I was so sure that it was a trick question and the answer was supposed to be "General Winter". At least according to russian poetry it is! If not General Winter it has to be Old Moscow or Mother Russia or something. Really, in all the russian poems having to do with Napoleon, they don't mention Kutuzov, it's always winter or russia or nature or the indomitable will of the russian people (which could only be second to the will of God, if that). Fascinating.

From Pushkin's "Napoleon"

"Vainglorious man! Where were you faring,
Who blinded that astounding mind?
How came it in designs of daring
The Russian's heart was not divined?
At fiery sacrifice not guessing,
You idly fancied, tempting fate,
We would seek peace and count it blessing;
You came to fathom us too late . . .

Fight on, embattled Russia mine,
Recall the rights of ancient days!
The sun of Austerlitz, decline!
And Moscow, mighty city, blaze!
Brief be the time of our dishonor,
The auspices are turning now;
Hail Moscow -- Russia's blessings on her!
War to extinction, thus our vow!"

From Lermontov's "Borodino"

"Had it not been God's will alone,
Old Moscow should have stood!
...
And eyes aflame, he spoke his mind:
'Hey lads! is Moscow not behind?
By Moscow then we die
As have our brethren died before!'
And that we'll die we all then swore,
And th' oath of loyalty ne'er tore
Neath Borodinian sky.
...
Were 't not the will of God alone,
Old Moscow would have stood!"

[I'm so confused by the above translation! How did we get to the english versions of

Не будь на то господня воля,
Не отдали б Москвы!

and

Когда б на то не божья воля,
Не отдали б Москвы!

I thought I understood what the lines in the (russian) poem were saying but the translation's not making sense to me.]