Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-06-30
BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS.
BY JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.

Cairo is on the Eastern Banks of the Nile
Mourad Bey had there assembled the greater
part of his enthusiastically ten thousand in
number-for decisive battle. These proud
and powerful horsemen were supported by
twenty-four thousand soldiers, strongly entren-
ched. Napoleon was marching along the western
shore.
On the 2lst of July, conscious that he was
near the city, Napoleon set his army in motion
before the break of dav. Just as the sun was
rising in those cloudless skies, the soldiers be-
held The lofty minarets of the city upon the left,
gilded by its rays; and upon the right, upon
the borders of the desert, the gigantic Pyramids,
rising like mountains upon an apparently bound
less plain. The whole army instinctively halt
ed, and gazed with awe upon those monuments
of antiquity.
The face of Napoleon beamed with enthusi-
asm.
"Solders!" !" he exclaimed, as he rode along
the ranks, " from those SUBMITS forty centuries
contemplate your actions"
The ardor of the soldiers was aroused to the
highest pitch. Animated by the clangor of mar
tial bands, and the gleam of Haunting banners,
they advanced with impetuous steps to meet
their foes. The whole plain before them-at
the base of the Pyramids-was filled with arm
ed men. Glittering weapons of ten thousand
horsemen, in the utmost splendor Of barbaric
chivalry, brilliant plumes, the arms of FURNISHED
steel and gold, presented an array equally impo-
sing. Undismayed, the French troops marshal
ed into five invincible squares, marched on.-
There was apparently, no alternative.
Napoleon must march upon these entrench-
ments, behind which twenty four thousand men
were stationed, with artillery and musketry, to
sweep his ranks, and formidable body of ten
thousand horsemen, on feet and powerful Ara
ban steeds, awaiting the onset and ready to
seize the slightest indication of confusion, to
plunge with all the fury which fatalism can in
spire upon his bleeding and mangled squares.-
1t must have been a moment ofintense anxiety.
But as Napoleon sat upon his horse, in the CEN
trc of one of the squares, and carefully exam
ined with his telescope the disposition of the en-
emy, no one could discern the slightest trace Of
uneasiness. His grave gaze was long and in
tense.
The keenness of scrutiny detected that the
guns of the enemy were not mounted upon car
riages, and they could not, therefore, be turned
from the direction in which they were placed
No other officer, although many of them had
equally good glasses, made this important dis
covery. He Immediately, by lateral move
ment, guided his army to the right, towards the
Pyramids, that his squares might be out of the
range of the guns, and that he might attack the
enemy in the flank. The moment Mourad Bey
perceived this evolution, he OWNED its object, and
with great military sagacity; resolved instantly
to charge.
"You shall now see us" said the proud Bey,
"cut up those dogs like gourds!"
1t was indeed fearful spectacle. Ten thou
sand horsemen magni6cently dressed, with the
feetest steeds in the world, urging their horses
with bloody spurs to the onset, rendng the
heavens with their cries, and causing the earth
to tremble beneath the thunder of iron feet
came down upon the adamantine host. Moth.