The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-08-16


him they should never meet again, that
his body should be left on the battle field
of the stranger. 1t was in vain he attempt
the spirit o. p OF hecy crashed every hope,
anl she saw lin depart with The same fee
il, she would have seen the grave close
over him. l have sometimes thought
that these strangely sensitive and spiritual
beings, had almost the gift of second sight
that ''coming events to them do litter
ally .scast their shadows BEFORE" From
that moment she never smiled, but faded
gradually away.
The whole story together with the cpl
taph, had made a profound impres sion on
my feelings, and as | stood on the field of
battle, and called up the scenes of that
terrific day, his form constituted the fore
ground of the picture. The morning of
the battle was damp and heavy, but not so
the feelings of young Gordon. As he
stood beside the Duke and looked over the
magnificent array before him, he determin-
ed his name should be interviewer with
the history of that day. The great battle
of Europe was TO be fought. All its kings
stood looking on with breathless interest,
for their thrones were at stake. The feel
ings Of those two great chiefiains them
s-l.es, as they thus, for the first time,
stood face to face, and battled for CONT
nent, were scarcely more stirred than his.
From the moment he saw the head of that
gallant column, which Jerome Bonaparte
led down on Hougoumont, melt away
before the destructive fire within, all the
fury ola tiger seemed reused within him.
He wanted to be somewhere, he cared
not in what capacity, when the onset was
made. He was not compelled long to
wait The heavy cannonading that soon
opened the whole length Of the lnes-the
terrible charges made by the French cav
airy, soon gave him work to do. He was
sent hither with orders, while the shot fell
around him ike hail stones. He looked
on his pierced uniform and foam covered
steed with kindling eye. The pressing
danger now becoming more imminent on
every side, the Duke led on in person sew
eral distinct charges. This was the crown
ing point of young Gordon's wishes. He
charged beside the Duke with the impetu-
osity of veteran, and whenever danger
threatened his beloved commander, spurr-
ed headlong into it. In the midst Of
terrible carnage, Sir Alexander rode up to
the Duke, and expostulated with him on
thus exposing his life, when every thing
depended on his safety. While he was
pleading for the life of another, bullet
pierced him and ne fell. Young Gordon
immediately spurred into his footsteps,
an plac> d himself so as to protect the
Duke from the greatest danger. The
weary veteran regarded him with smile
Of affection, and then, as he wiped the
sweat from his brow, exclaimed, "Oh that
BIucher or night wonld comet
The next moment an immense body
of French cavalry came Numbering down
on one of the English squares. 1t had
already become weakened by the loss of
whole ranks which the French artillery
had moved down, but withstood the des-
perate shock with true British bravery.
The French came down on a plunging
trot, then breaking into gallop, fell like a
rock upon it. Like that rock hurled back
from the mountain, :hey recoiled from the
shock. Driven to desperation by their
repeatedly foiled attempts, they stopped
their horses and coolly walked around the
brave square, and where man fell dashed
in. Such desperate resolution, and such
on the conflict. The square at length be-
gan TO shake and waver, when Wellington
came dashing up with his guard-,he
square opened, and he was in its midst.
Their chieflwas in their keeping-his fate
voluntarily thrown in their hands, those
brave British hearts could not yield. Rank
! after rank fell but not man Stirred from
his footsteps The French at length gave
it up and returned to their position
Again, on separate squares, were these
terrific charges made, and again, as fast
as they wavered,, did Wellington fling
himself in their midst. Young Gordon
was ever at his side, and in one of these
dangerous attempts had his sword struck
out Of his hand. But there were enough
other good blades on that ensanguined field,
without owners, and he was soon welding
one which the convulsed hand of an Off
Ger had scarcely loosened.
Thus, from eleven in the morning until
four in the evening, had the battle ragged,
when dark object was seen to emerge
from distant wood. Larger and larger
ii grew, till whole column stood revealed
with banners waving in the breeze. Blu
cher and his Prussians had come. Bolh
armies saw that the hour had arrived for
final issue. Bonaparte then rode up to
his old and well tried Imperial Guard, that
had not been in battle all dav. Placing
himself at their head, he led them half
way down the slope, when he halted and