Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-07-25

wretched soldiers we're found dead, with
their feet half burned off, and their hair
frozen to the ground.
Pounded corn and horse Aesh had grad
pally been superceeded by birch bark and
saw dust loaves. The Emperor gave or
ders to destroy one.half the Wagons, so as
to use the horses and draugbt oxen to help
to forward the artillery. Many Of the
cavalry, by the time we reached Studzian.
ka-and many even Of the Sacred Squad.
ron, the Eve hundred officers who formed
the bodJgaard. Of the Emperor-were dis.
mounted. Some of our men had their
bleeding feet bsndsged with rags, to re-
place their worn out shoes. There were
Generals wrapped in women's pslisses. 49,
All discipline was ragidly goines
During the retreat, had frequent alimp.
oes Of krautser, who was always followed
BY that carrion crow OF Jew. The dsy
We left Moscow, j had seen him riding be.
side the sumptuous carriage that con.
tsined the Russian lady Of rank whom he
had undertaken to convey to Paris. A
day or two later, when We halted at the
lake Of Semelin, to throw into it the an.
cient armour, cannon, the great cross of
Ivan, aud the other trophies Of Moscow,
the carriage had disappeared, and Krautz.
or and bis charge we're mounted on horses.
There was no sun visible, and the thick
fog had suddenly changed into heavy
snow, that blew around Us and almost
blinded the soldiers. Emaciated, dirty
and unshaveD, our men already had be-
gun to look more like hungry bricands
than Grenadiers Of the Grand Army. 1t
on this day that the Emperor himself dis.
mounted seized musket, and marched at
the head Of the Old Guard, to encourage
thom. When shut my eyes, I can see
him now, with the stern, gripped mouth
and che broad white forehead, over which
one black tress Of hair fell. was riding
quietly along with the vanguard, wrapped
in shought when one of my assistant sur.
geons tapped me on the shoulder, and
pointed at krautzer.
Look at that man, Monsieur Frochet."
he said; " observe how his holsters are
stuffed ont. The soldiers tell me they are
full Of jewels that hs stole from q palace
ID Moscow. Pdrblssx! would give q.
haifal Of diamonds myself to be safe in
the Boulevards.'
- |. Aud look st that poor woman, CON,
arades," said q gredadier from the ranks
-" how frightened she Is OF him they
say be beats her if she lags behind, he 10
so afraid Of the Cossacks. Brutel l
should like to put bullet through him r.
And here comes that Jew that never
loses sight Of him." cried third fellow,
rith rag round his forehead" follows
him like weasel does wounded rabbit.
Id shoot that Jew il be followed me so.
Ugh how this snow blows in ones eyes II
Worse and worssi you could trace our
mafsA b. loag lines Of snow hillocks, the
gravessof oar uahappy soldiers. -Four
days iron 6molensko, where we hoped to
get food, I saw The poor Russian lady rid.
ing in sutler's wagon, the next day on q
gun.carriage. The day after that, met
her walking with almost bare feet, cling
ing to an old soldier, who had takeo com.
passion on her; her hair was dishevelled,
her rich dress had turned to rags. A day
before we reached Smolensko, came upon
her body among heap Of camp. followers
who had been speared by the Cossacks.--
The snow already had partly covered her.
! stopped for N moment, and even 10 the
cruel sel6shness 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 krau,zer,
-. ietanl o. saving his plunder, was rid.
iag ho1ly on 70 Snolensko, with its half
hsrut walls and dlsman,led towers, hope
ones more revisited our hearts, we waved
our aags and bayonets and hurried head.
long to the ovens.
l found An infuriated mob of soldiers
besisging the doors Of the bake house,
where rations we're to be distributed. Al.
armed at their menaces, the frightened
Jews were handling out Jumps of IN.
baked dough. Hundreds Of bayonets
were tossing in the air, nuskets we're dis
charging, and here and there men were
actually fainling with hunger on doorsteps,
within arms length Of the crowd. All or.
der aud discipline were gone, and amid
group Of inturia:ed men screaming for
bread, officers we're seen clamoring loud.
ly as the meanest camp follower.
EOIcnOSS 0MVuX AutSe, more COWAruly
and more importunate than any, saw
KrautEer; he Was mounted on strong
artillery. horse, and the we'll stuffed hoi.
s.ers were still conspicuous objects on his
saddle. He Was breasting his way to the
front among the cursing soldiers, and The
Jew was clinging to his stirrup leather
His arms were up in the ais entreating for
bread, and the bAypnets were ell around
him before and hSMnd, and on the right
hand and on the left, so that he could not
move them either up or down.
Shoot tie savantl' r cried drummer,
Oh whom bis horse had trodderf; "sol.
diers FIRST, savants after. Why didn't he
foresee the bad weather2'
"Bread, dread, accursed Jews bread,
dear Jewsp screamed out krautser, al.
ternately whesdling and threatening.
Bread, or we'll slay. every Jew!'
shouted the soldiers. tearing the dough to
pieces ss the Jew bakers threw it in great
lump among them, fierce as sharks fight.
ing for bait
was about four ra.ks of from Kraut.
ser. aud was waiting patiessly for my
turn. when my attention was drawn 10 he
Jew 1t the sayant'a aide He WAS bend.