Leo Tolstoy Archive
Written: 1855
Source: Text from WikiSource.org
Transcription/Markup: Andy Carloff
Online Source: RevoltLib.com; 2021
" Where are you going ? Come back ! Where are you going ? " I cried to the recruit, who, having put his reserve hnstock under his arm, and with a stick in his hand, was coolly following the vehicle in which the wounded soldier was lying.
But the recruit only looked lazily at me, muttered something, and went ahead, so that I had to send a soldier after him. He doffed his red cap, and, smiling stupidly, gazed at me.
" Where are you going ? " I asked.
" To the camp."
" What for ? "
" Why, Velenchuk is wounded," he said, smiling again.
" What have you to do with that ? You must remain here."
He looked at me in surprise, then coolly wheeled around, put on his cap, and went back to his place.
The engagement was favorable to us : it was reported that the Cossacks had made a fine attack and had taken three Tartar bodies ; the infantry was provided with wood, and lost only six wounded, and in the artillery only Ve- lenchuk and two horses were put out of action. To atone for these losses, they cut out about three versts of tim- ber, and so cleared the place that it was impossible to recognize it : in place of the dense forest now was opened up an immense clearing, covered with smoking fires and with the cavalry and infantry moving toward the camp.
Although the enemy continued to harass us with artillery and musketry fire, until we reached the brook by the cemetery, where we had forded in the morning, the retreat was successfully accomplished. I was already beginning to dream of cabbage soup and a leg of mutton with buck- wheat groats, which were awaiting me in the camp, when the information was received that the general had ordered the construction of redoubts, and that the third battal- ion of the К regiment and a detachment of four
batteries were to remain here until to-morrow. The wagons with the wood and the wounded, the Cossacks, the artillery, the infantry with their guns, and wood on their shoulders, — all passed by us, with noise and songs. All faces expressed animation and pleasure, induced by the past danger and the hope for a rest. But the third battahon and we were to postpone these pleasant sensa- tions for the morrow.