Michail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1745 - 1813), commander-in-chief of the Russian army is sitting on the far left, with his generals (Council of War) deciding to save the army from another battle and surrender Moscow to Napoleon. The room is the home of peasant M. Frolov.

Round the peasant's deal table on which lay maps, plans, pencils and papers, so many people gathered that the orderlies brought in another bench and put it beside the table. Ermolov, Kaysarov, and Toll, who had just arrived, sat down on this bench. In the foremost place, immediately under the icons, sat Barclay de Tolly, his high forehead merging into his bald crown. He had a St George's Cross round his neck and looked pale and ill. He had been feverish for two days and was now shivering and in pain. Beside sat Uvarov, who with rapid gesticulations was giving him some information, speaking in low tones as they all did. Chubby little Dokhturov was listening attentively with eyebrows raised and arms folded on his stomach. On the other side sat Count Ostermann-Tolstoy, seemingly absorbed in his own thought. His broad head with its bold features and glittering eyes was resting on his hand. Raevski, twitching forwards the black hair on his temples as was his habit, glanced now at Kutuzov and