The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-04-13
MISCELLANEOUS
TIE EAI7LB Oh WAGRAN.
avn THE CHARGE OF MACDONALD.
RI J. 7. EEADLEY.

M sooner did the Archduke see tie move
rlent Of ihis terrible column Of eight bat
ialions, composed Of sixteen thousand men,
spon lis centre, ihoD be knew The hour OF
Europe destiny, and of his own army had
come. lie Immediately doubled the lines at
the threatened point, and brought up the re-
served cavalry. while two hundred cannon
were wheeled around the spot on which des-
TIMES hung: and opered a steady fire on The
advancing column. Macdonald Immediately
ordered hundred cannon 10 precede him,
and answer the Austrian batteries, which
swept every in:h of ground like storm OF
secf The cannonicrs mounted their hors-
es, and starting on rapid trot with their
hundred pieces. approached 10 within half
cannon shot, and then opened on the enemy's
ranks. The column marched up 10 this bat
terry, and with il al its head, belched forth
fire like some huge monster, steadily adj
vanced. The AusIrians fell back and closed
10 or each other, knowing tina! the final strug
ple had come. Al this crisis Of the battle,
nothing could exceed the sGblimity and ter
ror OF the scene. The whole interest of the
armies was concentrated here, where the in
cessent and rapid roll OF cannon told how
desperate was the conflict. Still Macdonald
slowly advanced. though his numbers were
diminishing, and the fierce battery at his
head was gradually becoming silent. En-
vcloped in The fire OF lis anita gonst the guns
had one by one dismOunicd, at the distance
of L mile and half from the spot where he
started on his awful mission. Macdonald
found himself without protecting battery,
and the centre still unbroken. Marching
over the wreck of his guns. and pushing the
naked head OF his column into the open field,
and into the devouring cross-fire of the Aus
frI1 t.a
The carnage then became terrible. AT every
discharge, the head of that column disap
peared. as III sank into the earth, while the
outer ranks, Oh either side, melted away like
snow wreaths on the rivers brink. No pen
can describe the intense anxiety with which
Napoleon watched its progress. On jus,
such charge rested his empire at Waterloo,
and IN lis failure his doom was scaled. But
all the lion in Macdolald's nature was reused,
and he had fully rcsolvedto execute the task
given him or fall in the field. Still he tow
cred unhurt amid his falling guard, and with
his eye fixed on the enemy's centre, moved
steadily on. Al the close and fierce dischar
gcs OF these cross batteries on lis mangled
head, that column would sometimes stop
and stagger back, like strong ship when
smitcn by Il wave The next moment the
drums would beat their hurried charge, and
the calm, steady voice of Macdonald ring
hack through his exhausted ranks, nerving
them u the desperate valor iha, now filled
hi, own spirit. Never before was such
charge made, and it seemed AT every mo-
mcnt that The torn and manglcd mass must
break and fly.
The Austrian cannon nre gradually
wheeled around ill they stretch away in par
aIlc lines like two walls of fire on each eide
q t..,-l
tempest Of lead against their bosoms. But
the stern warriors close in and fill up the
fngh!ful gaps made al every discharge. and
still press forward. There is no excitement
no enthusiasm such rs Murat was wont 10
iuiuSe into his men when pouring on the foe
his terrible cavalry. No cries of 'Iire + En-
Psrenr,' are heard along the lines; but in
their place Is an unaIterabic resolution that
nothing hut humiliation can shake. The
eyes OF the army and the world are on them.
and they carry Napolcon's fate as they 90.
But human strength has lis limits, and hu-
man effort the spot where il ceases forever
No living could have carried that COL
umn 10 " here ii stands but the iron hearted
leader al lis head. But nov he halfs and
casts his eye over his surviving band that
stand all alone in the midst of the enemy.
He looks back on his path and as far rs the
eye can reach, he sees the course of his he
roes by the black swa,h Of dead men that
stretches like Il huge serpent over the plain.
Out of the sixteen thousand men with
which he started, ouly fifteen hundred are
left beside him. Ten out of every eleven
have fallen, and here at length the tired he
70 pauseS, and surveys with Il stern and anx-
ious eye his few remaining followers. The
heart OF Napoleon stops beating at the sight,
and well il may. for his throne is where
Macdonald stands. lie bears the Empire on
his single brave heart-he is the EMPIRE.
Shall he turn at last aud sound the retreat ;
The fate OF Nations waivers TO and fro. for,
like speck in the distance, Macdonald is
seen still 10 pause. while the cannon are pi-
ling the dead in heaps around him.-.WiII
he turn aud Fy Is the secret and agonizing
question Napoleon puts to himself Mo-
he is worthy of the mighty trust committed
10 hir. The Empire stands Or falls with
him, but shall stand while he stands Look
ing away to where his Emperor sits. he sees
the dark masses of the OLD GUARD in mo
ton, and the shining helmets of the brave
cuirassiers sweeping TO his relief. For
ward, breaks from his iron lips. The rul
OF drums and The pealins Of the trumpet:
answer the volley that smites the exhausted
column, and the next moment il is seer
piercing the Austrian centre. The day j,
wOn-the Empire swaziland the whole
Austrian army is in full retreat.
Such was the battle of Wagram; and sucf
was tho charge of Macdonald. know OF
nothing equal to it. except Neys charge at
Waterloo, and that was not equal, because il
failed.
On riding over the victorious field, Bona,
parte came to where Macdonald stood amid
hK troops. As his eyes fell on the calm and
conected hero, he stopped. ant holding ont
his hand, said Shake hands, Macdonald.-
no more hatred between us-we must hence
forth be friends, and as pledge of my sin.
certify, will send YOUR marshaI's staff, w hict
we have 50 sloriously rned.'-The frank
ness and kindness of Napoleon affected " hal
all his neglect and GOODNESS had failed to do
SuJducd him. irasping his hand and with
a voice chnked with emotion. which the
widest uproar of hattle could never agita,e.
he reDIied :Ah sire with lis IL il baroafor,I,