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rounded backs trailed onward and ever onward； making for France as
wounded beasts make for their lair。 There was no speaking； and you
could scarce hear the shuffle of feet in the snow。 Once only I heard them
laugh。 It was outside Wilna； when an aide…de…camp rode up to the head
of that dreadful column and asked if that were the Grand Army。 All who
were within hearing looked round； and when they saw those broken men；
those ruined regiments； those fur…capped skeletons who were once the
Guard； they laughed； and the laugh crackled down the column like a feu
de joie。 I have heard many a groan and cry and scream in my life； but
nothing so terrible as the laugh of the Grand Army。
But why was it that these helpless men were not destroyed by the
Russians？ Why was it that they were not speared by the Cossacks or
herded into droves； and driven as prisoners into the heart of Russia？ On
every side as you watched the black snake winding over the snow you saw
also dark； moving shadows which came and went like cloud drifts on
either flank and behind。 They were the Cossacks； who hung round us
like wolves round the flock。
But the reason why they did not ride in upon us was that all the ice of
Russia could not cool the hot hearts of some of our soldiers。 To the end
there were always those who were ready to throw themselves between
these savages and their prey。 One man above all rose greater as the
danger thickened； and won a higher name amid disaster than he had done
when he led our van to victory。 To him I drink this glassto Ney； the red…
maned Lion； glaring back over his shoulder at the enemy who feared to
tread too closely on his heels。 I can see him now； his broad white face
convulsed with fury； his light blue eyes sparkling like flints； his great
voice roaring and crashing amid the roll of the musketry。 His glazed and
featherless cocked hat was the ensign upon which France rallied during
those dreadful days。
It is well known that neither I nor the regiment of Hussars of Conflans
were at Moscow。 We were left behind on the lines of communication at
Borodino。 How the Emperor could have advanced without us is
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incomprehensible to me； and； indeed； it was only then that I understood
that his judgment was weakening and that he was no longer the man that
he had been。 However； a soldier has to obey orders； and so I remained at
this village； which was poisoned by the bodies of thirty thousand men who
had lost their lives in the great battle。 I spent the late autumn in getting
my horses into condition and reclothing my men； so that when the army
fell back on Borodino my Hussars were the best of the cavalry； and were
placed under Ney in the rear…guard。
What could he have done without us during those dreadful days？
〃Ah； Gerard；〃 said he one evening but it is not for me to repeat the words。
Suffice it that he spoke what the whole army felt。 The rear…guard
covered the army and the Hussars of Conflans covered the rear…guard。
There was the whole truth in a sentence。
Always the Cossacks were on us。 Always we held them off。 Never
a day passed that we had not to wipe our sabres。 That was soldiering
indeed。
But there came a time between Wilna and Smolensk when the situation
became impossible。 Cossacks and even cold we could fight； but we
could not fight hunger as well。 Food must be got at all costs。 That
night Ney sent for me to the waggon in which he slept。 His great head
was sunk on his hands。 Mind and body he was wearied to death。
〃Colonel Gerard；〃 said he； 〃things are going very badly with us。 The
men are starving。 We must have food at all costs。〃
〃The horses；〃 I suggested。
〃Save your handful of cavalry； there are none left。〃
〃The band；〃 said I。
He laughed； even in his despair。
〃Why the band？〃 he asked。
〃Fighting men are of value。〃
〃Good；〃 said he。 〃You would play the game down to the last card
and so would I。 Good； Gerard； good！〃
He clasped my hand in his。 〃But there is one chance for us yet；
Gerard。〃 He unhooked a lantern from the roof of the waggon and he laid
it on a map which was stretched before him。 〃To the south of us；〃 said he；
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〃there lies the town of Minsk。 I have word from a Russian deserter that
much corn has been stored in the town… hall。 I wish you to take as many
men as you think best； set forth for Minsk； seize the corn； load any carts
which you may collect in the town； and bring them to me between here
and Smolensk。 If you fail it is but a detachment cut off。 If you succeed
it is new life to the army。〃
He had not expressed himself well； for it was evident that if we failed
it was not merely the loss of a detachment。 It is quality as well as
quantity which counts。
And yet how honourable a mission and how glorious a risk！ If mortal
men could bring it； then the corn should come from Minsk。 I said so； and
spoke a few burning words about a brave man's duty until the Marshal was
so moved that he rose and； taking me affectionately by the shoulders；
pushed me out of the waggon。
It was clear to me that in order to succeed in my enterprise I should
take a small force and depend rather upon surprise than upon numbers。 A
large body could not conceal itself； would have great difficulty in getting
food； and would cause all the Russians around us to concentrate for its
certain destruction。 On the other hand； if a small body of cavalry could
get past the Cossacks unseen it was probable that they would find no
troops to oppose them； for we knew that the main Russian army was
several days' march behind us。 This corn was meant； no doubt； for their
consumption。 A squadron of Hussars and thirty Polish Lancers were all