Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-04-04
Marshal Ney's Retreat,


n division of five thousand men he was
cut off from the remainder of the French
army, Kutusof, the Russian general,
with 10000 men, including numerous
cavalry, and with 200 pieces of artillery,
had effectuaIly blocked up bis passage.
Ney, with his little band of half-fam.
ished soldiers, wayering in their languid
march, with guns defective and dirty,
and with but six pieces Of cannon, rushed
upon the hostile batteries, and maintained
ahe unequal conflict, ia the vain endeayor
80 cut his way through the masses of the
foe, until night darkened the field. Then,
at midnight, with no thought even Of sur,
render, he ordered bis troops to turn up.
en their track, and march back again into
she wilds of Russia.
With amazement the troops heard this
command which, without hesitation, they
ubeyed. 1t was cold gloomy winters
night The frozen ground was covered
with snow, and the blast pierced tho
worn-out clothing of the soldiers. For
swo or three hours they traversed in dark
ness the savage waste, till they came to
a small river. Breaking the ice to see
in Rhat direction the current ran, Ney
said, This stream must flow into the
Dneiper- 1t shall be our guide
The feeble band cold, hungry, aud
weary, struggled along until they reach
ed the Dneiper. Its broad and rapid
current was clogged with floating masses
of ice, and in one spot only, TO which a
iame peasant conducted them, was the ice
sufficiently firm for them 10 attempt a
passage. And even here it was necesa-
~ 10 pass wjlh the ulmost csadou. Ney, I
wrapped rs lbs cloak, slept for an hour
upon the snow. wEile his troops passed .
over in single file. The ice bent and .
erackied under taeir feet.
They then attempted to pass the was-
ons over, laden with the sick and wound.
ed. The trall surface broke, and several
Of the wagons sank beneath the ice. \
;ew faint cries only we're heard, as the
sufferers disappeared in their cold and icy
'ePulchre. BY crossing the Dneiper Ney /,
hoped, in long detour, again to reach
the army. The Russians followed this
feeble band in It's retreat, keeping beyond
musket Slot, but firing necessarily upon
,heir victims with artillery, from every h
available emHeuce.
Napoleon was al Orcha, waiting, ia the
most intense anxiety, to hear tidiugs from
Ney. Four days had passed without
even a rumor Of his fate. The whole
army was looking back across the Dnei-
per, hoping to catch a glimpse Of his ad-
RANGING columns, or hear the report Of
his artillery. At the close Of day Of
5olicitude and watching, another wintry
night enveloped in it's gloom those re-
treating woe-stricken armies. Napoleon
vas partaking Of frugal supper with !
Gen. Leiebvre, when shout of Joy
vas heard in the street, and the words,
Marshal Ney is safe,' fell upon his ear.
At that moment a Polish officer entered
With the tidings that the Marshal was
ew leagues distant on the banks of the
liver, harrasscd by pursuing COssacks, =
md ia want of immediate assistance
Napoleon sprang from his chair, seized
be informant by both arms, and gazing
nto his eyes exclaimed;
I" Is that really true? Are you sure
# it? have two hundred millions in
,old in my vaults at the Tuileries. l
you'd have given them all to save Mar .
hal Ney." .
Instantly Eugene was dispatched With :
I'VE thousand men for the rescue of the
darshal. Eagerly the soldiers left their
ivouac fires for the midnight march.
COR six miles they toled along through
he snow and over an unknown path, oft !,
n stopping to listen if they could hear 4
ny sound of their lost friends. The 7
iver, which was their only guide, flowed I;
rear and chill by their side, encumber- c
d by vast masses of floating ice. Gloo 7
ny forests of evergreens frowned along y
heir path, aud no sound but the tramp +,
t Eugene's battalion disturbed the ST. T
ence of the night. :,
At length Eugene ordered his artillery
o be discharged, as a shout to call the y
t;ention of his friends. Listening aux-
'usly, they heard, far off in the distance, C
n apparent response, a feeble report of "
1usketry. The Marshal had not a sim !,
lie piece Of artillery left. Both parties, a
owever, understood the language Of their V
uns, and they FASTENED to meet each a
her. They were united. Officers and o.
AL iars olsEo tbr.,,, tbr,,.oI,,,- ;rto oooh !"