for scouting and reconnoissance, and for harrying the flanks of an enemy or turning defeat into a rout, the Cossacks were nevertheless the despair of the German and Austrian tacticians of the Emperor Alexander's staff. The ideal soldier, according to these experts, was embodied in the little blocks of wood they could manoeuvre so convincingly across their field maps.
WTien, as only too often happened, these theoretical operations refused to repeat themselves as planned, it was the Russian troops, especially the Cossacks, who were generally blamed. But Prince Koutusov, the popular hero of Catherine's wars, who recognized the irreconcilable differences between the Russian and German methods and shared the national "distrust" of Alexander's foreign advisers, placed great reliance upon the Cossack le\'ies. His whole campaign against Xapoleon's army after the disaster of ^Moscow was indeed a strategic development of Cossack principles — the manoeu\Tes which had been practised for centuries upon the broad plain of Sc}i:hia since the days of Darius' invasions.*
To carr\' out his plan of a long and orderly retreat — leading his enemy ever deeper into the treacherous steppes — he needed just such mobile troops as were furnished by the soldiers of the Don,
* Tolstoi's famous novel, "War and Peace," contains an interesting account, historically true, of the military conditions prevailing in Russia at this time.
the Kouban, the Terek and the Urals. But only a leader enjoying their respect and confidence could turn their military talents to the best account. Platov's personal popularity and prestige made him an invaluable leader of these redoubtable squadrons among whom the free Cossack spirit too often degenerated into license and indiscipline. For this reason, in spite of his advanced years, Koutousov urged him to take part in the coming campaign.
In treating of the glorious campaign of 1812 — the uprising of the entire Russian nation against Napoleon's ambition for World Power — only the part played by the Cossack troops will be considered here. Thirty-six thousand Cossacks formed the vanguard of the heroic army which first advanced against Napoleon. These were divided into fifty polki or "regiments," each provided with its own light artillery. The flying column under Platov's immediate command was composed of fourteen regiments, to which were added a few chasseurs and dragoons. The principal duty assigned to the Donskoi troops was that of covering the flanks of the second army under the command of his old friend and patron. Prince Bagration.
A great rivalry soon sprang up between Napoleon's scouts — Polish uhlans and hussars — and the Cossack cavalry. During the advance of King Jerome's army (at the very beginning of the French attack) three regiments of uhlans on their way to Xovgoroudka were cut off in the village of Karelichi by two regiments of Platov's troops.* The greater part of the uhlans fell or were taken prisoner at the first onslaught, while the rest were pursued to the very outpost of Jerome's headquarters.
For more than a month these combats between Polish and Cossack cavalry continued. It was largely due to such minor engagements fought between these old-time enemies that the advance of the main French army was so seriously retarded, a delay which enabled Bagration to retire in good order to his entrenchments at Bobrinsk.
This task accomplished Platov was ordered to cross the Dnieper and to join the first army. ^ATiile attached to this new conmiand Platov and his Cossacks witnessed the terrible disaster of the first battle of Bordino. While this engagement was not of a character to give the Cossacks an opportunity to employ their peculiar tactics, nevertheless Prince Koutousov, the aged commander-in-chief, declared that Platov was "getting too old for active service.'* Showing little mercy for an officer who had grown grey in the same ser^nce as himself, Koutousov relieved the veteran of his conmiand in the field, ordering him to proceed to the Don in order to gather new reinforcements.
Platov's soldierly rejoinder to this crushing blow was redoubled acti\'itj^ in serving the cause
* The Fifth Isvolaski and the Second Karpor.