Chapter 2

           

           TheforcesofadozenEuropeannationsburstintoRussia.TheRussianarmyandpeopleavoidedacollisiontillSmolénskwasreached,andagainfromSmolénsktoBorodinó.TheFrencharmypushedontoMoscow,itsgoal,itsimpetuseverincreasingasitneareditsaim,justasthevelocityofafallingbodyincreasesasitapproachestheearth.Behinditweresevenhundredmilesofhunger-stricken,hostilecountry;aheadwereafewdozenmilesseparatingitfromitsgoal.EverysoldierinNapoleon’sarmyfeltthisandtheinvasionmovedonbyitsownmomentum.

           ThemoretheRussianarmyretreatedthemorefiercelyaspiritofhatredoftheenemyflaredup,andwhileitretreatedthearmyincreasedandconsolidated.AtBorodinóacollisiontookplace.Neitherarmywasbrokenup,buttheRussianarmyretreatedimmediatelyafterthecollisionasinevitablyasaballrecoilsaftercollidingwithanotherhavingagreatermomentum,andwithequalinevitabilitytheballofinvasionthathadadvancedwithsuchmomentumrolledonforsomedistance,thoughthecollisionhaddepriveditofallitsforce.

           TheRussiansretreatedeightymiles—tobeyondMoscow—andtheFrenchreachedMoscowandtherecametoastandstill.Forfiveweeksafterthattherewasnotasinglebattle.TheFrenchdidnotmove.

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