Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-09-23
THE GUARD OF DEATH.

IHe nOTTOTS OF war nave Deen detailed
in almost infinite variety, affording themes
of ineXhaustibe abundance for the NOR
alist, the poet, the historian and the ro-
mancer. Abundant in such details of
suffering must have been the disastrous
campaign of Napoleon in Russia, or,
rather, the most portion of the campaign,
the retreat from Moscow.
The ordinary disasters of a retreat
through an enemy's country were, in
this instance, fearfully aggravated by the
intense severity of the cold, and that, Of
the multitudes who perished. there were
thousands who sank beneath its rigors
for hundreds who fell beneath the lances
of the Cossacks. Yet the assaults of
these rowing warriors Of the deserts were
feartully destructive. lowering in small
bands around the divisions of the retreat
ing Frenchmen, and never failing to
strike whenever a small party of the en-
emy became separated from the main
body on its march-and such Sc paratiOns
were daily becoming more frequent,
through the relaxation of discipline and
the Increasing want Of provisions-th
was no possibility of either resisting or
escaping their attacks. Well mounted
on their fleet and hardy courser, such
was the rap; lily Of their movements that
they seemed to spring up from the earth,
always appearing when least expected,
and, repulsed, securing away with celer-
ity that defed pursuit, even if the worn
and harrassed Frenchman had been able
to attempt it. For them, indeed, there
was but one resource. To keep as close
ly as possible together when attacked
by the Cossacks, TO form in solid squa res
and meet the shock and, above all, to
pursue their march with the lea st posi-
BILE intermission, for those who halted
died.
Thus were the remains of Napoleons
great army toiling back across the fright
fui wastes of that inhosptabe region,
but daily leaving thousands of their
nun stiffening on its snow the troops
of Cossacks sweeping around them, and
bringing up their rear, ready to pick up
every struggle whom fatigue or the hope
of greater safety in isolated progress had
separated from his fellows
The main body bad passed on; and
there was solitude on the vast and naked
steppe which they had travcrsed. The
cold was dreadful, and driving storm
of snow was whitening the ground, to
which that intense frost had given the
ligidity Of marble. Afar off, in the re-
notest, verge of the horizon, dark OBJ
ject might be seen dimly through the
snow; and from another quarter comes
whirling on a troop Of Cossacks, with
many wild hurrah. Their leader points
to the dark object in the distance, and
away they scour across the plain in the
direction of his spear. As they approach
they see with grim delight that band
of Frenchmen is before them-but these
it seems, are prepared for the attack. -
The square is formed-the bayonets al
charge. The Cossack gallop round and
round, as if seeking for point of van
tnge to attack-the Frenchmen stand
firm, presenting everywhere bold and
steady front, which seems to dash the
courage of the assaiants. Meantime the
snow comes down in wreaths, and is fast
gathering in white masses on the dark
uniforms of the brave Frenchmen.-
Round and round the Cossaks wheel, ap.
preaching nearer every moment-yet not
II hand is stirred in that human citadel
not musket is fired, although every shot
might tell. AT length the leader of the
Cossacks shouts Forward to the
charge !" and with rush they fling
themselves upon the-dead. At the first
shot the foremost rank of Frenchmer
falls, a row Of stifened corpses, on the
plain. They had been frozen to death
there where they stood and there. per-
haps, they would have stood, until the
next summers heat had given relaxation
10 their rigid muscles, but for the wild
attack Of the fierce desert warriors.