Moscow

With a Grand Army drawn from 20 nations he plunged boldly into the vastness of Russia. The campaign was to prove a disaster. Russian military tactics included a scorched-earth policy. Russian winters were incredibly severe. These were a combination of conditions Napoleon had never before experienced. Always the Russians retreated before him, drawing him deeper and deeper into their country.

On Sept. 7, 1812, the Russians finally gave battle at Borodino, but the results were indecisive. On September 14 Napoleon reached Moscow. He had expected to find shelter and provisions for his tired troops. Instead he found the city in flames. Since it was impossible to winter in the ruined city, Napoleon began his retreat on October 19 across the snow-covered plains. The retreat from Moscow was one of the great disasters of military history. At the crossing of the Berezina River, thousands died. Of the nearly 500,000 men who had set out in June, fewer than 20,000 ragged, freezing, and starving men staggered back across the Russian frontier in December. From: Compton's Encyclopedia Online

  Songs referenced: 

Josephine