Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-09-02

y
interrupted discharge, swept into their
faces a pitiless tempest of destruction.
Horses and riders, struck by the balls,
rolled over each other by hundreds on
the sand. They were trampled and
crushed by the iron hoofs OF the
Thousands of frantic steeds, enveloped
III dust and smoke, composing the vast
and impetuous squadrons. But the
squares stood firm as the pyramids at
whose base they fought. Not one was
broken, not one wavered. The daring
Mamelukes, in the frenzy of their rage
and disappointment, threw away their
lives with tie utmost recklessness.
They wheeled their horses round and
reined them back upon the ranks, that
they might kick their way into those
terrible fortresses of living men.
Rendered furious by their inability to
break the ranks, they hurled their pistols
and carbines at the heads of the French.
The wounded crawled along the ground
and with their cimeters cut at the legs
of their indomitable foes. They dis
played superhuman bravery, the only
virtue the Mameiukes possessed. But
an incessant and merciless fire from Ma
pGleon's well-trained battalions contin-
ually thinned the ranks, aud at last the
Mamelukes. in the widest disorder,
broke and fed. The infantry in the in
trenched camp, Witnessing the utter
discontinue of the mounted troops,
whom they had considered invincibie,
and seeing such incessant and volcanic
sheets OF fame bursting from the i'm
penetrable squares, caught the panic
and joined the flight. Napoleon, now
in turn, charged with the utmost impetu-
osity. A scene of indescribable confu-
sion and horror ensued. The extended
plain was crowded with fugitives, foot
men and horsemen, bewlldered with
terror, seeking escape from their terri
bic foes. Thousands plunged into the
river and endeavored to escape by swim
ming to the opposite shore, but shower
of bullets like hailstones fell upon them,
and the waves of the Nile were GRIM
soned with their blood. Others sought
the desert, a wild and rabble rout. The
victors, with their accustomed celerity,
pursued, pitilessly pouring into the
dense masses of their flying foes the
most terrible discharges of artillery and
musketry.
The route was complete, the carnage
awful. The sun had hardly reached the
meridian before the whole embattled
host had disappeared, and the plain, as
far as the eye could extend, was strewn
with the dying and the dead. The
camp, with all its oriental wealth, fell
into the hands of the victors, and the
soldiers enriched themselves with its
profuslon OF splendid shawls, magnifi
cent weapons, Arabian horses, and
purses filed with gold. The Mamelukes
were accustomed to lavish great wealth
in the decoration of their persons, and
to carry with them large sums of money.
The gold and trappings found upon the
body of each Mameluke were worth
from 81, 200 to $1,000. Besides those
who were slain upon the field, more
than ] 1,0O0 of these formidable horse
men were drowned in the Nile. For
many days the soldiers employed them
selves in fishing up the rich booty, and
the French camp was filled with an
abundance. This most saneuinary
battle cost the French scarcely 100 men
in killed and wounded. More than
10, 900 of the enemy persisted. Napoleon
gazed with admiration upon the bravery
which these proud horsemen displayed.
Gould I have united the Mameluke
horse to the French infantry" said he,
81 should have reckoned myself master
Of the world"
After the battle, Napoleon, now the
undisputed conqueror of Egypt, quar-
tered himself for the night in the coun-
try palace of Mourad Bey. The apart.
ments of this voluptuous abode were
embellished with all the appurtenances
of oriental luxury. The multitude OF
eivans and cushions were covered with
the finest damasks and silks and orna-
mented with golden fringe. Egypt was
beggared to minister to the sensual in
diligence of these naughty despots. The
"battle of the Pyramids sent thrill
of terror far and wide into the interior
of Asia and Africa. These proud, mer-
ciless, licentious oppressors were exc
Grated by the timid Egyptians, but they
were deemed invincible. In an hour
they had vanished like mist before the
genius of Napoleon.