the war-ministry at St. Petersburg, and
Kutusoff, who assumed the command in his stead, was supposed to doubt
whether the system of retreat had not been far enough persisted in. The
new general at length resolved to comply with the clamorous entreaties
of his troops, and fixed on a strong position between Borodino and
Moskwa, on the high road to Moscow, where he determined to await the
attack of Napoleon. It was at Gjatz that the Emperor was informed of
Kutusoff's arrival, and of the universal belief that the Czar had at
length consented to run the hazard of a great battle. A little further
on a Russian officer, on some pretext, appeared with a flag of truce;
his real errand being, no doubt, to witness the state of the invader's
camp. Being brought into Napoleon's presence this man was asked, "What
he should find between Viasma and Moscow?" He answered, "Pultowa."

On the 5th of September, Napoleon came in sight of the position of
Kutusoff, and succeeded in carrying a redoubt in front of it. All the
6th the two armies lay in presence of each other, preparing for the
contest. The Russians were posted on an elevated plain; having a wood on
their right flank, their left on one of the villages, and a deep ravine,
the bed of a small stream, in their front. Extensive field-works covered
every more accessible point of this naturally very strong ground; and in
the centre of the whole line, a gentle eminence was crowned by an
enormous battery, serving as a species of citadel. The Russian army were
120,000 in numbers; nor had Napoleon a greater force in readiness for
his attack. In artillery also the armies were equal. It is supposed that
each had 500 guns in the field. Buonaparte addressed his troops in his
usual style of language: "Soldiers! here is the battle you have longed
for; it is necessary, for it brings us plenty, good winter-quarters, and
a safe return to France. Behave yourselves so that posterity may say of
each of you, _He was in that great battle beneath the walls of Moscow._"

In the Russian camp, meanwhile, the clergy appeared in their richest
vestments, and displaying their holiest images, called on the men to
merit Paradise by devoting themselves in the cause of their country. The
soldiers answered with shouts which were audible throughout all the
enemy's lines.

At four o'clock in the morning of the 7th, the French advanced under
cover of a thick fog, and assaulted at once the centre, the right, and
the lef