NAPOLEON’S INVASION OF RUSSIA IN 1812 – PART SIX On leaving Moscow Napoleon intended to drive off Field Marshal Kutuzov and then fall back on Smolensk, which by now had been well stocked with rations and ammunition. By 24th October the army had covered seventy-five miles to the south west, less than had been expected due to heavy rain, and was preparing to cross the River Lusha by the only bridge. Kutuzov had no intention of allowing Napoleon to retire unmolested, and a major battle for control of the bridge began. By the morning of 25 October the Russians had withdrawn and the French had managed to cross, but at the considerable cost of 4,000 casualties including seven generals. Even so, had Napoleon continued on this south-westerly route they could have withdrawn through an area that was so far untouched by war and where forage was still to be had. However, Napoleon now decided to abandon any attempt to force Kutuzov into battle and to retire by the same route that they had used during the approach. This made the task of the wretched logisticians even harder, for the scorched earth policy adopted by the Russians retiring before the French advance had made it impossible to live off the country. Rations had to be cut again and again. More and more men were unable to keep up, and the column grew longer and longer as it struggled on, morale not being improved as they passed over the field of Borodino where dead bodies still littered the field making a feast for the packs of wolves that had soon gathered.
NAPOLEON'S INVASION OF RUSSIA IN 1812 - PART SIX
NAPOLEON'S INVASION OF RUSSIA IN 1812 - PART…
NAPOLEON'S INVASION OF RUSSIA IN 1812 - PART SIX
NAPOLEON’S INVASION OF RUSSIA IN 1812 – PART SIX On leaving Moscow Napoleon intended to drive off Field Marshal Kutuzov and then fall back on Smolensk, which by now had been well stocked with rations and ammunition. By 24th October the army had covered seventy-five miles to the south west, less than had been expected due to heavy rain, and was preparing to cross the River Lusha by the only bridge. Kutuzov had no intention of allowing Napoleon to retire unmolested, and a major battle for control of the bridge began. By the morning of 25 October the Russians had withdrawn and the French had managed to cross, but at the considerable cost of 4,000 casualties including seven generals. Even so, had Napoleon continued on this south-westerly route they could have withdrawn through an area that was so far untouched by war and where forage was still to be had. However, Napoleon now decided to abandon any attempt to force Kutuzov into battle and to retire by the same route that they had used during the approach. This made the task of the wretched logisticians even harder, for the scorched earth policy adopted by the Russians retiring before the French advance had made it impossible to live off the country. Rations had to be cut again and again. More and more men were unable to keep up, and the column grew longer and longer as it struggled on, morale not being improved as they passed over the field of Borodino where dead bodies still littered the field making a feast for the packs of wolves that had soon gathered.