Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-05-18

I
lines. But at that moment a file o
soldiers who had lain fiat On the groune
behind low ridge of earth, suddenl,
rose and poured a yolley into their ia
ces. Another and another followed
It'll one broad sheet Of flame rolled or
! their bosoms, and in such fierce ant
unexpected flow, that human courage
could not withstand it. They reeled
shook, staggered back, then turned
and fled. Ney was borne back in re-
fluent tide, and hurried over the field
But for the crowd of fngitives that fore
ed him on, he would have stood alone
and fallen on his footsteps. AS it Vas
disdaini ng to fly, though the whole ar
my was flying, he formed his men into
immense squares, and endeavored &c
stem the terrific current, and would
have done so had it not been for She
10000 fresh Prussians that pressed on
his exhausted ranks. For long time
these squares stood and let the artillery
plough through them. But tne fate Of
Napoleon was written, and though Ney
doubtless did what no other man in the
army could have dore, the decree could
not be reversed. The star that had
blazed so brightly over the world, went
down in blood, and the "bravest of the
brave" had fought his last battle. 1t
was worthy ofhis grea: name, and the
charge Of The Old Guard at Waterloo,
with him at their head, will be pointed
out to by Iemotest generations with a
shudder.
J We now come to the expiration Of
his treason by a public execution
The allies, after they assembled in
Paris, demanded some victims to APP
pease their anger. Many were selec
ted, but better council prevailed, and
they were saved. Ney was promi-
nent example; he had routed their ar
mics too frequently, and too nearly
wrested their crowns from them at Wa
terloo, to be forgiven. 1t was intended
at first to try him by martial law, but
the Marshals of France refused to sit
in judgement on so brave, generous
and heroic warrior. BY royal ordi-
nance, the Chamber of Peers was then
directed to try him. Scorning to
take advantage Of any technicalities Of
law he was speedily found guilty, and
condemned 10 death by majority of
1852. Seventeen only were found to
vote in his favor. That he was guilty
of treason in the charge, is evident, but
not TO that extent which demanded
his death. No man had done more
for France than he, or loved honor and
glory with higher affection; and his
ignominious death is lasting disgrace
to the French nation. Justice was the
ereuse, not the ground Of his condem-
nation.
To have carried out the principles on
which his sentence was based, would
have ended in a public massacre. Ney
and Labedoyere were the only victims
offered up to appease an unjust hatred.
Besides, Ney's person was sacred un-
der solemn treaty that Wellington
had himself made. Ore of the arti-
cles Of tina: treaty expressly declared
that emo person should be molested for
his political conduct during The hun
dred days." On such conditions was
Paris surrendered, AID there never was
more fragrant violation of the nation
al honor, than the trial of Ney.
The whole affair from beginning to
end was deliberate murder, commit
ted from feelings of revenge alone
Napoleon never did SO base an act in
his life-and on Wellington's forehead
is spot that shall grow darker with
time, and cause many curse to be
muttered over his grave. He should
have interfered to save so gallant an
enemy, at the hazard ofhis life, but he
let his honor 60 down before the clam
or of vlndictive enemies, and became a
murderer in the sight Of the world
Neg was publicly shot as a traitor!
His last moments did not disgrace
his life. He was called from his bed
and tranquil sleep to hear his sen
tence read. AS the preamble went on
enumerating his many titles, he hastily
broke in-"why cannot you simply CAL
me Michael Ney-now a French SOL
der, and soon a heap of dus,?" The
last interview with his wife and chill
dren shook his stern heart more than
all the battles he had passed through
or his approaching death. This over,
he resumed his wonted calmness. In
reply to ore of his sentinels, who said
Marshal you sho'd now think Of death,
he replied, "Do you suppose airy one
shall teach me to die?" But recollecting
himself, he added, in milder tone,
l. 1 e.. a.