Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-05-04
eTRIGAUB.

god GUE FTTTTF0
A Souvenir OF the Retreat from Moscow.
80 FH * p
On the 18th ofOctober, 1912, Napoleon,
accompanied by the. Prince d'EckmuhI,
better known as Marshal Davoust, com
manding the first division, commenced
that eventful retreat from Moscow, so
disastrO to the inmense army that
had followed him. At the close of a
march that had been rendered. more
fLilffcult byIthe estate of the roads and
q CONTINUED rain, the EmnerOr arrived on
the 23d 7BerOEsll, and there passed
the night. The next morning, while
Indicating the order of march so as to
gain AIarcO-JarOslavitZ, where he de-
f 8pehded Onmaking soma sta Y, .he Learned
that at the distance of four leagues be-
61re him the FelgiaIl division, under
the PrincefEugeug 7lI4Fl lfI4F found that viii
lage, with the -sutfoun nding woods and
heights, up9ccupied, This was an i'm
p0rtant position to maintain; for the
I Russian General, KutuZOff, who march
ed parallel with the French army, might
possibly seize on it, and thus cut off the
route to KalOuga. Wishing to- assure
himself Of UtlIe tallin possession of this
point, the Emperor rode to the quarter
from whence, itWasRXpeeted the Russian
Generai would make the attack; and
despite the ? torrents Of TaiI1 gtranquily
examined the ground which might ere
/ long become a field of battle Sudden
/ ly the sound Of'brisk firing struck on his
ear. He became restless and, pressing
| his hoTsej dscended a hillOcIa,f to recon-
nOiteT, but the belt of wood intercepted
an extended view. -s5 ~
Can the Russians. have been before
| hand with tIs?i demanded he of Davoust,
/ who had mt quilted his side. we have
not marched quick enough. [ should
not 5gisllE to fepbss Bha Qefb Ewing Of
kUtZu off.'
Sire replied the Prince d'EckmuhI,
| perhaps, i'll the maneUver prescribed,
by your majesty, the troops may have
manifested little of that dullness which
usually accompanies great fatigue
l. Believe you so, Monsieur le Marshal?
! Nevertheless, we have already passed
more than six leagues
1T is true, Sire; but Moscow is not
trlqre thRneOuP hundred and sixty Versts
l-fTOnf Marco-JarOslavitZ -Four davs'
march are sufficient to clear that dis
tance, and this is our sixth day. KUtuZoff
has been in advance of u.s.
TT is then battle, said Napoleon,
inpa ITEM . as the cannon we've heard
more distinctly, and Seemed to he ap-
preaching. Go, Dav ust, 90; quicken
your troops, and infIse little more
spirit into them f lr we must act now
not tD.eOnquelb but Solely to preserve
Notwithstanding the haste with which
the Marshal executed the orders of the
Emperor, he did n It arrive on the scene
of action until the sTrceS 81 Blle French
troops had been assured. However, thej
combat ragged with fury at the extremity
of the village, a7(FWhen then the second
division of the -hl@t corps, commanded
by Gen. FIyant, attempted to take DOS
session. efrOne- Qfrthe heights, the Rus
81 = eslllap blaWefJ upon them wi+h re- 2
doubled vigOr. DnvOUSt imm .diarnIv
dispatched one Of his aidrs-de-camp. Col. .
KObIinsl1i, to Prince Eugene; hut in .
tFgEeTsing the line, THAT Officer was
struck by bullet, which shattered his
thigh and instantly fell from his horse. /
On the night of that brilliant combat .
the Prince. dEcllmuhl yvas-still- ll-uncer=-
tain pf the fate 9f Is 9ide-de-camp, and,
Sought him on the HELD of Battle, which |
presented a most h.rrible spectacle
.Belzenldnd his brother general had also /
fallen while leaiing the last attack
WhileCsdC3yC bhiHfiugR Of the blighted =
hopes Of his Emperor, and mourning
the sad fate # his brave COMPANIONS, /
the attention of DavOust was arrested
by the voice of a soldier who, covered
with blood, and endeavOring to eXtri- +
cate himself from heap af carnage
that surrounded him, feebly exclaimed. (
tHeaye-7I have my friends left me here J.
to die wi t't suecor2' 4''" 'a'"..
It was ObIinski. Davoust fmmedi- l.
atelY recognized him, and leapiDg. from
dis hclSa gently faisqd him in h}s afpgs, +
ahedredF his idTOOsing spirits hhd ds-
patched n messenger for the surgeon
general. On his arrival with his assist
ga nee, wi itd-th 6-N1afshal, told more el-
Oquently than words could convey. how
slight were the hopes entertained for the
recovery Of the pnfoitupates sHOlesfrs 3
"a 1t aisAsf soldiBfis fiHte,aSsaid IDdvoust.
with emotion. Gentlemen, exert vouT
skill to the utmost I''
The effect of the bullet had been such
US to make aIHpUtatiOp necessary, which !
the BIUVe Polo Eore With fortftude, the
Prince remaining by his side during the
operation. q Ihe wound being dressed, lie
embraced the sufferer, and spoke in
tones of hope and encouragement; and 4
having recommended him to the care
of a few whom .-he could copfides in,
a.f Ais hQlsettp JONI tho Emperor,
VINO vailed with impatlonce, II
EA4LpA dNlGAAN44AA CuNLCll Vi wall COLL
posed Of the principal generals of the K
army, and having received instructions
as to the future line Of march, Davoust {
retired to his quarters. Already the two I
first divisions. Of the two first corps were
in movement, when an officer, whom .
hezh hqdrseht 70 EilTqluFg tlf8 Stafe of {
I[oblnskt, returned dIid Informed him {
that he still survived, and with proper {
care might recover. The Marshal was I
OveriOyed at the intelligence, but he was {
pecpleNed as to the beast means Of con- {
Veyi4g him to Smolensk the wagons be-
ing in the rear, and already filled to ex- 6
cess. A sudden Thought started to his /
mind, and placing himself in front of
the fQrtYseight regiment as they defilcd, y
he addres sed company of old grenada 7
dfstalRttaliqmSTSA sFEE6E /
'Grenadiers,' said he, my Aide-de- {
camp, Colonel kOblinski, was yesterday /
severely wounded while showing YOU {
al example Of courage and obedience
He is Pole. Would you wish to leave
lim b the Russiaus e FF Sc q II
80, no3 Hong iitt the Pole , cried
the soldiers. (
'Vive PEnlpereWr efied they who !
had not fully ycOmpreheudcd the words |
Of The Marshal. 4
Iistehy 'tIieiEs' said Di3a,sf. Arc
there among this company, which 7 I