ABSTRACT
The campaign falls naturally into two divisions: that which preceded the retreat of the French, and that retreat. The advance of the French, the campaign up to the period of abandoning Moscow, falls again into two divisions. The first comprehends the movements of the French, having for their object the separation and cutting off of the Russians, and the Russian march for the junction of their forces. These movements terminate at the beginning of August in the neighbourhood of Witebsk and Orsza for the French, and for the Russians at Smolensko. The second division includes, simply, the entire advance to Moscow. On September 14th the Russian army passed through Moscow, and the French entered it at the end of a march of 50 miles from Smolensko performed in 27 days. Napoleon Buonaparte had set his army in motion the 18th October from Moscow, which he left himself the 19th, Mortier alone remaining there with the young guard.
