Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-11-09
The Death of DArOc.
BY r. ]. HEADLEY.

Napoleon's greatest misfortune, that whic
wounded him deepest, was the death of hi
friend Duroc. AS he made a last effort t.
break the enemy's ranks, and rode again Il
the advanced post to direct the movements
of his army, one of his escorts was sudden,
struck dead by his side. Turning TO Duro
he said, "Duroc, fate is determined 10 have
one Of us to-day"
Soon after, he was riding with his suite in
rapid trot along the road, a cannon ball smott
a tree beside him, and glancng struck Genera
Kirgener dead, and tore out the entrals o
Duroc. Napolean was ahead at the time, anc
his suite four abreast behind him. The CLOUD
of dust their rapid movement raised arounc
! them, prevented him at first from knowing
who was struck. But when it was told hin
that Kirgener was killed, Duroc wounded, he
dsmounled and gazed sternly on the battle )
from which The shot had been fired, then turn
ed towards the co tage inte which the wounded
ma shal had been carried.
Duroc was grand marshal of the palace, and
bosom friend of the Emperor OF noble
and generous character, of unshaken integrity
and pat iotsm, he was be owed by al who
knew him. There was genileness about
him, and putty of feeling the life Of camp
through all the changes of his tumutous life,
he had ever found his affection and truth the
same, and it was with an anxious heart and
| where he lay. His eyes wee filled with tears
the was none, he advanced TO the bedside
without saying word. The dying marshal
seized him by The hand, and said, "Nly whole
life has been consecrated to your service, and
now my only regret is, that | can no longer be
useful 10 you"
"Duroc!' replied Napoleon, with a voice
chooked in grief, "tbefe is another lfe there
you will await me, and we sha ] NEE; again."
"Yes, sier,' replied the fainting sufferer, "but
thirty years shall first pass away, when you will
have triumped over your enemies, and realized
all the hopes Of our countrys have endeavor-
ed to be an honest man: have no hing with
which 10 reproach myself" He then added,
with faliering voice, Il have a daughter,
your majesty will be a father to her,
Napoleon grasped his right hand, and Sit
ting down by his bed side and leaning his
head on his left hand, remained with closed
eyes quarter of an hour in profound silence.
Duroc spoke first. Seeing how deeply Bona
parte was moved, he exclaimed,
"Ah sir, leave me; this spectacle pains
you!"
The stricken Emperor rose, and leaning on
the arms of his equerry and Marshal Soult, he
left The apartment, saying in heart rending
tones as he went.
"Farewe:l, then, my friendr'
The pursuit he had directed moment be-
fore was forgotten--victories, thropies, prison.
ers and a II, sunk 10 utter worthlessness, and,
as The battle of Asphern, when Lannas was
brought before him when mortally wounded,
he forgot even his army and the great inter-
ests at stake. He ordered his tent to be
pitched near the cottage in which his friend
was dying, and entered in, passed The night in
unconsolab grief The imperial quad form
ed their projecting square as usual, around him
and The fierce tumult Of battle gave way to one
of the most touching scenes in history. Twi-
light was deepening over the field, and the
heavy tread of The ranks going to their BIZ
vouacs, and the low rumbng Of artillery wa
gons in the distance, and all the subdued yet
confused sounds of mighty host about sink
ing to rest, rose in the evening air, imparting
still greater solemnty to the hour. Napoleon,
with his great coat wrapped about him, his ell
bows on his knees, and his forehead resting on
his hands, sat apar, from all, buried in the p-o-
foundest melancholy. His most intimate
friends dare not approach him, and his favorte
officers stood in groups at distance, gazing
anxiously on that silent tent. But immense
We're hanging on The movements
of the next morning, powerful enemy was
nea:, with their army yet unbroken, and they
at length ventured to spproach and ask for
orders. But the bfoken-hearted chicfiain on
ly shook his head, excla;ming- g-"Everything
and sill kept his mot, ,nful att
tude.
Oh, how overwhelming was the grief that
could so master that stern heart. The mag
niicent spectacle of the day had passed, the
glorious victories that he won, We're remember
ed no more, and he saw only his dying friend
before him. No sobs escaped him, but silent
and motionless he sat, his pallid face buried 10
MS hands, his noble heart was wrung with
agony. Darkness drew her curtain over The
scene, and the Stars came out one after another
upon the sky, and at length the moon rose
above the hills, bathing in her soft beams the
en. ed host, while the flames from burning vii
ages in the distance shed lurid light through
he gioom-and all was sad, mournful, and yet
sublime. There was dark cottage with the
'entinels al the door, in which Duroc was dy-
ng, and here too, was the solitary tent Of Ma |
,oleon, and within, the bowed form of the en-
,eror. Around it at distance, stood the |
squares Of the old guard, and nearer by si-
ent group Of chieftains, and over all lay the
moonlight. Those brave soldiers, filled with |
,rief, to see their beloved chief borne down
With sorrow, were for long time silent and
earful. At length 10 break the mournfnl si-
enee, and TO express the sympathy they might |
lot speak, the bands strack up requiem 70. the |
lying marshal.
The melancholy strain arose and fell in |
echoes over the field and swept it's |
oftened cadences on the ear of the fainting |
still Napoleon moved not They |
hen changed the measure to triumphant |
train, and the thrilling trumpets breathed forth |
he most joyful notes, till the heavens rang