The National tribune., 1898-06-30

Of the Grand Army, however, until killed
at Borodino, Sept. Z, 1912.
AT BoRoDINo.
He was to Russia what Ney was to
France--Bravest of the Brave. His death
at Borodino was as glorious as his career
in life. About four in the afternoon of that
day everyone saw the doom Of the Russian
army. The only question was how to-
secure the retreat of its remnants on
Moscow. No organized Russian force re-
manned EXCEPT the single division of the
Imperial Guard. composed of the Preobra
iensk, Pctro-Pavlosk and Ekateriuask
regiments, of two battalions each. and the
Mikhailovsk, Moscow and Finland Grena-
dicrs, of the same force-i2 battaliOns in
all. and about 5000 strong.
This force, the last hope of the Russian
Grand Army, Marshal Baeration now led
in person against the center of the victori-
Gus French. Their onset at first checked
and then staggered the veterans of Ma
poleon.
The great Emperor, amazed and exas-
perated, ordered up the best part of his
own Old Guard and took command in
person against BaGration. For the first
time since Austerlitz Napoleon was seen
fighting on the main line of battle. close
12pounders ut n gallop and unlimbeTed
them within 100 yards of the Russian front.
Before they could fire their third round
BaGration took IS of the guns with the
Preobraeuski Guards and the Finland
Grenadiers at the bayonct's point Ma
poieon then hurled d'Erlon's and DeS-
nouette's Divisions against the Russian
front, and two brigadcS of CuiTaSSicrS
against their flank. Here young Caulain-
court, Colonel OF Cuirassiers and brother
OF the great French Ambassador, was
killed. Darkness was now rapidly com
ing on. Bagration had checked the French
pursuit of the shattered Russian army.
But he made no effort 10 withdraw his
rearguard OF Imperial Guards and Grcna-
diers. BaCration'S Guards and GrenadicTs
had repulsed the two French infantry di
visions, and the cuirassier brigades were
hurled back in confusion. He had now
one forIorn chance to retreat, but he
seemed to disdain it. Forming the
Guards of Catharine and the Moscow
Grenadiers in column of battalon-front
he led one more desperate charge on the
fresh artillery that Napoleon had brought
up.
Some of the Russians got into the
French batteries and bayOneted the can
nOneers at their guns. BaeratIon himself
fell mortally wounded by u bullet in his
abdomen and with one leg broken by his
horse-also Slain-faIline on him.
a Il
Russian Guards and Grenadiers, what few
remained saved themselves as best they
could. The French artillerymen laid
Bagration on the ground, with the trail of
one of the guns he had captured for his
pillow, and there in q few minutes he
died. To this day his name is linked with
SuwarrOw in Russian reverence. Ba
grafton was reputed the handsomest man
and most chivairic soldier of the Russian
army in his time. His only fault as
commander was lack of caution.
THE GREAT sUwARRow.
But two great soldiers have had the
honor of Imperial bioeraphers. Napoleon
III. wrote a Life of CesaL" and a good
one. The Days and Deeds OF Suwar-
row." published in Russian and French
in 1911 under the auspices of the Emperor
Alexander |. OF Russia, was nOtOriOuSly
dictated, if not actually written, by that
chivaric monarch who when a young
cadet had served in the field on the staff
of the old Muscovite fighter. In this
charming little volume it is said:
"Suwarrow was q Russian OF the Rus
SLAMS. That was the secret of his power.
He was always nearer to his soldiers
than any other commander the Russian
armies ever had. Hc disdained pomp of
any kind. He would come to the palace,
when invited to a drawing room or even a
state dinner, in the full uniform of his
rank, but he would always manage to
have his boots muddy, and the clank OF
his saber scabbard and the rattle of his
huge spurs along the floor would discon-
cert the courtierS and fill the boSOmS of
the ladies with hero-woTShip.
"Artless unpretenGing, almost rude as
he waS-or at least brusque-he never
failed to capture all the ladies'; who, when
he appeared in the salon, would flock
about him for kisses and careSSeS; and
IL. l. L..
form was invariably buttonlesS; every
reigning beauty of the Court having de-
manded a button from his war-wOrn-
and often threadbare-coat as the proud
est souvenir of her conQuests."
His generalship was as simple as his
manners and tastes. In campaign he
lived on the cabbage soup, boiled meat,
black bread and tea of his common sol
diers, and slept with them on the ground
in the same gray great coat and coarse
blanket that they wore. In battle he was
the Apostle of Assault. He abhoTed
siegeS and consented To them only when
it was clear to him that victory by siege
would cost less of the lives OF his chill
dren, as he always called his soldiers,
than victory by assault and storm.
Throughout his career his strategy was
always offensive and his tactics aggTeS-
Slye.
A MILITARY EXPLOIT.
In the Fall of 1899, when he had pene-
trated Italy by way of Dalmatia, after an
almost incredible march, which involved
the passage Of the Julian Alps amid the
melting SHOWS of Spring, and after he had
won the preliminary campaign, closed by
his victories at CaSSanO, the Trebia and
Novi over such Generals as JOubert and
MOreau, a sudden summons came to him
from the AuIic Council TO e acuate Upper
L0mbardy with his Russian forces and
iOin the main AuStro-RuSSian army then
concentrating at Zurich.
Suwarrow Obeyed and at once put his
army in motion toward Zurich for Il forced
march over the Alps. Pursued by strong
French columns under AlOrtier, MolitOr,
and Lecourbc, he turned first on one and