Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-12-14

| nedrL. FeSe! "A man Is never falrly
gone until he cannot tell Russian from a
Frenchman."
Thus passed several days of the toll
some and weary march Of the gallant lit
tie band, but soon the sense of solitude in
that desert and snow-covered wilderness
began to depress the stoutest spirits; mol
was this the only moral evil against which
they had to contend, as they gradually
became conscious that the retreat which
had commenced in 80 orderly and hope
full manner, under the incessant intensity
of the cold, degenerated into disorgan-
lied and despairing march. Arms, mill
tary equipments, and dead horses, were
scattered at intervals along the road; but
still the grenadiers pressed forward seek
ing to conceal from their wounded charge
the terrible evidence of ruin about them.
Nor were they even permitted to strug-
|gle on in peace; for in few hours after
they had reached these land marks of mis-
cry they were on several occasions attack
ed by bands of Cossacks, who bore down
upon them with wild and savage yells;
when, closing around the litter, they either
fought their way through blood thirsty
opponents, or stood firmly to repel their
attack. Calm, silent and resolute; full of
enthusiasm of great duty still unaccom-
phahed; worn and weary as they were,
they scorned to yield an inch. Monu-
ments of marble have ere now been erec7
ted to in memory of deeds of heroism
which must take precedence to theirs; and
yet the sublime devotion of this little band
might, ought, and would, have passed un-
REGISTERED, like many another glorious ep-
isode in the great drama of War, had none
been spared to bear witness to its exist
ence. ,rs..f
Abandoned to themselves in the enc
my's country, their limbs benumbed with
cold, the few words frozen in their throats,
insufficiently cloted, scantily fed, and de-
layed upon their toilsome march by their
helpless burthen, one recollection suficed
to sustain them; Marshal of France had
said 81 conide Kobolinski to your honor ;
you will restore him to me-" and they
must not let him find his trust in them
misplaced. Then military discipline be-
came indeed the germ whence glory sprang
up in the long enduring spirits of these
devoted men. There was no. one to wit
ness and to applaud their struggles, save
the wandering hordes by whom they were
from time to time -harassed and almost
overpowered; and when at the close of
the third week of their suffering and ag-
ony, the young Pole entreated them with
clasped hands to leave him to die alone,
and to make an effort to save their own
lives resolute refusal met him on all sides.
"But, comrades" he urged in an i'm
passioned tone, which gained strength
from the intensity of his devotion. II
feel that am sinking fast; that for me all
hope is over; and that you are generously
sacrificing yourself for one who ere long,
viii be unable even to express his graft
tude." ,s
"Perhaps SO, perhaps not, Monsieur"
growled out jacques Dufouf, dashing the
icicles from his moustache; "but in any
case you may make up your mind, that
dead or alive, we shall take you into Will
ns, and deliver you to our Marshall; so
cover your head with your cloak, and leave
US to our duty"
'But, my good Jacques :
"Not a word, Monsieur; we know moth.
ing about. Colonel Kobolinski, aid-de-camp
to Marshal Davoust here; we have re-
ceived our orders, and shall obey them.
You are to us only wounded man on
our wayto The hospital at headquarters" !"
A few days subsequently,, the noble fel-
low who had thus spoken, awoke from the
deep sleep of exhaustion into which the
whole party had fallen at the.close of sew
eral hours of intense toll, only to find that
when he sought to arouse his comrades in
order that they might resume their march,
but four answered to his summons. The
rest were at peace r-
The i've survivors gezed at each other
Supplied with horror, and then they
glanced at the Pole! He was motionless,
but he still breathed; and regardless that
by such a precaution they doubled their
own labor, they threw over him several of
the great coats of their dead comrades,
lifted the litter, and slowly and in, silence,
once more moved forward. ~ fHi... u.
On-and on; throughout the long, long
day; no one to share and to tighten their
toll; they were but five; there was no re-
lay of labor; it was one determined strain
of nerve and will and i 10! towards eve,
ming, in the far distance they traced along
the murky atmosphere line of houses.
1t was Wilma 1t was the promised land.
1t was the haven of temporary security
A simultaneous cry of triumph burst
from the lips of the five exulting men;
and in the next instant they were talking
of hope and comfort to the rapidly sink
ing Kobolinski. Vain vision of accom-
plished duty. The revulsion of feeling
was too violent for the weakened frames
of these military martyrs; two fell and
died ere they had reached the taubourgsj
of the city; two other tottered on few |
PAGES farther-and then one-one only
the veteran, Jacques Dufour-was left to |
dispute with the elements the numbed [
and motionless body in the litter. For |
moment he stood aghast; then conscious
Of his utter inability to lift it, he clutched |
his fingers into the canvass by which it
was covered, and dragging it after him,
by last effort of strength rushed on un-
til his eliminating shrek of agony reach
ed the ear of the nearest sentinel.
In few minutes he was surrounded by
his comrades; and temporarily invigora-
ted by his triumph and the slight refresh
ment afforded by their eanteens he was
enabled to superintend the removal of
Kobolinski to the delapidated house in
which Marshal Davoust had established his
headquarters; when having ascertained
that medical attendance had been sum
moned, and assured himself that his prec-
ious charge was once more carefully laid
upon comfortable bed, he sent to inform