Prince Andrew observes the troops and the camps from above his lookout point, plotting the outcomes of the upcoming events in his head. He hears some of the soldiers talking about death and life after death which interests him. He recognizes one of the soldiers' voices as that of Tushin.
Important Quotes
"No, friend," said a pleasant and, as it seemed to Prince Andrew, a familiar voice, "what I say is that if it were possible to know what is beyond death, none of us would be afraid of it. That's so, friend."
Another, a younger voice, interrupted him: "Afraid or not, you can't escape it anyhow."
[Tushin]: "Yes, one is afraid," continued the first speaker, he of the familiar voice. "One is afraid of the unknown, that's what it is. Whatever we may say about the soul going to the sky... we know there is no sky but only an atmosphere."
CHAPTER 17
Andrew notices how anxious the men are before the battle. Prince Bagration comes and the men seem eager to display their courage in front of him. Tushin set fire to the French camp, delaying them.
Important Quotes
"He asked, "Whose company?" but he really meant, "Are you frightened here?" and the artilleryman understood him." (Bagration).
"Prince Andrew noticed, however, that though what happened was due to chance and was independent of the commander's will, owing to the tact Bagration showed, his presence was very valuable. Officers who approached him with disturbed countenances became calm; soldiers and officers greeted him gaily, grew more cheerful in his presence, and were evidently anxious to display their courage before him."
CHAPTER 18
Prince Bagration leads the army into the oncoming French. There is much chaos and many wounded men. The men are excited but scared to fight.
Important Quotes
"Forward, with God!" said Bagration, in a resolute, sonorous voice, turning for a moment to the front line, and slightly swinging his arms, he went forward uneasily over the rough field with the awkward gait of a cavalryman. Prince Andrew felt that an invisible power was leading him forward, and experienced great happiness. "
CHAPTER 19
The German colonel and the commander that had inspected the regiment in which Dolokhov was in (at the beginning of the book) argue over what to do. The German colonel challenges his superior because he believes that he'd be sacrificing his cavalry if they were to fight. The French approach and there is no time to decide, just fight. Rostov rides out to battle on his horse who is shot. He realizes that his horse is down and notices his arm is injured. The rest of the army is gone and the French approach him. He thinks they'll kill him and tosses his gun at them and begins to run away. He scarcely dodges their bullets.
Important Quotes
"The general and colonel looked sternly and significantly at one another like two fighting cocks preparing for battle, each vainly trying to detect signs of cowardice in the other. Both passed the examination successfully.... they would have remained there for a long time testing each other's courage had it not been that just then they heard the rattle of musketry and a muffled shout almost behind them in the wood."
Rostov: "Can they be coming at me? And why? To kill me? Me whom everyone is so fond of?" He remembered his mother's love for him, and his family's, and his friends', and the enemy's intention to kill him seemed impossible."
CHAPTER 20
The general who had commanded that the German cavalry fight suddenly realizes that he might have made a mistake in going to fight. People are dying, soldiers aren't following commands, smoke is everywhere. Dolokhov goes up to the commander and tries to impress him by showing him trophies that he got from the French (a sword and a pouch). He also brags about the bayonet wound on his head, proving how brave he is. Meanwhile, Tushin has set fire to the French grounds again. He commands the men to fire the guns (nicknamed "Matvevna") and cannons at the "little ants below." He and Andrew exchange a somber goodbye at the end.
Important Quotes
"the general realized that something dreadful had happened to his regiment, and the thought that he, an exemplary officer of many years' service who had never been to blame, might be held responsible at headquarters for negligence or inefficiency so staggered him that, forgetting the recalcitrant cavalry colonel, his own dignity as a general."
Dolokhov: "A bayonet wound. I remained at the front. Remember, your excellency!"
Andrew: "Well, till we meet again..." he said, holding out his hand to Tushin.
Tushin: "Good-bye, my dear fellow," said Tushin. "Dear soul! Good-bye, my dear fellow!" and for some unknown reason tears suddenly filled his eyes.
CHAPTER 21
The wounded Rostov climbs into one of the gun carriages with Captain Tushin. Together they sit by a fire and listen to the other soldiers, wounded, carrying the dead. Tushin is called in for a meeting with his superiors where Andrew, Zherhov, and Prince Bagration are. A French colonel, captured by Dolokhov, is in a nearby room. Bagration questions Tushin about the two missing guns that he was in charge of. Apparently, the guns were not working, so Tushin had left them behind. Bagration gets stern with the shy Tushin, but Andrew defends him, saying that if not for Tushin, they wouldn't have been able to drive off the French. Meanwhile, Rostov thinks of Telyanin and the confusion over the coin purse. He longs for home, wishing he'd never come to war.
Important Quotes
[Rostov thinking of Telyanin]: "...all that affair with Telyanin and Bogdanich. That affair was the same thing as this soldier with the harsh voice, and it was that affair and this soldier that were so agonizingly, incessantly pulling and pressing his arm and always dragging it in one direction. He tried to get away from them, but they would not for an instant let his shoulder move a hair's breadth. It would not ache—it would be well—if only they did not pull it, but it was impossible to get rid of them."
"Nobody wants me!" thought Rostov. "There is no one to help me or pity me. Yet I was once at home, strong, happy, and loved." He sighed and, doing so, groaned involuntarily.
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