战争与和平(上)-第337章
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ing； and excited by the enterprise he had undertaken on his own responsibility； came out of the wood； accompanying Grekov； and began scrutinising the enemy’s camp； faintly visible now in the deceptive light of the approaching dawn and the smouldering camp…fires。 On the open copse on Count Orlov…Denisov’s right our columns ought to have been visible。 Count Orlov…Denisov looked in that direction； but although they could have been seen even if a long distance away； these columns were not in sight。 Count Orlov…Denisov fancied； and his adjutant； who was extremely long…sighted； confirmed the idea； that they were beginning to move in the French camp。
“Oh； of course it’s too late；” said Count Orlov； staring at the camp。 As so often happens when the man in whom we are putting faith is no longer before our eyes； it all seemed at once perfectly clear and obvious to him that the deserter had been playing them false； that he had been telling them lies； and was only spoiling the whole attack by removing these two regiments； which he was leading away—God only knew where！ As if it were possible to capture the general out of such a mass of troops。
“No doubt he was lying； the scoundrel；” said the Count。
“We can turn them back；” said one of the suite； who was feeling just the same mistrust in the undertaking as he gazed at the camp。
“Ah！ Yes … what do you think； or shall we leave them？ Or not？”
“Do you command them to return？”
“To return； yes； to return！” Count Orlov said； with sudden decision； looking at his watch； “it will be too late； it’s quite light。”
And an adjutant galloped into the wood after Grekov。 When Grekov came back； Count Orlov…Denisov； excited by giving up this enterprise； and by vainly waiting for the infantry columns； which still did not appear； and by the enemy’s being so near （every man in his detachment was feeling the same）； resolved to attack。
In a whisper he gave the command： “Mount！”
The men got into their places； crossed themselves … “In God’s name； off！”
“Hurrah！” rang out in the wood； and the Cossacks； with spears lowered； flew gaily； one hundred after another； across the stream into the camp； as though they were being shot out of a sack。
One desperate； frightened scream from the first Frenchman who caught sight of the Cossacks； and every creature in the camp； undressed and half…asleep； was running away； abandoning cannons； muskets； and horses。
If the Cossacks had pursued the French without regard to what they left all around and behind them； they could have captured Murat and all there was there。 Their commanding officers tried to make them do so。 But there was no making the Cossacks budge when they had got booty and prisoners。 No one heeded the word of command。 They had taken fifteen hundred prisoners； thirty…eight cannons； flags； and； what was of most consequence in the eyes of the Cossacks； horses； saddles； coverings and various other objects。 All of this they wanted to see after； to secure the prisoners and the cannons； to divide the booty； to shout at and even fight with one another over the spoils； and all this absorbed the Cossacks’ attention。 The Frenchmen； finding themselves not pursued further； began to rally； they formed into companies and began firing。 Orlov…Denisov still expected the other columns to arrive； and did not advance further。
Meanwhile； in accordance with the disposition—“die erste Colonne marschirt；” and so on—the infantry regiments of the belated columns； under the command of Bennigsen and the direction of Toll； had started off in due course； and had； in the usual way； arrived somewhere； but not where they were intended to arrive。 In the usual way too； the soldiers who had set off gaily； began to halt； there were murmurs of dissatisfaction and a sense of muddle； and they were marched back to some point。 Adjutants and generals galloped to and fro； shouting angrily； quarrelling； declaring they had come utterly wrong and were too late； upbraiding some one； and so on； and finally； all washed their hands of the business in despair； and marched on simply in order to get somewhere。 “We must arrive somewhere sooner or later！” And so they did； in fact； arrive somewhere； but not where they were wanted。 And some did even reach their destination； but reached it so late that their doing so was of no use at all； and only resulted in their being fired at for nothing。 Toll； who in this battle played the part of Weierother in the battle of Austerlitz； galloped with unflagging energy from one part of the field to another； and found everything at sixes and sevens everywhere。 So； for instance； he found Bagovut’s corps in the wood； when it was broad daylight； though the corps ought to have been there long before； and to have gone to support Orlov…Denisov。 Disappointed and excited at the failure； and supposing some one must be to blame for it； Toll galloped up to the general in command of the corps； and began sternly reprimanding him； declaring that he deserved to be shot。 Bagovut； a sturdy old general of placid disposition； had been worried too by all the delays； the muddles； and the contradictory orders； and； to the amazement of everybody； he flew into a violent rage； quite out of keeping with his character； and said some very nasty things to Toll。
“I am not going to be taught my duty by anybody； but I can face death with my men as well as any one；” he said； and he marched forward with one division。 The valiant Bagovut； not considering in his excitement whether his advance into action now with a single division was likely to be of use or not； marched his men straight forward into the enemy’s fire。 Danger； shells； and bullets were just what he wanted in his fury。 One of the first bullets killed him； the other bullets killed many of his men。 And his division remained for some time under fire for no object whatever。
Chapter 7
MEANWHILE another column was to have fallen upon the French in the centre； but of this column Kutuzov was in command。 He knew very well that nothing but muddle would come of this battle； begun against his will； and； as far as it was in his power； he held his forces back。 He did not move。
Kutuzov rode mutely about on his grey horse； making languid replies to the suggestions for an attack。
“You can all talk about attacking； but you don’t see that we don’t know how to execute complicated man？uvres；” he said to Miloradovitch； who was begging to be allowed to advance。
“We couldn’t take Murat alive in the morning； nor be in our places in time； now there’s nothing to be done！” he said to another。
When it was reported to Kutuzov that there were now two battalions of Poles in the rear of the French； where according to the earlier reports of the Cossacks there had been none； he took a sidelong glance behind him at Yermolov； to whom he had not spoken since the previous day。
“Here they are begging to advance； proposing projects of all sorts； and as soon as you get to work； there’s nothing ready； and the enemy； forewarned； takes his measures。”
Yermolov half closed his eyelids； and faintly smiled； as he heard those words。 He knew that the storm had blown over him； and that Kutuzov would not go beyond that hint。
“That’s his little joke at my expense；” said Yermolov softly； poking Raevsky； near him； with his knee。
Soon after that； Yermolov moved forward to Kutuzov and respectfully submitted：
“The time has not passed； your highness； the enemy has not gone away。 If you were to command an advance？ Or else the guards won’t have a sight of smoke。”
Kutuzov said nothing； but when news was brought him that Murat’s troops were in retreat； he gave orders for an advance； but every hundred paces he halted for three…quarters of an hour。
The whole battle was confined to what had been done by the Cossacks of Orlov…Denisov； the rest of the troops simply lost a few hundreds of men for nothing。
In consequence of this battle； Kutuzov received a diamond decoration； Bennigsen； too； was rewarded with diamonds and a hundred thousand roubles； and the other generals； too； received agreeable recognition according to their rank； and more changes were made on the staff。
“That’s how things are always done among us； everything topsy…turvy！” the Russian
