Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-29


the resources of European civilization.
He had his veterans and his marshals.
He had his underkings. He had his
genius, and tho 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 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 winter-sublime, yellow black
winter, blown out of the hyperborean
caverns, unfelt by the men of Western
Europe.
On tho 24th of June, tho 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 tho 10th of that month tho
first battle was fought at Smolensko.
This place the French pounded into
ruins and captured with loss to them
selves of nearly $4,000 men. Doro9o-
bourg, Wanna, 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 ON tho 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. I'm
der the smoke quarter of million of
men struggled like tigers. At nightfall
the French had tha field. But the do
feated Russians hung sullenly to the
skirts of the bloody arena, where they
had left moro than 10, 900 of their dead
and wounded. The French losses were
almost equally appalling. "Sire,' said
Marshal Ney, Two would better with
draw, and REFORM "I'hou advise re-
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.
Tho 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 tho
Escurial. He had wintered in Warsaw.
Now he slept in the Kremlin.
Moscow promised rest after hardship.
Here we will spend the winter in the
luxurious quarters of the Muscovite
grandees and metropolitans. Lo, ont of
the Bazaar, near the Kremlin, bursts a
volume Of flame! The surrounding re-
gion is lighted with the glare. The
equinoctial gale springs up. The city is
on fire in 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 tho roar of universal
combustion. Then it subsidies; but Mos
COW is in ruins. Napoleon returns to
the KrcmliD and opens vain negotia-
lions with the Car. Alexander and
Kutusoff will not hear. The French are
in the ashes Of q burns-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
the retreat begins to the Niemen. On
every side tho Cossacks arise and assail
the fugitives. A hundred and twenty
| thousand men roll away across the hos
tile world. AT the Beresina the bridges
are broken down under the retreating
army. In the following spring, when
the georges so down the river, $4,000
dead Frenchmen shall be washed M
| from the foods!
There is constant battle ON flank and
rear. All stragglers perish The army