of Soult's left, whenever the attack began. As we
debouched into the plain, I beheld a group of horsemen, who, wrapped up
in their cloaks, sat motionless in their saddles, calmly regarding the
squadrons as they issued from the wood: these were Murat and his staff,
to whom was committed the attack on the Russian Guard. His division
consisted of the hussars and chasseurs under Kellermann, the cuirassiers
of D'Auvergne, and the heavy dragoons of Nansouty,--making a force of
eight thousand sabres, supported by twenty pieces of field artillery.
Again were we ordered to dismount, for although the battle continued
to rage on the right, the whole of the centre and left were unengaged.

Thus stood we as the sun arose,--that "Sun of Austerlitz!" so often
appealed to and apostrophized by Napoleon as gilding the greatest of his
glories. The mist from the lakes shut out the prospect of the enemy's
lines at first; but gradually this moved away, and we could perceive the
dark columns of the Russians, as they moved rapidly along the side of
the Pratzen, and continued to pour their thousands towards Reygern.

At last the roar of musketry swelled louder and nearer, and an officer
galloping past told us that Soult's right had been called up to support
Davoust's division. This did not look well; it proved the Russians had
pressed our lines closely, and we waited impatiently to hear further
intelligence. It was evident, too, that our right was suffering
severely, otherwise the attack on the centre would not have been
delayed. Just then a wild cheer to the front drew our attention
thither, and we saw the heads of three immense columns--Soult's
division--advancing at a run towards the enemy.

"_Par Saint Louis_," cried General d'Auvergne, as he directed his
telescope on the Russian line, "those fellows have lost their senses!
See if they have not moved their artillery away from the Pratzen, and
weakened their centre more and more! Soult sees it: mark how he presses
his columns on! There they go, faster and faster! But look! there's a
movement yonder,--the Russians perceive their mistake."

"Mount!" was now heard from squadron to squadron; while dashing along
the line like a thunderbolt, Murat rode far in advance of his staff, the
men cheering him as he went.

"There!" cried D'Auvergne, as he pointed with his finger, "that column
with the yellow shoulder-knots,--that's Vandamme's brigade of light
infantry; see how they rush on, eager to be