Chapter 4

           

           AftertheencounteratVyázma,whereKutúzovhadbeenunabletoholdbackhistroopsintheiranxietytooverwhelmandcutofftheenemyandsoon,thefarthermovementofthefleeingFrench,andoftheRussianswhopursuedthem,continuedasfarasKrásnoewithoutabattle.TheflightwassorapidthattheRussianarmypursuingtheFrenchcouldnotkeepupwiththem;cavalryandartilleryhorsesbrokedown,andtheinformationreceivedofthemovementsoftheFrenchwasneverreliable.

           ThemenintheRussianarmyweresowornoutbythiscontinuousmarchingattherateoftwenty-sevenmilesadaythattheycouldnotgoanyfaster.

           TorealizethedegreeofexhaustionoftheRussianarmyitisonlynecessarytograspclearlythemeaningofthefactthat,whilenotlosingmorethanfivethousandkilledandwoundedafterTarútinoandlessthanahundredprisoners,theRussianarmywhichleftthatplaceahundredthousandstrongreachedKrásnoewithonlyfiftythousand.

           TherapidityoftheRussianpursuitwasjustasdestructivetoourarmyastheflightoftheFrenchwastotheirs.TheonlydifferencewasthattheRussianarmymovedvoluntarily,withnosuchthreatofdestructionashungovertheFrench,andthatthesickFrenchmenwereleftbehindinenemyhandswhilethesickRussiansleftbehindwereamongtheirownpeople.ThechiefcauseofthewastageofNapoleon’sarmywastherapidityofitsmovement,andaconvincingproofofthisisthecorrespondingdecreaseoftheRussianarmy.

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