The fact shows perfectly clearly that Napoleon foresaw no danger in the advance on Moscow； and that Alexander and the Russian generals did not dream at the time of luring Napoleon on； but aimed at the very opposite。 Napoleon was drawn on into Russia； not through any plans—no one dreamed of the possibility of it—but simply through the complex play of intrigues and desires and motives of the actors in the war； who had no conception of what was to come and of what was the sole means of saving Russia。 Everything came to pass by chance。 The army was split up early in the campaign。 We tried to effect a junction between the parts with the obvious intention of fighting a battle and checking the enemy’s advance； and in this effort to effect a junction； avoiding a battle with a far stronger enemy； we were forced to retreat at an acute angle； and so drew the French after us to Smolensk。 But it is not enough to say that both parts of the army retreated on lines inclined at an acute angle； because the French were advancing between the two armies。 The angle was made the more acute and we retreated further because Barclay de Tolly； an unpopular German； was detested by Bagration； and the latter； in command of the second half of the army； did his utmost to delay a junction with Barclay de Tolly in order to avoid being under his command。 Bagration delayed the junction of the armies； though this was the chief aim of all the authorities； because he believed that he would expose his army to danger on the march； and that it would be more advantageous for him to retreat more to the left and the south； annoying the enemy on the flank and rear； and reinforcing his army in Ukraine。 And he believed this； because he did not want to put himself under the command of the German Barclay； who was his junior in the service； and personally disliked by him。
The Emperor accompanied the army in order to excite its patriotic ardour； but his presence and inability to decide on any course of action and the immense number of counsellors and plans that swarmed about him； nullified all action on the part of the first army； and that army too had to retreat。
At the camp at Drissa it was proposed to take a stand。 But the energy of Paulucci； scheming to become a leading general； affected Alexander； and Pfuhl’s whole plan was abandoned； and the scheme of campaign intrusted to Barclay。 But as the latter did not inspire complete confidence； his power too was limited。 The armies were split up； there was no unity； no supreme command： Barclay was unpopular。 But on one side the confusion and division and unpopularity of the German commander…in…chief led to vacillation and to avoiding a battle； which would have been inevitable had the armies been united and any one but Barclay in command of them。 And on the other hand； it all led to a growing indignation with the Germans and a growing fervour of patriotism。
At last the Tsar left the army； and； as the only suitable excuse to get rid of him； the happy suggestion was made that he must rouse up the people in the capitals to wage the war on a truly national scale。 And the Tsar’s visit to Moscow did in fact treble the forces of the Russian army。 The Tsar left the army in the hope that the commander…in…chief would be able to act alone； and that more decisive measures would be taken。 But the commander’s position became weaker and even more difficult。 Bennigsen； the Grand Duke； and a swarm of adjutant generals； remained with the army to watch over the actions of the commander…in…chief； and to urge him to greater activity； and Barclay； feeling less than ever free to act under the watchful gaze of all these “eyes of the Tsar；” became still more cautious and anxious to avoid a pitched battle； and clung to a prudent inaction。 The Grand Duke hinted at treachery； and demanded a general engagement。 Lubomirsky； Bronnitsky； Vlotsky； and others of the same sort； helped to swell the clamour to such a point that Barclay； on the pretext of sending papers to the Tsar in Petersburg； got rid of the Polish generals； and entered into open conflict with Bennigsen and the Grand Duke。
In Smolensk； in spite of Bagration’s wishes to the contrary； the armies were at last united。
Bagration drove up in his carriage to the house occupied by Barclay。 Barclay put on his official scarf； and came out to greet and to present his report to his senior officer； Bagration。 Bagration； to rival his magnanimity； acknowledged Barclay as his superior officer； in spite of his own seniority； but he was less in accord with him than ever。 At the Tsar’s command； he sent reports personally to him； and wrote to Araktcheev： “My sovereign’s will is law； but I can do nothing acting with the minister” （so he called Barclay）。 “For God’s sake； send me somewhere else； if only in command of a regiment； for here I can do nothing。 The head…quarters are crammed full of Germans； there’s no living here for a Russian； and no making head or tail of anything。 I supposed I was serving my sovereign and my country； but in practice it comes to serving Barclay。 I must own I do not care to。”
The swarm of Bronnitskys； Wintzengerodes； and others like them； embittered the feud between the commanders still further； and there was less unity than ever。 Preparations were made to attack the French before Smolensk。 A general was sent to review the position。 This general； detesting Barclay； visits a friend of his own； a commander of a corps； and after spending the day with him； returns and condemns on every point the proposed field of battle without having seen it。
While disputes and intrigues were going on as to the suitable spot for a battle； and while we were looking for the French and mistaking their line of advance； the French fell upon Nevyerovsky’s division； and advanced upon the walls of Smolensk itself。
We were surprised into having to fight at Smolensk to save our communications。 A battle was fought。 Thousands were slain on both sides。
Smolensk was abandoned against the will of the Tsar and the whole people。 But Smolensk was burnt by its own inhabitants； who had been deceived by their governor。 And those ruined inhabitants； after setting an example to the rest of Russia； full of their losses； and burning with hatred of the enemy； moved on to Moscow。 Napoleon advances； we retreat； and so the very result is attained that is destined to overthrow Napoleon。
Chapter 2
THE DAY after his son’s departure； Prince Nikolay Andreitch sent for Princess Marya。
“Well； now are you satisfied？” he said to her。 “You have made me quarrel with my son！ Are you satisfied？ That was all you wanted！ Satisfied？ … It’s a grief to me； a grief。 I’m old and weak； and it was your wish。 Well； now； rejoice over it。 …” And after that； Princess Marya did not see her father again for a week。 He was ill and did not leave his study。
Princess Marya noticed to her surprise that during this illness the old prince excluded Mademoiselle Bourienne too from his room。 Tihon was the only person who looked after him。
A week later the prince reappeared； and began to lead the same life as before； showing marked energy in the laying out of farm buildings and gardens； and completely breaking off all relations with Mademoiselle Bourienne。 His frigid tone and air with Princess Marya seemed to say： “You see； you plotted against me； told lies to Prince Andrey of my relations with that Frenchwoman； and made me quarrel with him； but you see I can do without you； and without the Frenchwoman too。”
One half of the day Princess Marya spent with Nikolushka； giving him his Russian lessons； following his other lessons； and talking to Dessalle。 The rest of the day she spent in reading； or with her old nurse and “God’s folk；” who came by the back stairs sometimes to visit her。 The war Princess Marya looked on as women do look on war。 She was apprehensive for her brother who was at the front； and was horrified； without understanding it； at the cruelty of men； that led them to kill one another。 But she had no notion of the significance of this war； which seemed to her exactly like all the preceding wars。 She had no notion of the meaning of this war； although Dessalle； who was her constant companion； was passionately interested in the course of the war； and tried to explain his views on the subject to her； and although “God’s folk” all； with terror； told her in their own way of the rumours among the peasantry of the coming of Antichrist； and although Julie； now Princess Drubetskoy； who had renewed her correspondence with her； was continually writing her patriotic letters from Moscow。
“I write to you in Russian； my sweet friend；” Julie wrote； “because I feel a hatred for all the French and for their language too； I can’t bear to hear it spoken。 … In Moscow we are all wild with enthusiasm for our adored Emperor。
“My poor husband is enduring hardships and hunger in wretched Jewish taverns； but the news I get from him only increases my ardour。
“You have doubtless heard of the heroic action of Raevsky； who embraced his two sons and said； ‘We will die together； but we will not flinch！’ And though the enemy were twice as strong； we did not in fact flinch。 We kill time here as best we can； but in war； as in war。 Princess Alina and Sophie spend whole days with me； and we； unhappy windows of living husbands； have delightful talks over scraping lint。 We only want you； my darling； to make us complete；” etc。； etc。
The principal reason why Princess Marya failed to grasp the significance of the war was that the old prince never spoke of it； refused to recognize its existence； and laughed at Dessalle when he mentioned the war at dinner…time。 The prince’s tone was so calm and confident that Princess Marya put implicit faith in him。
During the whole of July the old prince was excessively active and even lively。 He laid out another new garden and a new wing for the servants。 The only thing that made Princess Marya anxious about him was that he slept badly； and gave up his old habit of sleeping in his study； and had a bed made up for him in a new place every day。 One night he would have his travelling bedstead set up in the gallery； the next night he would spend dozing dressed on the sofa or in the lounge…chair in the drawing…room； while the lad