, 1864-01-23
Retreat Of Ney.

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 a division of
five thousand men he was cut off from
the remainder of the French army. Kutu-
soft, the Russian General, with $4,000 men,
including the numerous cavalry, and with
200 pieces of artillery, had efectually
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 but
six pieces of cannon, rushed upon the hos
tile batteries, and maintained with unequaled
conflict, in the vain endeayor cut his way
through the masses of the foe, until night
darkened the field Then, at midnight,
with no thought even of surrender, he or
dered his troops to turn upon their track,
and march back again into the wilds of Rus
sia
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 pierced the worn-out clothing
of the soldiers. For two or three hours they
traversed, in darkness, the savage waste till
they came to a small river. Breaking the
! ice to see in what direction the current ran,
Ney said, "This stream must flow in the
Dneiper 1t shall be our guide"
The feeble band, cold, hungry and weary,
struggled along until they reached the
Dneiper It's broad and rapid current was
clogged with floating masses Of ice, and in
one spot only, to which lame peasant con
Quoted them, was the ice sufficiently firm for
them to attempt passage. And even here
it was necessary to pass with the utmost
caution Ney, wrapped in his cloak, slept
for a1 hour upon the snow, while his troops
passed over in single file. The ice bent and
cracked under their feet
They then attempted to pass the wagons
over, laden with the sick and wounded
The frail surface broke, and several Of the
wagons sank beneath the ice. A few faint
cries were only heard, as the sufferers disap-
peared in their cold and icy sepulchre. BY
crossing the Dneiper, Ney hoped, by long
detour again to reach the army. The Russians
followed this feeble band in its retreat, keep
ing beyond musket shot, but firing incessant-
ly upon their victims with artillery, from ev-
every ayilable eminence.
Napoleon was at 0rcha, waiting, in most
intense anxiety to hear tidings from Ney.-
Four days had passed without a rumor Of
his fate. The whole army was looking back
across the Dneiper, hoping to catch glimpse
of his advancing columns, or to hear the re-
port of his artillery, At the close of the
day of solicitude and watching, another win
ter night enveloped in its gloom these re-
treating, woe-stricken armies. Napoleon
was partaking Of frugal supper with Gen.
Lefebvre when a shout of joy was 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 few leagues Distant on the
banks of the river, harrassed by pursuing
Cos8acks, and in want ofimmediate assistance.
Napoleon sprung from his chair, seized the
informant by both arms, and gazing into his
eyes exclaimed:
" Is that really true? Are you sure of it
l have two hundred millions of gold in my
vaults at the Tuileries I would have given
them all to save Marshal Ney."