History of the Expedition to Russia | Page 3

I.--The Emperor Alexander's arrival at Moscow after his retreat
from Drissa--Description of that city--Sacrifices voted by the nobility
and the merchants to meet the threatened danger 1
II.--Alarm in consequence of the advance of the French
army--Determination of the Governor, Count Rostopchin, and his
preparations for destroying the capital--Evacuation of Moscow by the
principal part of the inhabitants on the 3d of September 10
III.--State of that city just before and after the battle of Borodino--The
Governor's departure 18
IV.--Napoleon advances to Moscow on the 14th of
September--Feelings of the army on approaching 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, Bessières, 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

Krasnoë 205
IV.--March of Eugene from Smolensk to Krasnoë 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
Krasnoë--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