Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-06-30


charge. Those longest Injured to danger felt
that it was an awful moment 1t seemed i'm
possible to resist such an avalanche, The most
profound silence reigned through the ranks, in
terrupted only by the word of command. The
nerves of excitement being aroused to the ut
most tension, every order was executed with the
most marvellous rapidity and precision. The
soldiers held their BREATH and, with bristling bay
onets stood shoulder to shoulder to receive the
shock.
The moment the Mameukes arrived within
gunshot the artillery at the angles ploughed
their ranks, and platoons of musketry, volley af-
ter voley in perfectly uninterrupted flow,
swept into their faces pitiless tempest of de-
struction. Horses and riders, struck by balls,
rolled over each other by hundreds in the sand,
and were tramped and crushed by the iron
hoofs of thousands of frantic steeds, enveloped
| in dust and smoke. But the squares stood as
| firm as the Pyramids at whose base they fought.
Not one was broken, not one wavered. The dar-
| ing Mamelukes in the frenzy of their rage and
disappointment, threw away their lives with the
utmost reck essness.
They wheeled their horses round, and reined
them back upon the ranks, that they might kick
their way into the fortress of living men. Rem
dered furious by their inability to break the
ranks, they hurled their pistols and carbines at
the head of the French. The wounded crawled
along the ground, and cut the legs of their in
domitable foes. They displayed superhuman
bravery, the only virtue which the Mamelukes
possessed.
But en- incessant and merciless fire from Ma
poleon's wel-trained battaions continually
thinned their ranks, and at length the Mamelukes,
| in the widest disorder broke and fled. The
infantry in the entrenched camp, witnessing the
utter discontinue of the mounted troops,
whom they had considered invincble, caught
the panic and joined the flight. Napoleon now,
in his turn charged with the utmost mpetuosi-
| ty. A scene of indescribable confusion and hor-
ror ensued.
The extended plain was covered with fugi-
tives-footmen and horsemen-bewildered with
terror, seeking to escape from their terrible
foes. Thousands plunged into the river, and en-
deavored to escape by swimming to the oppo-
site shore. But shower of bullets, like hail
stones, fell upon them, and the waves of the
Nile were crimson with blood. Others sought
the desert, a wild and rabble rout. The VIC
tors with their accustomed celebrity, pursued pit
tilessly pouring into the dense masses of :heir
flying foes the most terrible discharges of artil-
lery and musketry The route was complete
the carnage awful The sun had hardly reach
ed the meridian, before the whole embattled
host had disappeared, and the plain as far as the
eye could extend, was strewn with the dead and
dying.
The camp with all its Oriental wealth. fell in
to the hands of the victors; and the soldiers en-
riched themselves with its profusion of splendid
shawls, magnificent weapons, Arabian horses,
and purses filled with gold. The Mamelukes
were accustomed to lavish great wealth in the
decoration of their persons, and to carry with
them large sums of money. The gold and the
rappings found upon the body of each Name
luke were worth from twelve hundred to two
thousand dollars. Besides those who were slain
upon the field, more than thousand Of these
formidable horsemen were drowned in the Nile.
For many days the soldiers employed them
selves in fishing up the rich booty, and the
French camp was filled to abundance. This
most sanguinary battle cost the French scarcely
one hundred men in killed and wounded. More
than ten thousand of the enemy pershed. Ma
poleon gazed with admiration upon the bravery
which those proud horsemen displayed. "Could
have united the Mameuke horsemen TO the
French infantry" said he," | should have reckon
ed myself master Of the world"
After the battle, Napoleon, now undisputed
conqueror VI GSyPl, quarIeieu hihoeli ioI tho
night in the country palace of Mourad Bey. The
apartments of this voluptuous abode were en-
bellished with all the appurtenances of Oriental
luxury. The officers were struck with surprise
in viewing the multitude of cushions and divans
covered with the finest damasks and silks, and
ornamented with golden fringe Egypt was
beggared to administerto to the sensual indulgence
of these naughty despots. Much Of the night
was passed in exploring the singular mansion.
The graden was extensive and magnificent in the
extreme. Innumerable vines were laded with
the richest grapes.
The vintage was soon gathered by the thou
sands of soldiers who filled the alleys and lott
cred in the arbors. Pots of preserves, of confec-
tionery and of sweetmeats of every kind, were
quickly devoured by an army of mouths. The
thousands of little elegances which Asia, Afri-
ca, and Europe had contributed to minister to
the voluptuous splendor of the regal mansion,
were speedily transferred to the knapsacks of
the soldiers.
"The Battle of the Pyramids Napoleon
Enthusiastically designated it-sent thrill of
terror, far and wide, into the interior of Asia and
Africa. These proud, merciless, licentious op-
pressors, were execrated by the timid Egyptians,
but they were deemed invincibe. In one hour
they had vanished like the mist, before the gen.
ius of Napoleon