The Burning of Moscow
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111. Napoleon to Berthier, 14 October 1812, in Correspondance de Napoléon, XXIV, No. 19273.
112. Napoleon spoke of three ‘classes’: the lightly wounded who were capable of leaving on their own; those in serious condition who could be evacuated on transports; and finally, men in grave condition who, in surgeons’ opinion, might further worsen during transportation. Napoleon to Berthier, 5–6 October 1812, in Correspondance générale, XII, 1133–1134, 1146.
113. Napoleon to Berthier, 5 October 1812, in Correspondance générale, XII, 1133–1134.
114. Napoleon to Clarke, 5 October 1812, S.H.D., département de l’Armée de Terre, 17 C 326.
115. Napoleon to Berthier, 6 October 1812, in Chambray (1839), III, 425–426; Correspondance générale, XII, 1145.
116. Napoleon to Berthier, 10 October 1812, in Chambray (1839), III, 428.
117. Napoleon to Berthier, 10 October 1812, in Chambray (1839), III, 428–430. Also see Napoleon to Berthier, 16 October, Ibid., 433.
118. Fain, II, 150–153; Larrey, IV, 79–80; Napoleon to Berthier, 16 October 1812, in Correspondance générale, XII, 1187.
119. Perovskii, 275–277.
120. Berthier to Murat, 14 October 1812, in Chambray (1839), III, 432–433.
121. Fain, II, 152.
122. Berthier to Murat, 14 October 1812, in Chambray (1839), III, 432–433.
123. Fain, II, 150–153; Kool, 54..
124. The date of departure was later rescheduled to 20 October.
125. Napoleon to Maret, 16 October 1812, in Correspondance générale, XII, 1192; Maret to Otto, 26 October 1812, in Correspondance de Napoléon, XXIV, No.19,275, 265–266.
126. Montesquiou-Fezensac, Journal de la Campagne de Russie, 63–64.
127. Vionnet de Maringone, 40–41. Also see Kool, 55–56.
128. Montesquiou-Fezensac, Journal de la Campagne de Russie, 64.
129. Fain, II, 158.
130. Ségur (1825), 325.
131. Laugier, 89.
132. Biot, 51–52; Montesquiou-Fezensac, Journal de la Campagne de Russie, 64.
Chapter 10: The Die is Cast
1. Yermolov, 170–171; Bennigsen 9 (1909), 502–503; Journal of Military Operations, RGVIA, f. VUA, d. 3465, Part 5, ll. 229–230.
2. Kutuzov to Lieutenant Kalinov, 14 September 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 227.
3. Kutuzov to Wintzingerode, 15 September 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 231. He instructed Prince Dmitri Lobanov-Rostovskii, who was responsible for the formation of reserve forces, to direct the newly formed unit to Kolomna and Serpukhov in preparations for the main army’s flanking manoeuvre. Kutuzov to Lobanov-Rostovskii, 15 September 1812, in Ibid, 230.
4. See Kutuzov’s letters to Governor N. Bogdanov of the Tula Province and Major General F. Voronov, Head of the Tula Munitions Factory, 19 September 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 250.
5. Kutuzov to Alexander I, 16 September 1812, in Ibid., 232–234.
6. Yefremov commanded a Cossack detachment consisting of Andrianov II’s Cossack, Simferopolskii Horse Tatar and the 1st Bashkirskii Regiments. The first two regiments remained on the Ryazan road while the Bashkirs moved to the road to Serpukhov.
7. Kutuzov to Miloradovich, 16–17 September 1812, in Ibid., 236–237, 240–241.
8. For details see Journal of Military Operations, RGVIA, f. VUA, d. 3465, Part 5, ll. 229–231b; Disposition of the 1st and 2nd Western Armies, 16 September 1812; Kutuzov to Miloradovich, 17 September 1812; Kutuzov to Emperor Alexander, 18 September 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 237–238, 241, 243; Order to the Armies, 18 September 1812, RGVIA, f. VUA, d. 3524, ll. 15–16b.
9. Yermolov, 174.
10. Kutuzov to Alexander I; Kutuzov to Chichagov; Kutuzov to Tormasov, 18 September 1812, in Ibid., 243–245.
11. Yermolov, 174.
12. Kutuzov to Emperor Alexander, 18 September 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 243.
13. Kutuzov to Miloradovich, 18 September 1812, in Ibid., 248.
14. Journal of Military Operations, RGVIA, f. VUA, d. 3465, Part 5, ll. 231–231b; Disposition of the 1st and 2nd Armies for 20 September 1812; Kutuzov to Miloradovich, 19 September 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 252–253; Miloradovich to Konovnitsyn, 22 September 1812, in General Staff Archives, XVIII, 45–46.
15. Kutuzov to Dorokhov, 20 September 1812, RGVIA, f. VUA, d. 3463, l. 52.
16. Barclay de Tolly, Izobrazhenye, 28.
17. Kutuzov to Alexander I, 23 September 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 277–278.
18. Kutuzov to Lobanov-Rostovskii, Lanskoi and Miloradovich, 18–21 September, in Ibid., 247, 254, 261–262.
19. Napoleon to Bessieres, 27 September 1812, in Gourgaud, 529.
20. Napoleon to Murat and Bessieres, 22–26 September 1812, in Gourgaud, 525–528; Reports of Dorokhov and Wintzingerode, 22–25 September 1812 in Severnaya pochta, Nos. 75–77, 30 September–7 October 1812.
21. Everts, 692–695; Castellane, I, 161.
22. Caulaincourt, II, 56–57.
23. Napoleon to Murat, 22 September 1812, in Gourgaud, 525.
24. Napoleon to Bessieres, 22 September 1812, in Gourgaud, 525.
25. Napoleon to Murat, 23 September 1812, in Gourgaud, 526.
26. Bessieres’ force consisted of the 4th and 5th Guard Cavalry Brigades, the 3rd Cavalry Corps, the 1st Light Cavalry Brigade and the 4th Division of the 1st Corps.
27. Fain, II, 110–111; Chambray, II, 148–149.
28. Berthier to Bessieres, 27 September 1812, in Gourgaud, 528.
29. Napoleon to Bessieres and Murat, 22–23 and 27 September 1812, in Gourgaud, 525–526, 529.
30. Efremov to Miloradovich, 22 September 1812, in General Staff Archives, XVIII, 55.
31. Napoleon to Murat and Bessieres, 22–23 September 1812, in Gourgaud, 525–527.
32. Le Roy, Souvenirs, 185–189.
33. Chambray, II, 149.
34. Barclay de Tolly, Izobrazhenye, 29.
35. Bennigsen to Miloradovich, 24 September 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 291–292.
36. Kutuzov to Miloradovich, 24 September (7 pm) 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 292–293.
37. Bennigsen to Miloradovich, 24 September (8 pm) 1812; Toll to Miloradovich, 25 September (midnight), in Ibid., 293–294.
38. Disposition of the 1st and 2nd Armies for 27 September 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 308–309; Bennigsen to Osterman-Tolstoy, 27 September 1812, RGVIA, f. VUA, d. 3463, l. 69.
39. Napoleon to Berthier and Bessieres, 24–26 September 1812, in Gourgaud, 527–528; Chambray, II, 150.
40. Napoleon to Bessieres and Murat, 27–28 September 1812, in Gourgaud, 529–530.
41. Wilson, Private Diary, 173–175; Idem., Narrative, 178–180.
42. Butulin, I, 312–313.
43. Brandt, 233.
44. Kutuzov to Osterman-Tolstoy and Yermolov, 27 September 1812, RGVIA, f. VUA, d. 3463, ll. 40, 70–70b.
45. Golitsyn, 72; Buturlin, I, 314.
46. In the combat at Chirikovo on 29 September the Russian rearguard lost 804 men, including an officer and 96 soldiers killed. The following day the fighting at Voronovo claimed just twenty-one Russian casualties. Roster of the Killed, Wounded and Missing in the 1st Western Army in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 714; Journal of Military Operations in Ibid., 339–341.
47. Miloradovich to Konovnitsyn, 3 October 1812, in General Staff Archives, XVIII, 100.
48. Brandt, 236.
49. Miloradovich to Konovnitsyn, 3 October 1812, in General Staff Archives, XVIII, 100–101.
50. Miloradovich to Konovnitsyn, 3 October 1812, in General Staff Archives, XVIII, 100–101; Buturlin, I, 315–316.
51. For a critical view of Murat, see Brandt, 236–237.
52. Army Roster, 5 October 1812, in M.I. Kut
uzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 355–358. On 23 September the 1st Western Army had fewer than 50,000 men.
53. Order to the Armies, 28 September 1812, RGVIA, f. VUA, d. 3524, ll. 26b-28.
54. The advanced guard included the 2nd and 4th Army Corps, the 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Corps and the Cossacks. The Corps de Bataille consisted of the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Army Corps, plus Golitsyn’s and Muller-Zakomelski’s cavalry corps. The flying columns were:
Platov’s, comprising thirteen regiments of Cossacks, one of light infantry, and a horse battery;
Wintzingerode’s, of one hussar regiment, one of dragoons, seven of Cossacks, and a battery, observing Moscow in the north;
Dorokhov’s, observing Mozhaisk, ultimately increased by detachments to five battalions, sixteen squadrons, a battery and some Cossacks;
Orlov-Denisov’s, consisting of six regiments of Cossacks and six guns;
Karpov’s, comprising seven regiments of Cossacks; and
Ozharovski’s, composed of four regiments of Cossacks, one of Hussars, a regiment of light infantry and six guns.
In addition, irregular detachments infested the Moscow–Smolensk road. These were led by Colonel Kaisarov (three regiments), Colonel Prince Kudachev (two regiments), Colonel Yefremov (two regiments), Lieutenant Colonel Davidov (two regiments), Captain Seslavin (one regiment) and Captain Figner (one regiment).
55. Yermolov, 175f.
56. Wilson, Narrative, 200–201.
57. Castellane, I, 165.
58. Thirion de Metz, 216.
59. Wilson, Private Diary, I, 188; Idem., Narrative, 200–201.
60. Peter Kikin to his brother, 19 October 1812, in Schukin, V, 3–4.
61. Uxküll, 91–92.
62. Journal of Military Operations, October 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part I, 400–401, 408–410, 434–435.
63. Sergei Marin to an unknown addressee, 14 October 1812, in Schukin, I, 60–64. Also see A. Muravyev, 205–206.
64. Biot, 49.
65. The Polish Lancer Brigade was an exception. Stationed at the village of Voronovo, Rostopchin’s former estate, it was relatively well provided for. Zaluski, 529–530.
66. Griois, II, 69–72.
67. Dembinski, I, 167.
68. Murat to Belliard, 10 October 1812, in Belliard, I, 112.
69. Denniée, 101.
70. Chambray, II, 204–205. Writing to Murat on 13 October, the emperor argued that ‘the position at Voronovo is good and commanding, and can be defended by the infantry, which will easily cover the cavalry. If you are of the same opinion, you are authorized to take it up.’ The following day, however, Napoleon hinted to Murat that the Grande Armée might depart Moscow and urged him to ‘reconnoitre well the road which will take you to Mojaisk, that if you are obliged to retreat before the enemy, you may be perfectly conversant with the route’. Berthier to Murat, 13–14 October 1812, in Gourgaud, 537–538.
71. The memoirs of Auvray, Bréaut des Marlots, Dupuy, Griois, Mailly-Nesle and Séruzier offer fascinating insights into the Allied side of the battle.
72. For an in-depth study of the battle see V. Bessonov, Tarutinskoe srazhenie (Moscow, 2008), as well as a series of articles by A. Ulyanov and A. Vasiliev. A. Ulyanov, ‘Tarutinskoe srazhenie: problemy izucheniya,’ in Sobytiya Otechetsvennoi voiny 1812 g. na territorii Kaluzhskoi gubernii (Maloyaroslavets, 1993); Idem., ‘Boi na reke Chernishne,’ in Ot Tarutino do Maloyaroslavetsa. K 190–letiyu Maloyaroslavetskogo srazheniya. Sbornik statei (Kaluga, 2002)
73. Bausset, II, 126.
74. Napoleon to Berthier, 18 October 1812, in Correspondance générale, XII, 1198, No. 31932. Generals Éblé and Chasseloup were told to start preparing their pontonniers and engineers for immediate departure the following morning. Napoleon to Berthier, 18 October 1812, in Ibid., 1197, No. 31930.
75. Aart Kool colourfully notes, ‘On 18 October just before lunchtime I was talking to the Dutch General Matuscheurtz in the Kremlin when we heard that the King of Naples had been tricked, the Russians were scum and had broken the truce, and that on the following day we would leave to revenge their defiance.’ Kool, 57.
76. Napoleon to La Riboisière, 18 October 1812, Ibid., 1201–1202.
77. Napoleon to La Riboisière, 18 October 1812, Ibid., 1201–1202. Mortier was given ‘Laborde’s division, General Charrier’s brigade (composed of four battalions of dismounted cavalry), two companies of sappers, one company of artillery, the artillery of Laborde’s division and finally one brigade of cavalry 500 strong’.
78. Napoleon to Berthier, 18 October 1812, in Correspondance générale, XII, 1198–1199.
79. Napoleon to Berthier, 21 October 1812, Ibid., 1211–1212.
80. Napoleon to La Riboisière, 18 October 1812, Ibid., 1201–1202.
81. Napoleon to La Riboisière, 18 October 1812, Ibid., 1201–1202.
82. Rapp, 221–222; Charles Tristan Montholon, Mémoires pour server a l’Histoire de France sous Napoléon, écrits a Sainte-Hélène (Paris, 1823), II, 104.
83. To distract the Russians, on 18 October Napoleon dispatched Colonel Berthémy, Murat’s aide-decamp, to Kutuzov on a mission of ‘making arrangements to give the war a character in conformity with the established rules and the taking of the indispensable measures resulting from the state of war’. Kutuzov met Berthémy but refused to make any compromises. Berthier to Kutuzov, 18 October 1812, Correspondance de Napoléon, XXIV, 267, No. 19,277; Kutuzov to Berthier, 20 October 1812, in M.I. Kutuzov: Sbornik Dokumentov, IV, Part 2, 38–39.
84. Chambray, II, 314–315.
85. Mailly, 66. Also see Lieutenant Colonel K. de Baudus, Études sur Napoléon (Paris, 1841), II, 247; René Bourgeois, Tableau de la Campagne de Moscou en 1812 (Paris, 1814), 85.
86. Dumonceau, II, 175.
87. Castellane, I, 169.
88. There were some exceptions. Caulaincourt, who had spent several winters in Russia, took no chances and had all members of the horse-and-carriage service buy warm cloaks lined with furs, wool-lined gloves and fur bonnets. He also had every one of the more than 700 saddle and draft horses under his command roughshod with crampons to be able to move over frozen ground. He also acquired sleighs. Caulaincourt, II, 26–28.
89. Bausset, II, 108.
90. Grabowski, 7.
91. Kool, 57.
92. Chambray, II, 316.
93. Montesquiou-Fezensac, Souvenirs, 243–244.
94. Pion des Loches, 306–307.
95. Bro, 119.
96. Bourgogne, 56–57. This was all in addition to his full equipment. After dragging these possessions for a few miles, he finally decided to lighten his load but ended up ‘leaving out my white trousers [of the dress uniform], feeling pretty certain I should not want them again just yet’.
97. Barrau, 91.
98. Napoleon to La Riboisière, 18 October 1812, Correspondance de Napoléon, XXIV, 275; Fain, II, 162, 162f; Planat de la Faye, 92.
99. Napoleon to Berthier, 21 October 1812, in Correspondance générale, XII, 1211.
100. Griois, II, 82.
101. Mailly, 72.
102. Bourgogne, 56.
103. Kool, 57.
104. Christiani, 49.
105. Montesquiou-Fezensac, Journal de la Campagne de Russie, 68.
106. Christiani, 49.
107. Napoleon to Berthier, 20 October 1812, in Correspondance générale, XII, 1208. Napoleon also instructed Mortier to ‘set fire to the two houses of the former governor [Rostopchin] and the house of Razumovskii’.
108. Chambray, II, 324–325.
109. Christiani, 49. According to Benckendorf, his troops heard the sound of an explosion at 2am. Benckendorf, 119–120.
110. Sysoev, 15.
111. Cited in S. Knyazkov, ‘Ostavlenie frantsuzami Moskvy,’ in Otechestvennaya voina i Russkoe obschestvo,
112. Rostopchin to Emperor Alexander, 7 November 1812, in Russkii arkhiv 8 (1892), 553. ‘The evening proved to be cold and it rained incessantly.’ Christiani, 49.
113. Norov, 213–214.
114. Chambray, II, 325.
115. Christiani, 49.
116. For example, in one of his letters, Rostopchin mentioned two women, sarcastically referring to them as ‘Citoyennes Heck and Armand’, who had been mistreated by the Cossacks. ‘Despite my hatred of this vile [French] nation, I could not but laugh upon seeing these madames, who once trotted in stylish fur coats on the Kuznetskii bridge. Now the Cossacks despoiled their bodies both internally and externally.’ Rostopchin to Balashev, 1 January 1813, Russkii arkhiv 1 (1881), 227.
117. Helman to Ivashkin, 27 October 1812, in Schukin, I, 100.
118. Toll to unknown addressee, 11 December 1812, Russkaya starina 12 (1873), 992. Similar account in Rostopchin to Vyazmitinov, 8 November 1812, in Russkii arkhiv 1 (1881), 222. Nikodim Kazantsev, the son of a sacristan, lamented that many villagers in his village died due to an epidemic that broke out as the result of the villagers’ greed. ‘Some stupid peasants’, he explained, went to the Borodino battlefield, which was still littered with thousands of bodies, and looted the corpses. Unable to strip the boots from the corpses because of muscle stiffness and frost, they simply hacked off the legs and took them home to thaw out. The rotting flesh consequently led to outbreaks of lethal diseases. Nikodim Kazantsev, ‘Zhizn arkhimandrita Nikodima Kazantseva,’ in Bogoslovskii vestnik 1 (1910), 77.
119. Russkaya starina 10 (1889), 47.
120. Tutolmin to the Dowager Empress, 23 November 1812, in Schukin, V, 160. Rostopchin to Vyazmitinov, 11 November 1812, Russkii arkhiv 1 (1909), 42.
121. Norov, 210–212.
122. These troops belonged to Ferdinand Wintzingerode’s detachment. On 22 October, upon hearing rumours of the Allied departure and French mining of the Kremlin, Wintzingerode made a reckless decision to enter the city accompanied only by his aide-de-camp. He was stopped on the Tver Boulevard by a French patrol which refused to consider him as a truce-bearer and took him to Mortier, who held Wintzingerode as prisoner of war. The detachment thus came under the command of General Ivan Ilovaiskii IV, who then entrusted it to Alexander Benckendorf.