Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-10-09
BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS.
BY JOHN ;. c. ABBOTT.

Cairo is on the eastern banks OF the
Nile. Mourad Bey had there assem-
bled the greater part Of the Mamelukes,
nearly ten thousand in number, for de-
cisive battle. The proud and powerful
horsemen were supported by twenty-four
thousand foot soldiers, strongly enrench-
ed. Napoleon was marching along the
western shore. On the 2Ist Of July, /
Napoleon, conscious that he was near the /
city. set his army in motion before the
break of day. 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 noun
tains upon an apparently boundless plain.
The whole amy instinctively halted, and
sazed awe-stricken upon those monu-
ments of antiquity.
The face Of Napoleon beamed with
enthusiasm. Soldiers" he exclaimed,
as he rode along the ranks - from these
SUBMITS forty centuries contemplate your
actions" The ardor of the soldiers was
aroused to the highest pitch. Animated
by the clangor of martiaIs, bands and
the CLEAN of Haunting banners, they adj
vauced with impetuous steps to meet
their foes. The whole plain before them,
at the base Of the pyramids, was filed
with armed men. The glittering weap-
ons Of ten thousand horsemen, in the
utmost splendor Of barbaric chivalry,
brilliant pIumes, the arms Of Furnished
steel and gold, presented an array equal
IIy imposing. Undismayed, the French
troops. marsLal!ed into FIVE invincible
IS squares, marched or. There was ap-
parcndy no alternative.
Napoleon must march upon these en-
trenchments behind which twenty-four
n thousand men were stationed with their
artillery and musketry to sweep bis
ranks, and a formidable body of ten
lie thousand horsemen, ON feet and power
full Arabian steeds, awaiting the onset
u and ready to seize upon the slightest in
dication Of confusion, to plunge with al
the fury which. fataIiSm can inspire upor
his manglcd and bleeding squares. 1
" must have been a moment OF intense anx
iety. Bat as Napoleon sat upon hi.
horse, in the centre of one of the squares
and carefully examined with his teles
cope the disposition of the enemy, Nc
one could discern the slightest trace of IN
err easiness. His grave gaze was long anl
intense.
Ivy The keenness of his scrutiny detecte,
that the enemy's guns were not mouute,
upon carriages, and they could not, there
fore, he turned from the direction il
which they were placed. No other off
Ger, though many of them had equal
good glasses, made this important dis
covery. He Immediately, by latera
movement guided his army to the RICH
towards the pyramids, that this square
me might be oug Of the range Of the gun.
and that he might attack the enemy
the flank. The moment Mourad BE
perceived this movement. he OWNED i
object, and with great military sagacit,
resolved instantly to charge.
You shall now see Us, said Il
proud Bey, cut up these dogs Ill
gourds."
It was indeed a fearful spectacle. Tt
thousand horsemen, magnifcently Dire
Ito sed with the feetest steeds in the worl
urging their horses with bloody spurs
ii. the onset, rending the heavens with the
cries, and causing the earth to tremb
beneath the thunder of iron feet. can
down upon the adamantine host. Nothil
was ever seen in war more furious tn,
this charge. Ten thousand horsemen
an enormous mass. Those longest int
ed to danger felt that ii was an awful n
ment, 1t seemed impossible to resi-
such an avalanche. The most profou
silence reigned through the ranks, int
rupted only by the world of commar
The nerves of excitement being rous
TO the highest tension, every order W
executed with the most marvellous rapi
ity and precision. The soldiers be
their breath, and with bristling bayont
stood shoulder to shoulder to receive +
shock.
The moment the Mamelukes arriv
within gun shot, the artillery of the 6
giles ploughed their ranks, and platoc
of musketry, volley after yolley, in a p,
tectly uninterrupted flow, swept into tn
faces pitiless tempest Of destruction.
Horses and riders, struck by balls, roll
over each other by hundreds in the sa
i