Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-06-16

Dragons rested the sole means of preservation
Kutusow, however, did not by pursuit venture to
further molest us. Heprcferred sending destruction
among US from distalice, while his men gather to-
gether and are again formed in some order. The
Marshal examines the battle ground; his countc-
is stern, the brow strongly knit, but still bold
and determined. The eyes of all of us are riveted
on his features, for from them alone will adopt
the conviction, that all hope ofdeliverance is at an
end. As long as his lips do announce the fact, we
look forward to happy issue. We perceived from
his deep thoughtfuness that he is mcditating some
feint. With visiIant eye he observes the enemy
and his movements; now and then only he casts
mournful look to the spot where, for few minutes,
he had purchased transient success at the sacri
fee Of the lives of so mlny soldiers. The murder
Gus firing still continues, and the space occupied by
thc little army is so confined that the encmys balls
cross it everywhere. The very same shots which
penetrate the ranks burst into the wagons drawn
up in body behind containing the wounded, the
sick the women and children which, in helpless
weakness, are thus given up prey to destruction-
What to savcl Night throws her veil at
length over us, and shrouds the distressed within
her shadowy canopy. The Marshal really seems
to have found door of egress from tbs circle of
death. He measures with his eye the distance and
position Of the enemy; he directs his looks to either
sidc-behnd and at all points, il is evident that he
regards the localities among which he is placed for
some new purpose, and forms plans by which to
draw from them advantages.
His conceptions are maturcd he has called no
council of war, he has conferred with no one, but
follows the dictates ofhis own inrcpility and knowl
edge. He beckons to Larusl, Rasnslli, and all Of
us officers and to each Of he imparts his orders.
We hasten to respective troops. Fall in. fall
in" is heard everywhere ana the artillery begins
to move at every point. But .hcreunto Towards
the enemy7 No. ,rc turn faces again TO the
snow ,rGsies Of Russia! The enemy, from his ele-
vation, looks with amazcment upon this demon
srtion; he appears'to surmise some such stratagem
as that which two days before had been played by
the Viceroy OF Italy. Kutusow, consequently cx-
tends his fanks, and thus prolonSs the net in which
he hopes to ensnars the lion. He has the power
to aLnhate him, for with one charge he might ut
terly ovcrwhelm this small band But it seems that
the cool-hcadcd old nun put far higher value up
sia, than sweeping them out of existence. That
there existed the least possible chance of us cSca-
ping this captivity seemed to the old Russian to be-
long TO the province of dreams and miracles. He
now possessed the power to destroy the rcdoubtable
soldier of France but that wasnot sufficient for his
ambition. He wished to humble him by presenting.
not his head, but his sword, to the Emperor Alex
anler.
| The soldiers received the command OF the Mar
shall with shutdcring surprise. "Hov-' they ask
ed each other "mirch back into the horrid land out
of which we have but just escapcd--turn our hacks
on our honest Every retograde step was taken
with secret dread; but still they obeyed, for
their commander had ordered it, and their only
confidence was in him. The night seemed to quick
, en- the motion other dsrkcning wings, aud sunk
deeper and dcnser upon the cold expanse of snow
The heights which were alive with enemies, were
already lost in the indstincness Of twilight, and
only snSly and far between the ponderous
balls in our rctreating In profound silence,
with weary feet. and with corrodng at heart
we waded on through the deep, loose snow, since
the Marshal divsrged to the right from the main
| road, towards the woods. But the measure of our
calamitcs was not yet filled; for by degrees, be-
ginning with hollow murmur, the storm spirit be-
gan to let himself be heard, rushing closer and clo
ser upon us; but at this time it not the freezing
breath ofBoreas, but Il humid south -~cster, driving
clouds of snow before it on the highway of heaven
and lifting entire drifts from the ground in bcwider-
ing commotion. This furious whirwind cavcloped
us, dcprvng us of rcsp;r ,tion. Horse and rider
gaspcd for breath; the last remaining strength,
threatened to give way. The storm careered with
shrl howlings over the plains; now it became en-
tangled in the cavities and holows; now it broke
itselfaganst the sturdy forests rcbounding in in
tcrsecting evolutions, 80 that turn which way we
would it drove its bitter blast right into oar
faces The line of m ,rch became uncertain and
wavering; it swayed now to the right, now to the
, left. Now some deep hollow, filed with driftcd
snow, blocked up the way, and it became ncccssa-
ry to rctrace steps considerable distances, mol
! Knowing whether going from the enemy
or right upon him. Then again sudden and abrupt
declivitics glazed with ice, compelled to seek
different direction. The night became very dark
a black. heavy canopy of cloud, out Of which the
snow came pouring down, had entirely covered the
!; sky. Nothing remained disccrnible to the cyc but
the sheen of the white, spectral pail in which this
earth had decked itself, AT last the physical pow
crs too severely taxed, became paralyzed; the stiff
and bcnumed foot refused to move; the weapon
4 dropped from the hand. The Marshal even seem
ed to have lost hope, and to be ready to bow his
> head before this all subdung scourgc. halt was
finally ordered in the midst Of the ice and snow 10
allow if possible the exhausted energies to recruit
for renewed cxertions. The Marshal rode at the
. head of the column in the midst Of Larush's Dra-
' goons-Rasinski by his side.
"Do YOU still know north from south, Lar,lsh? ?''
he asked, quite low-whether the enemy is in the
front or rear7 whether arc on the left or right
side of the road! A compass would be worth a
T province now"
"Perhaps some stars may bo seen when this drift
ing ceases answered Larush; sit has now lasted
three, and must come to pause some time.n
al have no longer any iath in the stars" re-
piled Rasinski, with shake of the head looking
gIoomly before him.
Colonel Larush tortured his brain to hit upon sone
means to direct our march with certainty. Sudden
: ly the Marshal accosted him with the question:
'Have yourmen and horses any strength LEFT in
D them ?--f so, follow me. have hit upon method
| to find out the way to the Dneper, even throun b
: this chaos of SNOW 1910 ef
IL have done the same..'' exclaimed Larush ca
gcrly, wishing at least to the honor of fall
ing upon similar discovery. "If He could only
ascertain the course of the brook, which must run
through the hollow where we were obliged to turn
back half an hour ago7"