October 1812: Les Cosaques

Napoleon and His Staff Surprised By Cossacks, 1812
Unknown Artist
(Source)

A commotion was heard not far from the track the Emperor and his party were following. Almost immediately one of Napoléon's bodyguards grabbed the reins of the Emperor's horse and moved the mount behind him and another soldier.

Maréchal Berthier saw what was happening, as did the commander of the duty squadron, fortunately this day it was a squadron of the Chasseurs à Cheval of the Imperial Guard. He bellowed out, "Sire! Cossacks!"

From a nearby small wood a sizeable party of Russian cossacks, having seen the staff officers but not necessarily the Emperor, were spurring hell for leather at the Emperor and his staff.

Général de Brigade Jean Rapp, son of a janitor in Colmar, led the Guard into the attack. Though still suffering from wounds received at La Moscova, Rapp didn't hesitate. Saber drawn he led the Guard into the attack.

The quick response of the Imperial Guard light cavalry had surprised the Russians, thinking them to be staff men they pressed their attack, only to be met fiercely by perhaps the finest cavalry in the Grande Armée.

A number of Cossack saddles were emptied and at least one Guardsman could be seen on the ground, unmoving. Even the Emperor had drawn his sword. He noticed that his hand was trembling.

"Berthier!"

"Sire?"

Quietly he whispered to his Chief of Staff, "I wonder if perhaps a vial of poison might be acquired for me, quietly mind you. My capture would be catastrophic."

"I shall see to it, Sire."

Retreat of the French Grand Army from Moscow, intercepted by Russian Cossack, 1812.
Edward Orme (PD)

Lieutenant Pierre Marais marched with the survivors from the 2nd Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 57th Ligne. Reinforced by the nearly destroyed 4th Battalion, the 2nd Company had been at nearly full strength marching into the fight at Maloyaroslavets.

They had lost heavily at that fight, being reduced to 75 effectives. Chastain and Leavitt were still with the Eagle, as was Soldat Plouffe, Sergeant Kléber was the sole surviving NCO. The fight had proven disastrous for the NCO ranks as they had been shot down trying to get the rank and file to stand, then to counterattack. Marais knew the names of most of the men, but some seemed new.

He had asked Chastain about that, "They are stragglers, Pierre. Good soldiers, they've left their parent companies as those units fall apart. The wish to return alive to France, they know their only chance is to stay with a unit still under discipline. That's us it would seem."

Marais nodded, on the horizon they could see the ever-present Cossacks. They would swoop in to cut down stragglers or to steal unprotected baggage. They were a constant threat.

"Damned vultures, the lot of them." Lieutenant Leavitt spat on the snow in their direction.

"If they get close, tell the men to shoot at their horses. Without them the Cossacks are no threat." Marais gestured at three Russians who were far too close for his liking.

Five men near the Eagle fired a volley, two Cossacks were unseated and one horse fell to thrash in the snow.

"Quickly!"

Marais and three others dashed out. One of the Cossacks lived long enough to feel a French bayonet plunge into his belly, the other was already dead, as was the horse.

They searched the dead men and slashed meat from the flanks of the dead horse, stuffing their bloody treasure into their haversacks. The Cossacks had been carrying pistols, their corpses were relieved of those plus the ammunition for them.

"Back, back, get back to the column!" Chastain screamed, drawing his sword.

The men waded back through the deepening snow, one turned to fire which sent another Cossack into eternity.

"Captain! Run!!" Leavitt screamed.

Marais turned in time to see Chastain slash at one of the Cossack ponies, opening its throat. But another Cossack had lowered his lance and ran it through Chastain's body.

More of the 57th swarmed from the column, driving the Cossacks back. But it was too late for Chastain.

"Pierre, in my tunic, ah God that hurts ... There is a letter, for my wife, would you ..."

Chastain died without another word. Marais found the letter and something else ...

A map!

"You see here, André? That's where we fought on the Moscova!"

Leaning in to peer more closely at the map, Marais saw the name of a small village near the battlefield. "Hhmm, Borodino, guess that's what some will call the battle. People like naming battles after towns, not rivers I suppose."

Leavitt was now looking at the map, "This is a very good map of the terrain all the way back to the Nieman River. Perhaps we should give this to the general."

Marais snatched the map back, "I think not, my friend. The generals will see to themselves and the larger part of the army. We can use this to stay alive. Do you see this?" He asked, pointing to some symbols on the map.

Leavitt looked, then realized, "This shows the supply depots along the route!"

"Shh ... No sense letting everyone know. We take this to Lecerf, him I trust."

That night, Marais and Leavitt brought the map to Chef de Bataillon Lecerf.

"Where did you get this?" Lecerf asked as he studied the map.

"It was in Captain Chastain's coat pocket. After the Cossacks had cut him down, before he died, he asked that we deliver a letter to his wife. This map was with the letter."

"Did you promise to deliver it?"

"Of course, Sir. Chastain was a good man, though a foolish one."

"Foolish how?" Lecerf asked, a puzzled look on his face.

"He drew his sword to fight off the Cossacks, he should have run with us, the column was preparing to fire. His death was needless." Marais explained.

Lecerf nodded, "Did he hurt any of them?"

"He did kill one of their ponies." Leavitt said.

"Well, that's one less Cossack to harry us, I suppose."

Marais scoffed, "He'll have another horse by nightfall."

"Don't be too sure, have you noticed that the regular Russian army isn't to be seen?" Lecerf pointed out. "They're struggling in this weather as well. The Cossacks don't have unlimited mounts."

"I suppose we can hope." Marais said.

"And pray!" Leavitt added in an earnest tone.

Lecerf shook his head, "I think God has abandoned us in this frozen hell. You can pray, but he might not hear you. Perhaps the Almighty has washed his hands of us. Did you know that the Russians refer to the Emperor as the Antichrist?"

Marais looked confused, "The Anti-what?"

Leavitt spoke up, "The Antichrist will show up before the Second Coming, he is the son of Satan. He will try and destroy the world before Jesus can save us!"

Marais shook his head, "Look around André, we are destroying ourselves, what need do we have of an Antichrist?"

Leavitt looked about to speak when Lecerf held his hand up, "We can argue theology later, right now we need to build up our fires and post sentries, night will be upon us soon. And as you can see, it's not going to be a very pleasant night."

The men looked around, and sure enough, the snow was falling once more.