American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-02-22
BURNING OF MOSCOW.

We wonder If history ever tells the ex.
act truth. The following article on the
burning of Moscow, would make us think
not. We clip from the Muscatine (Iowa)
Inquirer:
Coming up to the boat few days ago,
we happened to fall in company with SEN
ator Douglas, who came on board at
Quincy, on his wav to warsaw. In the
course of a very interesting account of his
travels in Russia, much of which has been
pub! b!iished by letterwriters, he stated fact
which has never yet been published, but
which startingly contradicts the received
historical relation of one of the most ex-
traordinary events that ever fell to the lot
of history or record. For this reason, the
Judge said he felta delicacy in making the
assertion, that tile city Of MoscOaU never sOas
burned!
He said, that previous TO his arrival at
Moscow, he had several disputes with his
guide as to the burning of the city, the
guide declaring it never occurred, and
seeming to be nettled at Mr.. Douglas per-
sistency in his opinion, but on examining
the fre-marks around the city, and the
city itself, lie became satisfied that the
guide was correct.
The statement goes on to set forth the
antiquity of the architectural city, partic-
ularily of its six hundred frst-class church
es, stretching through anti -NaIoleonic a
ges to Pagan times, and showing the handi-
work of different nations of history-de-
monstrating that the city was never burnt
down Tor up.) The Inquirer adds:
The Kremlin is. a space of several hun
dred acres, in the shape of fat-iron, and
is enclosed by wall sixty feet high
Within this enclosure is the most magnif-
icent palace in Europe, recently built, but
constructed over an ancient palace, which
remains, thus enclosed, whole and perfect,
with all its windows, etc.
Nearthe Kremlin, surrounded by wall,
is Chinese town, appearing to be several
hundred years old, still occupied by de-
scendants OF the original settlers.
The circumstances which gave rise to
the error concerning the burning of Mos
cow, were these: 1t isa city of 450, 600
inhabitants, in circular form, occupying a
large space, five miles across. There the
winters are six months long: and the Gus
tom was, and still is, to lay up supplies ot
provisions and wood to last six months ol
severe and cold weather To prevent
these gigantic supplies from cumbering
the heart of the city, and yet render then
as convenient as practicable to every 10.
cality, arrow of wood houses was construct
ed to circle completely round the city, ant
outside OF these was row granaries
and in these were deposited the whole o
! the supplies. Napoleon had entered th'
:, city with his army, and was himself occu
pying the palace of Kremlin, when on
night, by order of the Russian Governor
y every wood-house and every granary 81
. multaneously burst into blaze. All et
!, forts to extinguish them were vain. an
Napoleon found himself compelled to marc
his army through the fire. Retiring to a
+ eminence he saw the whole city envelope
!, in vast sheets of flames, and clouds c
y :. smoke, and apparently all on fire. And S
" far as he was concerned, it might as we
have been, for enough were left to suppl
every soldier with room, yet withor
7 provision or fuel; and Russian army
y y cut off all supplies, he and his army coul
J not subsist there. During this fire SON
houses were probably burnt, but the Gil
y y was not. In the Kremlin magazine BILE
\ up, cracking the church of Ivan more tha
a \ hu ndred feet up, but set nothing on fir
Mr.. Douglas saw the fre-mark arour
- the city, where wood-houses and granari
- . for winter supplies now stand as of old, b
u there appears no marks of confagratiC
! within the city. On the contrary, itbea
- - the unmistakable evidence of age.