Newspaper Page Text
No Vol. VII.]
bat tle of bokodino.
From a Review of “ Segur's Narrative of the
Campaign in Russia.”
At length the consummation of Napoleon's
wishes—a battle with the Russians —seemed to
approach. The Russian army halted at Borodino,
Napoleon announced a battle to his ar.
my ; he allowed it two days to rest, to pre
pare arms aud to collect subsistence. He
merely warned the detachments sent out in
quest of provisions, that if “ they did not
return the day following, they would be
deprived of the honour ol fighting.”
’ The emperour then endeavoured to ob
tain some information concerning his new
adversary. Ku-usof was described to him
as an old man, the ground work of whose
reputation had been formerly laid by a sin
gular wound.’ He had since skillfully prof
ited by circumstances. The very defeat
of Austerlitz which he had foreseen,
added to his renown, which was further in
creased by hi* late campaigns against the
Turk?. His valour was incontestable, but
he wa9 charged with regulating its vehe
mence according to his private interest; —
for he calculated every thing. His genius
was slow, vindictive, and above all, crafty
the true Tartar character !—knowing
the art of preparing an implacable war with
a fawning, supple, and patient policy.
In other respects he was a more adroit
courtier than able geueral ; but formidable
by his renown, by his address in aug
iuenting it, and in making others concur in
this object. He had contrived to flatter
the whole nation, and every individual of
it. from the general to the private soldier.
It was added, that there was in his per
son, in his language, nay, even in his very
dress, his superstition* practices and his age,
a remnant ofSuwarrow—the stamp of an
ancient Muscovite, an air of nationality,
which rendered him dear to the Russians
—at Moscow the joy at hi* appointment had
been carried to intoxication ; people ern
braced one another in the streets, and con
sidered themselves as saved.
When Napoleon had learned these par
ticulars, and given his orders, he awaited
the event with that tranquility of mind pe
culiar to extraordinary men. He quietly
employed himself in exploring the environs
of head quarters. He remarked the pro
gress of agriculture, but at the sight of the
Gjatz, which pours its waters into the Wo!,
ga, he who had conquered so many rivers,
felt anew the emotion* of hi glory ; he
was heard to boast of being tlie master of
those waves destined to visit Asia, as if they
were going to announce his approach, and
to open for him the way to that quarter of
the globe.
Napoleon having determined on hi? plan,
—had returned to his camp, when Murat,
whom ‘he Russians had so often deceived,
per-nnded him that they were going to run
away once more without fighting. In vain
did Rapp, who was sent to observe their t
titnde, return and say, (tint he had seen
them intrenching themselves morp and
more ; that they were numerous, judicious
ly disposed, and appeared determined much
rather >o attack, if they were not aolicipa
led, than to retreat ; Murat persisted in hi?
opinion, and the enemy uneasy, returned to
the heights of Borodino.
There he (ierceived long black columns
of troops covering the high road,and spread
ing over the plain ; then large convoys of
wagons, provisions and ammunition, in short
all the dispositions indicative of a stay and
a bade. At that very moment, though he
had !ikn with him but few attendants, that
he might not attract the notice and ttie fire
of the enemy, he was recognized by the
Russian batteries, and a cannon shot Midi
denly interrupted the silence of that day.
For, as it frequently happens, nothing was
eo calm as the day preceding that great
bailie.
Thus these two colossal foes, on the point
o f commencing their terrible contest,watch
ed each other attentively, measured on>’
another w ith their eves, and silently pre
pared for a tremendous conflict.
The emperour who could no longer en
terlain doubi* of a battle, returned to his
tent to dictate the order of it. There he
meditated on his awful situation. He had
seen that the two armies were equal; about
120,000 men, and 600 pieces of ctiunon on
either side. The Russians had the advan
tage of ground, of speaking hut one tan
guage, of one uniform, of being a single na
tion, fightingfor the same cause, but a great
number of irregular troops and recruits
Tbe French had as many men, but more
soldiers ; for the state of his corps had just
been submitted to him: he had before his
eyes an account of the strength of his divis
ions, and a* it was neither a review nor a
distribution,but a battle that was in prospect,
this time the statements were not exagger
• sited. His army was reduced indeed, hut
; sound, supple, nervous, —like those manly
3 bodies, which, having just, lost the plump
’ness of youth, display forms more masculine
and strongly marked.
Still, during ‘he several days which he
had marched in the midst of it, he had found
I it silent, from that silence which is imposed
1 bv great expncta'ion orgreat astonishment;
l like Nature, the moment before a violent
1 tempi sf, or .rowds at the mstaat of an ex
traordinary danger.
THE MISSIONARY.
He felt that it wanted re9t of some kind
or other, but that there was no rest for it
but in death or victory ; for he had brought
it into such a necessity of conquering, that
it must triumph at any rale. The temerity
of the situation into which he had urged it
wa9 evident, but he knew that of all faults,
that was the one which the French most
willingly forgave ; that in short, they doubt
ed neither of themselves nor of him, uor of
the general result, whatever might be their
individual hardships.
He reckoned, moreover, on their habit
and thirst of glory* and even on their curi
osity ; no doubt, they wished to see Moscow,
to be able to say that they had been there,
to receive there the promised reward, per
haps to plunder, and above all, there to find
repose. He did not observe in them enthu
siasm, but something more firm ; and entire
confidence in his star, in bis genius, the
consciousness of their superiority, and the
proud assurance of conquest, in th'e pres
ence of the vanquished.
Foil of these sentiments, he dictated a
proclamation, simple, grave, and frank, as
befitted such circumstances, and men wbo
were no’ just commencing their career, and
whom, alter so many sufferings, it would
have been idle to pretend to exuß.
Accordingly he addressed hitnself solely
to the reason of all, or what is the same
thing, to the real interest of each; he fin
ished with glory, the only passion to which
he could appeal in these deserts, the last of
the noble motives by which it was possible
to act upon soldiers always victorious, en
lightened by an advanced civilization and
long Qxj.-erience ; in short, of all the gener
ous illusions, the only one that they could
have carried so far. This harangue will
some day be deemed admirable; it was
worthy of the commander and of the army ;
it did honour to both.
“Soldiers,” said he, “here is the battle
which you have so ardently desired. The
victciy will now depend upon yourselves;
it is needful for us: it will give us abun
dance, good winter quarters, and a speedy
return home ! Behave as von did at Auster
litz, at Friedland, at Witepsk, and at Smo
ien*k, and afford to remotest posterity occa
siou to cite your conduct on that day; let it
be said of you, ‘lie was in that great battle
under tbe walls of Moscow.’ ”
Thu picture of the two armies before the awful
battle, where so many brave soldiers fell, is one
of the most livtly, and yet solemn, of the whole
work.
About (lie middle of the day, Napoleon
remarked an extraordinary movement in
tbe enemy’s camp ; in fact, the whole Hus
sun army was drawn up under arms, and
Kutusof, surrounded with every’ species of
religious anil military pomp, took his station
in the middle of it. He had made his popes
and his archimandrites dress themselves in
those splendid and majestick insignia which
they bave inherited from the Greek*.
They marched before him, carrying thp
venerated symbols of their religion, and par-,
licularly that divine image, formerly the
protectress of Smolensk, which, by.their
account, had been miraculously saved from
the profanation of the sacrilegious French.
When the Russian saw that his soldiers
were sufficiently excited by this extraordin
ary spectacle, he raised his voice, and he*
gan by putting them in miod of heaven, the
only country which remains to the slave.
Iu the name of the religion of equality, he
endeavoured to animate these serfs to de
fend ‘he property of their masters; but it
was principally by exhibiting to them that
sacred image which bad taken refuge in
their ranks, that be appealed to their cour
age, and raised their indignation.
Napoleon, in his mouth, was “ a univer
sal despot! (he tyrannical disturber of the
world! a poor worm! anarch-rebel, who
had overturned their altars, aud polluted
them with blood ; who had exposed the
(rue ark of the Lord, represented by the
holy image, to the profanation of men, and
the inclemency of the seasons.” He then
told them of their cities reduced to ashes:
reminded them that they were about to fight
for their wives and children; added a few
words respecting (he Emperour, and con
cluded by appealing to their piety and their
patriotism. These were the virtues of in
stinct with this rude and simple people, who
had not yet advanced beyond sensations, but
wbo, for that very reaon, were so much
more formidable as soldiers; less diverted
from obedience by reasoning; confined by
slavery to a narrow circle, iD which they
are reduced to a small number of sensations,
which are tbe only sources of their wants,
wishes and ideas.
As to their characteristicks, proud for
want of comparison, and credulous as they
are proud, from ignorance. Worshippers
of images, idolaters as much as Christians
can be; for they had converted that religion
of the soul, which i* wholly intellectual and
moral, into one entirely physical and mate
rial, to briog it io the level of their brute
and short capacity.
This solemn spectacle, however, their
gpi.eral’s address, the exhortations of their
officers,and the benedictions oft heir priests,
served (ogive a thorough tincture of fanat
icism to theircoorage. All, even (he mean
est soldier, fancied fhemelves devoted by
God himself to thp defence of Heaven, and
their consecrated soil.
nfoii u. j- y * ? 11 ‘. he wor,d ’ and P reach tbe Gospel to every creature Jesus Christ.
all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.— Washington.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1825.
With the French there was no solemnity, 1
either religious or military, no review, no i
means of excitation: even the address of;
the Emperour was not distributed till very
late, and read the next morning so near the
time of action, that several corps were actu
ally engaged before they could hear it.
The Russians, however, whom so many
powerful motions should have inflamed, ad
ded to their invocations the sword of St.
Michael, thus seeking to borrow aid from
ail the powers of Heaven; while the
French sought for it only within themselves,
persuaded that real strength exists only in
the heart, and that there is to be found the
“ celestial host.”
Dreadful was the anxiety of Buonaparte before
the battle of Borodino: and yet his greatest dis
tress seemed to be caused by the fear that the
Russians would again make their escape without
fighting. Many a messenger was sent to know
whether they still kept their ground. On receiv
ing assurance that they did, and having attended
to the wants of his guards, Napoleon went into
his tent and soon fell into a doze.
Shortly after, he called once more. His
aid de camp found him now supporting his
head with both hands ; he seemed, by what’
was heard, to be meditating on the vanities
of glory. “ What is war? A trade of bar
harians, the whole art of which consists in
being the strongest on a given point!” He
then complained of the fickleness offortune,
which, he said, he began to experience.
Seeming to revert to more encouraging
ideas, he recollected what had been told him
of the tardiness and carelessness of Kutusof,
and expressed his surprise that Bonnirgsen
had not been preferred to him. He thought
of the critical situation into which he had
brought himself, and added, “that a great
day is at hand, that there will be a terrible
battle.” He asked Rapp if he thought we
should gain the victory. “No doubt,” was
the reply, “ but it will he sanguinary.” “ I
know it,” resumed Napoleon; “hut I have
80,000 men; 1 shall loose 20,000; I shall
enter Moscow with 60,000; the stragglers
w ill then rejoin us, and afterwards the bat
talions on the march, and we shall be strong
er than we were before the battle. In this
estimate he seemed to include neither his
guard nor the cavalry.
Again assailed by his first anxiety, he sent
onCe more to examine the altitude of the
Russians: he was informed that their fires
burned with equal tiria*hlneaa, and ifiat by
the number of these, and the moviDg shad
ows surrounding them, it was supposed that
it was no! merely a rear guard, but a whole
army that kept feeding them. The cer
tainty of their presence at last quieted the
Emperour, and he tried to take some rest.
But the marches which he had just made
with the army, the fatigues of the prece
ding days and nights, so many cares, and his
iatense and anxious expectation, had worn
him out; tbe coldness of the atmosphere
had stuck to him ; an irritatiog fever, a dry
cough, and excessive thirst, consumed him.
During the remainder of the night, he made
vain attempts to quench the burning thirst
which consumed him. This fresh disorder
was complicated with an old complaint, with
which be had been struggling since the day
before.
At last, just at five o’clock, one of Ney’s
officers came to inform him that the marshal
was still in sight of the Russians, and wished
to begin the attack. This news seemed io
restore the strength of which the fever had
deprived him. He arose, called his offi
cers, and went out, exclaiming, “ We have
them at last! Forward! Let us go and open
the gates of Moscow.”
The account of the attacks and the changing
fate of the various divisions of the opposing armies
would little interest the general reader, who must
be more anxious to become acquainted with its
results. The battle was terrifick, but the French
had the advantage in the end, though they paid
dearly for it. At one period of the light, it would
appear, from Segur, that the road was open to
victory ; but Murat, Ney, and Davoust were ex
hausted ; they halted, and while they were ral
lying their troops, they sent to Napoleon for rein
forcements.
Napoleon was then seized with a hesita
tion which he never before displayed; he
deliberated long with himself, and at last,
after repeated orders and counter-orders
to his young gnard, he expressed his be
lief that the appearance of Friand and Mau
burg’s troops on the heights would be suf
ficieot, the decisive moment not appearing
to him to be yet arrived.
But Kutusof took advantage of the respite
which he had no reason to expect ; he
summoned the whole of his reserve, even
to the Russian guards, to the support of his
uncovered left wing Bagration with these
reinforcements reformed his line, his right
resting on the great battery which Prince
Eugene was attacking, bis left on a wood
which bounded the field of battle towards
Pasarewo. His fire cut our ranks to pie
ces ; his attack was violent, impetuous, and
simultaneous ; infantry, artillery, and caval
ry ; all made one grand effort. Ney and
Murat stood firm against this tempest; the
question with (hem was no longer about
following up the victory, but about retain
ing it.
The soldiers of Friand, drawn up in front
of Semenowska, repelled the first charges,
but when they were assailed with a show
er of balls and grape shot, they began to
give way ; one of their leaders got tired,
and gave orders to retreat. At that criti
cal moment, Murat ran up to him, and seiz
ed him by the collar, exclaimed, “ What
are you about ?■’ The colonel, pointing to
the ground covered with half his troops,
answered, “You see well enough that it is
impossible to stand here.”—“Very well, I
will remain!” exclaimed tbe king. These
words stopped the officer ; he looked Mu
rat steadily in the face, and turning round,
coolly said, “ You are right! Soldiers, face
to the enemy ; Let us go and be killed !’’
Meanwhile, Murat had just sent back
Borelli to the Emperor to ask for assistance ;
that officer pointed to the clouds of dn9t
which the charges of the cavalry were rais
ing upon the height o , which had remained
tranquil since they had been taken. Some
cannon halls also for the first lime fell close
to where Napoleon was stationed ; the ene
my seemed to be approaching; Borelli in
sisted, and the Emperor promised his young
guard. But scarcely had it advanced a few
paces, when be himself called out to it to
halt. The Count de Lobau, however,
made it advance by degrees, under pre
tence of dressing the line. Napoleon per
ceiving it, repeated his order.
Fortunately, the artillery of the reserve
advanced at that moment, to take a posi
tion on the conquering heights; Lauriston
had obtained the Emperor’s consent to that
tnanceuvre, but it was rather a permission
than an order. Shortly after, however, he
thought it so important, that be urged its
execution with the only movement of im
patience he exhibited during the whole of,
that day.
It is not known whether (he doubt, as to
the results of Prince Poniatowski & Prince
Eugene’s engagement on his right and left,
kept him in uncertainly ; what is certain is,
that he seemed to be apprehensive lest the
extreme lelt of tbe Russians should escape
trom the Poles, and return to lake posses
sion of the field of battle in the rear of
Ney and Murat. This at least was one of
the causes of his retaining his guard in ob
servation upon that point. To such as
pressed him, his answer was, “ that he wish
ed to have a belter view ; that his battle
was not yet begun ; that they must learn
to wait; that time entered into every thing;
that it was the element of which all things
are composed ; that nothing was yet suffi
ciently clear.” He then inquired the hour,
and added. “ that the hour of his battle was
not yet come; that would begin in two
hours.”
But it never began i (he whole of that
day he was sitting down, or walking about
leisurely in front, and a little to the left of
the redoubt which had been won on the
sth, on the borders of a ravine, at a great
distance from the battle, of which he could
scarcely see any thing after it got beyond
the heights ; not at all uneasy when he saw
it return nearer to him, nor impatient with
his own troops, nr the enemy. He merely
made some gestures of melancholy resigna
tion, on every occasion, when they came
toiciurm him of the loss of his best gener
als. He rose several times to take a few
turns, but immediately set down again.
Every one around him looked at him with
astonishment. Hitherto, during these
great shocks, he had displayed an active
coolness; but here it was a dead calm, a
mild and sluggish inactivity. Some fancied
(hey traced in it that dejection which is
generally the follower of violent sensations;
others, that he had alieady become in
different to every thing, even to emotion
of battles. Several remarked that the
calm congtaocy and Sangfroid which great
men display on these great occasious, turn,
in the course of time to phlegm and heav
iness, when age has worn out their springs.
Those who were most devoted to him, ac
counted for his immobility by the necessity
of not changing his place too much, when
he was commanding over such an extent, in
order that the hearers of intelligence might
know where to fiod him. Finally, there
were other? who, ou much better grounds,
explained the whole by the shock which
his health had sustained, and his violent in
disposition.
There cannot be the smallest doubt that Napo
leon was no longer the hold, decided, active gen
eral, he bad proved himself in Italy and Egypt,
at Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena, Fi iediatid, Esslin
gen, and Wagram. His generals were not second
ed in their mighty efforts to cover themselves with
glory, and to complete a victory. Nothing could
mdiice their chief to send them his reserves—his
guard ; “he wanted to see more clearfly upon
his chess board,” was his comir.k answer, in the
midst of danger and death. The explanation of
thie conduct is given us in these words:
Belliard, in consternation, returned to
the king of Naples, and informed him of
the impossibility of moving the emperour ;
he said he had found him seated in the
same place, with a suffering and dejected
air, his feature? sunk, a dull look ; giving
his orders langui-hicgly.in the midst of these
dreadful warlike noises, to which he seem
ed completely a stranger ! At this account,
Ney, furious, and hurried away by his ar
dent and unmeasured character, exclaimed,
“ Are we (ben come so far, to be aaiisfied
with a field of battle? What business has
the emperor in the rear of the army ?
There he is only within reach of reverse,
and not of victory. Since he will no longer
make war himself, smee he is no longer the
general, as he wishes to be the emperor ev
ery wljere, let him return to the Thuille
ries, and leavs us to be generals for him !”
Murat was more calm ; he recollected
having seen the emperor the day before at
he was riding along observing that par 1 of
the enemy’s line, halt several times, dis
mount, and with his head resting upon a
cannon, remaio there some time in the at
titude of suffering. He knew wbat a rest
less night be had past, and that a violent
and incessant cough cut short his breathing.
Tbe king guessed that fatigue and the first
attack of the equinox had shaken his
weakened frame, and that in short, at
that critical moment, the action of
his genius was in a manner chained down
by his body, which had sunk under the tri
ple load of fatigue, of fever, and of a mala
dy which, probably more than any other,
prostrates the moral and physical strength
of its victims.
Still further incitements were not want*
ing, for shortly after Belliard, Dara, urged
by Dumas, said in a low voice to the empe*
ror, “ that from all sides it was the cry that
the moment for sending on the guard had
come.” To which Napoleon replied—
“ And if there should be another battle to
morrow, where is my army ?” The minister
urged no farther, surprised to see, for the
first time, the emperor putting off till to
morrow and adjourning his victory.
In another place we are informed that after Na
poleon
had retired to his tent, great mental anguish
was added to his previous physical dejec
tion. He had seen the field of battle—
places had spoken mure loudly than men;
tbe victory which be had so eagerly pur
sued, and so dearly bought, was incomplete.
VVa9 this he who h;id always pushed his
successes to the farthest possible limns,
whom Fortune had just found cold aud in
active, at a time when she was offering him
her last favours ?
The losses were certainly immense, anil
out. of all proportion to the advantage* g J in*
ed. Everyone around him had to lament
the loss of a friend, a relation orahroiher,
for the fate of the battle had fallen on the
most distinguished. Forty-three generals
had been killed or wounded. What a
mourning for Pari* 1 what a triumph for his
enemies ! what a dangerous subject for the
reflections of Germany ! In his army, even
in his very tent, victory was silent,gloomy,
isolated, eveo without flatterers !
RELIGIOUS.
Augusta Auxiliary Bible Society.
Extract from the last Report.
Since its establishment to the present
time, (seven years) this Society has receiv
ed from the American Bible Society, 4604
copies of the Scriptures, and has distributed
4219. During the last year of its opera
tion*, it has received from the same source,
474 Bibles and 602 Testaments, making tu
gether 1076 volumes of Scriptures. 1< has
issued for sale and distribution, during the
same time, 555 Bibles and 584 Testaments
—total 1139 copies of the Scriptures.
At the last annual meeting, (he funds in
the Treasurer’s hands, amounted to
$2Bl 14. Since then, tbe following suras
have been received, to wit: from annual
subscribers and donors $252 25 from one
life subscriber $lO 00; from the sale of Bi
bles aod Testameuts, made by ‘he agents
and members of your board $369 08, ma
king a sum total, received during the last
year, including the balance on hand at the
last annual meeting, of $862 47. Os this
sum, $756 35 have been remitted by your
treasurer, to the agent of the American Bi
ble Society, in payment for Bibles and Tes
taments ; $22 00 have beeD paid for print
''it 400 copies ol the last aunnal report;
aud s3l 02 to defray the incidental expen
ses. These payments deducted from the
amount received during the year, leave a
balance in the treasury of $54 10. D* ducf
ing trom thie balance, however, $35 28, the
amount now due the American Bible Socie
ty, for 51 pica Testaments just received,
leaves a final balance ol $lB 82 now in the
treasury.
From the above statement, it appears,
that this society, during ine seven year* of
its existence, has transmitted to the parent
institution, the sum of $2325 34 in payment
for the scriptures; a greater amount, than
has been paid to that society, during the
same period, by any other auxiliary m the
United Slates; except one in Massachusetts,
(wo in the city of New York, one in Balti
more, and one in Savannah—a fact which
justly ranks this society, among the most im
portant of the numerous auxiliaries m our
country.
While the managers, in behalf of the So
ciety, acknowledge their great obligations
to ih'<*e persons in this state and in South
Carolina, who have officiated as agent* of
the Society in distributing the scriptures;
they solicit their future co operation, in the
same commendable labour. The impor-,
tanl objects of this Society, have been gi fat
ly promoted, by the willing and active ser
vices ot friendly coadjutor* in the inlerinur.
I he accomplishmeni ot the benevolent pur
poses ol tbe institution, mu*t hereafiei de
pend very much upon a continuation ut the
-am*- kind and charitable offices. And the
Board take this opportunity of observing,