The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-22

tho guards. had as corps commanders
D1vout. Ney. Oudinot and Macdonald.
Inc. uded in this were several bodies "
Wurttembergers. Truss ans and Others.
Murat had two corps OF cavalry re-
serves. This main body. the flower Of
thr army, totalled 250,0 900 men.
Eugene's force included French
cavalry, Italian and Bavarian reserves.
in all 10000 troops. Jerome COM
nanded Poles, Saxons, Wes:phalians
and a body of cavalry. In all IL was
about equal to Eugene's. The CON
scription, by which a large part of this
huge free had been obtained. caused
great dissatisfaction, and many OF the
soldiers We're totally unframed in war.
Napoleon's forces were stretched
over a Inc from Eibins and Konigs-
berg along the river to Novo, Alsxan-
dria. and down in Galicia S~chwarzen-
berg stood ready with an Austrian
army.
Opposed to this huge invading force
the Russians under De folly. ITO. 900
strong, We're north Of wilma, and under
Baeration, $4,000. south OF the Pripet.
while back in Volhynia Tormassoff
was assembling II third division.
Bagration left 10000 Of his men with
tire latter to oppose the Austrians, who
intended to wage war independently
OF Napoleon. The Russian campaign
drawn w by Gen. phull was to fall
back to the Drissa intrenchments and
there give battle, "A second army mean
while attacking In the flank and the
rear. Hopes were held that troops
not yet ready in Finland and Wal
lach!a might also be brought into
act on.
Napoleon, not knowing his numerical
advantage, planned to march by Kovno
on Wilma with his own command, Mac
dona.d with the left wing meanwhile
crossing the Niemen at Tllsit with his
Prussians, working north to separate
De Tolly and Bagration. The other
two armies were to follow and COM
plote this breach, after which the two
Pllssian forces were to be defeated
separately.
The ]huGeness of the French army
spoiled this plan, for De folly, unable
to give battle, fe.l back, as did Bagra-
ton, and the joint retreat across the
waste country frustrated Napoleon's
design, while AT the same time il led
his pursuing army further and further
inu0 new territory, whore the En-
peror's supply trains could not follow.
Toward the last of June Napoleon
crossed the Niemen, but found practi-
cally NJ enemy in front of HIM. He
proceeded to wilma, but was greatly
disappointed AZ the lack Of enthusiasm
with which lo was received.
The Russians had evacuated the
town some days before, leaving moth
ing worth while for the French to
take and no chance for a battle. The
advance he'd been made in wretched
condition over muddy roads ana in rain.
The whole country had been strlpped
bare by the rctreating enemy, the
French supplies We're days behind the
army, and there was neither food and
fodder o shelter. More than 10000
horses had already died, 100 cannon
had to be left in the mud, and word
came that the ships bearing flour and
other provisions were aground in the
Baltic.
As they rctrcatcd the Russians
burned mills, grain and stores OF all
sorts, The fields were devastated and
the country was as bare as a hone. The
French army was in such straits that
not a few died OF starvation, MANI Of
sickness and some of suicide. And
all this before a battle had been fought.
Without definite campaign plans
and with n much inferior force than
that of its foe the Russian army
nevertheless continued to avoid con-
tlict, partly by strategy and partly hy
luck. De FOLLY rctrrated to Drissa.
scrap!ug the untry as he went of
all on which The French could sub
sist' liagration could not Join him
because Davout's forces stood In his
way waiting to attack the second Rus
sian army retreating before Jerome.