FOOTNOTES:
[32] Birches in Russia grow to a great height.—Author's Note.
[33] 'Bon Français.'—Author's Note.
[34] Except a little bit given me by Grangier at Smolensk, on November 12.—Author's Note.
I TRAVEL WITH PICART—THE COSSACKS—PICART IS WOUNDED—A CONVOY OF FRENCH PRISONERS—A HALT IN A FOREST—POLISH HOSPITALITY—AN ATTACK OF INSANITY—WE REJOIN THE ARMY—THE EMPEROR AND THE SACRED BATTALION—THE CROSSING OF THE BÉRÉZINA.
Since the Battle of Malo-Jaroslawetz, Picart had been separated from his regiment, as he had been sent in the escort of a convoy composed of part of the Imperial equipage. This detachment was always two or three days' march in advance of the army, and in consequence had not suffered anything like the same privations as the rest. As there were only 400 of them, they had often been able to find provisions, and, besides, had means of transport. At Smolensk they had found enough flour and biscuits to last for several days. At Krasnoë they had the good luck to arrive and get away twenty-four hours before the Russians got there. At Orcha again they had found flour. In any village they came to there were always houses enough available for shelter, if only post-houses at some distance from each other. We, on the other hand, had to march 150,000 strong to begin with, afterwards only half that number, and had had only forests and marshes to sleep in, only horseflesh to eat—and very little of it—water to drink, and sometimes not even that. My old comrade's sufferings only began when he joined me.
Picart told me that the man lying by our fire had been wounded by some Polish Lancers in an attack during the afternoon. This is the account he gave of it: