Retreat would prove to be costly. Napoleon's troops had been reduced to 100,000. They were weighed down with the plundered goods of Moscow. Napoleon hoped to avoid returning the same route that he had entered Russia, but the Russian general Kutuzov cut him off at Malo-Jaroslavetz. Later that night, Napoleon wanted to ride out and find the Russians for himself. As he was setting out shortly before dawn the French contingent discovered a cossack party in the midst of the French bivouac. The cossacks were routed but the surprise raid created even lower morale.