The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-02-01
J. HOLCoMB &c D. S. MURRAY, PUBLISHERS.

PottulC IuuS ucCduiC unaVOIudDI6, Lnel
made exerlions equal to the emergency
and in short time, no less than tire,
hundred thousand people left their homes
n AT eleven o'clock, on the 18th, the ad
vanced guard of the French army, from
an eminence on their route, deserted the
minarets of the metropolis; the domes o.
more than two hundred churches, and the
roofs of a thousand palaces glitlered in
the rays of the sun, and the leading squad
rons, struck by the magniicence of the
spectacle. halted to exclaim, Moscow
Moscow and the cry repeated from rank
to rank, reached the emperor's guard
The soldiers then broke their array, and
rushed unanimously forward, while Ma
poeon in the mids, Of them, gazed impl-
tiently on the scene. His first words
were, Here is that famous city at last 7
but he Immediately added, : 1t is full time.
The entry of the French troops into
the Town, however, dispelled many OF
their illusions. Moscow was deserted.
It's long streets and splendid palaces re-
echoed nothing bnt the clangor of the
invaders march: the dwelling places of
three hundred thousand people were as
silent as a wilderness Napoleon in vain
waited until evening for deputation from
the magistrates, or from the chief nobili.
ty. No one came forward TO deprecate
his hostility, and the mourntuI truth final
| Iy forced itself upon him, that Moscow,
as if struck by enchanlment, was bereft
of Its inhabitants. He nevertheless ad-
vanced, and the troops took possession of
the town, while he established his head
quarters at the ancient palace of the Cars.
But terrible catastrophe was at hand.
AT midnight, on the 25th, bright light
illuminated the northern and western parts
of the city and the seninels at the Kren-
lin, soon discovered that the splendid edi-
fees in that vicinity were on fire. The
wind changed repeatedly during the night,
but to whatever quarter it veered, the
conhagration extended itself; fresh fires
were perpetually breaking out, and Mos
cow WAS soon one sea of fame. Napo-
leon chung with great tenacity to the
Kremlin, but the approaching and sur
rounding fire at last forced him to aban-
don it, and with some difficulty he made
his escape to the country palace of Pet
rowsky. The confagration continued for
lhirty-six hours, and lald nine-tenlhs of
the city in ashes"
Afterthe destruction ofMoscow, Napoleon
remained amid the ruins, and in the vicini-
ty, two or three weeks, in the expectation
that the government of St. Petersburg
would grant him favorable terms Of peace.
But the autocrat delayed to return an
answer 10 his proposals, undoubtedly in
The belief that The tremendous power of
The climate would soon fight the great
battle for him, and give him the victory.
The main Russian army in the mean
time, and for the same reasons, remained
quiet, and with the exception of slight
diminishing parties, gave the French no
trouble. But on the 18th of October a
fall OF snow aroused Napoleon to a sense
of his danger, and he began in earnest to
make preparations for retreat.
The moment the French army began
their retrograde movement, the Russians
were upon them from every direction, and
a series of disastrous engagements en-
sued. AT last. on the 24lh, Napoleon
found that his retreat was cut off by so
powerful force that it was necessary to
fall back upon another road, and pursue
another direction. On this occasion the
Emperor's agitation was so great, it was
said his attendants dared not approach
him. He went into the little cottage
which constituted his headquarters, and
sent for three of his generals When
they came, Napoleon was sitting by a
table with a map of the country before
him, and after some few remarks, he be-
came mecitalive. and resting his cheeks
on his hands, and his elbows on the table,
he fixed his eyes on the map and remain.
ed nearly an hour in moody silence The
three generals, respecting his mental suf-
terlng. remained silent the whole time.
AT last the Emperor suddenly started up
u dismissed them without making known
his intentions. But the fatal retreat was
resolved upon, and early on the morning
of the Goth the men silently and mourn
fully commenced their march.
1.-The weather, though cold and frosty
at night, had hitherto been bright and
clear during the day: but on the 9th of
/ November The Russian winter set in with
unwonted severity. Co!l fogs at first
rose from the surface of the ground, and
obscured the face of the sun; few flakes
of snow hol'ed in the air. and gradually
| the light of day declined, and thick,
, murky gloom overspread the armament
The wind rose and blew with frightfu
violence, bowling through the forest or
sweeping over the plains with resist|ess
fury; the snow soon covered the earth,
and numbers of the troops, in struggling
forward, fell into hollows or bitches which
were concealed by the treacherous sur
face, and persisted miserably before the