Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-07-14
Written for the Marshall Co. Republican !
saoil IL q q , iio.ae.el.
RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.
BY MAJOR JOHN =. .LAsoEsbAuon, SEN.
CHAPTER XXI.

ing shadows of night, every eye WIS endeavoring
to count the number OF enem es w:io conronte Us.
Lsrush and myself, through cover of the undar-
wood, reached a sm all elevation from whence We
could overlook the river and Che win iinss Of its
shores The glow fthe Russian watch fires could
be still seen through the m,riing mist. All was
yet still on the snow covered dhcights. .If.,f of,l
"It seems to me-" observed Llush, "tose fell
lows should be stirring by this time; have they
Withdrawn behind the brow Of the hllsl II
"As well as can Judge the watch fires aban-
doned," replied; eat least those nearest to u.s.
Those along the edge of tn, VOID may be pstron-
/ iscd. niiU ~ s f
"Probably they did not choose to be exposed to
artillery" answered L,rush; but do not see their
cannon
We rode few hundred PAGES further on to the
summit of hill nearer the river. The wind had
in tue meantime scattered the fo.. and the air h,d
become clear. .4
"By the great ,d above." exclaimed Lrush,
staring around in assonishmcnt, the position is a
bandoned.' -5f
al see some horscmen h. hill there to the
VoStE'Cu enNf sSNf% " W '~~~".-~'~~'
ing. Let US 20 and join them" ,en7
! We repaired thither AMI fouri Ney, r .sinslSi,
and some other officers. They shared Larush's sur
prise at finding the opposite shore quite clear of
troops Suddenly Rasinski cried out: al see troops
m,rching over there towards Borsof; il is strong
column. Larush, you have the eye Of a falcon;
what do YOU say: is not that Russian cavalry ?" ao
l,c.- tn
them from the sun just then rising, looked keeny
| ahead, and exclaimed: at is artillery and infant
~; see two columns; they mTching towards
Borisoff."
"Can it be TINT our enemy is rctirinS7'' cried
Ncy, in tone Of incrclulity. isinexplicable."
sit can no longer be doubted said Larush.
| Then the Emoeror's star is yet in the ascend
ant" cried the Marshal, his eyes radiant with joy;
"this musth he reported Immediately"
We all gallopcd towards the bridge, where the
Emperor WAS standing, urging anil encouraging the
workmcn. Officers who had been sent out to re
conncter now came in from every side No one
had discov cred the enemy.
alt seems, then, we have succeeded in dcceivlng
Tschitcllagof,' the Emperor rcmwkei awe
must try to catch prisoner who can give US Ger
tain information" fs.7
Larush offered hmselfto procure one. He turn
ed around to me. and immediately sPurrcd up the
stream, I followed, taking ftAv caasseurs with us,
weswam with them across the river. On reaching
the opposite heights, found all the signs indica-
ting that a considerable force had ercam?ed there
over night. Most of,he fires we're still burning
We directly saw that they had been left carefully
fed, SO that theirb might deceive the French.
Z The tracks left by the troops were easily discern
ed and led in sou,herly direction. We followed
the track rapidly, but with caution; as we emerged
from SIN Ill patch efwoodland, we perceived a few
scattered CJss ,cks on the other side. We attack
cd them. they Hed; but one Of tlera fell with his
horse on the slippery ice. and was seized by Larush
d We instantly returned with Our prize. On the way
he questioned the prisoner very closely, who gave
US the nformltion that, during the night, Gener-
al Tsclapliz, with thousand and thirty can
non, had occupied the heights opposite Studianka
but towards morning he had, by command Of
lTschitschagotf, broken up and proceeded over Bo-
srisoA, towards Bcrezina. "a ..s.allrassO b
! This confirmation Of Larush's conjecture reoiced
his heart. as safety within reach, provided
the passage could be effected in the Of the
day. "Cheer up, Major.' he exclaimed, "our sun
still shines. Fortune has this day shown that she
forsakcs not the Emperor ....s
sWe spurred on, rccrosscd the river, and related
what we had seen and acquired. The Emperc,
received the intelligence with grati6ed looks, br
with the same composure with which Yesterday Inc
listened 10 the recital Of the most untoward mis-
haps. He instantly gave orders to push the com
pIction ofthe bridge to the utmost. The structure
and united by cross beams; the work must advance
rapipy, and General Elbe promised to have it com
plctcd by noon cfs4 lHff ..a.ls iHa 81
Troops were meanwhile pouring in from all quar-
! ters. The town Of Studianka itself was crowded
with cannon, ammunition carts, baggage wagons
aud the effects Of the Emperor. the M,rshsls, and
the other officcrs were also the roads load
ing TO the little place. and the surrounding heights
I beheld ~iti, much concern this dsorderly accu
mutation, which could be accounted for only by tho
breach of all regulation To effect any thing like
der and organization at this moment seemed an i'm
possibility. The released horses seen droppin:
down the snow, perfectly exhausted and ravenous
lydevouring chopped, half rotten straw, or whatsvc
else bore the sembance of feed. The drivers tool
refuge wherever they could find room. Wher
now this molicatcd and con fused hive should be
gin TO move--whea wagons were breaking down
horses falling, the narrow roads blocked up-wher
haste and eagerncss to escape would deprive the
people Of all sense AMI rcaection-and when, a
so often had happened in this disastrous retreat
every person sacrificed the well being of The whole
for personal interesthenit ii was to be feared that
however favorable an aspect things had assumed
mischief and terror would reach their acme, ant
leave an awfal monnment onthc hanks ofthe river
Such were the apprehensious ofmyself and the few
ircmrining officers Of the Dragoons--to be too ter
rbly verified in the event. Jast as VIC we're ridin,
I up the hill on which our mer, were encamped. w
heard thc duh, sepulcral report of feld piece il
the direction OF Borisoff ~ i.ilfHSt,ef 'e'Is
Z Itawas in a few minutes followed BY the opcain,
,'of a regular eannonnodc. "n kiiH1
r s'Dost thou hear, 'Mjor7" ne said, ssthcy ar,
fighting yonder. II il to be hoped that the storr
viii NOT burst opouus to-day.' - ss'- r'h xis'E'l
Ilisteaed attcntfvely. ana then answered: Il d,
u,< trrs~ ~~h>xE.- 80 A~~1;.-zs 4 = a = a.