Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-02-12
The Sacred Mountains.

Our readers, we are convinced, will feel
a thrill of something deeper than pleasure,
in reading the spirited description which
follows, from Headley's SACRED noun
tains."
Forty-seven years ago, form was seen
standing on Mount Tabor with which the
world has since become familiar. 1t was
bright spring morning, and as he sat on
his steed in the clear sunlight, his eye rest
ed on scene in the value below, which was
sublime and appalling enough 10 quicken
the puIsations of the calmest heart. That
form was Napoleon Bonaparte, and and the
scene before him, the fierce and terrible
BATTLE OF Mount TABOR From
Nazareth, where the Saviour once trod,
Kleber had marched with three thousand
French soldiers forth into the plain, when
10, at the foot Of Mount Tabor he saw the
whole Turkish army drawn up in order of
battle. Fifteen thousand infantry and
twelve thousand splendid cavalry moved
down in majestic strength on this band Of
three thousand French Kelber had scar
cely time to throw his handful Of me into
squares, with the cannon at the angles be-
fore these twelve thousand horses, making
the earth smoke and thunder as they came,
burst in a headloag gallop upon them
But round those steady squares rolled a
fierce devouring fire, emptying the saddles
Of those wild horseman with frightful rap
idity, and strewing the earth with the bod
les Of riders and steeds together. Again
and again did these splendid squadrons
wheel, reform and charge with deafening
shouts, while their uplifted and flashing
scimitars cleaned like a forest ofsteel thro'
the smoke of battle, but that same wasting
fire received then: Till those squares SEEM
ed bound by grde flame, so rapid and
constan, were the discharges. Before
their certain and deadly aim, as they stood
fighting for existence, the charging squad
rons fell so fast that rampant of dead bod
les was soon formed around them. Be-
hind this embankmeut Of dead men and
horses, this band of warriors stood and
fought for six dreadful hours, and was still
steadily thinning the ranks of the enemy,
when Napoleon debouched with a single
division on Mount Tabor, and turned his
eye below. What scene met his gaze.
The whole plain was filled with marching
columns, and squadrons of W dly galloping
sleeds while the thunder of cannon and
fierce rattle of musketry, amid which now
add then was heard the blast Of thousand Of
trumpets, and strains of martial music fill
ed all the air. The smoke of battle was
rolling furiousy over the hosts, and all was
confusion and chaos in his sight. Amid
he fhnpsarH nrlp hat
crowded the plain and enveloped their ene-
my like a cloud, aud amid the incesant dis
charge Of artillery and musketry, Napo-
leon could not tell where his own brave
troops we're struggling only by the steady
simultaneous volleys which showed how
discipline was contending with the wild
valor Of overpowering numbers. The
constant flashes from behind that rampant
Of dead bodies we're like spots Of flame on
the tumutuous and chaotic field. Napo-
leon descended from Mount Tabor with his
little band, while single twelve FOUNDER,
fired from the heights, told the wearied
Kelber that ne was rushing to the rescue.
Then for the first time he took the often.
sive, and poured his enthusiastic followers
on the fallen foe, carried death and terror
over the field. Thrown into confusion,
and trampled under foot that mighty army
rolled turbulently back towards the Jordan,
where Murat was anxiously waiting to
minglc in the fight. Dashing with his cav
airy among the disordered ranks, he sabred
them down without mercy, and ragged like
lion amid the prey. This chivalric and
romantic warrior declared that the remem.
brance of the scenes that once transpired
on Mount Tabor, and on these thrice con-
secrated spots came to him in the hottest Of
the figh, and nerved him with tenfold cour.
age.
As the sun went down over the plains OF
Palestine, and twilight shed its dim ray o.
yer the rent and trodden and dead.cover.
ed field, a sulphurous cloud hung around
the summit of Mount Tabor. The smoke
! Of battle had settled there whore once the