Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-01
1HE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.
PouItney Bigeiow On the German
Struggle for Liberty.


September, Napoleon stood upon the
heights overlooking Moscow. HIS army
now forgot al their past surerings' thsil
many months OF weary marching 'ns
ashes Of Smolensk, and the bloodsfHu
of Borodlno. Beneath them lay the won
derful city Of palaces and shrines' me
capital Of Holy Russia. the object or thsir
struggles, the place where their ieaoer
intended TO dictate peace TO the WORM
and load them al with plunder.
Napoleon's face shone with satisfac-
tlon as he surveyed the hundreds OF
churches with their multitude OF strange
spires shining with polished metals, which
many be ieved 20 be gold and silver HIS
soldiers danced for Joy In the warm sep
TENDER sunshine. The camp was hlied
with song as each one donned his best
uniform. preparatory 10 making con-
quests amongst the maidens Of Moscow
But the maidens OF Moscow were not
Ike those OF Berlin. They had all left
the town along with their fathers and
brothers. their sisters and mothers. The
advance-guard OF the French entered at
one gate while the citizens Of Moscow left
al the other. Napo con waited for the
usual deputatlon Of smiling aldermen, but
he waited long and in vain One hour
succeeded the other. but no aldermen OF
Moscow came 10 offer him homage; II
was all painfully like Smolensk. The
hours passed and darkness came, and In
this darkness there went up a prigh'
light from amongst the thousand spires
Napoleon remarked that Moscow was a
town particularly well adapted for hlu-
limitations. Nor was Napoleon single IN
this opinion. 1t had been shared by the
decamping Russian Governor, VINO nad
provided such an illumination as even
t.~t4s ri uFff
Light succeeded light amongst the build
lngs of Moscow, and from the heights
Of the citadel Napoleon readily perceived
that these fires must be more than the
result of accident. But for the moment
no one concerned himself with burning
house more or less: all were too busy
selecting good quarters. Moscow was
famed at that time for its excellent fire
companies, and water was abundant, so
Napoleon went to s.eep in the palace OF
the Cars. confident that he would De
awakened by Alexander's messenger
pleading for peace.
But while he slept the wind blew high
and the flames reached out. The men
who were sent TO order the fires arrested
came back with troubled faces. All the
local flremen had fled along with the rest
and had taken with them every fire
engine.
For a full week Moscow kept her gigan-
tic blaze. in which some 1900 houses
were destroyed. Napoleon hoped from
day to day that Russia would sue Tor
peace as humbly as Prussia had done SIX
years before: but days passed. and weeks
and nothing came but the signing OF the
wind In the lonesome forests round apout
Five precious weeks did Napoleon waste
in Moscow before he finally decided upon
October
he started. Just one day later than the
anniversary OF the Leipzig battle, when IN
1913 sent him once again on backward
march. Before leaving Moscow however
he left detailed orders for the burning
down Of the remaining buildings, ana par
ucu.arly for the destruction OF the Ia
nous kremlln. Moscow was ablaze wnen
he entered it, and he left 1t blazing aIresA
and more savaseiy still
In Napoleon's flames. however, there
persisted some 1900 helpless wounded
Russian prisoners, whose avengin5 sp'tiN
lowered over the long line of relreatins
French and gave them no peace. Inc
French left behind them a city full Of foul
steuches rising from carcasses OF charred
horses and men. Does 1t not seem IKE
poetic Justice that Ice and snow should De
reserved as the punishment meted out 10
these barbarous hOuse-burnersF
They we're forced TO go back over the
same road by which they had come, ana
thus after ten days from Moscow they
reached once more the nelghborhood OF
Borodino No heed OF slgn-ooarus TO
this place. The vultures quarreliihs over
head, the howl OF the wolf In the forest
these indicated many acres OF unburleu
bodies slaughtered In the cause OF Id
Gloriel Fifty-two days had passed since
ba
bodies OF horses and men. clothing, boots
saddlery equipment Of all kind. Inc
eofscts were depressing. and not less so
the gaunt creatures who hobbled out from
the churches and cabins OF the way
side. begging that they might not De
left behind 10 fall into the handS o.
marauding Cossacks. These were the
wounded. who had not strength TO JON
In the trlumphal march 10 Moscow. lhey
were now helped on TO artillery caissons
and provisiOu-carts, burdening Sun lui
Their loads already too heasy LOT ~
Moor beasts of burden. For the French
srmv which left Moscow was very badly
supplied with horses. thanks to the unanl
nifty with which the peasants every
where secreted their property.
The first snow fell on November 4th
fifteen DAYS after leaving MOSCOW. IL
two days more the thermometer sank L
below the freezing-point, and the snow
,-as driven nv a cruel northeast wind.
which IN Europe corresponds 20 ln'
American blizzard from the northwest
But the cold alone was n small matter
for Napoleon had before this won pattl-.
I'm winter weather. His men were retfea'-
ing on empty bellies: his horses WeF'
diving for want Of forage not ony We!
his troopers without horses, the ROAD
NTH
and bageage-carts, whose horses died D.
the traces Men, too, died where they
Law down TO rest, and each encampmen
bore next day the looks OF Dattle-helu
n was q sad picture of needless suffer
ing. but the survivors bore 1t with com
narrative cneerfulncss, for Smolensk wa
not far of. and there they were promise
comfortable winter quarters. warm ciotn
ing. and plenty Of food.
Napoleon reached Smolensk on the gu
~ November. having been three weeks
doing the 800 Intervening miles, a.
average rate Of speed less than hfteei
miles a day. We can readily assum'
that Napoleor meant his army TO marci
at its highest rate OF speed, for he was
living for his life having good reason t.
fear interrogation and capture before
reaching friendly territory.
Already. then, we have evidence OF
Napo.eon's wretched cond, ton from want
OF horses, want OF food, and want OF
clothing. The Russians had as yet done
him little damage since leaving Moscow.
and the still greater enemy. Jack Frost.
had given him but sample Of what he
could furnish at later day. How was
il possible. We ask, that man who had
conducted campaigns with success under
every climatic condition between the Bal
tic and the Pyramids should have shown
such bad generalship in this year 1872
even IL we stop at Smolensk TO discuss
the matter? What had become Of his
ha.f million? How is II that he could
never get enough OF his men together Z
40 the Russians serious harm2 Where