Summary
The morning of the Battle of Austerlitz begins in chaos and confusion. Russian troops march through dense fog, unable to see where they're going or what they're supposed to do. What starts as eager energy among the soldiers quickly turns to frustration and anger as orders get mixed up, columns get stuck, and nobody seems to know what's happening. The troops blame the Austrian allies—calling them 'sausage eaters'—for the confusion, showing how quickly people look for scapegoats when things go wrong. Meanwhile, Napoleon sits calmly on a hill above the fog, watching the Russian army make exactly the mistakes he predicted. He can see clearly while his enemies stumble around blind. The contrast is striking: Napoleon is patient, confident, and in control, celebrating the anniversary of his coronation like a man who knows he's already won. He waits for the perfect moment—when the sun burns off the fog—to strike. This chapter shows how battles are often won or lost before the first shot is fired. Poor communication, bad coordination, and leadership that's out of touch with reality create disasters waiting to happen. Napoleon understands that timing, positioning, and clarity of vision matter more than having more troops. He's playing chess while his opponents are stumbling around in the dark.
Coming Up in Chapter 64
The sun rises and the fog clears, revealing the true scope of Napoleon's trap. The battle that will reshape Europe is about to begin in earnest.
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
At five in the morning it was still quite dark. The troops of the center, the reserves, and Bagratión’s right flank had not yet moved, but on the left flank the columns of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, which were to be the first to descend the heights to attack the French right flank and drive it into the Bohemian mountains according to plan, were already up and astir. The smoke of the campfires, into which they were throwing everything superfluous, made the eyes smart. It was cold and dark. The officers were hurriedly drinking tea and breakfasting, the soldiers, munching biscuit and beating a tattoo with their feet to warm themselves, gathering round the fires throwing into the flames the remains of sheds, chairs, tables, wheels, tubs, and everything that they did not want or could not carry away with them. Austrian column guides were moving in and out among the Russian troops and served as heralds of the advance. As soon as an Austrian officer showed himself near a commanding officer’s quarters, the regiment began to move: the soldiers ran from the fires, thrust their pipes into their boots, their bags into the carts, got their muskets ready, and formed rank. The officers buttoned up their coats, buckled on their swords and pouches, and moved along the ranks shouting. The train drivers and orderlies harnessed and packed the wagons and tied on the loads. The adjutants and battalion and regimental commanders mounted, crossed themselves, gave final instructions, orders, and commissions to the baggage men who remained behind, and the monotonous tramp of thousands of feet resounded. The column moved forward without knowing where and unable, from the masses around them, the smoke and the increasing fog, to see either the place they were leaving or that to which they were going. A soldier on the march is hemmed in and borne along by his regiment as much as a sailor is by his ship. However far he has walked, whatever strange, unknown, and dangerous places he reaches, just as a sailor is always surrounded by the same decks, masts, and rigging of his ship, so the soldier always has around him the same comrades, the same ranks, the same sergeant major Iván Mítrich, the same company dog Jack, and the same commanders. The sailor rarely cares to know the latitude in which his ship is sailing, but on the day of battle—heaven knows how and whence—a stern note of which all are conscious sounds in the moral atmosphere of an army, announcing the approach of something decisive and solemn, and awakening in the men an unusual curiosity. On the day of battle the soldiers excitedly try to get beyond the interests of their regiment, they listen intently, look about, and eagerly ask concerning what is going on around them. The fog had grown so dense that though it was growing light they could not see ten paces ahead. Bushes looked like gigantic trees and level ground like cliffs and...
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Fog - When Poor Communication Creates Disasters
When information doesn't flow clearly, small problems cascade into disasters while those with clarity gain decisive advantage.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to spot the early warning signs when organizations are about to implode due to communication failures and leadership disconnect.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when people start blaming 'them' - the other department, the administration, the corporate office - and ask yourself what information gaps might be creating the real problem.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Column formation
A military formation where troops march in long, narrow lines one behind the other. It's good for moving quickly but terrible for fighting because only the front soldiers can shoot while everyone else is bunched up behind them.
Modern Usage:
Like when everyone crowds into a single checkout line at the store - efficient for moving, but creates chaos when you need to spread out quickly.
Fog of war
The confusion and lack of clear information that happens during battle. Soldiers can't see what's happening, orders get mixed up, and nobody knows if the plan is working.
Modern Usage:
Any situation where you're making decisions without enough information - like trying to navigate a crisis at work when nobody's communicating clearly.
Scapegoating
Blaming someone else for problems, especially when things go wrong and people need someone to point fingers at. The Russians blame their Austrian allies for the confusion instead of looking at their own mistakes.
Modern Usage:
When a project fails and everyone immediately blames the new guy or the other department instead of examining what really went wrong.
High ground advantage
In military terms, controlling the hills or elevated positions gives you a huge advantage because you can see everything below and your weapons have better range. Napoleon positions himself on a hill above the fog.
Modern Usage:
Having the 'high ground' in any situation - like being the boss who sees the whole company while employees only see their department.
Tactical patience
Waiting for exactly the right moment to act, even when you could move earlier. Napoleon waits for the fog to lift and the Russians to make their mistakes before attacking.
Modern Usage:
Like waiting for the perfect moment to ask for a raise or bring up a difficult conversation - timing can make all the difference.
Command breakdown
When the chain of command falls apart and orders don't reach the people who need them. Officers don't know what their troops are supposed to do, creating chaos and confusion.
Modern Usage:
When management changes direction but doesn't tell the front-line workers, so everyone's doing different things and nothing gets done right.
Characters in This Chapter
Napoleon
Strategic mastermind
Sits calmly on a hill above the fog, watching his enemies stumble around blind. He's patient, confident, and celebrating his coronation anniversary like a man who already knows he's won. He waits for the perfect moment to strike.
Modern Equivalent:
The chess master CEO who stays calm during company chaos because they can see three moves ahead
Bagration
Russian field commander
One of the Russian generals trying to execute a complicated battle plan in impossible conditions. He represents the competent soldier stuck with a bad strategy and poor coordination from above.
Modern Equivalent:
The experienced manager trying to make a terrible corporate initiative work with insufficient resources
Austrian column guides
Blamed messengers
The Austrian officers trying to coordinate with Russian troops become scapegoats when everything goes wrong. They're doing their job but get blamed for the chaos they didn't create.
Modern Equivalent:
The IT person who gets blamed when the whole system crashes, even though they warned everyone about the problems
Russian soldiers
Confused foot soldiers
March eagerly into battle but quickly become frustrated and angry when they can't see where they're going or what they're supposed to do. They start calling their allies 'sausage eaters' and looking for someone to blame.
Modern Equivalent:
Front-line workers who start enthusiastic but turn bitter when management keeps changing directions without explanation
Key Quotes & Analysis
"The smoke of the campfires, into which they were throwing everything superfluous, made the eyes smart."
Context: Describing the pre-battle scene as troops prepare to march
This detail shows how the Russians are literally creating their own fog and confusion, burning things that might be useful later. It's a metaphor for how they're making their situation worse through hasty decisions.
In Today's Words:
They were so focused on looking ready that they were making it harder to see what they were actually doing.
"It was growing light, the fog was lifting, but the enemy was not visible."
Context: As the Russian troops advance into what they think will be battle
The lifting fog should reveal the enemy and clarify the situation, but instead it shows how wrong their assumptions were. They're marching toward an enemy that isn't where they expected.
In Today's Words:
When the confusion cleared up, they realized they'd been completely wrong about what they were walking into.
"The sun of Austerlitz was shining on him."
Context: Describing Napoleon as he prepares for battle on the anniversary of his coronation
This famous line shows Napoleon in his moment of triumph, with both literal and symbolic light shining on him while his enemies stumble in darkness. The sun represents clarity, power, and divine favor.
In Today's Words:
This was his moment - everything was going exactly according to plan and he knew it.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Russian officers are disconnected from their troops' reality, making decisions from comfort while soldiers suffer in confusion
Development
Continues the pattern of aristocratic leadership being out of touch with ground-level consequences
In Your Life:
You might see this when upper management makes policy changes without understanding how they affect frontline workers
Power
In This Chapter
Napoleon demonstrates that real power comes from information and positioning, not just having more troops
Development
Shows how strategic thinking trumps brute force, building on earlier themes of intelligence over status
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when someone with less authority but better information outmaneuvers someone with a higher title
Communication
In This Chapter
The complete breakdown of communication creates chaos that Napoleon exploits, while clear orders would have prevented disaster
Development
Introduced here as a critical theme about how information flow determines outcomes
In Your Life:
You might experience this during shift changes when important patient information doesn't get passed along properly
Scapegoating
In This Chapter
Russian troops blame Austrian allies ('sausage eaters') for problems created by poor leadership and planning
Development
Shows how people deflect responsibility when systems fail, connecting to earlier themes of accountability
In Your Life:
You might see this when your workplace has problems and everyone blames the newest employee instead of fixing the real issues
Timing
In This Chapter
Napoleon waits patiently for the perfect moment when the fog lifts, understanding that patience and timing matter more than speed
Development
Introduced here as a key element of strategic thinking and emotional control
In Your Life:
You might apply this when dealing with family conflicts by waiting for the right moment to address issues rather than reacting immediately
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why were the Russian troops so confused and frustrated on the morning of the battle, and how did Napoleon take advantage of this?
analysis • surface - 2
What role did the fog play in the battle, both literally and as a symbol for the Russians' lack of understanding?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about a time when poor communication at work, school, or home created chaos. How did people react when they didn't know what was happening?
application • medium - 4
When you're in a confusing situation where nobody seems to know what's going on, what strategies could you use to find clarity instead of getting caught up in the blame game?
application • deep - 5
Why do people immediately start looking for scapegoats when things go wrong, and how does this make problems worse instead of solving them?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Find Your Hill Above the Fog
Think of a current situation in your life where there's confusion, mixed messages, or unclear expectations - maybe at work, in your family, or in your community. Write down what you can see clearly versus what's still 'foggy' to you. Then identify what questions you need to ask to get the clarity you need to navigate the situation successfully.
Consider:
- •What information are you missing that would help you understand the bigger picture?
- •Who has the authority to make decisions, and are they connected to what's actually happening on the ground?
- •What would happen if you waited for more clarity before taking action, versus jumping in now?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you had to make a decision without having all the information you wanted. What did you do to get clarity, and what would you do differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 64: When Authority Meets Reality
Moving forward, we'll examine experienced leaders navigate pressure from above while protecting their teams, and understand timing and preparation matter more than looking impressive. These insights bridge the gap between classic literature and modern experience.