The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-02-01

BRANDON, THURS
ravens and troops of dogs that had fol.
lowed the army from Moscow, screecheC
and howled along the march, and otter
fastened on the victims before life wa;
extinct. The only objects visible above
the snow were the tall pines, which, with
their gigantic stems and funeral foliage,
cast darker horror over the scene, and
seemed 10 rise up like frowning and
gloomy monuments to mark the grave Of
The expiring host. AS night approached,
the sufferings of the soldiers increased
they sought in vain for the shelter of a
rock, the cover of friendly hahitation,
or the warmth of cheerful fire; and
although at intervals, blaze might be
seen in the bivouac, it flashed with a
sickly light, and served but to prepare a
miserable meal of rye, mixed with snow
water and horse flesh, for the starving
multitude"
After giving the details of various bat
ties and disasters of the retreating army,
Alison winds up the sad story as follows:
Wiltgens:ein was more successful.
BY his first charge he drove Victor to a
retreat, and as the only avenue of escape
lay across the two bridges over the Bere-
sina, those conveyances were Immediately
thronged with a confused mass of fugi-
lives, who trampled each other in their
flight, and blockaded the passage by the
madness of their efforts. AS the Russian
corps successfully gained ground, their
batteries formed vast semi.circIe, which
played necessarily on the bridges, and
augmented to desperation the terror of the
multitude who were struggling to cross
over. In the midst of this confusion, the
artillery bridge broke down, and the
crowds upon it, being pressed forward by
those in the rear, were precipitated into
the water and drowned. Infantry, caval.
ry and artillery now rushed upon the
other bridge, and dashed upon their horses
and gun carriages through the mass of
people, crushing some beneath the wheels
and horses feet like victims before the
car of Juggernaut, and pushing others
over the sides of the bridge.
In these moments of agony, all varie-
ties of character were exhibited-selish.
ness with its baseness, cowardice with its
meanness, and heroism with its power
and generosity Soldiers seized infants
from expiring mothers. and vowed 10 adopt
them as their own; officers harnessed
themselves to sledges, to exlricate their
wounded companions; prvates threw
themselves on the snow beside their dying
officers, and strove, at The risk of incur
ring captivity or death, to solace their last
moments. In the midst of this terrific
scene, Victor, who had nobly sustained
the ardrous duty of covering the retreat
during the whole day, arrived with the
rear-guard at the entrance of the bridge.
His troops, with stern severity, opened
passage for themselves through the he p
less multitude who thronged the bridge
and the shore adjoining it, whom despair
and misery had at length rendered inca
pable of exertion, and who now could
neither be persuaded nor forced TO cross
10 the opposite bank. These horrors con-
tinued throughout the night and when
The morning dawned, Victor saw the
Russian advance guard approaching;
the destruction of the bridge, therefore,
became Indispensable, to the safety of the
French army, and orders were given to
burn it. A frightful cry arose from the
host on the eastern shore of the river.
who were too late awakened 10 the reai-
ties of their situation: numbers rushed on
the burning bridge, and, to avoid the
flames, jumped into the wafer, while the
greater proportion wandered in helpless
misery along the river, and beheId their
last hopes expire with the receding COL
umes Of their countrymen.
This dreadful passa ge of the Beresira
the ruin of the Grand Army,
which lost during its continuance, twenty
five pieces of cannon, sixteen thousand
men in prisoners, and twelve thousand in
slain. The corps of Victor Oudinot were
reduced 10 the Geplorable state of the troops
hat came from Moscow, and the whole
army, having lost al; appearance of mill
tary order, marched in confused mass
along the road TO wilma, harrassed at
each step by the Cossacks, who cut off
every straggler and made constant attacks
on the rear.gua!d. In the midst of the
general ruin, number of officers organ
lied themselves into guard, called the
Sacred Squadron, for the Emperor's pro-
lection. The gentlemen who composed
ii discharged with heroic fidelity the task
assigned to them, and executed without
all the duties of common sol.
diers: but the severity of the cold soon
destroyed their horses, and they, as well
as the Emperor, were again compelled to
pursue their route on foot thro' the snow.
At n Il ht III Oil hiunnnc ,,,n,, for,,,,d L., h.,