The Advance to Moscow
On June 24, 1812, over 420,000 Imperial troops crossed the Niemen River into Russia, on their way to lay siege to Moscow. Napoleon's intent in this campaign was to force Russia into complying with the previously-signed treaty of Tilsit, which in part imposed a strict embargo against Britain. It was a calculated gamble on Napoleon's part, and was certainly not intended as the debacle it became. The Imperial army was much larger than their Russian counterpart, better trained, and more experienced. What was unexpected was the policy taken by the Russian general Kuzutov, Czar Alexander's commander in chief. Rather than engage the French in direct combat, Kuzutov's tactic was to repeatedly avoid full-scale battles and instead harass Napoleon's supply lines. Further, he instituted a "scorched earth" policy of burning villages and fields as they were taken, leaving little forage for the invading French.
By the end of July the French had advanced far into Russia, taking the villages of Kovno, Vilna, and Vitebsk with little resistance. Arriving in Smolensk on August 16, 1812 Sgt. Bourgogne's unit found the buildings in flames, and a slight resistance from the Russian army.
"Early on the morning of the 16th we arrived before Smolensk. The enemy had just retreated there, and we took up our position on the Holy Field, so called by the natives of the place...The siege was begun at once and a breach made, and on the morning of the 17th, when we were preparing to make an assault, to our surprise we found the town evacuated" (Bourgogne, p 12).
Continuing to advance, the Imperial troops took the villages of Dorogobuzh and Vyazma, and on to Moscow where they hoped to quarter for the winter. Kuzutov's tactics were taking a heavy toll on Napoleon's army, and fewer than 100,000 men had survived the march. Lack of food was their worst enemy, and it was expected that Moscow would provide a source of badly-needed supplies and shelter from the coming cold. Of the days just before reaching Moscow Bourgogne writes:
"...a Polish servant, whose master was on the Emperor's staff, passed near us, leading a horse laden with baggage. The horse was worn out, sank down, and refused to get up again. The servant took the baggage and went off. He had hardly left us when the men, who were hungry, killed the horse, so that all night we were busy eating it and cooking for the next day.
Soon afterwards the Emperor passed on foot...The Emperor stopped in front of us, and near the horse, which blocked the road. He asked me if we were eating it.
I replied, 'Yes.'
He smiled and said, 'Patience! In four days we shall be at Moscow, where you will have rest and proper food--however good that horse may be'"(Bourgogne, pp 15-16).
The siege of Moscow did indeed begin four days later.
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Document last reviewed September 27, 1997
Comments to: Lori Eichelberger