, 1861-10-17
Battle of the Pyramids.

part OF the MameukeSj nearly Ten tnOuSanu IN
number, for decisive battle. The proud and
powerful hOrsenen were supported by twenty
four thousand foot soldiers, strongly entrenched.
On the 21st Of July, Napoleon, conscious that he
was near the city, set his army In motion before
tho break Of day. Just as the sun was rising In
those cloudless skies, the soldiers beheld the
lofty minarets Of the city upon the left, glded
by its rays, and upon the right, upon the bor-
ders Of the desert, the gigantic pyramids rising
like mountains upon an apparently boundless
plain. The whole army instinctvely hal ed, and
gazed awe-stricken upon those monuments Of
antiquity.
The face Of Napoleon beamed with enthusi-
.asm. "Soldiersl" he exclaimed, as he rode
along the ranks, from these submits forty cen
turies contemplate your actions" The ardor Of
the soldiers was aroused to the highest pitch.
Animated by the clangor Of martial bands and
the CLEAN OF Haunting banners, they advanced
with impetuous steps to meet their foes. The
whole plain before them, at the base Of the pyra-
mids, was filed with armed men. The glittcring
weapons Of ten thousand horsemen, in the ut
most splendor Of barbaric chivalry, brilliant
plumes and arms of FURNISHED steel and gold,
presented an array equally imposing. Undis-
mayed, the French troops, marshalled into i've
invincible squares, marched on. There was ap-
parently no alternative. -. at
Napoleon must march upon these eDtrench-
ments, behind which twenty-four thousand men
were stationed with their artillery and musketry
to sweep his ranks, and Q formidable body Of
ten thousand horsemen, on feet and powerful
Arabian steeds, awaiting the onset and ready to
seize upon the slightest indication OF confusion,
to plunge with ali the fury which iatalism can in
spire upon his mingled and bleeding squares. II
must have been o moment Of intense anxiety.
But as Napoleon sat upon his horse in the centre
Of one Of the squares, and carefully examined
with his telescope the disposition Of the enemy,
no one could discern the slightest trace Of un-
eas;ness. His grave gaze was long and intense.
The keenness Of his scrutiny detected that the
enemys guns were not mounted upon carriages
and they could not, therefore, be turned from
the direction in which they were placed. No
other officer, though mauy Of them had equally
good glasses, made this important discovery.
He Immediately, by lateral movement, guided
his army 10 the right, towards the pyramids,
that his squares might be out Of the range Of
the guns and that he might attack the enemy In
the flank. The moment Mourad Bey perceived
this movement he OWNED It's object, and with
great military sagacity, resolved instantly 70
charge I ege ggD,T
{" You shall now see us, said the proud Bey,
"cut up these dogs like gourds." r1.a.a.
Il was indeed fearful spectacle. Ten thou
sand horSemon, magni6cyntly dressed, with the
Aeetest steeds in the world, urging their horses
with bloody spurs to the onset, rending the
heavens with their cries, and causing the earth
to trcmble beneath the thunder Of iron feet
came down upon the adamantine host. Nothing
was ever seen in war more furious than this
charge Ten thousand horsemen IN an enor-
nous mass. Those longest Injured TO danger
felt that It was an awful moment. It seemed
impossible to resist such an avalanche. The
most profound silence reigned through the ranks,
interrupted only by the word Of command.
The nerves Of excitement being reused to the
highest tension, every order was executed with
the most marvellous Fapidity and precision.
The soldiers held their breath, and with brist
ling bsyohetS Stood shoulder 70 shoulder to re
ceive the charge
The moment the Mamelukes arrived within
gunshoL the artillery Of the angles plowed their
ranks, and platoons Of musketry, yolleY after
volley, In perfect uninterrupted flow, swept
into their laces pitilcss tempest Of destruction
Horses and riders, struck by balls, rolled over
each other by hundreds in tho sand, and were
trampled and crushed BY the iron hOois Of thou.
sands Of frantic steeds, envclcped in dust and
smoke; composing the impetuous column. But
the squares stood IS firm as the pyramids ct
mot one wayered-the daring Mamelukes, in
the frenzy Of their rage and disappointment,
threw away their lives with the utmost reck-
lessness. e.E a13s ~, !.
They wheeled their horses rotnd, and refined
them back upon the ranks, that they might kick
their way into that terrible fortress of living men,
Rendered furious BY their inability 10 break
their ranks, they hurled their pistols and cara
bines at the heads Of the FRENCH. The wounded
cFawled along the ground, and cut ct the legs Of
their indomitable foes They displayed super
human bravery, the only virtue which the Nam
elukes possessed.
But an incessant and merciless Gre from Ma
pOlvon's well trained battalou9 continually
thinned their ranks, and at length the MIME