The Emperor had ordered that his household and all his office staff should be sent from Moscow on the 23rd of October and join him at Mojaisk. It is impossible to give any idea of the rapidity of the execution of his orders. The preparations for this move were completed in three hours.
We went to the house of our princess, and there we found some good horses, which had been concealed in a cellar. We mounted two superb ones, and immediately hitched them to a fine carriage.
While this was being done, I got the provisions ready: about ten loaves of sugar, a good-sized box of tea, some elegant cups, and a copper to melt the sugar in. We had a carriage load of provisions.
At three o'clock we left Moscow. It was scarcely possible to make our way, for the road was blocked up with carriages and all the army plunderers were there in great numbers.
Read Full Article »