Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-17

Advancing through snow storm so thick he
could not see the enemy, the Russian moved
down his ranks with their destructive fire,
while the Cossack cavalry, which were order
ed to charge came laundering on, almost hit
ting the French infantry with their long lances
before they were visible through the storm.
Hemmed in and overtlirown the whole di.
vision, composed OF $4,000 men, with the ex.
ception of 800, were captured or slain just
then the snow storm clearing up, revealed to
Napoleon the peril TO which he was brought,
and lie Immediately ordered grand charge by
the Imperial guard and the whole cavalry.
Nothing was further from Bonaparte's wishes
or expectation than the bringing of his re-
serve into the engagement at this early stage
of the battle, but there was no other resource
felt him.
Murat sustained his high reputation on this
occasion, and proved himself tor the hundredth
time, worthy of the great confidence NapO-
leon placed on him. Nothing could be more
imposing than the battle field at this moment
Bonaparte and the Emperor trembled in the
balance, while Murat prepared TO lead down
his cavalry TO save them. Seventy squadrons
making in all 1000 wellmounted men, began
TO move over the slope, with the Old Guard
marching sternly behind.
Bonaparte, it is said, was more agitated at
this crisis than when, a moment before he was
so near being captured by the Russians. But
as he saw those seventy SquadrOns plungng
down on a trot, pressing hard after the white
plume of Murat, that streamed through the
snow storm far in front, Il smile passed over
his countenance.
The earth groaned and trembled as they
passed. aud the sabres, above the dark and an
cry mass below looked like the foam OF a sea-
wave as it crests on the deep. The rafting of
gbnSY md Of Il 81, Al,
tread, drowned all the roar OF battle, as with
firm, set array, and swift, steady motion, they
bore down with terrible front on the foe.
The shock OF that immense host was like
falling mountain, and the front line of the Rus
sian army went down like trost-worli before it.
Then commenced prOtracted fight of hand to
hand, and sword 10 sword, as in the cavalry
action at Eckmuhl. The clashing OF steel was
like the ringing of countless hammers, and
horses and riders were blended in wild CON
fusion together the Russian reserve were or
dered up, and on these Murat fell with his
fierce horSemen, crushing and trampling them
down by thousands. But the obstinate Rus
slams disdained to fly, and rallied again and
again, so that it was no longer cavalry charg-
ing on infantry, but squadrons OF horse gallop-
ing through broken hosts that, gathering into
knots, still disputed, with unparalleled brave
ry, the red and rent field.
1t was during this strange fight that Murat
was seen to perform one OF those desperate
deeds for which he was SO renowned. Excl
ted to the highest pitch of passion by the OBJ
stacles that opposed him, he seemed endowed
with tentold strength, and looked more like
superhuman being treadlng down helpless
m0rtals, than an ordinary man. Amid the
roar OF artillery, and the rafting of musketry,
and the falling of sabrestrokes, like lightning
about him, that lofty white plume never once
went down, while ever and anon it was seen
glaring through the smoke Of battle, the star
OF hope to Napoleon, and showing that his
fright arm" was still uplitted and striking for
victory.
He ragged like an Embossed lion amid the foe,
and his eyes, always terrible in battle, burned
with increased lustre, while his clear and
steady voice, heard above the turmoil OF strife,
was worth more than a thousand trumpets to
cheer on his followers. AT length, seeing
knot OF Russian soldiers that for long time
had kent up Il devnnrinp fire his ,,,-., i'o
wheeled his horse and drove in full gallop up
on their levelled muskets. A few OF his guard
that never allowed that white plume to leave
their sight, charged alter him. Without wait
ing to count his foes, he seized his Bride in
his teeth, and with his pistol in one hand and
his drawn sword in the ether burst in head
long fury upon them, and scattered them as a
hurricane had swept by. Murat was a tIun-
derboit on that day, and the deeds that were
wrought by him will furnish themes for the
poet and the painter.