"Not one sick soldier or straggler, not a single courier or convoy, was lost in this campaign from Mentz to Moscow."
--Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812
As the Russians neared Borodino where they were to halt their retreat, the French kept chasing. Passing through Gzatsk the Russians absorbed reserves, totaling 15,589 men.
French army arrived in Gzatsk on September 1 1812. The town was quickly occupied.
The Russians had stripped the area of all the resources. There was meat but no salt, there was flour but no bread, and a general lack of water. The temperatures were around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The French army which numbered 149,075 at Smolensk was down to 133,819.
Napoleon and the French army remained in Gzatsk until September 4 1812.