| On the morning of August 16., Napoleon began the bombardement
of Smolensk, and soon launched the first assault. All day the battle raged,
with occasional lulls. The battle was resumed on August 17. and an almost
unceasing exchange of artillery fire went on for 13 hours - until 5 o'clock
that afternoon. At that hour all the suburbs were enveloped in flames,
and soon various sections of the city itslef were burning. On the night
of August 17 - 18 the cannonade and fires grew in intensity. In the middle
of the night the Russian guns suddenly ceased firing; and shortly afterward
the French heard explosions of tremendous force: the army had blown up
its powder magazines and were evacuating the city. Once more the Russian
army had slipped from Napoleon's hands!
The Napoleon army also went by Smolensk on their way back. The city was all burned out and they found no adequate shelter from the increasing cold nor could they find any food. The soldiers were unacoustomed to the snow which was falling heavily. |
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| Map | Background | Borodino | Moscow | Berezina | The end | About the map | Napoleon | Alexander | War and Peace | Tempera- ture |
