Napoleon's army trudged slowly across Russia's vast, open spaces ... many that the Russians didn’t dare fight. They started to retreat because they didn't have a choice. They had to retreat.

The Night Bivouac of Napoleon's Army during retreat from Russia in 1812, by Vasily Vereshchagin A snow-caked cluster of troops after the ruinous invasion of Russia. By the end of the French ...

The invasion of Russia was an incredibly audacious ... little more than smoldering cinders. The Russian retreat was well strategized, and Napoleon maneuvered to try and trap the Russian armies ...