History of the Expedition to Russia 1812: Volume One

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A01=General Count Philippe de Segur
Author_General Count Philippe de Segur
battle
battle of borodino
borodino
Category=NHD
Category=NHW
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eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
general of brigade count philip de segur
grand armee
military campaign
moscow
napoleon bonaparte
river nieman
russia
treaty
tsar alexander i

Product details

  • ISBN 9781845880217
  • Weight: 310g
  • Dimensions: 125 x 198mm
  • Publication Date: 31 Oct 2005
  • Publisher: Nonsuch Publishing
  • Publication City/Country: GB
  • Product Form: Paperback
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On 23 June 1812, with virtually all of Europe under his control, Napoleon Bonaparte and his Grand Armee, the largest force yet assembled for war, crossed the River Niemen into Russia in an attempt to defeat the Russian army and force the Tsar, Alexander I, into a Treaty confirming Napoleon's dominance over the whole of continental Europe.

Over half a million men embarked on the invasion and, initially, the attack went well, the Russians retreating before the French to within 70 miles of Moscow. Here, though, the Russians turned and fought one of the bloodiest battles of the war, at Borodino, with total casualties approaching 100,000. The Russians withdrew further and Napoleon entered Moscow on 14 September.

These events were experienced by the author of this account, General of Brigade Count Philip de Segur. His detailed, eye-witness account of an epoch-making campaign is compelling reading. This first volume relates events leading up to the burning of Moscow, a precursor to the horrors of the French retreat related in Volume Two.

Philip Paul, Comte de Segur, (1780-1873) was born into a long line of military men. In 1800 he enlisted in the cavalry and saw his first major action with General Macdonald in the Grison. Like his father before him he was also a historian and his first publication was an account of this first campaign. He was attached to the personal staff of Napoleon and in this capacity was present at most of Bonaparte's major campaigns, including the Russian expedition and the Peninsular Wars, as well as doing diplomatic duties when required. After the restoration of the Monarchy he remained in the army, but having supported Napoleon during the Hundred Days he was retired until 1818. In 1831 he received the rank of Lieutenant-General and a peerage. As well as his military achievements he was admitted to the French Academy in 1830 and published several works of French history.

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