Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-06-02
Written for the MARSHALL Co. Republican,
~ - i 8 IL '.
1a OR, THE ~s iah aroE
RETREAT FROM MOSCOW
BY MAJOR JOHN F. LaxcEypAccn, SEN.
CHAPTER XVI.

Colonel, rcconnotrc the left flank of tho camp
with your men, and report to me instantly on fall
ing in with the enemy" The MarshL spurrcd
into the midst of the camp, collecting and arrang-
ing the surprised troops. We rode forward in the
darkness, with Larush at the head his few but
oute followers in order to seek out the enemy who
h,d announced their presence in formidable a
mnncr. 1t appeared strange that they had but
once discharged their guns and then observed COM
pcte silence, but the fighting in this retreat through
darkness, forests, and impossible deserts OF snow,
WAS rcplctc with extraordinary occurrences that
every day and every night developed some new and
unheard OF trait in the history ofthis Larush
thought that he discovered some dark looking
es on height close by the camp, as il lying in
the snow ~. s. ..,-..--. i.
"Is that brushwooi or is it pcoplcg" he inquired,
turning to me- ....s. -.-.-
.As yet cannot see distinctly what is it, an
swered. .s e. -s- a ss
"'rhcn let ride up it, I.arush, ri
ding nearer. But the ground soon shelycd DOM
with abrupt pitch which VIC could not descend
on horseback, and compelled to follow along the
SOtcp NuuucltN, llht Il w
birds, twenty twenty five Cossacks hurried away
from corner OF the hollow, aud on their small
nlnblc horses gallopcd up the other side, which was
MT steep. Larush commanded his men to fire
-;norc to scare than TO hurt the enemy. They
fled hastily across the field, and were soon lost in
darkness. In few minutes those large masses on
the white also were in motion, and il became
evident thatit WAS pretty large detachment OF
Cossacks, who now rctrcated, being warned of the
enc ny's approach by the flight ofthe first few,
by the firing Cautiously Larrlsh led us down less
dangerous path. We now speedily discovered the
cause of the noise, which We h,I taken for dis
charge of artillery. We encountered a number OF
sed pieces with their tumbrils attached filled with
ammunition, but the guns spiked, having been
left behind for want of means Of conveyance. A
little further back we found guns and ammunition
wagons blown up. Probably the Cossacks just seen
had set fire to several of these wagons, and were
prevented only by our rruption from blowing up
The whole. Glad to detect the true cause of he a
larnl, and wishing therefore to return quickly
to report to the Marshal. rode along to the hol
low at smart pace, when all at once We discover
cd mn about thirty PAGES before us. running al
full speed along the edge of the hill.
Thinking that il was Russian Larusl calledout
in that language. commanding him to stop. The
fugitive seemed struck aback, but again vigorously
pursued his course. The hill being ofeasy ascent
at this place, Larush and myself spurrcd after
him, followed by two troopers. SO not to suffer a
nan to escape, who might communicate important
information about the strength and distancc of the
enemy. He fed with all his powers, but sank at
length, exhausted in the deep snow, We immediate
ly seized him. To our great astonishment the prs-
oner in surrcndcrinS cried out: "Docs any one a
mong YOU speak French?"
"Thc devil. I should know that voice. answer
ell Larush, in French. "Who are you7'
"Larush, is that YOU? lis it possiblc?' cried the
prisoner. ioyfully extending his arms toward him
II am Rasinsk; do YOU not know mcl''
GLOW in Gods name came you here, Rasipskir'
asked Larush in glad surprise.
'.The tale is sl,or sanl clear. but not vesy cdif,
Ing" answered Rasinski; "and YOU shall hear it
more circumrtantialy than viii please you; but in
the meantime advise you not tarry hcrcabouts, but
- seek safer place, if one is to be found. There
are more Russians in this vicinity than there arc
trees in the forest. But where do Iou come troml
"With Marshal Ncy from Smolcnsko." answer
cd Larush; roqrb1ouis is not tisc hundred yards
from hero, - ~. =. ...,.a.-.... i.....-. -.-fr
"Then letus make haste oSet to ii. win tell
you all a. We go along.
Iofiercd the Colonel my horse. which he dccn-
ell, but walked between Larush and me.
You know" he began, ''that marched out Of
Smolcnsko with the yiceroy. Yesterday we were
attacked by the Russians. about tl,rcei,oars march
from here, and was taken prisoner. The Cos
sicks drove me before them with their knouts, or
cantsehous. until found r ussan general, to whom
I cried out in French to save me from such nfa
nous treatment. But the brute only set up a loud
laugh, saying the knout Of the Cossacks m skes as
little distinction between the rank and condition of
a sotlier as the cannon balls do; and that consc
qucntly must rest satisfied. They would have
been glad to get rid of me by sending Tobolsk
or 10 lrkntsk but luckily or unluckiy, SO few pris
oncrs had been made that they were not consider
ed worth a separate transport; thus was dragged
along with the Cossacks into whose clutches had
fallen. About ten minutes ago pack ofthese fell
isws had blown up battcry left in the miro by our
people, but they must have been disturbed in their
work By you arc somcbody else; for these valiant
heroes came to the pulk stationed up there by tho
woods. driving through the snow on their little an
i'm lis to report that the enemy was approaching.-
The Cossack, however, is Intrepid only against
a flying exhausted and dcfcnccIess enemy Show
him bold 'front.' and he is off in d;,ubIc quick time