Bk. 1, Pt. 2, Ch. 8: Nikolai's Baptism By Fire
Only Denisov’s squadron of Hussars and some Cossacks were on the side of the crossing facing the enemy. The French became visible when they emerged from a tree line on the heights, putting their artillery into position. The Hussars remained poised amidst French bugle calls.
Between Denisov’s men and the enemy was about 700 yards of vacant space. It was a no-man’s land Tolstoy gave transcendent significance. He wrote:
“One step beyond that line, which is like the bourne dividing the living from the dead… [W]hat is there?, who is there?, there beyond that field, beyond that tree…. No one knows, but who does not long to know? You fear to cross that line, yet you long to cross it; and you know that sooner or later it will have to be crossed….”
Soon, the French fired cannons overshooting the Hussars. The faces of the Hussars showed “conflict, excitement and agitation.” Rostov sat on his horse, confident and ready to showcase his bravery. He glanced around with a serene and radiant expression. Denisov appeared redder in the face than usual -- perhaps from liquid courage – and led his men across to safety. He met up with Col. Karl Bogdanich Schubert. Young Rostov believed Col. Schubert (who recently dressed him down as a “liar”) noticed him.
Zherkov, who had been demoted to field duties, found Schubert and delivered an order to “fire the bridge.” This involved sending a small group into the line-of-fire. There was confused discussion among the officers on what should be done. It would have been better to have set fire to the structure on the way over rather than to send men back. Minutes were now a matter of life and death. Schubert ordered that Denisov’s squadron perform the task. This confirmed Rostov’s (incorrect & lofty) suspicion that he was being focused on. In reality, he was hardly noticed. Some of the Hussars made for the bridge on horse and others, including Rostov, on foot. Rostov ignominiously fell in the mud.
The French then sent soldiers running towards the bridge. It was a race to see if the Hussars could blow the bridge before taking excessive fire. The officers wondered: Who would get there first? Would the French artillery rip the Hussars to pieces? Zherkov, true to his base character, contemplated the awards that await if the task was pulled off.
When further cannon shots rang out, Nesvitsky noticed that a Hussar was cut down. He was shocked by the brutality and imagined -- “If I were Czar I would never make war.” Grapeshot rained down on the bridge. One blast fell in the midst of a group, hitting three men. Soon smoke from the bridge obscured it.
Rostov found himself in the middle of the crossing, unable to help the situation. He didn’t even have any burning straw. He was useless and in fear. He could hear the grapeshot spreading around, which resembled someone scattering nuts. The Hussar nearest him was hit and there was a call for “stretchers!” Rostov could only stare into the distance, having an epiphany as he took in the Danube, sky, and sun. The water so blue and calm. Nature was filled with peace and happiness but all around him -- man-made mayhem. He became conscious of his mortality and realized he may never see the sun again. The yearn to fight was purged. His fear of death and love of life merged into a sickening agitation. Rostov prayed aloud to the Lord for forgiveness and protection. He then ran back following Hussars who successfully set the bridge ablaze.
When safe, Rostov thought himself a coward. However, that was not the way others viewed him, for his elders understood what the young man had just experienced. Overall, the mission a success and the Hussars took just a handful of casualties. It appeared one was killed on the spot and one or two died later. Only a few more were wounded, which to the Colonel’s view, was “not worth mentioning” in official reports.
