A World Turned Upside Down
Russian troops attempt a rearguard action at Borodino
Russian troops attempt a rearguard action at Borodino
Borodino, Moscow Oblast
September 7th
1812
Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov watched the battle with frustration but also relief. His forces, while exhausted, had done the same to the French. Kutuzov watched his army began to amble away from the battlefield. He looked around to see most of his staff were beginning to pack up the camp in preparation for the retreat. He harrumphed and began to retreat when suddenly he heard someone exclaim from behind him.
"Field Marshal! The Frenchies are not done yet! Something is happening!" he shouted.
Kutuzov returned to his position and looked down on the battlefield and his once, while not happy but slightly disappointed attitude tanked. He saw a horde of magnificent white and black horses coming from the French left flank. On them were riders clothed in exquisite fashion. Their uniforms were unmistakable. They were the feared Imperial Guard. They had not yet seen the horrors of this battle. They were bearing down on his men like the feral demons but with discipline that could only come from such veterancy as theirs. His men could not match them, even if not in such a tired state as they are now. It is only inevitable Kutuzov's army will be destroyed should he hesitate at now, this critical moment.
He pulled a messenger next to him close "I need you to deliver this message to General Tuchkov. Tell him that Napoleon is committing his Guard and the battle is not yet done." he then sent him off. He then watched as the Guard slammed into his fleeing men. The screams were terrifying as the Guard began to make short work of his men. The rest of the men continued to flee however as the rest of the French Army, albeit sluggishly, began a general advance. Suddenly he saw his Army began to turn toward the skirmish on the left flank. Rifles began to crack as Generals on both sides began to rally their forces. The Battle was not over.
Kutuzov rode furiously down toward the skirmish to assume personal control, closely followed by his staff. He needed absolute clarity in his orders. As he rode up to the battle almost immediately a bullet hit his horse in the knee. The horse screamed in pain as it tumbled to the ground and Kutuzov was thrown forward. He slammed into the ground and he heard a distinctive crunch. When he turned over and put his hand to his nose he found that it had been crunched. He still rose to his feet, brushing away his aides as they tried to evacuate him, and tried to lead his men. He shouted orders but quickly realized how pointless the action was. Over the clanking of sabers and bayonets, the cracking rifles, the pounding of artillery and the other sounds of war his voice was tiny. Suddenly however he was met with even more bad news. He watched as his men began to break and stream away, past him.
"Fight! Fight you cowards!" Kutuzov shouted as they ran by.
"Sir! Take my horse and get out of here! You cannot fall into enemy hands!" one of his aides said as he dismounted.
"....As much as I hate it, you are right. I cannot let my army fall, its the only thing saving Russia from French domination." Kutuzov said. He mounted the steed and quickly departed; passing men, cavalry, and riderless horses as he went. He was one of the luck ones. With Napoleon committing the Imperial Guard to the battle, he tore the Russian Army to shreds. The Battle of Borodino was a turning point for the war. While it was not by any means going well before Borodino, it certainly did not do well after. Kutuzov and his army were routed with massive casualties by the French. Behind them they left ~75,000 dead or wounded. However they did not leave without dealing their own fair share of damage. Napoleon was forced to bear a staggering 50,000 casualties on his own. They appeared to not phase him however as a week later, Napoleon occupied Moscow. The City was planned to be burned by Kutuzov, but with his army in shambles and Napoleon advancing, he could not manage it. Instead, Napoleon gained valuable winter quarters from which to operate from.
When Czar Alexander heard of the disaster at Borodino, he flew into a rage. He immediately sacked Kutuzov and demanded Field Marshal de Tolly, as new Field Marshal of the Russian Empire, retake Moscow immediately. However his orders fell on deaf ears as de Tolly was missing, having almost dropped off the map in the confusion at Borodino.* Alexander then reasoned to hold out for the Winter, launch an offensive in the Spring, but his advisors cautioned against it. They asked the Czar to give into Napoleon's demands. A month later, as Napoleon continued to sit comfortably in Moscow and his army froze around it, Alexander capitulated. He met with Napoleon on October 24th in Moscow and accepted his terms on one condition; Russian Poland stay under Russian control. Napoleon accepted and Russia ceased trade with the UK.
*de Tolly had fled northward with the Army's right flank, but was unable to accept his new command as he was cut off from the Czar, who was based in Ryazan.
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