Army's ordeal was not over. The force that entered Vilna on 8 December
in temperatures of -z6° F was no better than a ra bble, as became clear by
their actions on entering the town. Elaborate quartermastering arrange
ments had been laid down in a situation where there was enough meat
and flour to feed 1oo,ooo men for forty days, but the incoming soldiery
simply ran amok, looting and pillaging. In an initial riot at the city gates
many men were crushed to death. Others drank themselves into a stupor
on the plentiful brandy, collapsed drunkenly on the sidewalk and died of
exposure in the frozen streets. No attempt was made to post pickets, with
the black comedy result that pursuing Cossacks actually came galloping
into town while drunken French troops gorged and caroused. The mere
sight of a handful of Cossacks threw Murat into wholesale panic. Even
though he had express orders from Napoleon to hold Vilna for at least
eight days and give his men adequate rest and recreation, Murat ordered
a general evacuation just twenty-four hours after arrival. There were
zo,ooo wounded allied troops from all theatres in the town's hospitals,
but they were simply left to the barbarous mercies of the incoming
Cossacks. When he heard of this shameful retreat before a handful of
Russian irregulars, Napoleon became incandescent with rage.
Only 10,000 men resumed the march with Murat on 10 December. As
soon as they encountered the first steep hill, they abandoned all
remaining carts, cannons and pay chests; with great reluctance they
carried only the regimental eagles. At Kovno only 7,000 effectives were
left, and at this town Ney had to turn and join with the rearguard,
fighting for a day and a night (13-14 December) before the Russians
broke off, allowing the French to cross the Niemen. Ney was the last
Frenchman to leave Russian soil and, as he watched the Niemen bridges
burning behind him, he at least had the satisfaction of reflecting that for
him the 1812 campaign had been a personal triumph.
The Russians began their invasion of Poland in January 1813. Murat
pulled back to Posan, then fled to his kingdom of Naples, leaving the
Army in the more capable hands of Eugene de Beauharnais who, obeying
his stepfather's orders, pulled his men back behind the Elbe. Once in
Germany the handful of survivors from Russia dispersed to the various
fortress towns. MacDonald had already retreated into Poland and
eventually brought a force of 7,ooo back to Konigsberg via Riga and
Tilsit; Schwarzenberger and Reynier took their corps into Austria. It was
estimated that by New Year 1813 just 25,000 survivors from Central
Army Group and 68,ooo from the outlying corps had reentered
Germany.
On leaving Gragow Napoleon travelled in disguise and took with him
marcin
(Marcin)
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