Page 1557 - war-and-peace

‘Russia’s ancient and sacred capital!’ he suddenly said,
repeating Bennigsen’s words in an angry voice and thereby
drawing attention to the false note in them. ‘Allow me to
tell you, your excellency, that that question has no meaning
for a Russian.’ (He lurched his heavy body forward.) ‘Such
a question cannot be put; it is senseless! The question I have
asked these gentlemen to meet to discuss is a military one.
The question is that of saving Russia. Is it better to give up
Moscow without a battle, or by accepting battle to risk los-
ing the army as well as Moscow? That is the question on
which I want your opinion,’ and he sank back in his chair.
The discussion began. Bennigsen did not yet consider his
game lost. Admitting the view of Barclay and others that
a defensive battle at Fili was impossible, but imbued with
Russian patriotism and the love of Moscow, he proposed
to move troops from the right to the left flank during the
night and attack the French right flank the following day.
Opinions were divided, and arguments were advanced for
and against that project. Ermolov, Dokhturov, and Raevs-
ki agreed with Bennigsen. Whether feeling it necessary to
make a sacrifice before abandoning the capital or guided
by other, personal considerations, these generals seemed
not to understand that this council could not alter the in-
evitable course of events and that Moscow was in effect
already abandoned. The other generals, however, under-
stood it and, leaving aside the question of Moscow, of the
direction the army should take in its retreat. Malasha, who
kept her eyes fixed on what was going on before her, under-
stood the meaning of the council differently. It seemed to

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