Page:Life of Napoleon Buonaparte.pdf/15

 at Witepsk on the way to Smolensko in the early part of July. In the march it obtained several victories, and the Russians finding their enemy tool powerful in open contest, contented themselves for the most part in wasting the country, and adding to the severities and operation of the Russian climate upon a southern soldiery. The French army however undauntedly proceeded, until arriving near Moscow on the 10th September, the famous battle of Borodino was fought, so fatal to both parties, and in which 60,000 are supposed to have perished. Napoleon notwithstanding pressed our to Moscow, from which the Russians retreated, as also the greater part of the inhabitants; who abandoned it by order of the governor, count Rostopchin. When therefore Napoleon entered the celebrated capital, four days after the battle, he found it for the greater part deserted and in flames. This strong measure of which Russia possibly deems it impolitie to take the credit, saved the Russian empire, by completely destroying the resources of Napoleon. After remaining thirty-five day's in the ruins of this ancient metropolis, exposed to every species of privation, retreat became necessary, and one of the most striking scenes of human suffering was experienced by the retreating army, ever produced by the unfeeling extravagances of ambition. Hunger, cold, and the sword attended the wretched fugitives all the way to Poland. Detail within these limits would be impossible, it must therefore suffice to add, that arriving at Warsaw on the 10th December, on the 18th of the same month Napoleon entered Paris at night, and on the following day a bulletin, with nu great concealment of their extent, disclosed his immense losses Early the next month he presented to the senate a decree for levying 350,000 men which was unani-