The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-24

|
i campaign as Marshal, and he seemed
eager to distinguish himself. He delivered
several battles, while other portions c. the
army were comparatively idle; and at
length, at Polotsk, was so severely wounded
in the shoulder, that he was compelled to
return to Wilma, and was succeeded by St.
Cyr.
But when Napoleon began his retreat
from Moscow, having recovered from his
wound, he again took command of his
corps, which had been joined to that of
| Victor at Smolensko. These two leaders,
as mentioned in The sketch of Victor were
sent on to take possession of Minsk and
the bridge across the BereSina, SO as to
protect the retreat of the army.
But they had not performed their task
the bridge was broken down and deStruc-
ton seemed inevitably for Russian
army, protected by powerful batteries, lined
the farther shore. OudinOt was the first to
| approach the river, and drew up his
dispirited troops, and planted his cannon
on the bank
All night long his shivering battalons
lined that icy stream, and daylight had
! hardly broke when Napoleon approached
and gazed long and anxiously on the
opposite shore, dark with the masses of
| the enemy, and then retired to his tent to
ponder on his position.
1t was at this iuncture, that the Russian
army, impelled by some unaccounta BILE
| fear, began to retreat. Oudinot brought
the glad tdineS to the aSt0niShed Emperor.
| Rushing into his presence, he cried out:
| "Sire, the enemy has lust raised his
camp and quilted his position!"
ct is not pOssil1el" exclaimed Napoleon
Ney and Murat at that moment Fastening
| in and confirming the statement he sprang
UP and ran out to the bank. AS he saw
| the long columns disappearing in the
forest, a smile of exultation and delight
passed over his countenance, and he ex-
| claimed:
| 81 have outwitted the Admirall"
| When the bridges were finished OudinOt
as before said, and his corps were the first
| across, and took up their station the
| farther side, to protect the passage. While
Victor was so nobly covering the retreat
and stretching his little army like pro-
tecting arm around the disordered multi
tude Oudinot, ON the farther side was
sternly beating back the Russians, who
had now returned to the attack.
With 5000 men he boldly withStood and |
kept at bay q 900 of the enemy. But, in |
endeavorinG in close engagement to rally |
a legion that was giving way, he was |
struck by shot, and borne wounded from |
the field OF battle. Carried to a small vii
LACE several miles in advance of the army,
to have his wound cared for, he supposed |
himself out of the reach of danger.
But the next day nearly six hundred
Russians and Cossacks together storined
into the place, and his capture seemed
inevitable. Rallying, however, II men,
the wounded Marshal shut himself up in a
wooden house, and defended it so fiercely
and boldly, that the Russian soldiers were
struck with establishment and fear, and
fled from the village. But, having two
cannon, they planted them on a small
emnence, and brought them to bear upon
that wooden building. STILL Oudinot
would not surrender, and though no longer
able to offer any resistance, as the enemy
were out of musket shot he lay and let the
h.,tl Ia fI,rD,I y, fIn
At length, as il on purpose to drive him
to despair, splinter of wood, shot away
by cannon ball. flew and struck him,
him again severely. Still, he
would not let his few remaining followers
and held out, till at length,
towards night, the advanced guard of Ma
poleon arrived, and effected his deliver
ance.
BATTLE OF BAUTZEN.
The cold and exposure of that terrible
'etreat, together with his wounds, were too
much for even his iron constitution, and
or some time after he reached Paris, his
health was feeble and languishing. Re-
covering, at length, he FASTENED to the
seat Of war; to help to arrest the tide of war
hat was setting towards France.
He fought bravery at LutZen, and was
me of the few Masshals who won for Ma
|
The allies hundred and fifty or sixty
thousand strong, were drawn UP in semi
.ircle on the nights of the Bohemian | s
their lines stretching six miles |
lcross the country. Before them in the
alley was the river Spree with several J
1llages along it's banks. c
The plain on every side was thckly- |
tudded with conical hills, whose tops :
yere black with cannon; while those viii I
ages were so many forts, from which, =
hen necessary, the troops could retire to II
ne semi-circuar nights, where the main
rmy was posted.
At O'Clock on the morning of the 10Th a
May, Napoleon stood on commanding l.
minence which overlooked the entire "
and issued his orders. Moth 1t
X could exceed the excitement and mag s.
lficence of the scene that met his gaze II
As far as the eye could reach was one Ia
Ass of moving men-at first confused and
'mmiagled, but gradually assuming fo
lape and regularity as the columns OF a
iantry, the squadrons OF cavalry, and the Il
'tillery, fell into their appropriate places. ST
nd advanced steadily and firmly towards hi
e Spree. W
The long, black lines of the columns. do
it'll the tens Of thousands of bayonets 10
ittering in the morning light above them. IN
e splendid array and movement of the
lvalry, and the constant flashes and tn
under of the artillery as it moved ifs ar
dy towards the river, combined to render ne
one of the most sublime spectacles war Sit
er presents. fla
Napoleon gazed long and proudly on This ar
enc at his feet, conscious that his touch IN
ID created it all, and by word he could
ange il all. M
On swept the mighty mass, while from es
cry cOne-like hill that dotted the plain hu
sued fire and smoke, as if a volcano were in,
'rking there. Each dark summit sud tn
My became illuminated, while the guns. GU
undering at the heads of the columns Sc
low. led them steadily on to the shock. in
The earth groaned UNI s"