Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-04
THE 18TH CHASSEURS.
The Last Of Their Number Fell
Fighting Hungry Wolves.

| lSlS the SlXLe6nIu OndSS6uIo nOAO NC
tailed as skirmishers. They had tough
in Spain and Germany and had gained ;
high reputation for bravery. On the
way to Moscow they made themselve:
dreaded by the CossaclIs and the SOUND
of their battle cry was enough to pu
the 'foxes of the plains to flight. AZ
is we'll known, the Russians offered NJ
serious resistance, but their heroic pol
icy Of self-sacrifce in destroying al
crops and provisions that lay in the
path of the invader made the enemy'S
progress very slow.
However, Moscow was reached at last
and promised to prove haven of rest.
Then the Russians crowned their previ'
Gus efforts of devotion to their country
by setting fire to their old, sacred town
and in the depths of winter the in
truders were forced to commence dis
astrous retreat.
The bitterly cold and pitilessy north
easter moaned and howled through the
scanty and stunted trees standing here
and there on the side plains of Western
Russia 1t whisked sharp snow parti-
| cles high into the air, whirled them
into shadowy shapes and drove them
furiously after a small troop of French
! soldiers that were slowly and painfully
blowing through the riffs.
No one would have recognized the
gay sa6reurs of the Sixteenth Imperial
Chasseurs in those wretched bundles of
rags that tottered feebly westward.
Three weeks before that regiment had
led the way into Moscow, two thousand
strong, mounted on fine horses, and the
sun had glistened brightly from their
uniforms of light blue and gold. When
Moscow went up in flames, they had
protected the rear of the retreating
army; when the retreat became rout,
they had still showed their teeth to the
enemy. But harrassed hourly by the
relentless Cossacks, tortured by hunger
and cold day by day the regiment had
lost scores of brave men-till hardly
one hundred remained. Weak and
worn, they still had CHEEKY word for
one another, and hoping against hope,
every man expected to see once more
his beloved France-one thousand miles
away. OF their horses but three were
straw and horsefesh, they were but
specters of those fine steeds that once
needed the restraint of curb. Marching
westward wrapped in the cloaks of their
dead comrades, their legs and feet
bundled in horse hides, tied with the
brides and stirrup feathers of their
dead horses, staggering under the bur-
den Of their carbines, the Sixteenth
Chasseurs retained not a particle of
their former splendor.
Twilight was fast fading into night
when the little band reached a slight
but welcome shelter from the icy fury
OF the wind under the bank of a small
stream. A halt was made and a fire
kindled. Their supper was of melted
snow and boiled horsefiesh. Guards
were posted and the weary men slept.
As morning broke savage wells re-
sounded on all sides and bullets came
pinging through the camp. A party of
about two hundred CosSacks had acct
ientally come upon them, and the sup
erlority of the enemy in weapons and
aumbers gave them but little promise of
successful resistance. VoIley after vol
ley of the Cossacks could only be answer
I'd by few well-direct ID shots, for their
ammunition was getting low and they
iare not waste a bulnt The Cossacks
grew bolder-circling nearer and nearer
'ound the camp, seeking weak spot for
me OF their resistless charges. Sud-
ienly they clustered together, pointing
'oward the east and gesticulatiug vio-
ently-then squirting their horses they
I'll rode off TO the west AS the enemy
led the Freuch raised shout of victory
feeling sure help was near at hand.
'robably largo detachment of the re-
reanHg army was coming up and in
'hstf Joy they rushed out of their shelter
IHd poured hail of lead after the rap
Idly disappearing Cossaeks. Looking
eastward they discerned on the horizon
q long black line, but blinded by the
glare of the snow they could not at first
make out what it was. But the horrors
Of their situation burst upon them when |
the faint but terrible, ominous sound Of |
prolonged bowling reached their ears.
That long line meant wolves.
Despair was in their hearts, but they |
1t once began preparations for stout
defense. Twenty had fallen beneath |
the bullets of the Cossacks-only eighty |
men to face hundreds of wolves. They /
gathered the rifles of the dead Cossacks
and Of their dead comrades and hastily |
threw up an embankment of snow.
Bounding with long strides over the
lndulating stretch of frozen plain on
,ame that ravenous host of fierce brutes.
bowling and yelping they came straight
over the track of tho Cossack troop that
vas now but dim speck on the hori-
ION. They would halt to devour the |
bodies of those who had fallen beneath
inc French fire, and an attack was in
evltable. Every face in that doomed
little body of soldiers was pale, but
Selr courage never faltered.
On came tho foremost wolves. They
.ached the dead Cossacks, and tumb-
/. ing il~Ss o. shaggy forms struggled
lercely as, with horrible cries and wells.
hey fought for piece of flesh. Teeth =
mashed and furious fights took place
between the discoveries Of the feast
Then they scented the other urev and
ushed for the encampment- Craekl
rack! crack! and eighty carbines sent
heir dread warning tearing through
ne RANKS OF that wolr army. The lore
most fell and the charge was checked
or an instant Tho extra guns poured
ut their lead, but the fury of
he wolves seemed to increase. Before
la gallant -