The Russian autumn had triumphed over him:  had it not been for that, perhaps the whole of Russia would have yielded to our arms on the plains of the Moskwa:  its premature inclemency was a most seasonable assistance to their empire.  It was on the 6th of September, the very day before the great battle! that a hurricane announced its fatal commencement.  It struck Napoleon.  Ever since the night of that day, it has been seen that a wearying fever had dried up his blood, and oppressed his spirits, and that he was quite overcome by it during the battle; the suffering he endured from this, added to another still more severe, for the five following days arrested his march, and bound up his genius.  This it was which preserved Kutusof from total ruin at Borodino, and allowed him time to rally the remainder of his army, and withdraw it from our pursuit.

On the 9th of September we found Mojaisk uncovered, and still standing:  but beyond it the enemy’s rear-guard on the heights which command it, and which their army had occupied the day before.  Some of our troops entered the town for the purpose of passing through it in pursuit of the enemy, and others to plunder and find lodgings for themselves.  They found neither inhabitants nor provisions, but merely dead bodies, which they were obliged to throw out of the windows, in order to get themselves under cover, and a number of dying soldiers, who were all collected into one spot.  These last were so numerous, and had been so scattered about, that the Russians had not dared to set fire to the habitations; but their humanity, which was not always so scrupulous, had given way to the desire of firing on the first French they saw enter, which they did with shells:  the consequence was, that this wooden town was soon set fire to, and a part of the unfortunate wounded whom they had abandoned were consumed in the flames.

While we were making attempts to save them, fifty voltigeurs of the 33d climbed the heights, of which the enemy’s cavalry and artillery still occupied the summit.  The French army, which had halted under the walls of Mojaisk, was surprised at seeing this handful of men, scattered about on this uncovered declivity, teasing with their fire thousands of the enemy’s cavalry.  All at once what had been foreseen happened; several of the enemy’s squadrons put themselves in motion, and in an instant surrounded these bold fellows, who immediately formed, and kept facing and firing at them in all directions; but they were so few in the midst of a large plain, and the number of cavalry about them was so great, that they soon disappeared from our eyes.  A general exclamation of sorrow burst from the whole of our lines.  Every one of the soldiers with his neck stretched, and his eye fixed, followed the enemy’s movements, and endeavoured to distinguish the fate of his companions in arms.  Some were lamenting the distance they were at, and wishing to march; others mechanically loaded their muskets or crossed their bayonets with a threatening air, as if they had been near enough to assist them.  Their looks were sometimes as animated as if they were fighting, and at other times as much distressed as if they had been beat.  Others advised and encouraged them, forgetting that they were out of reach of hearing.