Napoleon’s health on the 26th of August gains no greater significance from the quite unjustified contention of some writers that his cold rendered his instructions and dispositions on the day less effective than before. The instructions reproduced above are certainly no worse, indeed they are better, than many a similar disposition that had brought him victory in the past. The instructions he is supposed to have issued in mid-battle were certainly no worse than any orders he had given before; they were much the same as usual. But these instructions and dispositions are now seen as inferior, for the simple reason that Borodino was the first battle that Napoleon didn’t win. The finest and profoundest of orders and dispositions will seem very weak, and open to criticism with a knowing air by every last student of military history, when the battle they were written for hasn’t been won. Conversely, the stupidest of orders and dispositions will seem very shrewd, and serious authors will write volume after volume to demonstrate their virtues, if only the battle they were written for has been won. The dispositions put together by Weierother at Austerlitz have given rise to perfect examples of works like this, and even they have come in for some criticism, if only for their perfectionism, their excess of detail.
At Borodino Napoleon played his part as the representative of authority as well as he had done in previous battles, perhaps even better. He did nothing to impede the progress of the battle, he gave ear to reasonable opinion, he never lost his grip or contradicted himself, he didn’t panic or run away; he just used his good sense and military experience to stay calm, behave with dignity and go through the motions of exercising masterful control.
CHAPTER 29
On his return from a second meticulous tour of inspection Napoleon said, ‘The board’s set up. The game begins tomorrow.’
He ordered some punch, sent for de Bausset and began to talk to him about Paris, and the various changes he had in mind for the Empress’s household. His recollection of the tiniest details of court life came as a surprise to the prefect.
He showed interest in all sorts of silly little things, he made jokes about de Bausset’s wanderlust and he carried on a casual conversation like some famous surgeon, experienced and self-confident, chatting away as he rolls his sleeves up and dons his apron while the patient is being strapped to the operating-table. ‘My hands and my brain have everything under control. When it’s time to start I’ll do the job better than anyone, but for the moment I can crack a few jokes. The more jokes you hear from me and the calmer I am, the greater your confidence, peace of mind and admiration for my genius should be.’
Napoleon drained a second glass of punch, and then went off to get some rest in anticipation of the serious business that surely awaited them in the morning.
He was so preoccupied with this business that he could not get to sleep, and although he could feel his cold getting worse in the damp night air he got up at three o’clock and walked out into the main section of the tent, sneezing violently. He asked whether the Russians had gone away. No, the enemy camp-fires were still in the same places. He nodded with approval.
The duty adjutant came in.
‘Well, Rapp, do you think our business will go well today?’ Napoleon asked him.
‘Without a shadow of doubt, sire!’ answered Rapp.
Napoleon looked at him.
‘Sire, do you remember what you were kind enough to say to me at Smolensk?’ said Rapp. ‘When the wine is uncorked it has to be drunk.’
Napoleon frowned, and sat there in silence for some time with his head propped up on one hand.
‘This poor army,’ he suddenly burst out. ‘It’s gone down a lot since Smolensk. Lady Luck is nothing but a whore, Rapp. I’ve always said so, and now it’s coming home to me. But the guards, Rapp, the guards are all still there, aren’t they?’
‘Yes, sire,’ replied Rapp.
Napoleon took a lozenge, put it in his mouth, and looked at his watch. He didn’t feel sleepy, morning was still a long way away, and he could not kill time by giving any orders because they had all been given and were now being carried out.
‘Have the guards regiments been issued with biscuits and rice?’ Napoleon asked sternly.
‘Yes, sire.’
‘Are you sure about the rice?’
