NAPOLEON'S RETREAT FROM MOSCOW. 6ig 



hands to fashion and affix the garniture which made 

 their highly-prized chargers proof against the wear of 

 the roads ; for, burthened as they were, and workmen 

 being so scarce, a short time only was necessary to ren- 

 der unarmed hoofs quite unserviceable. 



In later times, though the practice of the art has 

 been confined solely to special workmen, and few above 

 these care about, or are acquainted with its most trifling 

 details, yet in armies the organization of the farriers' 

 department is considered, and justly, as of much im- 

 portance ; for without shoes on the horses' feet, a modern 

 army would be reduced to a most helpless state of ineffi- 

 ciency, and provided there was no other means of trans- 

 port or defence, would be on the verge of disaster. In- 

 deed, without this protection to the hoofs of troop, artillery, 

 and waggon-horses, no expedition could be undertaken. 



In consequence of the care always manifested in this 

 respect, examples of loss occasioned by its neglect are few. 

 The Russian campaign of 1 8 1 2, however, furnishes an in- 

 stance of the need there is for providing armies not only 

 with shoes to protect the hoofs, but appliances which will 

 make them independent of the seasons in northern climates. 

 I give the notice of this example from Thiers : ' ' Napoleon 

 left Doroboug on the 6th of November. The whole of 

 the army followed on the 7th and 8th. The cold had 

 become more perceptible, and once more gave rise to 

 painful regrets at having forgotten to provide winter 

 clothing; and another neglect yet more baffling— that of 

 procuring frost-nails for the shoes of the horses. The 

 season in which the army had left, and the belief that it 

 ' Hist, au Consulate, et de I'Empire, vol. xiv. 



