Everywhere only death and destruction.

[**The following takes place during Napoleon’s fateful advance into Russia.**] >Virtually nothing was accomplished by the assault [**by Napoleon’s forces**] on Smolensk, which the Russians abandoned and burned, except utter annihilation. “One had to walk over debris, dead bodies and skeletons which had been burned and charred by fire,” recalled a French officer. “Everywhere unfortunate inhabitants, on their knees, weeping over the ruins of their homes, cats and dogs wandering about and howling in the most heart-rendering way, everywhere only death and destruction.” _____________________________ **Source:** Farquhar, Michael. “Chapter 9 – Alexander I (1801-1825): Napoleon’s Conqueror.” *Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia*. Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2014. 174. Print. _____________________________ **Further Reading:** Battle of Smolensk: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Smolensk_(1812) _____________________________ **If you enjoy this type of content, please consider donating to my [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/HistoryLockeBox)!**