. A history of all nations from the earliest times; being a universal historical library . ounted only to 12,000 men under arms,some 2000 cavalry, over 20,000 stragglers, besides 200 cannon. But eventhis force on the march oi 200 miles to tlie Niemen was almost extermi-nated by the frightful cold (as low as 30° Reaumur) which came uponthem again. The last trace of military order ceased; all the artillerywas abandoned. The corps of Victor and Oudinot rapidly succimibedto the infection caused by the universal loss of discipline. Two Nea-politan cavalry regiments perished from the cold, without h
. A history of all nations from the earliest times; being a universal historical library . ounted only to 12,000 men under arms,some 2000 cavalry, over 20,000 stragglers, besides 200 cannon. But eventhis force on the march oi 200 miles to tlie Niemen was almost extermi-nated by the frightful cold (as low as 30° Reaumur) which came uponthem again. The last trace of military order ceased; all the artillerywas abandoned. The corps of Victor and Oudinot rapidly succimibedto the infection caused by the universal loss of discipline. Two Nea-politan cavalry regiments perished from the cold, without having seen anenemy. The Guard still presented a small troop of 1000 men l)earingarms. There was no longer a rearguard, for the Baden(>se and Polishbrigade, whicli hitherto had constituted it, no longer existed. TheCossacks without hindrance fell upon the rear of the line of march, andwhen the terrible cry of Cossack ! rang out, there arose an indescrib-able confusion (Fig. -15), From tlie perishing thousands there came no word of reproach COSSACK ATTACKS. 207 •!M9|iil»:53i5.|»i. 208 THE FALL OF NAPOLEON. against the author of their stifToriiigs; but Napoloon now felt that hewas most needed at the centre of his power, that lie niiglit be able tomeet, by the timely levy of new forces, the storms that would probablybreak upon him from all sides. The system of lying must now be sup-pressed with which he had hitherto entertained the world regarding vic-tories and the welfare of the Grand Army. The 29th bulletin, issued atMalodeczno on December 3, although still very far removed from thetriitli, acknowledged the loss of the entire army. At Smorgony, on the(jth, he quietly left his army, accompanied only by Caulaiucourt, Duroc,and Count Lobau. The Duke of Bassauo joined him at Vilna. Un-known and unrecognizable he fled through Germany in his solitary sledge,and on the 18th was in Paris. He had committed the chief command tothe King of Naples, who, however, dissatisfied with th
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