War and Peace: Volume 1, Part 2: Chapters 4–8 Summary & Analysis

The Pavlogradsky hussars are stationed two miles from Braunau, in the village of Salzeneck. Nikolai Rostov serves as a junker in this regiment. He lives with his squadron commander, Captain Denisov. Nikolai rides up to his quarters, fondly takes leave of his horse, and exchanges cheerful greetings with the German landlord. When Denisov gets home, he rants gloomily about his bad luck at cards last night, then sets Rostov to counting the coins left in Denisov’s purse. Lieutenant Telyanin, from the same regiment, comes to the door. Nikolai stows Denisov’s purse under a pillow and reluctantly chats with Telyanin, whom he dislikes. Telyanin teaches Rostov how to shoe his horse, then leaves.

When Rostov returns to the cottage, Denisov is eating a meal and writing a love letter. The sergeant major shows up for his winnings from last night’s gambling, and Rostov offers to cover the debt, but Denisov refuses. Yet when Denisov looks under his pillow for the purse full of coins, it’s not there. Denisov starts menacing his orderly, Lavrushka, for taking the purse, but Rostov realizes who must have taken it, buckles on his saber, and prepares to go out.

Rostov finds Telyanin at a tavern, where he demands to examine Telyanin’s purse and quietly accuses him of stealing Denisov’s money. Telyanin begins to sob about his elderly parents, and Rostov returns the purse. Later, back at Denisov’s quarters, another captain tells Nikolai that it looks bad for a mere junker to try to get a superior (Telyanin) in trouble. He’s now put the regimental commander, Bogdanych, in a tough spot—if Bogdanych prosecutes Telyanin, he’ll bring dishonor on the entire regiment. Tears in his eyes, Rostov gives a stumbling retraction. But just then Zherkov comes in with the news of Mack’s defeat; they’re to march out tomorrow.

Kutuzov’s regiment falls back toward Vienna, destroying bridges as they go. By October 23rd, a warm, rainy day, Russian troops have reached the Austrian town of Enns, near where the River Enns meets the Danube. In the distance, they can see enemy troops. While the artillerists scurry into position to fire on the enemy position, Nesvitsky rides down to urge the hussars forward; they must cross the bridge and then burn it. The sound of an exploding shell, as well as a sudden burst of sunshine, lifts everyone’s spirits.

As enemy cannonballs fly overhead, the infantry soldiers and hussars exchange jibes, the hussars’ horses splashing mud on the foot soldiers. Then they see French troops and artillery appear on the road opposite, a mere 600 yards away. Rostov sits on his slightly lame horse, Little Rook, beaming like a schoolboy at his comrades. Then the commander orders the two squadrons of Pavlogradsky hussars to cross back over the bridge. Rostov finds himself riding near the regimental commander, Bogdanych—the first time they’ve seen each other since the affair of Telyanin—and feels guilty. He speculates about Bogdanych’s motives.

Soon Nesvitsky returns, wondering why the bridge hasn’t been burned already. The colonel argues, insisting it wasn’t part of his original orders, but he finally agrees in an injured tone. Rostov feels that his first test has come. As the hussars make the sign of the cross and start running, Rostov suddenly feels afraid and hurries to get ahead of the others. But he falls in the mud near the bridge. Bogdanych, not recognizing Rostov, yells at him to stay back.

Beyond the range of fire, officers watch, wondering if the hussars will succeed in setting fire to the bridge before the French get there. Soon the French draw close enough to throw canisters at the hussars, a few of whom fall. The hussars set fire to the bridge and race back to their horse-handlers, but some are struck down by canister-shot. Rostov realizes this isn’t how he’d imagined battle—there aren’t any French to strike down—and he’s failed to bring any straw with which to set the bridge alight. So he stands there uselessly, gazing around at the blue sky and the glistening Danube; he feels at peace. He runs with the others, yet his thoughts are elsewhere. By the time he’s back on Little Rook, he realizes nobody has noticed his cowardice on the bridge. He’s just like any other junker under fire for the first time.