The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-11-26

You must know, my dear English friend,
that i'll 1812-that is to say, exactly eighteen
years ago., then mere lad accompanied
the French army to Russia. | was surgeon
in Devout's corps, and was often in the En-
perors tent. No. 45-then a well-known as
tronomer in Berlin-was also with the Grand
Army, having been expressly commanded by
| Napoleon, to make observations on the eli
mate of Russia, and to record its variations.
His name was Krautzer and he was well
known at that time i'll Berlin as an acute OBJ
server, of great industry and sagacity, but OF
an envious and avaricious spirit, that had led
him to waste much time in alchemic pursuits
which he had finally abandoned in disgust,
only to give himself altogether up to place
hunting and money-making. We knew each
other by sight, and frequently saw him both
during the advance and the retreat. The story
| tell you is partly from my own knowledge,
and partly from the mouths of his intimate
friends-rnauy of whom were acquaintance
of mine
But let me delay for moment, my dear
English friend, to recall the glories of that
vast army Of three hundred thousand men
that crossed into Russia. Only yesterday an
old country woman was brought TO see me,
who had beheId that army pass her cottage.
She described Napoleon as sitting on her small
table, alternately consulting his maps and cut
ting huge slices from loaf that lay on the
table. All his marshals were round him, and
all day the troops moved past the doorway
in dusty columns. The country girls were
peeping in at the window, to catch glimpse
Of the Emperor. ''Why do you look at me p
he said, good-naturedly, to one Of the pretti-
est, chucking her under the chin, as he spoke.
81 am a poor little fellow Look at these fine
tall fellows pointing to Davout and Murat }
The old woman who told me this had head
that kept nodding with the palsy and it took
one years back to fancy her young graceful
and pretty. But that little story recalled to
my mind how our army looked when we
arrived at Gjat, just before the affair at Boro
dino.
We all know what happened then. The
Emperor rose at three in the morning, called
for glass of punch, sent Rapp for the re-
ports, and transacted business with Berthier
! till five; then mounted on horseback, and or
dered the drums to beat and the trumpets to
sound. st is the enthusiasm Of Austerlitz, u
he said, as he rode forward, and the troops
began to cheer. We lost ten thousand men
the Russians fifteen thousand. But few
days after the Russians retreated, and we adj
vanced straight on Moscow.
dare say you have read dozen times
about the famous battle; but | cannot resist
pardon an old soldier-briedy reminding
you of its chief points. The Russians were
in strong position, strengthened by field
works; their right flank rested on an intrench-
ed wood; brook, running through deep "a
vine, covered their right wing; from the vii
lage of Borodino the left extended to Lemon
skoie, another village, protected by ravines
and thickets in front secured by redoubts and
batteries; while in the centre, on an eleva-
ton, rose a double battery, that commanded
the whole line.
Layouts wanted to turn their left but Ma
poicon thought the plan too dangerous. Po-
nlatowski therefore attacked their right and
centre; while Ney tried to storm the redoubt
IN the centre; and Prince Eugene broke in
to Lemonskoe. If Napoleon had brought up
his reserve Of the Young Guard, the Russian
retreat would have been rout and if Da-
youts had got in their rear, Kutosow would
have been unable to have retre,.ted on the
capital.