American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-08-10
THE BURNING OF moscow.
A GRAPHIC PICTURE.


The following splendid description of the
burning of the Russian Capital is taken from
/" Napoleon and his Marshals," by j. I.
Headley. 1t is superior to any thing of the
kind we have ever read, and will well repay
. perusal:
At length Moscow, with its domes and
towers and palaces, appeared in sight and
Napoleon, who had joined the advance
guard, gazed long and thoughtfully on q
goal of his wishes. Murat went forward
entered the gates with his splendid cavd
but as he passed through the streets, be
struck by the solitude that surrounded 4
Nothing was heard but the heavy tram
his squadrons as ahe passed along, for de-
serted and abandoned city was the meagre
prize of which such unparalleled efforts had
been made.
As night drew its curtain over the SPLEEN
did capital, Napoleon entered the gates and
Immediately appointed Mortier governor.
In his directions he commanded him to alb
stain from all pillage. For this" said he,
!" you shall be answerabe with your life
Defend Moscow against all, whether friend
or foe."
The bright moon rose over the mighty
city, tipping with silver the domes of more
than two. hundred churches, and pouring a
food of light over a thousand palaces, and
the dwellings of three hundred thousand. in
habitants. The weary army sunk to rest;
but there was no sleep for MortieEs eyes.
Not the gorgeous and variegated palaces and
their rich ornaments, nor the parks and
gardens and oriental magnifcence thif tve-
rywhere surrounded him, kept hil akeful;
but the opimous foreboding that s6a1e dire
calamity was hanging over thessilent capital.
When he entered it scarcely living soul
met his gaze as he looked down the long
streets and when he broke open the build
ings, he found parlors and bedrooms and
chambers all furnished and in order, but no
occupants. This sudden abandonment of
their homes betokened some secret purpose
yet to be fulfilled. The midnight moon was
sailing over the city, when the cry of ''fire!"
reached the ears of Mortier; and the first
light over Napoleon's falling empire was
kindled, and that most wondrous scene of
modern times commemorative burning of
Moscow.
Mortier, as governor of the city, ir1rned-
ately issued his orders, and was putting
forth every exertion, when at daylight Ma
poleon fastened to him. Affecting to disbe-
leve the reports that the inhabitants were
firing their own city, he put more rigid
commands on Mortier, to keep the soldiers
from the work of destruction. The Marshal
simply pointed to some iron-covered houses
that had not yet been opened, from every
crevice of which smoke was issuing like
steam from the sides of a pent-up volcano.
Sad and thoughtful, Napoleon turned toward
the Kremlin, the ancient palace of the Cars,
whose huge structure rose high above the
surrounding edifices.
In the morning, Mortier, by great exer-
lions, was enabled to subdue the fire. But
the next night, September Is, at midnight,
the sentinels on watch upon the lofty Krem-
lin saw below them the flames bursting
through the houses and palaces, and the cry
of fire fire!' passed through the city.
The dread scene was now fairly opened.
Fiery bullions were seen dropping from the
air and lighting upon the houses; dull explo-
sions were heard on every side from the shut
up DIV ellings, and the next moment a bright
light burst forth, and flames were raging
through the apartments. All was uproar
and confusion. The serene air and moon
light of the night Before had given way to
driving clouds, and wild tempest that
swept with the-roar of the sea over the city.
Flames arose on every side, blazing and
and sparks in an incessant shower went
driving towards the Kremlin. The clouds
themselves seemed turned into fire, rolling
in wrath over devoted Moscow. Mortier,
crushed with the responsibility thus thrown
upon his shoulders, moved with his guard
amid this desolation, blowing up the houses
and facing the tempest and the flames, nobly
struggling to arrest the confagratlon.
He FASTENED from place to place amid the
blazing ruins, his face blackened with the
smoke and his hair and eyebrows singsd
with the fierce heat. At length the day
dawned-a day of tempest and fame and
Mortier, who had strained every nerve for
thirty six hours, entered palace and drop
ped down from fatigue. The manly form
and stalwart arm that had SO often carried
death into the ranks of the enemy, at length
gave way, and the gloomy Marshal lay and
painted in utter exhaustion. But the night
of tempest had been succeeded by day of
tempest; and when night again enveloped
the city, it was one broad fame, waving to
and fro in the blast. The wind had increas-
ed to . perfect hurricane, and shifted from
quarter to quarter, as if on purpose to swell
the sea of fire and extinguish the last hope.
The fire was approaching the kremlin, and
already the roar of the flames and crash of
falling houses, and the cracking of burning
timbers, were borne to the ears of the start
led Emperor. He arose and walked to and
fro, stopping conyulsiyely and gazing on the
Arrof Eu~opo and Rorfhior