New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-09-16
THE GUARD OF DEATH.
Cossacks Make Charge on Frozen
COrpSeS.

Cossacks Make a Charge on Frozen
Corpses. ~
Thehorrors Of war have been detail
ed in almost infinite variety, afording
themes of inexhaustible abundance for
the moralist, the poet, the historian,
and the romancer. Abundant in such
details of suffering must have been the
disastrous campaign OF Napoleon in
Russia, or, rather, the most disastrous
portion of that 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 multitude who persisted,
there were thousands who sank be-
meath it's rigours for hundreds that fell
beneath the lances OF the Cossacks. Yet
the assaults OF these rowing warriors
ofthe desert were fearfully destructive.
lowering in small bands around the
divisions OF the retreating French hen,
and never failing to strike whenever a.
small party Of the enemy became sep
arated from the main body on fits
march-and such separations fvere
daily becoming more frequent Though
the relaxation OF discipline and the in
creasing want OF provisions+th
was no possibility of either resisting or
escaping their attacks. Well M unted
on their fleet and hardy coursers, such
was the rapidity of their movements
that they seemed to spring up Irom
the earth, always appearing When
least expected, and if repulsed, scorE
ing away with a celebrity that defed>
pursuit, even if the worn and harassed
Frenchmen had been able to attempt
it. For them, indeed, there was but
one resource; to keep as closely as
possible together; when attacked by
the Cossacks to form in solid squares
and meet the shock, and, above all,
to pursue their march with the least
possible intermission, for those who
halted died.
Thus were the remains OF Napol-
cons great army toiling back across
the frlghtful wastes of that inhospit-
able region, but daily leaving thous-
ands OF their number stiffening on its
SHOWS; the troops of Cossacl1s sweep
ing around them, and bringing up
their rear, ready to pick up every
straggler whom fatigue or the hope OF
greater safety in isolated progress
had separated from his fellows.
The main body had passed on; and
there was solitude on the vast and
naked "steppe' which they had ira
versed. The cold was dreadful, and q
driving storm OF snow was whitening
the ground to which that intense frost
had given the rigidlty OF marble Altar
OFT, IN the remOtest verge OF the hori-
Zon, a dark object might be seen,
dlm y through the snow; and from
another quarter'comes whirling on a
troop Of Cossacks, with many a hur-
ran. Their leader points to the dark
object IN the distance; and away they
scour across the plain in the direct
ion OF his spear. AS they approach,
they see with q grim delight that u
band of Frenchmen is before
them-but these it seems, are
prepared for the attack The
square is formed-Jhe bayonets at
charge. The Cossacl1;s gallop round
and round, asst seeking for a point
OF vantage to attack. The French
men stand firm, presenting every
where u bold and steady front, which
seems to dash the courage of the
assailants. Meantime, the snow
comes down in wreaths, and is fast
gathering in white masses on the
dark uniforms of the brave French
men. Round and round the Cossacs
wheel, approaching nearer every mo-
ment, yet not a hand is stirred in
that human citadel; not a musket is
fired, although every shot might tell.
At length the leader OF the Cossacks
shouts: Forward to the charge."
and with rush they flung themselves
upon the-dead. At the first shock,
the foremost rank OF Frenchmen falls,
a row OF stiffened corpses. on the
plain. They had been frozen to death
there where they stood; and there,
perhaps, they would have stood
until the next summers heat had
given relaxation to their rigid muscles,
| but for the wild attack OF the fierce
! desert warriors.