Chapter I: Preface

During recent years the history of most of Napoleon’s great campaigns has been given to the world, with the notable exception of that of the catastrophic Russian expedition of 1812. Apart from compilations, I have met only one original work on the subject, in the English language, during the ten years the present work has been in preparation.

The publication of thousands of documents dealing with the struggle from the French side by the Historical Section of the French War Office, has rendered easily accessible an immense mass of material for the earlier period of the campaign. A beginning in this respect has also been made by the War Office at St. Petersburg, and some interesting light is thereby thrown upon the preparations on the Russian side, as well as upon the personalities of the Russian leaders. There are also many documents from private sources which have been collected and published.

My aim has been simply to relate the history of the terrible campaign in straightforward fashion, without obscuring the narrative by too much digression. I believe that, as matters stand, a better service will thus have been rendered to the cause of history than by the composition of a huge essentially technical work--for which, indeed, there is no place in this country. At present, apart from the needs of soldiers--which they are better qualified to supply than myself--it is not so much scientific discussion of the campaign that is required as knowledge of its episodes. This I have conscientiously endeavoured to supply.

I have to express my obligations to Mr. F.J. Hudleston, of the Staff Library at the War Office, for permission to make researches among the works under his charge dealing with the campaign, as well as to his assistant, Mr. Baldry, for his kind help during my work there. I am indebted to Mr. Gordon Home for much invaluable assistance, which it is easier to name than to classify, since it extends to every part of the book.

E.F.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Preliminaries 1

II. Napoleon’s Army and its Generals 20

III. The Russian Army and its Generals 41

IV. The First Stage of the Campaign. Operations
from Kovno to Vitebsk 59

V. The Operations about Smolensk 108

VI. The Operations in Volhynia and on the Düna 159

VII. Smolensk to Borodino 183

VIII. The Occupation and Destruction of Moscow 220

IX. The French Sojourn in Moscow 241

X. The First Stages of the Retreat 263

XI. The Operations in Napoleon’s Rear during
September and October 286

XII. The French Retreat. Maloyaroslavetz to
Orsha 307

XIII. Orsha to the Berezina 344

XIV. Conclusion of the Campaign. Losses and
Results 374

Appendices A to E 392

Bibliography 405

Index 409

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Bad News from Paris _Frontispiece_

To face page

2. The Emperor Alexander I of Russia 4

3. Prince Eugène, Son of the ex-Empress Josephine 18

4. Details of the Uniforms of the Infantry of the
French Army in 1812 26

5. Marshal Davout 34

6. Prince Joseph Anthony Poniatowski, Nephew of Stanislaus
Augustus, the last King of Poland 36

7. Field-Marshal Prince Barclay de Tolly 50

8. Field-Marshal Prince Golénischev-Kutuzov 52

9. General Prince Bagration, Commander of the Second
Russian Army in 1812 84

10. Joachim Murat, King of Naples 126

11. The Old Fortifications of Smolensk 144

12. Marshal Oudinot, Duke of Reggio 172

13. The First Battle of Polotsk 180

14. General of Cavalry Count Platov 194

15. Marshal Ney 212

16. Moscow from the Sparrow Hills 224

17. Napoleon’s First View of Moscow 228

18. Napoleon Watching the Burning of Moscow 236

19. The Kremlin, Moscow 242

20. Marshal Victor, Duke of Belluno 252

21. The Church of Vasilii Blagorennyi at Moscow 264

22. The Council of War after the Battle of Maloyaroslavetz 280

23. Marshal Gouvion St. Cyr 286

24. Count Wittgenstein 298

25. Armed Russian Peasants in Ambush in the Woods waiting
to cut off French Stragglers 310

26. The Retreat of the French from Moscow 322

27. Russian Grenadiers Pursuing the French Army 332

28. Napoleon, Berthier, Murat, and Rapp (in the order
named) round camp fire 354

29. General Baron Eblé 360

30. Crossing the Berezina 370

31. Marshal Ney Supporting the Rear-guard during the
Retreat from Moscow 376

32. Napoleon’s Travelling Kitchen 384

MAPS AND PLANS

PAGE

Plan of Battle of Saltanovka 95

” ” Smolensk 133

” ” Lubino 151

” ” Gorodeczna 167

” ” Borodino _folding to face_ 218

” ” Vinkovo 257

” ” Maloyaroslavetz 277

” ” Polotsk (2nd) 301

” Order of French Retreat, October 31 313

” Battle of Viasma 317

” ” Krasnoï 339

” Passage of the Berezina 369

” Battle of Polotsk (1st) 391

Map of Theatre of War, showing positions of opposing forces at opening of campaign and movements on both sides up to occupation of Moscow (_folding, at end of volume_)

Map of Theatre of War, showing positions of opposing forces at the evacuation of Moscow and movements on both sides to the end of the campaign (_folding, at end of volume_)

NAPOLEON’S

RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1812