The Weight of Victory's End — War and Peace

The French army melted at a steady rate. The Berezina crossing, so much written about, was only one stage, not the decisive episode. On the French side it remains in memory because calamity concentrated at a broken bridge into a tragic spectacle. On the Russian side Petersburg, far from the war, had devised another of Pfuel's traps. Figures show Krasnoe cost more in guns and men. The crossing's real importance, Tolstoy says, is that it proved the fallacy of cutting off a retreat and the soundness of Kutuzov's line: simply follow. The French fled like a wounded animal. When the bridges broke, unarmed soldiers, people from Moscow, and women with children pressed into boats and ice-covered water rather than surrender. Half the prisoners already taken were dying of cold and hunger despite captors who wished to save them. Certain destruction lay behind; hope lay in front.

The farther they fled after the Berezina, the keener grew the passions of Russian commanders who blamed one another and Kutuzov most of all. They reported to him as a regrettable formality, winked behind his back, and treated his talk of a golden bridge, boots, and provisions as the phrases of a stupid old man. After the junction with Wittgenstein the gossip reached its height. Only once did Kutuzov get angry: he sent Bennigsen to Kaluga to await the Emperor's pleasure. Then the Grand Duke Constantine arrived with news of imperial displeasure at slow success. The old man who had been chosen against the sovereign's wish, who had removed the heir and abandoned Moscow on his own authority, understood at once that his day was over. The military business was ended. His aged body needed rest.

On the twenty-ninth of November he entered Vilna, his dear Vilna, a wealthy town uninjured, full of old friends and comforts long denied. He turned from army and state as far as the seething passions allowed. Chichagov met him with a garrison report and the keys, in the contemptuously respectful manner of younger men toward an old man in his dotage. Kutuzov mentioned recovered china from Borisov; Chichagov flared as if accused of having nothing to eat from. Contrary to the Emperor's wish, Kutuzov detained most of the army. Alexander arrived on the eleventh of December, embraced the old man, then in private criticised the slowness, Krasnoe, and the Berezina, and spoke of a campaign abroad. Kutuzov's face took on the submissive, expressionless look of Austerlitz. Crossing the ballroom he was stopped: a silver salver held the Order of St. George of the First Class. He seemed not to understand, then smiled scarcely, bowed, and took it.