The Russian Army is in great difficulty. Andrew’s baby gets well.
Summary:
Bilíbin’s writes Prince Andrew a long letter from army headquarters. Things are very bleak indeed. The Prussians have again betrayed the Russians. The Prussian generals lay down their arms. The war has reached the frontiers of Russia. Kámenski is put in command, but as no one has confidence in him, he passes command to Count Buxhöwden. There is no food for the troops. Bennigsen fights a losing battle of Pultúsk and is forced to retreat. Nonetheless, Bennigsen claims it was a victory. Hoping to be made commander in chief himself, Bennigsen ceases cooperating with Buxhöwden. Bennigsen’s antics contribute to Buxhöwden’s army nearly being captured by the French. Bennigsen is appointed commander in chief. Just then, the starving Orthodox Russian soldiers revolt and begin to maraude the countryside for food. The Emperor authorizes deadly force to quell the marauders, more or less obliging half the army to shoot the other half. So, things at the front are bad, indeed. Andrew’s reading of Bilíbin’s letter is interrupted by a noise from the nursery. Fearing the baby may have died, Andrew instead finds that the baby has survived the fever and is recovering.
quote from the chapter:
We civilians, as you know, have a very bad way of deciding whether a battle was won or lost. Those who retreat after a battle have lost it is what we say; and according to that it is we who lost the battle of Pultúsk. In short, we retreat after the battle but send a courier to Petersburg with news of a victory, and General Bennigsen, hoping to receive from Petersburg the post of commander in chief as a reward for his victory, does not give up the command of the army to General Buxhöwden. During this interregnum we begin a very original and interesting series of maneuvers. Our aim is no longer, as it should be, to avoid or attack the enemy, but solely to avoid General Buxhöwden who by right of seniority should be our chief. So energetically do we pursue this aim that after crossing an unfordable river we burn the bridges to separate ourselves from our enemy, who at the moment is not Bonaparte but Buxhöwden.
Book 5, Chapter 9
The Russian Army is in great difficulty. Andrew’s baby gets well.
Summary:
Bilíbin’s writes Prince Andrew a long letter from army headquarters. Things are very bleak indeed. The Prussians have again betrayed the Russians. The Prussian generals lay down their arms. The war has reached the frontiers of Russia. Kámenski is put in command, but as no one has confidence in him, he passes command to Count Buxhöwden. There is no food for the troops. Bennigsen fights a losing battle of Pultúsk and is forced to retreat. Nonetheless, Bennigsen claims it was a victory. Hoping to be made commander in chief himself, Bennigsen ceases cooperating with Buxhöwden. Bennigsen’s antics contribute to Buxhöwden’s army nearly being captured by the French. Bennigsen is appointed commander in chief. Just then, the starving Orthodox Russian soldiers revolt and begin to maraude the countryside for food. The Emperor authorizes deadly force to quell the marauders, more or less obliging half the army to shoot the other half. So, things at the front are bad, indeed. Andrew’s reading of Bilíbin’s letter is interrupted by a noise from the nursery. Fearing the baby may have died, Andrew instead finds that the baby has survived the fever and is recovering.
quote from the chapter:
We civilians, as you know, have a very bad way of deciding whether a battle was won or lost. Those who retreat after a battle have lost it is what we say; and according to that it is we who lost the battle of Pultúsk. In short, we retreat after the battle but send a courier to Petersburg with news of a victory, and General Bennigsen, hoping to receive from Petersburg the post of commander in chief as a reward for his victory, does not give up the command of the army to General Buxhöwden. During this interregnum we begin a very original and interesting series of maneuvers. Our aim is no longer, as it should be, to avoid or attack the enemy, but solely to avoid General Buxhöwden who by right of seniority should be our chief. So energetically do we pursue this aim that after crossing an unfordable river we burn the bridges to separate ourselves from our enemy, who at the moment is not Bonaparte but Buxhöwden.
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