Moscow

"If Moscow had not been burnt, the Emperor Alexander would have been compelled to make peace."

       --Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812

"We never suffered such losses. never had the army's morale been so damaged. I no longer found the soldiers' old gaiety. A gloomy silence has replaced the songs and amusing stories which previously had helped them forget the fatigues of the long marches. Even the officers appeared anxious, and they continued serving only from a sense of duty and honor. This depression, natural in a defeated army, was remarkable after a decisive action, after a victory which opened to us the gates of Moscow."

       --Colonel Fezensac on the state of the French army after Borodino

The Russians had withdrawn to Moscow unsure to do what next. Kutuzov did not want to hand over Moscow to the French without any sort of resistance. He thought this would be utmost disgraceful of him. A meeting was called and all commanders were present except for one who was in charge of the rearguard. The Russians had 70,000 men against napoleon's 100,000. The council of war quite divided due to the shame and honor involved in the different possible tactics. Kutuzov finally decided to call for a retreat.

"You are afraid of falling back through Moscow, but I consider it the only way of saving the army. Napoleon is a torrent which we are as yet unable to stem. Moscow will be the sponge that will suck him dry."

       --Russian Commander Kutuzov 1812

At the time Moscow was quite a sizable city with a total inhabitant of 250,000. The city spread over large stretches of land with a mixture of palaces, rich homes, single storey cabins and huge bazaars. Moscow had six cathedrals and 1,500 churches, all of which were special due to their outlandish designs and unique architectural style. Although the denizens of Moscow were Francophile until 1812, and spoke French and watched French operas, they displayed a great sense of national pride in 1812 and left their homes.

Only 25,00 people had remained by the French arrived at Moscow. Napoleon entered Moscow on 14 September 1812.

Although the army had strict orders against pillage, the men could not be controlled and they forced themselves into the palaces and rich houses. Some time after Napoleon's arrival in Moscow some fires started to show up in various locations in the city. At first these were though to be accidents but when the fires started swallowing large parts of the city, it was obvious that the Russian army was setting fire to the city to avoid the French raiding on the riches.

The fires spread to such extent that napoleon hardly escaped the torched city. The fire lasted from 15 to 18 September. Four fifths of the city burned down and the rest was saved by a sudden change of direction of wind and a following shower. Kremlin was saved since it stood above the city and the guards remaining in Kremlin extinguished and threatening fires nearby.

Napoleon experienced probably the most frustrating moments of his campaign at this time when his prize was taken away from him. Now that the city had burned down, there was not much left behind for the hope of establishing peace with Russia. The Russians had clearly indicated that they just did not want the French in the precious Russian land by going as far as destroying a large city.

Although Napoleon considered several quite far fetched scenarios, he finally decided to go back to Paris. He first wanted to march to St. Petersburg, almost 350 miles away from Moscow. His generals told Napoleon that such a march was impossible due to the condition of the army after Smolensk and Borodino. There was the option of staying in Moscow until spring and then returning to Paris. The problem with staying in Moscow was that the capital of Napoleon's empire would not hear from him for another six months and this absence of authority could have drastic results. Finally Napoleon decided to march to Kaluga, a city to the south of Moscow.

Napoleon left Moscow on 19 October 1812 with 87,500 infantry, 14,750 cavalry and 533 guns with a trail of some 40,000 carriages and wagons.