Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-03-10
written for the Marshall Co. Republican,
~l,--i.oag 'l,..1i.,a L 81 q, sjam adI
vsB l.aH snimif on, THE vsl To s9ti9r W.
RETREAT FROM MOSCOW,
2 BY MAJOR JOHN =. LANGENDAroH, SEN.
CHAPTER w. =


are dragging behind them. After all the scene Is
a gay oue The expedition Of the witches ON the
Brochen could not appear more fantastic than the
masquerade before jsst now. AT the building Of
the tower of Babel il was not cursed with SO many
different languages here and police record of
all the things stolen in London for thousand years
would be but a Jest beside the inventory Of this
motley crew. do not believe there is a copper
kettle, frying pan, old trencher, pair oftonSs,
not even broken stick left in Moscow, so much
trash is there hcapcd upon this rampant of carts"
"Wtat shines so bright wonder 7" asked LcSrand
suddenly. "It must be the magic mirror of the A.
rabian Nights. What lies there on that eight horse
wasohl Il 1t quivcr of forkcd lightnings, or a
living frc-brand as sample of the conAagration7''
Looking in the direction pointed out by Lcgrand,
we bchcld in the midst Of the black figures WHO
formed tie march beneath, something flushing re-
sembiins bcamine sun. The crowd ofhorscmen
and wagons prevented us from distinguishing Tor
some time what 1t was. When, however, for a
moment .,n opening was made, VIC detected an i'm
mensc golden cross.
alt is" said I, ..the cross of St. Ivan, which
stood ON the tower of the Krcmn. The Russians
regard it as their hocst rclic-as the palladium OF
their capitol From my windows saw when it was
t,kcn down; the day was foggy, and the evening
twilight had already set in. Flights Of ravens
whrled through the air, and huttered, croaking a
bout the tall, shining steepc. scafold was erect
cd, laldcrs were put up, capstans placed round a
bout and lines arranged: the workHen were unin-
tsrr,tcdly active, yet the fDcks Of ravens did not
90 away, but with hoarsc cries they surrounded the
brilliant cross, now in widc--now in circles.
\ crowd of Russilrls were standing under NV win
dow there were many women among them. They
crossed their arms their breasts. drevercntia-
" looked upon the emblem and in low tone they
murmured their PRAYERS. One of these women. Of
t,ll figure, dressed in strange apparel with red
sarf twi stcsl like a turian around her gray hair,
raised her hands high, and tracing mysterious signs
in the air. continually pronounced some incomprc-
hcnsbIe words in m ystic tone froice. The sight
was solemn one. and when the capstins were set
operation and the cross began tn bend downwar,s.
the whole crowd broke out into a loud howl. beat
their breasts tore tcir1air, and, 10 frightened by
the appearance of horrible monster, rushed away
in all directions Il seemed asf they hopcdby their
PRAYERS and conjurations to save the holy rcIi, and
as il horror had overwhelmed them as they saw il
fall by the means ofinidcl hands. The air sudden
ly rcsoundcd with a loud and dissonant croaking,
tic rookcry fraecns, IL scared 20 sec teir old
homc under which for centuries they had built thei'
nests, removed from its resting place, few away in
!, dense and dark mss, ami disappeared in the in
creasing gloom of tho evening" .f..as,
"a true picture of that night.' exclaimed Lc-
grand ..The wom sn YOU mentioned have my
self seen, think. on tic walls of the Kremlin. tho
fir.t slav VIC were In Moscow. She actually looked
like the mother of witches true witch of En-
aor?'' ~ ~ dlihtHit tti"ti 's dthi'
| ] was about answering, when a turn round a hill
which had for some time prevented us from seeing
the min road, brought US into the line of march
L,rush observing opening by which lie couh
pass through the chain of wagons, put his men int,
tr,pid motion, placing himself at their head Hi
plan proved successful; unexpectedly Inc broke in
to the opening and soon reached the min road
"Now, sai,lhc with satisfaction, "we rel th
road as long please, and leave it when thinl
was frequently checked; at one time we were com
Ipclicd TO halt for several minutes and at anothe
to ride at full speed. This made our march YER
unplcis ant andmoseovcr, il had lost its former in
tcrest as We had lso full view of the wagons, on
observations became limited to objects immediate
ly around us. Tue Empcr was behind u.s., am
before us we're driven number of wagons covere,
With banners captured from the enemy. Turkish
Tart ,r IN. .,nltasian trophies we're mip,cdt toget,
err. 'Csivo way, give way Cor the Emperor!'' W,
shouted bsl,ind us. L,ras, gtvc cor,m,na for hi
troops to bre * fsr the purlas, of occupying on
half tho width of the road. The Emperor hasten
ed forward for shnrc ditancc, but suddenly he pu
his horse into trot, anI appeared converse viii
people who were in wagon by his. side. Napo
leon kept - the right oftic va on, g. ,elsic, wer,
seated three handsome women and one child On
Of thcIIadics with whom the Emperor was cenvers
ing. thickly cnvolve e in rich fafs, and 60 jude
hy her atsirc, appeared ID be the wife of some Off
Ger Of rank. ~ -',' = ~ '"tf, -A i,ah 'i
You must not lose courage he said. "Ncx
winter we can mn Ike sooda Pctursburgh what W
have neglected at Moscow. A pleasant journey :
you" With these words he passed on. Assoon as "
came to even ground again, we then brok
TO tho right with the design of reaching the he.
of the column. fos it WAS Larush's min object
overtakc the regular troops and join his corps in III
rear from which he had been deferred since In
proceeding night. 81 ,;ss. ,sf q, ...f -.
Seven days had now elapsed since Napoleon ha
left M,scow. The army stood by M,lo.J Jaroslaro
iets, which had been taken By storm the day pr,
: yoips. Orders to march forward we're anxiousl
Expected. and il hoped thnt battle might b
), fougM against the whole strength Of Kutosow, B,
lfore KaIonga. In small. miserable hut. 10 whc
I Cot6isi zzasklfkd tken-hp k6 aSSde- 1Aa,L.
grand, Roscn and myself, were anxiousIy awaitin
fhis rehss rom head quarters whisber he had II.
y den late il the evening, The hut was bulk upo
spsll hllock. ovegiopkias vide PLAZA eovere
10y svast escsnpmentIand immense quantities
: luggage The Bsuja encircisdk khe field wishits wins
ling stsvam, behind arose stesp hllocks, crovl
ed with dark Pine rees, beneath those hilIocks Ia
the mokias ruiHslsf MsIo- Jasoslarosty. which. b.
the day proceeding, had been The the4tse of a te
.srihle conflict And il those fosssts Kusosov v,
foccupyias an ispseopabls position. We had "a
, soastiAe been contemplating the scene. By d
melancholy light Of she already waning moon. whe
thc d,cfarf ,l1or, md eno-t; mr. cr h<--