Unlike in the past, the Russians do not retreat; the battle of Borodinó drags on; and Napoleon is depressed.
Summary:
Unlike in former battles, instead of retreating the Russians at Borodinó stayed and continued fighting. Again and again the French sent masses of well-ordered troops into the fighting, only to have them soon return as terrified mobs. The French generals re-formed them, but their numbers constantly decreased. Soon French reinforcements were wanted everywhere. Napoleon grew depressed. Everything that had always worked in the past was failing today. Napoleon with his long experience of war well knew the meaning of a battle not gained by the attacking side in eight hours. When Napoleon saw the depression on the faces around him and kept hearing reports of the Russians still holding their ground- he knew the French could lose this battle. And still came the requests from his generals for reinforcements, one even suggesting he send his guard into the battle.
quote from the chapter:
But Napoleon with his long experience of war well knew the meaning of a battle not gained by the attacking side in eight hours, after all efforts had been expended. He knew that it was a lost battle and that the least accident might now-with the fight balanced on such a strained center-destroy him and his army.
When he ran his mind over the whole of this strange Russian campaign in which not one battle had been won, and in which not a flag, or cannon, or army corps had been captured in two months, when he looked at the concealed depression on the faces around him and heard reports of the Russians still holding their ground-a terrible feeling like a nightmare took possession of him, and all the unlucky accidents that might destroy him occurred to his mind.
Book 10, Chapter 34
Unlike in the past, the Russians do not retreat; the battle of Borodinó drags on; and Napoleon is depressed.
Summary:
Unlike in former battles, instead of retreating the Russians at Borodinó stayed and continued fighting. Again and again the French sent masses of well-ordered troops into the fighting, only to have them soon return as terrified mobs. The French generals re-formed them, but their numbers constantly decreased. Soon French reinforcements were wanted everywhere. Napoleon grew depressed. Everything that had always worked in the past was failing today. Napoleon with his long experience of war well knew the meaning of a battle not gained by the attacking side in eight hours. When Napoleon saw the depression on the faces around him and kept hearing reports of the Russians still holding their ground- he knew the French could lose this battle. And still came the requests from his generals for reinforcements, one even suggesting he send his guard into the battle.
quote from the chapter:
But Napoleon with his long experience of war well knew the meaning of a battle not gained by the attacking side in eight hours, after all efforts had been expended. He knew that it was a lost battle and that the least accident might now-with the fight balanced on such a strained center-destroy him and his army.
When he ran his mind over the whole of this strange Russian campaign in which not one battle had been won, and in which not a flag, or cannon, or army corps had been captured in two months, when he looked at the concealed depression on the faces around him and heard reports of the Russians still holding their ground-a terrible feeling like a nightmare took possession of him, and all the unlucky accidents that might destroy him occurred to his mind.
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