The commander in chief was standing at the end of the village letting the troops pass by him.

That morning Kutuzov seemed worn and irritable.

The infantry passing before him came to a halt without any command being given, apparently obstructed by something in front.

"Do order them to form into battalion columns and go round the village!" he said angrily to a general who had ridden up.

" Don't you understand, your excellency, my dear sir, that you must not defile through narrow village streets when we are marching against the enemy?" "I intended to re-form them beyond the village, your excellency," answered the general.