The mountain Democrat., 1863-10-31

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Worse and worse you could trace our
march by long lines Of snow hillocks, the
graves Of our unhappy soldiers. Four
days from Smolensko, where We hoped to
get food, saw the poor Russian lady ri
ding in a suffers wagon, the next day on
a gun-carriage. The day after that, met
her walking, with almost bare feet, cling
ing to an old soldier, who had taken COM
passion on her her hair was dishevelled,
her rich dress had turned to rags. A
day before we reached Smolensko, l came
upon her body among a heap of camp
followers who had been speayed by the
Cossacks. The snow already had partly
covered her. stopped for a moment,
and even in the cruel selfishness of that
terrible retreat, covered her face with
some Snow. Poor woman, at last her
sufferings were over; she was beyond the
reach Of pain, sorrow and hunger. AS
for that wretch Krautzer, he, intent on
saving his plunder, was riding hotly on to
Smolensko, hoping to be the first to reach
the ovens, where the Jews were baking
bread for the army. At the sight of
Smolensko, with its half.burnt walls and
dismantled towers, hope once more revis-
tied our hearts, we waved our flags and
bayonets and hurried headlong to the
ovens.
l found an infuriated mob of soldiers
besieging the doors of the bakehouse
where rations were to be Distributed
Alarmed at their menaces, the frightened
Jews were handing out the Jumps Of un.
baked dough. Hundreds of bayonets
were tossing in the air, muskets were dis
charging, and here and there men were
actually fainting with hunger on door
steps, within arm's.length Of the crowd.
all order and discipline were gone, and
amid group of infuriated men screaming
for bread, officers were seen clamoring as
loudly as the meanest camp follower.
Foremost among these, more cowardly
and more importunate than any, l beheld
KrautZer he was mounted on a strong
artillery horse, and the well-stuffed hol-
sters were still conspicuous objects on his
saddle. He was breasting bis way to the
front among the cursing soldiers, and the
Jew was clingine to his stirrup-leather.-
His arms were up in the air entreating
for bread, and the bayonets were all
around him before and behind, and on
the right hand and on the left, so that he
could not move them either up or down.
Shoot the Savanti' cried drummer
on whom his horse had trodden; Soldiers
first, Savants after. Why didn't he fore
see the bad weather 2
Bread, bread, accursed Jews! Bread,
dear Jews' screamed Krautzner, alter
nately wheedling and threatening.
Bread,o we'll slay every Jew I shout
ed the soldiers, tearing the dough to
pieces as the Jewish bakers threw it in
great Jumps among them, fierce as sharks
fighting for bait.
Twas about four ranks off from Krautz.
er, and was waiting patiently for my turn,
when my attention was drawn to the Jew
at the Savant's side. He was bending
down and evidently cutting at the Sa-
wants holsters, with thick, sharp knife.
| was fascinated with the sight; so fasci-
mated that lost all thought of giving the
alarm; though amid the war Of four or
FIVE thousand hoarse voices. it is not pos
sible that any alarm could have given
could have reached him. Suddenly saw
the holsters slide off, and the Jew stoop
down and crawl under the horses belly,
and winding through the crowd, d;s&p-
peared down a side-alley.
Il think said to an officer hcxt ia
me, that a Jew has robbed that man in
front of him. saw him cut off his
holsters
AHA = said the officer; this is no time
to look after thieves. Here, Jews-bread,
bread I'm starving! Bread, Jew, or III
fire my pistolp
Presently from the ravenous crowd
Krautzer emerged, devouring n huge
lump of dough, tearing it with his hands,
and cramming it in huge morsels into his
mouth.
rs there more to be got, Monsieur
Krautzer?' said.
Il don't know or care, said the wretch;
1T is every one for himself now. I'm of
to wilma
At that moment, Krantzer's eve hap
pened to fall upon his saddle he saw that
his holsters were gone.. lie turned pale
as corpse, then suddenly his eyes kin
died with the fire Of incipient madness,
and he drew his sword and advanced up
on me.
'Villain! thief! it is YOU he cried,
give me the jewels, or I'll cut you to
pieces
Put up that sword, fool said, 'or
I'll shoot you down as | would Cossack.
1t was that Jew that cut off your holsters
and ran down that lane.'
The sword fell from Krautzer's hands
his eyes rolled in their sockets; he flung
his arms, rose in his stirrups, gave a
ghastly scream, and then sank into half
paralysed heap on the saddle, and rode
slowly of, down the lane l had pointed
out.
From that hour, the Savant's reason
failed him; that shock had stricken him
to the brain his conduct became gradu.
ally more and more wild and raving. He
rode up and down among the ranks of the
vanguard, like madman, seeking for the
Jew, calling his name, threatening him
with death, praying him to take half the
jewels, and surrender the rest. At last,
raving, and threatening general with his
sword, Krautzer was arrested and sent to
the rear with the sick. It was then
was sent to see him, and pronounced him
mad.
/ need scarcely remind you of the hor-
rors Of the Be-esina, when about thirty
thousand of our soldiers perished. /,
however, passed my wounded over early
in the day, and escaped safe to Wilma
Krautzer has been with me ever since,
the Prussian Government paying for bis
support. He will never recover his
brain is softening; give him two years
longer to live.
The rascal Jew was never again heard
of; but year or so after my return,