The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-25
VIII.

1t is well known that the battle Of Borodino.
although 1t practically opened the gates Of Mos
COW TO Napoleon. was far from being an over
whelming victory. There was a great slaughter
on both sides, but the French captured only a
few hundred prisoners and a few spiked cannon
from the opposing army, which remained sub
stantially unbroken under Kutusof, ready TO
harass the invaders when. as the Russians knew,
they would be presently forced to evacuate the
city In which they hoped for winter quarters.
Ever since he had left the Prussian frontier Ma
poleon had been striving to force the Russians
To stand the test OF a drawn battle. but when, at
last, Kutusof gave him the opportunity he failed
10 make the most of it. Segur concurs with
other eye-witnesses in ascribing the failure TO
Napoleon himself, whose remissness ia at
tributed to a complication OF disorders which
had cost him a night of sleeplessness and pain.
and left him physically Frustrated on the event
full day. What segur says on this point deserves
to be set forth more at length. In the chapter
devoted TO the subject he shows that all which
was needed To assure the destruction of Kutus of
was the timely employment OF the Old Guard
or the Young Guard, or even the cavalry of
the Guard; but all these forces Napoleon
stubbornly insisted upon holding in reserve, and
they took no part In the action. Repeatedly and
earnestly did the Marshals who commanded the
attack send to beseech the Emperor TO give
'"NNS 'ANNlo w q utClslNb Stroke. so
furious was Sey at Napoleon's refusal that he
shouted, Have these fellows come SO far only
to gaze upon a battlefield What is the EN-
peror doing in the rear of the army? Since he
no longer conducts war himself. since he Ia no
longer General. since he would fain play the
Emperor every where, let him HE back TO the
Tuileries, and leave us to act as commanders in
his place To the incessant eRtreaties for re-
endorsements it seems that Napoleon replied,
suppose there should be a second battle to-
morrow, what should | have to fight with Y'
Those who stood by were astonished to hear for
the hrst time Napoleon, on a long sought for and
motnentous battlefield, talk Of the morrow and
distrust the present hour, Segur's explana-
ten Is, as We have said, that Napoleon at Boro-
dlno was not himself. Those who had mt
lett his side for days saw clearly that the con-
queror OF SO many nations had himself been
conquered by a violent fever, coupled with a
oaiamitous return of the poignant NAL
any "hich every protracted physical move
ment OF strong emotion caused to reappear. IL
was these SCATTERING disorders which not only
chilled his daring and obscured his intellect ON
the Iatefnl day of battle, but paralyzed him dur
Ing hve ensuing days, so that, after presesvIpg
hutuscf from total ruin in the engagement
they gave him time 10 rally the components ~
MS army and shield them from pursuit. Some
OF Napoleon's old comrades recalled al this lime
the words which he himself had written from
italy fifteen years before: Health is in
dlspensaole To warfare. and can be re-
PLACED by nothing" and also the exeiatH4.
tlon uttered by him at Austsrlltz: "Ordener
Is used mp. Only during one part Of
life are men fit for war. | shall be good
enough Tor some six years yet, after which / my
sell shall have to stop" As further proof OF
the eclipse Of NGpole0n's faculties at this June
lure ssgcr cites his refusal of the offer made
Just after borodino by the greatest Of his GEN
erals. Weare told that, while suffering in mind
ana body, the Emperor was hiding from the
eyes OF his army, DaYoust forced his way 10 him.
He came to propose once more. although he was
wounded, 10 take command Of the vanguard.
pledsing himself TO march day and night 20
the enemy and compel him 70 hght
Without wasting, as MurAt had done, the
strength and life OF the soldiers. Napoleon's
only answer was TO boast with enusion OF his
oFoiher-in-lAw's SudseiOus and insxhAustible
~ u. w. II |