Finding himself driven so far out of his track, he hastened to regain it by reascending the Boristhenes, to Mohilef.  But there again he found Davoust, who had anticipated him at Lida by passing the Berezina at the very point at which Charles XII. had formerly done so.

This marshal, however, had not expected to find the Russian prince on the road to Mohilef.  He believed him to be already on the left bank of the Boristhenes.  Their mutual surprise turned in the first instance to the advantage of Bagration, who cut off a whole regiment of his light cavalry.  At that time Bagration had with him 35,000 men, Davoust 12,000.  On the 23d of July, the latter chose an elevated ground, defended by a ravine, and flanked by two woods.  The Russians had no means of extending themselves on this field of battle; they, nevertheless, accepted the challenge.  Their numbers were there useless; they attacked like men sure of victory; they did not even think of profiting by the woods, in order to turn Davoust’s right.

The Muscovites say that, in the middle of the contest they were seized with a panic at the idea of finding themselves in the presence of Napoleon; for each of the enemy’s generals imagined him to be opposed to them, Bagration at Mohilef; and Barclay at Drissa.  He was believed to be in all places at once:  so greatly does renown magnify the man of genius! so strangely does it fill the world with its fame! and convert him into an omnipresent and supernatural being!

The attack was violent and obstinate on the part of the Russians, but without scientific combination.  Bagration was roughly repulsed, and again compelled to retrace his steps.  He finally crossed the Boristhenes at Novoi-Bikof, where he re-entered the Russian interior, in order finally to unite with Barclay, beyond Smolensk.

Napoleon disdained to attribute this disappointment to the ability of the enemy’s general; he referred it to the incapacity of his own.  He already discovered that his presence was necessary every where, which rendered it every where impossible.  The circle of his operations was so much enlarged, that, being compelled to remain in the centre, his presence was wanting on the whole of the circumference.  His generals, exhausted like himself, too independent of each other, too much separated, and at the same time too dependent upon him, ventured to do less of themselves, and frequently waited for his orders.  His influence was weakened over so great an extent.  It required too great a soul for so great a body; his, vast as it was, was not sufficient for the purpose.

But at length, on the 16th of July, the whole army was in motion.  While all were hurrying and exerting themselves in this manner, he was still at Wilna, which he caused to be fortified.  He there ordered a levy of eleven Lithuanian regiments.  He established the duke of Bassano as governor of Lithuania, and as the centre of administrative, political, and even military communication between him, Europe, and the generals commanding the corps de armee which were not to follow him to Moscow.