On June 24, 1812 ... village of Borodino. Moscow, the holy city of Russia, was at stake. On the morning of September 8, the soldiers of the Tsar prepared themselves for battle, chanting ...

The Battle of Borodino on September 7, 1812, was the single bloodiest day ... to stay alive even outside combat. The gates to Moscow were open, giving the Grande Armée a brief morale boost.