The Russian forces under Denísov and Dólokhov easily overrun the French. Pétya Rostóv, charging recklessly, is shot and dies. Pierre is among the freed Russian prisoners.
The Russian forces under Denísov and Dólokhov easily overrun the French. Pétya Rostóv, charging recklessly, is shot and dies. Pierre is among the freed Russian prisoners.
Book 14, Chapter 11
The Russian forces under Denísov and Dólokhov easily overrun the French. Pétya Rostóv, charging recklessly, is shot and dies. Pierre is among the freed Russian prisoners.
Summary:
As planned, Denísov’s and Dólokhov’s forces launch a surprise attack at dawn on the French convoy camping in the small village at dawn. Many French scatter, but there are pockets of fierce resistance. Before the battle Denísov ordered Pétya to not shove yourself forward anywhere. But in the battle Pétya Rostóv attacks recklessly, charging directly into enemy fire. Pétya is shot in the head and is killed. Soon all the French forces have either fled or surrendered. After the battle we learn that Pierre is one of the freed prisoners.
quote from the chapter:
A volley was heard, and some bullets whistled past, while others plashed against something. The Cossacks and Dólokhov galloped after Pétya into the gateway of the courtyard. In the dense wavering smoke some of the French threw down their arms and ran out of the bushes to meet the Cossacks, while others ran down the hill toward the pond. Pétya was galloping along the courtyard, but instead of holding the reins he waved both his arms about rapidly and strangely, slipping farther and farther to one side in his saddle. His horse, having galloped up to a campfire that was smoldering in the morning light, stopped suddenly, and Pétya fell heavily on to the wet ground. The Cossacks saw that his arms and legs jerked rapidly though his head was quite motionless. A bullet had pierced his skull.
After speaking to the senior French officer, who came out of the house with a white handkerchief tied to his sword and announced that they surrendered, Dólokhov dismounted and went up to Pétya, who lay motionless with outstretched arms.
Done for! he said with a frown, and went to the gate to meet Denísov who was riding toward him.
Killed? cried Denísov, recognizing from a distance the unmistakably lifeless attitude-very familiar to him-in which Pétya’s body was lying.
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