and after sustaining the
contest gallantly against very disproportionate numbers, and a terrible
cannonade, was at length saved only by the fall of night. During the
darkness, the Viceroy executed a long and hazardous _detour_, and joined
the Emperor in Krasnoi, on the 17th. On this night-march they fell in
with the videttes of another of Kutusoff's columns, and owed their
preservation to the quickness of a Polish soldier, who answered the
challenge in Russian. The loss, however, had been severe; the two
leading divisions, now united in Krasnoi, mustered scarcely 15,000.

Napoleon was most anxious to secure the passage of the Dnieper at Liady,
and immediately gave Eugene the command of the van, with orders to march
on this point; but he was warned by the losses which his son-in-law had
undergone, of the absolute necessity of waiting at Krasnoi until Davoust
and Ney should be able to come up with him. He determined, therefore, to
abide, with 6000 of the guard, and another corps of 5000, whatever
numbers Kutusoff might please to bring against him. He drew his sword,
and said, "I have long enough played the Emperor--I must be the general
once more."

In vain was Kutusoff urged to seize this opportunity of pouring an
irresistible force on the French position. The veteran commanded a
cannonade--and, as he had 100 pieces of artillery well placed, the ranks
of the enemy were thinned considerably. But, excepting one or two
isolated charges of cavalry, he adventured on no closer collision; and
Napoleon held his ground, in face of all that host, until nightfall,
when Davoust's division, surrounded and pursued by innumerable Cossacks,
at length were enabled to rally once more around his headquarters.

He had the mortification to learn, however, that Ney was probably still
in Smolensko, and that a Russian force had marched on towards Liady,
with the design of again intercepting Eugene. The Emperor, therefore,
once more divided his numbers--pushed on in person to support
Beauharnois and secure Liady--and left Davoust and Mortier to hold out
as long as possible at Krasnoi, in the hope of being there joined by
Ney. Long, however, before that gallant chief could reach this point,
the Russians, as if the absence of Napoleon had at once restored all
their energy, rushed down and forced on Davoust and Mortier, the battle
which the Emperor had in vain solicited. On that fatal field the French
left forty-five cannon and 6000 prisoners, be