THE BURNING OF MOSCOW
J.T.HEADLEY is an American author，who has written some very popular works，among which are，Bonaparte and his Marshals ，Washington and his Generals，etc.
1.AT length Moscow，with its domes，and towers，and palaces，appeared in sight；and Napoleon，who had joined the advanced guard，gazed long and thoughtfully on that goal of his wishes.Murat went forward，and entered the gates with his splendid cavalry，but as he passed through the streets he was struck by the solitude that surrounded him.Nothing was heard but the heavy tramp of his squadrons as he passed along，for a deserted and abandoned city was the meager prize for which such unparalleled efforts had been made.As night drew its curtain over the splendid capital，Napoleon entered the gates，and immediately appointed Mortier governor.In his directions，he commanded him to abstain from all pillage.“For this，”said he，“you shall be answerable with your life.Defend Moscow against all，whether friend or foe.”
2.The bright moon rose over the mighty city，tipping with silver the domes of more than two hundred churches，and pouring a flood of right over a thousand palaces and the dwellings of three hundred thousand inhabitants.The weary arm sunk to rest，but there was no sleep for Mortier‘s eyes.Not the gorgeous and variegated palaces and their rich ornaments，nor the parks and gardens and oriental magnificence that every-where surrounded him，kept him wakeful，The Burning of Moscowbut the ominous foreboding that some dire calamity was hanging over the silent capital.When he entered it，scarcely a living soul met his gaze as he looked down the long streets；and when he broke open the buildings，he found parlors，and bedrooms，andchambers，all furnished and in order，but no occupants.This sudden abandonment of their homes betokened some secret purpose yet to be fulfilled.The midnight moon was settling over the city，when the cry of “Fire！”reached the ears of Mortier；and the first light over Napoleon’s faltering empire was kindled，and that most wondrous scene of modern times commenced-THE BURNING OF MOSCOW.
3.Mortier，as governor of the city，immediately issued his orders，and was putting forth every exertion，when at daylight Napolcon hastened to him.Affecting to disbelieve the reports that the inhabitants were firing their own city，he put more rigid commands on Mortier，to keep the soldiers from the work of destruction.The Marshal simply pointed to some iron-covered houses that had not yet been opened，from every crevice of which smoke was issuing like steam from the sides of a pent-up volcano.Sad and thoughtful，Napoleon turned toward the Kremlin，the ancient palace of the Czars，whose huge structure rose high above the surrounding edifices.
4.In the morning，Mortier，by great exertions，was enabled to subdue the fire.But the next night，September 15th，at midnight，the sentinels on watch upon the lofty Kremlin saw below them the flames bursting through the houses and palaces，and the cry of “Fire！fire！”passed through the city.The dread scene was now fairly opened.Fiery balloons were seen dropping from the air and lighting on the houses；dull explosions were heard on every side from the shut-up dwellings，and the next moment light burst forth，and the flames were raging through the apartments.All was uproar and confusion.The serene air and moonlight of the night before had given way to driving clouds and a wild tempest，that swept like the roar of the sea over the city.Flames arose on every side blazing and crackling in the storm；while clouds of smoke and sparks in an incessant shower went driving toward the Kremlin.The clouds themselves seemed turned into fire，rolling wrath over devoted Moscow.Mortier，crushed with the responsibility thrown upon his shoulders，moved with his Young Guard amid this desolation，blowing up the houses and facing the tempest and the flames，struggling nobly to arrest the conflagration.
5.He hastened from place to place amid the ruins，his face blackened with smoke，and his hair and eyebrows singed with the fierce heat.At length the day dawned，a day of tempest and of flame，and Mortier，who had strained every nerve for thirty-six hours，entered a palace and dropped down from fatigue.The manly form and stalwart arm that had so often carried death into the ranks of the enemy，at length gave way，and the gloomy Marshal lay and panted in utter exhaustion.But the night of tempest had been succeeded by a day of tempest；and when night again enveloped the city，it was one broad flame，waving to and fro in the blast.
6.The wind had increased to a perfect hurricane，and shifted from quarter to quarter，as if on purpose to swell the sea of fire and extinguish the last hope.The fire was approaching the Kremlin，and already the roar of the flames and crash of falling houses，and the crackling of burning timbers，were borne to the ears of the startled Emperor.He arose and walked to and fro，stopping convulsively and gazing on the terrific scene.Murat，Eugene，and Berthier rushed into his presence，and on their knees besought him to flee；but he still clung to that haughty palace as if it were his empire.