The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-04-27

such horrible "reminiscences. Before the day
closed, they distinguished, on the edge of the
gloomy horizon, line of houses, the route of
which was marked by the dead bodies left by
the immense army which had proceeded them
1t was Sr.olcnsk, the land of proniise-where
the things looked toward to as great luxuries
might be procured-a fire, shelter, and a little
bread. A cry of joy escaped the five brave
men who still supported the litter of Koblens-
XII. Three, however, fell to rise no more when
within sight of the town; fourth soon after
shared the same fate and but one grenadier,
-Trigaud-was left to brave tho elements
with the now inanimate body of the Pole-
Not being able to carry him, he slowly dragged
him along, and at length perceived some men
at distance, whom he called to his assistance,
They soon came to his aid, and Ee reached
Smolensk in a few hours, af er twenty-five
days of fighting, fatigue and misery. He en-
tered, it is true, the only survivor of his COM
rany but he cared not, snce he had redeemed
the promise made to the Prince d 'Eekmuhl.
The next day Trigaud learned that the mar
shall had arrived but few days previously, and
was then in town, which presented the appear
anee of one vast hospital, protected by sentries,
and extending to the very suburbs. The skel-
etons of horses which had been converted into
food, were scattered into every street, and the
doors and windows of the houses had long
and famishing soldiery 1t was in one of the
houses in the outskirts of the town that Prince
d d'Eckmuhl had established his quarters, and
thither Trigaud, assisted by some soldiers bore
the insensible body of Koblinski, and laid it
on some straw in the doorway. On entering
the house, he perceived an officer on guard at
an outer room, enveloped in the ragged re-
mains of cuirassier's cloak: of whom he de-
termined to speak with the marshal.
"What seek you Of him?" askedtne officer,
without changing his posture. So
81 come to render an account of mission
with which he charged me at tMoro-Jaroslavitz,
and to deliver up the deposit confded to me" I"
''1he prince is at this moment in council (:
you can renIain and rest yourself until 1T is
concluded" 1ar 7Fs;hsah
'sCertainly," said Trigaud, who spoke in a
tone Of sadness; "but mayhap, in the mean
time. you would make known to him that the
grenadiers of the second company of the forty
ty-eighth regiment of the line, Fryant's divis-
ion, first corps, to whom he entrusted the care
of his aide-decamp, Colonel Koblinski, have
fulfilled his orders, and that the company are
awaiting the honor of passing under his in
spection."
At the name of Koblinski, Davoust, who
had entered and heard the latter part of the
conversation but who had not recognized in
the worn and cmaciated being before him the
once noble-looking grenadier, advanced, and
demanded of him, "Where ismy aide-de-camp!'
"He,is herc, at the door,
"And thy company" said Davoust, hastily.
At those words Trigaud took the posture of
soldier without arms, placed his heels in a
line, and slowly raising his head, replied in a
peses, Z" All present, my nsr~1zal p Z, I
'I have demanded where are the company
of the forty eighth" repeated the prince in a
tone of impatience.
Il have replied. Herep' and Trigaud
plnced the back of his hand to his forehead.
"But thy comrades,-where are they?"
"Ah that is different, my marshal. You
ask where have left my comrades? That is
your questions it not ?"
Davoust made sign in the affirmative, i'm
patiently striking his foot on the ground.
"Well, that is soon told. The last of them
are at the bottom of the Voss close by; the re-
mainder are under the snow. All p'
Chow. Alp"
"All, without an exception, replied the sol
dier, as his haggard and sunken eyes filled
with tears
The prince could not repress movement ot
terror and pity. and seizing the arm of Trigaud
convulsively, he repeated in an agitated tone
Cali, say youP' -
"Yes, all cxcef I am the last"
Without sreaP Davous,t moved to the
place where Kof III lay, while Trigaud, rails
ing himself to his full height, proudly ex
claimed, "He is here alive, it was L whe
brought him!"