Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-03-31


trust and fidelity houris,ed even in their hour of dis
trcss Some men approached, CARRYING fresh cut
wood, and a spot was cleared from the snow, on
which the fire wa,bult. Iswas long time before it
caught, as it swas Young and wet; but after an
hour that cmb rrassmcnt was also conquered, aud
through, the foresight of fLarush--there being some
provisions at had, which he sparinsly but equally
divided among them--the overwcaried soldiers
we're partially recruited.
Next morning the army continued its retreat,
with the same aspect Of weather the same troubles
and difficulties as the previous day, when at last
Smolcnsko, ''the promised land" lay before the
gaze of the exhausted soldiers. Its dark pinnacles
and towers ros. gloomily above the white fields Of
Ivan. There lay the promised shelter from the ra-
gng elemcnt.--thcre. food to satisfy the cravings
ofhunscr which was prcying on their vitals--thers
warmth for the frozen limbs-thsre rest for the
weary, strength for the feeble, and new life for
! the exhausted in mind and body.
The ten thousand Greeks did not sgain gaze up
| on the blue waters Of the Archipelago with more
rapture. nor did the storm worn crew of Christie
/ phsr Columbus pour out their warm thanks to the
Almighty for their success with f,rvent graft
tuie, than did these unhappy when they at last
caugh, sight Of tho h,ven which would put an end
to their miseries. ExuItation was visible on their
pale, thin faces; and last spark Of courage and
strength lighted up even the weakest and most
weary hearts. The advance guard was already
within an hours march Of the walls Of the fortress
when from both sides of the ID strasglcrs began
to appear Sin,ly, AMI in small p,rtics at first, but
soon in Larger bodies, those starved spectrcs, no
longer ,ntaining the appearance of soldiers, re-
joined the line. These were the men who had lost
or thrown away their arms-who I'D broken all
ties of discipline and obedience, and entertaining
tho hope. that alone, selecting their own road and
following their own win, they would better secure
their safcty-.sd dared to plunge into the unknown
wilderness in search Of hatsheltcr and food which
they had found denied them while rsm,nng with
their regiments. THUS they wandered by hundreds
! like gangs of robbers and hovercd about the army,
in front, in the rear, and on tho fl inks. The wild
stare ofhun.er cleaned from their rapacious eyes,
already inf .mr,. with disc ,sa or legrimmed with
dirt and smoke; filthy rags alone covered the bod
les of these m ,raudcrs, who, like harpies grasrcd
At an,l defended all Within their reach. No persua
sion could restrain, no force controls fcrocty that
boricrcd on insanity. Whcresocvcr they found
aught that could be eaten. they fell upon it like
beasts OF prcy and dcvourcd it in SO furious haste,
that m,ny Tell cloked to tie ground and expired
/ No example, however, could deter those who came
after; in a state of dclriun they rushed into the
SINE danger, Notwithstanding their comrades had
/ pcrished before their eyes. The howlnSs and
SrosnnSs Of the d. ing made no impression, nor was
glance Of compassion east upon them. Eacl, re-
coSn'zcd himself alone, and the present momsat,
as the only period Of life.
These terrible marau'lcrs appeared suddenly,
accident sooner or later brought them to the road
! from the nearest forests through which they had
made their way. Alta short distance from the city
the crowds became so large that the regiments Of
the "O;d'' and ..Youns'' Guard that yet maintain
cl some discipline were alone, and with difficulty,
enabled TO penetrate. The sides of the valley,
which here forms the bed of the DniePer, drew
nearer anl nearer 10 a point and contracted the
sp,cc ofthc road. On both sides these vagabonds
male their appearance, enlcavorng TO Chamber down,
numbers slipped or stumbled and rolled over. rod
d inning the snow with the blood from their hands
and faces, which were laceratcd by the sharp ice
The cries Of these miserable beings they fell,
unable again 20 rise, we're either unhc,rd or un-
needed. The gates of the city were now Wis.,
ble. Even among the Old Guard, military
corps consolidated by the strictcst discipI ne,
or'ie c,1ld longer be- fully preserved; num-
bers like hungry tigers. rushed from the ranks to
re.cl the place Of refuge. And the temptation
and the evil were the greater since many OF those
g.nss Of starving wre 'rlcs, who had riversed the
: forest as dcscrte-s and plundercrs, had already
reached the walls of the city and tfrongcd about
them in tie widest co, fusion.
For hours mtny OF these wrctchcs, rigid with
r I'D, and tormentcd with hunger, had, under tho
rcry wills Of their refuge, vainly impo'rcd the mer-
cy of those within, who had without pity closed the
gates ofshc place. The marching troops heard
these dreadful howlngs for food, mingled as they
we're with hcart-rcnding cries Of agony. Under \
Ike apprehension Of pcrishing, they rushed forth
from their line aud cndcavorcd, much their weak
mss vcili permit, to g the stsrt of each other In
vain did " rsh,l Bsss:crcs throw himself in the
WV oft'ios. who ceased 70 obey-:n vain did the
OH ers en- lesvor to restrain them By force. The
tumu't threatened to s,rc I'd throughout the whole
column, when fn ldcnly Napoleon appeared in front
Respect for the sacred person Of this great chief in
whom they put the last confidence during those
times of distress, brought even the most daring
b.ck to their senses. and order.
"Soliers, return 70 your ranks:' he said, in an
austcrc voice.
He was instantly obeycd by every MN who had
left the ranks. The Emperor himself rode for
ward at the head OF the troops, and in mournal 81
lcnce, and preserving the strictest order the SOL
dicrs marched into the town. Larush with his lit
tie regiment Of faithful Dragons, followed immc-
diatcly after the Old Guarl. Only half were on
horseback, the others walking, whilo their horses
tigsc in from, of the carriages. As we rode O.
yer tho ridge Of the valley, Rosen pointed with his
hand acros, the field, saying to mc---Do you re-
member that castle yondcr?'
"Ahr' replied, 81 thought it was burnt, down;
islands tolerable safe on its legs yet. | hardly
know why, but feel singularly towards that ven
ersblc pile, with its towers and pinnacles.''
.Thc same with me-" said Rosen, "but we are,
IbeIicvc, less easily recognized than the castle:
i<<x ~ ,c,,r lon.r s.c.rd ,p.l tbo I,l,cl