Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-06-23


reserve into the engagement at this early stage
OF the battlle-but there was no other resource
'eh him. Murat sustained his high reputation on
ths occasion, and proved himself for the hun
dredth time worthy Of the great confidence Ma
poleon placed in him. Nothing could be more
Imposing than the battle field at this moment
Bonaparte and the Empire trembled in the bal
ance, while Murat prepared to lead. down his
cavalry to save them. Seventy squadrons, maxi
ing in all $4,000 we'll mounted men, begun to
move over tn" slope, with the Old Guard moving
sternly behind; Bonaparte, it is said, was more
agltated at this crisis than when, moment he
fore, he was so near being captured by the Rus
SLAMS. But as ne saw those seventy squadrons
come down on trot, pressing hard after the
white plume Of Murat, that streamed through
the snow storm far in front, smile passed over
his countenance.
Ffe enri', gsss.'sc, a'rd trsssx as they pass-
ed, and the thousands of glitierng helmets and
flashing sabres above the dark and ngry mass
below, looked like the foam of sea wave as it
crcsts on the deep. The rafting of their armor
and muffied thunder Of their tread drowned all
the roar of battle, and with firm, set array, and
swift, steady motion, they bore down with their
terrible front on the foe. The shock of that im-
mense host was like falling mountain, aud the
front line of the Russian army went down like
frost work before it. Then commenced pro-
tracted fight of hand to hand and sword to sword,
as in cavalry action at Eckmuhl. The crashing
of steel was like the ringing of countless ham.
mcrs, and horses and riders were blended in
wild confusion together. The Russian reserve
were ordered up, and on those Murat fell with
his fierce horsemen, and crushing aud trampling
them down by thousands. But the obstinate
Russians disdained 10 ay, and rallied again and
aeaiu, so that it was no longer cavalry charging
on the nfntry, but squadrons of horses gallop-
ing through broken host, that gathering into
knots, still disputed with unparalleled bravery
the red and rent field.
1t was during this strange fight that Murat
was seen to perform one of those desperate deeds
for which he was renowned. Excl Ted 10 the
highest pitch Of passion by the obstacles which
opposed him, he seemed endowed with ten fold
strength and looked more like superhuman be.
ing treadng down helpless mortals, than an or
dnary man. Amid the roar Of artillery and rat
tie of musketry and falling of sabre-slrokes like
lightning about him, that lofty white plume new
er once went down, while ever and anon it wa'
seen glancing through the smoke o. battle the
star OF hope TO Napoleon, and showing that hit
"risht arm" was still upIifted and striking fo'
victory. lie ragged like an unloosed lion amid
the foe; and his eye, always terrible in battle,
burned with increased ustre, while his clea
and steady voice, heard above the iumult OF tb'
strife was worth more than thousand trnmpets
Ito cl.eet OH his followe.s. Al !cnsti. seeing a
knot of Russian soldiers that, for long time
had kept upa devouring fire on his men, ht
wheeled his horse and drove IN tu gallop upon
their leveed muskets. A few OF his guard
that never allowed that white plume to leave
their sight, charged after. Without waiting tt
count his foes, he seized the birdie in hs teetf
aud with pistol in one hand and his drawn
sword in the other, burst in headlong fury upor
them, and scattered them as if hurricane had
swept by.
Though the cavelry were at length compelled
TO retire, the Russian had received a check tha
alone saved the day Previously, without bring
ing up their reserve, they were advancing owe
the field, but now they were glad to cease thu
combat and wait for further reinforcement unde
Lestocq, before they renewed the battle. hav
spoken of the progress of the fight during th'
day in another place. Prodigles of valor wer'
performed on all sides, and men slain by tens O
thousands, till night at length closed the awfn
scene and the Russians began to retire from th
field.
Such was the battle of Eylau, fought in th
midst of piercing snow storm. Murat was
thunderbolt on that day. and the deeds that wer'
wrought by hlm will ever furnish themes for tn
poet and the painter But let the enthusiastic
90 over the scene on the morning after the bat
tle If he would find cure for his love OF glory
Fifty-two thousand men lay piled across eacf
other in the short space of six miles, while the
snow giving back the stain of blood made the
field look like great slaughter house. The
fross of wintry morning were all unheeded il
the burning fever of ghasty wounds, and the ali
was loaded with cries Tor help, and groans and
blasphemies and cursngs. Six thousand horses
lay amid the slain, some stiff and cold in death
others rendering the scene still more appalling II
their vast winding sheet of snow. Foeman hat
fallen across each other as they fought, and lay
like brothers clasped in the last embrace whil'
dismembered and disembowled eorpses wer,
scattered thick as autumn leaves over the field
Every form of wound, and every modification
Of wo, we're here visible No modern war ha,
heretofore exhibited such carnage, and wher
Murat's cavalry had charged, there the slair
lay thickest. Two days after the battle 500
wounded Russians lay on the frozen field, ,wher
they had dragged out the weary nights and day
in pain. The dead were still unburied, an
lay amid wrecks of cannons, and munltIon wag
ons, and bullets, and howitzers-whole line
bad sunk where they stood, while epauetts an
neglected sabres, and muskets without owners
were strewd on overy side, and thrown into stl
more terrible relief by the white ground OF sno'
over which they lay. Said Napoleon, in hi
bulletin home, after describing the dreadful ar
pearance the field presented" The sPectacl
is sufficient to inspire princes with the love {
peace and horror of war;"
BITE OF MAD DoGs.-An English journa
SAYS that an old Saxon has been using, for fft
-