In this action of the 18th, four generals, four colonels, and many officers, were wounded.  Among them the army remarked the Bavarian Generals Deroy and Liben.  They expired on the 22d of August.  These generals were of the same age; they had belonged to the same regiment, had made the same campaigns, proceeded at nearly an equal pace in their perilous career, which was gloriously terminated by the same death, and in the same battle.  It was thought right not to separate in the tomb these warriors, whom neither life nor death had been able to part; one grave received the remains of both.

On the news of this victory, the emperor sent to General Saint-Cyr the staff of Marshal of the empire.  He placed a great number of crosses at his disposal, and subsequently approved most of the promotions which were applied for.

Notwithstanding this success, the determination to proceed beyond Smolensk was too perilous for Napoleon to decide on it alone:  it was requisite that he should contrive to be drawn into it.  Beyond Valoutina, Ney’s corps, which was fatigued, had been replaced by that of Davoust.  Murat as king, as brother-in-law to the emperor, and agreeably to his order, was to command it.  Ney had submitted to this, less from condescension than from conformity of disposition.  They agreed in their ardour.

But Davoust, whose methodical and tenacious genius was a complete contrast to the fiery impetuosity of Murat, and who was rendered proud by the remembrance of, and the titles derived from two great victories, was piqued at being placed in this dependence.  These haughty chiefs, who were about the same age, had been companions in war, and had mutually witnessed each other’s elevation; they were both spoiled by the habit of having obeyed only a great man, and were by no means fit to command one another; Murat, in particular, who was too often unable to command himself.

Davoust nevertheless obeyed, but with an ill grace, and imperfectly, as wounded pride generally does.  He affected immediately to break off all direct correspondence with the emperor.  The latter, surprised at this, ordered him to renew it, alleging his distrust of the reports of Murat.  Davoust made a handle of this avowal, and again asserted his independence.  Henceforward the vanguard had two leaders.  Thus the emperor, fatigued, distressed, overloaded with business of every kind, and forced to show indulgence to his lieutenants, divided his power as well as his armies, in spite of his precepts and his former examples.  Circumstances, which he had so often controlled, became stronger than him, and controlled him in their turn.

Meanwhile Barclay, having fallen back without resistance nearly as far as Dorogobouje, Murat had no need of Davoust, and no occasion presented itself for misunderstanding; but about eleven in the forenoon of the 23d of August, a thick wood, a few wersts from that town, which the king wished to reconnoitre, was warmly disputed with him:  he was obliged to carry it twice.