Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-11-20

and other writer's. Their narratives are shock
ing enough, but nothing to the reality. They
would have sickened their readers had they
told all they saw. If any body who went
through the campaign could remember and set
down all he witnessed, he could make the most
heart-rending book that ever yet was printed,
and would be accused Of gross exaggeratton.--
Exaggeration indeed there was no need to
heighten the horrors of the winter of 1872
All that frost and famine, lead and steel, could
inhct was then endured all the crimes that
reckless despair and ruthless cruelty could
prompt were there"
"And how" / asked, "did you escape when
so many, doubtless as strong and courageous,
and more enured to hardship, miserably per-
ishcd ?"
"Cnder Providence, owed my preservation
to the trusticst and most faithful servant ever
master had. Paul had been several years in
the hussars-was an old soldier, in fact, al
though still a young man, and at time when
all discipline and subordination were at an end,
when soldiers needed not their officers, officers
avoided their generals, and servants and mas
tiers were all alike and upon level, Paul PROV
ed true as steel. As if cold and the Cossaoks
were not enough, hunger was added to our suf-
ierings; there was no longer a commissariatsso ssor
distribution of rations rations, forsooth dead
horse was luxury have seen men fight for
till DEATH lean meat though it was, for the poor
brutes were as starved as their riders. What
little there was to eat in the villages we passed
through, fell to the share of the first comcrs.-
Empty larders, often smoking ruins, were all
that remained for those that came behind
Well, sir, when things were at the worst, and
provender at the scarcest, Paul always had
something for me in his haversack One day it
would be a bit of bread, on the morrow
handful of grain or some edible root, now and
then slice of horse-beef-and how delicious
that seemed, grilled over our scanty, smoky
fires There was never enough to satisfy my
hunger, but there was always a something
enough to keep body and soul together. Paul
as | afterwards discovered, husbanded his
stores, for he well knew that if he gave me all
at once, should have nothing, and then must
have tasted for days, and perhaps fallen from
my horse from weakness. But think of the
courage and affection of the poor fellow, him
self half starved to carry food about him day
after day, and refrain from devouring the share
secretly set aside for me, There were not
many men in the army, even of generals
rank capable of such devotion to the dearest
friend they had, for extreme misery had in
duced terocious selishness, which made US
more like hyenas than Christians
81 should think the cold must have been
even worse to endure than hunger said !,
screwing up my chilly extremites, which the in
terest Of ,he Doctors conversation had almost
made me forget.
at was, harder and more fatal-at least a
greater number died of it although. to say
the TRUTH frost and famine worked there hand
in hand, and with such unity of action that it
was often hard to say which was the cause of
death. But it was shocking sight Of morn
ing to see the poor fellows lying dead round
the bivouc fires. Unable to resist fatigue and
the drowsy influence of the cold they Welded
tn slumber, and passed from sleep into death.
For there sleep was death
"But how, then" | asked. "did any ever es-
cape from Russia, for all must have slept at
times?"
81 do not believe that any who escaped did
sleep, at least not of night, at the bivouc-
We used to rouse each other continually, to
prevent our giving way, and then get up and
walk as briskly As we could, to quicken the
sluggish circulation. We slept upon the
march, in our saddles, and strange as it may
seem to YOU, even those on foot slept when
marching. They marched in groups or cus-
ters, and those in the center slept, propped and
supported by their companions, and moving
their legs mechanically. | do not say that it
was a sound sleep, deep sleep, but rather
sort of veverish dozing. Such as it was, how
ever, it was better than nothing, and assuredly
saved some who would otherwise have sunk
Others, who would have given way to the
weariness upon the long, monotonous march,
were kept from utter despair and abandonment
only, by the repeated harrassing attacks of the
Cossack. The excitement of the skirmish
warmed their blood, and gave them, as it SEEM
ed, fresh hold upon life. In one Of those skir-
mishes, or rather in sharp combat, dear
FRIEND a captain in the same regiment, had his
left arm carried off by cannon shot. After
the affair was over, | came suddenly upon him
where he lay moaning by the roadside, his face
ashy pale, his arm still hanging by the sinews
His horse had either gallopped away, or been
taken by the fugitves."
"Ah, mon amir he cried when he saw me,
"all is over-I can go no further. l shall new
er see France again."
81 say that, like the majority of those who
received severe wounds in that retreat, his NOR
al courage was subdued, and had given way to
despair. was terribly shocked, for felt how
slight was his chance of escape. Ineed hardly
tell you there was very little dressing of wounds
during that latter part of the retreat most of
the surgeons were dead, theshospital wagons,
with medicine and instruments, had been left
on the road transport for the sick was out of
the question. | assumed as cheerful a counte-
nance as | could"
"Why, Previle," l cried, this will not do
we must get you along somehow. Come cou-
rage, my friend You shall see France again,
in spite of ALL"
"Ah, DOCTOR replied he, in piteous tones,
"it is no use. Here l shall die, All you can
do for me is to blow my brains out, and save
me from the Cossack lances."
"By this time had dismounted and was by
his side. The intense cold had stopped the
bleeding of his wound. l saw that there was
no lack of vitality in him, and that, but for
this mishap, few would have gone out of the
campaign in better plight. Even now, his de-
spondency was perhaps his greatest danger.
reminded him of his wife and child he chad
married little more than year, and the news
of birth of daughter had reached him on
our forward march,) of his happy home, his old
mother-of all the ties, in short, that bound
him to life. Whilst speaking, severed the
sinews that still retained the shattered arm and
bound it up as best l might He still despair
ed and moaned, but suffered NE TO do as
would. He was like an infant in my hands
that man who in the hour of battle, was very
lion for courage. But long suffering, and the
sudden shock-occurring too when we seemed
on the verge of safety-had overcome his for
Al IL IL.