September 1812 Moscow, which normally harbored 300,000 inhabitants, was not completely deserted. It is true that practically every person of Russian origin had left the city, compulsorily. The order to evacuate did not affect foreigners living in Moscow. Not only could they remain, they were obliged to do so. The first concern of those who stayed was to amass a stock of provisions, which were piled everywhere, especially in cellars. It was then rumored that the city was to be destroyed and those remaining would be buried in the ruins. (Blond 326). Leaving furniture and pictures, taking only their jewels and food, the foreigners and those Muscovites anxious for their possessions moved to apartments, often in the palaces of friends who had fled. Later that day, Napoleon entered Moscow with 95,000 men at his side. Napoleon received from Murat, who was continuing to pursue the enemy army with the best part of a division, numerous reports in which the King of Naples stated that the Russian troops appeared very discouraged and that the Cossacks were discontented and wished to quit the army. (Blond 327) These reports cheered the Emperor. However, on 14 September at 11 p.m., an officer arrived to relay the news that the Moscow bazaar was on fire. How the fire started that night, no one really knows. According to Henri Francoise de Segur, it was set deliberately and systematically on the orders of the governor of Moscow, Count Rostopchin. (Herold 357). Yet even if Rostopchin did not give the order to start the fire, and if the fire started by accident, there can be no doubt that once it started it was deliberately spread, partly be bands of patriots, partly by looters, both French and Russian. The dawn of Tuesday 15 September broke in flames. During the morning Napoleon rode through the Dorogomilov gate towards the Kremlin. The Kremlin, built on a hill, dominated Moscow and was a city within a city. The surrounding walls and towers were of br...
