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The Two Great Retreats of History · George Grote — chapter 36 of 52 · ~571 words · public domain

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=Wittgenstein=: commander of one division of the Russian forces, held a position on the Dwina River and later on the Berezina, a tributary of the Dnieper.

=Vereïa=: a village about twenty-five miles northwest of Malo-jaroslavetz.

=Kremlin=: it was afterward found that the fortress was but slightly injured.

=Mojaisk=: about ten miles northwest of Vereïa and seventy west of Moscow.

The battle-field of Borodino, which Napoleon had fought on his march to Moscow. See Introduction.

=Viazma=: about fifty miles west of Borodino.

=Dorogobouje=: a town about fifty miles west of Viazma and nearly two hundred west of Moscow. It is situated on the river Wop, a branch of the Dnieper.

=Deployed=: formed a more extended front or line.

=Dombrowna=: a town about fifty miles west of Smolensk and two hundred from Moscow.

=Grenadiers=: these were men of long service and acknowledged bravery. Originally these soldiers threw hand grenades or small explosive shells. When these grenades went out of use the name grenadiers was still retained.

=Borizoff=: a town on the Berezina River, about 320 miles southwest of Moscow, and about 75 west of Orcha.

=Minsk=: a town on a tributary of the Berezina River, about 400 miles southwest of Moscow. Here Napoleon had immense stores of provisions, clothing, and ammunition. He was pushing forward to reach this place.

Polish generals in Napoleon's Grand Army.

=Malodeczno=: a town about seventy miles west of the Berezina River.

=Smorgoni=: a village about thirty-five miles northwest of Malodeczno, and four hundred and fifty southwest of Moscow.

=Silesia=: a province of southeastern Prussia.

=Eagles=: Napoleon's colors were surmounted by the figure of an eagle.

Marshal Ney, whom Napoleon called "the bravest of the brave," fought under the emperor in several subsequent battles. When Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to Elba, Ney supported the government of his successor and enemy, Louis XVIII. On the escape of Napoleon from Elba, in the spring of 1815, Ney was sent with an army against him, but instead of fighting for Louis XVIII., he took service under his old commander. At Waterloo he led the Old Guard, those men who could die but never surrender. After the final fall of Napoleon, Marshal Ney was tried and sentenced to be shot for treason to the government of Louis XVIII., whose cause he had deserted. Wellington tried to save his life, but in vain. If courage can expiate faults, then his are buried in his grave.

On Napoleon's arrival in Paris he began at once to raise a fresh army. It has been said that it was "an army of boys," for France had lost most of her fighting men on the battle-field, or in Russia. In 1813 he was defeated at Leipsic, and obliged to retreat across the Rhine. The next year he abdicated and retired to Elba.

In the spring of 1815 he escaped from Elba, and raising an army fought and lost the battle of Waterloo.

After his second abdication he was sent an exile to St. Helena, where he died about six years later (1821). His remains were brought to Paris in 1840, and interred under the dome of the Hotel des Invalides, or Soldiers' Hospital. Above his tomb one reads these words: "I desire that my ashes shall repose on the banks of the Seine, among the French people, whom I have so greatly loved."

INDEX TO NOTES.

WITH PRONUNCIATION OF PROPER NAMES.

A-chæ´ans, 37.

A-chā´i-a.

Ad-ra-my̆t´ti-um.

Ǣ-nē´as.

Ǣ-ni-ā´nēs.

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