In the middle of the night, Nicholas’ unit is ordered to march to Ostróvna for a battle.
Summary:
It was nearly three o’clock but no one was yet asleep, when the quartermaster appeared with an order to move on to the little town of Ostróvna. Half an hour later, Nicholas’ squadron was lined up on the road, and soon they were marching. Their clothes have not yet dried out from yesterday’s rain. Nicholas is not afraid. By this point, Nicholas has grown used to being under fire (one cannot grow used to danger), but he has learned how to manage his thoughts. He knows not to think about the coming fighting. Young Ilyín, however, is scared. Rostóv knew from experience the terror and death the cornet Ilyín was suffering and knew that only time could help him. As they drew closer to the fighting, they see the Russian army arrayed around the battlefield. At these sounds, long unheard, Rostóv’s spirits rose. Rostóv’s unit is ordered closer. Then they are ordered to wait. The Russian cavalry is ordered to advance into battle, but they soon return, with the French cavalry in pursuit at their heels.
quote from the chapter:
As soon as the Uhlans descended the hill, the hussars were ordered up the hill to support the battery. As they took the places vacated by the Uhlans, bullets came from the front, whining and whistling, but fell spent without taking effect.
The sounds, which he had not heard for so long, had an even more pleasurable and exhilarating effect on Rostóv than the previous sounds of firing. Drawing himself up, he viewed the field of battle opening out before him from the hill, and with his whole soul followed the movement of the Uhlans. They swooped down close to the French dragoons, something confused happened there amid the smoke, and five minutes later our Uhlans were galloping back, not to the place they had occupied but more to the left, and among the orange-colored Uhlans on chestnut horses and behind them, in a large group, blue French dragoons on gray horses could be seen.
Book 9, Chapter 14
In the middle of the night, Nicholas’ unit is ordered to march to Ostróvna for a battle.
Summary:
It was nearly three o’clock but no one was yet asleep, when the quartermaster appeared with an order to move on to the little town of Ostróvna. Half an hour later, Nicholas’ squadron was lined up on the road, and soon they were marching. Their clothes have not yet dried out from yesterday’s rain. Nicholas is not afraid. By this point, Nicholas has grown used to being under fire (one cannot grow used to danger), but he has learned how to manage his thoughts. He knows not to think about the coming fighting. Young Ilyín, however, is scared. Rostóv knew from experience the terror and death the cornet Ilyín was suffering and knew that only time could help him. As they drew closer to the fighting, they see the Russian army arrayed around the battlefield. At these sounds, long unheard, Rostóv’s spirits rose. Rostóv’s unit is ordered closer. Then they are ordered to wait. The Russian cavalry is ordered to advance into battle, but they soon return, with the French cavalry in pursuit at their heels.
quote from the chapter:
As soon as the Uhlans descended the hill, the hussars were ordered up the hill to support the battery. As they took the places vacated by the Uhlans, bullets came from the front, whining and whistling, but fell spent without taking effect.
The sounds, which he had not heard for so long, had an even more pleasurable and exhilarating effect on Rostóv than the previous sounds of firing. Drawing himself up, he viewed the field of battle opening out before him from the hill, and with his whole soul followed the movement of the Uhlans. They swooped down close to the French dragoons, something confused happened there amid the smoke, and five minutes later our Uhlans were galloping back, not to the place they had occupied but more to the left, and among the orange-colored Uhlans on chestnut horses and behind them, in a large group, blue French dragoons on gray horses could be seen.
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