History of the Expedition to Russia | Page 3

it--Disappointment at finding it deserted 27
V.--Murat's entrance into the city 34
VI.--Napoleon's entrance into the Kremlin--Discovery of the conflagration of the city 38
VII.--Danger which he ran in escaping through the flames to Petrowsky--Hesitation as to his future plans 47
VIII.--His return to the Kremlin--Description of the camps outside the city--System of general plunder--Reproaches made to the army, and vindication of it 52
IX.--Conduct of Kutusof after abandoning Moscow--Rostopchin sets fire to his seat at Woronowo--Partial actions at Czerikowo and Vinkowo--Anxiety and uneasiness of Napoleon--consultation with his chief officers--Sends Lauriston to the Emperor 60
X.--Conference of Lauriston with Kutusof--Artful conduct of the latter--Armistice--Infatuation of Murat--Distress of the French army--Warnings of the impending danger--Napoleon's obstinacy in remaining 71
XI.--Illusions by which he kept up his own and his army's hopes--Count Daru's advice--Rupture of the armistice--Incapacity of Berthier--Disastrous engagement at Vinkowo--Napoleon determines to leave Moscow 82
BOOK IX.
CHAP. I.--Departure from Moscow--Composition of the army 94
II.--Battle of Malo-Yaroslawetz 98
III.--Distress of the Emperor--Danger which he ran from a sudden attack of the Cossacks 107
IV.--Field of Malo-Yaroslawetz--Council held by the Emperor--Opinions of Murat, Bessi��res, and Davoust--Napoleon determines to retreat 113
V.--Kutusoff's similar determination to retreat from Malo-Yaroslawetz, ineffectually opposed by Sir Robert Wilson--Napoleon's projected plan of retreat 118
VI.--Mortier's proceedings at Moscow after the departure of the main army--Blowing up of the Kremlin--Devastations committed by both armies--Capture of General Winzingerode--Napoleon's behaviour to him 126
VII.--Arrival at Mojaisk--Alarming news of the Russian army--View of the field of Borodino 134
VIII.--Abandonment of the wounded in the Abbey of Kolotskoi--Horrible conduct of the suttlers--Massacre of 2000 Russian prisoners--Arrival at Gjatz 139
IX.--Napoleon's arrival at Wiazma--Reproaches to Davoust for his tardy mode of retreat, and that officer's vindication--Danger of the latter and Eugene--Arrival of Miloradowitch 144
X.--Battle between Eugene and Davoust and Miloradowitch, near Wiazma, on the 3d November--heavy loss of the French 149
XI.--Dreadful snow-storm on the 6th of November--its effects upon the troops 155
XII.--Arrival of the intelligence of Mallet's conspiracy--impression produced by it upon Napoleon and his officers--Message from Ney--Perilous situation of that marshal 160
XIII.--Defeat and entire dissolution of the Viceroy's corps at the passage of the Wop 167
XIV.--Arrival at Smolensk--Dreadful sufferings of the troops--Bad arrangements of the administrators--Reasons assigned by the latter in their vindication 175
BOOK X.
CHAP. I.--Wittgenstein's attack upon Saint Cyr at Polotsk--Retreat of the latter--Want of concert in the movements of the Russian generals 183
II.--Junction of the corps of Saint Cyr and Victor at Smoliantzy on the 31st October--Opportunity lost by the latter of defeating the enemy--General view of the state of the army--Errors committed by Napoleon and his commanders 192
III.--Napoleon's departure from Smolensk--Dispositions of the Russian army to interrupt his farther retreat--Bravery of Excelmans--Arrival at Krasno? 205
IV.--March of Eugene from Smolensk to Krasno? with the remains of his corps--his narrow escape 211
V.--Successful nocturnal attack by Roguet on the Russian camp at Chickowa--Desperate situation of Napoleon--Wilson's fruitless efforts to induce Kutusof to surround and destroy him--Battle of Krasno?--Bravery of the guard under Mortier 219
VI.--Napoleon's arrival at Dombrowna--Nocturnal false alarm--General disorganization of the army--Davoust's ineffectual efforts to check it 231
VII.--Council held at Orcha to determine the farther course of retreat--Opinion of Jomini--Napoleon decides on Borizof--Quits Orcha on the 20th of November without hearing any thing of Ney--Re-appearance of that Marshal after his departure 239
VIII. IX.--Details of Ney's retreat from Smolensk until his arrival at Orcha 248
BOOK XI.
CHAP. I.--Capture of Minsk by the Russians--Different opinions in the army as to the causes of their disasters--Rumoured treachery of Schwartzenberg--Napoleon's reproaches to him and Schwartzenberg's reply 270
II.--Details of the loss of Minsk--Movements of Dombrowski, Oudinot, and Victor--Distress and malady of Napoleon--Remarkable conversation with Count Daru 278
III.--Passage through the Forest of Minsk--Junction of the remains of the grand army with Victor and Oudinot's corps--State of the former 284
IV. V.--Preparations for crossing the Berezina 289
VI.--Circumstances which led the Russian general, Tchaplitz, into error as to the point where Napoleon was to cross the Berezina, and consequences of that error--Napoleon crosses that river at Studzianka on the 27th November 299
VII.--Capture and destruction of Partouneaux's division 304
VIII.--Attack made by the Russians under Wittgenstein and Platof on the left side, and by Tchitchakof on the right side of the Berezina, and repelled by the French 308
IX.--The burning of the bridge over the Berezina 315
X.--Napoleon's situation during the preceding actions--Passage over the morasses--His manners to his officers 321
XI.--Napoleon's arrival at Malodeczno--Announcement on the 3d of December of his intention to set out for France 325
XII.--Increased severity of the winter--Partial actions of Ney and Maison with the Russians between Pleszezenitzy and Malodeczno--Quarrel between Ney and Victor 330
XIII.--Napoleon's arrival at Smorgony--his parting interview with his marshals 335
BOOK XII.
CHAP. I.--Napoleon's journey from Smorgony to Paris--Impression produced in the army by his departure--Dreadful effects of the increased cold 339
II.--Picture of the sufferings of the army from the cold and the climate 346
III.--Arrival at Wilna--Consternation of the inhabitants--Fatal effects of not distributing the provisions collected among the troops--State of the wounded in the