the besieged to ascertain the exact amour, of danger. Said Napoleon to the messenger Gouraud, Set out immediately for Dresden, ride as hard as yoa can, nnd De fkere his erening-see St. Cyr, ths King of Nipples, and Me King of !Sarony-cncomdgc erery one. Tell hem can be in Dresden To- morroic rih toriy thoHsand men, and ihe day folio,cing riih nay rhoic army. .A daybreak risit thc oa1spots and redon5ts-consuh the commander of engineers as to whether fketi can hold om, Hurry hack 10 me to-morrop at Solpea, and bring q full report cf Si. Cyr's aud .Murat's opinion as 10 he real stafe ofthings." Away dashed Gouraud in hot speed. while the Emperor hurried on his cx- hausted army. Gourand did not wait till day. break before he returned. He found every thing on the verge of ruin-ihe allied army was slowly enveloping the devoted city, and when at dark he issued forth from the gates, the whole summer heavens were glowing with the light of their bivouac fires, while a burning village near by threw a still more beleful light over the scene. Squirting his panling steed through the gloom, he a, mid night burst in fierce gallop into the squares of the Old Guard, and was immediately ushered into the presence of the anxious Emperor The report confirmed his worst fears.
 Al day-break the weary soldiers were reused from their repose, and though they had marched hundred and twenty miles in four days. pressed cheerfully forward; for already the distant sound of heavy cannona- ding was borne by on the morning breeze. Al eight in the morning Napoieo, and the advanced guard, reached all elevation ,ha, overlooked the whole plain in which the city lay embosometi; and lo. what a sublime vet terrific sight met iheir gaze. The whole valley was filled with marching columns, preparing for an assault; while the beams of the morning sun were sent back from count less helmets and bay onetis that moved and shook in their light Here and there vol tunes of smoke told where the batteries were firing while the heavy cannonading rolled like thunder over the hills There, too, was the French army twenty thousand strong, packed behind the roqndbouis, appearing like single regiment in the midst of the host that enveloped them. Courier after courier, riding as for life, kept flashing into the presence of tha Emperor hidding him make haste if he would save tho city. few hours would settle his fate, Napoleon, leaving his guard 10 follow on, drove away in furious gallop. while cloud of dust along the road, alone told where his carriage was whirling onward. As he approached the gates. the Russian batteries swept the