Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-05-26
Written for the Marshall Co. Republican,
OR, TIE
RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.
by MAJOR JOHN F. LASGENBAUeH, SEN.

ea hpa 1ie CHAPTER XIV.
DSlgorowskoi, in evident alarm, hastenedtowartls
the stairs. The cry and tumult oil those forcing their
way up increased every moment. "Herc, hcrer'
exclaimed strong voice, "folIow me-" rccog
nized Wllhofcn's voice In an instant bright
hope that this faithful would bring succor arose
within me. This hope received its confirmation in
the echo of shot, Immediately succeeded by Sc
cond discharge, and furious outburst of human
voices. Do'gorowskoi, against whose person these
shots had been fred made a speedy retreat. He
held his hand to his side, where he seemed to have
been wounded; but he continued rcsolutely to bran
dish bis sword and encourage his men to resist the
attack. They were unarmed and hesitated.
Eight. villisns Or myself will cut you DOWN.
Dolgorowsko roared, alike against his own people
and his unknown assailants. He stormed in fury,
and the vaulted hall e-eclocj with his indignant
epithets. The frightened slaves rclnguishcd their
hold OF Rosen and me and fastened to their mas
ter Suddenly strange light illuminated the who'll Q
apartment and at once recognized the faithful Will
hofen who with sword in his right hand and baz-
ing torch in his left appeared the top of the stairs.
He rushed impetuously forward, followed bv a
crowd people, arm,d with poles and implements
OF husbandry. They hesitated not in their bod ad-
vance, and unchecked they fell furiously upon the
Connt and his people. Dolgorowsko's men were
unable to withstand the impetuous assault--,hey
tnrled and fled along the corridor. Dolgorow skoi
would have stood firm, but he was carried away bv
the flying mass and fell to the floor. The assail-
ants still pressed forward, and. before could re-
cover from my surprise, Willhofen seized my hand
and triumphanty exclaimed, "We are safe, srr'
In the excess of my j,y | embraced the old man
and hailed him as our delivcrer. Rosen's conscious
happily began to return-for the blow he received
from Dolgorowsko.s sword bcrelt him of all con
sciousness, he opened his eyes and lisped, 'WIere
am | ~ bent down and raised him up, carefully
wipins away the blood from his forehead, and ma
king anxious inquiries into the nature and extent of
the wound
81 feel easy said Rosen, "but exceedingly weak
and confused What has happened here where
are we?' We led him into a room, washing his
wound, and securing it with bandarei Being
anxious to know how Willhofcn came to rescue us.
he replied al scarce know myself When saw
the people rushing out of the gu,rl room towards
us, knew too well what was the ittcr irrcsolute
whether to fv or to remain, ! stood for few mo-
mcnts until the men had carried all up stairs and
the gateway clear. it suddenly occurred to me
that the French prisoners might aid US. lost no
time in proceeding to the yard.
The man who stood on guard at the gate with a
rusty muskct, was not aware ofan attack To iump
from IA, horse, to throw him down, to snatch his
musket out of his hands, the work OF an Instant
l,ad but to draw back the bolts of the outer door
and turn the key in the lock of the inner and the
prisoners were free. The little French / learned
in my youth now stood me in good stead soon
made them comprehend that if they had the cour-
age to try they might effect their delivcrancc.-
There was no necessity to repeat the propoal.--
They followed me into the yard. When had them
IN the open air, led them to heap of billctwoot,
and directed them to arm and follow me immc.li
ately to the gate. In the meantime had closed
the outer gate that the fellows might not prcma-
turely make their escape into the woods and leave
w. TO fight our own battle. tore burning brand
out ftl,e stove in the gulrj room AMI others fol-
lowed my example. ! led the way up stairs and
witha wild cry the Frcnchmcn were c,osc at INV
back, eager for the fray, and-bu the rest You know
Now we are m isters of tic c le; but we sh Il, do
wisely in getting away from it this very hour; for
no man knows what the next will bring forth.
"BrIvc old man.' exclaimed Rosen, "thou art
still true German, even amid the deserts of Rus
sia feel new life, let US hasten to gain the open
air."
We proceeded to the saloon where we found Do
5orowskoi. the Countess and the Princess guarded
The Count pale with passion and bodily pain,
silently and moodi'y he sat in armchair, with the
Countess on side and the Princess on the other
We passed through the saloon and hastily collect
az a few necdful clothes, made ready to dcpart-
Dur horses Willhofen had tied to the gate. Will
ofcn had in the meantime collected the captive {
'rcnchncn, who, without loss of time, provided
lem selves with the clo.hiny, victuas, and arms
-llch were tn be found in the castle. Taking a.
de their comm uder. young Off GER, he suggest
i to him the best course for him to pursue. FOL
Nv our track" he sud, "untI you come to three n
rca frs near which stan'ls sign post. Here, if
on should sec The track ofour horses turning to the
#. turn to the right, for by that road you will
,ach Srnolcnsko in two hours. The night Is star
sh' an with the aid Of snow you will get along c.
fely. The ladies' lIsd better remain in the cas- &
{, but take the Count along with you as hostage G
case any Russian peasants or Cossacks should n
Get you on the way. viii answer for their not ci
jnring hair Of your heads fhs life depends un- III
IT, And If you follow my advice you will allow Ii
IN to return unnjurcd as soon as you shall reach
city, foi it is not advisable to tempt the ven 10
ance Of his cnemics and moreover, if YOU allow ic
m to return IN peace, it may be of sersice to you IN
some future day. But, at all events hasten to ga
I'VE the castle immediately, for here you are not vi
e for an hour against unexpected guests If vou so
sire to obtain horses there are yet several in The
bes but the brides lying in the castle ditch gr
hind the wall where Itfrcw them am hour ago.
I'd now farewclIr' The old man spranr upop his tn
rsc and gaopcd forth from the castle gate and We to
lowed at full speed Soon afterwards the deIiv- aw
d prisoners commenced their march, taking their aw
stage, Dolgorowsko. in their midst. They len tur
cas;'e in compact and orde rly BODY. We mo-
ched SmoIensko about two hours before dav. APP
to our no small JOY found the city occupicd tiff
the corps of Marshal Ncy. Having made our