The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-11-08
The Battle Of the Pyramids.

AN
consisted of one hundred and two yes
sells of war, with four hundred trans.
ports, conveying forty-six thousand
combatants. With dispatch never be-
fore equalled this gigantic expedition
was got up. Napoleon worked night
and day, infusing his energy into every
department, and experimenting the
minutes details.
Napoleon commenced his march up
on the city of Alexandria before the
morning had dawned 1t was found
that he was as infinitely informed re-
speoting the country rs if he had lived
there from childhood. The Name
lukes rushed bewildered to the ram
parts. The French, with their ladders
all ready, and of the right length swept
over the walls like an inundation, The
conflict was short, and with the loss
of but thirty men, the flag of the CON
quefor waved over the city Alexan-
dria.
On the 9th of July, leaving three
thousand men to garrison Alexandria
Napoleon set out TO cross the desert
sixty miles of the Nile A hotilla, la
den with artillery, provisions, amuni
ton, and baggage sailed along the
shore to ascend the Nile and meet the
army, to accompany its march up the
river to Cairo.
The morning of the fifteenth day of
their march had just dawned when the
long-wishedfo for Nile appeared winding
through valley of the richest verdure.
The whole army, thirty thousand III
number, rushed to the river with
shouts, and in almost delirium of
Joy.
But Just then body of thousand
Mameluke horsemen OH fleetest char
gerslcame sweeping down, rending the
air with their yells. The well-drilled
soldiers instantly formed in squares,
with the artillery at the angles A
palisade of bristling bayonets was OPP
posed to the breasts of the horses A
volcanic burst of fire, from artillery
and musketry, Frustrated steeds and
riders by scores in the dust. The sur
vivors wheeled their steeds, and like
the whirlwind as they came, disap-
peared. The march of the army was
now like n dream of romance.
Beneath sunny skies, and through
the uxuriance and verdure of the Nile
valley, they sang and danced in the
exuberance of Joy. Pigeons were
abundant, and the most delicious wa
termelons were brought to camp in ex-
haustless supplies.
On the morning of the 21st of July,
after march of fifteen days the army
came in sight of the domes of Cairo.
The city was on the eastern bank of
the river, while the narrow, but won
derfully luxuriant valley of the Nile
was bordered on the west by those gil
gantic pyramids, which for ages have
been the wonder of the world
Soldiers" said Napoleon, 'forty
centuries from those SUBMITS contem-
plate your actions "
At the foot of these pyramids the
whole plain was filed with armed men,
glittering in all that barbaric display
of plumes, and gold, and cleaning
banners which has ever characterized
the Orients. Here Murad Bey had as
sembled his great strength for final re-
sistance Twenty-four thousand men
were placed behind the most formida-
BILE entrenohlnents, amply supplied
with heavy guns and all the munitions
of war. Ten thousand horsemen were
ready to plunge upon the French as
soon as the Moslem artillery should
make gap in their ranks.
"You shall now see us" said Murad
Bey, "cut up those dogs like gourds."
Napoleon did not delay the attack
an hour. BY lateral movement he
moved his squares to the right, that
they might be out of the range of tn,
enemy's guns, and might attack il
flank.
The spectacle was indeed terrific
Ten thousand horsemen, on fleetes
steeds, rending the skies with then
yells, came down upon the squares
causing the very earth to tremble be
meath their tread. War never present
ed more furious charge. The sol
diers, holding their breath in awe, STOOD
shoulder to shoulder presenting tbs
bayonets to receive the shock. Th'
moment the Mamelukes arrived with
in gunshot, volley after volley OF mus
kerry and artillery swept their ranks
Horses and riders rolled over each 9th
en- by hundreds ON the sand. The dy
ing and the dead were trampled mel C.
lessly by the rush of the impetuou
squadrons. But the French square
stood as firm as the pyramids at who's
} base they fought,
J The Mamelukes, in the frenzy c
, their courage, reined their horses back
that they might kick their way int
, those terrible ranks, belching fire an
bristling with steel The wounded
pierced by bayonets, endeavored b
! crawling upon the ground to smit
p the legs of their foes with their scimi
tars.
D But nothing could resist the disc
plined courage of the French. Vo
I canic sheets of flame We're incessantl
bursting from the squares, every bu
let fulfilling its mission, and soon I'll
| plain was covered with the dead an
Q dying. The infantry in the intrenche
Q camp, witnessing the utter discount
@ ure If the mounted Mamelukes. VIII