The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-12-19

CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA. DECEMBER 49, 1S49

| Lllut VIC Coulu SCtuCely pclCelFc oDlSCL DIT
the distance of ten PAGES. After the lapse of
some little time Russian column, amounting
to between five and six thousand men, was dis
ccrned; during the night this column had re-
ccivcd orders to Join the main body of the
army, and had missed the way. The troops, who
were marching forward hcstatingly and without
scouts, had strayed to within the distance of a
musket shot of our camp The Emperor, stand
ing erect, with his feet in the stirrups, and his
glass at his eye, was the first to perceive that
the black shadows, slowly dcfng through the
veil Of snow, must belong to the Russian re-
serve. He instantly directed towards them two
battaons of the grenadicrs Of the guard, com
nandcd by General Dorscnnc. Whilst the gren-
adiers advanced in silence, the squadron on
duty near the Emperor turned the column at
tackled it in the rear, and drove it forward on
our grenadiers who received it with fixed bay
onets. The first shock was terrible to the Rus
slams. But comparing their numerlca!
strength with the small number of troops oppos-
ed to them, the officers drew their swords, raj
lied their men, and all defended themselves with
great courage. At one moment our grcnadicrs
appeared to flag, when young officer darted
from the ranks, cxclaimng in loud voice,
Courage, my brave conradcs follow me and
the Russian colors are ours! He rushed for
ward, sword in hand, followed by his company,
and penetrated the compact centre of the Rus
Hidii CClull-ll. HIS ultA PtCltu assault UiChC
their ranks, and our grenadIers rcsoiutcly enter
cd the passage opened to them by the brave Au-
zoni. The Russians were sabcred made pris-
oncrs. This is one of the most glorious achieve
ments of this memorable day. said the Emperor,
who had been an witness to the heroic con-
duct of Auzoni. He summoned him to his pres
cnce, and thus addressed him
Captain Auzon, you we'll deserve the honor
of commanding my veteran moWStachcS. You
have won an officers cross and an endowment
of 1900 francs. You were made 4 captain at
the beginning Of the campaign and hope you
Will return to Paris with a still higher rank. A
man who earns his honors on the field of battle
stands very high in my estimation. present
ten crosses to your company he added, turning
towards the soldiers.
| Enthusiastic shouts rent the air, and the same
men advanced to meet the enemy fire with Il
degree of courage and enthusiasm which it is
impossible to describe.
Two hours after the victory was ours. The
enemies forces routed and dispersed, retreatcd
in the utmost disorder, abandoning their wound
ed their baggage, and their parks of artillery.
But the day work was not yet ended fer the
Emperor. According to custom, he went over
the field of battle to estimate the enemy s loss,
and to hurry the removal of the wounded. 1t
was truly horrible to survey the immense extent
day was crimsoned with blood.
"A quartcr-master of the dragons, grcvously
wounded, perceived the Emperor passing at a
few PAGES from him. Turn your eyes this way,
please your ma jesty, said the man. Il believe
| have got my death wound, and shall be
in the other world. But no matter for that ire
| / Empcrcur!
Let this poor fellow be Immediately conveyed
to the ambulance,' said Napoleon. Raise him
,,,, l.; +h,, ofJ
Large tears rolled down the checks of the dra-
COON when he heard the Emperor utter these
words. L only wish, said he, that had Il thou
sand lives TO lay down for your ma icsty.
! 'Ncar battery which had been abandoned by
the enemy, we behcld a singular picture, and
one of which description can convey but a
faint idea. About one hundred and fifty or two
hundred French grenaders were surrounded by
a quadruple rank of Prussians. Both parties
were wcltering in river of Blood amidst trag-
mcnts of cannon, muskets, swords, &c. They
had evidently Tough with the most determined
fury, for every corpse exhibited numerous and
horrible wounds. A feeble cry of Five IEmpc-
reur! heard to enenate from this mountain
Of the dead, and all eyes were instantly turned
to the spot whence the voice proceeded. Half
concealed beneath tattered flag lay young
officer, whose breast was decorated with an
order. Though pierced with numerous wounds,
| iS SuSCtuCu III HlHiSCil up 81 % w iS"1
on his elbow. His handsome countcnance was
overspread with the livid hue Of death He re-
cognized the Emperor, and in feeble, faltering
voice, exclaimed God bless your Ma esty I!
and Notwithstanding wel-Oh my poor
mother! - He turned supplicating glance to the
Emperor, and then uttering the words, To dear
Francc-my last sigh !! he fell stiff and cold.
Napoleon seemed rivited to the spot, which
was watercd with the blood Of these heroes.
| Rr,,, Il A
young man. Alas This is a frightful scene.
The endowment shall go to his mother. Let
the order be presented for my signature as soon
as possible Then turning to Doctor Ivan, who
accompanied him, he said, Examine poor Au-
zoni's wounds, and see if any thing can be done
for him. This is indeed terrible !! ..
The Emperor, whose feelings were deeply
excited, continued his mournful inspection of
the field of battle. On various similar occasions
| have him powerfully moved. Yet he
never expressed by words his regrets for the in
evitable miseries which follow in the train of
war. This was very characteristic trait in
Napoleon. | am certain that his heart was
painfully wrung when he beheld his devoted
friends and servants stretched lfeess at his feet
But he seldom betrayed any outward manifest
alton of grief, either because it was not natural
to him, or because he was so perfectly master of
himself that he could reprcss the signs Of inward
emotion.
Now that am free from the fascination
which his presence excited me, | some
times endeavor to analyze that character, that
peculiar organization, which seemed to be made
up of so many incongruous shades. Napoleon
defes psychological science His character
doubtless presented imperfcctions, but the beau
tiful and sublime are predominant, and the more
| study the character of Napoleon the more am
impressed with its grandeur. "a lad .s...-
Il have now told YOU said the Duke de Vi
cenza, all that know relative to Captain Au-
zoni Whenever my memory reverts to the
battle of Eylau, the aspect Of the field on the
day after the victory appears, as it were visibly
present to me-. E @
i Were you near the Emperor cnquired /,
when the Dukes Of 1stria and Frioul were
i killed?
4 I was replied he J: they fell in the campaign,
4 Of 1913. From that period we sustained con-
tinuty Of rcverscs, which have no precedent in
the annals of any other nation. 1t would seem
that, after having passed through every grade Of
4 human prosperity, Napoleon was destined to
I suffer every degree Of mortal misery. From that
r.1 Il n