The ultimate results of the Russian victory were the general uprising of northern Germany against Napoleon, the adhesion of Austria--after considerable hesitation--to the anti-Napoleonic coalition, and the complete overthrow within little more than a year of the empire of force which he had built in Europe. Britain had long since destroyed Napoleon’s efforts at gaining power on the sea, and had struck heavy blows at his prestige on land. As the Russian army lay at Tarutino it was gladdened by the news of Wellington’s victories. And the prestige of Napoleon, shaken in Spain, was now shattered in Russia, and his material military power so broken that he was never really able again to face his antagonists on equal terms. It is perhaps true to say that the enthusiastic uprising of Germany was the chief factor in Napoleon’s downfall in 1813, but it was Russia who gave the impulse and cleared the way; and her military aid was of vital importance. [Illustration: FIRST BATTLE OF POLOTSK (August 17th and 18th, 1812)] APPENDIX A FORCES SUCCESSIVELY EMPLOYED BY NAPOLEON AGAINST RUSSIA IN 1812 -------------------+--------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+--------+----- |Date of |Battalions.|Squadrons.| Infantry | Cavalry | Total. |Guns. | Muster | | | and Foot |and Horse | | | Roll. | | |Artillery.|Artillery.| | -------------------+--------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+--------+----- Grand Head-quarters|June 24 | | | 3,075 | 908 | 3,983 | (?) 1st _Corps d Armée_| ” ” | 88 | 16 | 68,627 | 3,424 | 72,051 | 150 2nd ” ” | ” ” | 48 | 16 | 34,299 | 2,840 | 37,139 | 92 3rd ” ” | ” ” | 45 | 24 | 35,755 | 3,587 | 39,342 | 86 4th ” ” | ” 30 | 54 | 20 | 42,430 | 3,368 | 45,798 | 116 5th ” ” | ” 24 | 33 | 20 | 32,159 | 4,152 | 36,311 | 70 6th ” ” |July 1 | 28 | 16 | 23,228 | 1,906 | 25,134 | 58 7th ” ” |June 24 | 18 | 16 | 15,003 | 2,186 | 17,189 | 50 8th ” ” | ” ” | 18 | 12 | 15,885 | 2,050 | 17,935 | 34 9th ” ” |Sept 3 | 43 | 12 | 31,663 | 1,904 | 33,567 | 80 10th ” ” |June 24 | 36 | 16 | 30,023 | 2,474 | 32,497 | 84 Austrian Corps | ” ” | 26 | 44 | 26,830 | 7,318 | 34,148 | 60 Imperial Guard |Estimate| | | | | | |(except | | | | | | |Cavalry)| 38 | 28 | 25,000 | 6,279 | 31,279 | 112 1st Cavalry Corps |June 24 | -- | 54 | -- | 12,077 | 12,077 | 30