The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-07
Napoleon al mo.oow-By Hsadlsy.

as superior even 10 Crolys picture ia oaa'ue VI Tue
oonAagration OF Rome. Headleys descriptive powers
have rarely If ever, been surpassed
A lsngth Moscow with its domes, and towers, and
palaces appeared sight, and Napoleon, who had joined
lie advanced guard, sazed long and houghtfuly that
goal OF his wishes Murat went forward and entered The
gates with his splendid cavalry but he passed through
Che streets, he was struck with the solitude which sur
rounded him. Nothing heard but the heavy tramp
OF his squadron he passed along, for deserted and
abondoned city was the neagre prize Tor which such un
paralleed efforts had been made As night drew ts cur
tain the splendid capital Napoleon entered the gates,
and Immediately appointed Morier governor la his d.
Iecions, he commanded him to abstain from all page.
For this, said he. you shall be answerable with your
life. Defend Moscow against all whether friend or ioe
Inc bright moon rose over lae m,gny e " tipping
and pouring flood OF light over thousand palaces and
the dwellings ol three hundred thousand inhabitants
The weary army sunk 10 rest; but there was no sleep 10
Mortes eyes Not the gorgeous and variegaed palaces
and their rich ornaments, nor The parks and gardens and
oriental magnidcence that everywhere surrounded HIM,
kept him waked but the oninons iJTebodng that some
dire calamity was hanging the silent capital When
he entered il, living soul met his gaze as he
looked down the long streets; and when he broke open
the buildings he found paroTs and bed rooms, and cham
bers all furnished and IN ordeI-but no occupants, The
sudden abandonment oil Their homes beokened some
cret purpose yet 10 be fulfilled. The midnight moon
sailing the city when the cry OF Fire reached the
OF Monier and the tst light over Napoleons fall
ing empire was knded and that most wondrous of
modern times commence d-the burning OF Moscow.
Mortier as governor of the city, immediately issued
his orders, and putting forth every exerton, when al
daylight Napoleon FASTENED 10 him. Affecting 10 disbe
leve the reports that the inhabitants firing their
city, he put rigid commands on Morer 10 keep
the soldiers from the work OF destruction The Marshal
simply pointed TO iron covered houses that had not
yet been opened from every crevce oil which smoke was
issuing like steam from me sides OF peht Vocaho
Sad and thoughtful Napoleon turned towards the Krem
lin the ancient palace OF The Cars whose huge struc
rose high above the surrounding edhces.
In the morning. Mortier, by great exerons,
abed TO subdue the fire The next night (September l5)
at midnight, the sentinels on watch upon the lofty
buY.tt
the houses and palaces and the cry OF "Fire fire re!
passed through The city. The dread had fairly
opened. Fiery balloons were seen dropping from the AR
and lighting upon the houses-dull explosions were
heard every side from the shut dwellings, and the
next moment bright light burst forth, and the flames
were raging through the apartments. All was uproar
and confusion. The serene air and moonlight OF the
night before had given way TO driving clouds and wild
tempess that swept with the roar OF the sea over the
city Flames every side, blazing and cracking
in the storm, while clouds OF smoke and sparks. in
ncessant shower, went driving towards the krenlin
The clouds themselves seemed turned into fire. rolling
wrath over devoted Moscow. horler, crushed with
sponsibity thus thrown upon his shoulders moved with
his young guard amid this desolatlon, blowing up the
houses and facing the tempest and ames struggling
bly, TO arrest the cortlagraon lie FASTENED from
place TO place amid the blazing ruins, his face
blackened with smoke, and his hair and eyebrows
singed with the nerce heat. AT length the day
dawned-a day OF tempest and hame-and Mortier, who
had strained every for thirty hours, entered
palace and dropped from fatigue. The manly form and
stawaT arm that often carried death into the ranks OF
the enemy at length gave way and the gloomy marshal
lay and painted in utter exhaustion. But the night OF
tempest had been succeeded by day OF tempest and
when night again nveloped the city II broad
fame waving 10 and fro IN the blast The wind had in
creased TO perfect hurricane, and shifted from quarter
TO quarter as II on purpose to swell the OF fire and
tinguish the last hope. The fire approaching the
kremn and already the OF the flames and the crash
OF the falling houses, and the cracking OF burning tim
beTs were borne 10 the oil The startled Emperor lie
arose and walked TO and iro stopping conyuslvely and
gazing on the terrific scene. Murat, Eugene, and
Berther rushed into his presence, and their be-
him n flee he In hat h2ug M
palace as If il were his empire
But at length the shout the Kemin is on fire !" was
heard above the OF the confagraton, and Napoleon
reluctantly consented leave. He descended TO the
with his STAFF and looked about for way OF egess
but the flames bockaded every passage. Al length they
disco eed poseIn gate leading TO the Moskwa and en-
tered il; but they had only entered still further into the
danger As Napoleon cast his eyes around the open
space girded and arehed with FIRE, smoke and cnders,
he saw one single street yet open, but all on fire. Into
this he rushed and, amid the crash OF falling houses and
raging OF the flames burning ruins through clouds
of rolling smoke, and between walls OF fire. he pressed
and at length hall sufocaed emerged in safety in the
imperial palace OF Peuowsky nearly three miles distant
Morier relieved OF his anxiety Tor the Emperor, re.
doubled his efforts TO arrest The confag ration His men
cheerully rushed into every danger Breathing nothing
but smoke and ashes canoped by flame, smoke, and
derssuuounded by walls OF fire that rocked 10 and fro,
and fell with crash amid the blazing ruins, carrying
down with them red hot roofs OF ronhe struggled against
enemy that boldness could courage over.
These brave troops had heard the tramp OF thou
sands oil cavalry sweeping TO battle, without fear but
they stood IN still terror before the march OF the
fagaton, under whose burning footsteps was heard the
incessant crash OF falling houses, and palaces and
churches. The continuous roar OF the flames
terrible than the roar OF the artillery, and before this
foe IN the midst OF the elements, the awe-struck army
stood poweIess and afughted.
When night again descended on the CITY, it presented
spectacle the like Of which before and
which battles all description The streets streets OF
fire, the heavens canopy of FIRE, and the entire body OF
the city OF fire, fed by the hurricane that whred
the blazing fragments IN constant stream through the
air lncessant explosions, from the blowing up OF stores
OF OIL tar and spirits shook the very foundation OF the
city, and volumes OF smoke rolling furously to-
wards the sky Huge sheets OF canvass on fire came
floating like messengers OF death through the amesthe
towers and domes OF the churches and palaces gowed
with red hot heat over the wild belowthen totering
moment their bases, hurled by the tempest into
the ruin. Thousands OF wreches before unseen
were driven by the heat from The cellars aud novels and
streamed IN an ncessan ihrong in the streets Children
were seen carrying their parentsthe strong the weak
while thousands more staggering under the loads OF
plunder they bad snached from the flames This too,
would frequently take fire in the falling shower and the
miserable creatures would be compelled TO drop IT, and
flee for their lives. Oh II scene Of fear and wo
uncomfortable and indescribabe A mighty and close
packed city OF houses and churches and palaces wrapped
from limit 10 limit in flames, which are fed BY whflnR
hurricane, is sight this world will seldom see.
But this was all within the city To Napoleon, with
out the spectacle still more sublime and terrific
When the flames had all obstacles, and had
wrapped everything in their red MANTLE that great city
looked like sea OF rolling fire, swept by tempest that
grove At into vast pillows. Huge domes and towers,
throwing Oft sparks like blazing hrebrands now lowered
hpoge he waves, and now disappeared in their madden
s now, az they broke high their tops, scattering
IT, ap,ay o. hre against the clouds. The heavens