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At eight o'clock Kutuzov rode to Pratzen at the head of the

fourth column, Miloradovich's, the one that was to take the place

of Przebyszewski's and Langeron's columns which had already gone

down into the valley. He greeted the men of the foremost regiment

and gave them the order to march, thereby indicating that he

intended to lead that column himself. When he had reached the

village of Pratzen he halted. Prince Andrew was behind, among the

immense number forming the commander in chief's suite. He was in

a state of suppressed excitement and irritation, though

controlledly calm as a man is at the approach of a long-awaited

moment. He was firmly convinced that this was the day of his

Toulon, or his bridge of Arcola. How it would come about he did

not know, but he felt sure it would do so. The locality and the

position of our troops were known to him as far as they could be

known to anyone in our army. His own strategic plan, which

obviously could not now be carried out, was forgotten.