Bk. 1, Pt. 2, Ch. 6-7: Prince Nesvitsy & the Bridge
Chapter 6: General Kutuzov is obligated to have his forces fall back towards Vienna and destroy bridges that cross the River Enn, particularly at Braunnau and Traun (near Linz).
On a warm but showery Autumn Day -- October 23, 1805 -- the bridge in Braunnau is focused on. Here, the Russian command is located on heights that provide a splendid view of the countryside surrounding Braunnau. This was not far from where the Enn flows into the Danube.
Among the artillery guns was Prince Nesvitsky, who was treating fellow soldiers to a local delicacy (small pies) as well as some rum punch (doppel-kümmel). The men chat about what they could view, including: the throng retreating towards them on the bridge, the movement of weaponry, as well as a local castle that would be ransacked for supplies. Their attention soon focuses on a local convent believed to be filled with young Italian nuns. Nesvitsky voices how he would love to "slip in" while another contends the nuns must be equally bored to death.
Kutuzov recognizes the retreat is moving at a snail's pace and that the men are in danger of being fired upon -- as the enemy could now be seen with the naked eye. Soon thereafter, Nesvitsky received orders to cross the bridge and tell a Colonel to have the Hussars cross last and destroy the bridge. Nesvitsky (along with a Cossack) left for this mission – telling his friends that he is going to “pay a visit to those little nuns.”
A General soon orders a cannon fired to test the range, which he finds will also be “a little fun to relieve the monotony.” A roar emanated and the shell went overhead, but fell well-short of the enemy. While some faces lit up at the sound, a light-hearted gaiety prevailed.
Chapter 7: The French were motivated to fire back. By this point, Nesvitsky was halfway across the bridge but stuck among the crush of men traveling the opposite way. He had been forced to dismount from his horse and was jammed against the parapet (barrier/wall). He could barely move among: men shoulder-to-shoulder with bayonets, baggage wagons, and cannons. Nesvitsky looked down and absorbed the unencumbered flow of the river, such a contrast to the chaos above. He noticed the conversations around him. One man spoke about a fellow solider being hit with a butt of a gun in the teeth. Another referenced the need for supplies (leg-bands). Yet another mentioned facing fire for the first time. Nesvitsky then passed a German family who had a special permit to evacuate. The father was quite nervous as he had with him two beautiful daughters. The soldiers were captivated by the young Germans, with every face wearing a smile “born of unseemly thoughts.” This movement of a family fleeing with all their possessions was foreboding.
Prince Nesvitsky then noticed fire from the French splash into the water. This caused the cluster to move faster. Nesvitsky was getting nowhere until he was spotted by Captain Denisov, who was told of the Prince's assignment. Denisov cleared a path with his sword and bravado ("Tell these devils, these demons, to give us woom!...Out of the way! Make woom! I will cut to pieces!...”). Denisov was absorbed in the moment, long having been ready for action.
Once the message was delivered to the Colonel, it was time to cross back and get out of cannon range. Here, Denisov reconnected with some of his Hussars and the rivalry between the infantry and Hussars became apparent. Some Hussars, with their fancy uniforms and horses, essentially cut the line, and paraded -- four horses abreast -- back across the bridge. This led to insults being shouted from infantry and a Hussar splashing a soldier with mud. When an infantryman yelled, “What's the use of them? They’re just for show. Only fit for a circus!,” a hussar eventually responded, “put a broomstick beneath your legs and ride-a-cock horse!”
