The losses since the preceding day amounted to four thousand stragglers and three thousand soldiers, either killed, dead, or missing; the cannon and the whole of the baggage were lost; there remained to Ney scarcely three thousand soldiers, and about as many disbanded men.  Finally, when all these sacrifices were consummated, and all that had been able to cross the river were collected, they resumed their march, and the vanquished river became once more their friend and their guide.

They proceeded at random and uncertain, when one of them happening to fall, recognised a beaten road; it was but too much so, for those who were marching first, stooping and using their hands, as well as their eyes, halted in alarm, exclaiming, “that they saw the marks quite fresh of a great quantity of cannon and horses.”  They had, therefore, only avoided one hostile army to fall into the midst of another; at a time when they could scarcely walk, they must be again obliged to fight!  The war was therefore everywhere!  But Ney made them push on, and without disturbing himself, continued to follow these menacing traces.

They brought them to a village called Gusinoe, into which they entered suddenly, and seized every thing; they found in it all that they had been in want of since they left Moscow, inhabitants, provisions, repose, warm dwellings, and a hundred Cossacks, who awoke to find themselves prisoners.  Their reports, and the necessity of taking some refreshment to enable him to proceed, detained the marshal there a few minutes.

About ten o’clock, they reached two other villages, and were resting themselves there, when suddenly they saw the surrounding forests filled with movements.  They had scarcely time to call to each other, to look about, and to concentrate themselves in the village which was nearest to the Boristhenes, when thousands of Cossacks came pouring out from between the trees, and surrounded the unfortunate troop with their lances and their cannon.

These were Platof, and his hordes, who were following the right bank of the Dnieper.  They might have burnt the village, discovered the weakness of Ney’s force, and exterminated it; but for three hours they remained motionless, without even firing; for what reason, is not known.  The account since given by themselves is, that they had no orders; that at that moment their leader was not in a state to give any:  and that in Russia no one dares to take upon himself a responsibility that does not belong to him.

The bold countenance of Ney kept them in check.  He himself and a few soldiers were sufficient; he even ordered the rest of his people to continue their repast till night came on.  He then caused the order to be circulated to decamp in silence, to give notice to each other in a low tone of voice, and to march as compact as possible.  Afterwards, they all began their march together; but their very first step was like a signal given to the enemy, who immediately discharged the whole of his artillery at them:  all his squadrons also put themselves in movement at once.