History of the Expedition to Russia | Page 4

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 hospitals--Arrival of the Russians--Flight of
Murat--Evacuation of Wilna--Immense losses which that

occasioned--Disaster at Ponari 353
IV.--Details of Ney's mode of retreat--Losses occasioned to the
Russians by the severity of the winter--Arrival at Kowno--Ney's
defence and evacuation of that place 364
V.--First symptoms of Murat's defection--Arrival at Königsberg 372
VI. VII. VIII. IX.--Marshal Macdonald's retreat from Riga--Details of
the defection of the Prussian Army under Yorck 377
X.--Conduct of Schwartzenberg and defection of the
Austrians--Atrocities committed on the French prisoners at Wilna and
Königsberg 396
XI.--Defection of Murat 401
XII.--Conclusion 403

DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES.
I. Portrait of Napoleon to face Title, Vol. I.
II. Map of the countries between Paris and Moscow page 1
III. Passage of the Niemen 124
IV. Portrait of Murat, King of Naples 311
V. Portrait of the Emperor Alexander to face Title, Vol. II.
VI. Conflagration of Moscow 48
VII. Portrait of Marshal Ney 268
VIII. Passage of the Berezina 315
[Illustration: Map of the countries between Paris and Moscow]

HISTORY
OF
NAPOLEON'S EXPEDITION
TO
RUSSIA.

BOOK I.

CHAP. I.
Ever since 1807, when the space between the Rhine and the Niemen
had been overrun, the two great empires of which these rivers were the
boundaries had become rivals. By his concessions at Tilsit, at the
expense of Prussia, Sweden, and Turkey, Napoleon had only satisfied
Alexander. That treaty was the result of the defeat of Russia, and the
date of her submission to the continental system. Among the Russians,
it was regarded by some as attacking their honour; and by all it was felt
to be ruinous to their interests.
By the continental system Napoleon had declared eternal war against
the English; to that system he attached his honour, his political
existence, and that of the nation under his sway. That system banished
from the Continent all merchandise which was English, or had paid
duty in any shape to England. He could not succeed in establishing it
but by the unanimous consent of the continental nations, and that
consent could not be hoped for but under a single and universal
dominion.
France had besides alienated the nations of Europe from her by her
conquests, and the monarchs by her revolution and her new dynasty.

Henceforward she could no longer look forward to have either friends
or rivals, but merely subjects; for the first would have been false, and
the second implacable: it followed that all must be subject to her, or she
to all.
With feelings of this kind, her leader, influenced by his position, and
urged on by his enterprising character, filled his imagination with the
vast project of becoming the sole master of Europe, by overwhelming
Russia, and wresting Poland from her dominion. He had so much
difficulty in concealing this project, that hints of it began to escape him
in all directions. The immense preparations which so distant an
enterprise required, the enormous quantities of provisions and
ammunition collecting, the noise of arms, of carriages, and the march
of such numbers of soldiers--the universal movement the majestic and
terrible course of all the forces of the West against the East--every
thing announced to Europe that her two colossuses were about to
measure their strength with each other.
But, to get within reach of Russia, it was necessary to go beyond
Austria, to cross Prussia, and to march between Sweden and Turkey; an
offensive alliance with these four powers was therefore indispensable.
Austria was as much subject to the influence of Napoleon as Prussia
was to his arms: to them he had only to declare his intentions; Austria
voluntarily and eagerly entered into his plans, and Prussia he easily
prevailed on to join him.
Austria, however, did not act blindly. Situated between the two great
colossuses of the North and the West, she was not displeased to see
them at war: she looked to their mutually weakening each other, and to
the increase of her own strength by their exhaustion. On the 14th of