The mountain Democrat., 1863-05-16
An Army Of Skates.

During the famous expedition Of Louis
XIV, this art of locOmotiOn was used
against the Dutch themselves in one of the
most curious and daring exploits recorded
When the States sued for peace, the
terms offered by the pride OF Louis were
so mOnstrous, that the people tore open
their sluIces, and laid the country under
water. The frost, after time, however,
rendered even this unayailing; and at
length General Luxembourg, one dark and
freezing night, mounted twelve thousand
men on skates, and sent them over the ice
from Utrecht to surprise the Hague. The
result is given as follows by a distinguish
ed writer who takes his fact from French
historian
when they left Utrecht, it was clear
frosty weather, and the effect of the moon
and stars upon the even sheet of ice, over
which they swept like breeze, was truly
magical, By degrees, as they advanced,
the visible horizon of earth was obscured
by vapor, and they could see nothing
around, above or beneath them, but q
circular expanse Of ice, bounded at the
edge by thick gray clouds, and canopied
by the starry curtain Of the sky. The
strange groaning sound which ever and
anon doomed along the frozen wilderness,
had at first something inexpressibIy ter
rifle to the imagination; and as it died ft-
fully away in the distance, the space sur
rounding them seemed extended almost to
intinity. The sky at length was gradually
covered by the vapors rising, as if from
the edge Of the circle of earth veil of
dull and hazy white overspread the heav.
ems and obscured the stars and q dim
round spot of watery brightness was the
only indication of the site of the moon,
by which alone they could now steer their
course. A rapid thaw had come on the
skates sunk deeper and deeper into the ice
at every sweep; and at last, the water
gathering upon the surface, as it was agi-
tated by the night wind that had now
risen, assumed the appearance of q sea.
The wind increased; the sky grew blacker
and blacker their footing became more
sponsy and insecure; they plunged almost
to the knee; and the ice groaned and
cracked beneath them. Every one looked
upon himself as lost and the horrors OF
fate hitherto untold in story, and appeared
to belong neither to the fortunes of the
land nor Of the sea, appalled, the boldest
imagination.
At length faint, twinkling light ap'
| peared in the distance, sometimes seen and
sometimes lost in the varying atmosphere
and they had the satisfaction, such as il
was, Of at least knowing the relative bear
ings of the place on which they were
about to perish. The light proceeded from
a strong fort in the enemy's hands, i'm
pregnable without cannon; and what add
ed bitterness to their misery, was the
knowledge that beyond this fort was 9
| dyke, which in all probability afforded 9
| path, however narrow and muddy, by
which they could have returned safely tC
| Utrecht
The fort, however, was the gate to thil
avenue Of safety; and even if they had
possessed the requisite means of siege, ifit
was defended for single day, they would
either be swallowed up by the water, in
continuance Of the thaw, or perish miser'
ably through cold and fatigue. But any
thing was better than inaction. The wa.
ter creeping insidiouSly around them was
deadlier enemy than stone walls or can
non shot; and they determined at least tc
make rush upon the immovable masonry
of the fort, and provoke the fire of its de-
tenders. 1t is impossible to account fol
the result 1t may have been the sight Of
so large body Of men rushing in upon
them, and as if from the open sea, theiI
numl er multiplied, and even their indi.
vidual forms. distorted and n.agnified iu
the mist, struck q panic terror into the
hearts Of the garrison; while this may
have been increased by the shouts of cour-
age or despair, booming widely over the
icy waste, and mingling like the voices Of
demons with the rising wind. But how
ever this was, the gates Of the fort opened
at their approach, and the hapless and hall
frozen adventures rushed in without stri.
king blow"