The weekly Butte record., 1862-02-01
jena and Auerstadt.
BY JOHN 5. c. ABBOTT.

fruSSla formed new coalition against rance
Prussia commenced the campaign, by invading
Saxony with an army Of 100000 men. unde
the command of Frederick William, the Prus
sian king, Alexander of Russia. with an equa
army, was pressing down through the wiids o
/ Poland, to unite in the march upon Paris
England co operated with her invincib!e feet
aud with profuse expenditures from her mex
haustible treasury.
The Emperor was greatly annoyed by thi:
unprovoked attack, which thwarted all hi:
plaus for developing the industrial resources ot
! France. He shut himself up for forty-eight
hours to arrange the details of the campaign
and Immediately dictated two hundred letters
all of which still remain the monument of his
energy and sagacity. In six days the whole
imperial guard was transported from Paris to
the Rhine. They travelled by post sixty miles
a day. On the oath of September Napoleon
at midnight, entered his carriage at the Tuie-
ries, to join the army, His parting words to
the Senate we're:
:" In so just war, which we have not pro-
voked by any act, by any pretence, the true
cause OF which it would be impossible to assign
and where we only take arms to defend our
selves, we depend entirely upon the support of
the laws, and upon that of the people, whom
circumstances call upon to give fresh proofs of
devotion and courage"
Placing himself at the head of his army by
a series Of skIlful manpuvers he threw his
whole force into the rear of Prussiaus, cutting
them Oft from their supplies, and from all pos
sibllity of retreat. Being thus sure of victory.
be wrote as follows to the King of Prussia =
"SIRE, MY BRoTHER-I am in the heart OF
Saxony. Ny strength is such that your forces
cannot balance the victory. But why shed so
much blood why make our subjects slay each
other? | do not prize victory purchased by
the lives of so many Of my children. If were
just commencing my military career, and If |
had any reason to fear the chances of war, this
language would be wholly misplaced Sire
your majesty will be vanquished. At present
you are uninjured, and may treat with me in a
manner conformable with your rank. Before
month is passed, you will treat in different
position. | am aware that in thus writing !
may irritate that sensbility which naturally
belongs to every sovereign. But circumstan-
ces demand that l should use no concealment
implore your majesty TO view, in this letter,
nothing but the desire have to spare the ef-
fusion Of blood. Sire. my brother, pray God
that He may have you in His worthy and holy
keeping"
To this letter no reply was returned. In
two days from this time the advance guard of
the French met the Prussans, strongly en-
trenched upon the plains of jena and Auer-
stadt. 1t was the evening of the 18th of
October. The sun was Just sinking with unu
sual brilIiancy behind the western hills, when
the proud array of the Prussians, more than one
hundred thousand strong appeared in sight
Three hundred pieces of artillery were concen-
trated in batteries, and a squadron OF eighteen
thousand cavalry, spendidly comparisoncd and
with FURNISHED armor were drawn up upon the
plain.
Napoleon Immediately took possession of
the Dangrafenberg, a steep, craggy hill, which
the Prussians had supposed inaccessible to
artillery, and from whose summit the long lines
of the Prussians, extending many leagues
could be clearly discerned. As the gloom of
night settled down, the blaze of the Prussian
camp fires, extending over a space of eighteen
miles, illumined the scene with almost an un-
earthly glow.
Couriers were dispatched to hasten on the
battalions of the French army. To encourage
the men, Napoleon, with his own hands, labor
ed through the night in blasting the rocks and
clearing the way that he might plant bat
terry upon the brow of the Landgrafenberg
As brigade after brigade arrived, they took
the positions assigned them by their experienced
chieftain. Soult and Ney were ordered to
march all night to cut off the retreat of the foe
Towards morning Napoleon threw himself upon
the ground on the bleak hill side, to share for
an hour the frigid bivouac Of the soldiers.
At four o'clock be was again on horseback.
a dense Jog covered the plain, shr0uding the
sleeping host. Under cover of this darkness
Napoleon ranged his troops in battle array.
Enthusiastic shouts greeted him as be rode
along the lines. At six O'Clock, the fog M
broken, the order was given to pierce the
Prussian lines in every direction. For eight
hours the battle ragged with fury never before
or since surpassed. The ground was covered
with dead the shrieks of the wounded, tram
pied beneath the hoofs of charging squadrons,
rose above the thunder of the battle About
o'clock, P. NJ, the PrussiGn General sent the
following frantic dispatch to his reserve:
" Lose not moment in advancing your yet
unbroked troops. Arrange your columns so
that through their openings there may pass the
still unbroken bands Of the battle. Be ready