Vyazma.
In the operations conference room of the Russian Army High Command, a staff officer drew several lines on the map, pointing toward Kaluga. "General, we've just received a battle report. The Polish Madalinski Legion did not withdraw westward. Instead, it appears to be preparing to attack Kaluga."
Barclay de Tolly frowned. "Are they marching to their deaths? General Wittgenstein will catch up with them soon enough." Without supplies, even if Madalinski captured Kaluga, his troops would be annihilated for lack of ammunition.
Kutuzov said calmly, "Because they are about to run out of food. Kaluga is the nearest place where they can obtain grain."
He looked at the Orderly Officer. "Transfer the Obninsk garrison to Kaluga. Order Wittgenstein's corps to accelerate its pursuit." "Yes, General!"
Kutuzov turned his gaze toward Smolensk on the map and asked, "Any news from Prince Bagrationi?" "Not yet, General," the staff officer said. "After launching an attack on the town of Smolens, the Poles have become very quiet." Kutuzov ordered, "Tell Salaylov to move faster and confirm the Poles' location as soon as possible."
After the Polish rearguard showed signs of moving north, he had ordered the Bagrationi Legion to defend the Toropets line. At the same time, he had shifted the Samoilov Corps, which had originally been encircling them from the south, northward to put pressure on the Polish Army.
"Yes, General!"
As the Orderly Officer was recording the orders, the door burst open with a bang, and a Lieutenant Colonel rushed in. He said anxiously to Kutuzov, "General, the Salaylov Corps was ambushed at noon the day before yesterday. The situation... is not optimistic.
"Salaylov has now retreated to Glinka.
"And Kościuszko's rearguard force of more than thirty thousand men is fleeing south..."
The officers in the conference room immediately began murmuring