The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-07-05

ded in 1923 to publish pamphlet at Par
is. In that pamphlet he established tina
the Government had no interest whatever
in the burning of Moscow. And in it h'
gives the following reasons for his opin
ion:
l. Moscow was not provisioned the
Russian army had exhausted its supplies
and left them behind them little or moth
ing for the sustenance of the French.
2. Out of the 240, 900 inhabitants oil
Moscow, 225, 900 had been compelled by
Rostopchine to evacuate the city, leaving
behind about $4,000 persons, who were
made up of foreigners and the lowest
dregs of the city, and who would prove
more embarrassing than useful to the
French.
3. The success of plan of destruction
was implorable, the houses being, with
few exceptions, separated by gardens, and
broad open spaces, which would have him
dered the fire from spreading. In order
to extend its ravages as it actually did,
the accidental and unforeseen action of a
very violent wind was necessary. And
after all there remained standing fourth
part of the best houses, which were more
than sufficient for the accommodation of
the French army.
Some have seen proof enough of incen-
diary purpose in the carrying away of
ninety pumps. Now these were served
and manned by corps of 2,lOO fremen.
Rostopchinc, while causing the civil and
military authorities and almost the entire
population to leave Moscow, the more
completely to issolate the French did not
judge it proper to leave those iremen be-
hind for the service of Napoleon. They
very naturally carried their pumps away
with them.
The Russian government leaving to the
French only empty houses, and no means
of supplying themselves with provisions,
had no commanding interest in the des-
truction of Moscow. But had the govern
ment ordered that destruction. traces of
those orders would have survived; the
inhabitants would have had timely warn
ing, at least to remove their more valua-
BILE effects. So far was this from the fact
that kutusow swore by his gray hairs
that he would turn back the enemy and
preserve the holy city. So complete was
the security of the inhabitants, that with
the surprise of one waking suddenly from
dream, they fed in haste abandoning to
the French, their rich libraries, their cell
lars filed with exquisite wines, and even
their jewely rem aiming in their boudoirs
and on their toilets. So great was the ilu-
sion that some even among the nobility for
example, Counts vladimir, Orloff, and
Bontourline, escaped with great difficulty
only few hours before the enhance of the
enemy. The inhabitants thus suddenly
compelled to fee. were filled with indigna-
tion at the deceit which bad been practiced
upon them, and insulted the Russian
troops who were evacuating the city al
thoug still very strong and numerous. In
the Interview that took place at the gates
of Moscow on the 18th of September be-
tween Rostopchine and Kutusow, the lat
ter assured the former, that he intended
to give battle to the French. He added
that he had hopes of victory, having
been reinforced, and having beside, slain
at Moscow, Of the French troops, double |
the number he had lost of his own. But
in the evening, after holding hasty coun-
Gil of war, he announced to Rostopchine
that the movements of the enemy forced
him to abandon Moscow. Rostopchine
told that violent alteration took place
between him and Kutusow on that sub.
ject
The confagration is, in my opinion
none the more the work of the patriotism
of the people. Patriotism is too lofty
sentiment to attain its perfect stature un-
der despotic government. That instinc-
tive love of ones freside, which we read
lily grant to the Russians, can by no means
be likened to the enlightened patriotism
of a free people.
So the general conhagration of Moscow
was the result, neither of the orders of
the Russian government, nor of the pa
triotism of the people. Its first cause is
to be found in the system of tactics inva-
riably followed, during the first half of
the campaign by the Russian generals
The system consisted in forming at every
point magazines in retreating whenever
attacked, and in the retreating, the set
ting fire to everything. In this way the
began. At first it was only
partial, but very soon the inevitable dis
orders attendant on the departure of the
entire population, pillage, feelings of per-
;onal vengeance, and the imprudence of
he French themselves caused it to burst
forth at once from various points. A wind
Of extraordinary violence spread the
iames throughout the whole city. The
inhabitants were no longer there to rem
ler assistance, the pumps were gone, and
t was found impossible to arrest the
lanes.
Count Rostopchine has related to me
wo incidents which support this theory
If mine. The workmen, merchants and
lrtizans remaining in Moscow were dis
posed to trade with the French When,
however, they found them carrying away