The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-29

tho resources of European civilization.
He had his veterans and his marshals.
He had his underkings. He had his
genius, and the experience Of more than
fifteen years of warfare.
AS for Russia, she had savage forces,
vast domains, an assemblage of barba-
rous peoples. inaccessible cities, impassa-
Bile rivers and illimitablo steppes. She
had also patriotism and physical hardi-
hood. She had the Cossacks. She knew
herself; and her enemy knew her not.
She had winter-sublime. yellow black
winter. blown out Of the hyperborean
caverns, unfelt by the men of Western
Europe.
On tho 24th Of June, the Grand
Army, crossing the Niemen, headed to-
wards Moscow. The advance was but
little impeded. The Russians fell back
before the resistless iHvaders.
The Russians under Kutusoff receded
during July ald the first half Of Au-
gust On the 10th Of that month the
first battle was fought at Smolensko.
This place the French pounded into
ruins and captured with loss to them
selves of nearly IL. 900 men. Dorogo-
bourg, Viazma, and Gjatsk fell before
the invaders The Russians burst not
stand in the open field. Not until the
eth of September did Kutusoff plant
himself OH the Moskwa aAd offer battle
TO his antagonist. There, at the village
Of Borodino, was fought out the great
est murder of modern times. A thou
sand cannon vomited death all day Un-
der the smoke quarter of million Of
men struggled like tigers. At nightfall
the French had the field. But the de-
feated Russians hung sullenly to the
skirts Of the bloody arena, where they
had left more than 40, 900 of their dead
and wounded The French losses were
almost equally appalling. Sire, said
Marshal Ney, I'VE would better with
draw, and reform" Thou advise re-
treat, Michel?" said the marble head,
as it turned to the Bulldog of Battles.
Kutusoff abandoned Moscow. Most Of
the inhabitants receded with him from
the city to the great plains eastward.
On the 10Th of September, Napoleon en-
tered the ancient capital. The streets
were as a metropolis. All was silence.
The conqueror took up his residence in
the old palace of the Czars. He had now
performed this act in nearly all tho
royal places Of Europe. He had walked
unbidden into Scbonbrunn. In the vault
at Potsdam he had put his hand on tho
catafalque Of Frederick the Great. He
had trod the unwolooming slabs of tho
Escurial. He had wintered ia Warsaw.
Now he slept in the Kremlin.
Moscow promised rest after hardship.
Here we will spend tho winter in the
luxurious quarters of the Muscovito
grandeos and metropolitans. Lo, out of
the Bazaar, near the Kremlin, bursts
volume Of flannel The surrounding re-
gion is lighted with the glare. The
equinootial gale springs up. The city is
on fire in a thousand places. Skulkers
have remained behind and given us 10
the flames Tho French army tries in
vain To quench the confagration. For
five days there is the roar of universal
combustion. Then il subsidies; but Mos.
COW is in ruins. Napoleon returns to
the Kremlin and opens vain nogotia.
tions with the Gar. Alexander and
Kutuson will not bear. The French are
in tho ashes of burnt.up Russian city.
Already winter was at hand. Snow
was falling. The Soldier OF Fortune
has at last found his destiny. On the
10th Of October, he leaves Moscow, and
tho retreat begins to the Niemen. On
every side tho Cossaoks arise and assail
the fugitives. A hundred and twenty
thousand men roll away across the hos
tile world. Az the Berosina the bridges
are brokep down under the retreatinp
army. In the following spring, when
the ice gorges 60 down the river. ZOO