September 1812: Le Feu Commence

Fire of Moscow
Alexander Smirnov (PD)

"Sergeant! Come quickly, something is happening!"

Marais set his kit aside, he'd had to repair one of his knapsack straps and stepped to the entrance to the stable. He felt something, heat, then he smelled it, smoke!

"Plouffe, go get the lieutenant, the rest of you, get your kit together!"

Stepping into the street, Marais could see that the northern sky was bright with fire. As he pondered what to do next, a horseman clattered by.

"Alarm, the Russians have torched the city! Have your men fall out!"

Marais said nothing, he recognized the horseman, one of his commanding general's aides. What was left of their division was quartered in this neighborhood along the road to Kaluga. They were nearly on the outskirts of the city, but Marais sensed that they would be deployed into the city to either fight fires or control any looting. Though who might be looting was a question in his mind, the city was nearly deserted of its populace.

The company began to file into the street from the stable and the other buildings nearby. Most of the battalion was within 200 meters of the inn, so that was good.

"Who's in charge here?"

Marais turned, it was Chef de Bataillon Lecerf, "That would be me, Sir, for now. I had the men fall out when our sentry sounded the alarm. A man from division came by, Capitaine Gaubert I think it was."

"Very good, Marais, right? Second Company?"

"Yes Sir."

"Where is your company commander?"

"That would be Lieutenant Leavitt, last I saw him was a couple of hours ago. He may be seeking rations."

"Ah, very well ... Oh, there you are Leavitt. Get lost?"

"No Sir, Soldat Vallée and I went down towards the river, looking for food. No luck, I'm afraid. The city seems deserted and I was reluctant to break into the houses."

Lecerf shook his head, "How long have you been in the army, Leavitt?"

"Six months, Sir. I ..."

"Doesn't matter. Marais, take your company north along this street, the rest of the battalion will follow. The Emperor wants us nearer to the Kremlin. If you see anyone setting fires, shoot them. No questions asked. Kill the arsonists, that's straight from the Général de Division. Are we clear on that, Sergeant?"

"Yes Sir."

Leavitt looked upset that the battalion commander had given the orders to Marais.

"Sir, I shall take the ..."

"You will follow Marais. As of now Marais, you are a lieutenant. 2nd Company is yours until I say otherwise. Lieutenant Leavitt, pay attention and learn from this man. He might keep you alive if you listen to him."

"Sir." Leavitt looked downcast, but he was smart enough to know just how inexperienced he was. He would listen, he would learn, and, God willing, he would live.

The Kremlin is Burning¹
Vasily Vereshchagin (PD)

"This is madness!" the Emperor exclaimed to Maréchal Ney, who stood quietly nearby, not believing what he was seeing.

"Your orders, Sire? Apart from the obvious of trying to quell the fires of course."

Napoléon turned to look at Ney, "Yes, arsonists and looters to be shot on sight. I want the garrison here in the Kremlin ready to move at once. We cannot stay here. We shall move to the Petrovsky Palace, on the road to St. Petersburg."

Ney was already hurrying to give the orders. Napoléon couldn't believe his eyes, was the Czar mad? How could Alexander destroy his own capital city. Shaking his head, he realized that the true capital would be St. Petersburg now.

"Berthier!"

"Sire?"

"Send emissaries to the Czar, mobilize the army for a march on St. Petersburg! We must settle this affair before the winter sets in!"

"At once, Sire."

At first the company moved quickly through the streets, then they arrived at an intersection where a number of people could be seen in the nearby alleys, carrying torches.

"Company, form line on the right!" Marais shouted out.

Newly promoted Sergeant Kléber pointed Lieutenant Leavitt to where the shadowy figures could be seen. "There, Lieutenant, arsonists!"

Leavitt was sweating profusely, he was confused and somewhat disoriented by the night's events, but he gathered himself, looking at Kléber he asked, "Where do you want me, Sergeant?"

"Behind the line, Sir. Draw your sword, encourage the men, let them know you are there. They will feel supported, but they will also know the costs of turning away."

"Sergeant?"

Kléber leaned in close to Leavitt's ear and hissed, "Kill any man who attempts to run."

Leavitt nodded, but Kléber had already turned away.

"Prepare to fire!"

"First rank, FIRE!"

When the muskets fired, Leavitt jumped, he saw a man in the third rank take a step back.

"Soldat, look to your front, do your duty."

The man saw the gleam of Leavitt's blade and nodded, "Yes, Sir. Just catching my breath Sir."

"Company will advance, CHARGE YOUR BAYONETS! EN AVANT!"

The 2nd Company stepped forward, muskets leveled, bayonets pointed towards the enemy. Chef de Bataillon Lecerf rode into the square as the company advanced.

"Hold them here, Lieutenant Marais! There is no more threat!"

Marais halted his company, he was trembling with excitement. He looked where the arsonists had been, there were two or three torches burning on the ground, four, maybe five huddled piles of rags which until he had given the order had been living, breathing human beings.

It was a feeling such as he'd never felt before. He held the power of life and death here in this burning city so far from home. It was intoxicating, it frightened him. Yet at the same time, he felt so alive.

"What are you waiting for, Lieutenant? The rest of the battalion is waiting for you to move forward! To the Kremlin lads, let's be off!"

Marais got the company back into column and they set out beside the river, Lecerf's horse leading the procession.

So this was command? Marais shook his head as he trotted beside the column. It was no wonder men would do anything to obtain it.

"Move it along lads! The Emperor is waiting!"

The men cheered, "Vive l'Empereur!!" as they jogged along.

Lecerf looked back, "Marais is a fast learner," he muttered to himself.

¹ В Кремле - пожар! (Russian)