Nicholas continues on his mission looking for Kutuzov or the Emperor. He notices broken carriages along the roads and hordes of troops in worsening levels of disorganization. Many are wounded. He reaches an area safe from cannon fire coming from the Pratzen Heights and slows to realize that there is no point to what he is doing. He has nothing of import to convey to the Tsar or to Kutuzov, should they remain alive. He learns the direction surviving commanders headed and hears conflicting reports about Alexandr being wounded or killed. One soldier, however, expressed confidence the Tsar was driven away at full speed in a carriage pulled by his customary driver, Illya Ivanych,

Rostov rides on -- not knowing how to direct himself. He took in the scenery and local architecture, including a church, symbolic of the sacred blotted out by War. He felt that if the Emperor was slain, he should have no desire to save himself. The point is that Alexandr, who does not know the thousands of young men he sent to their ignominious end, remains Rostov’s end-and-be-all. This is a contrast to Andrei, who finally realizes there is something much greater than ambitious rulers.

Rostov soon passes the battlefield where the largest number perished. Here, “men lied like heaps of manure on well-kept plowland.” There were 10 to 15 dead to each couple of acres. Those wounded stumbled together in twos and threes and Rostov absorbed their screams and groans.

Rostov became noticeable on his horse and some French on higher ground trained a few shots at him. He was snapped out of his moroseness through thinking of his mother’s love. Once again Nicholas adopts the instincts of a rabbit who senses danger and escapes.

He made it to a small village many utilized as a Haven. Upon hearing more rumors about the Emperor, he continued on for a couple of miles, coming to a ditch where he saw two men who seemed out of place on their grand horses. Another stood by a tree and Rostov noticed it was his Monarch. Such a scenario may be thought fictional or symbolic – namely, Alexandr becoming virtually alone in the disorder of the retreat. However, there is enough truth in this description to commend Tolstoy for weaving fiction and history in the way that Shakespeare did with his Histories, where the Bard’s writing often stands for a greater truth.

What happened historically was that the struggle for The Pratzen Heights decided the Battle and Kutuzov remained at the center of the conflict for as long as prudent. Both Kutozov and even Weyrother were shouting orders, trying to rally men, dispatching messengers -- all actions of reputable commanders. Amidst the chaos, there are reports that Alexander was separated from his Guard and wound up with some of the survivors of Gen. Miloradovich’s brigade. At one point, Alexandr was found “on damp ground under a tree, with his face covered with a handkerchief, bitterly crying.” This was the account of Gen. Carl Freidrich Graf von Toll.

The sentiment portrayed by Tolstoy is that Alexandr started the day envisioning he would be at the head of His army, like a Greek Warrior-King, at least at the moment of Triumph. Yet the accounts are that he was reduced to the image of something like……Job among the ash heap. So Tolstoy depicts Rostov as having the opportunity to comfort his Beloved. Yet Tolstoy does NOT have Nicholas take that step. Instead, Rostov backs down with the fear of a youth who cannot approach his true love. Though Nicholas had played over a million speeches in his head on what he would say to Alexandr should they meet, he was now immobilized by fear. Instead he convinces himself of the imprudence of an approach at such an unpleasant moment. He felt any such interaction should be reserved for when Rostov was dying on the field and there would be a poetic moment of thanks. Tolstoy then has Von Toll come into the scene and upon seeing the Emperor, comfort him while the two spend a few moments under an apple tree.

Tolstoy hardly ends the novel with the revelation imparted to Andrei. Instead, it continues for another 1000 pages, in substantial part, exploring the triviality so paramount to those without such vision.

The story moves back to earth to focus on the historic disgrace for Alexandr and Francis. It is entirely the opposite for Napoleon, who came out on top of The Battle of Three Emperors. Yet the bravado with which men enter a fight for those like Bonaparte, has lost some of the luster.

So many of us can be brought to both planes by the right presentation – either recognizing the responsibility of answering a call to arms; or appreciating the Sublime. Tolstoy is presenting this contrast as one of the great humanists, who wrote his masterpiece 60 years after Austerlitz.

The segue of Nicholas taking on his futile mission with such fervor after Andrei takes in the infinite sky, highlights how vulnerable we are to mindsets of emperor worship and patriotic devotion – more so at younger ages without the experience of war.

Just before the battle, Andrei was imagining, ”this will be the battle that makes me.” He is thinking of how the Battle of Toulon, in 1793, was a springboard for Napoleon. Tolstoy is showing how common it is for decent men to reach the point they will sacrifice their lives for military glory.

The point of this episode is to appreciate how easy a man can pulled into that mindset; and it is one of the great lessons of War & Peace.

This episode brings you through a few examples of such calls, in fiction and history.

What often comes to mind for the American audience is the speech in Braveheart – iconic fiction based on the historic Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297), written by Randall Wallace & Mel Gibson and naturally delivered by Mel.

Napoleon assuredly had the knack of attracting men to risk their lives for his vision and also referenced is one of his inspirational appeals that came shortly after the Battle of Lodi in 1796:

“To you, soldiers, will belong the immortal honor of redeeming the fairest portion of Europe. The French people, free and respected by the whole world, shall give to Europe a glorious peace, which shall indemnify it for all the sacrifices which it has borne the last six years. Then, by your own firesides you shall repose and your fellow citizens, when they point out any one of you, shall say: ‘He belonged to the army of Italy that fought in the Italian campaign!’”

The last reference is to a speech attributed to St. Bernard, an abbot from Clairvaux, France, in the 1100s, where he motivated the Knights of the Second Crusade in a Palm Sunday speech:

“Christian warriors, He who gave His life for you, today demands yours in return. These are struggles worthy of you, combats in which it is glorious to conquer and advantageous to die. Illustrious knights, generous defenders of the Cross, remember your fathers, who conquered Jerusalem, and whose names are inscribed in Heaven. Abandon the things that perish, to gather unfading palms and conquer a Kingdom that has no end.”

These are appeals to a sense of manhood and patriotism, and once again it is the spirit Andrei relinquishes. He is now is given a more ideal, godly and transcendent point of view.

Tolstoy brings you back from Andrei’s spiritual revelation to focus on Nicholas Rostov, who is imbued with the Confidence of Youth. General Bagratión had assented to Rostov’s request to be brought off the reserve line and selected him for a fool’s errand – as Bagratión is presented as understanding the futility of the attack.

This is in contrast to Prince Dolgorúkov, part of Alexandr’s inner circle, who felt victory was ordained. Dolgorúkov holds much of the blame for this debacle as reports indicate that he told Alexandr it would be cowardice to avoid confrontation.

Rostov is to be sent to either Kutuzov or the Emperor, who are thought to be near the Pratzen Heights, under the rubric of seeking guidance on how to advance. However, Bragratión knows that the distance the messenger would cover would likely have him killed or never be able to deliver the message. Rostov perceived no such danger and was overjoyed to be selected. He serves the literary vehicle that brings you through a historic military folly.

Nicholas moved along Bagratión’s troops and then came upon General Feodor Uvárov’s revered cavalry, where he noticed fine horseman preparing for battle. Uvárov commanded a reserve force of the Imperial Guard. As Rostov moved passed them, the sound of cannon and musketry was growing louder. Around Pratzen, volleys of musketry and cannon from the slopes merged into a general roar. Rostov took it in, including the sight of masses of infantry moving in all directions and getting into action. Soon came first sign of trouble, which didn’t really register -- there were Uhlans, a light calvary unit, in disordered ranks retreating from an attack. At that point Tolstoy has Rostov sense the rolling thunder of Uvárov’s famous charge. He perceived the thud of hooves and jingle of weaponry. As Rostov turned toward the horsemen in the open expanse of field he shared, he realized there was a stampede headed straight toward him. He barely gets out of their way amidst the order to charge.

The look of these men was of complete earnestness. Yet the reality was most were headed to their demise. Rostov had to turn his horse and briefly join them, to avoid getting crushed. One of the last to pass scowled at what he considered an idiot impeding the way. As the calvary passed, he could here the common chant of “Ura!” He got his bearings and soon noticed much of the calvary likely reached their destination as their ranks were mixed with some foreign cavalry. He could see nothing more, as smoke from cannon fire enveloped everything and he continued on.

Tolstly points out, in a nod to military history that this brilliant charge amazed the French themselves – and for a few moments broke the French infantry and captured a regimental eagle.

Rostov was afforded the luxury of envying doomed men he thought glorious. He considered that while these men had positions of honor, he may get to see the Emperor again. Through a mix of men running about and cannon fire, he heard a voice he recognized as Boris. Boris shared the elated smile of a vane young man who survives fire for the first time and relayed his own success story, that his Imperial Guard unit unexpectedly got into action after they took fire and drove the French back.

Rostov soon reveals how he is delivering a letter to “His Majesty.” He clarifies he means Alexandr, not the nearby Grand Duke, who commands the Guard. Their common friend Berg gets in this mix and the three are united. Berg cannot stop bragging about a minor wound to his hand, referencing his own lineage from a warrior class of German knights

When Rostov extricated himself from this reunion reality soon hit. It was all coming together – the retreating Uhlans, Boris’s unit involved in action, and the French getting behind parts of his army around Pratzen. He later learned that large sections of Russian and Austrian soldiers had been firing at one another. When he again observed Russian and Austrian forces running in confused crowds, he was seized by a panic and started to sense the battle was lost. He realized how many were dying and that perhaps he would meet the same end.

Rostov heard, in different languages, blame being cast. He considered, “My God! What does it all mean?” He could not believe these soldiers could act so dishonorably when the Emperor might see them. Finally, he noticed French cannons and troops on the Pratzen Heights themselves, in the spot where he had been ordered to look for Kutuzov.