Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-05-19
WHOLE NO. as.
IaIPERIAI GuARD OF NApoIro,

IMPERIAL GUARD OF NAPOLEoN.
The Old Guard felt the pressure of
immense responsibility, and resolved not
to prove unworthy Of the great trust COM
mitted 10 its care. Nothing could be
more imposing than its movements to the
assault. It had never recoiled before 4
human foe, and the allied forces beheld
with awe, its fine and steady advance az
the hnal charge. For 4 moment the bat.
teries stopped playing and the firing eeas-
90 along the British line. as, without the
neaang OF q drum or abugie note 10 cheer
tnelE steady courage, they moved in dead
silence over the held. Their tread was
IKE the sound Of muiiled thunder. while
the dazzling helmets OF tho euirassiers
flashed long streams behind the dark and
terrible mass that swept in one strong
wave along. The stern Droyut was there
amid his guns, and on every brow Was
written the unalterable resolution 10 con.
quer or die. The next moment the arlil.
lery opened, and the head Of the gallan.
column seemed TO sink in the earth. Rank
alter rank went down; but thew neither
stopped nor faltered, Diss0lving SQUAD.
rons and whole battalions disappeared,
one after another in the destructive Gre,
Affected not their steady courage Their
ranks closed up as before, and each tread
ing over his fallen oomrade, pressed un.
flinchingly on. lN
The horse which Ney rode fsll under
him. and scarcely had he mounted anoth.
er before Il sunk 70 the earth, and 50 an
other and another, all Eve In succession
had been.s shot under him then with bis
drawn sabre, he marched along at the.
bead OF his column. In vain did the af.
illery huTl its storm Of Gre and lead into
that living mass. Up TO the very muEElas
they pressed, and, driving the artillery
men from their pieces, pushed on through.
the English lines. But Just as the yicio.
ry seemed won, filc Of soldiers, who had
laid fiat on the ground behind low ridge
of earth suddenly rose and poured
volley in their very faces. Another and
another followed till ono broad sheetof
flame rolled on their bosoms, and in such
! a fierce and unexpected how that they
staggered back before it. m aaa
Before the guard had time to rally again
and advance, a heavy column OF infantry
fell on its left flank in close and deadly
Ydlleys, causing il in It's unsettled stRte'to
swerye to the right at thatinstant whole
brigade Of cavalry Numbered on its right
flank, and penetrated where cavalry had
never gone before. The intrepid Guard
could have borne up against the unOK-
pected fire from soldiers they did not see,
and would also have rolled back. tho In.
fantry that had boldly charged its lefl
flank, but the cavalry finished Inc disorder
into which they had been rnomentarily
thrown, and broke the shaken ranks be.
fore they had time to reform, and the eA.
| giles OF that hitherto invincible Guard wero
pushed backward down tho slope,
1t was then that the army, seized with
despair, shrisked out, +" TIE Guards ~.
COLI The Guards TseoiiP and turned
and Aed in wild dismay, To SEQ the
Guard in confusion was a sight they had
never before beheld. and Il froEe every
heart with terror. Still these veterans
refused to dy. Rallying from their disor.
der, they formed into two immense
squares of eight bAltalions, and turned
! fcreely on the enemy and nohiy atrOye
TO stem tue reversed lido OF fbalila. For
long time they stood and let tho cannon
balls plough through the ranks, disdain.
ing TO turn ui0ir backs TO the foe, ,,sstf
Michel At the head OF those brave bat.
taliOns fought like lion. ToeYery c0ua-
mand OF the enemy to snrrender, he 10.
piled, The Guard dies--it neter spyysH.
dgS /" and with his last breath bequsath.
ling this glorious motto 70 the Guard, be
fell witness 10 lis truth. Death trAVcr.
scd those eight battaliops with such afap.
it fooislep that they soon dwindicd 70 two.
which turned in hopeless daring on tho
foYsrRhe helming numbers that preGsod thoiF
retiring fOOtstepS. Last of all but single
battalion, the dnbris of the "eolnmn OF
granite" at MArcng0-WAs left, Into
this Napoleon hnng himself Cambr0ney
I its brave commander saW with terror tho
Emperor in its frail keeping, he was nos
struggling for victory he was infant only
on showing how the Guard should de-
ApPrOaehing tho Empsror, he cried opt,
Rsfirel D0 g9u aot %: net deqt1 e, 70
need Of yOa3" And closing monrnfnliy.
yet sternly around their expiring eagles,
thOte brave hearts badc Napoleon an eler'
nal adieu, and, Ginging themselves on Tho
snemy, we're soon piled with tbe dead as
their feet, 5,ss..4si sslL
Many Of the officers were seen % des.
troy themselves rather than suryiye doc
feat, Thus, greater IN its only dslsai
Than any other corps Of men IN gaining
victory, the old Guard passed from tho
siage. and the curtain dropped upon fts
strange career. Il had Tough. ~ last
battle, ~. - .f...s,... ...i,.-. -, -
30 one can contemplate this iermina.
ton Ofits history WiilIout tbe proipundcst
emotion. The greatness and grandeur %
is deeds, and the grandeur ofitf clafac-
Ter, endear Il 70 AZ rho ioYe heroic seton
and noble aehieYemelis: and a ene runs
back IN Imagination over ~ terrible cam