Marshall County Republican

A few more officers occupied, was of antique and noble structure. The gate was high, vaulted, and strongly mounted with iron; it had been necessary to force it open, on account of its being bolted from the inside, a sign that there were either people still in the building, or that they had fled through the garden. The latter seemed the most probable. Two winding stairs from both sides of the hall conducted into wide corridors on the second floor, where were doors leading to a long line of rooms and saloons; they appeared to be of a splendor and richness which, even in Russia, could not be common; but the furniture, the form of the mirrors, the papering, and gilding, proved that the decorations had been owned and used by a family of high rank. At length night came on, and large watch-fires began to burn in the streets, with men moving around in bivouac. Larush had gone down to inspect the troops and to provide for their wants; while Rasinski and myself concluded to take a survey of the buildings in the vicinity. Perambulating several streets, in which we met corps of artillery, we came to the Kremlin. Here large bivouacs were established. The Young Guard had chosen this place for their camp. The long lines of pyramids, formed by guns stacked together, shone brilliantly in the reflection of the watch-fires which had been lit along the streets. In the places where long streets opened, cannon were placed, with burning matches sticking in the ground behind them. Music was heard from every side; but there were only a few who had still strength and good humor enough, to prefer a merry dance to the quiet repose on the straw-covered pavement. On the whole, the camp presented the animated, but not the merry sight which such a conquered town generally gives, especially after a day of triumph. The dresses of most of the soldiers were torn, or blackened with powder; the Guards were not an exception either, although they had not fought at Borodino; but afterwards, when old one-eyed Kutusov took a fortified position near Krimskov, three miles from Moscow, they honorably participated in the battle. Here and there a merry song was heard; but most of the bearded warriors lay wrapped up in their cloaks, sleeping, or carelessly looking into the fires. A little further on were the "Old Guards." Very little order prevailed among these usually excellently-drilled troops. The doors of the houses were broken open, and here you might see one party of these soldiers bring wood and straw; others bedding, carpets, cushions, bolsters, and whatever they found in the abandoned houses, to prepare for themselves comfortable couches, for the soldiers were the happy heirs of the emigrants. The bivouac presented a striking, and almost oriental appearance, from these decorations; especially as there were some Mamelukes of the Emperor, with long pipes in their mouths, comfortably stretching themselves on a magnificent embroidered red carpet and blue bolsters, which they had found in an adjoining palace. Every new step that we took would have afforded a picture to the hand of an experienced artist. Here an old warrior lay asleep, as if only to be awakened by the trump of the last judgment, not feeling that the soles of his boots already began to burn at the fire, and a little further off were players, singers, dancers, and a group of comfortable old gray-beards, with more scars on their body than hairs on their heads; and a few steps to one side, a piper who, in the habit of a sans-culotte, had picturesquely seated himself upon a drum to mend his own breeches; even a mother with a two year old boy sat playing with her children by the fire. Tired with the novelty of the encampment, we retraced our steps to our quarters; arrived there we soon found rest in the arms of Morpheus. A report from the firing of a pistol, aroused me from my delightful slumber, and directly the voice of Larush calling for me from an adjoining room; springing up from my couch, I hurried into the saloon, which was lit, not only by the reflection of the fires from the street, but also by a night lamp. Larush advanced with hasty steps to meet me, and almost at the same moment the rest of the officers awakened by the report, rushed in from the ante-chamber.— "Lights! lights!" called Larush. The order was hurriedly obeyed. "We are haunted!" said Larush after a couple of lights had been brought by his orderlies. "Have you seen nothing?" at the same time showing us a brief note, which he had picked up from the floor of his sleeping apartment, containing a few brief words only; with the words "Fly! Fly! Danger threatens your life under this roof!" At the same time he had heard a voice from the door leading to the saloon, exclaiming "Take this as your warning;" upon which he had fired off his pistol. Upon a short consultation it was resolved to unravel this mysterious token.— Larush seized a candle with his left and a pistol with his right hand, calling us to follow him. We had not proceeded many steps, till we found ourselves in a narrow corridor, sufficiently wide and high to admit a tall person, it seemed to be made within the wall itself, running parallel with the broader corridor outside; but it sank perceptibly down, in some places precipitously so. There was at the same time, a strong smell of fire and brimstone, and at a distance a glimmering of something, twenty steps further, and we were met by a thick, sulphurous smoke, and as we advanced further the sulphurous mist became thicker and thicker; it scarcely could be breathed. Suddenly a blast of wind met us, as if a door had been opened somewhere; at the same time the light which we carried went out, leaving us in utter darkness. The next instant a resounding blow was heard which shook the whole building. "That was a mine!" exclaimed Larush, "we must return!" We turned to find our way back, but in a few moments such a dense smoke and suffocating heat attacked us, that we could with great difficulty breathe. Holding our handkerchiefs close to our mouths, we plunged forward to reach Larush’s room; upon gaining it we found little relief, for it was also filled with dense vapor. Larush hastened to the window and with his pistol struck the frame, the glass fell rattling into the street, and thus let in the pure air. At the same time, the cry, "Fire! Fire!" was heard from the street, and directly the sound of drums and trumpets was heard in the bivouacs. Larush, Captain Rosen, myself, and Larush’s orderlies hurried down the large staircase into the street. The whole danger could now well be seen, a black impenetrable cloud hung over the palace; red spiral flames shot through it, dense smoke poured from almost every window, from the lower story it rolled in thick clouds ascending in high column towards the roof. A single glance arism. In trembling amazement all of us stood awaiting the end of the scene. Colonel Larush ordered his men under arms and the roll to be called. All were present. "There is yet no wind," he said; the flame is somewhat smothered, and we may yet for a while remain." Suddenly a brilliant glare fell over the whole palace, as if illuminated by the quick rising sun. The sky shone in red brightness, as a sea of fire vaulted over us. Larush rode down the street a few rods, to the garden wall, whence he could obtain a better view all around. "Gracious God!" he exclaimed with horror, as he saw another large building near the Kremlin, from whose high roof the flames were just breaking forth, "that is no accident! Incarnate devils are at work here!" For a short time everything had been hushed.— All at once at a distance, from all sides, drums and trumpets were heard. A bustle followed, as if some camp had been surprised. Cavalry in haste mounted their horses—infantry took to their arms and hurried into the line. Meanwhile, the dreadful element burst forth in every direction; the wind also increased in strength—driving the fire like a burning sea over the city. Now bodies of men wrapped in the darkness of impenetrable smoke, passed into the narrow streets, not easily to find an outlet. Anon flushed an illumination as in broad day. Arms glittered in the reflection as if dipped into the fresh blood of the enemy. Our little band moved forward, and at length reached a street not unscathed. At the end of the street was a bridge, which for the moment was choked up by the artillery retreating hurriedly to save the munitions and powder wagons carelessly left in the city. Larush commanded a halt. "Said I not," whispered he to me, "that we should see no end to misfortune!" "Forward!" shouted the Colonel, after the lapse of ten minutes, "the passage is clear." Arrived on the bridge, all could again look around. The fire was fast creeping westward, the reflection showing brilliantly in the dark river. The wind had shifted a little, and we could see the smoke and flames fly up over the Kremlin. An aid now arrived at full gallop and in a loud voice shouted: "The cavalry and artillery through the gate on the road to St. Petersburgh!"