The Russian and Austrian Emperors review the allied army. It is a very inspiring and emotional experience for Nicholas and for all the troops. Nicholas no longer has any desire to challenge him to a duel.
The Russian and Austrian Emperors review the allied army. It is a very inspiring and emotional experience for Nicholas and for all the troops. Nicholas no longer has any desire to challenge him to a duel.
Book 3, Chapter 8
The Russian and Austrian Emperors review the allied army. It is a very inspiring and emotional experience for Nicholas and for all the troops. Nicholas no longer has any desire to challenge him to a duel.
Summary:
The day after Rostóv had been to see Borís, a review was held of the Austrian and Russian troops, both those freshly arrived from Russia and those who had been campaigning under Kutúzov. The two Emperors, the Russian with his heir the Tsarévich, and the Austrian with the Archduke, inspected the allied army of eighty thousand men. It was a very impressive display. The whole army was extended in three lines: the cavalry in front, behind it the artillery, and behind that again the infantry. When the Emperors arrived, it was an extremely emotional experience for all present. Rostóv is overcome with love of country and Tzar. He felt ready to go through fire and water, commit crime, die, or perform deeds of highest heroism. When Nicholas saw Prince Andrew among the gentlemen in the Emperor’s suite, he no longer had any wish to challenge him to a duel. After the review, everyone thought that commanded by the Emperor their army could defeat anyone.
quote from the chapter:
My God, how happy I should be if he ordered me to leap into the fire this instant! thought Rostóv.
When the review was over, the newly arrived officers, and also Kutúzov’s, collected in groups and began to talk about the awards, about the Austrians and their uniforms, about their lines, about Bonaparte, and how badly the latter would fare now, especially if the Essen corps arrived and Prussia took our side.
But the talk in every group was chiefly about the Emperor Alexander. His every word and movement was described with ecstasy.
They all had but one wish: to advance as soon as possible against the enemy under the Emperor’s command. Commanded by the Emperor himself they could not fail to vanquish anyone, be it whom it might: so thought Rostóv and most of the officers after the review.
All were then more confident of victory than the winning of two battles would have made them.
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