The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-07-03
MIST IL A I / D Us.
A THRILLING SKETCH.
NAPOLEON AT MOSCOW.


We subjoin from Headlcy' mork-s Napoleon
and his Marshals"-a brilliant account of the
burning of Moscow, which is well spoken of in
the American Wing Review as superior even
to Crolys picture in ssSalathiel' of the confa-
grafton of Rome Headley's descriptive powers
have rarely if ever been surpassed
cat length Moscow, with its domes, and
towers, and palaces, appeared in sight, and
Napoleon, who had joined the advanced guard,
gazed long and thoughtfully on that goal of his
wishes. Murat went forward and entered the
gates with his splendid cavalry, but as he passed
through the streets he was struck with the
solitude that surrounded him Nothing was
heard but the heavy tramp of his squadron as
he passed along, for deserted and abandoned
city was the meagre prize for which such un-
paralleled efforts had been made AS night
drew its curtain over the splendid capital,
Napoleon entered the gates, and Immediately
appointed Mortier governor. In his directions,
he commanded him to abstain from all pillage.
For this said he, 'you shall be answerable
with your life. Defend Moscow against all,
whether friend or foe'
''The bright moon rose over the mighty city,
tipping with silver the domes of more than two
hundred churches, and pouring flood of light
| over thousand palaces and the dwellings of
three hundred thousand inhabitants. The weary
army sunk to rest; but there was no sleep to
Mortier's eyes. Not the gorgeous and variega-
| ted places and their rich ornaments, nor the
parks and gardens and oriental magnifcence
that every where surrounded him, kept him
wakeful, but the ominous foreboding that some
dire calamity was hanging over the silent capi-
tai. When he entered it, scarce living soul
met his gaze as he looked down the long streets;
and when he broke open the buildings he found
parlors, and bedrooms, and chambers all furn-
ished and in ORDER but no occupants. The
sudden abandonment of their homes betokened
some secret purpose yet to be fulfilled. The
midnight moon was sailing over the city, when
the cry of fire reached the ears of Mortier; and
| the first light over Napoleon's fallen empire was
kindled, and that most wondrous scene in mod
ern times commemorative burning of Moscow
'tMortier, as governor of the city, immediate
| ly issued his orders, and was putting forth eve
ry exertion, when at daylight Napoleon hasten
ed to him. Affecting to disbeleve the reports
that the inhabitants were firing their own city,
/ he put more rigid commands ON Mortier to keep
| the soldiers from the work of destruction. The
Marshal simply pointed to some iron-covered
houses that had not yet been opened, from eve
ry crevice of which smoke was issuing like steam
from the sides of pent-up volcano. Sad and
thoughtful, Napoleon turned towards the Krem-
lin, the ancient palace of the Cars, whose huge
structure rose high above the surrounding edi-
| fees.
'1n the evening, Mortier, by great exertions,
was enabled to subdue the fire. The next night
I September 15) at midnight, the sentinels on
watch upon the lofty Kremlin saw below them
| the flames bursting through the houses and
palaces, and the cry of fire, fire, fire. passed
| through the city. The dread scene had now
| fairly opened. Fiery balloons were seen 0Up-
ping from the air and lighting upon the houses;
dull explosions were heard on every side from
the shut dwellings, and the next moment a
bright light burst forth, and the flames were
raging through the apartments. All was uproar
and confusion. The serene air and ght
of the night before, had given way to driving
clouds and wild tempests, that swept with the
roar of the sea over the city. Flames arose on
every side, blazing and cracking in the storm
while clouds of smoke and sparks, in an inces
SAINT shower, went driving towards the Kremlin
The clouds themselves seemed turned into fire,
rolling in wrath over devoted Moscow. Mortier
crushed with responsibility thus thrown upon
his shoulders, moved his Young Guard amid
this desolation, blowing up the houses and ia
cling the tempest and the flames-strugglinf
nobly to arrest the confagration.
''He fastened from place to place amid the
blazing ruins, his face blackened with smoke
and his hair and eyebrows singed with thu
fierce heat. AT length the day dawned, day
of tempest and flame, and Mortier, who hao
strained every nerve for thirty-six hours, en-
tered palace and dropped from fatigue -Th,
manly form and stalwart arm that so often car
ried death into the ranks of the enemy at length
gave way, and the gloomy Marshal lay ant
painted In utter exhaustion. But the night o
tempest had been succeeded by broad fame
waving to and fro in the blast The wind ha
increased to perfect hurricane, and shiftc
from quarter to quarter as if on purpose t
swell the sea of fire, and extinguish the las
hope. The fire was approaching the Kremlin
and already the of the flames and tn
crash of the falling houses, and the crackln