. The world's great events ... a history of the world from ancient to modern times, 4004 to 1903. but the general himself dislikedrisking his forces, and preferred to see theenemys destruction effected by the Wiazma, where, on the 3d of November,the French were for the first time attacked inforce, Kutusoffs own delay alone saved themfrom total ruin. In spite of heavy loss, theFrench kept possession of the road, and se-cured their retreat to Smolensko, where storesof food had been accumulated, and whereother and less exhausted French troops wereat hand. Up to the 6th of No
. The world's great events ... a history of the world from ancient to modern times, 4004 to 1903. but the general himself dislikedrisking his forces, and preferred to see theenemys destruction effected by the Wiazma, where, on the 3d of November,the French were for the first time attacked inforce, Kutusoffs own delay alone saved themfrom total ruin. In spite of heavy loss, theFrench kept possession of the road, and se-cured their retreat to Smolensko, where storesof food had been accumulated, and whereother and less exhausted French troops wereat hand. Up to the 6th of November the weatherhad been sunny and dry. On the 6th, thelong delayed terrors of Russian winter brokeupon the pursuers and the pursued. Snowdarkened the air, and hid the last traces ofvegetation from the starving cavalry temperature sank at times to forty de-Frost,No. grees of frost. Death came, sometimes in the vember 6. unfelt release from misery, sometimes in hor-rible forms of mutilation and disease. Botharmies were exposed to the same sufferings;but the Russians had at least such succor. ou mO < HW WH THE MOSCOW CAMPAIGN 1901 as their countrymen could give: where theFrench sank, they died. The order of wardisappeared under conditions which madelife itself the accident of a meal or of a placeby the campfire. Though most of the Frenchsoldiery continued to carry their arms, theGuard alone kept its separate formation; theother regiments marched in confused masses. ^ French From the 9th to the 13th of November these ^^^^/^^starving bands arrived one after another atlemb^^VSmolensko, expecting that here their suffer-ings would end. But the organization fordistributing the stores accumulated in Smo-lensko no longer existed. The perishingcrowds were left to find shelter wherever theycould; sacks of corn were thrown to them forfood. It was impossible for Napoleon to give hiswearied soldiers rest, for new Russian armieswere advancing from the north and the so
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