In 1812 a single musket held back an empire. In 1812, as Napoleon’s Grand Army collapsed during its frozen retreat from Moscow, Russian forces closed in from every direction. Snow buried the roads. Hunger had shattered morale. Entire French units were disappearing into the cold. At the rear of the retreat stood Michel Ney, tasked with holding back pursuing Russian troops so the remnants of the army could escape. When chaos scattered much of his rear guard, Ney refused to abandon the crossing. Ac