Part 2, Chapters 9-12 Summary

The French army of 100,000 pursues the Russian army of 35,000 to the lower ground around the Danube. Here and there, during the retreat, skirmishes break out, but mostly the Russians concentrate on retreat. On the 28th of October, Kutuzov takes his army across the banks of the Danube. Prince Andrew has been slightly wounded in his arm from a bullet during a battle in which the Austrian general Schmidt is killed. As a special favor, Andrew is sent to the Austrian court with news of the victory.

Andrew receives a cool reception in Brunn, where the death of Schmidt is treated as a great calamity. All the happiness he had felt about the victory is gone, and the battle seems a long time ago. Prince Andrew stays in Brunn with a Russian acquaintance Bilibin. Bilibin explains to Andrew why the...