The first Napoleon : a sketch, political and military . ould retire,where, it was to be hoped, they would be able tohold their own behind regularly constructedworks. They had selected for this purpose theposition of Drissa, a town lying more than ahundred miles nortlieast of Wilna. A glanceat the map will show the mistake of makingsuch a choice as this. It is to the north of themain road to Smolensk, and its occupation thusnot only left that road open to the French, butenabled them completely to interpose betweenthe two Russian armies. Nevertheless thereBarclay went. He got there on the 11th o


The first Napoleon : a sketch, political and military . ould retire,where, it was to be hoped, they would be able tohold their own behind regularly constructedworks. They had selected for this purpose theposition of Drissa, a town lying more than ahundred miles nortlieast of Wilna. A glanceat the map will show the mistake of makingsuch a choice as this. It is to the north of themain road to Smolensk, and its occupation thusnot only left that road open to the French, butenabled them completely to interpose betweenthe two Russian armies. Nevertheless thereBarclay went. He got there on the 11th ofJuly. But when once there the absurdity of thesituation dawned upon the Russians. In threedays they left their carefully prepared redoubtsand were off on the road to Smolensk. Theirmovements were quickened by hearing that Na-jtoleon was trying to gain this road so as to bebetween them and Smolensk. Why he did notsucceed in doing this, it is impossible to d()ul)t he was detained at Wilna by the caresof the enormous army under his charge. But it. Allies, « Kussians, ?Napoleons Headquarters, -^ Davouts ,, X Jeromes „ B Barclay cle Tollys ,, t Bagrations » ^


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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectnapoleo, bookyear1895