Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-06-14
From Harper's Magazine.
Thrilling Sketch----Battle of the
Pyramids.
BY JOHN 9. C. ABBOTT.

Cairo 10 on the Eastern Bank of the
Nile-Mourade Bey had there assembled
the greater part OF Mamelukes, nearly ten
Thousand in number for decisive battle.
These proud and powerful horsemen were
supported by twen.y.four thousand fool
soldiers, strongly entrenched. Napoleon
was marching along the western SHORE
On the 2lst Of July, Napoleon conscious
that ne Was near the city, set his army in
motion before the break Of day. Just as
the sun was rising in those cIoudless skies,
The soldiers, behold the lofty m,nare.s Of
The city, upon the left, glIded by its rays.
and upon The right. upon the borders OF The
desert. gigantic pyramids rising like noun
tains upon an, apparently boundless plain.
The whole army iastfnctively halted, -and
gazed awe'stricken upon those monuments
Of antiquity. ..sz3-ei,- -,---.- ~ .57-..--
The lace Of Napoleon beamed with on.
thuslasln, Soldiers, he exclaimed, as he
rode along the ranks: from those SUBMITS
lorty. Centuries contemplate our actions
The ardor Of the soldiers was aroused to
the highest pitch. Anima.ed by theclang
or OF martial bands, and the gieam of flaunt.
ing banners, they advanced with impe,u-
JUS steps 10 meet their foes. The whole
plain before them at the base Of the pyra-
mlds was filled with armed men. The
glltterlng weapons often thousand horse.
men, in the utmost splendor Of barbaric
cnIvairy, brilliant plumes, the arms of bur>
pisheo steel and gold, presented an array
equally imposing. Undismay ed, The French
hoops, marshaIled into five invlncble
squres, marched on. There was appa.
rently no alternative.
Napoleon must march upon these in
treLchmenls behind which,twenty. .iour thou
sand men were stationed with their artilIe>
ry and muskelry TO sweep his ranks, and
iorn'Idable body Of borsemen, on fleet
ana powerful Arabian steeds, awaiting the
onset and read to seize upon the slighles,
Indication Of confusion, 10 plunge with all
The fury which iatallsun can inspire upon
his bleeding and mangled squares. Ii
must. have been moment of intense anx
iety. But as Napoleon sal upon his horse,
III the center OF ore Of the squares. ano
carefully examined with his telescope the
disposition oil the enemy, no one could dis
cern The slightest truce Of uneasiness. His
grave gaze was long and intense.
lhe keenness OF scrutiny detected that
the guns OF the enemy were not mounted
upon carriages, and they could not. there
ture, be turned from the direction il which
they were placed. No other officer. tho
MANY OF Them had equally g'od glasses,
made this important discovery He imme-
dlalely, by lateral movement, guided his
army 10 the right. towards the pyramids,
thai his squares might be opt Of the range
ot The guns and that he might attack the
enemy IN the flank. The moment Mourad
Bey perceived his evolutions, he divided
lis object, aud with grea! military sagacity,
resolved instantly to charge. -s
you shall now see u.s. said the proud
Bey, 'cul up those dogs like gourds.'
/. was indeed fearful spectacle. Ten
thousand borsemen, magnifcentlv dressed,
with the feetesi steeds in the world, Hteipg
their horses with bondy spurs TO the onset,
rendIng the heavens with thir cries, and
causing the earth to tremble beneath the
thunder Of iron feet, came down upon the
adnauline host. No,bing was ever seen
Ill W u IHiS
Zen thousand horsemen in an enormous
mass. Those longest Injured to danger
felt that it was an awful moment. 1t
seemed impossible to resist such nn ava
Ianche. The mos. profound silence reigned
through the ranks, interrupted only by the
word OF command. The nerves Of excite
meht being aroused to the utmost tension
every order was executed with the mos.
marvellous rapidi,y and precision. The
soldiers held their breath, and with bris,.
ling bayoneis stood shoulder to shoulder to
receive the shock.
The moment the Mamslnkes arrived.
within gan shot, The artillery Of the angles
ploughed their ranks. and platoons of mus
kerry, volley aftes volley, in perfect un'