Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-08-02
NAPOLEON BY DAVID.


the 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 assemblago of barba-
rous peoples, inaccessible cities, impassa-
Bile rivers and illimitable steppes. She
had also patriotism and physical hardi-
hood. She had the Cossacks She knew
herself; and her enemy knew her not.
She had understandings, yellow black
winter, blown out Of the hyperborean
caverns, unfelt by the men of Western
Europe.
On the oath 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 invaders.
The Russians under Kutusoff receded
during July and 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 10, 900 men. Dorogo-
bourg, Wanna, and Gjatsk fell before
the invaders. The Russians burst not
stand in the open field. Not until the
18th Of September did Kutusoff plant
himself on the Moskwa and 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 1000 Of their dead
and wounded. The French losses were
almost equally appalling. Sire, said
Marshal Ney, 1--WE would better with
draw, and reform" '1'ho,t advise re-
treat, Michele" 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 18th Of September, Napoleon en-
tered the ancient capital. The streets
were as metropolis All was silence.
The conqueror took up his residence in
the old palace Of the Cars. He had now
performed this act in nearly all the
royal places of Europe. He had walked
unbidden into Schonbrunn. In the vault
at Potsdam he had put his hand on the
catafalque of Frederick the Great. He
had trod the unwelcoming slabs OF the
Escurial. He had wintered in Warsaw.
Now he slept in the Kremlin. h.
Moscow promised rest after hardship.
Here we will spend the winter in the
luxurious quarters Of the Muscovite
grandees and metropolitans. Lo, out OF
the Bazaar, near the Kremlin, bursts q
volume Of flame! The surrounding re-
gion is lighted with the glare. The
equinootial gale springs up. The city is
on fire in q thousand places Skulkers
have remained behind and given US to
the flames. The French army tries in
vain to quench the conflagration. For
FIVE days there is the roar Of universal
combustion. Then it subsidies; but Mos
cow is in ruins Napoleon returns to
the Kremlin and opens vain negotia-
tions with the Gear. Alexander and
Kutusof will not hear. The French are
in the ashes Of q 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, be leaves Moscow. and
the retreat begins to the Niemen. On
every side the Cossacks arise and assail
the fugitives. A hundred and twenty
thousand men roll away across the hos
tile world. Al the Beresina the bridges
are broken down under the retreating
army. In the following spring, when
the ice-gorges 60 down the river, IL, 600
dead Frenchmen shall be washed up
from the floods!
There is constant battle on flank and
rear. All stragglers perish. The army