We civilians, as you know, have a very bad way of deciding whether a battle was won or lost.

Those who retreat after a battle have lost it is what we say; and according to that it is we who lost the battle of Pultusk.

In short, we retreat after the battle but send a courier to Petersburg with news of a victory, and General Bennigsen, hoping to receive from Petersburg the post of commander in chief as a reward for his victory, does not give up the command of the army to General Buxhowden.

During this interregnum we begin a very original and interesting series of maneuvers.