Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-31
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY MORNING. OCTOBER u. 1859.

mcli>e TtSpOH>iDiht., anu ieS'i''" 80
prove unworthy of the great trust committed
TO il. Nothing could be more imposing than
its movement TO the assault. IL had never
recoled before II human foe, and the allied
forces beheld with awe It's firm and steady
advance To the final charge. For moment
the batteries stopped playing ana the lrihg
ceased along the British lines, a. without
the beating If Il drum or Il buglc note tochecr
their steady courage, they moved III dread
silence over the field. Their tread was like
mutfied thunder, while the dazzling helmets
Of the curassiers flashed long streams OF light
upon the dark and terrible mass that swept
in one strong wave along. Stern Drouet was
there amid his guns and on every brow was
written the unalterable resolution to conquer
or die. The next moment the artillery open
ed and the head of that gallant column
seemed to sink in the earth. Rank after
rank went down, yet they neither stopped
nor faltered Dissolving squadrons and
whole battalions disappearlngonc after ano-
ther in the destructive fire, affected not their
steady courage. The ranks closed NJ rs be-
fore, and each treading over his fallen COM
radc, pressed untiinchingly on.
1.-The horse which Ncy rode sank under
him, and scarcely had he mounted another
before it also sank 10 the earth, ana SO
another another till five in succession
had been shot under him. Then with his
drawn sabre, be marched sternly at the head
ofbis column. In vain did the artillery hurl
its storm of iron into that living mass
Up to the very muzzles they pressed, and
driving the artillery men from their pieces,
pushed on through the English lines. But
Just IA the victory seemed Won HE OF
soldiers who laid fiat on the ground, behind a
ridge Of earth suddenly rose and poured
yolcy into their very faces. Another and
another followed, till one broad sheet OF
flame rolled on their bosoms, and IN such
fierce and unexpected flow that they stagSer-
ed before il. Before the Guard had time TO
rally again and advance, 4 heavy column OF
infantry fell on its left flank in close and
deadly volleys, causing it, in its unsettled
state, to swerve to the right. AT that instant
a whole brigade of cavalry Numbered on the
right flank, and penetrated where the cavalry
had never gone before.
That intrepid Guard could have borne up
against the unexpected fire from soldiers
they did not see, and would have rolled back
the infantry that had boldly charged its lett
flank, but the cavalry had finished the disorder
into which they had been momentarily thrown,
and broke the shaken ranks before they had
time TO reform, and the eagles OF that hitherto
inyincible Guard were pushed backward down
the slope. 1t was then the army, seized
with despair, shrieked out, 1.-The Guard re-
coilsl" and turned and fed in wild dismay.-
To see the Guard in confusion was sight
they had never before beheld, and 1t froze
every breast with terror.
For long time they stood and let the
cannon balls pass through their ranks, DIS
daining to turn their backs on the foe
Michel, at the head of those battalions fought
like lion. To every command OF the enc
nv to surrender, he replied-'Fhe Guard
dies-but never surrenders; and with his
last breath bequeathng this glorious motto
TO the Guard, he fell witness to It's TRUTH
Death traversed those eight battalions with
such rapid footsteps that they soon dwindled
away to two, which turned with hopeless dar-
ing on the overwhelming number that pressed
their retiring footsteps.
Last Of all but single battalion, the deb
ris of the column of granite at Marengo, was
left. Into this Napoleon flung himself
Cambronne, its brave commander, saw with
terror the Emperor in its lrail keeping. lie
was not struggling for victory. ne was IN,
tent only on showing how the Guard should
die. Approaching the Emperor. he cried out
Retire! Do YOU not see that death has no
need of your" and closing mourniully yet
sternly round the expiring eagles, those
brave hearts babe Napoleon an eternal adieu
and fiinging themselves on the enemy, were
soon piled with the enemy OF their feet.
MANY OF the officers were seen to destroy
themselves rather than suffer defeat. Thus
greater even in its own defeat than any other
corps of men in gaining victory, the Old
Guard passed from the stage and the curtain
dropped upon its strange career. 1t had
fought its last battle"
Mr.. BUCHANAN'S BEST AFTER DINNER
SPEECH.
Vandenhof in his new work, "Leaves
from an Actors Note Book" tells the fol
lowing story ola Lord Mayors dinner:
81 find in my note book on that night. the
following memorandum: Dinner capital;
speechifying shy," And so it was.
"Mr. j. Bachanan's hit-The solitary fash
that lit up the tables-the solitary stroke that
told-came from the forge of Mr.. j. Buchanan,
the American Minister. In reply to some
toast Of the Lord Mayors, complimentary to
the United Safes, Mr.. Buchanan rose, put
MS Ddnu, L Lnluh, DiouU, VAAeS 1880
coat pocket, and began:
"'My Lord Mayor, my lords and gentle
men Republican as | am he paused for
a moment, and rather there was solemn
silence at his formal and rather ominous be
ginning onticue1r Omnes iRtcnfione ora
tenebant!
".Republican as | am, there isone insti-
tuition of Great Britain for which | feel the
deepest respect, and the most affectionate adj
miration. / fervently pray that, whatever
changes may take plaee-whatever reforms
may be carried out-whatever alterations may
be wrought by public sentiment and opinion
whatever revolutions even, (which heaven
avertD may take place in this country
fervently pray that one institution, at least,
may be spared-that Il may continue 10
flourish, to grow, to increase aud be strength
ened and confirmed! | allude, my lords
and gentlemen, to the p"blic dinners o.
Great Britain
Imagine the surprise, the shouts oflaugh-
ter, and the cheers that followed this unex-
pectedly humorous turn to the solemn and
imposing opening of his republican exordium.
The American Minister had made a hit: ne
olsnched it by courteously acknowledging the
hospitalities he had received in England, and