The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-08-16
Charge Of Macdonald at wagram.

ns DavOust appeared On tho plateau of Way
ram aud opened his artillery on the exposed
rahks of tho enemy, Napoleon ordered Mar.
shal Macdonald, with eight bnltalions, to
march straight on tho eneinys contro ard
pimce it. This charge formed the crisis OF
tho battle. and no soonrr did tho Archdukc
500 tho movement of this terrible culumn'0i
eight battalions composed of sixteen thou
sand men. upon this centre. then he knew
that tho hour of Eurupn's destiny and his
own army had arrived. llo Immediately
doubled tho limos at tho thrra, enud POM
aud brought up tho reserved cavalry. while
two hundred cannon were whcelod around
tho spot on which such dostiuics hung aud
opnncd steaiy fro upon the approaching
column. Macdonald immediately ordui cd
u hundred cannon to prrce1o him. und an
swcr tho Austrian batteries. that swept
every inch OF ground like storm of sloot.
The cannouicrs mounted on thoir Eorsos.
aud starting on rapid trot with thoir hun.
dr,d pieces, approached to within u half
cannon shot, aud opened Oh tho oncmy's s
ranks Tho column marched up to this
battery. and with it, at his head. belching
forth like some huge monster. s'o.dly ad.
vanccd. The Aus rians tell back, aud closed
OH each other, knowing that tho finul strug
~
nothing could exceed the sublnity and
terror of the scene. Tho whole interest of
the armies WAS concentrated hero, where
tho incossant and rapid roll Of cannon told
how desperate was tho cont Ct. Still Mae.
donald slowly advanced. Though the mum.
bnrs were diminishing, aud the fierce battery
ut his head was gradually becoming siIcnt.
Eivelnrnd in tho irr OF its antagonist. the
hal
at the distance of mile and u half from
tho spot where he s'nrtod ON his a~tuI mis-
sion, Macdonald found himsolf without a
protecting battery. and tho centre still un-
broken. Marching over tho wreck of his
guns, aud pushing tho naked head of his
column into tho apWi fclds. aud into tho
lovouring C oss fire of the Austrian artil 'cry.
no continued to advance Tho carnage then
became terrible. At every diecharpe tho
head o! hat column disappeared ns if i;
sa k into tho oaith. while thu outer ranks
on either side melted away like snow wrea hs
on the rivor's brink. No one can describe
tho Intense anxioty with which Napoleon
watched its progress. On st such charge
rostud hs empire ut Waterloo, aud by its
failure his doom was scaled But all the
lion in Macd"nald's nature was reused. and
ho bad fully resolved To execute the dread
task given him or fall on tho field. Still he
lowered unhurt amid his falling guard, aud
with his eye fixed steadily on tho enemy s
centre, moved steadily OH. At tho close
aud force discharges of these cross batteries
on its mangled head. that column somo-
times stop aud siaggor back. like strong
ship when smtten with u wave. Tho next
moiuent the dtnms would boat their hurried
charge. thc calm. steady voco OF Macdonald
rug back through his exhausted ranks.
norving them to tho desperate valor that
filed his own spirit. Never before was
such charge made, and it socned at every
moment that the torn and mangled mass
must broak and fly.
Tho Austrian cannon are gradually wheel.
cd around till ,hoy stretch away in par
allel lines, like two walls of fire each sida of
tlaeband Of horoes. and hurt AN incessart
tempest of lead against thnir bosoms. But
the stern warriors close in and fll up tho
irightfuI gaps made n; overy discharge, and
still press forward. Macdonald has c0n,mu
ncatod his own settled purpose TO conquer
or die, TO his devoted followers. Theie
is no exciiemcnt-no enthusiasm such as
Murat WAC wont to infuso into his mon when
pouring on tho foo his terrible cavalry. No
cries OF PIpr I Emprrru," are heard along
the lines; but in their place is an unaitcra,
bio resolution which nothing but aunihia
ton can shake. Tho eyes of tho army and
the world are on them, and they carry Ma
po'e'n's fate as they go. But human
strength has its limits, and human effort
tho spot whore IL ceases forever. No living
man could have carried that column to
where il stlLds but tho iron hearted leador
at its head But now he halls aud casts his
eye over his little surviving band that stands
all alone in the midst of the enemy. He
looks back on his pa th,and as far as the eye
can rrach no soes tho course of his horoes
by the black swath Of dead mon that stretch.
cs like hinge serpent over tho plain. Out
Of the s'rircn thousand men icih trhom he
started. but .tftrrn hnadrcd are icjt brside
him. Ten out Of cvcry ciruea hare .}aiitn.
and hero at iprg'h tho tired hero pauses,
and surveys with stern and anxious eye his
fow remaining followers. Tho hoart of Ma.
poleon s'ops beating at tho sight. and we'll
II may, for his throne Is hero Macdonald
stands. He beats tho Empire on his single
brave hcart--he is Me Empire. Shall he
turn at last and sound the retreat The
fate of paions wavers to aud fro. for like u
speck in the distance. Macdonald is seen
still to pause while tho cannon are piling
the dead in heaps around him. 'WW he
tuh uHd fly ? is tho secret and agoniEing
question Napoleon puts to himself No |!
Ee is worthy Of tho mighty trust committed
to him, but shall stand whilo he stands.
Looking away to where tho Emperor sits,
he secs tho dark masses of tho Old Guard
in motion, and the shining helmets of tho
bravo cuirassers sweeping TO his relief.
Forward breaks from his iron lips. The
roll of drums aud tho pealing of Eumpe,s
answer tho volley that smites that exhaust
ed column, and the next moment it is seen
piercing the Austrian centre. Tho dav is
won. The Empire saved and the whole
Austrian army is in full retreat.
Such was tho battle of Wagram, and such
the charge of Macdonald. know of moth
ing equal to it. except Neys charge at
Waterloo, and that was not equal, because
il faiod.
On riding over tho victorious field, Bona.
parte camo to where Macdonald stood amid
his troops. AS his eye foil on tho calm and
collected hero. he stopped and holding out
his hand sad,' Shake hands, Macdonald
no more hatred between us-wo must
hencoforth be friends, and as a plcdge of
my sincerity, will send your marsha's
staff which you have so Ploriously earned
The frankuess and Kindness of Napoleon
effected whM all his neglect and GOODNESS