New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-07-07
NUMBER LOG.
THE BuRNINa or MOSCOW.


The tactics OF the Russians were at length changed.
Kutusof had superseded Barclay, and the system
of retreat which had saved Russia was laid aside
for anwise defence. The hostile armies were drawn
mp face 10 face. Napoleon at length saw the long
wished for battle before lin. This battle, and
then another before the walls of Moscow and then
luxurious winterquaTters in that capital, and die
tafonof terms of peace 70 the C2artfon the krern
liii-sueh was the programme Of the future, the
ACCOMPLISHMENT of which he did not doubt.
The Emperor exhibited tie pietare to his soldiers
before his tent. He never lost an opportunity OF
theatrical display. One can fancy the grim guards
fling past the smiling baby-face, breaking their
ranks and shouting, embracing each other, she'd
ding tears in their enthusiasm. Not bad subject
for great French high,art picture, this reviewing
of the troops by his Majesty Of Rome. Ii would be
well for Monsieur Gerard, premier peintre,b and
so forth to receive an order to cover ieague or
more Of canvas with his notions Of the scene.
The battle of fI36roiino was fought and won. The
victory cost too much, and was barren of results.
Historians say that Napoleon was not himself on
that day that his orders were yaciIlating, and that
he locked on at tue tremendous contest with an
unusual apathy. He himself pronounced Borodino
to be his most brilliant feet of arms. From all
parts the field his generals sent to him for re-
Inducements; the Russians brought the whole of
their reserves into action; but Napoleon was in
flexible in his discrimination to keep his own re-
serves intact. By bringing these into the field he
could have rendered the victory decisive. and the
issue Of the campaign might have been different.
But he e4EEIea= AlaQtIer-Daltls
walls of Moscow and wisely, but mistakenly, with
held his reserves for this. The evacuation and
burning of Moscow would never enter into reason
able calculations of the future.
So the battle was fought and won; and the Rus
slams retreated and the French resumed their
march towards Moscow.
Meantime nostopeisin, III command Of that city,
was making patriotic speeches TO the mLlliitndei
and promising to shed the last drop of his blood IN
| defense of tic capital. He was contfiFing the
most wonderful machines for the destruction OF the
French arsny-huge balloons, which were to poar
| aewaiire and birthstone, and other clever astttl-
Iuerts of d like sort. Prognostics were not want
ing as they seldom are under circumstances OF eX-
/ element II oxen did not speak, vulEures, eaught
in tile chains of the cross Of the great IVAN hung
/ suspeuded there d sign OF hope to the people, But
nafie was stronger than patriotic enthusiasm. One
j long. overwhelming line of exlles began to pour
from the city. Princes and their serts, priests and
their ocis went forth into the deserts. Public ar
chiyes and the paraphernila OF reilslon were car.
ricd away. Solemn music Of lameHting hymns died
4 beyond the walls as when of old times, the gods
departed from falling city
1 Kntusoa retreafed upon MOSCOW with an army
!. ninety thousand strong then retreated again
marched through the doomed city silently, ana leii
/ tito lis fate. The garrison followed and those o.
4 the people that yet remained there The prisoners
were set free and left behind $50 the most credible
authorities reiate@ to set fire TO the city. Rostop
chn.s baIiool-eombustibles We're turned to no
ma last rush of the people, thus deserted by the
II armr must have afforded scene OF panle-terror.
i Ladies left their ewes serfs fed with no thought
OF providing for the exgencies of the deserts that
Il stretched between them and place Of shelter. II
i was calculated afterwards that hundred Thousand
4 Of these eXiles perished Of want
II Thus the city was emptied Of all save the re.
leased prisoners and six thousand wounded Rus
slams left in the hospitals of ahe later hothihe
!. was heard after the burning OF MOSCOW.
!.
From tie summit Of tile Mount Of Salvation Ma
t poleon first beheld Moscow. The huge city laJ
bathed in sunlight; the kremn, cased IN It's aTrnoi
of many-coored steel, glitfered hike IRE, flashing
out rays Of brilliant light the countless church
/ spires and palaces. a radiant tremor quivered
over those leagues of magnificent buildings, SHIFT
ing from tint to tint as the CITY were some dol
uhin-l,ued leviathan. Never, perhaps. did such q
II scene Of enchantment break on mortal eyes. Here
was the goal of that long journey through the ster
lie steppes. Moscow glowed, like Q rainbow OF
] the horizon, sign of safety and triumph.
r There were Joyous congratulations among tht
c commanders and the troops, as they came up
body after body, raised reiterated shouts q Z ~
umph No one dreamed Of the true state OF tn
T. case Napoleon still expected battle. Thong
y smaller towns ON their route had been deserte
: and fired, it seemed impossible that the Russian
!, should devote their ancient capital to the sam
3 fate.
: manller of the Russian rear guard, met the Empt
: peror on the nights and an armistiee Of two houl
was agreed upon So at length it became evideI
that there was to be no second hattle-that th
e victory of Borodine had achieved the conquest
d Moscow Their good fortune was even bette
{, than the French, in their most sanguine hope
= had anticipated.
Napoieon's tent was pitched on the heights, an
j there he remained expecting that denutation {
,e the Boyars would come forth to lay an
G. their city at his feet. He paced up and deNI
n now looking upon chart on which the long mere
hi of his army was mapped out; now gazing lori
en- the great city, whence he was to dictate Il
st uIhant peace. The portrait OF his son rested
fe its open case against seat, and the Enper
II ina In NaSSed
St. repassed. The chances at that moment seemt
to be that this little Caesar wonid ontriyal b
ancient Roman predecessors in extent of dominic
lg The Northern barbarians were even now quelle
OF ready to his hand
le Still the Boyars did not come. No doubt th
a were gathering together their chief treasures
bring as a peace. Offering NO doubt those hangh
,t princes were attifiDg themselves In saekcloth al
If ashes, and hanging chains upon their neeks, tn
d they might extort by their humiliation mercy fro
n their eonqnerof.
"A that the inhabitants had deserted Moscow.
=, =. .4Psha!.i cried the Emperor. IS impo
4 4 sible z!
The day passed on. The fear-guard of the Ri
~ slams evacuated the CITY, The oossacks, with who
1s Murat had been eoquetting before the walls q
appeared too. The Emperor descended from
ct heights 10 the Derogomitow Gate.
Id NiGht was drawing The lustre OF sunset h
died from the FURNISHED walls of the kremn: t
st gided balls the submits OF the countless ehafe
ed towers were fiekering into darkness one by OF
-, Still no aepntation! Surely the Beyais were PR
of trafe in terror, thinking that they were beyo
the pale of mercy.
ale Go; bring the Boyars before me-. said
Ia Emperor to Daru.
as na Darn entered the city and returned Then
hh5 h5o truth the rumor of which had been gathering
~ day was knnWn-MoseoW was deserted.
three hundred thousand inhabitants had gone il
III exile.
The silence of the empty city was awful. I
French troops were scared BY the echo of th
er. own steps as they defled through the desal
DE streets But the rich city. with all its pala
uf- and their tresures was ut length in their poss
tx siou The lust of plumber soon conquered IL
first awe.
Eas On the next day the Emperor entered the kr,
go lin and took mp his quarters there. With him "
Lea the portrait Here, in the palace OF the Cars,
- Maiesty fRome was installed
NJ Napoleon was sad aud thoughtful. as he nd
-. well be. This unexpected desertion of the cay
y spoke n language of no good angnry. StAl
- aetual state OF things was favorable enough.
INT winter quarters were gained. Napoleon addses
Ter from the kremiin overtufes OF peace to the
perar of Russia; and set about preparing for
coming winter, arranging, among other th
ret what actors and opera singers should be sent
With Paris to while away the time.
Who On the first night many tires broke cat 10 dlle
the parts of the city on the next morning the the
ling change in flames. Saeh accidents are esn.l @