Publisher's Synopsis
Barclay's narrative begins with Tsar Alexander I's departure from general headquarters for Moscow in July 1812 as the Russian army retreats to Moscow and beyond. Barclay's account is filled with scathing opinions of fellow officers whom he accuses of plotting behind his back. Barclay's uneasy relationship with fellow commander Prince Pyotr Bagration is a central theme of the narrative.
The book provides a perspective of the 1812 campaign from one of the key Russian participants and is a vital source for historians studying Napoleon's invasion of Russia. This is one of the few Russian war memoirs of the 1812 campaign and serves as a fascinating read for those interested in Russian military history and the intrigue that characterizes European armies of this period.
