Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-10-30
Choice sNntflIahp.
MARSHAL NEY's RETREAT
BY J. s. @. ABBOT.


One of the most memorable deeds of for
titude and heroism recorded in the annals
Of war was performed by Marshal Ney, in
the retreat from Moscow. With division
of five thousand men, he was cut off from
the remainder of the French army. Kutus.
off. the Russian general, with eighty thous-
and men, including numerous cavalry, and
with two hundred pieces of artillery, had
effectualy blocked up his passage.
Ney, with his little band of half famished
soldiers, wavering in their languid march,
with guns defective and dirty, and with
about six pieces of cannon, rushed upon the
hostile batteries and maintained the unc-
quail conflict in the vain endeavor to cut his
way through masses of the foe, until night
darkeped the field. Then, at midnight,
with no thought even, of surrender, he Or
dcred his troops to turn uron their track
and march back again into the wilds of
Russia
With amazement the troops heard this
command, which, without hesitation, they
obeyed, 1t was cold, gloomy winters
night. The frozen ground was covered
with snow, and the blast pieroed the worn
out clothing of the soldiers For two or
three hours they traversed in darkness the
savage waste, till they came to small river.
breaking the ice, to see in what direction
the currant ran, Ney said
This stream must flow into the Dnieper.
1t shall be our guide.
The feeble band, cold, hungry and weary,
struggled along until they reached the
Dneper. Its broad and rapid current was
clogged with floating masses of ice, and in
one spot only, to which peasant conducted
them, was the ice sufficiently firm for them
to attempt q passage. And even here it was
Ney, wrapped in his cloak, slept an hour
upon the snow, while his troops passed over
in single file. The ice bent and cracked un.
der their feet.
They then attempted to pass the wagons
over, loadened with the sick and wounded.
The frail surface broke, and several of the
wagons sank beneath the ice. A few faint
cries only were heard as the sufferers disap.
peared in their cold ana icy sepulchre. By
crossing the Dnieper Ney hoped, in long
detour, again to reach the army.
The Russians followed the feeble band in
its retreat, keeping beyond muskct shot,
but firing necessarily upon their victims
with artillery from every available eminence.
Napoleon was at Orcha, waiting in the
most intense anxiety to hear tdings from
Ney. -Four days had passed without ru-
NOR OF his fate. The whole army was look
ing back across the Dnieper, hoping tc
catch glimpse of his artillery. At the
close of u day Of solcitude and watch
ing, another wintry night enveloped in its
gloom these rctreating, woe stricken ar
mics. Napoleon was partaking ola fruga
supper with General Lefebvre, when shout
Of JOY was heard in the street, and the
words, "Marshal Ney is safe'' fell upor
his ear.
At that moments a Polish officer entered
with the tidings that the Marshal was few
leagues distant, on the bank of the river
harfassed by pursuing Cossacks, and il
want of immediate assistance. Napoleon
sprahg from his chair, seized the intormsn
by both arms, and gazing into his eyes, ex
claimed:
SIS that really true? Are you sure of it
have two hundred millions in gold in IN.
vaults at Tuilleries. l would have givel
them all to have saved Marshal Ney."
Instantly Eugene was dispatched will
FIVE thousand men for the rescue of tn
!, Marshal Eagerly the soldiers lett thei
biyouac fires for the midnight march.
For six miles they toiled though the snoy
, and over an unknown path, often stopping
to listenif they could hear any sound O
their lost friends. The river, which wa
5 their only guide, flowed drear and chill a
their side, encumbered with vast masses @
floating ice. Gloomy forests of evergreen
n frowned along their path, and no sound bu
F. the tramp Of Eugenes battalion disturbe
the silence Of the night. ri.
At length Eugene ordered his artillery {
be discharged, as shout to oall the after
ton of his friends. Listening anxiousl
: they heard far off in the distance, in appal
ent response, a feeble report of musketry
The Marshal had not a single piece Of a
tillery left. Both parties understood TIL
language Of their guns and they hastene
to meet each other. They were soon un
a ted. Officers and soldiers alike threw then
selves into each others arms, and many I,
these war-worn veterans wept for JOY
The re- united bands, o:getful Of the pa
perils and the still greater ones they wei
!, yet to encounter, returned rejoicing to o
cha: AS Marshal Ney, with soldiery sin
plicity and unostentatlon, gave recital
the dangers and ditiulties he had surmoun
ed and the hardships he had endured, Nj
poleon grasped his hand, and immortalize
him with the title of the ''brayest of til
brave" Again, Napoleon said, in refe
% ence to this same achievement, in wore
y which will never die Better is an army
! deer commanded by a lion, than an army
! lions commanded by. a deer"
| During this retreat an unnatural mothe
4 who was one Of the. camp followers, wear
of nursing ber .erying child, threw it ipi
the snow TO perish, Ney CHANGED to wi
ness the inhuman deed, and lifting up ii
,S ,G child, soothed it tendery, and restored it !