Accidentally wandering into the midst of the battle, Pierre by chance takes refuge in Raévski’s Redoubt, which becomes the center of the fighting.
In fierce fighting, Raévski’s Redoubt briefly falls to the French, but is retaken by the Russians.
Most of the fighting at Borodinó took place in a nearby open field. The marshals and generals had little control of the troops’ movements.
Unlike in the past, the Russians do not retreat; the battle of Borodinó drags on; and Napoleon is depressed.
During the battle, Kutúzov commands the army with a light touch, issues orders only as demanded, and is mostly concerned that the army maintains the correct “spirit”.
His regiment under heavy artillery fire for hours, Prince Andrew is hit by a cannon ball.
Andrew sees a man’s leg being amputated nearby, and realizes it’s actually Anatole Kurágin. Andrew is overcome by a wave of love and forgiveness.
This chapter is about Napoleon’s psychology after Borodinó. Tolstoy tells how Napoleon was able to justify to himself all the horrible suffering he helped unleash on the world.
By not retreating from the French despite tremendous casualties, the Russians gained a great moral victory at Borodinó.
To study the laws of history we must study the common, infinitesimally small elements by which the masses of society are moved.