He himself, with his column, reached Krasnoi unmolested, although the whole of the Russian army, moving on a parallel road, were in full observation of his march.  Eugene, who followed him, was, however, intercepted on his way by Milarodowitch, and after sustaining the contest gallantly against very disproportionate numbers, and a terrible cannonade, was at length saved only by the fall of night.  During the darkness, the Viceroy executed a long and hazardous detour, and joined the Emperor in Krasnoi, on the 17th.  On this night-march they fell in with the videttes of another of Kutusoff’s columns, and owed their preservation to the quickness of a Polish soldier, who answered the challenge in Russian.  The loss, however, had been severe; the two leading divisions, now united in Krasnoi, mustered scarcely 15,000.

Napoleon was most anxious to secure the passage of the Dnieper at Liady, and immediately gave Eugene the command of the van, with orders to march on this point; but he was warned by the losses which his son-in-law had undergone, of the absolute necessity of waiting at Krasnoi until Davoust and Ney should be able to come up with him.  He determined, therefore, to abide, with 6000 of the guard, and another corps of 5000, whatever numbers Kutusoff might please to bring against him.  He drew his sword, and said, “I have long enough played the Emperor—­I must be the general once more.”

In vain was Kutusoff urged to seize this opportunity of pouring an irresistible force on the French position.  The veteran commanded a cannonade—­and, as he had 100 pieces of artillery well placed, the ranks of the enemy were thinned considerably.  But, excepting one or two isolated charges of cavalry, he adventured on no closer collision; and Napoleon held his ground, in face of all that host, until nightfall, when Davoust’s division, surrounded and pursued by innumerable Cossacks, at length were enabled to rally once more around his headquarters.

He had the mortification to learn, however, that Ney was probably still in Smolensko, and that a Russian force had marched on towards Liady, with the design of again intercepting Eugene.  The Emperor, therefore, once more divided his numbers—­pushed on in person to support Beauharnois and secure Liady—­and left Davoust and Mortier to hold out as long as possible at Krasnoi, in the hope of being there joined by Ney.  Long, however, before that gallant chief could reach this point, the Russians, as if the absence of Napoleon had at once restored all their energy, rushed down and forced on Davoust and Mortier, the battle which the Emperor had in vain solicited.  On that fatal field the French left forty-five cannon and 6000 prisoners, besides the slain and the wounded.  The remainder with difficulty effected their escape to Liady, where Napoleon once more received them, and crossed the Dnieper.