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

( ~ j
On the 21st of July, 1859. Napoleon,
still following the Nile, arrived in sight
of Cairo. The pyramids hsd been in
view for some days. The approach to
these wonderful monuments of antiquity
and the appearance of the superb cav
airy of the Mamelukes caracoling around
their bases, excited 2 feeling of wonder
and enthusiasm in the minds of the
French soldiers, and IT was at this mo-
ment when Napoleon uttered the n2em-
orable address to his legions: "Soldiers !
You have come to rescue Egypt from
barbarism, to bring civilization to the
East, and to save this beautiful land
from the yoke of England. Forty GEN.
turies are now looking down upon you
from the tops of these monuments" at
the village of Embaden Napoleon again
encountered Mourad Bey, who had
armed the village with artillery, en-
trenched his militia with a support of
5000 Mamelukes and Arabian cavalry.
The brilliant charges of the Mamelukes
failed against the advancing French
squares. Never were charges better
made or better sustained, but the vigor
and ardor of these famous horsemen
even augmented the disorder in their
! own ranks, and unable to penetrate the
French squares, they songht to die In
the attempt. The intrenchments fell in
to the hands of the French, end the
Arabs fed toward upper Egypt, except
/ 1,500 who were drowned in the Nile.
The victors found forty pieces of artl-
| lery in the Notifications and the we'll
equipped camp that fell into their hands.
The French loss was inslgniicant-les
than 1000 were killed and wounded,
and the victory opened the gates of Cal
70, which Napoleon entered on the 25th
of July.
AS this famous battle, which virtually
completed the conquest of Egypt by
Napoleon, was fought Just outside Of
Cairo, where the attention of the En-
glish forces is now directed, detailed
description of it is in place here. The
i following description of the battle of the
Pyramids Is from "Abbott's Life of
| Napoleon.
On the morning of the 21st of July,
Napoleon, conscious that he was near
the city (of Cairo), set his army in mo
ton before the break of day. Just as
the sun was rising in those cloudless
skies, the soldiers beheld the lofty min
arets of the city upon their left, gilded
by its rays, and upon the right, upon
the borders of the desert, the gigantic
pyramids, rising like mountains upon
an apparently boundlesS plain. line
whole army instinctively halted, and
gszed awe-stricken upon those noun
tains of antiquity. The face of Napo-
-
diers," he exclaimed, as he rode along
the ranks, "from those SUBMITS forty
centuries contemplate your actions. !"
The ardor Of the soldiers was aroused
to the highest pitch. Animated by the
clannor of martial bands and the CLEAN
OF Haunting banners, they advanced with
impetuous steps to meet their foes. The
whole pain before them, at the base of
the pyramids, was filed with armed
men. The glittering weapons of 200
horsemen. in the utmost splendor Of
barbaric chivalry. brilliant with plumes
and arms of FURNISHED steel and gold,
presented an array inconceivably i'm
posing. Undismayed, the French
troops, marshaled III five invincibie
squares, pressed on. There was no
other alternative. Napoleon must march
upon those intrenchmeDts, behind which
"a, 600 men were stationed with power
ful artillery and musketry to sweep his
ranks. and formidable body of 10. 600
horsemen on feet aud powerful Arabian
steeds, awaiting the onset, and ready to
seize upon the slightest indication OF
confusion, to plunge with the fury
which fatalism can inspire upon his
bleeding and mangled squares. 1t must
have been with Napoleon q moment of
intense anxiety; but as he sat upon his
horse In the center of one OF the squares,
and carefully examined with his tele-
scope the disposition OF the enemy, no
one could discern the least trace of I'M
easIness. His gaze was long and in
tense. The keenness OF his scrutiny
detected that the enemy's guns were
not mounted upon carriages, and. that
they could not. therefore, be turned
from the direction in which they were
placed. He Immediately, by lateral
movement. guided his army TO the right,
toward the pyramids, that bis squares
might be out of the range of the guns.
and that he might attack the enemy in
flank. The moment Mourad Bey per-
ceived this evolution he OWNED its OBJ
iect. and with great military sagacity,
resolved Instantly to charge. ''You
shall now see us" said the proud bey,
"cut up those dogs like gourds p
It was, indeed, n fearful spectacle.
Ten thousand horsemen, megnificently
dressed, with the feetest steeds in the
world, urging their horses, with bloody
spurs, to the most impetuous and
furious onset, rending the heavens with
their cries, and causing the very earth
to tremble beneath the thunder OF iron
feet, came down upon the adamantine
host. Nothing was ever seen in wal
more furious than this charge. Ter
thousand horsemen form an enormous
mas; those longer Injured to danger felt
that it was an awful moment. 1t seemed
impossible to resist such a living ava
lanche. The most profound silence
reigned throughout the ranks, inter
rupted only by the word of command
With bated breaths the soldiers stood
shoulder to shoulder, with their brist
ling bsyonets to receive the shock
The moment the Mamelukes arrived
within gunshot the artillery at ths