The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-10-21

50 walked and led il, although at that
time, couh hardly hobble.
II is oil useless, my dear doctor Prcvile
said (: this il my last day; feel that. Far
better shoe, me, or leave me by the roadside
than risk ysur lie for my sake,
took - heed, but tried 10 cheer him,
Those unclAn beasts, the Cossacks, were
towering stound us as usual, and at times
the bullets (ell pretty thick. Not quarter
of an hour bad elapsed since set Prevllle
on my horS. when sho, struck his right
cye--not estering his head, but glancing
across the 9obe, and completely destroying
the sight. Well. sir, then there occurred u
physiological phenomenon which ] have
never been able satisfactorily TO account for,
This man, whom the loss Of an arm had re-
duced to despair. seemed TO derive fresh
courage iron the loss Of M eye. At any
rate, from that moment be complained no
more Of hshte, resumed his usual manly
tone, and b,re up like hero. Paul WAS
lucky enough 10 catch riderless horse,
which moanted. The worst was over,
and we 5000 got n respite. Without troub-
ling you with details, and incredible though
it may seem to you. my poor friends cscap
cd with his life, although with limb and
an eye the Iass
There must have been many extraordi-
nary escapes from that campaign. re.
marked
lnnumerablc. There was surgeon Of
Dragons, u former comrade Of my servants
who, for many days, marched besides inc
and Paul. lie received severe wound.
There were some vehicles still with Us ut
that time. aud We got him place in one Of
them, and made him M comfortable ns we
could. The following night We stopped At u
town. 10 the morning, a. We were about
to march, the COssacks came down. There
was great confusion several baggage cars
were captured in the streets, and some Of
the wounded were abandoned in the house
where they had passed the night. Among
these were Sergeant Fritz Not many
houses in the town were still in good condi-
tion--mos, Of them had been burned and
knocked to pieces by the soldiers. The
hoase in which Fritz lay had still its doors
and windows. and was one OF the most com.
Portable in the place, on which account IL
had been converted into a hospital. Well,
the Russians came, brought their wounded.
and turned out our poor fellows TO make
room for them. Some, who could not move
quickly enough. were brutslly pitched out Of
IA low window into garden behind the
bouse, there 10 perish miserabIy. Fritz was
one Of these. Only just able 10 crawl be
mad. bis way around the garden seeking
with another garden. II was locked, and
pain and weakness forbade him climb
ing over. lie sate close 10 the gate, prop.
ped against il, and looking wistfulIy through
the bars at the windows OF house, and at
the cheerful glow of fire, when he was per.
ccivai by young girl. She came out and
opened the gate and helped him into the
hOuse. He father was German clockma-
ker, long since settled in Russia, and Fritz
u Swiss, spoke German well. The kind peo-
pie vnt him 10 bed, hid bis uniform, aud
tended him like -on, When in the follow.
ing pring his health was restored. and he
would have left them. tbs German proposed
10 him TO remain and assist him in bis trade.
lie accepted the offer, married the German's
daughter, and remained in Russia until his
father. in-law's death, when he was taken
with longing 10 revisit his native noun
tain and return u Switzerland with his vile
and family. met him since at Paris, and
be told me his story. But although his es-
cape WAS narrow and romantic eDough, there
mus, have been others much more remarka.
BILE. Most Of the prisoners made by the
Russians, and who survived the cold and
harsh treatment, were sent 10 Moscow to Ia
Dor at rebuilding the city. When the fine
season came, some oi them managed 10 es-
cap and TO make their way, in various dis
gus.s, and through countless Uivcntures.
back 10 their own country.
have set down the most striking portions
Of oar conversstion--Or, rather, Of the doc
tors narrative, since did little but listen /;
and occasionally by u question or remark,
directed his commubicatiyeDs7 into the
channel wished it 10 take. We were now
near Orleans.
The letter ! was reading when we started.
said my companion. and which has brought
back To my memory all that ] have told
you-st risk. perhaps, of wearying you, be
adjsi with Sigh, bow and smile. and q
host Oi Othsr circumstances, ~ me- VI thrill
ing snd everlasting interest, IA General Pre-
vile who lives IN the south 0f France, but
has come UNEXPECTEDLY 10 ORLEANS 10 pas q
month with me. That ia his way. He
liyes happily With mar'ol daughter but
nos and then the desire 10 ~ ~ Old com
raJe and " fight old battles over again,
corDss % strongly upon him. that he has bis
yalise packed a, sn hour. notice, and takes
me by surprise. Iis knows well that tie
Generals Rom abd 40 aiiectiOna,e reeep
ton a.~sys await him. | received his let-
ter--fall Of references 10 oid times-yester-
dag evening, and AM now hnrrying back 10
Orleans To - him. He may very likely BE-
xaiti5g fr No at the station and you will
-s that, ior man who gave himself ap for
dad forty years ago 10 the snows Of ROssiA,
and t-gg''i. a. q favor. bullet through biz