Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-06-30
Written for the Marshall Co Republican
5 eaf I q / = sra
RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.
by MAJOR JOHN F. ,.AscEsnaucH. SEN.
CHAPTER XIX.

'"'i"e =! l'iis enhc hau an opportunity
IN some measure to rest from their fatigue. In am
hour, steadily following ,be course of the brook.
we reached dense forest Here we were sl,eltored
from the piercing wind and the drifting slcet au,
snow. The least indication of a favorable turn Of
fortune in such circumstances wonderfully eo.,rh-
utes to revive the tagging spirits.
lhe march, therefore, proceeded with vigor-
Confidence was also much strengthened from the
circumstance that Larush, in a half demolished I'm,
OF a miserable hamlet, found peasant old and lame
but acquainted with the neghboring localities
This old man declared that the river was ouite near
Out would hardly be passable, as the ice was not
yet strong enough to resist wind and thaw. If a
passage were at allpossble, il would be at SINGLE
point whcre the floating ice would crowd together
10y bold turn in the river, and at times formed
passage tolerabic firm and endurabIe, even when
utterly impossible higher up. Larush promised
TIC old mana rich reward if would conduct US
TO tins place: at the same time threatening him
should he prove treacherous. The old man replied.
Never fear me; I am not from Old Russia but be-
long farther up there, where the people arc not so
much against you as hcreabouts Ifyou can only
cross the river, you will find shelter and kinder in
fabitants on the other side; while on this side ey
erythlng is pillased and destroyed Follow me,
and be OF good cheer; you will soon find that am
in the right" - 49,
a. lie thus became the guide of the whole coros. and
before anhour had passed bro us safely to the bank
OF a river which was destined TO become either tho
salvation destruction Of us. The moon aros.. no
hind dark, heavy clouds, shedding her pale lustre
yer the landscape, when We emerged from the woods
on the top of hill, from which we had a free and
uninterrupted view of surrounding objects. Moth
ing, however, was to be seen but the D,ierer. cru
bedded between its low but steep shores. looking
like some monstrous black snake in torturous wind
inSs crawling over the white plains; or alas. there
was yet no solid pavement of ice stretching across
t-oniy dctache clumps and cakes were drifting
on Its ruhed surface between its banks. T.ar,s, ;
keen-eyss scanned the place all around. where
nothing was heard but the crashing and thumpinr
OF the large masses of icc =
There" ssid the Mugic, pointing with his fin.
ger to place where the river seemed to vanish out
OF Sights course being hidden by the bills. "there
The ice clogs in the shallow bend of the and
there you can cross" - -
2 In the meantime the army had followed and had
began TO spread itselfover the snow field sbelv;,o
down towards the point of the stream, where the
passage was to be made But to our astoaishment
We FOUND that no wagon, not even a horse, could
cross the river. the ice being too thin to bear apy
such burien. The concealed thorou -l,fare consis
tedoa oil 9ating pieces of ice massed together ana,
cemested by theirown ponderosity The Marshal
commanded halt; and the men to Ike some rest and
refreshments At midnight the Marshal gave or.
ders to commence the passage With heroic cq,I,-
nimity he had improved the three hours of elay ty
strengthening the bridge with all the means in his
power Silent, grave and steadfastly, keepinr teir
ranks, regiment Of light infantry nude the first
essay. But hardly had the foremost platoon taken
fe~ steps, whcna dull crash sounded under their
feet' and the ice began to yield. Thinking to save
themselves byrapidly passing over, thev rcdouble
their speed but as other troops press on behind the
pressure on the icy surface is proportionately in
creased; they sink, with the clumps that suppo, {
them TO their knees in the water their feet become
unsteady, Slip the black abyss opcns-and the
wrctches who trusted themselves on the TEACHER
ous fakes disappear. Cries of terror rent the air.
fu'l of alarm, those next behind turn back and
cast themselves with inpetaous violence on the
ranks OF their comrades already on their way to the
bank. Ney, as usual, was present at all points
lie saw his braves sink beneath the merciless wa /.
'ers' Here and there head was seen above the
surface, or an arm thrust upwards, while pitiful
cry for help cut the listener TO the heart la few
seconds all had vanisied-a hideous stiffness reign
ed over the food. ysTrss s -s.ss =
In this Way it isimpossible, y said the Marshal; ;
1--WE must Try il singly" - q 1ga z9sE
Ibe soldiers are now sent by groups of twept,
only, instructed to mike the attempt by .iumpuc
from one cake to the other. This succeeds. New
hope springs up in every breast Just then the dis
tantbooming ofcsnnon Is heard This unweIeome
sound calls 70 mind the oyerwhelming superiority
ofthe enemy, who may at any moment find the
tracks and sush after This sweiIs the instinct
ofseif Preservation powerfully in everv breast. If
the enemy did appear, those who gained the oppo
site side woudbe safe; but all who tarricd ON this
were irretricvaby lost The masses thcrcf,re press
on and fearful struggle arises who shall be the
hrst to tread the pcrilous path Remonstrances
and commands are IN vain. sThe Marshal himself
tries TO euorcehis authority, hnt This also Is set at
naught- Dreading to be near HIM the .wretched
creatures hasten eagerly bother points on the bank
where the darkness hides them from his glance
What should have been for their welfare thus. be
comes their descruction; their impetuous haste, their
blind fury andimprudencc, cause them to perish
They spread thcmscfscs over Che ice, which docs
not bear up under the m ,sscs but yields, and tIic
parts asunder, The com9ade f,u she's the comrade,
the friend his his officer, down into
the turbulent current. The entire dismal expanse
Office reseuns with believing and crashing dread
ial 70 listen TO- Prayers, curses, and Titeous cries
commingie in horrible concert. ..ss -
The opposite shore. to those who are able TO reach
itpresents rough. steep ascent completely cased
i's ice = Through terror and exhaustion, they are
unable to Chamber npL They tambIe and roll back
into the river, brcaling the ice into still smaller
or else tbeir own frozen Iinbs. fhev
lie bleeding and crippled on the jagged aakes, ,csy
ing IN yam for help The earef compassion is deaf
humanity is extinct in every breast Those next
press on, and without compunction or hcsi.
tancy step on the quiverns and vel breathing bod
les oftheir comrades, and the heel Of the vet un