Rather than to live under French rule, the patriotic citizens of Moscow preferred to evacuate and burn their city.
Summary:
After the battle of Borodinó, the abandonment and burning of Moscow was as inevitable as the retreat of the army beyond Moscow without fighting. The people could have stayed in place and maybe lived peacefully in an occupied city, but for these patriotic citizens It was simply out of the question to be under French rule, it would be the worst thing that could happen. So as soon as the enemy drew near to Moscow, the wealthy classes went away abandoning their property, while the poorer remained and burned and destroyed what was left. Many patriotic Moscovites had already left the city before the battle of Borodinó. All these fleeing citizens, who may have appeared cowardly to some, were in point of fact carrying out the very work which would save Russia. Fyodor Rostopchín, who at the time was Governor General of Moscow, had some foolish and inconstant directions for the people, which were ignored. Instead, the wisdom of the people prevailed, and they did what they could see was necessary rather than live under French rule, to the greater glory of Russia.
quote from the chapter:
They went away even before the battle of Borodinó and still more rapidly after it, despite Rostopchín’s calls to defend Moscow or the announcement of his intention to take the wonder-working icon of the Iberian Mother of God and go to fight, or of the balloons that were to destroy the French, and despite all the nonsense Rostopchín wrote in his broadsheets. They knew that it was for the army to fight, and that if it could not succeed it would not do to take young ladies and house serfs to the Three Hills quarter of Moscow to fight Napoleon, and that they must go away, sorry as they were to abandon their property to destruction. They went away without thinking of the tremendous significance of that immense and wealthy city being given over to destruction, for a great city with wooden buildings was certain when abandoned by its inhabitants to be burned. They went away each on his own account, and yet it was only in consequence of their going away that the momentous event was accomplished that will always remain the greatest glory of the Russian people.
Book 11, Chapter 5
Rather than to live under French rule, the patriotic citizens of Moscow preferred to evacuate and burn their city.
Summary:
After the battle of Borodinó, the abandonment and burning of Moscow was as inevitable as the retreat of the army beyond Moscow without fighting. The people could have stayed in place and maybe lived peacefully in an occupied city, but for these patriotic citizens It was simply out of the question to be under French rule, it would be the worst thing that could happen. So as soon as the enemy drew near to Moscow, the wealthy classes went away abandoning their property, while the poorer remained and burned and destroyed what was left. Many patriotic Moscovites had already left the city before the battle of Borodinó. All these fleeing citizens, who may have appeared cowardly to some, were in point of fact carrying out the very work which would save Russia. Fyodor Rostopchín, who at the time was Governor General of Moscow, had some foolish and inconstant directions for the people, which were ignored. Instead, the wisdom of the people prevailed, and they did what they could see was necessary rather than live under French rule, to the greater glory of Russia.
quote from the chapter:
They went away even before the battle of Borodinó and still more rapidly after it, despite Rostopchín’s calls to defend Moscow or the announcement of his intention to take the wonder-working icon of the Iberian Mother of God and go to fight, or of the balloons that were to destroy the French, and despite all the nonsense Rostopchín wrote in his broadsheets. They knew that it was for the army to fight, and that if it could not succeed it would not do to take young ladies and house serfs to the Three Hills quarter of Moscow to fight Napoleon, and that they must go away, sorry as they were to abandon their property to destruction. They went away without thinking of the tremendous significance of that immense and wealthy city being given over to destruction, for a great city with wooden buildings was certain when abandoned by its inhabitants to be burned. They went away each on his own account, and yet it was only in consequence of their going away that the momentous event was accomplished that will always remain the greatest glory of the Russian people.
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