TheFrenchsoldierswenttokillandbekilledatthebattleofBorodinonotbecauseofNapoleon'—French, Italian, German, Polish, andDutch—hungry, ragged, andwearyofthecampaign, , theywouldhavekilledhimandhaveproceededtofighttheRussiansbecauseitwasinevitable.
WhentheyheardNapoleon'sproclamationofferingthem, ascompensationformutilationanddeath, thewordsofposterityabouttheirhavingbeeninthebattlebeforeMoscow, theycried "Vivel'Empereur!" justastheyhadcried "Vivel'Empereur!" atthesightoftheportraitoftheboypiercingtheterrestrialglobewithatoystick, andjustastheywouldhavecried "Vivel'Empereur!" "Vivel'Empereur!" andgotofight, 'scommandsthattheykilledtheirfellowmen.
AnditwasnotNapoleonwhodirectedthecourseofthebattle, 'swillbutoccurredindependentlyofhim, .
Moreover, theassertionmadebyvariouswritersthathiscoldwasthecauseofhisdispositionsnotbeingaswell-plannedasonformeroccasions, andofhisordersduringthebattlenotbeingasgoodaspreviously, isquitebaseless, whichagainshowsthatNapoleon'scoldonthetwenty-sixthofAugustwasunimportant.
Thedispositionscitedabovearenotatallworse, butareevenbetter, -ordersduringthebattlewerealsonoworsethanformerly, , andeverylearnedmilitaristcriticizesthemwithlooksofimportance, whentheyrelatetoabattlethathasbeenlost, andtheveryworstdispositionsandordersseemverygood, andseriouspeoplefillwholevolumestodemonstratetheirmerits, whentheyrelatetoabattlethathasbeenwon.
ThedispositionsdrawnupbyWeyrotherforthebattleofAusterlitzwereamodelofperfectionforthatkindofcomposition, butstilltheywerecriticized—criticizedfortheirveryperfection, fortheirexcessiveminuteness.
NapoleonatthebattleofBorodinofulfilledhisofficeasrepresentativeofauthorityaswellas, andevenbetterthan, ; heinclinedtothemostreasonableopinions, hemadenoconfusion, didnotcontradicthimself, didnotgetfrightenedorrunawayfromthefieldofbattle, butwithhisgreattactandmilitaryexperiencecarriedouthisroleofappearingtocommand, calmlyandwithdignity.
