ged with the French at Vitepsk; and, though Napoleon's bulletins
announced three splendid victories, the result was that the Russians
left their position in admirable order, and retired altogether
unmolested on the proposed point of junction. Meantime Regnier, on the
right wing, and Oudinot, on the left, were defeated; the former by
Tormazoff, the latter by Witgenstein, both with severe loss. The Emperor
halted at Vitepsk for several days; "his troops," as the bulletins
admitted, "requiring refreshment." The Russian plan of defence was
already ascertained--and alarming. The country was laid utterly desolate
wherever they retired; every village was burned ere they quitted it: the
enthusiastic peasantry withdrew with the army and swelled its ranks.

Napoleon quitted Vitepsk on the 8th of August, and after a partial
engagement at Krasnoi on the 14th, came in sight of Smolensko, on the
16th. The first and second armies of the Czar (Bagrathion having at
length effected his junction with Barclay), lay behind the river which
flows at the back of this town; but it was occupied in great force.
Three times did Buonaparte attack it, and three times he was repulsed.
During the night the garrison withdrew, and joined the army across the
river--but before they went they committed the city to the flames, and,
the buildings being chiefly of wood, the conflagration, according to the
French bulletin, "resembled in its fury an eruption of Vesuvius."
"Never" (continues the same bulletin) "was war conducted with such
inhumanity: the Russians treat their own country as if it were that of
an enemy." Such was indeed their resolution. They had no desire that the
invader should establish himself in winter quarters at Smolensko. With
the exception of some trivial skirmishes, they retreated unmolested from
Smolensko to Dorogobuz, and thence on Viasma; halting at each of these
towns, and deliberately burning them in the face of the enemy.

It now, however, began to be difficult in the extreme to prevail on the
Russian soldiery to continue their retreat. They had consented to retire
in the beginning solely because they were assured that such was the will
of their _Father_--as they affectionately call their sovereign; but
reinforcements were now joining them daily from the interior, and the
skirmishes which had occurred had so inflamed their spirits, that it
seemed impossible to restrain them much longer. At this period also,
Barclay was appointed to