Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-01-10
BATTLE OF DRESDEN.

pdTteS most reinarkaOle OhtueS ID ny heV' D. l.
Fleudey, whose pen is, perhaps, at this day, un
rivalled as pictuer of battle scenes.-ED.
On the evening of their approach, St Cyr !,
wrote to Napoleon the following letter:
DRESDEN, 23d Aug 18l3,
Ten at night.
"At five this afternoon, the enemy approach c
"a Dresden, after having driven in our cavalry.
We expected an attack this evening. but proba-
bly, it will take place tomorrow Your majesty
knows better than do what time it requires for
heavy artillery to beat down enclosure walls and
palisades"
The next night, at midnight, he despatched
another to him, announcing an lmmidlate attack,
and closing up with, {" We are determined to do
all in our power; but can answer for nothing
more with such young soldiers" Immediately
on the reception of the first letter. Napoleon
surrendered his command to Macdonald, and
turned his face towards Dresden. Murat was
despatched in hot haste, to announce his arrival
and re assure the beseged. In the middle of
his guards, which had marched nearly 30 miles
dav since the commencement of the war, he |
took the road to the city.
To revive his sinking troops, he ordered twen.
ty thousand bottles of wine to be distributed |
. among them, but not three thousand could be
. procured. He, however, marched all next day,
e having despatched messenger to the beseged,
Y to ascertain the exact amount of danger. Said
= Napoleon to the messenger, Gouraud:
i Ga liz for nroSdnp ride
e hard as you can, and be there this evening-see
S St Cir the King of Naples, and the King OF
Il Saxony-encourag every one. Tell them
d can be IN Dresden tomorrow with forty thous~
., and men, and the day following with my whole
1t army. At day break visit the outPosts and re-
e, duubts-consult the commander of engineers,
as to whether they can hold out. Hurry back
" to me to morrow at Sropen, and bring full re-
ID port of St Cyrs and Murat's opinions as to the
t real state of things"
Of Away dashed Gouraud IN hot speed, while the
at E nperor hurried on his exhausted army. Gou-
in raud did not wait ill daybreak before he return
lg ed. He found every thing on the verge of ruin
at the allied army was slowly enveloping the de-
nd voted city; and when at dark he issued forth
'r- from the gates, the whole summer heavens were
as glowing with the light Of their bivouac fires,
while burning village lear by threw a still
lth more doleu light over the scene. Spurring his
ch painting steed through the gloom, he at midnight
for burst with fierce gaop into the squares of the
lis Old Guard, and was immediately ushered intn
'ta the presence of the xious Emperor. The re-
ind port confirmed his worst fears.
OF At daybreak the weary soldiers were rouset
ISL from their repose and though they had march
'n- ed hundred and twenty miles i'll four days
ny pressed chearfily forward; for already the dis
-, fftdrr sound 81 heavy cannonading WINS
'ich on the morning breeze At eight in the morn
II ing, napoleon and the advanced guard reache'
OF an elevation that overlooked the whole PLAIN II
me which the city lay embosomed and 10! what a
bic sublime vet terrific sight met their gaze The
my whole valley was filed with marching columns
Co preparing for an assault; while the beams OF the
'he morning sun were sent back from the countless
"' helmets and bayonets that moved and shook il
er their light Here and there volumes of smoke
pJ told where the batteries were firing, while the
ay' heavy cannonadng rolled like thunder over the
hlIs. There too, was the French army, twen
'ho " thousand strong, packed behind the rGdoubts
me lppcarng like single regiment in the midst o.
1ch the host that enveloped them. Courier afte
'ost courier, riding as for life kept dashing into thf
ah presence of the Emperor, bidding him haste !
re. hc would save the city. A few hours wouit
pta srtlle his fate. Napoleon, leaving his guard t(
led follow on, dove away in furious gaIIop, whl'
ex cloud of dust along the road alone told wher
5 III his carriage was whrling onward AS he ap
we'd preached the gates, the Russian Batteries swep
5 OF he road with such deadly fire that he wa
lave compelled to leave bis carriage and crawl a'ont
lck- ON his hands and knees over the ground, whit
new the cannon balls whistcd an ncessant Shove
ting above him.
my Suddenly, and unannounced as if he had fall
very en- from the clouds, he appeared at the Roya
d by Palace. where he King OF SaXony was delber
ating upon the terms of capituIatlon VAIN
most for no rest, he took single page, so as not
nsd attract the cnemy's fire, and went forth to Wis
yeta the outer works. So near had the nemy az
proached. that the youth by his side was struc
down by spent musket ball. Having hnshe
nted his Inspections, and settled his plans he reuHe
wers to the palace, and hurried eff courers to tl
ut of different portions of the army that was advaI
stop cling by forced marches towards the city. Fr'
mics the 10 umitabe guards and the brave culra
nifty. siers eager tor the onset, pouring IN II
mum, riuus haste over the bridge. The overoyed II
all to habilants stood by the streets, and Offered the
rmed food and drink; but though weary, hungry IN
If an thirsty the brave fellows refused to tax elthe
liked and hurrieu onward towards the storm that WI
lsual ready to burst on their companions At ten
clock the troops commenced entering the CITY
infantry, cavalry and artillery poured tor"a
DAD with impetuous speed-till there appeared to
no end tn the rushing thousands. Thus, wit
GA out cessation, did the steady columns arrive
and day long, and were still hurrying i'll, when at
} 1873 O'Clock the attack commenced. The baIterl
hs, OF that covered the heights around the CITY OPEN
esent their terrible fire, and in moment Dresden b
one came tho target OF three hundred cannon,
nuth. trained upon her devoted buildings. Then col
. In menced one of wars widest scenes. St.
IN in replied with bis artillery and thunder, as /
and afternoon was ending in real storm of the he
road vons. Balls fell IN an lncessant shower IN
-rcol. city, while the blazing bombs traversing t
mber SKY, hung for moment, like messengers
Init death, over the Streets and then dropped W
It less an explosion hat shook the ground, among I
,4s, it frighted inhabitants.
rail- Amid the shreks of the wounded, and