Retreat Begins : From Moscow to Smolensk

Having left Moscow, Napoleon's army was going to go south to Kaluga as they came across Russian troops at Maloyaroslavets on October 24. The battle was short and ended in Napoleon's victory although it left the French far weaker than the Russians. Fearing further casualties, loss of horses and delay, Napoleon abandoned the Kaluga plan and turned west towards Smolensk. He did not know that Kaluga might have been a better option as Kutuzov had retreated further south and left the road uncovered.

On the way to Smolensk the two armies' paths crossed again. Napoleon's troops arrived at Viasma on October 31, and Napoleon pressed on after a few days' rest. Kutuzov's troops caught Napoleon's rear guard led by Davout while further west Ney's men were also attacked.

If Kutuzov had tried harder, he might have ended the campaign at Viasma. Instead, the French were able to march on, harassed only by Cossacks and the worsening weather. The soldiers marched in the darkness, afraid to light a fire as it might catch the attention of the Cossacks. Impacted snow gathered in the horses' hooves made it difficult for the horses to stay upright. Horses and men died from exhaustion and starvation. By the time reached Smolensk, the temperature had fallen to -26 degrees Celsius and the army had shrunk to 41,000 men.

At Smolensk, Napoleon found out that three Russian armies were converging together in the west, trying to bar his escape route. There was no time to lose if they wanted to escape the trap.

(Image from Assollant, p.85)