LIS 385T.16 - Fall 1997: The Napoleon Project
User-System Interface Design Course
Smolensk
History recounts that before a single battle was even fought on Russian
soil, the Napoleonic troops were ill-equipped for a major campaign.
According to Caulaincourt, as early as late July, many of Napoleon's horses
were dying along the trail. When informed of the difficulties that were arising,
"his Majesty did not care for reflections that ran counter to his projects and lent a deaf
ear (p.63)." Crucial supplies were stolen or lost, spare parts were unavailable to
make necessary repairs, and morale was low. Napoleon focused on any minor incident
that whispered success but ignored the major catastrophes that screamed otherwise.
"A dead enemy always smells sweet." Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon was anxious for a major battle that he felt would deliver Russia over
to him. Initially, he felt that Smolensk would be that town. He met fierce and
heroic resistance there. But the Russians
made a strategic retreat from the town setting it on fire and leaving few supplies and
only a handful of people. Napoleon was sure that he had the Russian troops on
the run and that it would only be a matter of time.
March Through Russia (Image Map):
The advance: Niemen River | Kovno | Vitebsk | Smolensk | Borodino | Moscow |
The retreat: Malo-Jaroslavetz | Orsha | Berezina | Smorgoni |