Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-05-26

icil tlic cliCfIln1 walls
of Smolensko. The sky was overcast: not a star
was visible through its dark canopy. The only light
which in some measure relieved the darkness was
the feeble reflection of the mlntIe OF snow which
covered the fields. Surrounding nature was sad
and silent; the rumbng of the few field pieces which
c'uld vet be brought away on their carriages and
the clatter of arms, were the only sounds which
broke upon the ear in this oppressive silence; for
the soldiers uttered not word, but plodded noise.
lcssly, and broolng through this wilderness of win.
try dcsolation.
After an hours mtrch We reached dense forest of
fir trees. Suddenly hollow crash was heard in the
rear and at tho same time the reflection of strong
light shone upon the tops of the old trees Every
one looked up in listening attention. for we bcliev-
ed, at first that what heard was the discharge of
the encmy's artillery. But Larush quieted our
/ fears by telling US that il was only tie blowing up
OF tie walls AMI towers of the f,rtifi .ations The
dull, heavy reports continued vet some time longer
Our eyes wandered over the moving troops and
train OF wagons which, in the grey morning, were
almost lost to view. The road passed over an ell
ovation which, in its declivity was coated over with
ice, so that the weak and tired aim,ls were unsble
to pull up the trhing assent, notwithstanding the
cxertions of tne drivers, with the aid of their w,s
and curses.
lhe wagons and guns were thus stopped in their
progress, and while the horse and infantry passed
ON they remained behind After while, however
they all succeeded in surmounting the impcdmcnt,
which, to each successive wagon or gun carriage,
became less formidable. rs the ice was broken IN
by its predecessor, and OF course became less slip
perry. Ihad become somewhat uneasy about r osen,
who rs yet was not able march with us, on ac-
count OF his wound, and | rode back alongthc line
to the wagons which were carried the wounded
oil whose lives and recovery hop,s were still enter
tuned. Att Iespied Roscn, who lay with 9th
ers OF his regiment on wagon procured through
the untiring efforts Of Larush Rosen and his
wounded comrades were on one of the last vehicles
king their way up the ridge, suddenly one over
laden with women and ba ygagc, in spite of all the
efforts of horses and drivers, clme to halt and
was unable to come NJ. Those behind cursed and
rived, insisting that the should be left behind
they would have driven by, but in passing over,
the most level part had be sn selected by the fore
most wagon, and every attempt to reach the sum-
nit by another path would have been far more diff
hcult, II not impossible. In this way two wretched
horses strained every muscle and snew to scramble
up the slippery assent, but in vain; equally fruit
less was it to seek help from tile men, as there were
none but sick and wounded aud the drivers them.
selves belonged to the same category. At last the
two poor animals. when half way up the hill, fell
down exhausted, and not being able any longer to
hold the wagon back it began a retrogradc motion
dragging the horses along whit. cry of ter
ror and dismay this sight as we'll from those
III the wagon itself as from those it treatcncd be-
hind. But there was no one in real danccr but tho
former, for the wagon slid down sideways; ono of
tie wheels sunk into a deep gully, the other stuck
against block Office, and the wagon was ovcrturn-
with great By their own troubles and need
of deliverancc, the feelings ofthese people had be-
come so blunted and torpid, that those behind man |
ested more satisfaction that the object was out of
the way than they did pity for the fate of their sick
comrades and the helpless women scattered on the
road. These had, however, quickly gathered them.
selves up again, and seeing their conveyance per-
iec'iy useless they fastened, with their little prop
erty in their arms, towards the nearest Wagons to
seek for places there but they were, for the most
part, roughly rcpulsed.
When | saw the wounded soldiers and u.mor
driven back with savage bitterness bv the wh:ps of
the drivers was cut to the heart; Roscn, wounded
a he was. raised himself and cried out: "Fricnds.
4 i'nt leave your comrades behind. Come here
DID m;n.' he cried to an old grenadicr severely
wounded; "come here we will take you up, and one
'tus can so on foot by turns. / will be the first
myself to try it." This example had good effect ;
t was resolved to take one of the wounded into
'ach wagon. But there were not as many wagons {
IS claimants, and a young woman, closely cnvel-
pei in fur clio TX, AMI with child about three {
ears old in her arms, and apparently the wife of
ONE officer was repulscd everywhere, while her S
had already found PLACES. Suddenly !
he Hung down the child into a snow bank, and Y
aus freed from her encumbrancc, ran to the next /
igon. "Take me alone, them" she cried, in tones II
heart rending anguish; "you will at least save h
ne iiie! TINS unnatural conduct of the mother a
led even these men, hardened as they were to cv G
y misery incident to war, wit, feeling of horror C
nd disgust dismounted and took up the CRYING b
lid which was nearly smotlercd in the deem snow
"Givc up the child, we will save the poor iuno Il
'rt, cricda chasseur from the wagon INTO which al
c young woman had made a fruitless attemnt tn NJ
imo' while at the SINE time he drove bacl, the un
ppy creature with heavy blows of his fist. The a
'sseur reached out his hands toward me. lifted the ir
Tie Child into the wagon and took il in his arms tf
the meantime the woman had rushed to the next &C
'gon' endcaroring by tears and wrnging of hands IN
move the people there to compassion. But all OF
ing ofpity and commisseration was banished from a
en-, and indignation had hardened every heart OF
inst her; she threw herself on her knees and OF
insing her hands cried out, .'Oh have pity on INV .h
ut!iand save me-" az
i. di
Away with you, wreich"' cried grey headed l..
'nadier. 'syoamay run foot through tho snow." ~
on hearing this she sprang up, rushed violently to
! wagon where the child sat trembling, clinr;nc
lhe ebreast ofthe old yayer, andLcfor anr one was
are what was intention, she snachcd the child
ay, and the second time threw the innocent crea
e IN the snow crying, "Let it lie there il docr -.
yet know hov sweet is lifc--low terrible death -,
ears in this place; bnt save me; know how beau 9,
! the world is for have seen better days.r- a.,
With these words she made convulsivc effort to in