Only Denisov's squadron of hussars remained on the farther side of the bridge facing the enemy, who could be seen from the hill on the opposite bank but was not yet visible from the bridge, for the horizon as seen from the valley through which the river flowed was formed by the rising ground only half a mile away.

At the foot of the hill lay wasteland over which a few groups of our Cossack scouts were moving.

Suddenly on the road at the top of the high ground, artillery and troops in blue uniform were seen.

These were the French.

A group of Cossack scouts retired down the hill at a trot.