The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-19
w.ssrIoo-L..t Hour. OF the Fight.

WatsrIOO-Lsst fIOurs Of the Fight.
A few months since, was standing on
the field Of Waterloo, "n the anniversary
day Of the great battle. The fields were
waving with III, ir ripcting grain just as
they were on that memorable morning, he
Eire being tr"dlen down by the charging
SQuadrOnS. As stood where Wellington
had St0nd. on the ridge occupied bv the
English lines, and survey, Il the entire Held,
aud locked down an the narrow vall"y
where the fate Of all Europe was put up
and battlcd for, n world Of conflicting emo
tons struggled for mastery within me, and
my ear seemed distinctly to catch the first
cannon shot that opened the conflict. Far
on the right comes down, Oh the lIoug0u.
mont, jerome Bonapartc, with twelve
thousand men. A sheet OF fire runs along
the walls OF the chateau, and gap opens
in the ranks Of the advancing foe. Its
mangled head mcltS. like frost work, be.
fore the destructive fire. The smoke Of
the battle covers them from sight and rolls
up the valley, and 10! | see nothing but
the melee Of horses and riders, the tossing
Of banners and the soaring Of the French
eagle amid the cloud Of war, and | hear
naught but the roar Of artillery, the bray.
ing Of trumprtS the blast Of the bugle
sounding the charge, and the shocks Of
cav'lry.
The great battle Of Europe was to be
fought All its Kings stood looking on
with breathlc>s interest, for their thrones
we're at stake. The feelings Of those two
great military chicftains themselves, as
they thus stood face to face for the first
time and battled for q continent were stir
red. The British veteran, wiping the
sweat from his brow, exclaimed, 10, that
Butcher or night would come !" The next
moment. All immense body If French cav.
airy came laundering down on one Of the
English squares. II had already become
weakened by the loss Of whole ranks that
the>f rtRehnrt:llery had moved down, but
withStood the desperate shock with true
bravery. The French came down at a
plunging trut, then breaking into gallop.
fell like a rock hurled back from the
mountain, and rrcoilcd from the shock
Driven to desperation by their repeatedly
foiled attempts, they cOnlly walked their
horses around that brave square, and
whenever a man fell, dashed in. Such
desperate resolution, such rccklesSneSS Of
lift, began. at length To tell on the conflict.
The square began to shake and waver,
when Wellington came daShing up with
his guard-it opened and he was in its DO.
som. The chief was in their Keeping
fate voluntarily thrown into their hands.
Those British hearts could not yield. -
Rank after rank irli, but not man stirred
from his place. The French, at length,
gave it up and retired to their position. -
Again, on separate squares, were those
terrific charges made, and again, us they
wavered, did Wellington fling himself into
their midst. Thus, from IL in the morn.
ing until in the evening had the battle
ragged, when dark object was seen to
emerge from distant wood. Larger aud
larger it grew, till whole column stood
revealed, with banners waving in the
breeze. Bluch,r and his PruS>ians had
COME! Both armies saw that the hour
had arrived fur final issue. Bnnaparle
then rode up to his old Imptri Guard,
that had not bcen-in>battle all day. Pla.
cling himself at their head, he led them
half way down the slope, when he halted
and addressed them in his impetuouS and
fiery manner. lie told them that the fate
Of the battle and Of France was in their
hands. lie was answered hv those devO
ted hearts, 1.-The Emperor forever !" with
shout that rang over the storm Of battl.
aud was heard all along the British lines.
Then he placed them under Ncy, with or
drrS IL inrcc the British center and pre-
vent the Junction OF Butcher With the allied
forces. That hitherto invincible Guard
came down in beautiful order and array
their hearts burning with high hopes. =
They knew that the Emperor and the civ
ilizcd world were looking on. They car
ricd thrones and kings Ms they WENT
They needed nothing to fire their steady
courage. No drum. no trumpet. or mar
tail strain cheered them on. M bugl,
sounded the charge. In perfect order ant
dead silence they moved over the plain
Above them scared the French eagle thai
no power had ever vet wrestrd from theiI
grasp, and on them was the eye Of Bona
parte. The allied army saw with awe ant
dread the approach Of that unconquerabl'
legion, The terror Of Europe was on the
march. For moment the firing ceased
along the lines. The battle was huShed
The measured tread az the magnificent L.
giOn alone was heard. The sudden caln
was but momentary. The artillery ngaiT
opened like volcano. on the foe. Who'll,
ranks went down before the fire, yet they
taltered not for moment Over theil
fallen comrades, with the same steady
front, they moved on across the valley anC
up the slope. Before their cool, resiStlrs.
charge the English lines melted away Xix,
frostwork. They took the last fire of tn,
artillery full in their bosoms, then walked
over the cannon, artillerymrn, and all -
On, on. like reSisteSS wave they swept
carrying everything down in their pas
sage, till they approached within q few
rods Of where Wellington stood. AL
seemed lost, when n rank Of men who haC
lain fiat on their faces behind o low -ridg,
of earth, Suddenly heard the ringing or
der. up guards, and at EN- !" They
started up as il from the bowels Of the
earth, and poured destructive fire int
the very faces of the mangled guard. =
They rec0iled from the discharge as i
smitten by sudden blow. A second and
third followed. They reeled and stagger
ed moment and then turned and fled
The battle was over. The thunder Of the
tlrst Cannon came at intervals on the night
air, telling where Blnchcr trod down the
foes. wellington left TO him the pursuit,
and was leading back his weary army
over the battle field. The full round moon
was riding the quiet heavens, lighting ur
the mHngled masses Of human flesh that
weighed down the field. Here an epnu.
lette-there Shivered sword flashed back
in its beams. Groans loaded the air,
while the death.shriek came at intervals
on the ear. Wellington wept The OK.
element and rage of battle was over, and
his ha0Ht cicl. ~ 1ho L.