Chapter 14

           

           OnNovember1Kutúzovhadreceived,throughaspy,newsthatthearmyhecommandedwasinanalmosthopelessposition.ThespyreportedthattheFrench,aftercrossingthebridgeatVienna,wereadvancinginimmenseforceuponKutúzov’slineofcommunicationwiththetroopsthatwerearrivingfromRussia.IfKutúzovdecidedtoremainatKrems,Napoleon’sarmyofonehundredandfiftythousandmenwouldcuthimoffcompletelyandsurroundhisexhaustedarmyoffortythousand,andhewouldfindhimselfinthepositionofMackatUlm.IfKutúzovdecidedtoabandontheroadconnectinghimwiththetroopsarrivingfromRussia,hewouldhavetomarchwithnoroadintounknownpartsoftheBohemianmountains,defendinghimselfagainstsuperiorforcesoftheenemyandabandoningallhopeofajunctionwithBuxhöwden.IfKutúzovdecidedtoretreatalongtheroadfromKremstoOlmütz,tounitewiththetroopsarrivingfromRussia,heriskedbeingforestalledonthatroadbytheFrenchwhohadcrossedtheViennabridge,andencumberedbyhisbaggageandtransport,havingtoacceptbattleonthemarchagainstanenemythreetimesasstrong,whowouldhemhiminfromtwosides.

           Kutúzovchosethislattercourse.

           TheFrench,thespyreported,havingcrossedtheViennabridge,wereadvancingbyforcedmarchestowardZnaim,whichlaysixty-sixmilesoffonthelineofKutúzov’sretreat.IfhereachedZnaimbeforetheFrench,therewouldbegreathopeofsavingthearmy;tolettheFrenchforestallhimatZnaimmeanttheexposureofhiswholearmytoadisgracesuchasthatofUlm,ortoutterdestruction.

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