The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-11-04
THE sUNKEN ROAD OF

All went well with Napoleon during the
early part of the day at Waterloo. His
plan Of the battle was admirable. It was
succeeding admirably He was in ex-
cellent spirits; he jested and smiled
Looking out where the magnificent Scotch
Gray $ on their superb horses, were nassed,
aud thinking of the doom he was prepar-
ing for them, he said, with stern cemmis-
Grafton, as inexoraDle Fate might have
SAID, ssItis PITY -. % I. .es ...
1t was a pity that thousands of noble
f..rms, both friend and foe, should perish
to feed the ambition of one; but for what
ever stood in the path of his triumph,
this man had no mercy. . ystasi saaia4
The allies fell back; and Napoleon sent
off courier to Paris announcing that the
day was won. .s sH /. 81
It was necessary to follow up the repulse
with a blow that should annihilate.s He
ordered the cuirassiers to charge. sia,fsss
Tho cuirassiers were the thunderbolt OF
the Freuch army, Hugo deyotcs an en-.
tire aud wonaeriul chapter to description
thateharge. They were three thoasand
NE hundred. fney were glgantlc men
OIL colossal horses. They wore easques.
without plumes, cuirasses OF wrought IRON,
suI long sabre-swerds. They carried,
aorsepistols IN their holsters Ney drew
his sword and placed himself at their head;
In two columns, with sabres in air, ban
ners waving, trumpets sounding, they adj
vanced, disappeared in the smoke OF the
valley of death, and reapPeared on the
farther slope, sweeping up the plateau OF
Mont ST. John, Through a rain of grape,
pafaltering, solemn, terrible, the two col
umns, resembling two serpents OF glitter
Ing steel, with tine helmets for scales,
st-etohed towards the crest OF. the acciiyi-
ty' aa ~ - ast yess :
There, behind the crest under cover of
q masked battery. the English infantry,
for.nen IN squares, awaited the onset-
They could not see the cuirassiers, and
the cuirassiers could not see them: They
b Ird amid the roar OF artillery The steady ,
rcsounding tramp OF the advancing hosts.
Tnon, through smoke, like spears OF the
sunrise through the mists of the morning,
rose the line OF fbfandisned sabres.g ~ zoe
Esapsreuri' was the cry, shouted by
three thousand iron-clad heroic men.
Aud the charging squadron swept on.
But suddently there was a check. The
advance of the right column was thrown
into confusion, rearing stumultuously'
What was the obstacle? Not the English
they were not yet reached. But the CUR
assiers mad come to a road cut through the
hill. It was the road TO 0hain. It was
like an immense track with precipiteu'
sides. Napoleon had not discovered it II
sweeping the field with his glass. Int
it, atetull speed, their horses furious, un
manageable, the front ranks pressed OF
by those behind, the ill-fated cuirassiers
charged, went down, rolled in masses
Rider and horse in one red buria
blent:p 81.
It.was this sunken road, this unforeseen
fatality, which turned the tide. From
dat moment everything went wrong witt
Napoleon Not the English army, bu
his own, was annihilated. psAs q sssf
He had come to a sunken road, not OF
the battiezfeid only, butenthe 6eld hi
destiny. @ @asei
There are many such hidden trenche
of fate; for it is not, after all, the greates
human victor that governs events. Their
is Victor over all; and He leads, whel
it is necessary, the most defiant and au
daci5us to their dest truction. = -,