Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-07-27
WATERFOWL REPUBLICAN,
FRIDAY, JULY 81, 1860.
TIE BATTLE OF TOURS.

In the first volume of Goodwin's " His
tory of France " there is spirited account
of this great contest, one of the world
decisive battles, in which the hosts of the
East and West were pitted against each
other, and the crescent went down in blood
and dust
Abd-el-Rahman, laden with plumber and
satiated with blood, had bent his steps to-
wards the southwest, where he concentra-
ted his troops on the banks Of of the Char
ente. Enriched and victorious as he was,
there was still an object in Gaul which pro-
voked alike the cupidity and zeal of his
followers. That was the Basillica of St.
Martins of Tours, the shrine of the Gallo
Christians, where the richest treasures of
the church we're collected, and in which the
profoundest veneration of its members were
centered. He yearned for the pillage and
the overthrow of this illustrious sanctuary,
and taking the road from Poitiers, he en-
countered the giants of the North in the
same valley of the Vienne and Claim, where
nearly three hundred years before, the
Franks and Wisigoths had disputed the SUI
premact of Gaul. There, on those autumn
fields, the Koran and the Bible-Islamism
and Chi istianity-Asia and Europe-stood
face to face, ready to grapple in deadly
and decisive conflict. The shaggy warri-
ors of Karl could scarcely have known that
to them it was given to determine whether
the destinies of civilization should be con-
trolled by Mahommed or by Christ; but
none the less firmly, as the light and tur-
baned cavalry of the Moslem wheeled in
swift circles about the plain, did they form
themselves in the solid wedges of battle
For several days the hosts of the East and
the West-so different in their physiogno-
mics, their arms, their costumes, their tao
ties, and their aims-surveyed each other
with mingled feelings of establishment, ha-
tired an terror. Trivial skirmlshes from
time to time kept alive the ardor of both
hosts, till at length, at dawn on Saturday,
October the 18th, the signal for general
onset was given. With one loud shout of
Allah Akba Good Is great,) the Arab
horseman charged like tempest upon
their foe, but the deep columns of the Franks
did not bend before the blast Like
wall of iron, says the chronicler, :" like
rampant of ice, the men of the North stood
unmoved by the frightful shock All day
long the charges were renewed, and as of
ten as they were renewed, the broke in pie
ces on that moveless zone of pixies and
swords. Blood flowed in streams The
great leaders animated their troops by pro-
diglous displays of prowess; the ringing
cry of Abd-el-Rahman was heard incessant-
ly above the din of battle, and the Ratchet
of Karl fell upon the heads of his enemies
like the hammer of Thor
The issue of this stupendous conflict was
doubtful till the tenth hour of the day
(about four o'clock,) when division of
Basques and Aquitans, led by Duke Eudo,
fell secretly upon the camp of the Arabs
and massacred the guards The tumult
and cries of distress attracted large body
of Arabs to protect the treasure amassed
in their tents. This movement assumed
an appearance of flight, and in an instant
damaged the whole order of battle. ADD
el-Rahman strove in vain to correct this
error and reform his ranks, The confu-
sion became universal; and then for the
first time, that ''wall of iron" began to
move, overwhelming, crushing, trampling
to death the panic stricken army of Islam
The brave Wall fell in the retreat, pierced
by lances innumerable while his followers
were saved from more DISCRIMINATING ear
mage only by the coming on of night
Early the next morning, having slept upon
their arms, the Franks prepared to resume
the desperate wrestle. AS they approach
ed the tents of the Arabs, however, they
heard no sounds that betokened the pres
enee of living men. Suspicious of an am
bush, Karl sent his spies to discover the
meaning of the silence. They gradually
picked their way over the bodies of count
less dead to the utmost tents, and found
them empty. They entered others, and
these too were void. All were empty
Under the shadows of the night the Mos
lemah had stealthily departed, leaving their
booty and equipage, all but their horses
and arms, harvest for the conquerors-
Europe was rescued, Christianity triumph
ed, Karl forever the here of Christian civ
ilization. Karl did not pursue the re-
treating Moors, but after collecting his
plumber, returned into Australia. His re-
nown now filled the world, and he availed
himself of the interest and terror excited
by his name to consolidate his power in
the three kingdoms. Even while his strong
arm had been turning back the tide Of
Saracen invasion, the leudes of Burgundy
were plotting a rebellion in his rear. A
swift and terrible retribution overlook
their treason.
STuEING INVENTION -Anoopor Tho faotc