The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-09-17
Passage of the Beresina.

EpJTOR GOLD LEAF:-The passage
OF the Bcresina was an event III the
mad career of Napoleon. the horrors OF
which the historians pen attempts III
vain to unfold. Failing III his attempt
to bring the Russian realm III subJec-
tioa at his feet lie commenced one OF
the most disastrous retreats recorded
in history. Amid the chilling winds
of one Of the scverest winters ever 1eit
in Russia he started TO lead his army
back TO France. with the bridges de-
stroyed in front and harassed by the
enemy in the rear. Thousands OF his
hungry and i'll clad soldiers were lett
along his route unburied, food for hun
Cry dogs and wolves and devourln4
rultures. On the 25th day Of Novem-
Der, in 1912. the remnant OF his
Grand Army" reached the banks OF
the Bercsina. They found the bridge
on which they expected to cross swept
away, with floating in rushing down
the swollen stream. Like the Children
of Israel at the Red Sea, they saw an
impossible stream in front, with a
maddened foe behind. Napoleon was
forced to throw bridges across the
streams over which he would pursue
his retreat, or surrender to the foe.
After incessant toll day and night, be-
numbed by the piercing winds which
drove the pelting SHOWS, the bridges
were completed. The soldiers went
pressing over cold, hungry, tired and
dispiritcd. They could hear the
| booming artillery Of the pursuing foe,
confronted by Marshall Victor, who
put forth almost superhuman efforts to
check their advance. But when Victor
| fell back and announced that he could
hold the enemy in check no longer scene
OF wild confusion cnsued which beggars
description. Self-prcservatlon seemed
to be the only law that ruled the panic
stricken crowd in their eagcrness to
cross. Hundreds were crushed beneath
the artillery wheels and the hoofs OF
the horses in the rush for the bridges
(There were two of them, the foot
bridge and the artillery brldge.) While
pressing over the bridge, in midnight
darkness. those behind urging those IL
front to move on, one Of the arches OIL
the foot bridge gave way, preclpItatln9
hundreds to the water below. Those
behind not knowing Of the disaster IL
front came pressing on showing those
in front over the precipice OF the broker
bridge into the turbid stream. a
graphic writer says for some time i
was a living cataract Of DEATH" TC
check the pursuit of the foe Napoleon
ordered the bridges to be destroyed
leaving hundreds who were unable tt
cross at the mercy Of the enemy. L
was a sad and fearful scene which tel
with crushing weight on the grie1
stricken hearts of the bereaved widows
Of the land. "When the ice and snow
melted away in the spring. says the
historian, ten thousand dead bodies
were found strewn along the banks O.
the Beresina where the fearful passage
was made.' Although three-fourths
of century have passed away since
that fearful scene i'll NapolcOn's mad
career we almost shudder as we con-
template the horrors of the tragic
scene. Napoleon said it was a scene
well calculated to cool the ardOr of am
bilious minds for military fame and
glory. [ want no wreath encircling
my brow stained by the blood OF de-
luded followers whose weeping widows
and hungry children are pining in pow
erty at home. Napoleon had ample
time at Helena. far from the land OF
his birth, to think of the emptiness OF
unsatisiied military fame. Like a sea
weed cast upon an ocean rock to wlthel
and decay he passed away unregretted
by the nations which he so much dis
quoted. r. W. HARRIS.