Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-06-09
THE, REPUBLICAN.
Written for thc Marshall Co. Republican,
es i15 i 8 I q,
- yGiRH .aH-f on ,tr fi
RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.
CHAPTER XVII

snow fields, when we again, broke up our nights
lodgings. No sound OF drum or trumpet announ-
ccd our departure, the contrary we prepared our
selves in the deepest silence for our dreary march,
Marshal Ney had caused Rasinski to be supplied
pacity Of aid. I.arush marched, riding at the head
OF his little band Of DraSoops, in close order, as j
expecting the enemy in front For several sue
cessive hours VIC struggled ON. amid the usual diff
6culties and dangers, without meeting with tho
least molestation. For the last few Gays the cold
had some vi hat abatcd, % that sufferings were
not so severe from that cause as they had been
the weather even had the appearance Of changing
into thaw. The sky was lightly overcast, but an
other fall of snow was not to DC apprchended. The
sun now began to purple the clouds in the rear o
the army, and an incpicnt dawn spread itself oreI
the dead and sterile landscape. We had for some
time been accustomed to find on our march, in ev-
cry hollow and gully. arms, knapsacks, helmets
musktts-cvcn cannons and tumbrils, Nth soldiers
who had pcrishei from hunger or exhaustion. But
here these marks of dissolution increased 10 such
degree to. arouse the apprehension Of even t.e
bravcst. However dreary the night had been, with
its mystical veil hiding many horrors from the
sight. the day. in lifting this veil became far more
appalling. Suddenly the heavens were d:,rkcred
by clouds in the cast, and the sun. emerging from
beneath thc line of the horizon, shot forth mera
cinely and throw ed his beams like river Of blood
in its length across the snow white desert. The
shadows Of men ;md animals stretched far AWAY
like lank spectrcs, over the gIistenns plain in gro
teSqne confusion of thousand forms.
Agrecably surprised, every eye turned to tire orb
For more J|,an week we had seen no trace Of tho
sun. This day he once more appeared; but the
splendid meteor which otherwise gaddcns and in
v;gorates the breast Of the most dcsp ,nling, now
excited only an anxious shuddcr; for he stood or
the fr.nmcnt resembling fiery god. shooting for.l
his scowlng threatenings from beneath his browi
Of dark ovcrlsnging clouds IL seemed to har,
thrown back is sombre covering only for the pur
pose Of casting more vcngeful look upon the hor
rors and dcvastations whicl, the earth held up I,
view. "Thus rose the sun Of Borodiino, said Lc
grand, in low voice to Lar,lsli. "The Einpcro
called it the sun or AustcrIitz-'' 80 <szz-
Larush was about to reply. when he VAS inter
ruptcd hy an outcry which broke out in the front
In surprise. Larush turned his head in the dircc
ton from which il proceeded, and saw at glanc,
the cause of the terror that h,d bcfalca the men
They had just reached the summit Of a sm,ll ac
clivity, and the whole projecting plain lay before
4, them. As we came up to where the front men hae
raised the outcry we beheld there on the white cx
panse of snow a. far as the eve could reach, layins
in black, confused masses, carcasses Of men M,
horses, wrecks OF fbroken guns and gun-carriagcs
wagons, arms, camp furniture. and baggage. Thi
was the battle ground on which Prince Eugene
attacked on every sidc--had SO bravcly defende'
himself two days previously. Profoun silence sue
cec,lcd in the ranks of the soldiers. The unex
pcctel sight had burst upon u, like some monstrou
spectre and seemed to drive back the vital power
To the he, ,rt with paralysins force. Hardly =
bre sth was to bc heard, as If felt disposed
disturb by hum m sounds the solemn spectacle o
this vast cemetery, where death himself, had bccom
stark and stiff in the icy embrace Of winter. Eve
Ney was vsibly affected. but only for moment
/ poet, seeking for the enemy and the most al
vantaseous position in which to meet him. "Sol
dicrs." he cried, tnrnins TO the men coming up an
crowdins in dense missess around him: "soldcrs.-
here our comrades have celebrated festival Of glc
ry, and hewed for them selvcsa path through III
midst of their enemies. Let their example be 10
Lowell. Perhaps fortune my grant Us the achieve
mcnt of a similar feat even to-day" ,..a.
Lsrusl, also maintained in his countcnancc ths
firm composure which outwarly never forsook hin
my friends... ne cxhortcd his men, 'thosc who Ii
here died an honorable death. This snow is GRIN
soncd with noble blool- l must fire you with il
dignation--;t calls for reveage. Think Of tn,
lwhcnI sh, be able to pon. out to you the enemy
Anger flashed in his eyes while he spoke II
proudly raised his head erect, an d unconscious
put his hrni to his sw,sd. His LOOK pierced lik
a kindns t'nsu, Of lightning the hearts OF all !,
as Under such leader our courage could nev.
faltcr. sBy his eye he. in ono m,ncnt, broke tn
chilling letters Of dread which had struck throus
almost every hart at the sight of. the silent Go
gotha; and again courage stretched her free pinior
in conquerins strength. We proceeded onward.-
As We gradually descended the gentle declisit,
VIC approached nearer to the scene Of the sccon
action, and finally wound our way througilthe ver
midst Of the dcsolation. The Marshal was the Tor,
most: with grave eamncss he examined the aspc,
Of things The position which the troops had o,
cupicd in the bsttlc could be clearly distinguish
ed. lans f0erl ifsi.l .igfss.s8l III.
'.Here stsod the Fsurtcenth,' - said the hero o
this campagn pointing to spot on one side, wlscr
the glittcring front plstes Of crushed shakos sti
showed the number of that regiment IS,
4 "Thc lillian Guard mast have fought in III:
place" rejoined Lsrush; "for there lie their dea
But where my their living be now7" ,.,l =.
He uttered the last words in subducd tone. .
he did not wish too FAR to betray his forcbodings
By glance directed to Rasnski he plainly intim;
ted what he thought. -,
i "Hcm. said the latter, "they have at leastreacl
ed Krasnoi; bnt what may have taken place bstwcc
sunrise of yesterday and the present time. co,
lecture as little As can where We ourselves sha
be this time to morrow. But. look here. I beg
you.
/ 1t appeared that We had now come to that pa
of the battle field where the enemy's artillery Ia
made the greatest havoc. Long lines Of dead DO,
les lay stretch on the snow. which for ! great al
tance, was red from blood. now turned into soil
ice Never did battle ground present mo.
dismal scene; for the deal remained IN the sam