settled on
his mind ever since he beheld the flames of Moscow.

At daybreak he passed the Louja with a few attendants, for the purpose
of reconnoitring Kutusoff's position. He had scarcely crossed the
bridge, when a party of Platoff's Cossacks, galloping furiously, and
sweeping some scattered companies of the French before them, came full
upon the Emperor and his suite. Napoleon was urged to seek safety in
flight; but he drew his sword and took post on the bank by the way-side.
The wild spearmen, intent on booty, plunged on immediately below him,
and, after stripping some soldiers, retired again at full speed to their
Pulk, without having observed the inestimable prize. The Emperor watched
their retreat, and continued his reconnaissance. It satisfied him that
Davoust had judged rightly.

He made another effort to force a passage southwards at Medyn; but here
also he was repelled, and forced to abandon the attempt. Meantime the
army which had occupied Moscow begun to send forth its Cossacks on his
rear. In a word, it became apparent that if the retreat were to be
urged, it must now be in the direction of Verreia and Smolensko; that
is, through the same provinces which had been entirely wasted in the
earlier part of the campaign.

Kutusoff, whether merely overpowered for the moment with that vague
sentiment which Buonaparte's name had hitherto been accustomed to
inspire, or that he knew of a still better position nearer Kalouga, was,
in fact, retiring from his strong ground behind Malo-Yaraslovetz, at the
moment when the French began to break up from the Louja. No sooner,
however, was that movement known, than the Russian penetrated the extent
of his adversary's embarrassments; and Platoff, with the Cossacks,
received orders to hang close on the French rear--while Milarodowitch,
with 18,000 men, pushed directly on Viasma; and the main army taking a
parallel, and a shorter, though less practicable route, marched also
with the view of watching the retreat on Smolensko.

As Buonaparte was about to leave Verreia, General Witzingerode was
brought a prisoner into his presence. This officer had advanced to the
Kremlin, ere it was abandoned, with a flag of truce, for the purpose of
entering into some arrangements concerning the French wounded; and it is
to be supposed, of dissuading the departing garrison from destroying the
citadel. He was, however, placed instantly under arrest, and hurried
away with the enemy's march. Nap