When Kutúzov learns that Napoleon has abandoned Moscow, he realizes at once that Russia has won the war. Kutúzov thanks God and weeps for joy.
When Kutúzov learns that Napoleon has abandoned Moscow, he realizes at once that Russia has won the war. Kutúzov thanks God and weeps for joy.
Book 13, Chapter 17
When Kutúzov learns that Napoleon has abandoned Moscow, he realizes at once that Russia has won the war. Kutúzov thanks God and weeps for joy.
Summary:
Kutúzov had been laying awake in bed, as he often did, thinking about what Napoleon would do next. He knew the French had been wounded at Borodinó, he did not know if the wound was mortal. Kutúzov’s greatest fear was that Napoleon would remain in Moscow and adopt a defensive strategy. Or, possibly, Napoleon would move on Petersburg. Kutúzov was under constant pressure from Bennigsen and others to take part in useless aggressive movements. The best thing, Kutúzov knew, would be to wait and see what happened next. But, when the courier from Dokhtúrov arrived with confirmation that Napoleon had abandoned Moscow, Kutúzov knew Napoleon’s army would not survive. He turned to the opposite side of the room, to the corner darkened by the icons that hung there. O Lord, my Creator, Thou has heard our prayer… said he in a tremulous voice with folded hands. Russia is saved. I thank Thee, O Lord! and he wept.
quote from the chapter:
Lying on his bed during those sleepless nights he did just what he reproached those younger generals for doing. He imagined all sorts of possible contingencies, just like the younger men, but with this difference, that he saw thousands of contingencies instead of two or three and based nothing on them. The longer he thought the more contingencies presented themselves. He imagined all sorts of movements of the Napoleonic army as a whole or in sections-against Petersburg, or against him, or to outflank him. He thought too of the possibility (which he feared most of all) that Napoleon might fight him with his own weapon and remain in Moscow awaiting him. Kutúzov even imagined that Napoleon’s army might turn back through Medýn and Yukhnóv, but the one thing he could not foresee was what happened-the insane, convulsive stampede of Napoleon’s army during its first eleven days after leaving Moscow: a stampede which made possible what Kutúzov had not yet even dared to think of-the complete extermination of the French.
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