carry out。 After passing through Borodino the viceroy was beaten back at the Kolotcha； and could advance no further。 The divisions of Morand and Friant did not take the redoubt； but were driven back； and at the end of the day the redoubt was captured by cavalry （in an action probably unforeseen by Napoleon； and not heard of by him）。
And not one of the instructions given was； or could be； carried into effect。 But in the disposition was the statement； that after the battle had begun； further instructions would be given in accordance with the enemy’s movements； and so it might be supposed that all necessary instructions had been given by Napoleon during the battle。 But this was not； and could not be； the case； because； during the whole battle Napoleon was so far from the scene of action that （as it turned out later） he knew nothing of the course of the battle； and not a single instruction given by him during the fight could possibly be executed。
Chapter 28
MANY HISTORIANS assert that the French failed at Borodino because Napoleon had a cold in his head； that if he had not had a cold the orders given by him before and during the battle would have been even more remarkable for their genius； and Russia would have been lost and the face of the world would have been changed。 To historians； who can maintain that Russia was transformed at the will of one man—Peter the Great—and that France； from a republic； became an empire； and that the French army marched into Russia at the will of one man—Napoleon—the conclusion that Russia has remained a power because Napoleon had a bad cold on the 26th of August may seem indisputable and convincing。 Had it depended on Napoleon’s will to fight； or not to fight； at Borodino； or had it depended on his will whether he gave this order or that； it is evident that a cold； affecting the manifestation of his will； might be the saving of Russia； and consequently the valet； who forgot to put on Napoleon’s waterproof boots on the 24th； would be the saviour of Russia。 On that method of reasoning such a deduction is inevitable； as inevitable as the contention which Voltaire maintains in jest （unconscious what he was ridiculing） that the Massacre of St。 Bartholomew was due to an attack of dyspepsia from which Charles IX was suffering。 But for minds that cannot admit that Russia was transformed at the will of one man—Peter the Great—and the French empire was created； and the war with Russia begun； at the will of one man—Napoleon—such a contention will seem not merely unsound and irrational； but contrary to the whole nature of humanity。 The question； What constitutes the cause of historical events？ will suggest to them another answer； resting on the idea that the course of earthly events is predestined from on high； depends on the combination of all the wills of the men taking part in those events； and that the predominant influence of Napoleon in those events is purely external and fictitious。
Strange at first sight as appears the proposition that the Massacre of St。 Bartholomew； the order for which was given by Charles IX。； was not the result of his will； and that it was only in his fancy that the command he had given was the cause of it； and that the Borodino slaughter of eighty thousand men was not due to Napoleon’s will （though he gave the order for the commencement of the battle）； and that it was only his fancy that it was his doing； strange as this proposition appears； yet human dignity； that tells us that every one of us is neither more nor less a man than Napoleon； bids us admit that solution of the question； and historical researches abundantly confirm the proposition。
At the battle of Borodino Napoleon did not fire at any one； nor kill any one。 All that was done by his soldiers。 Therefore it was not he who killed those men。 The soldiers of the French army went out to slay their fellow…men at Borodino； not owing to Napoleon’s commands； but through their own desire to do so。 The whole army—French； Italians； Germans； Poles—hungry； ragged； and exhausted by the march； felt at the sight of an army； barring their way to Moscow： the wine is drawn； it must be drunk。 Had Napoleon forbidden them at that point to fight the Russians； they would have killed him； and have proceeded to fight the Russians； because it was inevitable for them。
When they heard Napoleon’s proclamation； offering them as consolation for maiming and death the reminder that posterity would say that they had been at the battle before Moscow； they shouted； “Vive l’Empereur；” just as they shouted “Vive l’Empereur” at the sight of the picture of the little boy playing cup and ball with the earth； and just as they shouted “Vive l’Empereur” at every absurdity that was said。 There was nothing left for them to do but to shout “Vive l’Empereur！” and to fight so as to get food and rest as conquerors in Moscow。 Therefore it was not owing to Napoleon’s commands that they killed their fellow…men。
And it was not Napoleon who ordained the course of the battle； because none of his instructions were put into execution； and he knew nothing of what was passing before him。 Therefore the manner in which these men slaughtered one another did not depend on Napoleon’s will； but proceeded independently of him； from the wills of the hundreds of thousands of men who took part in the affair。 It only seemed to Napoleon that all this was due to his will。 And therefore the question whether Napoleon had or had not a cold in his head is of no more interest to history than the cold of the lowest soldier of the commissariat。
The contention of some writers； that Napoleon’s cold was the reason of his previous instructions and commands during the battle being weaker than usual； is completely groundless。
The instructions that have been reproduced here are by no means inferior； are indeed superior； to many similar arrangements by which he had gained victories in the past。 His supposed instructions during the day were also in no way inferior to the commands he had given in previous battles； but were much the same as usual。 But these instructions are supposed to be inferior； simply because Borodino was the first battle in which Napoleon was not victorious。 The finest and profoundest combinations seem very poor； and every military student can criticise them with a consequential air； when the battle has not been won by means of them； and the stupidest combinations will seem exceedingly ingenious； and serious writers will fill volumes in proving their excellence； when the battle that followed chances to have been a victory。
The plan composed by Weierother at Austerlitz was a model of perfection in its own line； but it has yet been condemned； and condemned for its very perfection； for its over…minuteness in detail。
At Borodino Napoleon played his part as the representative of supreme power as well； or even better； than he had done at previous battles。 He did nothing likely to hinder the progress of the battle； he yielded to the most sensible advice； he was not confused； did not contradict himself； did not lose his presence of mind； nor run away from the field of battle； but with his great tact and military experience； he performed calmly and with dignity his role of appearing to be in supreme control of it all。
Chapter 29
ON RETURNING from a second careful inspection of the lines； Napoleon said：
“The pieces are on the board； the game will begin to…morrow。”
He ordered some punch； and sending for Beausset began talking of Paris with him； discussing various changes he intended to make in the Empress’s household； and surprising the prefect by his memory of the minutest details of court affairs。
He showed interest in trifles； jested at Beausset’s love of travel； and chatted carelessly； as some renowned； skilful and confident surgeon will often chat playfully while he tucks up his sleeves and puts on his apron； and the patient is being bound down on the operating…table。 “I have the whole business at my finger…tips； and it’s all clear and definite in my head。 When I have to set to work； I will do it as no one else could； but now I can jest； and the more serenely I jest the more calm and confidence and admiration for my genius you ought to feel。”
After emptying a second glass of punch； Napoleon went to seek repose before the grave business which； as he imagined； lay before him next day。
He was so preoccupied with what lay before him that he could not sleep； and in spite of his cold； which got worse with the damp of evening； he got up at three o’clock； and went out into the principal compartment of the tent； sneezing violently。 He asked whether the Russians had not retreated。 He was told that the enemy’s fires were still in the same places。 He nodded approval。
The adjutant on duty came into the tent。
“Well； Rapp； do you think we shall do good business to…day？” he said to him。
“Without doubt； sire！” answered Rapp。
Napoleon looked at him。
“Do you remember what you did me the honour to say at Smolensk？” said Rapp： “the wine is drawn； it must be drunk。”
Napoleon frowned； and sat for a long while in silence； his head in his hand。
“This poor army； it has greatly diminished since Smolensk。 La fortune est une franche courtisane； Rapp。 I have always said so； and I begin to feel it； but the Guard； Rapp； the Guard is intact？” he said inquiringly。
“Yes； sire；” replied Rapp。
Napoleon took a lozenge； put it in his mouth； and looked at his watch。 He was not sleepy； and morning was still far off； and there were no instructions to be drawn up to get through the time； for all had been already given； and were even now being put into execution。
“Have the biscuits and the rice been distributed to the regiments of the Guard？” Napoleon asked severely。
“Yes； sire。”
“The rice； too？”
Rapp answered that he had given the Emperor’s orders about the rice； but Napoleon shook his head with a dissatisfied air； as though he doubted whether his command had been carried out。 A servant came in with punch。 Napoleon ordered another glass for Rapp； and took a few sips from his own in silence。 “I have neither taste nor smell；” he said； sniffing at the glass。 “I am sick of this cold。 They talk about medicine。 What is medicine； when they can’t cure a cold？