The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-10-08
NAPOLEON'S OLD GUARD.


f many desperate instances of bravery, an immor
taliy in history but their grand crowning ac
was at Waterloo, which has few parallels il
ancient or modern warfare They fought fol
their adored Emperor, and to retrieve thc evi
fortunes otthesday, and they felt as though to d,
50 would secure to them immortal glory aac
eternal bliss in the world Of spirits. The mos
graphic and STIRRING account Of that last fearful
and fatal struggle, that we have seen, IS from
recently published work. II reads like war IL
self this is il
''During the day the artillery of the Guard,
under Drouet, maatained its old renown, and
the Guard itself had been frequently Used 10
restore the battle in various parts of lhe field,
and always with success. The English were fast
becoming exhausted, and in an hour more would
doubtless have been forced into disastrous de-
feat, but for the timely arrival of Blucher.-
But when they saw hm with 600 Russians
approaching, their courage revived, while Ma
po'cou. was filled with anaZelnent. 4 Geaten
enemy about 10 iolm a junction WITH allies
while Gr0uchy, who had been sent 70 Keep in
check, was nowhere TO be seen Alas what
great plans i singh Inefficient commander can
overthrow.
In a moment Napoleon saw that he wongd
not sustain the attack of 50 many fresh troops
II once allowed TO form junction with the
allied iorcrs and he determined T. stake his
. late on bold cast, and cndcayor 10 pierce the
allied centre with a grand chargeof the Old
Guard, and thn5 throw himself between the two
armies. For TINS purpose the Imperial Guard
was called up and divided into two immense
columns, winch were 10 meet in the British
centre. lhosr uudeI Il. lie no sooner etterpd
the fire than it disappeared like mist The
other Was placed under Ney, slhe bravas of
the brave" and the order TO advance giy,n.-
Napoleon accompanied them part Of the way
down the soFa, ana haIling for few moments |
in the hollow, hc addressed them a few words.
He told them that the bIltle rested with
them, and that he relied i" s,rH sur E7j
-, 20 o.7nr 6.lIz SsNl"n = Fi''''.f>u'" 1s9V.' !
the tEundsr 0i artillery.
The whole continued struggle exhibited no
subImyr spectacle than the last effort Of -NaPo-
leon to save his sinking Empire. To greatest
military skill and energy that the woru ever
possessed had been tasked to the utmost during the
dav. Thrones were tottering On the turbulent
field, and the shadows of fugitive kings fitted
through the battle Bonapaie's star trembIed
in its zrnii-Bow blazing out in its ancient spien-
dor. now paling before lis anxious eye. The
intense arNiry uilh which he watched the
advance OF that column, and terrible suspense
he endured when The smoke of the battle wrap
ped il from sight, and the utter DESPAIR OF his
GREAT heart when the curtain lifted over tugI-
/ tive army, and the Gisparing shrek lang out,
"Tht Guard rccoils - '.The Guard lec0iI'
makes us r,l a moment forget all the carnase
in sympathy Tor this wild distress.
The Old Guard felt The pressure oI the i'm
. mtnsr responsibility, and resolved MOTTO prove
unworthy OF the great trust comnittcdto them.
Nothing could be more imposing than is move
ment to the assault 1t had never recalled be-
fore human toe, and the allied forces beheld
/ with awe the firm and steady advancf to tn"
final charge For a moment the batteries stop
/ ped ylaying and firing ceased along the British
; lines as, without the beating OF a dunn or a
I buglr note TO cheer their steady couragr, lhey
. moved ia dead silence over the field. Then
tread was ike mufed thunder, while lhe da2-
zlinu helmets of the cUirasSlers flashed long
streams of light behind the dark ana terrible
/ mass that swept in one strong wave along he
stern Drouet was there amId his guns, on every
brow was written the unalterable resolution TO
! cOuuupT! or die. The next moment the artiiteFy
oprned and the head OF that gallant column
seemed TO sink into the earth. Rank aiirr rank
went down, YET they neither stopped NOT taIter-
ed. DiSsolving Squadrons and whole baItalIonS
disappraring one after another IN the destruc-
tive. ire affected not their steady courage. Inc
ranks cIoscd up as before, and each ieadlne
over his fallen ComIade, pressed unineAih8}
On.
The horse which Ney rode fell under
him, aud sc1rc,ly had he mounted another be-
lore ii also sank 10 the earth, AMI 50 another
and another, ill FIVE in succession had fallen
under him. Then, with his .drawn sabre, h'
marched sernly at the head Of his column ii
t. vain did the artillery hurl It's storm OF IRON IN
. TO that living mass. Up to the very muzzi
they pressed, and driving the artilierymen IRON
lheir pieces pushed on through the Englis
lines. Bot lust as toe victory seemed won,
( al. Of soldiers, who had laid Hat on the ground
y b,hnd a low ridge of eaIIb, suddenly rose an
d rou5ed vollpy in their very face Anothe
r and another followed, ill one broad sheet
flame rolled on their bosoms, and IN sucA
fierce and unexpected flow that they stagSere
/ under il. Before the Guard had time TO rail-
d aran and advance, heavy column of iniantr
II fell on its lett flank in close and deadly volity
causing it, in an unsettled state to s"el'
70 the right At that instant a whole bliGat
- Of cavalry thundred on the right HANK al
'e penetrated where cavalry had never gone b'
n fore.
,e That intrepid Guard could have borne up
II cainst the unexpected fire from soldiers N.
did not see, and would have rolled back II
infantry that had boldly charged It's ieit Han
re but the cavalry finished the disorder into "hi'
)n they had been momentaFy thrown, and bfo