The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-09-03
MisGella nRnms.
RETREAT OF NEY,
BY JOHN s. c. ABBOTT.

One Of the most memorable deeds of
fortitude and heroism recorded in the an
nails Of war was performed by Marshal Ney,
in the retreat from Moscow. With d.
vision of five thousand men he was cut off
from the remainder of the French army
Kutusoff, the Russian general, with eighty
thousand men, including numerous cavalry,
and with two hundred pieces of artillery,
had effectually blocked up his passage.
Ney, with his little band of half.famish-
ed soldiers, wavering in their languid
march, with guns defective and dirty. and
with but six pieces of cannon, rushed upon
the hostile batteries, and maintained the
unequal conflict in his vain endeavor to
cut his way through the masses of the foe,
until night darkened the field. Then, at
midnight, no thought even of surrender, he
ordered his troops to turn upon their track,
and marched back into the wilds of Rus
isia.
With amazcment 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 riv-
err. Breaking the ice to see in what direc-
ton the current ran, Ney said, "This
stream must flow into the Dneiper 1t
shall be our guide"
The feeble band, cold, hungry and
weary, struggled along until they reached
; the Dneiper. Its broad and rapid current
was clogged with floating masses of ice,
and in one spot only, to which lame peas
ant conducted them, was the ice sufficient
ly 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 an hour upon the
snow, while his troops passed over in sim
gle file. The ice bent and cracked und er
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 only were heard as the sufferers dis
appeared in their cold icy sepulchre. BY
crossing the Dneiper, Ney hoped, in long
detour, again to reach the army. The
Russians followed this feeble band in its
retreat, keeping beyond musket shot, but
firing necessarily upon their victims with
artillery, from every available eminence.
Napoleon was at Orcha waiting with the
most intense anxiety to hear tidings from
Ney. Four days had passed without even
rumor of his fate. The whole army was
looking back across the Dneiper, hoping to
catch a glimpse of his advancing columns,
or to hear the report of his artillery AT
the close of solitude and watching, another
wintry night enveloped in its gloom these
retreating, woe-stricken armies. Napoleon
was partaking ola frugal supper with Gen
eral Lefebyre when a shout of Joy was
heard in the street, and the words "Mar-
shall Ney is safe" fell upon his ear. AT
that moment Polish officer entered with
the tidings that the Marshal was a few
leagues distant, on the banks of the river
harassed by pursuing Cossacks, and in
want of immediate assistance. Napoleon
sprang from his chair, seized the informant
by both arms, and gazing into his eyes, ex-
claimed
SIS that really true? Are you sure of it
/ have two hundred millions of gold in my
vaults at the Tuileries. would have civ.
en- them all to save Marshal Ney."
Instantly Eugene was dispatched with
five thousand men for the rescue of the
Marshal. Eagerly the soldiers left Their
bivouac fires for their midnight march,
For six mil, they toiled along the snow
and over an unknown path, often stopping
to listen if they could hearany sound Of theil
lost friends. The river, which was Their
only guide, flowed drear and chill at their
side, encountered by vast masses of float
ing ice. Gloomy forests of evergreens
trowned along their path, and no sound
but the tramp of Eugene's battalion dis
turbed the silence of the night.
At length Eugene ordered his artillery to
be discharged, as shout to call the atten-
ton Of his friends. Listening anxiously
they heard far off in the distance, in appa.
rent response, feeble report of muskctry
The Marshal had not single piece of ar
tillery left. Both parties, however, under.
Y I'd, II. l.. = 4.