The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-12

| him why he did not withdraw. Every
man." he replied, lis master of his own
life, and as your Majesty seems determined
to dispose OF your own, l must be allowed
to fall beside you"
&This fidelity and love struck the gener-
Gus heart Of Murat, and he turned his
horse and galloped out of the fire. The
| affection of a single man could conquer
him, at any time, whom the enemy seemed
| unable to overcome. His own life was
nothing, but the life of friend was sur
passingly dear to him.
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1905.
As proof that he was an able General as
well as brave man, 1t is necessary only
| to refer to the campaign of 1905. He COM
menced this campaign by the victory oil
Wertingen-took 5000 prisoners at Langue-
nau. advanced upon Neresheim, charged
the enemy and made 5000 prisoners,
marched to Norlingen and compelled the
whole division of Weernesk to surrender
beat Prince Ferdinand, and hurrying after
| the enemy, overlook the rear-guard of the
Austrians, charged them and took 500
prisoners-tOok Ems, and again beat the
enemy on the nights of Amstetten, and
| made 800 priSOnerS-puShed on to Saint
| Polten, entered Vienna, and without stop
ping, pressed on after the Russians and
| Overtaklng their rear-guard, made 2000
| prisoners, and crowned his rapid, brilliant
| career with prodigies of valor that filled all
| Win Oh the LeiU OF
AuSterltz.
! Bonaparte usually put from 10000 to
10000 cavalry under Murat, and placed
| them in reserve behind the lines, and
when he ordered the charge he was almost
certain of victory. Alter a long and vast
| ing fight, in which the infantry struggled
| with almost equal success, and separate
bodies Of horse had effected but little,
| Bonaparte would order him down with his
enormous weight of cavalry.
| 1t is said that his eye always frightened
| as he saw that magnificent body begin to
move, and he watched the progress Of that
single white plume, which was ever visible
| above the throng with the intensest in
| terest. Where it went he knew were
broken ranks and trampled men, and
while it went he knew that defeat was
impossible. Like Ney, he carried immense
moral force with him. Not only were his
followers inspired by his personal appear
ance and incredible daring, but he had
acquired the reputation OF being invincible,
and when he ordered the charge, every
man, both friend and foe, knew it was to
be the most desperate one human power
could make.
And, then, the appearance of 70, 900 horse
men coming down on the dead gallop, led
by such a man, was enough to send terror
through any infantry.
The battle of Valentino exhibited an
instance of this moral force of Murat He
had ordered Junot to cross marshy fat
and charge the flank of the Russians while
he poured his strong cuirassiers on the
center Charging like storm with his
own men, he was surprised to find that
Junot had not obeyed his command.
Without waiting for his guard he wheeled
his horse, and galloping alone through the
wasting fife, rode up to him and demanded
why he had not obeyed his order.
Junot replied that he could not induce
the Westphaian cavalry to stir, so dread
full was the fire where they were ordered to
advance. Murat made no reply but rein
ing his steed up in front of the squadrons,
waved his sword over his head and dashed
straight into the sharpshoOters, followed
by that hitherto wavering cavalry as if
they had forgotten there was such thing
as danger. The Russians were scattered
like pebbles from his path; then turning
to .Junot, he said There, thy Marshal's
staff is hall earned for thee; do the rest
thyself."
PROMPTITUDE AND DARING. y
Soon after, at the battle of Borodino, as
the redoubts were carried and BagratiOn
was driven back, and while Murat was
endeavoring to rally his men, disordered
with victory, the second Russian line adj
vanced, and the latter became entirely
surrounded before he was aware of it. To
escape being made prisoner, he threw HIM
self into one of the redOubts, where he
found only few soldiers, panicstricken,
and running in alright around the fort
seeking a way OF retreat. Instantly calling
them to halt, he stood and waved his
plume, as a banner, over his head, and
finally rallied them to resi- stance, and held
the redoubt till Ney advanced to his de-
liverance. AS these two heroes stood and
breasted the terrible tempest that then
burst upon them, Murat saw the soldiers of
Friand's division beginning to break, and
heard one of the officers order a retreat.
Running up to him, he seized him by the
collar and exclaimed:
What are you about"
The Colonel pointed to the ground, on
which lay half his troops, and said, you
see it is impossible To stand here"
VERY well, replied Murat. Il will re-
main" The officer stopped, looked at him
q moment in surprise, and then turning
round, coolly said
"You are right Soldiers, face the enemy:
let US go and be killed."
Throughout this fatal campaign he bore
himself like one who could not be killed. |
and when the mournful retreat commenced |
he fought with the same mistaken cour- /
age. Though his cavalry had melted |
away, and his gorgeous apparel had given |
place to the soiled and tattered garments of |
u fugitive, and the gay and brilliant knight |
had disappeared before the rigors of Win
ter, the claims of hunger, toll, and defeat, |
he still charged with the same imPetuosity |
as ever.
His apparel, dazzling as it was, had
nothing to do with his courage. He once
said to Mot, at the siege of Jaffa, who
asked him what he would do if the enemy
should surprise him in the night, We'll, |
would mount on horseback in my shirt
should be the better distinguished in the
dark" His snowy exterior simply CORE
Sponded with his chivalric sentiments.
But it is impossible to speak of all the |
in which he took part. He
was in constant service, and he never
ought battle without performing some
heroic deed. On the plains of Italy, over
The sands of Egypt, by the waters OF Jor-
ian, by the Danube and Rhine, through
the snowdrifts of Russia-everywh here,
over hundreds of battlefields, he moves
he same intrepid leader and chivalric
warrior. ResistleSs in the onset, deadly in
he pursuit, he flies from one scene of
strife to another. as ii war were his ele-
nent.
ITO be continned)
Editorial neutrality-suspicious. of stirring
events, including great battle scenes, and