People

It was not the destruction Post Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 9:11:02 +0000
The frightfulreality could no longer be concealed. On the 19th of October the order forretreat was given. It was not the destruction of Moscow, but the departureof its inhabitants, that had brought the conqueror to ruin.

Autor of the post: Undefined

When the French gained Moscow Post Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 9:24:14 +0000
Above twothousand houses were still standing; but whether the buildings remained orperished made little difference; the whole value of the capital to Napoleonwas lost when the inhabitants, whom he could have forced to procuresupplies for his army, disappeared. Vienna and Berlin had been of suchincalculable service to Napoleon because the whole native administrationplaced itself under his orders, and every rich and important citizen becamea hostage for the activity of the rest. When the French gained Moscow, theygained nothing beyond the supplies which were at that moment in the city.

Autor of the post: Undefined

The French forces which quitted Moscow Post Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 9:35:17 +0000
All was lost to Napoleon when the class who in other capitals had been hisinstruments fled at his approach. The conflagration of Moscow acted uponall Europe as a signal of inextinguishable national hatred; as a militaryoperation, it neither accelerated the retreat of Napoleon nor added to themiseries which his army had to undergo.The French forces which quitted Moscow in October numbered about 100,000men.

Autor of the post: Undefined

Though but a fourth part Post Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 9:50:52 +0000
Reinforcements had come in during the occupation of the city, and thehealth of the soldiers had been in some degree restored by a month's rest.Everything now depended upon gaining a line of retreat where food could befound. Though but a fourth part of the army which entered Russia in thesummer, the army which left Moscow was still large enough to protect itselfagainst the enemy, if allowed to retreat through a fresh country; if forcedback upon the devastated line of its advance it was impossible for it toescape destruction.

Autor of the post: Undefined

But its route had been Post Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 10:01:48 +0000
Napoleon therefore determined to make for Kaluga, onthe south of Moscow, and to endeavour to gain a road to Smolensko fardistant from that by which he had come. The army moved from Moscow in asouthern direction. But its route had been foreseen by Kutusoff.

Autor of the post: Undefined

Theeffort of an assault was Post Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 10:18:30 +0000
At the endof four days' march it was met by a Russian corps at Jaroslavitz. A bloodystruggle left the French in possession of the road: they continued theiradvance; but it was only to find that Kutusoff, with his full strength, hadoccupied a line of heights farther south, and barred the way to Kaluga. Theeffort of an assault was beyond the powers of the French.

Autor of the post: Undefined

From the moment of quitting Jaroslavitz Post Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 10:35:07 +0000
Napoleon surveyedthe enemy's position, and recognised the fatal necessity of abandoning themarch southwards and returning to the wasted road by which he had advanced.The meaning of the backward movement was quickly understood by the army.From the moment of quitting Jaroslavitz, disorder and despair increasedwith every march.

Autor of the post: Undefined

Kutusoff was unadventurous in pursuit Post Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 10:54:55 +0000
Thirty thousand men were lost upon the road before apursuer appeared in sight. When, on the 2nd of November, the army reachedWiazma, it numbered no more than 65,000 men.Kutusoff was unadventurous in pursuit.

Autor of the post: Undefined

In spite of heavy loss Post Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 11:11:56 +0000
The necessity of moving his armyalong a parallel road south of the French, in order to avoid starvation,diminished the opportunities for attack; but the general himself dislikedrisking his forces, and preferred to see the enemy's destruction effectedby the elements. At Wiazma, where, on the 3rd of November, the French werefor the first time attacked in force, Kutusoff's own delay alone saved themfrom total ruin. In spite of heavy loss the French kept possession of theroad, and secured their retreat to Smolensko, where stores of food had beenaccumulated, and where other and less exhausted French troops were at hand.

Autor of the post: Undefined

Snow darkened the air Post Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 11:29:00 +0000
Up to the 6th of November the weather had been sunny and dry. On the 6ththe long-delayed terrors of Russian winter broke upon the pursuers and thepursued. Snow darkened the air and hid the last traces of vegetation fromthe starving cavalry trains.

Autor of the post: Undefined

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