The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-14

/ fire before his men, as they closed sternly
behind him. Nearly three-fOurthS OF his
whole division had fallen in this Their
mopylte, and nothing but its skeleton was
left standing, looking as if a hurricane had
passed through it. Still he would not
yield, but rousinG his men by his wor Is
and example, cleared a terrible path
! through the enemy with his sword.
With his majestic form rising above the
| throng that tossed like wreck on Il strong
current about him, he was visible to all his
men. Sometimes he would be seen com
petely enveloped by the Russian .grcna-
diers, while his dripping saber swept in
rapid circles round his head, drinking the
life Of some poor wretch with every blow,
as he moved steadily on in the lane he
made for himself Pauying sword cut and
bayonet thrust, he trod amid this chaos
and death as if above the power OF fate.
With friends and foes falling like Au-
tumn leaves around him, he still remained
untouched: and il was owing TO his amaZ-
inC strength alone, and the skill and power
with which he welded his Saber, that he
escaped death. His strokes fell like light
ming on every side, and under them the
strongest gYenadief bent like smitten
reed.
WORDS OF A HERO.
Struck with admiration at his gallantry
and thinking all was lost, his ofIicefS be
sought him to step into a bark they saw
moorcd to the shore and escape. mo, "
said he, in the spirit Of true herOism,
Keep that for the wounded. He who has
the honor to command such brave soldiers
should think himself happy TO die with
them. We have still two guns left, and a
few boxes Of cr1peShot-Wc are almost
through. Close up the ranks for a last
effort" And they did close up, and move
inirepidly into the fire.
But the last Of the ammunition was
Z and then not hj1p left bIf
the bayonet. But just then cheer burst
on their ears over the roar Of battle-the
cheer Of approaching deIiverance, and they
answered it. That shout was like life to
the dead. and that torn and mangled rem
nant of a column closed up for final
charge.
The Russians few up a side valley be-
fore the onset; and with the shout Trance,
France, you have saved us" that weary
but heroic band rushed into the arms Of
their deIiverers. A loud hurrah rent the
air, and the bloody conflict was done.
Nearly six thousand men lay piled in
CHASTITY heaps along the road while broken
muskets and twisted bayOnets, scattered
here and there, showed how close and
fierce the struggle had been.
Tie deep and solemn silence that sue
ceeded this upr0ar was broken only by
The groans OF the wounded or the sullen
murmur Of the Danube, that rolled its
bright wa tcrS along as calmly as if no
deadly strife had stained its banks with
blood.
The smoke Of battle, which had rolled so
fieTcely over the scene, now hung above
the river, or lay along the hilsides like
thin vapor, calm and tranquil; while ma
ture breathed long and peacefully.
Morticr had been out7generaled, but not
conquered, and his bearing on this coca
sion stamped him as a true hero. The de-
cision TO cut his way through the enemy
or perish; the personal courage he eK-
hibited, and the noble resolution to fall
amid his brave followers, when all hope
seemed lost, exhibit not only the great
ness OF the warrior, but the nobleness of
the man.
IN THE RUSSIAN EXPEDITION.
His career, as has been remarked in
Spain, was not a. brilliant one; but he
appears before us again in his true char
acter in the expedition 10 Russia. The
honorable post OF commander OF the Young
Guard was given to him. and his place was
near the EmperOf'S person. He took no
active part in the great combats through
which the Grand Army passed to Moscow
for Napoleon was sparing both of the
Young and Old Guard, and would not
allow them TO be engaged.
At Borodino Ney and Murat i'm the
midst Of the conflict, sent frequently to
| Napoleon for its aid and though it marched
to the margi of the battle, ready to pour
It's massive columns on the enemy the
moment the French should yield it re-
| manned merely spectator Of The fight
| AS the army approached Moscow, Murat
| and Mortier were ordered TO advance on the
city. They marched for two days with
nothing to eat but bruised wheat and horse