[Footnote 274: It has been constantly stated by Napoleon, and by most French historians of this campaign, that his losses were mainly due to an exceptionally severe and early winter. The statement will not bear examination. Sharp cold usually sets in before November 6th in Russia at latitude 55°; the severe weather which he then suffered was succeeded by alternate thaws and slighter frosts until the beginning of December, when intense cold is always expected. Moreover, the bulk of the losses occurred before the first snowstorm. The Grand Army which marched on Smolensk and Moscow may be estimated at 400,000 (including reinforcements). At Viasma, before severe cold set in, it had dwindled to 55,000. We may note here the curious fact, substantiated by Alison, that the French troops stood the cold better than the Poles and North Germans. See too N. Senior's "Conversations," vol. i., p. 239.]
[Footnote 275: Bausset, "Cour de Napoléon"; Wilson, pp. 271-277.]
[Footnote 276: Oudinot, "Mémoires.">[
[Footnote 277: Hereford George, pp. 349-350.]
[Footnote 278: Bourgogne, ch. viii.]
[Footnote 279: Pasquier, vol. ii., ad init.]
[Footnote 280: Colonel Desprez, who accompanied the retreat, thus described to King Joseph its closing scenes: "The truth is best expressed by saying that the army is dead. The Young Guard was 8,000 strong when we left Moscow: at Vilna it scarcely numbered 400…. The corps of Victor and Oudinot numbered 30,000 men when they crossed the Beresina: two days afterwards they had melted away like the rest of the army. Sending reinforcements only increased the losses."
The following French official report, a copy of which I have found in our F.O. Records (Russia, No. 84), shows how frightful were the losses after Smolensk. But it should be noted that the rank and file in this case numbered only 300 at Smolensk, and had therefore lost more than half their numbers—and this in a regiment of the Guard.
GARDE IMPÉRIALE: 6ème RÉGIMENT DE TIRAILLEURS. l^ère Division. Situation à l'époque du 19 Décembre, 1812.
|————————————————————————————————————————-| | | Perte depuis le départ de Smolensk | | |——————|—————-|—————-|—————-|————-|————| |Présents sous|Restés sur |Blessés qui|Morts de |Restés en |Total des|Reste | |les armes au |le champ |n'ont pu |froid ou de|en arrière |Pertes |présents| |départ de |de bataille |suivre, |misère |gelés, ou | |sous les| |Smolensk | |restés au | |pour cause | |armes | | | |pouvoir de | |de maladie | | | | | |l'ennemi | |au pouvoir | | | | | | | |de l'ennemi| | | |——-|———-|——————|———|—- |———|——|———|——|——-|—-|——|—-| | Off.|Tr. | Off. |Tr. | Off. |Tr. | Off. |Tr. | Off. |Tr. | Off.|Tr.|Off.|Tr.| | 31 |300 | — |13 | 4 | 52 | — | 24 | 13 |201 | 17 |290| 14 |10 | |——-|———-|———|——-|———|——|———|——|———|——|——-|—-|——|—-| Signé le Colonel Major Commandant le dit Regiment. CARRÉ.