War and Peace Volume 1 Book 2 Chapter 8

In which a squadron of hussars faces the tense and uncertain moments before a skirmish on a bridge, the quiet before battle filled with the vivid impressions and conflicting emotions of young soldiers newly acquainted with the reality of war. The clash of duty, courage, and fear plays out beneath the calm evening sky as orders are muddled and the bridge is set aflame, while the beauty of the surrounding landscape stands in poignant contrast to the turmoil of those involved.