Chapter 15

           

           IntheearlydaysofOctoberanotherenvoycametoKutúzovwithaletterfromNapoleonproposingpeaceandfalselydatedfromMoscow,thoughNapoleonwasalreadynotfarfromKutúzovontheoldKalúgaroad.KutúzovrepliedtothisletterashehaddonetotheoneformerlybroughtbyLauriston,sayingthattherecouldbenoquestionofpeace.

           SoonafterthatareportwasreceivedfromDórokhov’sguerrilladetachmentoperatingtotheleftofTarútinothattroopsofBroussier’sdivisionhadbeenseenatFormínskandthatbeingseparatedfromtherestoftheFrencharmytheymighteasilybedestroyed.Thesoldiersandofficersagaindemandedaction.Generalsonthestaff,excitedbythememoryoftheeasyvictoryatTarútino,urgedKutúzovtocarryoutDórokhov’ssuggestion.Kutúzovdidnotconsideranyoffensivenecessary.Theresultwasacompromisewhichwasinevitable:asmalldetachmentwassenttoFormínsktoattackBroussier.

           Byastrangecoincidence,thistask,whichturnedouttobeamostdifficultandimportantone,wasentrustedtoDokhtúrov—thatsamemodestlittleDokhtúrovwhomnoonehaddescribedtousasdrawingupplansofbattles,dashingaboutinfrontofregiments,showeringcrossesonbatteries,andsoon,andwhowasthoughttobeandwasspokenofasundecidedandundiscerning—butwhomwefindcommandingwhereverthepositionwasmostdifficultallthroughtheRusso-FrenchwarsfromAusterlitztotheyear1813.

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