The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-04-13


cessation OF public curiosity. The publication of
| one book increases the demand for another We
nave recently been reading portions of the memoir
OF Cauialneourt, Duke Of VicenZa, Napoieon's Sec
retary Of State, and who accompanied him in all
his campaigns, and therefore porrays the inner life
| of Napoleon.
The battle OF Eylau las been described by All
son, IN his most mastery style but the following
description OF the same baitIe from Caulancourts
memOifs, exceeds any thing yet given to The public
The bitter cold, the binding snow-storm, the mur-
derous carnage between Russian and Frapk the
snow cFimsOned with human gore the self sacri-
hclng devotion Of The officers and soldiers to their
idolized commander, and, above ALL the Great Can
tain, around whom every thing circles as the Man
OF the Hour, are presented in one cup dt9I which
it is not easy TO forget.
On the day Of the hattie, the weather was dread
tnl. The snow, which fell fhickIy in fine fakes,
iroze as 1t reached the surface Of The earth Our
clothes, being covered with This sort of boar frost,
were st'H and heavy. The horses could not keep
ther ioonng. Tie sanguinary conflict had been
maintained since morning, and when night set in
all was yet undecided. The Emperor, in a stale
OF the utmost anxiety and impatience qaIloped up
and down the field of battle, braving the Crane
shot which was showering in every direction. He
was always 10 be seen on those points threatening
the greatest danger well knowing that his presence
would alone work miracles Meanwhile, the
ceasing oil the fire point indicated that the
enemy was falling back At eight O'Clock, Napo-
leon was informed that the important position of the
church, which had been Obstinaiely disputed taken
and re-taken several times in the course Of she dav
had again been carried by the enemy Our troops
whose numbers were infinitely inferior to those OF
the Russians, retired fighting to the chureh-yar,
Al the moment when the orderly arrived with this
intelligence, the Emperor had dismounled and was
personally directing formidable battery, pointed
to the left wing of the Russian army He Instantly
ieaped on his horse, galloped off with the rapidly
OF lightning, and throwing himself into the midst Of
ihe batalons, which were beginning to give way
what he exclaimed. ga handful of Russians
I5epulse the Grand Army. Hear me- my brave feI-
lows; let not Russian escape from the church
Forward with the artillery We must have the
chnreh, my lads! we must have it 80
Ihis address was answered, "Vive I Empereurl
Forward we must have the chnrch!" and all
rushed onward, rallying in good order.
lew PAGES from us we espied an old grenadier
hls face was blackened by gunpowder, and the
blood was streaming down his clothes His left
arm had been carried away by a bomb-shell The
man was hurrying 10 fall into the ranks
stay gay, my good fellow, J" said the Emperor;
go and get Your wound dressed-go 10 the a,lbu.
lance" . '''o 1850
/" will !" replied the gvenadier, "wben we have
'aken the church, and we Immediately lost sight
OF him. perceived the tears gttering IN the EN-
perors eyes, and he turned aside TO conceal them.
AT ten O'Clock that night the church was ours
ihe Emperor, who vas thoroughly exhausted, tot
Tered with fatigue as he sat on his horse He or.
oered the hiring to cease and the army reposed
surrounded by the enemy's bivouacs. Our head
quarters were established on the plateau. behind
Eyan, in the midst of the infantry Of the guard.
All is going on admirably" said the Emperor
| to me as he entered his tent; Those men have
fought bravely!" Without undressing, he threw
himself on his bed, and in few moments was
sound asleep.
AT four in the morning, the Emperor was again
on his horse. He surveyed the ground, arranged
his plans, posted the artillery harangued the troops
anu rode past the front rank Of each regiment Al
day'preak he gave orders that the attack should
commence simultaneously on all points. Ahuut
eleven O'Clock the snow, which had fallen inees-
sanity during the whole morning increased with
such violence that we could scarcely pereeive any
o2Iect atihe distance OF Ten paces After the lapse
OF some little time, Russian column amounting
TO between five and six thousand men, was dis
cerned; during the night this column had received
orders TO join the main body of the aTmy and had
missed their way. The troops, who were marching
forward hestaiing and without scouts had strayed
TO within the distance of musket shot of our camp
The Emperor, standing erect, with his feet in the
stlrrups, and his glass at his eye was the first TO
perceive that the black shadows, slowly defjue
through the veil of snow, must belong to the Rus.
sian reserve. he instantly directed towards them
TWO balailons OF the grenadiers of the guard COM
manded by Gen. Dorsenne. While the grenadiers
advanced in silence, the squadron on duty near the
Emperor turned the column attacked it in the rear
and drove 1t forward on our grenaders, who re-
ceived it with fixed hsyoneis The first shock was
their numerical strength with the small number of
troops opposed 10 them, the officers drew their
swords, rallied Their men, and all defended them.
selves with great courage. At one moment our
grenadlers appeared TO flag, when young 6cer
darted from the ranks, exclaiming in loud voice.
Courage, my brave comradesi follow me, and
the Russian cOIOrs are oursth He rushed forward
sword in hand, followed by his company, and pen.
etrated the compact center of the Russian column
This unexpected assault broke their ranks and our
grenadiers resolutely entered the passage opened to
them by the brave Auzoni
" This is one of the most glorious achievements
Of this memorable day." sad the Emperor, who.
had been an eyewitness 10 The heroic condnct or
Auzoni He summoned him to his presence, and
thus addressed him: Captain Auzoni, you well
deserve The honor of commanding nv veteran mons.
tdches You have most nObly distinguished your
self You have won an officers cross and an en-.
dowment of 2000 francs. You were made a can
tain at the beginning of the campaign, and hope
you will return to Paris with still higher rank
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 to-
wards The soldiers.
Enthusiastic shouts rent the air, and the same
men advanced to meet the enemy's fire with de.
gree of courage and enthusiasm which it is impos.
sibe to describe. Two hours after, the victory
was ours. The enemy's forces, routed and dis
persed, retreaed in the utmost disorder, abandon.
ing their wounded, their baggage, and their parks
Of artillery.
But The days work was not yet ended for the
Emperor. According 10 CUSTOM he went over the
field OF battle TO estimate the enemy's loss, and TO
hurry the removal Of the wounded It was truly
horrible to survey the immense extent of grouod
over which the snow Of the preceding day was
crimsoned with blood
quarter-maser of the dragons, qrieyously
wounsed, perceived the Emperor passing at a few
PAGES from him. "Turn your eyes this way, peass
your majesty" said the man; 81 believe have
got my death wound aud shall soon be in the other
world. But no matter for that, Vive L Emperor"
Let this poor fellow be Immediately conveyed
TO the dabUtGnce, F." said Napoleon "Raise him up,
and commend him 10 the care of Larrey." Large
teaTs rolled down the cheeks of the dragoon when
he heard the Emperor utter these words. only
wish" said he, that had thousand lives to lay
down for your majesty"
Near battery which had been abandoned by
the enemy, we beheld singular picture, and one
ofwhich description can convey but a faint idea.
About one hundred and fly or two hundred French
grenadiers, were surrounded by quadruple rat
OF Russians. Both parties were weltering in a
river of blood, amidst fragments Of cannon, mus
kets, swords, ETC. They had evidently fought with
great fury for every corpse exhibited numerous
and horrible wounds. A feeble cry OF Yive L En-.
peror! was heard to emansie from this mountain Of
the dead, and all eyes were instantly turned to the
spo. whence the voice proceeded. Half concealed
bsRsssA a''sSsd aas ley young Otilcer, whose