During their long and rapid retreat, the Russians win a battle with the French, and Andrew is sent to the Austrian court to report the news.
During their long and rapid retreat, the Russians win a battle with the French, and Andrew is sent to the Austrian court to report the news.
Book 2, Chapter 9
During their long and rapid retreat, the Russians win a battle with the French, and Andrew is sent to the Austrian court to report the news.
Summary:
Pursued by a hundred thousand men under Bonaparte, Kutúzov’s army of thirty-five thousand is hurriedly retreating, stopping to fight only when overtaken by the French. Their only long-term hope is to unite with the main Russian army. Finally, in one battle just after crossing the Danube, the Russians manage not only to hold the field but to break up the French division pursuing them. This boosts morale, even though Kutúzov’s army suffered significant losses in the battle. The Austrian general whom Andrew was assisting is killed, and Andrew’s own horse is shot out from under him. A bullet also grazes his arm. As a mark of special favor, Andrew is selected to deliver the news of the Russian victory to the Austrian Emperor Francis. Arriving at the Austrian court, he finds them seemingly unimpressed by the Russian victory. Andrew is made to wait to give his report to the Austrian Emperor Francis.
quote from the chapter:
Pursued by the French army of a hundred thousand men under the command of Bonaparte, encountering a population that was unfriendly to it, losing confidence in its allies, suffering from shortness of supplies, and compelled to act under conditions of war unlike anything that had been foreseen, the Russian army of thirty-five thousand men commanded by Kutúzov was hurriedly retreating along the Danube, stopping where overtaken by the enemy and fighting rearguard actions only as far as necessary to enable it to retreat without losing its heavy equipment. There had been actions at Lambach, Amstetten, and Melk; but despite the courage and endurance-acknowledged even by the enemy-with which the Russians fought, the only consequence of these actions was a yet more rapid retreat.
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