The National tribune., 1898-02-24
NAPOLEON AND HIS MARSHALS



whose feet the treacherous ice had givel
way Still there was wilderness between
him and his Emperor, and that wilderness
was filled with Cossacks.
For 10 miles he struggled on with hi
weary columns amid 5000 of these will
warriors standing in order of battle 10y
day and marching through the deep snow
by night. At one time they got in advance
of him, and fell Unexpectedly upon IN:
advanced posts, which were immedlatel!
driven in and all was given up as lost.
But Ney ordered the trumpets to SOUND
the charge, and with the cheering words
Comrades, now is the moment: forward
they are ours" rallied their courage to tho
assault and the CossackS fled. Thinking
their General saw what they did not see
and that the enemy were cut of, the sol
dicrs pressed forward where otherwise they
would have yielded and fed.
AT length with only SEQ men out OF the
10000 with which he had started. he APP
proacned Orcha, and sent forward % horse
men TO ask for help. Davoust, Eugene
and Mortier were there, and had Just goi
their soldiers nicely quartered tor the
night-the first night the poor fellows had
had a house to shelter them, or SufHclent
food TO eat-when these horSemen galloped
into the village.
But as soon as it was known that Ney
was near, asking assistance, the brave
men turned chcerfully out into the coid,
while Eugene and Mofuer disputed me
honor of going TO his relief
Eugene carried it on the ground of SUI
perior rank and III the head OF 4 QUO men
plunged into the deep snow, and marched
six miles without getting any udlngs OF
the fugitives. He then ordered a halt ana
directed some cannon 10 be fired.
Their thunder rolled away through the
gloom. and when silence again tell on me
illimitable snow fields, there came the
dull report of musketry on the ar Ney
L.. n WI
of Eugene and his reply was, like ms army,
weak and languishIng.
Eugene. however, heard il, and marching
swiftly up, saw the black column oil the
brave Marshal moving over the snow.
Rushing lid he claSpcd him in his arms,
and wept like child on his neck. Ney
strained him TO his manly bosom, and
then began sternly TO uphraid DavouSt Tor
thus endangering him, and through HIM
the French army.
MEETING OF THE ARMIES.
The soldiers also threw themselves INTO
each others arms with the most enthuSl-
astic EXPLANATIONS, and with Joy retraced
their steps to 0rcla. Arrived there, the
proyisions and fire. and beds were cheer
fully shared, and the tired armies, alter
recounting to each their tolls and dangers,
lay down TO sleep in each others embrace
Still Ney could not forgive Davoust, and
when the latter attempted TO make some
explanation OF his conduct, he only re
piled in stern voice:
Monsieur lie Marechal, | have no re
proaches TO make TO you; God Is our VIII
ness and your Judge.
When Bonaparte heard OF has ARRIVAL ne
exclaimed: Il have 800, CO0,0G0 in my Golfers
in the TuilIieries; ! would Willingly have
given them TO save Marshal Ney."
Well he might, and half his Empire with
it, for without him he had been throne
less Emperor. The meeting OF Bonaparte
and this brave man shows the profound
impression the conduct OF the latter had
made on him.
AS his eye fell on the worn, yet still
proud uncomfortable veteran, he eX-
claimed: What a man, what "A soldier
But words failed to express his admiration,
and he clasped the stern warrior TO bis
bosom and embraced him with all the
rapture one hero embraces another.
But Ney'S eXnauStIng efforts were not
vet over: BonapaTtc dared not relieve him
from the important and dangerous post he
had filled with such honor, and another
rear guard was put under his command.
At the awful passage of the Bercslna he
again stood between the army and destruc-
ton, and while Victor on one side OF the
river, he on the other side-after Oudl-
not s wound-kept back with a mere hand
full of men the Russian thousands
From this time his duty became still
more painful At every step he came
cred with hiIlocks formed by the snow
drifting over fallen soldiers while the pierre
ing cold and gnawing hunger and fatigue,
thinned his ranks with frightful rapidity.
Even when the enemy kept at distance,
the work of mortality went on; and all along
the edges of the column, men were seen
staggering from the line OF march, and
with a grOan pitching into the Snowdrifts
Others unable to proceed would sit down,
and resting their chins on their clenched
b hands, gaze with q look OF unutterable
despair on their retiring comrades.
Others, still, would drop upon their knees
and with tears of real blood streaming from
their infiamed eyes, rest a moment IN that
pleading attitude and then fall on their
hands. while the most pitiful sobs and
means would escape their breasts.
Struggling still for life they remained
short time in this position, and then their
heads would begin to sway backwards and
forwards and the next moment they lay
stretched stark and stiff amid the snow,
while the binding storm rapidly wove
their winding sheet
MoU2NFUL sPEcTAcLEs.
When the weather cleared up it was Sc
cold the very air seemed frozen, and the
birds dropped dead from the trees, and
then the benumbcd and stiffened column
would 90 staggering over the frosty fields
in dead Silence-the cracking OF the snow
crust and fakes Of ice under their feet the
only SOUNDS tDat disturbed the SOiltUdc
that surrounded them.
At night the poor creatures would sit In
circles al doubled up TO retain the warmth
Of their bodies, and in the morning were
still seen in that attitude frozen stiff, and
left thus by their retreating companions.
The bivouacs could be traced through the
wilderness by the circles Of dead that
marked their locality. Some became de
Iirious, and roamed about, bowling and
gnashing their teeth, or making the clear,
cold ar ring with their demoniacal laughter.
These, when a fire was built, would cast
themselves irantically into the flames, and
perish in horrible commissions. Piteous
means, and prayers, and cries, arose on
every side, as the frozen, bleeding column
dragged its weary length over the icy
plains; and hunger, and madness, and
pain filled every heart.
Al the head Of such an army, and in the
midst Of such difficulties was Ney com
PEELED 90 struggle and with such soldiers
was he compelled TO fight. But undaunted
by the dangers that surrounded him-un-
subdued by the despair that rested on
every face-gnawed himself by the pangs
of hunger, and his limbs stilfened with the
frost, he still endeavOrcd TO keep alive the
courage Of his men: and with his noble
heart bleeding at the sights and the sounds
he saw and heard, still spoke encouraging
words Of France and of safety.
Now helping q poor wretch TO his feet,
60 4 l.