Themoanofthatwoundedbeast (theFrencharmy) whichbetrayeditscalamitousconditionwasthesendingofLauristontoKutuzov'scampwithoverturesforpeace.
Napoleon, withhisusualassurancethatwhateverenteredhisheadwasright, wrotetoKutuzovthefirstwordsthatoccurredtohim, thoughtheyweremeaningless.
MONSIEURLEPRINCEKOUTOUZOV: , , IprayGod, monsieurlePrinceKoutouzov, tokeepyouinHisholyandgraciousprotection!
NAPOLEONMOSCOW, OCTOBER30, 1812
Kutuzovreplied: "." Buthecontinuedtoexertallhispowerstorestrainhistroopsfromattacking.
DuringthemonththattheFrenchtroopswerepillaginginMoscowandtheRussiantroopswerequietlyencampedatTarutino, achangehadtakenplaceintherelativestrengthofthetwoarmies—bothinspiritandinnumber—, : Lauriston'smission; theabundanceofprovisionsatTarutino; thereportscominginfromallsidesoftheinactivityanddisorderoftheFrench; theflowofrecruitstoourregiments; thefineweather; thelongresttheRussiansoldiershadenjoyed, andtheimpatiencetodowhattheyhadbeenassembledfor, whichusuallyshowsitselfinanarmythathasbeenresting; curiosityastowhattheFrencharmy, solonglostsightof, wasdoing; theboldnesswithwhichouroutpostsnowscoutedcloseuptotheFrenchstationedatTarutino; thenewsofeasysuccessesgainedbypeasantsandguerrillatroopsovertheFrench, theenvyarousedbythis; thedesireforrevengethatlayintheheartofeveryRussianaslongastheFrenchwereinMoscow, and (aboveall) adimconsciousnessineverysoldier', , asaclockbeginstostrikeandchimeassoonastheminutehandhascompletedafullcircle, thischangewasshownbyanincreasedactivity, whirring, andchiminginthehigherspheres.
