Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-01-10
VOLUME VII. NO. 2.

all, as II TO drown all, like successive thunder
clap1 where the lightning falls nearest, spoke
The fierce batteries that were exploding on each
other. But the confusion and death and terror
That reigned through the city, as the burning
buildings shot their flames heavenward, were
not yet complete. The inhabitants had fed to
heir cellars, to escape the balls and shells that
came rushing every moment through their dwell
ings and amid the hurry ard hustle of the ar
irving armies, and their hasty tread along the
streets, and the roll of drums and rattling of ar
tlllery the signal was given for the assault
| lhree cannon shot from the heights of Rack
nitz The next moment six massive columns,
with fifty cannon at their head. began to move
down the slopes-pressing straight for the city.
The muflled sound OF their heavy, measured
tread was heard within the walls, as in dead 81
ence and awful majesty they moved steadily
forward upon the batteries
# was a sight to strike terror into the heart of
the boIdcst, but st. Cyr marked lhap advance
with the calmness of a fearless SOUL and firmly
awaited the onset that even Napoleon trembed
to behold. No sooner did they come within The
range of artillery, than the ominous silence was
broken by its deafening roar. In moment the
heights about the city were in Il blaze; the fifty
cannon at the head of these columns belched
forth fire and smoke; and amid the charging in
fantrv, the bursting Of shells, the rolling fire of
musketry, and the explosion of hundred can
non, ST. Cyr received the shock. For two hours
did the battle rage with sanguinary ferocity.
The plain was covered with dead-he suburbs
we're overwhelmed with assaiants, and ready to
r yield every moment-the enemy's batteries were
PLAYING within fifteen rods of the ramparts-the
aNps of the pioneers were heard on the gates
, and shouts and yels and cxecrations rose over
the walls Of the city. The last Of St. Cyf's re-
serve were in the bate and had been for haIfo
, nour and Napoleon began to tremble for his ar
. my. But at half past six, in the hottest OF the
, fight the Young Guard arrived shouting as they
came. and were received in return with shouts
2 bv the army that for moment drowned me
: roar OF battle. Then NnpoIeons brow cleared
up, aud ST. Cyr for the first time drew sigh OF
n relief
: The gates were tarown open, and the impetu-
h Gus New, with the "Invinclble Guard" poured
p through like one resisess torrent on tht ice,
$. followed soon after by Murat with his headong
II cavalry Mortier sailed forth from another and
is the Young Guard, thoagh weary and travel
hi worn burst with loud cheers on the chlet re-
ne doubts-which, alter flowing III blood, had been
To wrested from the French and swept them like
e. Il tornado.
Those six massive columns, tInaned and rid
oa died through, rrcoilcd before this fierce onse
H. Ike the waves when they meet rock, and slow
- " surred back from the walls. In the meal
:; tine dark and heavy clouds hegau to roll up tn
=. hsayens md tlsv,slirtent roll Of ihnr
III ,ier mingled vim tns .sr -4ssAAss@s 49,
had turned this hot August afternoon INTO Dat
tle-storm. and now the elements were to end i
with fight of their own. In the midst OF the
- deepening gloom the allies, now for The hrs
time aware that the Emp ror was in ihe city
:, drew off thor troops for the night The ralr
came down as if the clouds were falling; yet
z. Napoloou needless of the storm, aod knowing
~ what great results depended upon the next days
- action, was seen hurrying on foot through the
!. streets TO the bridge, over which he expected
- the corpse of Marmont and Victor to arrive
With anxious heart he stood and listened, I'll
g the heavy tread of their advancing columns
through the darkness relieved his suspense onC
be hen, as they began to pour over the bridge ne
6 hastened back, and traycs NO the city. p'SSet
IA out at the other SIDE nd visited the en- ire lines
- that were formed without the walls, The bl
i,o touc fire, shed Iurld light over the Held onc
,,o he came at every step on heaps OF corpSes.whl
- groans and lamentations issued from the gloon
mt III every directions for thousands cf wounded
,ns uncovered and unbured, lay exposed to the
storm dragging out the weary night in pain
20 Early in The morning, n poeon WAS on horse
~ back, and rode ont to the army. Tlking his place
beside huge fire that was biazin and crack
- mo IN the centre of the Old Gwrd, he issued
''' his orders Tor the day. Victor was on the right
va he re5istess Ney on the left, over the Youn!
e'- Guard. while St. Cyr and Marmont were in th
NY centre, which Napoleon commanded in per
-, son.
''' The rain still fell in torrents, and the thicl
ap- ,,l .L G,l1 O., ir f., shut am, tho cos
mist SlrUuueu llt lltlu 40 u " SHh' 't ''' -'9
i'N tlv spectacle its bosom exhibited The ca non
ding soon commenced, hut with little effect,
the mist concealed the arnjrs .om each othn
Wv hundred and sixty thousand Of The allies
-" : retched in a huge semi circle along hr be2ht
10 while Napoleon with hundred and lhuty hons
g. md in a plain below, was waiting The iayorabl
moment in which to commence the altark.
At length the battle opened Oh the right,wher
'.a fierce firing was heard as Victor pressed fra
" against an Austrian battery. Suddenly, NJ
s' 7oIeon heard shock like filling m"untaiu.-
While Victor was engaging the emery in from
Nurat. unperceved in the 'hick mist, hld stole
nund to the rear. and without nDe of war;
' ,nr burst with twelve thousand cayahy on ii
-, enemy. He rode straight through their biokt
III" ines rampling under loot the dead and dyin
Ney was equally successful on the left, and
he mist lifted, it showed the allied wings no
riven back. The day wore away in blood
'%o carts, loaded with wounded, moved in consta
- :, stream in the city but the French were wet
u ous at all points; aud when night again clos
~ over the scene, the allied armies had decided
-, etreat.
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~ rTpE ANNVHTT, ,AT0P