ary to guard this point
until the arrival of Victor, who in his turn would defend it until that
of Ney.

For it was still to this marshal, and to the second corps commanded by
Maison, that the rear-guard was entrusted. On the night of the 29th of
November, when Napoleon quitted the banks of the Berezina, Ney, and the
second and third corps, now reduced to three thousand soldiers, passed
the long bridges leading to Zembin, leaving at their entrance Maison,
and a few hundred men to defend and to burn them.

Tchitchakof made a late but warm attack, and not only with musketry, but
with the bayonet: but he was repulsed. Maison at the same time caused
these long bridges to be loaded with the bavins, of which Tchaplitz,
some days before, had neglected to make use. When every thing was ready,
the enemy completely sickened of fighting, and night and the bivouacs
well advanced, he rapidly passed the defile, and set fire to them. In a
few minutes these long causeways were burnt to ashes, and fell into the
morasses, which the frost had not yet rendered passable.

These quagmires stopped the enemy and compelled him to make a _detour_.
During the following day, therefore, the march of Ney and of Maison was
unmolested. But on the day after, the 1st of December, as they came in
sight of Pleszezenitzy, lo and behold! the whole of the Russian cavalry
were seen rushing forward impetuously, and pushing Doumerc and his
cuirassiers on their right. In an instant they were attacked and
overwhelmed on all sides.

At the same time, Maison saw that the village through which he had to
retreat, was entirely filled with stragglers. He sent to warn them to
flee directly; but these unfortunate and famished wretches, not seeing
the enemy, refused to leave their meals which they had just begun;
Maison was driven back upon them into the village. Then only, at the
sight of the enemy, and the noise of the shells, the whole of them
started up at once, rushed out, and crowded and encumbered every part of
the principal street.

Maison and his troop found themselves all at once in a manner lost in
the midst of this terrified crowd, which pressed upon them, almost
stifled them, and deprived them of the use of their arms. This general
had no other remedy than to desire his men to remain close together and
immoveable, and wait till the crowd had dispersed. The enemy's cavalry
then came up with this mass, and got entangled with it, but it could
only penetrat