LibrivoxCdCoverArt21

B$FG.A. Henty

c

There are few campaigns that, either in point of the immense scale upon which
3 it was undertaken, the completeness of its failure, or the enormous loss of life

entailed, appeal to the imagination in so great a degree as that of Napoleon
< against Russia. Fortunately, we have in the narratives of Sir Robert Wilson,
O British commissioner with the Russian army, and of Count Segur, who was
upon Napoleon's staff, minute descriptions of the events as seen by eye-
witnesses, and besides these the campaign has been treated fully by various
military writers. I have as usual avoided going into details of horrors and of
acts of cruelty and ferocity on both sides, surpassing anything in modern
warfare, and have given a mere outline of the operations, with a full account of
the stern fight at Smolensk and the terrible struggle at Borodino. I would warn
those of my readers who may turn to any of the military works for a further
history of the campaign, that the spelling of Russian places and names varies
so greatly in the accounts of different writers, that sometimes it is difficult to
believe that the same person or town is meant, and even in the narratives by Sir
J/> Robert Wilson, and by Lord Cathcart, our ambassador at St. Petersburg, who
g was in constant communication with him, scarcely a name will be found
c similarly spelt. I mention this, as otherwise much confusion might be caused
^ by those who may compare my story with some of these recognized
^ authorities, or follow the incidents of the campaign upon maps of Russia.
"55 (Introduction by G.A.Henty)

Read by Gary Olman. Total running time: 11:42:11

O) This recording is in the public domain and may be reproduced, distributed, or modified
q without permission. For more information or to volunteer, visit librivox.org.

Cover picture by Adolf Northen. Copyright expired in U.S., Canada, EU. and all countries with
author's life +70 yrs laws. Cover design by Annise.. This design is in the public domain.

O
c

CD