Dutch translation of a Russian account of the retreat of Napoleons Grande Armée from Russia in 1812. Probably originally written in German, this account was published in numerous versions in 1813 and 1814. Starting with the Moscow fire of September 1812, the account contrasts a chaotic French retreat with a well-planned combination of tactical retreat and pursuit by the Russians. Most of the account describes Russian victories over the French, with particular praise for Field Marshall Kutuzov, and the final part describes the horrors of the crossing of the Berezina and the final struggle to reach Prussian territory.
A final passage probably unique to this Dutch edition draws an interesting contrast between the French bulletins presenting all activities in Russia as grand victories (when they were, in fact, disastarous) and the constant truthfulness of Russian accounts. The account ends with a list of 43 French generals now in Russian custody.
With Amsterdam and most of the Netherlands abandoned by the French, the publisher Maaskamp (1769-1834) published numerous accounts of the recent events that had led to the French retreat all over Europe. Although sometimes attributed to the German dramatist and diplomat August von Kotzebue (1761-1816), the account was probably written by the Prussian Ernst von Pfuel (1779-1866) who served in the Russian army.
With small fragments of the original blue paper wrapper on the spine. A small stain at the top of the title page but otherwise in very good condition. Knuttel 23513; Saakes 6 (1814), p. 3.