These reasons were the treachery of the Austrians, a defective commissariat, the treachery of the Pole Przebyszewski and of the Frenchman Langeron, Kutuzov's incapacity, and (it was whispered) the youth and inexperience of the sovereign, who had trusted worthless and insignificant people.

But the army, the Russian army, everyone declared, was extraordinary and had achieved miracles of valor.

The soldiers, officers, and generals were heroes.

But the hero of heroes was Prince Bagration, distinguished by his Schon Grabern affair and by the retreat from Austerlitz, where he alone had withdrawn his column unbroken and had all day beaten back an enemy force twice as numerous as his own.

What also conduced to Bagration's being selected as Moscow's hero was the fact that he had no connections in the city and was a stranger there.