The Russians abandon Smolénsk and continue their retreat.
Summary:
Smolénsk is set fire and abandoned by the Russians. The Russians continue to retreat, marching towards Moscow on the incredibly hot and dusty road. Passing nearby, Andrew leaves his regiment to make a quick inspection of his family estate. Tolstoy describes in some detail in this chapter the unpleasant conditions on the road and at the estate. Andrew finds Bald Hills ransacked and in disorder, only a few serfs remaining. The loyal and pious Alpátych, totally distraught, tells Andrew is family has departed. Andrew mistakenly assumes they went to Moscow. Andrew rejoins his retreating regiment. In a letter meant for the Emperor, Prince Bagratión complains he should be in charge of the army and that they could have held Smolénsk and stopped the French there.
quote from the chapter:
As soon as day dawned the march began. The artillery and baggage wagons moved noiselessly through the deep dust that rose to the very hubs of the wheels, and the infantry sank ankle-deep in that soft, choking, hot dust that never cooled even at night. Some of this dust was kneaded by the feet and wheels, while the rest rose and hung like a cloud over the troops, settling in eyes, ears, hair, and nostrils, and worst of all in the lungs of the men and beasts as they moved along that road. The higher the sun rose the higher rose that cloud of dust, and through the screen of its hot fine particles one could look with naked eye at the sun, which showed like a huge crimson ball in the unclouded sky. There was no wind, and the men choked in that motionless atmosphere. They marched with handkerchiefs tied over their noses and mouths. When they passed through a village they all rushed to the wells and fought for the water and drank it down to the mud.
Book 10, Chapter 5
The Russians abandon Smolénsk and continue their retreat.
Summary:
Smolénsk is set fire and abandoned by the Russians. The Russians continue to retreat, marching towards Moscow on the incredibly hot and dusty road. Passing nearby, Andrew leaves his regiment to make a quick inspection of his family estate. Tolstoy describes in some detail in this chapter the unpleasant conditions on the road and at the estate. Andrew finds Bald Hills ransacked and in disorder, only a few serfs remaining. The loyal and pious Alpátych, totally distraught, tells Andrew is family has departed. Andrew mistakenly assumes they went to Moscow. Andrew rejoins his retreating regiment. In a letter meant for the Emperor, Prince Bagratión complains he should be in charge of the army and that they could have held Smolénsk and stopped the French there.
quote from the chapter:
As soon as day dawned the march began. The artillery and baggage wagons moved noiselessly through the deep dust that rose to the very hubs of the wheels, and the infantry sank ankle-deep in that soft, choking, hot dust that never cooled even at night. Some of this dust was kneaded by the feet and wheels, while the rest rose and hung like a cloud over the troops, settling in eyes, ears, hair, and nostrils, and worst of all in the lungs of the men and beasts as they moved along that road. The higher the sun rose the higher rose that cloud of dust, and through the screen of its hot fine particles one could look with naked eye at the sun, which showed like a huge crimson ball in the unclouded sky. There was no wind, and the men choked in that motionless atmosphere. They marched with handkerchiefs tied over their noses and mouths. When they passed through a village they all rushed to the wells and fought for the water and drank it down to the mud.
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