The impetuosity of the king, therefore, seemed to suit his anxiety better than the methodical prudence of the Prince of Eckmuehl.  Accordingly, when he dismissed them, he said mildly to Davoust, that “one person could not possess every species of merit; that he knew better how to fight a battle than to push a rear-guard; and that if Murat had pursued Bagration in Lithuania, he would probably not have allowed him to escape.”  It is even asserted that he reproached the marshal with a restless disposition, an anxiety to appropriate to himself all the commands; less, indeed, from ambition than zeal, and that all might go on better; but yet this zeal had its inconveniences.  He then sent them away with an injunction to agree better in future.

The two chiefs returned to their commands, and to their animosity.  As the war was confined to the head of the column, that also was the scene of their disputes.

CHAP.  III.

On the 28th of August, the army crossed the vast plains of the government of Wiazma:  it marched in all haste, the whole together, through fields, and several regiments abreast, each forming a short, close column.  The high-road was left for the artillery, its waggons, and those carrying the sick and wounded.  The emperor, on horseback, was seen every where:  Murat’s letters, and the approach to Wiazma, deceived him once more with the hope of a battle:  he was heard calculating on the march the thousands of cannon-balls which he would require to crush the hostile army.

Napoleon had assigned its place to the baggage:  he published an order for burning all vehicles which should be seen among the troops, not excepting carts loaded with provisions, for they might embarrass the movements of the columns, and compromise their safety in case of attack.  Having met in his way with the carriage of General Narbonne, his aid-de-camp, he himself caused it to be set on fire, before the face of that general, and that instantaneously, without suffering it to be emptied; an order which was only severe, although it appeared harsh, because he himself began by enforcing its execution, which, however, was not followed up.

The baggage of all the corps was therefore assembled in the rear of the army:  there was, from Dorogobouje, a long train of bat-horses and kibitks, harnessed with ropes; these vehicles were laden with booty, provisions, military effects, men appointed to take care of them; lastly, sick soldiers, and the arms of both, which were rusting in them.  In this column were seen many of the tall dismounted cuirassiers, bestriding horses no bigger than our asses, because they could not follow on foot for want of practice and of boots.  On this confused and disorderly multitude, as well as on most of the marauders on our flanks, the cossacks might have made successful coups de main.  They would thereby have harassed the army, and retarded its march, but Barclay seemed fearful of discouraging us:  he put out his strength only against our advanced guard, and that but just sufficiently to slacken without stopping our progress.