Chapter 3

           

           Theso-calledpartisanwarbeganwiththeentryoftheFrenchintoSmolénsk.

           Beforepartisanwarfarehadbeenofficiallyrecognizedbythegovernment,thousandsofenemystragglers,marauders,andforagershadbeendestroyedbytheCossacksandthepeasants,whokilledthemoffasinstinctivelyasdogsworryastraymaddogtodeath.DenísDavýdov,withhisRussianinstinct,wasthefirsttorecognizethevalueofthisterriblecudgelwhichregardlessoftherulesofmilitarysciencedestroyedtheFrench,andtohimbelongsthecreditfortakingthefirststeptowardregularizingthismethodofwarfare.

           OnAugust24Davýdov’sfirstpartisandetachmentwasformedandthenotherswererecognized.Thefurtherthecampaignprogressedthemorenumerousthesedetachmentsbecame.

           Theirregularsdestroyedthegreatarmypiecemeal.Theygatheredthefallenleavesthatdroppedofthemselvesfromthatwitheredtree—theFrencharmy—andsometimesshookthattreeitself.ByOctober,whentheFrenchwerefleeingtowardSmolénsk,therewerehundredsofsuchcompanies,ofvarioussizesandcharacters.Thereweresomethatadoptedallthearmymethodsandhadinfantry,artillery,staffs,andthecomfortsoflife.OthersconsistedsolelyofCossackcavalry.Therewerealsosmallscratchgroupsoffootandhorse,andgroupsofpeasantsandlandownersthatremainedunknown.Asacristancommandedonepartywhichcapturedseveralhundredprisonersinthecourseofamonth;andtherewasVasílisa,thewifeofavillageelder,whoslewhundredsoftheFrench.

           ThepartisanwarfareflamedupmostfiercelyinthelatterdaysofOctober.

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