The near capture of Napoleon in Russia
"A few days after the evacuation of Moscow, Napoleon narrowly escaped being made prisoner by the Cossacks. He had started early in the morning on the Kaluga road with only a few officers, leaving the four squadrons of the Guard, his regular escort, to overtake him. Before they arrived, as he was passing along without dreaming of immediate danger, he suddenly saw the crowds of men and women who filled the road in advance with vehicles, hurrying back in terror, overturning the wagons and creating a scene of indescribable confusion. Supposing it a groundless panic, he continued to move forward. At length the long black lines which had remained motionless in the distance began to advance, and a moment after, six thousand Cossacks came dashing down in a wild gallop. Rapp cried out to the emperor, "It is the Cossacks, turn back." The latter disbelieving it, or too proud to fly, stood still. The furious hordes were already surrounding him when Rapp seized the bridle of his horse and turning him round, exclaimed, "Indeed you must turn back." Napoleon, perceiving at length the full extent of his danger, immediately drew his sword and placing himself with Berthier and Caulincourt on the side of the road, calmly waited the attack of the barbarians. They approached to within fifty paces when Rapp flung himself on the foremost. A lance pierced his horse, and he fell. The aides-de-camp and a few horsemen of the Guard extricated him. A moment after, however, Bessieres came thundering up with the cavalry of the Guard and swept the field." (Headley, 1851). The Cossack commander, Platov, had promised his daughter to bring Napoleon back alive to his village.
Reference:
Headley, J. (1851). The imperial guard of Napoleon: from Marengo to Waterloo.
"A few days after the evacuation of Moscow, Napoleon narrowly escaped being made prisoner by the Cossacks. He had started early in the morning on the Kaluga road with only a few officers, leaving the four squadrons of the Guard, his regular escort, to overtake him. Before they arrived, as he was passing along without dreaming of immediate danger, he suddenly saw the crowds of men and women who filled the road in advance with vehicles, hurrying back in terror, overturning the wagons and creating a scene of indescribable confusion. Supposing it a groundless panic, he continued to move forward. At length the long black lines which had remained motionless in the distance began to advance, and a moment after, six thousand Cossacks came dashing down in a wild gallop. Rapp cried out to the emperor, "It is the Cossacks, turn back." The latter disbelieving it, or too proud to fly, stood still. The furious hordes were already surrounding him when Rapp seized the bridle of his horse and turning him round, exclaimed, "Indeed you must turn back." Napoleon, perceiving at length the full extent of his danger, immediately drew his sword and placing himself with Berthier and Caulincourt on the side of the road, calmly waited the attack of the barbarians. They approached to within fifty paces when Rapp flung himself on the foremost. A lance pierced his horse, and he fell. The aides-de-camp and a few horsemen of the Guard extricated him. A moment after, however, Bessieres came thundering up with the cavalry of the Guard and swept the field." (Headley, 1851). The Cossack commander, Platov, had promised his daughter to bring Napoleon back alive to his village.
Reference:
Headley, J. (1851). The imperial guard of Napoleon: from Marengo to Waterloo.