Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-09-11
vol. XXXIl.-WHOLE NO 1910.
The Charge of Macdonald at Wagram

In the battle Of Wagram, Napoleon
cont Marshal DayOust with fifty thousand
,.sn 10 make a circuit ana attack the
lnstrjans on the farther side ofNeU siedel.
ls soon as Dayoust appeared on the pla-
,Iu of Waeram and opened his artillery
an the exposed ranks of the enemy, Ma
noleon ordered Marshal Macdonald, with
gshl battalions, 10 march straight on The
,HssrJ's centre and pierce ii. This
,Isrss formed the crisis Of the battle, and
~ .Soner did ihe Arch-duko see the
moyements of this terrible column of
~sbt battalions, composed OF sixteen
,5opsand men, upon his centre, than he
Cn,v that the hour of Europe's destiny
anil of his own army had arrived. He
"mediately doubled the lines at the
,breatened point, and brought up the re-
,o,re cavalry, while two hundred cannon
,bere wheeled around the spot on which
ach destines hung, and opened steady
fire. on the approaching column. Mac
jonad Immediately ordered hundred
,onuon TO answer the Austrian batteries,
that swept every inch OF ground like a
,torm ofslect. The cannoniers mounted
lbeir horses, and started on rapid tot
with their hundred pieces, and approach
Cd 10 within half cannon shot, and then
opened on the enemy ranks. The col
pan marched up to this battery, and with
bimat its head, belching forth fire like
,omS huge monster, steadily advanced
The Ausirians fell Lack and closed on
each other. knowing that the final strug.
ee had come. At this crisis Of the bat
lie nothing could exceed the subllmity
and terror Of the scene. The whole in
trest Of the armies was concentrated here
where the ipcessant and rapid roll of can
non told how desperate was the conflict.
Sill Macdonald slowly advanced, though
Ms numbers were diminishing, and the
ftrce battery at his head was gradually
tecoming silent Enveloped in the fire
Of his antagonist the guns had one by one
been dsmosnted, and at the distance OF
amile ard a half ffrom the spot where he
started on his awful mission, Macdonald
Oand himself without protecting bat
tew, aud the centre still unUrokcn. -
Marching over the wrt ck Of his guns, and
plshing the naked head of his column in
10 the deyouring cross fire of the Austrian
atlllery, lie continued to advance. The
clruase then became terrible. At every
discharge, the head of that column dis
appeared rs if sank into the earth, while
up outer rank, on either side melted
away Ike snow OH The rivers trink. No
lep can describe the intense anxiety with
which Napoleon watched its p'ogre,s. On
inst such a charge rested his empire at
Waterloo, and in its failure his doom was
sealed. But all the lion in Macdonald 5
nature was aroused. and he had fully re-
solved to executed the dread task given
him or fall on the field. Still he lowered
unhurt amid his falling guard, and with
Bis eyes fixed steadily on the enemy 5
centre, moved sternly on. At the close
and fierce discharges Of these cross batter
les on its mangled head, that column
woud some ines stop ard stagger back,
like strong ship when smitten by n
wave The next moment the drums
would beat their hurried charge, tie calm
steady voice of Macdonald ring back ihro'
bis exhausted ranks, nerving them to the
desperate valor that filed his own spirit,
Never before was such a charge made,an
hseemed OF every moment that the torn
and manged mass must break and fly
The Austrian cannon. gradually wheel
ngatound till they are stretched away in
parallel l!nos like two walls OF fire on each
Sle of this band of heroes, and hurl an
lncessant tempest of l1nd against ,hell
Iosoms, but the stern warriors clio {
IN aud fill up the frighttul gap,
made al every discharge, and still pres:
forward. Macdonald has communicated
bis own settled purpose to conquer o: de
10 his devoted followers. There is no eN
cltement--no enthusiasm sucE as Mura
vnwoEt 10 iuiuse into his men when
fousiag on the foe his terrible cavalry
40 cries Of 'Viye = Empereur' are hearo
NOng the line; but in their place is al
wallerable resolution that nothing bu
humiliation can shake. rhe eyes OF the
&my and the world are on them, ant
they carry Nap)eon's fate as they CO.
But human strength has its limits, ant
human effort the spot where it ceases for
ever. No man could have carried tina
column to where it stands but the iron
hearted leader at its head. But now h'
hals and casts his eyes over his little sur
swing band that stands all alone ia tn
midst of the eenemy. He looks back OF
hs path, and as far as the eye can reach
aeseas the course of his heroes 10y tn
black swath Of dead men that stretche
IKE huge serpent over the plain. Ca
Of the Sirteca thousand men with whom d
Started but fifteen Hundred are left besld
an. Ten out Of crery eleren haze fallen, an
mere at length the tired hero pouses, am
surveys with q stern and anxious eye hi
lew remaining followers. The heart c
Alpoleon stops beating at the sight. q
sel he may, for his throne is where MAJ
P,onaId stands. He bears the Empire o
% single brave Eeart-he is Empire
snail he turn ct last and sound the re
geat! TIE fate of nations waver to an
10, for like shock in the distance, Mac
oOnald isseen still TO pause, while tn
Nnnon are piling the dead in heal
around him. "WW he hr, and fly"
le secret and agonizing question Napc
sch puts tohimself. No he is worth
q The mighty trust committed. Th
Emperor stands or falls with him, b'
Hlall gtanu tvhila ha ctopJs