Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-16


in "Salathiel, of the conhagration of Rome
Headley's descriptive powers have rarely,
if ever, been surpassed.
"At 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 for
ward and entered the gates with his splen-
did cavalry, but as he passed through the
streets he was struck with the solitude that
surrounded him. Nothing was heard bat
the heavy tramp OF his squadron as he
passed along, for deserted and abandoned
city was the mcagre prize. for which such
unparalleled 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 alb
stain 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-tpping with silver the domes Of
more than two hundred churches, and pour
ing food Of light over a thousand pala-
ccs, 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 va
riegated palaces and their rich ornaments,
nor the parks and gardens and oriental
magnifcence that everywhere surrounded
him kepthm wakcful; but the ominous fore
boding that some dire calamity was hang
ing over the silent capital. When he en-
tered ii, scarce a living soul met his gaze as
he looked down the long streets; and, when
he broke open the buildings, he found par
louls, and bedrooms and chambers, all
furnished and in order;-but no occupants.
The sudden abandonment Of their homes
bctokened some secret purpose yet to be
fulfilled. The midnight moon was sailing
over the city when the cry of f''fire!" reach
ed the ears of Morticr:-and the first light
over Napoleon's falling empire was kin
died, and that most wondrous scene of
modern times commemorative burning Of
Moscow.
"Mortier as governor of the city, immc-
diately issued his orders and was putting
forth every exertion, when at daylight Ma
poleon hastened to him. Affecting to dis
believe 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 hous-
cs that had not yet been opened, from eve
ry crevice of which smoke was issuing
like steam from the sides Of pent up vol
cano. Sad and thoughtful, Napoleon turn
ed towards the Krcmlin, the ancient palace
of the Czars, whose huge structure rose
high above the surrounding cdiiccs.
"ln the morning Morter, by great exer-
lions was enabled to subdue the fire The
next night, Sept. Is, at midnight the senti-
ncls on watch upon the lofty kremlin, saw
below them the flames bursting through
the houses and palaces, and the cry Of
''fire! fire! firel" passed through the city
The dread scene had now fairly opened.
Fiery balloons were seen dropping from
the air and lightning upon the houses
dull explosions We're heard on every side,
from the shut dwellings,, and the next mo-
ment bright light bursts forth, and the
Hames were raging through the apart
ments. All was uproar and confusion.-
The serene air, and moonlight ofthe night
before had given way to driving clouds
and wild tempcsts, 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 incessant shower, went driving to-
wards the Kremlin. The clouds them
selves seemed turned into fire, rolling in
wrath over devoted Moscow. Mortier,
crushed with responsibility thus thrown
upon his shoulders, moved with his Young
Guard amid this desola;ion, blowing up the
houses and facing the tempest and the
hames--struggling nobly to arrestthc con-
hagration.
He FASTENED from place to place amid
the blazing ruins, his face blackened with
smoke, and his hair and eye brows singcd
with the fierce heat At length the day
dawncd, day oftempcst and flame, and
Morticr who had strained every nerve for
thirty-six hours, entered palace and
dropped from fatigue. The manly form
and stalwart arm that SO 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
tempests, and when night again enveloped
the city, it was one broad flame waving to
and fro in the blast. The wind had in
creased to perfect hurricane and shifted
from quarter to quarter as if on purpose
to swell the sea of fire, and cxtinguish the
last hope. The fire was approaching the
kremlin, and already the roar of the flames
and the crash Of the falling houses, and the
cracking Of burning timbcrs were borne
to the ears of the startled Emperor. He
arose and walked to and fro, stopping con
vulsivcly and gazing on the terrific scene.
Murat, Eugene and Berihier, rushed into
his presence, and on their knees besought
him to fee, but he still hung to that haugh-
ty palace as if it were his empire.
"But at length the shout, ''the Kremlin
is on ire!" was heard above the roar of the
confae erliion and Napoleon reluctantly ycon-
sented to leave. Hedescended to the street
with his staff, and looked about for a way
of cgrcss, but the flames blockaded every
passage. At length they discovered pos
tern gate leading to the Moskwa, and en-.
tered it, but they had only entered still far
the- into the danger As Napoleon cast
his eyes around the open space, girded and
archcd with fire, smoke and cinders, he
saw one single street yet open, but all on
fire. Into this he rushed, and amid the
crash offalling houses, and raging of the
fames-over burning ruins, through clouds
of rolling smoke, and between walls offire
he pressed on, and at length, half sufioca-
ted, emerged in safety in the imperial pal
ace of Petrowsky nearly three miles dis
tant Mortier relieved Of his anxiety for
the emperor redoubled his efforts to arrest
u. n. Il. II.