Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-07-27
last CHARGE Or TVS OlO suARp.


ing grand pen picture Of the las, desper.
ate charge of Napoleon's Old Guard, : |
at Waterloo:
During the day the artillery of the
Guard, under Drouel. maintained its old
renown, and the Guard itself had fire.
quently been used to restore the battle in
various parts Of the field and always with
success. The English were fast becon-
ing exhausted. and in an hour more
would have been forced in disastrous
defeat, but for the timely arrival OF Blou-
cher. But when they saw him with 80,
600 Prussians approaching, their courage
revived, while Napoleon was filed with
amazement. A beaten enemy about to
form a junction with the allies, while
Grouehy who bad been sent to.keep them
in check was no where 10 be seen -
Alas! what great plans a single inefficient
Commander can overthrow
In moment Napoleon saw that he
could not sustain the attack Of so many
fresh troops, it once allowed to form a
junction with the allied forces and be
determined to stake his fate on one bold
cast, and endeavor TO pierce the allied
centre with grand charge Of the Old
Guard, and thus throw himself between
the two armies. For this purpose the
: Imperial Guard was called up, aud divd-
G ed into two immense columns, which
d were to meet in the British CENTRE
That under Reille no sooner entered the
fire than it disappeared like mist. The
j other was placed under Ney, "the
] bravest of the brave" and the order to
advance given. Napoleon accompanied
st them part of the way down the slope,
ot and halting few moments in the hollow,
ID addressed them few words. He told
at them that the battle rested with them,
ID that he relied on their valor, tried
Is in so many fields FIRE Z Emperor,
answered him with shout that wa.
e, heard above the thunder Of the artillery
I'd The whole continental struggle exhib
IT tied no subimer spectacle than the las
he effort of Napoleon to save his sinking
empire. The greatest military skill an,
be energy the world ever possessed ba'
been taxed to the uttermost during th,
rd day. Thrones were tottering on the tur
bulent field, and the shadows OF fugitiv,
on kings fitting through the smoke of tn,
o. feIdlof battle Bonaparte's star tremb
ling in the zenith-now blazing out in it
y ancient splendor, now paIing before hi
y, anxious eye. The intense anxiety wit
DIS which he watched the advance Of tina
column, and the terrible suspense he en-
az dured when the smoke Of the balil
.st wrapped it from his sight, and the ute
dispair Of his grea, heart when the cur
"a tain lifted over a fugitive army, ard th
DIS disparing shrek rang out The Guar
Il recoils the Guard recoilsF" makes u
3D. for moment forget all the carnage i
,er sympathy for his Distress
he The Old Guard felt the presence {
res the immense responsibility and resolve
'u not to prove unworthy Of the great tru'
,ar committed to it. Nothing could be NOR
ids imposing than its movement 10 The a
sauIt. II had never reeoiled before
- human foe, and allied forces beheld wit
&c awe its firm and steady advance to n
ce, linal charge. For a moment the bate
"a les stopped playing and the firing eeas.
along the British line, as without Il
- beating Of drum or a bugle note
cheer their courage, they moved IN des
nth silence over the field. Their tread vi
like muliied thunder, while the dazzlil
" helmets Of the cuirassiers flashed Ior
onr lines Of light upon the dark and terrib
mass that swept in one strong wa'
ne along. The stern Drouet was then am
= his guns, and on every brow was write
y the unalterable resolution 10 conquer
ally die. The next moment the artile
and opened, and the head Of that gallant c.
hea umn seemed TO sink into the earih.-
';.s Rank after rank went down, yet ih
wo- never faliered. Dissoiving squadro
aud whole battaiions disappeared o
!, an" after another in ihe destructive Gre,
.nv- fecled not their courage. The ran
closed up as before and each treadi
He over his fallen eomrsde, passed uniiin'
IN ingly on.
The horse which Ney rode sank c
ri. der him. and scarcely bad BE- mount
She anotber before It also sank TO the ear
and and 70 another and another. til Eve
ior- succession had been shol under him.
a. - Then wiih bis haber BE- marched ster'
Her Al the head Of bic column. In vain
bot the artillery huh IL storm VI iron ol
hef A.. r.. ..a fF,4 4e fhs. sgeFv "a