Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-12-12
NapOleOn's Retreat from Moscow.

NapOleOn's Retreat from Moscow.
AT length, however, on the It'll
of September, Napoleon stood upol
the heights overlooking Moscow
His army now forgot all their pas
suterlngs, their many months o
weary marching, the ashes of Smol
ensk, and the bloodshed of Borodino
Beneath them lay the wonderful cit,
of palaces and shrines, the capita
of Holy Russia. the object of their
struggles, the place where theil
Leader intended to dictate peace tc
the world and load them all with
plunder.
Napoleon's face shone with salts
faction as he surveyed the hundreds
of churches, with their multitude OF
strange spires shining with polished
metals. which many believed to be
gold and silver. His soldiers danced
for joy in the warm September sun.
shine. The camp was filled with
song as each one donned his best uni.
form, preparatory to making con.
quests amongst the maidens of Mos.
COW.
But the maidens of Moscw were
not like those of Berlin. They had
all left the city, along with their
fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers.
The advance-guard of the French
entered at one gate while the citizens
of Moscow left at the other. Napo-
leon waited for the usual deputation
of smiling alderman, but he waited
long and in vain. One hour sue.
ceeded the other, but no aldermen
of Moscow came to offer him hon.
age; 1t was all painfully like Smol-
ensk. The hours passed and dark
ness came, and in this darkness there
went up bright light from amongst
the thousand spires. Napoleon re-
marked that Moscow was a town
particularly we'll adapted for illumi-
nations. Nor was Napoleon single
in this opinion. 1t had been shared
by the decamping Russian Governor
who had provided such on illumina-
ton as even Napoleon might regard
with interest. Light succeeded light
amongst the buildings Of Moscow,
aud from the heights of the citadel
Napoleon readily perceived that
those fires must be more than the
result of accident. But for the mo-
ment no one concerned himself with
a burning house more or less; al
were too busy selecting good quarters
Moscow was famed at that time for
its excellent fire companies, and wa
ter was abundant, so Napoleon wen,
10 sleep in the palace Of the Cars
confident that he would he awak
| nnn1 hx, AlnxonIa.J,
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 trou.
bled faces. All the local firemen
had fled along with the rest, and had
taken with them every fire-engine.
For full week Moscow kept her
gigantic blaze, in which some IA, ,OOO
business houses were destroyed
Napolean hoped from day to day
that Russia would sue for 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 about. Five precious weeks
| NshS Ava poiCoI "dSlS Ill MOScO" De-
fore he finally decided upon his
wretched retreat. On October 10Th
he started, just one day later than
the anniversary of the Leipzig bat
tie, which in 1918 sent him once
again on a backward march. Be-
fore leaving Moscow, however, he
left detailed orders for the burning
down of remaining buildings, and
particularly for the destruction of
the famous Kremlin. Moscow was
ablaZe when he entered it, and he
left it blazing afresh and more saw
agely still.
In Napoleon's flames, however,
there perished some 10000 helpless
wounded Russian prisoners, whose
avenging spirits hovered over the
long line Of retreating French and
gave them no peace. The French
left behind them a city full of fou
stenches rising from charred car,
cases of horses and men. Does il
not seem like poetic justice that ice
and snow should be reserved as s
punishment meted out to the barbar
Gus house burners
They were forced to go back over
the same road by which they haC
come, and thus after ten days from
Moscow they reached once more tn,
neighborhood of Borodino. NJ
need of sign-boards to this place
The vultures quarrelling overhead
the howl of the wolf i'm the forest
these indicated many acres of un
buried bodies slaughtered in tn
cause of La Glorie! Fifty-two day
had passed since the battle, yet tn,
fields were strewn with bodies O
horses and men, clothing, boots, ant
saddlery equipments of all kinds
The effects were depressing, and no
less so the gaunt creatures who hob
bled out from the churches and cab
ms of the wayside, begging tho
, they might not be left behind to fal
into the hands of marauding Cos
sacks. These were the wounded
who had not strength to join in tn
triumphal march to Moscow. The,
were now helped on to artillery Gals