‘Yes, sire. Even if we were to leave Moscow at once, we cannot reach the Niemen before the winter sets in. The first snow will fall in November, and the temperatures will drop far below freezing. Our men are still in the uniforms they were wearing for a summer campaign. They need warm clothing, sire. Thick coats, gloves, scarves and boots.’

‘Then see to it. Have them issued with whatever they need from stores.’

‘Sire, I have already spoken to the chief of the commissary. Dumas has hardly any stock of winter clothing. If your majesty recalls, it was decided not to overburden the supply wagons with unnecessary equipment. It was anticipated that the campaign would be over in time for the army to return to winter quarters in Poland.’

‘Yes. I remember.’

‘Whatever clothing Dumas has now has been picked up along the route, as the wagons emptied of rations.’

‘A wise precaution.’ Napoleon nodded vaguely. ‘Dumas is a clever fellow.’

‘The problem is that there is not nearly enough winter clothing for the entire army. Our latest strength returns give us ninety-five thousand men. Dumas can provide for no more than twenty thousand.’

‘Then requisition some more coats, and whatever else is needed.’

‘Where from, sire?’

‘I cannot believe there is not enough winter clothing to be had in Moscow.’

‘The fire destroyed the shopping and warehouse districts,’ Berthier explained evenly. ‘The only clothing that is left is whatever is in the houses that survived. Even then, the Russians took nearly everything with them when they evacuated the city.’

‘Then do what you can,’ Napoleon replied tersely. ‘Anything else?’

‘Yes, sire. Murat reports that he has fewer than ten thousand cavalry mounts remaining and many of those are lame, and all of them are short of forage. The same is true for the artillery. The city’s stock of feed was also lost in the fire.’

‘Then we must have fresh horses. An army is nothing without cavalry and artillery. Tell Murat to send his men out to buy horses from the towns and villages around Moscow.’

Berthier took a deep breath.‘Sire, the city is surrounded by Cossacks. In any case, Murat’s patrols report that every settlement within twenty miles of Moscow has been evacuated and torched. There are no horses to be had.’

‘Why do you tell me this? What can I do?’ Napoleon waved his arms wide. ‘I can’t just make horses appear!’