e enemy was approaching, was just about to give them the
order to fire, when a Russian cannon ball, grazing the palisade, came
and broke the thigh of their commanding officer. He fell, and without
the least hesitation, finding that his wound was mortal, he coolly drew
out his pistols and blew out his brains before his troop. Terrified at
this act of despair, his soldiers were completely scared, all of them at
once threw down their arms, and fled in disorder.

Ney, abandoned by all, neither deserted himself nor his post. After vain
efforts to detain these fugitives, he collected their muskets, which
were still loaded, became once more a common soldier, and with only four
others, kept facing thousands of the Russians. His audacity stopped
them; it made some of his artillerymen ashamed, who imitated their
marshal; it gave time to his aide-de-camp Heymes, and to General Gerard
to embody thirty soldiers, bring forward two or three light pieces, and
to Generals Ledru and Marchand to collect the only battalion which
remained.

But at that moment the second attack of the Russians commenced on the
other side of the Niemen, and near the bridge of Kowno; it was then
half-past two o'clock. Ney sent Ludru, Marchand, and their four hundred
men forward to retake and secure that passage. As to himself, without
giving way, or disquieting himself farther as to what was passing in his
rear, he kept on fighting at the head of his thirty men, and maintained
himself until night at the Wilna gate. He then traversed the town and
crossed the Niemen, constantly fighting, retreating but never flying,
marching after all the others, supporting to the last moment the honour
of our arms, and for the hundredth time during the last forty days and
forty nights, putting his life and liberty in jeopardy to save a few
more Frenchmen. Finally, he was the last of the grand army who quitted
that fatal Russia, exhibiting to the world the impotence of fortune
against great courage, and proving that with heroes every thing turns to
glory, even the greatest disasters.

It was eight o'clock at night when he reached the allied bank. Then it
was, that seeing the completion of the catastrophe, Marchand repulsed to
the entrance of the bridge, and the road of Wilkowiski which Murat had
taken, completely covered with the enemy's troops, he darted off to the
right, plunged into the woods, and disappeared.

CHAP. V.

When Murat reached Gumbinnen, he was excee