Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-27
The Death of Sir John Moore.
(Cornhill.l


Moores tactics were both daring and
sblful. He swung round the Fourth
Regiment, so as to smite with flank
fire that section of the French column
sweeping round his right. He ordered
up Paget, and after him Fraser, so as to
left, and meanwhile he launched the
FOrty-second and F1ftieth against the
French column, which had carried the
village in the front. Napier, who COM
manded the Fiftieth, has painted a most
graphic picture Of the struggle. "Clunes,"
he said 20 the captain of the Grenadier
company, take, your Grenadiers and open
the balp' "He stalked forward alone,
like Goliath before the Philistines. for
feet he was in height, and of proper
Tomato bulk and strength and thus the
battle began on our side" Napier stern
ly forbade any firing, and, 20 prevent II,
and TO occupy the mems attention, made
them slope and carry arms by word Of
command. MANY Of them" he said,
"cried out Major, let us fret Not yet
was my answer" The Forty-second had
checked a short distance, .rom a wall,
but Napier led his men Night up TO the
wall, and then said. do you see your
enemies plainly enough to hit them?"
"Many voices shouted, BY 49,. we do'
Then blaze away" said l; and such
rolling fire broke out as / hardly ever
heard since" The wall was breast high.
Napier, followed by the officers, leaped
over, ana called on the men 10 lOliOW.
About hundred did so at once, and, find
ing the others not quick enough for his
impotence, Napier leaped back. and hold
ing a halberd horizontally, pushed the
men quickly over. He then leaped over
himself and the instant he did so FIVE
French soldiers suddenly rose from the
ground. leyelled their muskets at him,
and fred The muskets We're so near as
to almost touch him, but his or
derby sergeant. running at his side struck
them up with his pike, and saved Napier's
life.
Napier dressed his line; and, as he saws,
remembering the story of how the Off
GERS Of the English guards at Fonteroy
laid their swords over the mems tirelocks
TO prevent them firing too high, he did
the same with a halberd-a curious ex-
ample of how one brave act, across a
hundred years, will inspire another How
Napier with the hope of carrying the
great battery, afterwards led part OF his
regiment up lane lined on either side
by French infantry, and so turned into
q mere track of fire; how some unhappy
counter-order prevented the Fiftieth sup
porting him, and how Napier himself was
told here. The story will be found
related with inimitable fire and humor In
Napier's own life.
Meanwhile. at every point the British
were victorious. The Guards and the
Black Watch carried the village; Baird
loss the columns that assailed them, and
Moore, eagerly watching the whole line
Of battle from the right of his position,
was about to hurl Pdget. supported by
Fraser. on the French left.
At that moment Moore was struck on
the left breast by a cannon-ball. and
dashed violently on the ground. It was
a dreadful wound. The shoulder was
smashed the arm hung by a piece Of
skin. the ribs over the heart were strip
no of nj "a h. taAIa
that covered them hung in long rags.
But Moore. absorbed I'm the great struggle
before him. sat up I'm an instant, his eyes
still Gag rly watching Pagets advance.
His staff gathered round him. and he
was placed In a blanket, and some sol
dlers proceeded to carrying him from the
field. One Of his staff. Hardinge, tried 10
unbuckle his sword. as the hilt was en-
tangled in the strips OF flesh hanging
from his wound. but the dying soldier
stopped him. II had rather" he said.
sit should go out of the field with mep'
One of his officers, taking courage from
Moore's mistaken countenance. expressed
hope OF his recovery. Moore looked
steadfastly at his own shattered breast
for an instant and calmly answered: mo;
feel that 70 be impossible" Again and
again, as they carried the dying General
from the field. he made his bearers halt
and turn round that he might watch the
fight. It was the scene of Wolfe on the
Heights OF Abraham repeated And the
spectacle was such as might well gladden.
the eyes of Moore. On the left and at the
centre the British were everywhere ad-
vancing. Paget's column was overthrow
ing everything before IL I'm the valley.
Had Fraser's Division. as Moore intend
ed, been brought up and frankly thrown
into the fight. IL can hardly be doubted
that Soult would have been not merely
overthrown, but destroyed. His ammuni-
ton was almost exhausted. His troops
were In the mood OF retreat. The Nero,
a fordless river. crossed by single
bridge, was in his rear. He had lost
5000 men, the British less than 100; ana
the British II may be added, were luii
OF proud and eager courage.
But Moore was dying. Baird was Sc
verely wounded. The early winter hlsns
was Creeping over the field OF battle, and
Hora- gallant soldier though ne was