The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-09-18
MARSHAL NEY's RETREAT.
By J. s c. ABBOTT.

One Of the most memorable deeds OF
for,itude and heroism recorded in the an
nails Of war. was performed By Marsha
Nay, in the retreat from Moscow. With
division Of Ave ,housah I'D men he was
cut off from the remainder of the French
army. Kutusolf.the Russian genera, with
eighty thousand men, Including numerous
cavalry, aud with two hundred pieces Of
artillery. had effectually blocked up his
passage. BT
Ney;wilh his little band Of half 'lamish
ed soldiers. waverihg in their languid
march, with guns defective and dirly.ahd
with about six pieces Of cannon. rushed
upon the hostile batteries, ard maintain
I'd the unequal conflict in, the vain endeav.
or to cut his way through the masses Of
the field. until night darkentd the field.
Then, at midnight. with no thought even.
Of surrender, he orderd his troops 10 turn
qpon their track, and march back again
into the wilds Of Russia. ''. .
With amazement the troops heard this
command, which, without hesitation, they
9beyed. 1t was cold, gloomy winters
night. The frozen ground was covered
with snow. and the blast pierced the
worn out clothing Of the soldiers. For
two or three hours they traverstd in
darkness the savage waste, till they came
to a small river. Breaking the ice,, to
see in what direction the CURRENT ran, ,Ney
said; ;e.Fes ~.
This stream mus, flow in the Dneiper.
II shall be our guide --.
The fesble band. cold, hungry and
weary struggled along until they reached
ihe Dni-psr. Its broad ndrapid current
was clogged with floating masses Of ice,
and in one spot only, TO which a peasant
conducted them, vas the ice sufficiently
firm, for them to attempt a passage.
Ard even here it was necessary to pass
with the utmost caution. Ney, wrapped
in his cloak. slept an hour upon the
snow while bis troops passed over in sin
gfe lils. The lee bent and crackAd uhder
their feet. ..., ..
They then attempted to pass the wag
ons over, ladened with the sick and
wounded. The frail surface broke, and
several Of the wagons sank beneath the
ioe.. A few faint cries only were heard
as the sufferers disappeared in their colo
and icy sspulchre. BY crosslDgtbe Dnie
per. Ney hoped, in a long detOur,again ''
reach the army. .r
The Russians followed the feeble banc
n its retreat, keeping beyond muske
shot, but firing necessarily upon thei
victims with artillery, from every availa
bic eminence.
Nspoleon was ut 0rcha, waiting in tn
most intense anxiety to hear tidings from
Ney. Four days had passed without
fumor Of his fale. The whole army wa
booking back across the Drieper, hopinl
10 catch q glimpse Of his artillery. A
the close of a day Of solici!ude and watch
iHs. another %iStsiy fight snyelopsd j
10 its gloom these retreating. woe.s.rick
EN- armies. Napoleon was partaking- Of
frugal supper with Gen. Lsfebvret Ehhe
shout OF Joy was heard in the street, ant
thGwordO, Marshal Fey is safe, fell upo
his ear. .s r ,tor..a.- .,-.-a~
Al that monet Polish othoer entere'
with the tidings that the Marshal was
few leagues distant, on the band Of tn
river, harrassed BY pursuing CosSackG
and in want Of iptnedh,e assistance
Napoleon sprang from his chair, seize
the informeut by both arms, and gain
into his eyes exclaimed:
rs that really Tuei Are you sur
OF hs have two hundred millions i
gold in my vaults at, the Tuileries.
would have given them oil to save MAJ
shall Nsy.' 50 s5 ssat.nzt.tall.l.,
Instantly Eugene was dispatched wit
q five thousand men for the rescue of th
Marshal,s Eagerly the soldiers lslt thei
biVouac 6res for the midnight marct
For six miles they toiled along throug