From these details, it appears that Fortune was bending her blackest and most ominous frowns on the favourite of so many years. Napoleon was quartered, with the wretched relics of his grand army, amid the ruins of the burnt town of Smolensk, in which he could not remain, although his means of escape appeared almost utterly desperate.[204] The grand army of the Russians waited on his flank to assault his columns the instant they were in motion; and should he escape a pursuing enemy, all the Polish towns in the front, where supplies had been provided for his relief, had been taken, and the two large armies of Tchitchagoff and Witgenstein lay in position on the Beresina to intercept him. Hemmed in betwixt pursuers, and those who, in sportsman's phrase, were stationed to head him back, destitute of cavalry to oppose the nations of Cossacks which infested every motion, and having but little artillery to oppose to that of the Russians, all probability of escape seemed removed to an immeasurable distance. FOOTNOTES: [179] Ségur, tom. ii., p. 92; Twenty-fifth Bulletin of the Grand French Army. [180] "When we were about three leagues from Moscow, the Emperor stopped to wait for news from Mortier, who had orders to destroy the Kremlin on leaving the place. He was walking in a field with M. Daru; this gentleman left him; I was called--'Well, Rapp, we are going to retreat to the frontiers of Poland by the road to Kalouga; I shall take up good winter-quarters. I hope that Alexander will make peace.'--'You have waited a long time, Sire; the inhabitants foretell that it will be a severe winter.'--'Poh! poh! with your inhabitants. It is the 19th of October to-day; you see how fine it is. Do you not recognise my star.' But all that he said to me in the way of encouragement did not deceive even himself: his countenance bore the marks of uneasiness."--RAPP, p. 222. [181] Jomini, tom. iv., p. 163. [182] Ségur, tom. ii., p. 95. [183] Jomini, tom. iv., p. 166; Ségur, tom. ii., p. 101; Labaume, p. 247; Twenty-seventh Bulletin. [184] "In the habitation of a weaver--an old, crazy, filthy, wooden hut, and in a dirty, dark room--was the fate of the army and of Europe about to be decided."--SÉGUR, tom. ii., p. 107. [185] "'O heavens!' exclaimed Napoleon, clasping his hands, 'Are you sure you are right? Are you not mistaken? Will you answer for that?' Bessières repeated his assertion. He affirmed that '300 grenadiers would suffice to keep in check a whole army.' Napoleon then crossed his arms with a look of consternation, hung his head, and remained as if overwhelmed with the deepest dejection."--SÉGUR, tom. ii., p. 108. [186] Mémoires de Rapp, p. 227; Ségur, tom. ii., p. 110. [187] Ségur, tom. ii., p. 117. [188] Jomini, tom. iv., p. 165.