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War and Peace vocabulary
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Battle of Vitebsk
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synonyms: Witepsk, Витебск ???
tags: [geography]
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Definition:[July 26, 1812]Napoleon intended to engage the Russian forces in a major battle here but the Russian forces deceived the French - retreating to Smolensk before this could happen. Meanwhile in Moscow the aristocrats continued getting antsy.After a few weeks of regrouping the French forces set out towards Smolensk while supposedly Napoleon stayed behind to celebate his 43rd birthday (on August 15).Vitebsk is now a city in northeastern Belarus.
image: Leo Tolstoy. War and Peace: With bonus material from Give War and Peace A Chance by Andrew D. Kaufman (inside front cover). Simon & Schuster (ajvocab's rendition of Napoeon celebrating his birthday not on the original map)gratuitous sound file: by auduosmeida, CC0
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Uses:
Before Rostov had had time to consider and determine the distance of that firing, Count Ostermann-Tolstoy’s adjutant came galloping from Vitebsk with orders to advance at a trot along the road.
Leo Tolstoy. War and Peace: With bonus material from Give War and Peace A Chance by Andrew D. Kaufman . Simon & Schuster
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