Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-09-15

gave himself up for dead forty years ago in |
the SHOWS of Russia, and begged as favor |
that l would put a bullet through bis brain,
he looks tolerably hearty and satisfied to live !
'.There is one thing, Monsieur lie Docteur,"
1 said, which do not understand. Did
you mean literally what you said, that since
the Russian campaign you never had felt
what warm feet were p s
ls Literally and truly, sir. When we got
to Orcha, where Jomini was in command and
where the heroic Ney, who had been separa-
ted from the army, rejoined US with the skel-
eton Of his corps-having cut his way, by
sheer valor and soldiership, through clouds of
Platoff's Cossacks-we took days rest. 1t
was the Goth of Novcm beT, the last day OF
anything approaching to comfort, which we
were to enjoy before crossing the Russian
frontier True. we made one more halt at
Molodetschino, whence Napoleon dated his
bulletin of our terrible disasters, but then on
ly portion of US could find lodging; we were
sick half frozen, and numbers died IN the
Streets At Orcha we found shelter and tran
quality; the governor had provided provisions
against our passage, the enemy left US quiet,
and We enjoyed a day of complete reposc--
My baggage had long since been lost, and
my only pair Of boots were torn to shreds.
had been riding with fragments of a soldiers
jacket tied round my feet, which [ usually
kept out of the stirrups, the contact of the
iron increasing the cold. At Orcha, the in
valuable z Paul brought me Jew Ghe Jews
were our chief purveyors on that retreaD with
boots for sale | selected pair and threw
away my old ones, which for many days had
not taken off, My feet were already in
bad state, sore and livid l bathed them,
put on fresh stockings and my newboots, and
contrived with pair of old trousers, sort
of leggings or overalls, closed at the bottom,
and to worn over the boots. From that day
till we got beyond the Niemen, a distance of
one hundred and ten leagues which we took
| three weeks to perform, L never took off any
part of my dress. During that time suffer
! ed greatly from my feet; they swelled till my
! boots were too tight for me, and at times l
! was in agony. When We were comparative
, !y in safety, and I found myself, for the first
! time since | left Orcha, in a warm room with
! a bed to lie upon and water to wash, called
| Paul to pull off my boots Sir, with them
/ came off my stockings, and the entire skin Of
| both feet. fayer's knife could hardly have
done the thing more completely. For mo-
| mcnt gave myself up as lost. | had seen
enough of this kind Of thing to know that my
feet were OF Inc verge of modification. There
, vas scarcely time to amPu;ate, had any one
! been at hand to do it, and had been willing
to preserve life at such a price. Only one
thing could save me, and | resolved to try it.
| ordered Paul to bring me bottle of bran
dy; Iut piece of silver between my teeth,
and badc him pour the spirits over my feet.
| can give you no idea of the excrutlatlug tor
ture then endured 1t was agony-but ii
was safety | bit the form nearly in two, and
broke this tooth" QIcre the doctor drew
| =. IL; ol lafa ~
company with some very white and powerful
grinders } The martyrdom saved me;
recovered, but the new inseguments which il
time covered my feet, seem chilled by the re
collection of their predecessors suffcrings
and from that day TO this [ have never ha
my feet otherwise than cold But here W
are at Orleans, sir, and yonder, as | expec
ted. stands my old Previile,
The train stopped he concluded, and
fine looking veteran, with whita1lair, an emp
A ty sleeve and silkcn patch over one eye
2 peered inquisitivcly into the carriages. Lik
r most Euglishmen, / have a particular aver
sion to the continental fashion of men kissn
and hugging, each other, but [ coLfess | be
, held with interest and sympathy the cordia
embrace of these two old comrades, who the
S quickly separated, and, with hands grasped
e looked joyously and atfectionately into eac
t other 5 faces, Whilst thousand recoi!ectlon
: of old kindness and long eomradeship wer
D evidently swelling at their hearts Iu hi
n JOY, my travelling oLpanion did not forge
the attentive listener, whose journey he ha
so agreeabiy shortened. Turning to NE, b
. presented me to the general, as an English
S MAJ. and new acquaintance, and then col
, daily invited me to pass the rest of the da
: at his house. But the business that took IL
e to Orleans was urgent, and my return to 2;
d ris must be speedy And had it been othe
: wise, think | still should have serupled
C restrain, by strangers presence, the hr
:, blow Of intimate communion to which the tv
d friends looked forward with such warm al
r pleasurable feelings. So l gratefully dccl
ned, but pledged myself to take adv anita!
= of the doctors hospitality upon my next vi:
e to Orleans When that occurs, | shall ho
1t to CLEAN another Russian "Reminiscences.