| Napoleon entered a largely deserted Moscow. The Russian
commander in chief, Gen. M.I. Kutuzov, had evacuated troops and civilians
from the city. A fire broke out and spread rapidly, eventually destroying
more than two-thirds of all the buildings. Looting was rife. The lack of
supplies and shelter and continual harassment by Russian skirmishing forces
made it impossible for Napoleon to winter in Moscow, and Alexander did
not sue for peace. On October 19 the French troops began their catastrophic
retreat. Kutuzov, through brilliant strategy and with the aid of heroic
partisans, pursued the enemy and drove him from the country. |
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