The weekly Butte record., 1863-04-04
BoR0DTNA.

Of the Moskwa river. The Russian army, TO-.
600 strong. was here strongly entrenched.-
General kutusoF, in command, having resolved
upon the most desperate resistance. had ar
ranged in commanding positions, and behind
wellconstructed reioubts, 600 pieces Of heavy
artillery The French army, numbering l20,-
000. approached in three great columns. Ma
+ poleou ascended an eminenee, and, carefully
scrahuizing the position of the enemy, with
his characteristic promptness, Instantly decided
upon bis plan Of attack
/ The night was cold and dark, and drizzling
rain fell upon the French army. weary with
their long march. The bivouac fires Of The
Russians swept around the French encamp
ment in belt Of flame many miles in extent
/ The morning was to usher 10 a battle which
would certainly be sanguinary in the highest
! degree, aud which might be decisive of the re-
suits of the campaign. Until midnight Napo-
leon was debating dispatches, and sending
reconnoiterng parties in all directions. lie
then retired to the inner part of his tent, where
he slept. Soon, however. he sent for BeSsieres,
and inquired OF him with great mnuteuess res
pecting the wants and supplies OF the soldiers.
Still, not satisfied, be rose and went out TO in
qnire himself of the soldiers if they had all
they needed. He appeared unusually detected.
Soon after he had returned again to his inner
tent, an officer who had occasion to speak TO
him, found him sitting upon his couch support
ing his head with both bis hands The Empe-
ror looked up and said, sadly;
What is war? 1t is trade of barbarians.
The great art consists in being the strongest
at given point. A great day is at hand.
90 600 men,
As soon as the dawn appeared the Emperor
was on horseback. The storm of the night
had passed. and the sun arose in unclouded
brilliance. Napoleon smiled and said, Z" Be-
hold the sun of Austeritz."
As he stood upon the eminence, surrounded
by but few attendants to escape observation,
Russian battery opened fire on him. 1t was
the signal for the onset. \ terrific peal of
thunder burst forth from all the embattled
host Three hundred thousand men, with all
the most formidable enginery Of war, fell upon
each other From O'Clock in the morning
until the middle of the afternoon the tempest
of battle swept over the field without mo-
ments intermission. Davoust was struck from
his horse BY a cannon ball which tore the steed
to pieces. As he was plunged headong and
stunned upon the plain, word was carried to
the Emperor that the marshal was dead He
heard the tidings in silence. Soon however,
intelligence was brought him that the marshal
was again at the head of his troops. God
be praised :" exclaimed the Emperor fervently.
Count Caulaincourt was young officer Of
rare accomplishments. The night before the
battle, wrapped iu his cloak, he had fixed his
eyes for sleepless hour, upon the miniature of
his young bride, whom he had left but few
days after bis marriage. 10 the heat of the
battle he stood by the side of the Emperor
awaiting his orders. Word was brought that
Gen Montburn, who had been ordered to at
tack redoubt, was killed. Caulaincourt was
ordered to succeed him. Putting spurs to his
horse, be said, Il will be Immediately at the
redoubt, dead or alive" He was the first to
mount the parapet. At that moment, pierced
by musket ball, he fell dead.
Thus all day long tldings of victory and of
death were reaching the ears of the Emperor
Sadly he listened to the recital as courier after
courier brought to him their reports while he
was still watching with eagle eye, and guiding
with almost superhuman skill all the tremen-
dous energies of battle. Napoleon had formed
such plans that, from the commencement Of
the engagement, he had entertained no doubt
as to the result. During the whole day, while
the billows of war rolled to and fro over the
plain. he held in reserve the whole imperial
guard, amounting TO 10000 men, notwith
standing many opportunities that they might
be permitted to enter the hotly contested field.
At one time Berthier in moment Of appa-
rently fearful peril, entreated him to send them
forward to the aid Of a portion of the army.
apparently on the point of being swept back
by the impetuous foe, No." said Napoleon,
calmly, the hour of this battle is not yet
come. 1t will begin in two hours more The
well ordered movements Of the massive col /
umus of the French pressed more and more
heavily upon the Russians. Each hour some
new battery opened its destructive fire upon
their bewilered and crowded ranks. Gradually
the surges of the battle rolled to one great re
doubt, where the Russians had concentrated
their utmost strength. Both armies gravtated
towards this central point, and all the fury Of
the conflict seemed with magnifed intensity to
have gathered there. Behind, around and up
Cd the vast eutrenchments one hundred thou
sand men were struggling, with the utmost
conceivable ferocity aud desperation. Dense
i Il l.