Alexandria Gazette & Advertiser

BUONAPARTE.

Burning of Moscow—I was in the midst of a fine city provisioned for a year—for in Russia they always lay in provisions for several months before the frost sets in. Stores of all kinds were in plenty. The houses of the inhabitants were well provided, and many had even left their servants to attend upon us. In most of them there was a note left by the proprietor, begging the French officers who took possession to take care of their furniture and other things; that they had left every article necessary for our wants, and hoped to return in a few days when the Emperor Alexander had accommodated matters, at which they would be happy to see us. Many ladies remained behind. They knew that I had been in Berlin and Vienna with my armies, and that no injury had been done to the inhabitants, and moreover, they expected a speedy peace. We were in hopes of enjoying ourselves in winter quarters, with every prospect of success in the spring. Two days after our arrival, a fire was discovered, which at first was not supposed to be alarming, but to have been caused by the soldiers kindling their fires too near the houses, which were chiefly of wood. I was angry at this, and issued very strict orders on the subject to the commandants of the regiments and others. The next day it had advanced, but still not so as to give serious alarm. However, afraid that it might gain upon us, I went out on horseback, and gave every direction to extinguish it. The next morning a violent wind rose, and the fire spread with rapidity. Some hundred miscreants, hired for that purpose, dispersed themselves in different parts of the town, and with matches which they concealed under their cloaks, set fire to as many houses to windward as they could, which was easily done, in consequence of the combustible materials of which they were built. This, together with the violence of the wind, rendered every effort to extinguish the fire ineffectual. I myself narrowly escaped with life. In order to shew an example, I ventured into the midst of the flames, and had my hair and eye-brows singed, and my clothes burnt off in my back; but it was in vain as they had destroyed most of the pumps, of which there were above a thousand; out of all these, I believe that we could only find one that was serviceable. Besides, the wretches that had been hired by Rostopschin ran about in every quarter, disseminating fire with their matches; in which they were but too much assisted by the wind.

This terrible conflagration ruined every thing. I was prepared for every thing but this—who would have thought that a nation would have set its capital on fire? The inhabitants themselves, however, did all they could to extinguish it, and several of them perished in their endeavors. They also brought before us numbers of the incendiaries with their matches, as amidst such a popolazzo we never could have discovered them ourselves. I caused about two hundred of these wretches to be shot. Had it not been for this fatal fire, I had every thing my army wanted; excellent winter quarters; stores of all kinds were in plenty—and the next year would have decided it."

Alexander would have made peace, or would have been in Petersburgh asked it he thought he could entirely sub-due Russia. "No." replied Napoleon; but would have caused Russia to make such a peace as suited the interests of France. I was five days too late in quitting Moscow. Several of the generals, continued he, "were burnt out of their beds. I myself remained in the Kremlin until surrounded with flames. The fire continued he, spirits, which burst forth in flames and overwhelmed every thing. I then retired to a country house of the Emperor about a league from the town, where I remained three days, during which time the city continued to burn. The warehouses, and several stores of oil and the Chinese and India advanced seized the Cbinese and India goods, which burst forth in flames and overwhelmed every thing.
Anderson's, distant about a league from Moscow. The intensity of the fire, when I tell you, that you could scarcely bear your hands upon the walls or the windows on the side next to the stable. It was the spectacle of a sea of fire, and then sinking into the ocean of fame below. Oh, it was the most grand, elevating themselves to skies of fire, and then sinking into the ocean of flame below. Oh, it was the most grand, the most sublime, and the most terrific sight the world ever beheld!!