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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17595-0.txt b/17595-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0eff1ab --- /dev/null +++ b/17595-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3865 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Frederic Shoberl Narrative of the Most +Remarkable Events Which Occurred In an, by Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Frederic Shoberl Narrative of the Most Remarkable Events Which Occurred In and Near Leipzig + Immediately Before, During, And Subsequent To, The + Sanguinary Series Of Engagements Between The Allied Armies + Of The French, From The 14th To The 19th October, 1813 + +Author: Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) + +Release Date: January 24, 2006 [EBook #17595] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREDERIC SHOBERL NARRATIVE *** + + + + +Produced by Thierry Alberto, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net. + + + + + + + * * * * * + + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | A number of obvious typographical errors have | + | been corrected in this text. | + | For a complete list, please see the bottom of this document. | + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + + +NARRATIVE +OF +THE MOST REMARKABLE EVENTS +WHICH OCCURRED +IN AND NEAR LEIPZIG, + +IMMEDIATELY BEFORE, DURING, AND SUBSEQUENT TO, THE SANGUINARY SERIES +OF ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN + +THE ALLIED ARMIES OF THE FRENCH, +FROM THE +14th TO THE 19th OCTOBER, 1813 + + +Illustrated with +MILITARY MAPS, +EXHIBITING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE RESPECTIVE ARMIES. + + +COMPILED AND TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN +BY +FREDERIC SHOBERL. + + +"Suave etiam belli certamina magna tueri + Per campos instructa, tuà sine parte pericli." + LUCRET. Lib. ii. 5. + +EIGHTH EDITION. + + +_LONDON:_ +PRINTED FOR R. ACKERMANN, 101, STRAND, +_By W. CLOWES, Northumberland court, Strand._ + +1814. + +[Price _Five Shillings_.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +After a contest of twenty years' duration, Britain, thanks to her +insular position, her native energies, and the wisdom of her counsels, +knows scarcely any thing of the calamities of war but from report, and +from the comparatively easy pecuniary sacrifices required for its +prosecution. No invader's foot has polluted her shores, no hostile hand +has desolated her towns and villages, neither have fire and sword +transformed her smiling plains into dreary deserts. Enjoying a happy +exemption from these misfortunes, she hears the storm, which is destined +to fall with destructive violence upon others, pass harmlessly over her +head. Meanwhile the progress of her commerce and manufactures, and her +improvement in the arts, sciences, and letters, though liable, from +extraordinary circumstances, to temporary obstructions, are sure and +steady; the channels of her wealth are beyond the reach of foreign +malignity; and, after an unparalleled struggle, her vigour and her +resources seem but to increase with the urgency of the occasions that +call them forth. + +Far different is the lot of other nations and of other countries. There +is scarcely a region of Continental Europe but has in its turn drunk +deep within these few years of the cup of horrors. Germany, the theatre +of unnumbered contests--the mountains of Switzerland, which for ages had +reverberated only the notes of rustic harmony--the fertile vales of the +Peninsula--the fields of Austria--the sands of Prussia--the vast forests +of Poland, and the boundless plains of the Russian empire--have +successively rung with the din of battle, and been drenched with native +blood. To the inhabitants of several of these countries, impoverished by +the events of war, the boon of British benevolence has been nobly +extended; but the facts related in the following sheets will bear me out +in the assertion, that none of these cases appealed so forcibly to the +attention of the humane as that of Leipzig, and its immediate vicinity. +Their innocent inhabitants have in one short year been reduced, by the +infatuation of their sovereign, and by that greatest of all curses, the +friendship of France, from a state of comfort to absolute beggary; and +thousands of them, stripped of their all, are at this moment houseless +and unprotected wanderers, exposed to the horrors of famine, cold, and +disease. + +That Leipzig, undoubtedly the first commercial city of Germany, and the +great Exchange of the Continent, must, in common with every other town +which derives its support from trade and commerce, have severely felt +the effects of what Napoleon chose to nickname _the Continental System_, +is too evident to need demonstration. The sentiments of its inhabitants +towards the author of that system could not of course be very +favourable; neither were they backward in shewing the spirit by which +they were animated, as the following facts will serve to evince:--When +the French, on their return from their disastrous Russian expedition, +had occupied Leipzig, and were beginning, as usual, to levy requisitions +of every kind, an express was sent to the Russian colonel Orloff, who +had pushed forward with his Cossacks to the distance of about 20 miles, +entreating him to release the place from its troublesome guests. He +complied with the invitation; and every Frenchman who had not been able +to escape, and fancied himself secure in the houses, was driven from his +hiding-place, and delivered up to the Cossacks, who were received with +unbounded demonstrations of joy. + +About this time a Prussian corps began to be formed in Silesia, under +the denomination of the Corps of Revenge. It was composed of volunteers, +who bound themselves by an oath not to lay down their arms till Germany +had recovered her independence. On the occupation of Leipzig by the +allies, this corps received a great accession of strength from that +place, where it joined by the greater number of the students at the +university, and by the most respectable young men of the city, and other +parts of Saxony. The people of Leipzig moreover availed themselves of +every opportunity to make subscriptions for the allied troops, and large +sums were raised on these occasions. Their mortification was +sufficiently obvious when the French, after the battle of Lützen, again +entered the city. Those who had so lately welcomed the Russians and +Prussians with the loudest acclamations now turned their backs on their +pretended friends; nay, such was the general aversion, that many strove +to get out of the way, that they might not see them. + +This antipathy was well known to Bonaparte by means of his spies, who +were concealed in the town, and he took care to resent it. When, among +others, the deputies of the city of Leipzig, M. Frege, aulic counsellor, +M. Dufour, and Dr. Gross, waited upon him after the battle of Lützen, he +expressed himself in the following terms respecting the corps of +revenge: _Je sais bien que c'est chez vous qu'on a formé ce corps de +vengeance, mais qui enfin n'est qu'une poliçonnerie qui n'a eté bon à +rien._ It was on this occasion also that the deputies received from the +imperial ruffian one of those insults which are so common with him, and +which might indeed be naturally expected from such an upstart; for, +when they assured him of the submission of the city, he dismissed them +with these remarkable words: _Allez vous en!_ than which nothing more +contemptuous could be addressed to the meanest beggar. + +It was merely to shew his displeasure at the Anti-Gallican sentiments of +the city, that Napoleon, after his entrance into Dresden, declared +Leipzig in a state of siege; in consequence of which the inhabitants +were obliged to furnish gratuitously all the requisitions that he +thought fit to demand. In this way the town, in a very short time, was +plundered of immense sums, exclusively of the expense of the hospitals, +the maintenance of which alone consumed upwards of 30,000 dollars per +week. During this state of things the French, from the highest to the +lowest, seemed to think themselves justified in wreaking upon the +inhabitants the displeasure of their emperor; each therefore, after the +example of his master, was a petty tyrant, whose licentiousness knew no +bounds. + +By such means, and by the immense assemblage of troops which began to be +formed about the city at the conclusion of September 1813, its resources +were completely exhausted, when the series of sanguinary engagements +between the 14th and the 19th of the following month reduced it to the +very verge of destruction. In addition to the pathetic details of the +extreme hardships endured by the devoted inhabitants of the field of +battle, which extended to the distance of ten English miles round +Leipzig, contained in the following sheets, I shall beg leave to +introduce the following extract of a letter, written on the 22d +November, by a person of great commercial eminence in that city, who, +after giving a brief account of those memorable days of October, thus +proceeds:-- + + "By this five days' conflict our city was transformed into one + vast hospital, 56 edifices being devoted to that purpose alone. + The number of sick and wounded amounted to 36,000. Of these a + large proportion died, but their places were soon supplied by the + many wounded who had been left in the adjacent villages. Crowded + to excess, what could be the consequence but contagious diseases? + especially as there was such a scarcity of the necessaries of + life--and unfortunately a most destructive nervous fever is at + this moment making great ravages among us, so that from 150 to 180 + deaths commonly occur in one week, in a city whose ordinary + proportion was between 30 and 40. In the military hospitals there + die at least 300 in a day, and frequently from 5 to 600. By this + extraordinary mortality the numbers there have been reduced to + from 14 to 10,000. Consider too the state of the circumjacent + villages, to the distance of 10 miles round, all completely + stripped; in scarcely any of them is there left a single horse, + cow, sheep, hog, fowl, or corn of any kind, either hay or + implements of agriculture. All the dwelling-houses have been + burned or demolished, and all the wood-work about them carried + off for fuel by the troops in bivouac. The roofs have shared the + same fate; the shells of the houses were converted into forts and + loop-holes made in the walls, as every village individually was + defended and stormed. Not a door or window is any where to be + seen, as those might be removed with the greatest ease, and, + together with the roofs, were all consumed. Winter is now at hand, + and its rigours begin already to be felt. These poor creatures are + thus prevented, not only by the season, from rebuilding their + habitations, but also by the absolute want of means; they have no + prospect before them but to die of hunger, for all Saxony, + together with the adjacent countries, has suffered far too + severely to be able to afford any relief to their miseries. + + "Our commercial house, God be thanked I has not been plundered; + but every thing in my private house, situated in the suburb of + Grimma, was carried off or destroyed, as you may easily conceive, + when I inform you that a body of French troops broke open the door + on the 19th, and defended themselves in the house against the + Prussians. Luckily I had a few days before removed my most + valuable effects to a place of safety. I had in the house one + killed and two wounded; but, a few doors off, not fewer than 60 + were left dead in one single house.--Almost all the houses in the + suburbs have been more or less damaged by the shower of balls on + the 19th." + +That these pictures of the miseries occasioned by the sanguinary +conflict which sealed the emancipation of the Continent from Gallic +despotism are not overcharged is proved by the concurrent testimony of +all the other accounts which have arrived from that quarter. Among the +rest a letter received by the publisher, from the venerable count +Schönfeld, a Saxon nobleman of high character, rank, and affluence, many +years ambassador both at the court of Versailles, before the revolution, +and till within a few years at Vienna, is so interesting, that I am +confident I shall need no excuse for introducing it entire. His +extensive and flourishing estates south-east of Leipzig have been the +bloody cradle of regenerated freedom. The short space of a few days has +converted them into a frightful desert, reduced opulent villages into +smoking ruins; and plunged his Miserable tenants as well as himself into +a state of extreme Want, until means can be found again to cultivate the +soil and to rebuild the dwellings. He writes as follows:-- + + "It is with a sensation truly peculiar and extraordinary that I + take up my pen to address you, to whom I had, some years since, + the pleasure of writing several times on subjects of a very + different kind: but it is that very difference between those times + and the present, and the most wonderful series of events which + have followed each other during that period in rapid succession, + the ever-memorable occurrences of the last years and months, the + astonishing success which rejoices all Europe, and has + nevertheless plunged many thousands into inexpressible misery; it + is all this that has long engaged my attention, and presses itself + upon me at the moment I am writing. In events like these, every + individual, however distant, must take some kind of interest, + either as a merchant or a man of letters, a soldier or an artist; + or, if none of these, at least as a man. How strongly the late + events must interest every benevolent and humane mind I have no + need to tell you, who must more feelingly sympathize in them from + the circumstance that it is your native country, where the + important question, whether the Continent of Europe should + continue to wear an ignominious yoke, and whether it deserved the + fetters of slavery, because it was not capable of bursting them, + has been decisively answered by the greatest and the most + sanguinary contest that has occurred for many ages. That same + Saxony, which three centuries ago released part of the world from + the no less galling yoke of religious bondage; which, according to + history, has been the theatre of fifteen great battles; that same + Saxony is now become the cradle of the political liberty of the + Continent. But a power so firmly rooted could not be overthrown + without the most energetic exertions; and, while millions are now + raising the shouts of triumph, there are, in Saxony alone, a + million of souls who are reduced to misery too severe to be + capable of taking any part in the general joy, and who are now + shedding the bitterest tears of abject wretchedness and want That + such is the fact is confirmed to me by the situation of my + acquaintance and neighbours, by that of my suffering tenants, and + finally by my own. The ever-memorable and eventful battles of the + 16th to the 19th of October began exactly upon and between my two + estates of Störmthal and Liebertwolkwitz. All that the oppressive + imposts, contributions, and quarterings, as well as the rapacity + of the yet unvanquished French, had spared, became on these + tremendous days a prey to the flames, or was plundered by those + who called themselves allies of our king, but whom the country + itself acknowledged as such only through compulsion. Whoever could + save his life with the clothes upon his back might boast of his + good fortune; for many, who were obliged, with broken hearts, to + leave their burning houses, lost their apparel also. Out of the + produce of a tolerably plentiful harvest, not a grain is left for + sowing; the little that was in the barns was consumed in + _bivouac_, or, next morning, in spite of the prayers and + entreaties of the owners, wantonly burned by the laughing fiends. + Not a horse, not a cow, not a sheep, is now to be seen; nay, + several species of animals appear to be wholly exterminated in + Saxony. I have myself lost a flock of 2000 Spanish sheep, Tyrolese + and Swiss cattle, all my horses, waggons, and household utensils. + The very floors of my rooms were torn up; my plate, linen, and + important papers and documents, were carried away and destroyed. + Not a looking-glass, not a pane in the windows, or a chair, is + left. The same calamity befell my wretched tenants, over whose + misfortunes I would willingly forget my own. All is desolation and + despair, aggravated by the certain prospect of epidemic diseases + and famine. Who can relieve such misery, unless God should be + pleased to do it by means of those generous individuals, to whom, + in my own inability to help, I am now obliged to appeal? + + "I apply, therefore, to you, Sir; and request you, out of love to + your wretched country, which is so inexpressibly devastated, to + solicit the aid of your opulent friends and acquaintance, who, + with the generosity peculiar to the whole nation, may feel for the + unmerited misery of others, in behalf of my wretched tenants in + Liebertwolkwitz and Störmthal. These poor and truly helpless + unfortunates would, with tears, pay the tribute of their warmest + gratitude to their generous benefactors, if they needed that + gratitude in addition to the satisfaction resulting from so noble + an action. You will not, I am sure, misunderstand my request, as + it proceeds from a truly compassionate heart, but which, by its + own losses, is reduced so low as to be unable to afford any relief + to others. Should it ever be possible for me to serve you or any + of your friends here, depend upon my doing all that lies within my + poor ability. Meanwhile I remain, in expectation of your kind and + speedy fulfilment of my request, + + "Sir, + + "Your most obedient friend and servant, + + "COUNT SCHONFELD." + + _Leipzig, Nov. 22, 1813. + To Mr. Ackermann, London._ + + "P.S.--I have been obliged, by the weakness of my sight, to employ + another hand. I remember the friendly sentiments which you here + testified for me with the liveliest gratitude. My patriotic way of + thinking, which drew upon me also the hatred of the French + government, occasioned me, four years since, to resign the post of + ambassador, which I had held twenty-five years, and to retire from + service[1]." + +From documents transmitted to the publisher by friends at Leipzig, have +been selected the narratives contained in the following sheets, which +were written by eye-witnesses of the facts there related. The principal +object of their publication is not so much to expose tine atrocities of +Gallic ruffians, as to awaken the sympathies and call forth the humanity +of the British nation. Like that glorious luminary, whose genial rays +vivify and invigorate all nature, Britain is looked up to by the whole +civilized world for support against injustice, and for solace in +distress. To her liberality the really unfortunate have never yet +appealed in vain; and, with this experience before his eyes, the +publisher confidently anticipates in behalf of his perishing countrymen +the wonted exercise of that godlike quality, which + + "---- droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven? + And blesseth him that gives and him that takes." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] R. ACKERMANN would not feel himself justified in printing this +letter, nor in presuming to make an appeal to the British public in +behalf of the writer, were he not personally acquainted with the +character of this unfortunate and patriotic nobleman, who is held in the +highest veneration and respect for his benevolence to his numerous +tenantry, his liberality to strangers, and his general philanthropy. To +relieve the distresses which he has so pathetically described, the +publisher solicits the contributions of the benevolent. A distinct book +has been opened for that charitable-purpose at No. 101, Strand, in which +even the smallest sums, with the names of the donors, may be entered, +and to which, as well as to the original letter, reference may be made +by those who feel disposed to peruse, them. + + + + +NARRATIVE, &c. + + +You know, my dear friend, how often I have expressed the inconsiderate +wish to have some time or other an opportunity of witnessing a general +engagement. This wish has now been accomplished, and in such a way as +had well nigh proved fatal to myself; for my life had like to have been +forfeited to my curiosity. I may boast, however, with perfect truth, +that, during the four most tremendous days, I was wholly unaffected by +that alarm and terror which had seized all around me. On those four days +I was a near and undisturbed observer of a conflict which can scarcely +be paralleled In the annals of the world: a conflict distinguished by a +character which raises it far above your ordinary every-day battles. Its +consequences will extend not to Europe only, but to regions separated +from it by vast oceans. You must not expect from me a narrative that +will enter into military details, but merely a faithful historical +picture of what fell under my own observation; of what my own eyes, +assisted by an excellent telescope, could discover from one of the +highest buildings in the city, in the centre of operations, in the midst +of a circumference of more than eighteen leagues; and what I saw and +heard while venturing, at the hazard of my life, out of the city, not +indeed up to the mouths of the infernal volcanoes, but close in the +rear of the French lines, into the horrible bustle and tumult of the +baggage-waggons and bivouacs. We were here exactly in the middle of the +immense magic circle, where the incantations thundered forth from +upwards of fifteen hundred engines of destruction annihilated many +thousands, in order to produce a new creation. It was the conflict of +the Titans against Olympus. It is unparalleled in regard to the +commanders, great part of whom knew nothing of defeat but from the +discomfiture of their opponents, and among whom were three emperors, a +king, and the heir-apparent to a throne;--it is unparalleled in regard +to the form, for it was fought in a circle which embraced more than +fifteen miles;--it is unparalleled in regard to the prodigious armies +engaged, for almost half a million of warriors out of every region of +Europe and Asia, from the mouth of the Tajo to the Caucasus, with near +two thousand pieces of cannon, were arrayed against one another;--it is +unparalleled in regard to its duration, for it lasted almost one hundred +hours;--it is unparalleled in regard to the plan so profoundly combined +and so maturely digested by the allies, and characterized by an unity, +which, in a gigantic mass, composed of such, multifarious parts, would +have been previously deemed impossible;--it is unparalleled also in +regard to its consequences, the full extent of which time alone can +develop, and the first of which, the dissolution of the confederation of +the Rhine, the overthrow of the Continental system, and the deliverance +of Germany, are already before our eyes:--finally, it is unparalleled in +regard to single extraordinary events, the most remarkable of which is, +that the majority of the allies of the grand army, who had fought under +the banners of France in so many engagements with exemplary valour and +obstinacy, in the midst of this conflict, as if wakened by an electric +shock, went over in large bodies, with their drums beating and with all +their artillery, to the hostile legions, and immediately turned their +arms against their former associates. The annals of modern warfare +exhibit no examples of such a phenomenon, except upon the most +contracted scale. You may possibly object, that in all this there is +some exaggeration; and that, if I rate the battle of Leipzig so highly, +it is only because I happened to be an eye-witness of it myself; that +the French army is by no means annihilated; that in the uncommon talents +of its leader it possesses a sure pledge that it will regain from its +enemies those laurels which on various occasions they have ravished from +it for a moment. You may employ other arguments of a similar kind; but +to these I boldly reply, that neither do I consider the French army as +annihilated; that such a calamity could scarcely befall a force which in +the month of May, after ten engagements, numbered not less than 400,000 +men, and was conducted by a general who had already won near fifty +battles: but this I maintain, that the mighty eagle, which proudly +aspired to encompass the whole globe in his flight, has had his wings +crippled at Leipzig to such a degree, that in future he will scarcely be +inclined to venture beyond the inaccessible crags which he has chosen +for his retreat. For my part, I cannot help considering the battle of +Leipzig as the same (only on an enlarged scale) as that gained near this +very spot 180 years ago, by the great Gustavus Adolphus. In this +conflict it was certainly decided that Napoleon, so far from being able +to sustain such another engagement in Germany, will not have it in his +power to make any stand on the right bank of the Rhine, nor recover +himself till secure with the relics of his dispirited army behind the +bulwarks of his own frontier. + +Four times had the sun pursued his course over the immense field of +battle before the die of Fate decided its issue. The whole horizon was +enveloped in clouds of smoke and vapours; every moment fresh columns of +fire shot up from the circumjacent villages; in all points were seen the +incessant flashes of the guns, whose deep thunders, horribly +intermingled with continual volleys of small arms, which frequently +seemed quite close to the gates of the city, shook the very ground. Add +to this the importance of the question which was to be resolved in this +murderous contest, and you may form a faint conception of the anxiety, +the wishes, the hopes,--in a word, of the cruel suspense which pervaded +every bosom in this city. + +To enable you to pursue the train of events, as far as I was capable of +informing myself respecting them, I will endeavour to relate them as +they occurred. It was not till the arrival of marshal Marmont with his +corps of the army in this neighbourhood that any idea of the probability +of a general engagement at Leipzig began to be entertained. That +circumstance happened in the beginning of October. These guests brought +along with them every species of misery and distress, which daily +increased in proportion as those hosts of destroyers kept gradually +swelling into a large army. They were joined from time to time by +several other corps; the city was nearly surrounded by bivouacs; and, +gracious God! what proceedings! what havoc!--We had frequently been +informed that all Saxony, from Lusatia to the Elbe, resembled one vast +desert, where nothing was to be seen but towns laid waste and +plundered, villages reduced to ashes, naked and famishing +inhabitants;--that there was no appearance of any other living creature; +nay, not even a trace of vegetation remaining. These accounts we +naturally regarded as exaggerations, little imagining that in a short +time we should have to give to our distant friends the same details of +horror respecting our own vicinity. Too true it is that no nation has +made such progress in the art of refinement, and is so ingenious in +devising infernal torments, as that, which, under the name of allies and +protectors, has made us so inexpressibly wretched. Ever since the battle +of Lützen, Leipzig had been one of the principal resources of the grand +French army, and they showed it no mercy. Numberless hospitals +transformed it into one great infirmary; many thousands of troops, +quartered in the habitations of the citizens, one prodigious _corps de +garde_; and requisitions of meat, bread, rice, brandy, and other +articles, one vast poor-house, where the indigent inhabitants were in +danger of starving. But for this well-stored magazine, the great French +army had long since been obliged to abandon the Elbe. No wonder then +that this point should have been guarded with the utmost care. It +required commissaries and inspectors, such as those who had the control +over our store-houses and granaries, to complete the master-piece, to +reduce that Leipzig, which had once patiently sustained, without being +entirely exhausted, the burdens of a war that lasted seven years--to +reduce it, I say, in six months, to so low an ebb, that even the opulent +were in danger of perishing with hunger; that reputable citizens could +no longer procure the coarsest fare; and that, though their hearts +overflowed with pity and compassion, they were absolutely incapable of +affording the slightest relief, not so much as a crust of bread, to the +sick and wounded soldier. It is impossible to give you any idea of the +dexterity and rapidity with which the French soldiers will so totally +change the look of a village, a field, or a garden, that you shall not +know it again, how well soever you may have been acquainted with it +before. Such was the fate of Leipzig, and of the beautiful environs of +our inner city-walls. + +You must know that the bread and forage waggons of a great French army +are destined merely, as they pass through the villages, to receive the +stores collected from all the barns, cellars, lofts, and stables, which +are taken by force from the wretched husbandman, who is beaten, cut, and +mangled, till he puts-to his last horse, and till he carries his last +sheaf of corn and his last loaf of bread to the next bivouac; and then +he may think himself fortunate, if he is suffered to return home without +horses or waggon, and is not compelled to accompany the depredators many +miles without sustenance of any kind. In all other armies, whether +Russians, Prussians, Austrians, or Swedes, when the troops are not drawn +out in line of battle opposite to the enemy, in which case it is +necessary to send back the carriages into the rear, care is always taken +that waggons with bread and forage, and herds of cattle, shall follow +the marching columns. Whenever the army halts, magazines are immediately +established; and, if even the stores necessary for it are required at +the cost of the country, this case bears no comparison with that where +every attendant on the waggon-train is at full liberty to pillage till +his rapacity is satisfied. Woe to the country where, as in our's, +hundreds of thousands of such commissaries are allowed to exercise their +destructive office at discretion! Ask the inhabitants of more than +twenty villages round Leipzig, and many hundred others at a greater +distance, which certainly fared no better, what soldiers they were who +carried off roofs, doors, windows, floors, and every kind of household +furniture and agricultural implements, and threw them like useless +lumber into the watch-fires?--Ask those unfortunates what soldiers they +were who pillaged barns and cellars, and ransacked every corner of the +houses; who tore the scanty clothes from the backs of the poorest class; +who broke open every box and chest, and who searched every dunghill, +that nothing might escape them?--They will tell you that it was the so +highly vaunted French guards, who always led the way, and were the +instructors of their comrades. + +It is a great misfortune for a country when, in time of war, the supply +of the troops is left to themselves by the military authorities, and +when that supply is calculated only from one day to another; but this +calamity has no bounds when they are French troops who attack your +stores. It is not enough for them to satisfy the calls of appetite; +every article is an object of their rapacity: nothing whatever is left +to the plundered victim. What they cannot cram into their knapsacks and +cartouch-boxes is dashed in pieces and destroyed. Of the truth of this +statement the environs of Leipzig might furnish a thousand proofs. The +most fortunate of the inhabitants were those who in good time removed +their stores and cattle to a place of safety, and left their houses to +their fate. He who neglected this precaution, under the idea that the +presence of the owner would be sufficient to restrain those locusts, of +course lost his all. No sooner had he satisfied one party than another +arrived to renew the demand; and thus they proceeded so long as a morsel +or a drop was left in the house. When such a person had nothing more to +give, he was treated with the utmost brutality, till at length, stripped +of all, he was reluctantly compelled to abandon his home. If you should +chance to find a horse or a cow, here and there, in the country round +our city, imagine not that the animal was spared by French +generosity:--no such thing! the owner must assuredly have concealed it +in some hiding-place, where it escaped the prying eyes of the French +soldiers. Nothing--absolutely nothing--was spared; the meanest bedstead +of the meanest beggar was broken up as well as the most costly furniture +from the apartments of the opulent. After they had slept upon the beds +in the bivouacs, as they could not carry them away, they ripped them +open, consigned the feathers to the winds, and sold the bed-clothes and +ticking for a mere trifle. Neither the ox, nor the calf but two days +old; neither the ewe, nor the lamb scarcely able to walk; neither the +brood-hen, nor the tender chicken, was spared. All were carried off +indiscriminately; whatever had life was slaughtered; and the fields were +covered with calves, lambs, and poultry, which the troops were unable to +consume. The cattle collected from far and near were driven along in +immense herds with the baggage. Their cries for food in all the high +roads were truly pitiable. Often did one of those wretches drive away +several cows from the out-house of a little farmer, who in vain implored +him upon his knees to spare his only means of subsistence, merely to +sell them before his face for a most disproportionate price. Hay, oats, +and every species of corn, were thrown unthreshed upon the ground, where +they were consumed by the horses, or mostly trampled in the dirt; and if +these animals had stood for some days in the stable, and been supplied +with forage by the peasant, the rider had frequently the impudence to +require his host to pay for the dung. Woe to the field of cabbages, +turnips, or potatoes, that happened to lie near a bivouac! It was +covered in a trice with men and cattle, and in twenty-four hours there +was not a plant to be seen. Fruit-trees were cut down and used for fuel, +or in the erection of sheds, which were left perhaps as soon as they +were finished. Though Saxony is one of the richest and most fertile +provinces of Germany, and the vicinity of Leipzig has been remarkable +for abundance, yet it cannot appear surprising, that, with such wanton +waste, famine, the most dangerous foe to an army, should have at length +found its way into all the French camps. Barns, stables, and lofts, were +emptied; the fields were laid bare; and the inhabitants fled into the +woods and the towns. Bread and other provisions had not been seen in our +markets for several days, and thus it was now our turn to endure the +pressure of hunger. It was a fortunate circumstance that many families +had laid in a quantity of potatoes, which indeed might yet be purchased, +though at an exorbitant price. The bakers of this place were obliged to +work up the small stock of flour in their possession for the use of the +troops; and all other persons were driven from the doors by the guards +with the butt-ends of their muskets; though the citizen who came in +quest of bread had perhaps twenty men quartered upon him, who all +expected him to find wherewith to satisfy their craving appetites. + +Such was what might be termed the prologue to the grand tragedy which +was about to be performed in an amphitheatre of many square miles, and +to the catastrophe of which we looked forward with an anxiety that had +risen to so high a pitch, because, in case of the longer continuance of +this state of things, our own annihilation might be hourly expected. +That the grand armies of the allies were approaching Leipzig, on every +side, we had heard through several private channels. Napoleon had +quitted Dresden, which he had been compelled to abandon almost solely by +the want of all the means of subsistence. We were long uncertain +respecting his route, and so perhaps was he himself at first. Many, who +were qualified to form a judgment respecting military operation's, were +of opinion that he would make a push with his whole force upon Berlin +and the Oder. They supposed that those parts were not sufficiently +covered, and considered the fortresses on the Elbe as his _point +d'appui_ in the rear. This opinion, however, seemed to lose much of its +probability, as other French corps, under Ney, Regnier, Bertrand, and +Marmont, kept arriving here, and were afterwards joined by that of +Augereau. We had received authentic information that prince +Schwarzenberg had already advanced to Altenburg with the grand combined +army of Austria, Russia, and Prussia; and also that the crown-prince of +Sweden had his head-quarters at Zörbig. Upon the whole, however, our +intelligence was unsatisfactory. For several days (that is to say, from +the 10th) it was reported that the emperor of the French would certainly +remove his head-quarters hither; that he had taken the road to Wurzen, +and was coming by way of Duben. This account was confirmed by several +detachments of the French guard. It is universally known that this +general preferably chooses those days on which he founds his claim to +glory, in order to distinguish them by new achievements. His proximity +to us, and the approaching 14th of October[2], strengthened the +anticipation of some important event in our neighbourhood. The light +troops of the allies, whom we took for the advanced guard of the +crown-prince of Sweden, were distinctly to be seen from the steeples of +the city, on the north side of it, towards Breitenfeld and Lindenthal. +Daily skirmishes ensued, and wounded French were hourly brought in. The +bustle in the city increased; the king of Naples had arrived, and fixed +his head-quarters at Konnewitz. Innumerable generals and staff-officers +filled all the houses. Not a moment's rest was to be had; all were in +bivouac. They seemed wholly ignorant of the motions of the allies; for +the same troops who went out at one gate often returned before night at +another; so that there was an incessant marching in and out at all the +four principal avenues of the city. These movements of cavalry, +infantry, and carriages, ceased not a moment even during the night It +was very rarely that a troop of cavalry, sent out upon patrol or picket +duty, returned without having lost several men and horses, who were +invariably, according to their report, kidnapped by the Cossacks. Upon +the whole, all the troops with whom the French had any rencounters were +called by them _Cossacks_--a name which I have heard them repeat +millions of times, and to which they never failed to add, that "the +fellows had again set up a devilish hurrah." + +The Cossacks are indisputably the troops of whom the French are most +afraid. With them, therefore, all the light cavalry who come upon them +unawares are sure to be Cossacks. In revenge for the many annoyances +which they were incessantly suffering from these men, they applied to +them the opprobrious epithet of _brigands_. Often did I take pains to +convince them that troops who were serving their legitimate sovereign, +and fighting under the conduct of their officers, could not be termed +banditti; my representations had no effect,--they were determined to +have some satisfaction for their disappointment in a thousand attempts +to master such enemies. Their vanity was far too great to suffer them to +do justice to those warriors; and they never would admit what thousands +had witnessed, namely, that thirty French horse had frequently run away +from two Cossacks. If Napoleon had twenty thousand Russian Cossacks in +his service, the French journalists and editors of newspapers would +scarcely be able to find terms strong enough to extol these troops; and +the French have just reason to rejoice that the emperor Alexander has no +such rivals of their government in his pay, otherwise we should hear of +their exploits only, and the vaunted French horse-guards would long +since have sunk into oblivion. + +All the preparations that were making now evidently denoted that we were +on the eve of important events. The French corps had already ranged +themselves in a vast semicircle, extending from north to east, and +thence to south-west. The country towards Merseburg and Weissenfels +seemed to be merely observed. For this purpose the eminences beyond the +village of Lindenau were occupied. Here the access to the city is the +most difficult, a causeway only leading to it in this direction. The +country on the right and left consists of swampy meadows and wood-land, +every where intersected by ditches and muddy streams. If you inquired +of the French officers what might be the total strength of their army +about Leipzig, their statements were so various, that it was impossible +to fix with the least confidence upon any number as a medium. By what +standard, indeed, can you judge of a force rated by some at 150,000, by +others at 400,000 men? They unanimously agreed, on the other hand, that +the allies would be opposed by fifteen corps, exclusively of the guards. +I had an opportunity of forming a tolerably correct estimate of one +division of Marmont's corps, which consisted at the utmost of 4000, so +that the whole might amount to 12,000 men; and it was one of those +which, in comparison of others, had sustained the least loss. Even that +of Augereau, which was incontestably the most complete, as it had just +come out of cantonments, was computed at scarcely 15,000 men. If, then, +we take 10,000 for the average, the total amount of the French armies +collected near Leipzig, as the wrecks only of several were then +remaining, can scarcely have reached 170,000, even including the guards. +Such a force, however, commanded by so many generals who had heretofore +been acknowledged the ablest in Europe, together with wore than 600 +pieces of artillery, was still fully sufficient to make itself +respected, and even feared, by an enemy of double its number. One single +species of troops alone was below mediocrity:--the cavalry, both in +regard to the horses and the men, the former from weakness and want of +sustenance, and the latter from ignorance of their business. With the +force of the allies we are yet unacquainted, but at all events they must +have been more numerous. + +The 14th of October at length dawned. It had preceded by several rainy +days; but this was merely lowering. The cannon thundered at intervals +towards Liebertwolkwitz. In the forenoon wounded French, chiefly +cavalry, kept coming in singly. With whom they had been engaged they +knew not--_Cossacks_, of course. We looked forward with certainty to a +general engagement. It became every hour more dangerous for the +inquisitive to venture out or in at the gates. There was no end to the +marching of horse and foot and the rolling of carriages; at every ten +paces you met in all directions with _corps de garde_, by whom every +non-military person without distinction was ordered back, sometimes with +fair words, and at others with rudeness. Several couriers had been sent +forward to announce the speedy arrival of the king of Saxony and +Napoleon. The hero of the age, as he has been styled, actually came +about noon, not, as we anticipated, by the Dresden road, but by that +from Berlin. He passed hastily through the city, and out at the farthest +Grimma gate, attended by some battalions and squadrons of his guards. A +camp-chair and a table were brought in all haste, and a great watch-fire +kindled in the open field; not far from the gallows. The guards +bivouacked on the right and left. The emperor took possession of the +head-quarters prepared for him, which were any thing but magnificent, +being surrounded only by the relics of the stalks and leaves of the +cabbages consumed by his soldiers, and other matters still more +offensive. The table was instantly covered with maps, over which the +emperor pored most attentively for a considerable time. Of what was +passing around him he seemed not to take the smallest notice. The +spectators, of whom I was one, crowded pretty close about him. On +occasion of his visit to the city, a few months before, the French had +discovered that the people of Leipzig were not so malicious as they had +been represented, but tolerably good-natured creatures. They were +therefore allowed to approach unobstructed within twenty paces. A long +train of carriages from the Wurzen road, the cracking of the whips of +the postilions, together with a great number of horse-soldiers and tall +grenadiers, announced the arrival of another distinguished personage, +and called the attention of the by-standers that way. It was the king of +Saxony, with his guards and retinue. He alighted, and a kind salutation +ensued between him and his august ally. The king soon afterwards mounted +a horse, and thus proceeded into the city. Napoleon meanwhile remained +where he was. He sometimes rose from his seat, went up to the +watch-fire, held his hands over it, rubbed them, and then placed them +behind him, whilst with his foot he pushed the wood, consisting of dry +boards and rafters from the nearest houses, into the flame, to make it +burn more fiercely. At the same time he very frequently took snuff, of +which he seemed to have but a small quantity left in his gold box. At +last he scraped together what was left with his finger, and poured it +out upon his hand. When all was gone, he opened the box several times +and smelt to it, without applying to any of the marshals and generals +around him to relieve his want. As the discharges of artillery towards +Probstheide grew more and more general and alarming, and the wounded +kept returning in continually increasing numbers, I was rather surprised +that the commander should, on this occasion, contrary to his usual +custom, quietly remain so far from the field of battle, which was near +ten miles distant, apparently without giving himself the least concern +about the event. + +It was about four in the afternoon when one of his aid-de-camps came at +full speed from the city, and made a report. The drums instantly beat to +arms, and the divisions of the guards broke up. The emperor immediately +mounted his horse, and followed them. He directed his course towards the +Kohlgärten[3], leaving the field of battle on the right. I soon +perceived the cause of this movement: the message informed him of the +arrival of the whole of his guards, for whom he had been waiting. They +came from Düben, entering by the Halle gate, and now made a countermarch +upon Dresden. When I beheld their endless files and cannon without +number pouring out of the city, I certainly gave up the allies for lost. +I was thoroughly convinced that Napoleon had no other plan than to +strike off to the right behind the Kohlgärten, with his new army, and, +proceeding from Stötteritz, to turn his enemies on the right flank, and, +as he had often done before, to attack and annihilate them. I was +however egregiously mistaken. The emperor went with his retinue scarcely +a thousand paces, to the first houses of the Kohlgärten, where he took +up his quarters, and quietly passed the night. The guards and the whole +train likewise stopped in that neighbourhood, and there bivouacked. It +grew dark. The palisades at the gate had left but a narrow passage, +through which troops and artillery kept pouring without intermission. +People on horseback and on foot, who wanted to return into the city, had +been already detained for several successive hours; the crowd every +moment increased, and with it the danger. To seek another entrance was +impracticable, as a person would run the risk of being detained by the +thousands of pickets, and shot, or at least dragged to the filthiest +bivouacs. The night was dark as pitch, and no hope left of getting home. +It rained fast, and not a corner was to be found where you might take +shelter. I was in the midst of more than a thousand horses, which +threatened every moment to trample me under their feet. Fortunately for +me, they were all tolerably quiet The thunder of the artillery had long +ceased; but, had it even continued, it could not possibly have been +heard amidst the rattling of carriages and cannon; the shouts of +soldiers and officers, as sometimes cavalry, at others infantry, wanted +to pass first; the incessant cursing, cracking, pushing, and thrusting. +Never while I live shall I witness such a scene of confusion, of which +indeed it is impossible to convey any conception. It continued without +intermission from four in the afternoon till twelve at night, so that +you may figure to yourself the disagreeable situation in which I was +placed. No sooner had the first columns arrived at their bivouacs in the +neighbouring villages, than a thousand messengers came to announce the +intelligence in a way that sufficiently proved what unwelcome visitors +they were. Weeping mothers with beds packed up in baskets, leading two +or three stark-naked children by the hand, and with perhaps another +infant at their back; fathers seeking their wives and families; +children, who had lost their parents in the crowd trucks with sick +persons forcing their way among the thousands of horses; cries of misery +and despair in every quarter:--such were the heralds that most feelingly +proclaimed the presence of the warriors who have been celebrated in so +many regions, and whose imposing appearance has been so often admired, +all these unfortunates crowded into the filthy corner formed by the old +hospital and the wall at the Kohlgärten-gate. Their cries and +lamentations were intermingled with the moans and groans of the wounded +who were going to the hospitals, and who earnestly solicited bread and +relief. A number of French soldiers, probably such as had loitered in +the rear, searched every basket and every pocket for provisions. They +turned without ceremony the sleeping infants out of the baskets, and +cared not how the enraged mothers lacerated their faces in return. The +scenes of horror changed so quickly, that you could not dwell more than +half a minute upon any of them. The tenderest heart became torpid and +insensible. One tale of woe followed on the heels of another,--"Such a +person too has been plundered!--Such an one's house has been set on +fire!--This man is cut in pieces; that has been transfixed with the +bayonet!--Those poor creatures are seeking their children!"--These were +the tidings brought by every new fugitive. If you asked the French when +the march would be over, you received the consolatory answer--"Not +before six o'clock in the morning." During the night the sound of drums +and trumpets incessantly announced the arrival of fresh regiments. At +length, about midnight, the bustle somewhat subsided, at least so far as +regarded the marching of troops. I now seized the favourable moment, and +felt myself as it were a new creature; when, having made my way through +the crowd of horses with extraordinary courage and dexterity, I once +more set foot in the city. _Thus the morning and the evening completed +the first day of horror._ + +Notwithstanding the unpleasant circumstances in which my curiosity had +involved me on the preceding day, I had in fact seen and heard nothing +as far as related to my principal object. It was no battle, but merely +an indecisive, though warm, affair. The first act of the piece concluded +with aft illumination extending farther than the eye could reach, and +occasioned by the innumerable watch-fires which were kindled in every +quarter, and gradually spread farther and farther, as the lines of the +bivouacking army were lengthened by the arrival of fresh columns. By way +of variety, the flames rising from a number of burning houses in the +distance formed as it were points of repose. Scarcely was the night over +when all eyes and ears were on the alert, in expectation that the +sanguinary scene would commence with the morning's dawn. All, however, +remained quiet. People, therefore, again ventured abroad, and there +thought themselves more secure than the preceding day, because they +might the more easily avoid the danger while at a distance-than they +could have done the night before. It required, to be sure, considerable +strength of nerves not to be shocked at the spectacles which every where +presented themselves. Many dead bodies of soldiers, who had come sick +into bivouac, lay naked in the fields and upon the roads. The heirs had +taken especial care to be on the spot at the moment of their decease, to +take possession of all that the poor wretches had to bequeath. The +mortality among the horses had been still greater: you met with their +carcasses almost at every step; and, which way soever you turned your +eyes, you beheld a still greater number which Death had so firmly seized +in his iron grasp, that they inclined their heads to the ground, and +fell, in a few minutes, to rise no more! Scarcely was there sufficient +room on the high road for a slender pedestrian to find a passage. All +the fields were covered with troops and baggage. Even on the place of +execution they had erected bivouacs, and not the most inconvenient, +because they were there less crowded than in other places. Except single +musket-shots, nothing was to be heard but incessant cries of _Serrez! +Serrez!_ (Closer! Closer!)--The dice yet lay in the box, and were not +destined to be thrown that day. It was probably spent in reconnoitring, +in order to make up the parties for the grand game in which empires were +the stake. The preparations for the defence of the city became more +serious and alarming. The exterior avenues had been previously +palisaded, and provided with _chevaux de frise_; but the greater part of +them were completely closed up. Loop-holes were formed in every wall, +and _tirailleurs_ posted behind them. In every garden and at every hedge +you stumbled upon pickets. As the inner town is better secured by its +strong walls against a first onset, they contented themselves there with +sawing holes in the great wooden gates, for the purpose of firing +through them. Every thing denoted the determination not to spare the +city in the least, however unfit in itself for a point of defence. The +only circumstance calculated to tranquillize the timid was the presence +of our king, for whom, at any rate, Napoleon could not but have some +respect. + +As there was no appearance of gleaning much information abroad, I now +sought a wider prospect upon a steeple.--So much I had ascertained from +all accounts, that it was principally the Austrians who had been +engaged the preceding day. Some hundreds of prisoners had been brought +in; the church-yard had been allotted to these poor fellows for their +abode, probably that they might study the inscriptions on the +grave-stones, and thus be reminded of their mortality. Nothing was given +them to eat, lest they should be disturbed in these meditations. So far +as the telescope would command were to be seen double and triple lines, +the end of which the eye sought in vain. The French army stretched in a +vast semicircle from Paunsdorf to Probstheide, and was lost in the woods +of Konnewitz. It occupied therefore a space of more than one German mile +(five English miles). Behind all these lines appeared reserves, who were +posted nearer to the city. On this side the main force seemed to be +assembled. Towards the north and west the ranks were more broken and +detached. Of the armies of the allies, only some divisions could yet be +discerned. The Cossacks were plainly distinguished at a distance of two +leagues. They had the boldness to venture within musket-shot of the +French lines, alight, thrust their pikes into the ground, and let their +horses run about. The king of Saxony himself witnessed their audacity +whilst in the midst of the French army, about half a league from +Leipzig. A number of these men came unawares upon him; and a Saxon +officer, with eighty horse, was obliged to face about against them, till +the king had reached a place of safety. This was the principal reason +why he made his entry into the city on horseback. + +The 15th of October, which had been universally expected to give birth +to important events, was now quietly passed. For many weeks the city had +not been so tranquil as it was on the night of that day. Nothing but +the incessant _Qui vive?_ at the gates, denoted the presence of the +troops. On my return about eight o'clock from the suburbs, I was +suddenly surprised by an unusual phenomenon: in the direction of Pegau, +I saw three white rockets ascend to a great height amid the darkness. I +stood still, and waited to observe what would follow. In about a minute +four red ones rose above the horizon, apparently from Halle. After this +there was nothing more to be seen. That they were signals could not be +doubted, any more than that those signals must have been made by the +combined troops. I concluded that they must have armies in those +quarters, and that they were informing one another by these luminous +messengers of the points at which they had arrived. It now became more +certain than ever that the 16th would be the great day that should +decide the fate of Germany. I expressed my conjectures to several French +officers, that, according to all appearance, fresh armies of the allies +were on their march toward Leipzig. They contradicted me point-blank; +partly because, as they said, the crown-prince of Sweden and general +Blücher had been obliged to retreat precipitately across the Elbe, as an +immense French army was in full march upon Berlin; and partly because +they were convinced that the reinforcements which might be coming up +could be of no great consequence; and were confident, that, at all +events, they should be perfectly prepared to receive the enemy. Never +did they make so sure of the most complete victory as they did +previously to the then approaching engagement. Besides the French in +garrison in the city, there were many German troops, who expressed +little hope, and, on the other hand, declared their resolution to make +no resistance, but to pass over to the allies, as many of their comrades +had already done; and there was no reason to doubt their +sincerity.--Thus passed the second day, between hope and fear. + +The dawn of the 16th of October was enveloped in a thick fog. It was +gloomy, rainy, and cold. It was imagined that the hostile armies, though +so eager for the combat, would restrain their ardour to engage till the +fog should have cleared away. Soon after six, however, the thunder of +the artillery began to roll from Liebertwolkwitz. It grew more violent, +and approached nearer;--this was probably the moment when the Austrians +stormed that place. The firing _en pelotons_ was already heard. From our +elevated position we could discern nothing, the dense fog concealing +every object at the distance of one hundred paces. About ten, the +artillery thundered along the whole line of battle. The atmosphere +became clearer, and the clouds dispersed. Every flash from the cannon +was distinctly visible on the side of Konnewitz. Already a thousand +engines of death hurled destruction among the contending armies. The +fire of jägers and sharp-shooters rattled on all sides, and we soon +discovered whole ranges of battalions and regiments. It was a general +engagement;--that was evident enough to every one, even though he had +never before heard a cannon fired in all his life. On the side of the +Halle and Ranstädt gates all was yet quiet, and I began to imagine that +my rockets had deceived me. For six hours the guns had roared, and all +the lines were enveloped in clouds of smoke, through which the flashes +incessantly darted like lightning. As yet neither party seemed to have +receded an inch. The thunders of the artillery still continued to +proceed from the same spot. No longer could the firing of single guns +be distinguished; hundreds were every moment discharged, and united in +one single protracted roar. How many victims must already have strewed +the field!--At length, about eleven o'clock, a considerable change +seemed to have taken place. The firing did not appear more distant, but +became less general; single shots were heard, and the combatants seemed +disposed to make a pause in the work of death. All on a sudden a new and +tremendous cannonade commenced beyond Lindenau, towards Lützen, not much +more than half a league from the city. The batteries of the allies +seemed to fire from Kleinschocher: those of the French were posted on +the heights of Lindenau. The corps of count Giulay had arrived there, +and now it appeared that my interpretation of the rockets was correct. I +then turned my eyes quickly towards the north, in the direction of +Halle, where before there was little or nothing to be seen. How was I +astonished when I now beheld lines of soldiers stretching farther than +the eye could reach, and fresh columns advancing behind them. It +appeared as if the troops which had been so furiously engaged the whole +morning were but the advanced guards of the immense armies that now +extended themselves more and more before me. Whence the French lines +which were so rapidly ranged opposite to them could have sprung, I am +yet at a loss to conceive: an hour before, I should have estimated them +at scarcely 10,000 men; and, what I now saw, my inexperienced eye +computed at more than 200,000 on both sides. This prodigious army seemed +about to form in order of battle. A few cannon-shot which it fired were +probably designed only to announce its arrival to the other chiefs. +Immediately afterwards, the cannonade beyond Lindenau, which had lasted +about two hours, entirely ceased. On the left wing of the French the +action was still very vigorously continued. It was about twelve o'clock +when we descended, to learn what accounts had meanwhile been received in +the city, that our relations with the lower world might not be totally +suspended. Before the residence of our sovereign there was a crowd of +officers of all ranks. The city-guard was drawn out on parade as well as +the grenadier-guard. A full band was playing, by French order, though +nobody could conceive what was the meaning of all this, while the cannon +were yet thundering before the city. We soon learned that the allies had +sustained a total defeat; that an Austrian prince, the archduke +Ferdinand, had lost an arm, and been taken prisoner with 40,000 men; and +that an immense quantity of artillery had been captured. This +intelligence had been forwarded by marshal Ney from the field of battle, +and preparations were instantly made to celebrate the victory. A +regiment of the French guards marched to the promenade before the +city--now, alas! an offensive sewer,--and, agreeably to command, +expressed their exultation in the acquisition of these new laurels by a +loud _Vive l'empereur!_ Of the citizens, but a very small portion took +part in their joy; for what else could they have expected from such a +victory than inevitable death by famine? The more intelligent shook +their heads; and in truth there were but too many reasons to suspect the +truth of the account. If you asked the wounded, who in troops either +hobbled or were carried in at the gates, the answer, was, _Les Cossaques +ont encore la même position_--(The Cossacks are still in the same +position). None of them had heard any thing about captured cannon, but +they well knew that they had themselves lost five pieces that morning. I +was unable to comprehend how the French commander-in-chief, possessing +in so eminent a degree the quality of a correct military _coup d'Å“il_, +could so early announce that he had won the battle, when such numerous +armies of the allies had but just arrived upon the field, and had not +yet fired a single shot. Country-people, who had fled from the +neighbourhood of Grimma, declared that a fresh army of Russians, under +general Bennigsen, was in full march towards that place. In truth, only +a small part of the allied forces had yet been engaged. Bennigsen, the +crown-prince of Sweden, and field-marshal Blücher, had not yet entered +the lists. If this fiction was intended merely to pacify our king at the +expense of truth, it was evident that this object could not be attained +without compromising him;--a kind of treatment wholly unmerited by a +prince who was never guilty of wilful falsehood[4]. + +In the midst of these rejoicings for the victory, the thunder of the +artillery was again heard from Lindenau. The tremendous roar was almost +immediately repeated from Taucha, Wiederitsch, and Breitenfeld. The +Swedish army and that of Blücher were now engaged. We again repaired to +our lofty station. There was not a point round the city where the fatal +engines were not dealing forth destruction. We knew not which way first +to direct the glass. "Only look here," cried one. "Oh! that's nothing at +all," replied another, "you must come this way."--"You none of you see +any thing," exclaimed a third: "you must look yonder--there the cavalry +are cutting away--and hark how the fresh artillery is beginning to +fire." It was singular enough that just at the very point where the +allies were reported to have sustained so signal a defeat, that is to +say, on their left wing, at Liebertwolkwitz, the cannonade again became +the most violent. Fresh troops, with artillery, including a large body +of Polish cavalry, were seen hastening out by the Ranstädt gate towards +Lindenau. Napoleon himself rode with the king of Naples along the +causeway to the Kuhthurm (cow-tower), as it is called, probably to +observe how things were going on. The allies strove to make themselves +masters of the pass near Lindenau. Their infantry had actually +penetrated into the village, but was driven back, and this was succeeded +by a tremendous fire of riflemen, which was near enough for us to +distinguish the discharge of every single piece. I remarked on this +occasion the incredible exertions of the French _voltigeurs_, who +defended a ditch near the Kuhthurm, ran to and fro on the bank with +inconceivable agility, availed themselves of the protection afforded by +every tree and every hedge, and fired away as briskly as though they +had carried with them the confederation of the Rhine, as their own +property, in their cartouch-boxes. Cannon-balls and shells had fallen in +the village itself, which was set on fire in several places. Whether +friend or enemy had the advantage it was impossible to judge, on account +of the broken nature of the ground and the woods, behind which the +engagement was the hottest It was evident that one party exerted itself +as strenuously to defend as the other did to take this important +position. The French retained it; therefore the prize of victory in this +instance must be adjudged to them. At Breitenfeld, Lindenthal, and +Wiederitsch, the fortune of the day was different. There the lines of +the allies evidently advanced. The cannonade was an infallible +barometer. The French artillery receded, and was already driven back so +close upon Gohlis and Eutritzsch, that the balls of their opponents fell +in both villages. Night drew on: the vast field of battle became +gradually enveloped in darkness, and the horizon was now illumined by +the flashes of the guns alone, followed at long intervals by the low +thunder of the report. The battle had lasted the whole day all round the +city. The church-clocks struck six; and, as if all parties had +unanimously agreed to suspend at this moment the horrid work of +slaughter, the last cannon-shot was fired beyond Lindenau. The fire of +small arms, however, was yet kept up; but, as though the mortal struggle +became more and more faint, that too gradually ceased. Nothing now was +seen around the horizon but one immense circle of many thousand +watch-fires. In all directions appeared blazing villages, and from their +number might be inferred the havoc occasioned by this arduous day. Its +effects were still more plainly manifested when we descended into the +streets. Thousands of wounded had poured in at all the gates, and every +moment increased their numbers. Many had lost an arm or a leg, and yet +limped along with pitiable moans. As for a dressing for their wounds, +that was a thing which could not yet be thought of; the poor wretches +had themselves bound them up with some old rag or other as well as they +were able. All of them were seeking hospitals, the arrangements for +which had, in truth, been most miserably neglected by the French. Upon +the whole, I have had occasion to remark that the soldier, who has been +crippled in the service, and incapacitated for further warfare, has +nowhere so little regard paid to his situation as in the French army. At +least such is the case just at the moment when he has most need of +attention, that is to say, just after he is wounded. No carriages or +other conveyances were provided for the removal of these mangled and +mutilated soldiers, though the lives of thousands might perhaps have +been preserved by such a precaution. When the combined Russian and +Prussian army marched six months before to Lützen, and prepared for +battle, the amplest provision was made in regard to this point; and it +is well known that their army was thus enabled to carry off by far the +greater part of the wounded, and to afford them medical relief. Such, on +the contrary, were the arrangements of the French, that, five days after +that engagement, soldiers with their wounds still undressed, and near +perishing for want of sustenance, were found on the field of battle, and +at last owed their preservation chiefly to the surgeons and inhabitants +of this city. To each French column are attached a great number of +_ambulances_, but they are never to be found where they are most +wanted. It is universally asserted that the French army surgeons are +very skilful men; but, as they seem to consult their own convenience in +a very high degree, and their number is too small--for a complete +regiment has but five--the arrangements for hospitals in a campaign +during which several great battles take place, and in which it is found +necessary to crowd the sick and wounded much too closely together, as +was the case in Saxony, are always most deplorable. But to return from +this digression:-- + +For the reception of the wounded, in this instance, orders had been +given to clear out the corn-magazine, which is capable of accommodating +about 2,500. Each of these poor fellows received a written ticket at the +outer gate of the city, and was directed to that hospital. The persons +who superintended this business never gave it a thought to distribute +only such a number of these billets as the building would hold of sick, +but continued to send all that came to the corn-magazine, long after it +was too full to admit another individual. Overjoyed on having at last +found the spot, the wretched cripple exerted his last remains of +strength, that he might obtain relief as speedily as possible at the +hands of the surgeons. Judge then of the feelings of the unfortunate man +when his hopes were here most cruelly disappointed; when he found many +hundreds of his fellow-sufferers moaning with anguish on the wet stones, +without straw to lie upon, without shelter of any kind, without medical +or surgical attendance, nay, even without a drop of water, for which +they so often and so earnestly petitioned;--when he was peremptorily +refused admittance at the door, and he too had no other resource than to +seek a couch like the rest upon the hard pavement, which his wounds +very often were unable to endure. No more attention was here paid to +him than the stones on which he gave vent to his anguish. Many hobbled +farther in quest of something to appease the cravings of hunger and +thirst. But who could give it them? Extreme want had long prevailed in +the city; the very inhabitants had great trouble and difficulty to +obtain for money sufficient to make a scanty meal for themselves and +their families. The fainting soldier might think himself fortunate if +his solicitations procured him a crust of bread or an apple. Thousands +were not so lucky.--Such was the state of things at the magazine; such +was the spectacle exhibited in all the streets, and especially in the +market-place, where every corner provided with a shelter was converted +into an hospital. The consequences were inevitable. Many; as might +naturally be expected, perished, in the night, of hunger, agony, and +cold. Their lot was enviable--they no longer needed any human +assistance. What heart would not have bled at such scenes of +horror!--and yet it was the very countrymen of these unfortunate +wretches who seemed to care the least about them, and passed by with the +most frigid indifference, probably because they are so familiarized with +such spectacles. O ye mothers, ye fathers, ye sisters of France, had ye +here beheld your agonized sons and brothers, the sight, like a hideous +phantom, would surely have haunted you to the last moment of your lives. +The laurels acquired by your nation have indeed been purchased at a most +exorbitant price. + +I have forgotten to mention a circumstance worthy of notice in the +history of this day. It is this; that in the midst of the cannonade all +round Leipzig--when the whole city shook with the thunders of the +artillery, and the general engagement had, strictly speaking, but just +commenced--all the bells of the churches were rung by French command, to +celebrate the victory won in the forenoon. Such an instance was +certainly never afforded by any battle which had scarcely begun, and +terminated in the total and decisive overthrow of him who had already +fancied himself mounted in triumph upon the car of victory. This day, +however, the engagement still remained undecided, according to the +reports of those who returned from different points of the field of +battle. The French had stood as if rooted to the spot--the allies, like +rocks of granite. The former had fought like men, the latter like lions. +Both parties, inspired with mutual respect, desisted from hostilities +during the night. + +The combined troops, who had not been able in two sanguinary days to +bring the contest to an issue, had, however, during that time gained +several essential advantages. They had ascertained the strength of their +antagonist, and made themselves acquainted with the nature of the +ground. They knew what points were the most vulnerable, and could thence +infer how the enemy would manÅ“uvre. They were enabled to make their own +dispositions accordingly, and to give to the plan of the grand +engagement that perfection by which it is so peculiarly characterized. +In this point of view the allies had, without our suspecting it, +advanced a considerable step on the night of the third day. + +According to the general opinion of the inhabitants of Leipzig, the 17th +was destined to be the important day on which the last act of the great +tragedy was to be performed. We were, however, mistaken. The morning +came, and we heard nothing from either side. We had long ceased to take +notice of single shots. The French lines occupied Probstheide, and all +the points where they had the preceding day been posted. The order of +battle had, however, been considerably changed. The vast armies which +had been drawn up to the west and north had almost entirely disappeared. +In the forenoon a cannonade commenced about Gohlis, but soon ceased +again. In the meadows between the city and Lindenau were posted some +cavalry. At a greater distance but few troops were to be seen; and the +allies seemed to have renounced any farther attempts on that pass. The +left wing of the French grand army extended to Abtnaundorf, and had +strong corps posted as far as Taucha; the centre stretched behind the +Kohlgärten and Stötteritz to Probstheide, and the right wing reached +beyond Konnewitz to the wood and the Elster. Several lines were advanced +to Markleeberg. The combined army occupied parallel positions. You will +not expect me to say more respecting the order of battle, especially as +a circumstantial account of it has already appeared. The motives which +occasioned a kind of truce to be observed during the whole of this day +are unknown to me. This phenomenon was, the more surprising, as Napoleon +is not accustomed long to defer business of such importance. From what I +can learn, there was no parleying, as has been asserted, between the +contending parties. Several Frenchmen assigned, as a reason, that the +emperor expected a strong reinforcement of three corps, and therefore +undertook nothing on this day. On all sides columns of smoke were yet +seen rising from the villages that were reduced to ashes. All at once +the church of Probstheide also appeared in flames. It soon fell in, and +is now totally demolished. This fire is said to have been occasioned by +negligence. + +All the large edifices in the city were now selected for the purpose of +being converted into hospitals. The number of the wounded kept +continually augmenting, and by far the greatest part of them had still +no other shelter than the streets. Many, though after three days of +suffering, were yet unable to obtain any assistance. The king resolutely +remained in the city, in order, as the event shewed, there to await his +fate, whatever it might be. Our condition became every moment more +alarming; and, in proportion as our anxiety grew more painful, our hopes +diminished. What will become of us before this time to-morrow? was the +general question on the evening of that day, and we looked forward with +dejection and despondency to the morrow's dawn. We felt much less +anxiety in the midst of the thunder of the artillery than we did at the +close of this fourth day. It resembled the dead calm which precedes the +impending storm. The combined troops took their leave of us for the +night, as they had done on the preceding, with the discharge of three +cannon. It had been Sunday, and you might almost have imagined that the +contending parties had suffered it to pass thus peaceably, out of +respect to the commandment--_Thou shalt keep the sabbath-day holy._ + +The 18th of October at length appeared. It was a day equal in importance +to many a century; and the fewer History can produce that deserve to be +classed along with it, the more memorable it will remain. All that +preceded it had merely opened the way, and there were yet almost +inaccessible cliffs to climb before we could flatter ourselves with the +hope of reaching the wished-for goal. The leaders of the allies had +already shewn the ablest French generals, in several grand engagements, +that they possessed sufficient means and talents to dissolve the charm +of their invincibility. They were now about to enter the lists with the +hero whom a thousand panegyrists, during a period of near twenty years, +had extolled far above the greatest generals of ancient and modern +times; whose enemies had to boast of but one victory over him at most--a +victory which he himself did not admit, as he ascribed the total +destruction of his army in Russia to physical causes alone. It was the +conqueror of Marengo, Austerlitz, Friedland, Ratisbon, Wagram, and +Mojaisk. Fresh laurels entwined his brow at Lützen, Bautzen, and +Dresden. Here at Leipzig the allies attempted to wrest them from him who +grasps so firmly. It was easy to foresee that with unshaken resolution +he would risk all, in order, as on former occasions, to gain all, and to +put an end to the campaign with a single blow. He seemed to contemplate +nothing less than the utter annihilation of the allies, as all the +bridges far and near were broken down to cut off their retreat. Whether +the situation in which he had placed himself was such as to justify +these hopes, I shall leave to the decision of those who are better +qualified to judge. His confidence in victory must, however, have been +very strong, as he had made such inadequate preparations for his own +retreat. + +The action commenced in the centre of the French army beyond +Probstheide, probably with the storming of the villages in its front, +for we afterwards learned that they were several times taken and +recovered. They have been more or less reduced to heaps of rubbish. That +the work of slaughter might be completed on this day, it had been begun +with the first dawn of morning. So early as nine o'clock all the immense +lines from Taucha to Konnewitz were engaged. As the latter village lay +nearest to us, we could see what was passing there the most distinctly. +From Lösnig, a village situated beyond Konnewitz, a hollow, about two +thousand paces in length, runs from north-west to south-east. It is +bordered with a narrow skirt of wood, consisting of alders, limes, and +oaks, and forms an angle with the village. Beyond this line were +advanced several French batteries, the incessant movements of which, as +well as every single shot, might be clearly distinguished with our +glasses. To make myself better acquainted with this neighbourhood, I +explored two days afterwards this part of the field of battle, and found +that the French artillery must there have formed an open triangle; for +the road which runs straight from Leipzig, behind Konnewitz through +Dehlis and Lösnig, of course from north to south, was also lined by +French batteries. The houses of those villages had served them for a +_point d'appui_ in the rear, and were most of them dreadfully shattered +by the balls of the Austrians. The artillery of the latter seems to have +had a great advantage in regard to the ground. The French cannon brought +into the line from Konnewitz to Dehlis and Lösnig stood in a +hollow--those of the Austrians on eminences. These last had moreover the +advantage of enfilading the two angles formed by the batteries of the +French. That this had actually been the case was evident from the +numbers of French cannoniers and horses lying dead in rows in the line +of the above-mentioned villages, where they had been swept down by the +guns of their opponents. On the eminences where the hostile cannon were +planted the number of dead was much smaller, and these were apparently +not artillery-men, but infantry, who were probably engaged in covering +those batteries. The firearms which lay beside them confirmed the +conjecture. This pass must nevertheless have been obstinately defended, +as it was not taken the whole day. The fire of musketry grew more and +more brisk--a proof that the combatants were already in close action. +The French _tirailleurs_ could not be driven out of the woods, on which +their right wing was supported. We remarked frequent charges of cavalry, +which seemed to decide nothing. All the villages lying beyond Konnewitz, +on the road to Borna, as far as Markleeberg, were on fire. The thunder +from the French centre, as well as from the left wing, gradually +approached nearer to the city. The seventh corps, under general Reynier, +was in the left wing, and posted towards Taucha. It was principally +composed of Saxons. They had just come into action, and the allies had +already brought up a great number of guns against them. To the no small +astonishment and consternation of their leader, they suddenly shouldered +their arms, marched forward in close files with their artillery, and +went over to the enemy. Several French battalions, misled by this +movement, joined them, and were immediately disarmed and made prisoners +by the allies. The French cuirassiers, suspecting the design of the +Saxons, followed, apparently with the intention of falling upon them. +The Saxons faced about, and compelled them, by a smart fire of musketry, +to return. A volley of small arms was discharged after them, but with no +more effect--it did them no injury. Their horse-artillery turned about, +and soon dismounted that of the French. They were greeted with a joyful +_hurrah!_ by the Cossacks, who cordially shook hands with their new +comrades. The Saxons desired to be immediately led back to the attack of +the French. The hearts of these soldiers individually had long glowed +with revenge for all the devastations committed in their native land by +their allies and companions in arms, for whom they had so often shed +their blood in torrents. The generals of the allies refused on very good +grounds to comply with their desire. The Saxons marched a league into +the rear of the field of battle, and there bivouacked. Their artillery +only was afterwards invited to take part in the engagement, and did +great execution. This circumstance had an essential influence on the +issue of the contest, inasmuch as the defection of a body of more than +8000 men facilitated the advance of the right wing of the allies. But +for this step the Saxons would have fared very badly, as their opponents +had already ranged upwards of thirty pieces of cannon against their +line, and were bringing up still more to the attack. These now proved +the more galling to the ranks of the French, who were driven back almost +to the Kohlgärten. From my position this advance of the allies was not +to be perceived except by the approach of the thunder of the artillery. +The French centre yet stood immoveable; at least we could not observe +from the city any change which denoted a retrograde movement. The +sanguinary character of this tremendous conflict might be inferred from +the thousands of wounded, who hobbled, crawled, and were carried in at +the gates. Among the latter were many officers of rank. If you inquired +of those who returned from the field, how the battle was going on, the +reply almost invariably was--"Badly enough,--the enemy is very strong." +A Saxon cuirassier declared, without reserve, that it might be +considered as decided, adding, "We have lost a deal of ground +already."--Stötteritz and Schönefeld were stormed the same evening. All +the streets were covered with wounded, and fortunate were they who +could find a shelter. As for surgical aid and refreshments, these were +not to be thought of. A far greater number of those miserable wretches +were yet left behind in the villages, as might be seen from the detached +limbs, which were piled in heaps, especially at Probstheide. + +Had any of the allied corps succeeded this day in penetrating on any +side into our city, nothing less than the total destruction of the +French army would probably have been the consequence; since it might +from this place, as from the centre of the field of battle, have fallen +upon the rear of any part of the French force, and have hemmed in both +the centre and the wings. This misfortune Napoleon had taken good care +to prevent. He now felt, however, that his strength was broken, and that +he was no longer in a condition to maintain the contest. He resolved +upon retreat, but carefully sought to conceal this intention from his +enemies. Though night had come on; yet the cannon thundered as furiously +as in the morning, and the fire of musketry was brisker than ever. A +long column, with an endless train of artillery, was seen defiling from +Probstheide to Konnewitz. Again I trembled for the cause of the allies. +These, I imagined, were the French guards, marching to the attack of the +right wing. Now methought the moment had arrived when Napoleon would +strike the decisive blow, which he had so often deferred till the very +last hour. Soon afterwards the cannonade seemed to gain redoubled +vigour, and continued an hour without intermission, so that every house +in the city was shaken. As, however, it at length ceased without +removing to a greater distance, we naturally concluded that this last +attack had proved unsuccessful. More than ten great conflagrations +illumined the whole horizon amid the obscurity of night. + +The excessive bustle in the city rendered it impossible for us to +observe that the retreat had in fact commenced. The greatest part of the +persons attached to the army had already left the city, while the others +were making all the requisite preparations for their departure. Most of +them had wonderfully changed the tone in which they had spoken the +preceding day. They now talked of the miseries of war, deplored the +sufferings of the people, and declared that peace would be the greatest +of blessings for all parties. The multitude of French officers here was +so great, that even those of high rank on the staff were obliged to put +up with the most wretched accommodations, for which they paid +handsomely, leaving their horses and equipages in the street, where the +former frequently ran away. One of these officers sought a night's +lodging in a mean house in the author's neighbourhood. He was called up +at midnight, and informed that his column had just begun to retreat. He +inquired whether the whole army was doing the same--the messenger +replied that he did not know. This circumstance first confirmed my +belief that the French had sustained a defeat, and rendered the +conjecture that their whole army was retreating highly probable. Many +French _employés_ and soldiers had, several days before, while they yet +had an opportunity, exchanged their uniform for the plainest attire, +that, under this peaceful ægis, they might the more calmly await the +issue of events; and that, in case the allies should come upon them too +unexpectedly, they might, under the disguise of honest citizens, hasten +away to their beloved Rhine without being challenged by the lances of +the Cossacks. With greater composure than any of them did general +Bertrand, the governor of the city, who, perhaps, as an intelligent +officer, was the least confident of victory, look forward to the event. +He abandoned not his post at the precipitate departure of the emperor, +and was in consequence made prisoner the following day. + +Such was the conclusion of the fifth day. It beheld a field of battle, +of unparalleled extent, strewed with slain; and left one of the most +flourishing districts of Saxony, as it were, one general conflagration. +With anxious solicitude the people of Leipzig awaited its coming, and +with expectations unfulfilled they witnessed its close. Though it +appeared probable to us all, that, in this colossal engagement, victory +had wholly forsaken the Gallic eagles, still the fate of our city was +far from being decided. We were yet in the midst of the crater of the +tremendous volcano, which by one mighty effort might hurl us into atoms, +and leave behind scarcely a vestige of our existence. Napoleon had +received a severe blow; and now it behoved him to oppose an immediate +barrier to the impetuous course of the conquerors, and to prevent the +total loss of his yet remaining army, artillery, and baggage. The only +bulwark that he could employ for this purpose was Leipzig. All that art +had formerly done to render it a defensive position had long since +disappeared. Planks, hedges, and mud walls, were scarcely calculated to +resist the butt-end of a musket. This deficiency it was every where +necessary to supply by living walls, and that was in fact done in such a +way as filled us all with consternation. + +At day-break on the 19th the allies put the finishing hand to the great +work. A considerable part of the French army, with an immense quantity +of artillery, had already passed through and into the city with great +precipitation. The troops that covered the retreat were furiously +attacked, and driven on all sides into the city. Napoleon attempted to +arrest the progress of victory by an expedient which had so often before +produced an extraordinary effect, that is, by negotiation. A proposal +was made to evacuate the city voluntarily, and to declare the Saxon +troops there as neutral, on condition that the retreating army should +have sufficient time allowed to withdraw from it with its artillery and +waggon-train, and to reach a certain specified point. The allies too +clearly perceived what an important advantage would in this case be +gained by the French army, which was less anxious for the fate of the +city than to effect its own escape. These terms were rejected, and +several hundred pieces of artillery began to play upon Leipzig. Our fate +would have been decided had the allied sovereigns cherished sentiments +less generous and humane than they did. It behoved them to gain +possession of Leipzig at any rate; and this object they might have +accomplished in the shortest way, and with inconsiderable loss to +themselves, if they had bombarded it for one single hour with shells, +red-hot balls, and Congreve rockets, with which an English battery that +accompanied them was provided. Their philanthropic spirits, on the +contrary, revolted at the idea of involving the innocent population of a +_German_ city in the fate of Moscow and Saragossa. They resolved to +storm the town, and to support the troops employed in this duty with +artillery no farther than was necessary to silence the enemy, and to +force their way through the palisaded avenues and gates. Meanwhile the +discharges of artillery, quite close to us, were so tremendous, that +each seemed sufficient to annihilate the city. The king of Saxony +himself sent flags of truce, entreating that it might be spared. The +allies replied that this should be done in as far as the defence of the +enemy might render it practicable: they promised, moreover, security to +persons and property after the place should be taken, and to enforce as +rigid discipline as it was possible on such an occasion. To these +assurances they annexed the condition that no French should be secreted +in the city, declaring that every house in which one or more of them +should be found would run the risk of being reduced to ashes. The +cannon, though only in a proportionably small number from the north and +east, immediately began to play. They were partly directed against the +palisades at the gates, partly against the French artillery which +defended the avenues. For more than two hours balls and shells from the +east and north frequently fell in the city itself, and in the suburbs. +Many a time I was filled with astonishment at the effects of one single +ball, which often penetrated through two thick walls, and pursued its +course still farther. Though they seldom fell in the streets, it was +impossible to venture abroad without imminent hazard of life, as these +tremendous visitors beat down large fragments of roofs, chimneys, and +walls, which, tumbling with a frightful crash, threatened to bury every +passenger beneath their ruins. Still greater havoc was made by the +shells, which, bursting as soon as they had descended, immediately set +their new habitations in flames. Fortunately for us, but few of these +guests were sent into the city. The most that fell came from the north, +that is, in the direction of Halle. Three times did fires break out in +the Brühl, which, in a short consumed several back buildings contiguous +to the city wall, and nothing but the instantaneous measures adopted for +their extinction prevented farther damage. The allies had no other +object, in dispatching these ministers of destruction, than to shew the +retreating enemy, who, in the general confusion and bustle, could no +longer move either forward or backward, that, if they now forbore to +annihilate him, it was because the innocent citizens might be involved +in equal destruction with the fugitives. Pfaffendorf, a farm-house near +the north side of the city, had previously been set on fire, when the +Russian jägers had penetrated thither through the Rosenthal, and was +consumed to the very walls. As this place had been converted into an +hospital, many poor fellows there fell a sacrifice to the flames. + +You may easily conceive the sensations of the inhabitants of the upper +town when we beheld the black clouds of smoke rising from the lower, +while the incessant fire of the artillery rendered it impossible for us +to repair thither, to obtain information or to afford assistance. Here, +as every where else, the fears of the inhabitants were wound up to the +highest pitch. A cry was raised that several streets were already in +flames, and every one now hastened to his own house, that he might be at +hand in case a similar accident should happen there. It became more and +more dangerous to remain in the upper stories, which the inhabitants +accordingly quitted, and betook themselves to the kitchens and cellars. +If such were the terrors of the inmates, old and young, the fears and +anxiety of the French who chanced to be in the houses surpassed all +description. Many of them were seen weeping like children, and starting +convulsively at every report of the cannon. In the midst of this hideous +uproar I made another attempt to learn what was passing in the suburbs. +In the streets I found inexpressible confusion, people running in all +directions, officers driving their men to the gates. Cries and shouts +resounded from all quarters, though very few of the persons from whom +they proceeded knew what they would be at. At this time cartouch-boxes +and muskets were to be seen thrown away here and there in the streets. +The Saxon grenadier guards were drawn out with wonderful composure and +grounded arms, before the royal residence. Every unarmed person +anxiously sought to gain the nearest house, but commonly found it shut +against him. Several had already lost their lives or been severely +wounded by the balls which fell in all directions. Napoleon was still in +the city; he was at this moment with our king, with whom he had an +animated conversation, which lasted near an hour. Soon afterwards I saw +him, accompanied by the king of Naples, proceeding on horseback toward +the Ranstädt gate. I had meanwhile taken the opportunity of slipping +into a house which overlooks that street, and now for the first time +beheld a French retreat in the height of its confusion. Not a vestige of +regularity was any where observable. The horse and foot guards poured +along in mingled disorder. They would probably have marched in quicker +time, had they been permitted by the waggons and cannon, which were +locked in one another, and obstructed the way. Between these they were +obliged to pass singly, and I really thought that it would be at least +six hours before they could all have effected their passage. Immense +droves of cattle were cooped up among the crowd. These seemed to be +objects of particular concern to the French. They sought out a space, +however narrow, along the town-ditch, by which they might drive forward +their horned favourites. Whoever was bold enough, and had any hopes of +being able to conduct these animals into his own habitation, had now an +opportunity of making an advantageous bargain. A few pieces of silver +might be carried off with much greater facility than a huge clumsy ox. +Notwithstanding all the efforts to preserve this valuable booty from the +general wreck, it was absolutely impossible to save the whole of it. +Many horned cattle and horses were left behind, and now innocently +sought a scanty repast by the city-walls. That, amidst all this +"confusion worse confounded," there was no want of shouting and +blustering, you may easily imagine, though nobody got forward any faster +for all this noise. On a sudden we saw at a distance the emperor +himself, with not a numerous retinue, advancing on horseback into the +midst of this chaos. He got through better than I expected. I afterwards +learned that he took a by-road through a garden to the outer Ranstädt +gate. Prince Poniatowsky attempted, higher up, to ford the Elster. The +banks on each side are of considerable height, soft and swampy; the +current itself narrow, but in this part uncommonly deep and muddy. How +so expert a rider should have lost the management of his horse, I cannot +imagine. According to report, the animal plunged headlong into the water +with him, so that he could not possibly recover himself. He fell a +victim to his temerity, and was drowned. His body was found several days +afterwards, and interred with all the military honours due to his +rank[5]. + +As the commander-in-chief had so precipitately quitted the city, we +could no longer doubt the proximity of the enemy to our walls. The fire +of the artillery and musketry in the place, which gradually approached +nearer, was a much more convincing proof of this than we desired. The +men already began to cut away the traces, in order to save the horses. +The bustle among the soldiers augmented; a weak rearguard had taken post +in Reichel's garden, to keep the allies in check, in case they should +penetrate into the high road. We thought them still at a considerable +distance, when a confused cry suddenly proclaimed that the Russians had +stormed the outer Peter's gate, and were coming round from the +Rossplatz. The French were evidently alarmed. The Russian jägers came +upon them all at once, at full speed, with tremendous huzzas and fixed +bayonets, and discharged their pieces singly, without stopping. I now +thought it advisable to quit my dangerous post, and hasten home with all +possible expedition. I was informed by the way that the Prussians had +that moment stormed the Grimma gate, and would be in the city in a few +minutes. On all sides was heard the firing of small arms, intermixed at +times with the reports of the artillery, already playing upon the +waggon-train in the suburbs. Musket-balls, passing over the city wall, +likewise whizzed through the streets; and, when I ventured to put my +head out of the window, I observed with horror, not far from my house, +two Prussian jägers pursuing and firing at some Frenchmen who were +running away. Behind them I heard the storm-march, and huzzas and shouts +of _Long live Frederic William!_ from thousands of voices. A company of +Baden jägers was charged with the defence of the inner Peter's gate. +These troops immediately abandoned their post, and ran as fast as their +legs would carry them to the market-place, where they halted, and, like +the Saxon grenadier guards, fired not a single shot. + +Thus the so long feared and yet wished-for hour was at length arrived. +What we should never have expected after the 2nd of May, namely, to see +a single Prussian again at Leipzig, was nevertheless come to pass. They +had then left us as friends, and, by their exemplary conduct, had +acquired our highest respect. We bore them, as well as the Russians, in +the most honourable remembrance. They now appeared as enemies, whose +duty had imposed on them the task of storming the city. Our sons and +brothers had fought against them. What might not be our fate? We had not +forgotten that which befell Lübeck, seven years before, under similar +circumstances. But they were the warriors of Alexander, Francis, +Frederic William, and Charles John; terrible as destroying angels to the +foe, kind and generous to the defenceless citizen. As far as the +author's knowledge extends, not a man was guilty of the smallest excess +within our walls. They even paid in specie for bread, tobacco, and +brandy. The suburbs, indeed, fared not quite so well. There many an +inhabitant suffered severely; but how was it possible for the commanders +to be present every where, and to prevent all irregularities, after a +conflict which had raged in every corner of the city? Would you compare +the victors, upon the whole, with our late friends and protectors, go +through all Saxony, and then judge in whose favour the parallel must be +drawn. + +It was half past one o'clock when the allies penetrated into the city. +The artillery had been but little used on this occasion, and in the +interior of the place not at all. Had not the allies shewn so much +tenderness for the town, they might have spared the sacrifice of some +hundreds of their brave soldiers. They employed infantry in the assault, +that the city might not be utterly destroyed. The grand work was now +nearly accomplished. Obstinately as the French in general defended +themselves, they were, nevertheless, unable to withstand the iron masses +of their assailants. They were overthrown in all quarters, and driven +out of the place. The streets, especially in the suburbs, were strewed +with dead. The writer often counted eight in a very small space. In +about an hour you might venture abroad without danger in all parts of +the town. But what sights now met the eye! Leipzig, including the +suburbs, cannot occupy an area of much less than one (German) square +mile. In this extent there was scarcely a spot not covered with houses +but bore evidence of the sanguinary conflict. The ground was covered +with carcasses, and the horses were particularly numerous. The nearer +you approached to the Ranstädt gate, the thicker lay the dead bodies. +The Ranstädt causeway, which is crossed by what is called the Mühlgraben +(mill-dam), exhibited a spectacle peculiarly horrid. Men and horses were +every where to be seen; driven into the water, they had found their +grave in it, and projected in hideous groups above its surface. Here the +storming columns from all the gates, guided by the fleeing foe, had for +the most part united, and had found a sure mark for every shot in the +closely crowded masses of the enemy. But the most dreadful sight of all +was that which presented itself in the beautiful Richter's garden, once +the ornament of the city, on that side where it joins the Elster. There +the cavalry must have been engaged; at least I there saw a great number +of French cuirasses lying about. All along the bank, heads, arms, and +feet, appeared above the water. Numbers, in attempting to ford the +treacherous river, had here perished. People were just then engaged in +collecting the arms that had been thrown away by the fugitives, and they +had already formed a pile of them far exceeding the height of a man. + +The smoking ruins of whole villages and towns, or extensive tracts laid +waste by inundations, exhibit a melancholy spectacle; but a field of +battle is assuredly the most shocking sight that eye can ever behold. +Here all kinds of horrors are united; here Death reaps his richest +harvest, and revels amid a thousand different forms of human suffering. +The whole area has of itself a peculiar and repulsive physiognomy, +resulting from such a variety of heterogeneous objects as are no where +else found together. The relics of torches, the littered and trampled +straw, the bones and flesh of slaughtered animals, fragments of plates, +a thousand articles of leather, tattered cartouch-boxes, old rags, +clothes thrown away, all kinds of harness, broken muskets, shattered +waggons and carts, weapons of all sorts, thousands of dead and dying, +horribly mangled bodies of men and horses,--and all these +intermingled!--I shudder whenever I recall to memory this scene, which, +for the world, I would not again behold. Such, however, was the +spectacle that presented itself in all directions; so that a person, who +had before seen the beautiful environs of Leipzig, would not have known +them again in their present state. Barriers, gardens, parks, hedges, and +walks, were alike destroyed and swept away. These devastations were not +the consequence of this day's engagement, but of the previous +bivouacking of the French, who are now so habituated to conduct +themselves in such a manner that their bivouacs never fail to exhibit +the most deplorable attestations of their presence, as to admit no hopes +of a change. The appearance of Richter's garden was a fair specimen of +the aspect of all the others. Among these the beautiful one of Löhr was +particularly remarkable. Here French artillery had been stationed +towards Göhlis; and here both horses and men had suffered most severely. +The magnificent buildings, in the Grecian style, seemed mournfully to +overlook their late agreeable, now devastated, groves, enlivened in +spring by the warbling of hundreds of nightingales, but where now +nothing was to be heard, save the loud groans of the dying. The dark +alleys, summer-houses, and arbours, so often resorted to for recreation, +social pleasures, or silent meditation, were now the haunts of death, +the abode of agony and despair. The gardens, so late a paradise, were +transformed into the seat of corruption and pestilential putridity. A +similar spectacle was exhibited by Grosbosch's, Reichel's, and all the +other spacious gardens round the city, which the allies had been obliged +to storm.--The buildings which had suffered most were those at the outer +gates of the city. These were the habitations of the excise and other +officers stationed at the gates. Most of them were so perforated as +rather to resemble large cages, which you may see through, than solid +walls. All this, however, though more than a thousand balls must have +been fired at the city, bore no comparison to the mischiefs which might +have ensued, and which we had every reason to apprehend. We now look +forward to a happier futurity; the commerce of Leipzig will revive; and +the activity, industry, and good taste of its inhabitants, will, +doubtless, ere long, call forth from these ruins a new and more +beautiful creation. + +I now summon your attention from these scenes of horror to others of a +different kind, the delineation of which is absolutely necessary to +complete the picture. Those hosts which had so long been the scourge of +Germany and Europe, and had left us this last hideous monument of their +presence, perhaps never to return, were now in precipitate flight, as +though hurried away by an impetuous torrent. The terrors of the Most +High had descended upon them. The conqueror had appeared to them at +Leipzig in the most terrific form, and with uplifted arm followed close +at their heels. About a league beyond the city the ardour of the pursuit +somewhat abated; at Markranstädt the routed army first stopped to take +breath, and to form itself in some measure into a connected whole. The +booty taken by the allies was immense. The suburbs were crowded with +waggons and artillery, which the enemy had been obliged to abandon. It +was impossible for the most experienced eye to form any kind of estimate +of their numbers. The captors left them all just as they were, and +merely examined here and there the contents of the waggons. Many of them +were laden with rice, which was partly given away, especially by the +Prussians. Many a Frenchman probably missed the usual supply of it for +his scanty supper. All the streets were thronged with the allied troops, +who had fought dispersed, and now met to congratulate one another on the +important victory. Soon after the city was taken, their sovereigns made +their entry. The people pressed in crowds to behold their august and so +long wished-for deliverers. They appeared without any pomp in the +simplest officers' uniforms, attended by those heroes, a Blücher, Bülow, +Platow, Barklay de Tolly, Schwarzenberg, Repnin, Sanders, &c. &c., whom +we had so long admired. The acclamations of the people were unbounded. +Tens of thousands of voices greeted them with _Huzzas_ and _Vivats_; and +white handkerchiefs,--symbols of peace,--waved from every window. Some +few indeed were too unhappy to take part in the general joy on this +memorable day. It was the only punishment, but truly a severe one, for +the abject wretches who have not German hearts in their bosoms. Never +did acclamations so sincere greet the ears of emperors and kings as +those which welcomed Alexander, Francis, Frederic William, and Charles +John. They were followed by long files of troops, who had so gloriously +sustained the arduous contest under their victorious banners. In the +midst of Cossacks, Prussian, Russian, Austrian, and Swedish hussars, +appeared also our gallant Saxon cavalry, resolved henceforward to fight +for the liberty of Germany, and the genuine interests of their native +land. + +A great number of regiments immediately continued their march without +halting, and took some the road to Pegau, and others that to Merseburg, +in order to pursue the enemy in his left flank and in his rear. +Blücher's army had the preceding day advanced to the neighbourhood of +Merseburg, where it was now posted in the right flank of the retreating +force. Leipzig had nothing more to fear. French officers and soldiers +were every where seen intermixed with their conquerors. It was only here +and there that they were collected together and conveyed away. Of the +greater part but little notice was taken in the first bustle, as all the +gates were well guarded, and it was scarcely possible for one of them to +escape. Numbers had fled during the assault from their quarters into the +suburbs. Many seemed to have left behind valuable effects and money, as +I should conjecture from various expressions used by some, who offered, +several Napoleon-d'ors to any person who could assist them to reach +their lodgings. For this, however, it was now too late. Strict orders +were issued against the secreting or entertaining of Frenchmen, and they +were therefore obliged to seek, for the moment, a refuge in the +hospitals. + +Only a small part of the combined troops had gone in pursuit of the +French. By far the greatest portion reposed in countless ranks round the +town from the fatigues of the long and sanguinary conflict. Part of the +army equipage entered, and all the streets were soon crowded to such +excess that you could scarcely stir but at the risk of your life. The +allied monarchs alighted in the market-place, where the concourse of +guards and equipages was consequently immense. Here I saw the late +French commandant of the city coming on foot with a numerous retinue of +officers and commissaries, and advancing towards the Russian generals. +The fate of general Bertrand was certainly most to be pitied; he was a +truly honest man, who had no share in those inexpressible miseries in +which we had been for the last six months involved. I felt so much the +less for the commissaries, whom I have ever considered as the Pandora's +box of the French army, whence such numberless calamities have spread +over every country in which they have set foot. At the residence of our +sovereign I observed no other alteration than that a great number of +Saxon generals and officers were collected about it. The life +grenadier-guards were on duty as before, and a battalion of Russian +grenadiers was parading in front of the windows. No interview, that I +know of, took place between the king of Saxony the allied sovereigns. +The king of Prussia remained here longest in conversation with the +prince-royal. The emperors of Austria and Russia, as well as the +crown-prince of Sweden, returned early to the army. After the departure +of the Prussian monarch, our king set out under a strong escort of +Cossacks for Berlin, or, as some asserted, for Schwedt. + +The French hospitals which we had constantly had here since the +beginning of the year, and which, since the battle of Lützen and the +denunciation of the armistice, had increased to such a degree as to +contain upwards of 20,000 sick and wounded, may be considered as a +malignant cancer, that keeps eating farther and farther, and consuming +the vital juices. It was these that introduced among us a dreadfully +destructive nervous fever, which had increased the mortality of the +inhabitants to near double its usual amount. Regarded in this point of +view alone, they were one of the most terrible scourges of the city; but +they proved a still more serious evil, inasmuch as the whole expense of +them fell upon the circle. The French never inquired whence the +prodigious funds requisite for their maintenance were to be derived, nor +ever thought of making the smallest compensation. If we reckon, for six +months, 10,000 sick upon an average, and for each of them 12 groschen +per day (and, including all necessaries, they could scarcely be kept at +that rate), the amount for each day is 5000, and, for the six months, +the enormous sum of 900,000 dollars, which the exhausted coffers were +obliged to pay in specie. This calculation, however, is so far below the +truth, that it ought rather to be greatly augmented. A tolerable +aggregate must have been formed by proportionable contributions from all +our country towns, and this was for the service of the hospitals alone: +judge then of the rest. + +Previously to the battle of Leipzig the state of the inmates of these +pestilential dens, these abodes of misery, was deplorable enough, as +they were continually becoming more crowded and enlarged. Many of the +persons attached to them, and in particular many a valuable and +experienced medical man, carried from them the seeds of death into the +bosom of his family. With their want of accommodations, cleanliness was +a point which could not be attained, and it was impossible to pass them +without extreme disgust. As Leipzig was for a considerable time cut off +from the rest of the world by the vast circle of armies, like the +mariner cast upon a desert island, the wants of these hospitals became +from day to day more urgent. Provisions also at length began to fail. +The distress had arrived at its highest pitch, when the thousands from +the field of battle applied there for relief. Not even bread could any +longer be dispensed to these unfortunates. Many wandered about without +any kind of shelter. Then did we witness scenes which would have +thrilled the most obdurate cannibals with horror. No eye could have +beheld a sight more hideous at Smolensk, on the Berezyna, or on the road +to Wilna--there at least Death more speedily dispatched his victims. +Thousands of ghastly figures staggered along the streets, begging at +every window and at every door; and seldom indeed had Compassion the +power to give. These, however, were ordinary, familiar spectacles. +Neither was it rare to see one of these emaciated wretches picking up +the dirtiest bones, and eagerly gnawing them; nay, even the smallest +crumb of bread which had chanced to be thrown into the street, as well +as apple-parings and cabbage-stalks, were voraciously devoured. But +hunger did not confine itself within these disgusting limits. More than +twenty eye-witnesses can attest that wounded French soldiers crawled to +the already putrid carcasses of horses, with some blunt knife or other +contrived with their feeble hands to cut the flesh from the haunches, +and greedily regaled themselves with the carrion. They were glad to +appease their hunger with what the raven and the kite never feed on but +in cases of necessity. They even tore the flesh from human limbs, and +broiled it to satisfy the cravings of appetite; nay, what is almost +incredible, the very dunghills were searched for undigested fragments to +devour. You know me, and must certainly believe that I would not relate +as facts things which would be liable to be contradicted by the whole +city. Thus the hospitals became a hot-bed of pestilence, from which the +senses of hearing, smell, and sight, turned with disgust, and one of the +most fatal of those vampyres which had so profusely drained our vitals, +and now dispensed destruction to those who had fed them and to the sick +themselves. + +The great church-yard exhibited a spectacle of peculiar horror. The +peaceful dead and their monuments had been spared no more than any other +corner of the city. Here also the king of terrors had reaped a rich +harvest. The slight walls had been converted into one great fort, and +loop-holes formed in them. Troops had long before bivouacked in this +spot, and the Prussian, Russian, and Austrian prisoners, were here +confined, frequently for several successive days, in the most +tempestuous weather and violent rain, without food, straw, or shelter. +These poor fellows had nevertheless spared the many handsome monuments +of the deceased, and only sought a refuge from the wet, or a lodging for +the night, in such vaults as they found open. This spacious ground, +which rather resembled a superbly embellished garden than a +burial-place, now fell under the all-desolating hands of the French. It +soon bore not the smallest resemblance to itself; what Art had, in the +space of a century, employed a thousand hands to produce, was in a short +time, and by very few, defaced and destroyed. The strongest iron doors +to the vaults were broken open, the walls stripped of their decorations +and emblems of mourning, the last tributes of grief and affection +annihilated, and every atom of wood thrown into the watch-fire; so that +the living could no longer know where to look for the remains of the +deceased objects of their love. The elegant rails, with which the +generality of the graves were encompassed, for the most part +disappeared, and the only vestiges of them to be found were their ashes, +or the relics of the reeking brands of the watch-fire. On the 19th this +wretched bulwark also was stormed, and thrown down as easily as a +fowler's net. The carcasses of horses now replaced upon the graves the +monuments of mourning for the peaceful dead. After the battle part of +the French prisoners were confined in this place. The church of St. +John, which stands in it, had, as early as the month of May, been +converted into an hospital, which, ever since the beginning of October, +was crowded with sick. It could hold no more; the sick and prisoners +were therefore intermingled, and lay down pell-mell among the graves. +What had hitherto been spared was now completely destroyed. In this +case, indeed, dire necessity pleaded a sufficient excuse. Who could find +fault with Distress and Despair if they resorted to the only means that +could afford them the slightest alleviation? Who could grudge them a +shelter in the cold autumnal nights, even though they sought it in the +dreary abode of mouldering corpses? Every vault which it was possible +for them to open was converted into a chamber and dwelling-place, which +at least was preferable to a couch between hillocks soaked with rain or +covered with hoar frost. They descended into the deepest graves, broke +open the coffins, and ejected their tenants, to procure fire-wood to +warm their frozen limbs. I myself saw a French soldier who had fallen +among a heap of coffins piled up to the height of more than twelve feet; +and, unable to clamber up again, had probably lain there several days, +and been added by Death to the number of his former victims. The +appearance of the skulls, before so carefully concealed from the view of +the living, now thrown out of the coffins into the graves, was truly +ghastly. + +In spite of all the exertion of the new authorities, appointed by the +allies to alleviate the general misery, it was utterly impossible for +any human power to restore order in the horrid chaos which the French +had left behind them. A severe want of all necessaries was felt in the +city; the circumjacent villages, far and wide, were plundered and laid +waste. From them, of course, no supply could be obtained. More than +thirty hospitals were not capable of receiving all the sick and wounded +who applied for admission. Where were to be found buildings sufficiently +spacious, mattresses, bedding, utensils, provisions, and the prodigious +number of medical attendants, whose services were so urgently required +by these poor creatures? Every edifice at all adapted to the purpose had +long been occupied; and so completely had every thing been drained by +requisitions, that the hospital committee had for some time been unable +to collect even the necessary quantity of lint. Almost every barber's +apprentice was obliged to exercise his unskilful hands in the service of +the hospitals. It would have been impossible to procure any thing with +money, had it been ever so plentiful; and this resource, moreover, was +already completely exhausted. The most acute understanding and the most +invincible presence of mind were inadequate to the providing of a remedy +for these evils. No where was there to be seen either beginning or end. +The city was covered with carcasses, and the rivers obstructed with dead +bodies. Thousands of hands were necessary to remove and bury these +disgusting objects before any attention could be paid to the clearing of +the field of battle about Leipzig. As all sought relief, there was of +course none to afford it. It was difficult to decide whether first to +build, to slaughter, to brew, to bake, to bury the dead, or to assist +the wounded, as all these points demanded equally prompt attention. + +In the city lay many thousands of newly-arrived troops, who came from +the fight, and were both hungry and thirsty. Notwithstanding their +moderation, some of these could obtain nothing, and others but a very +scanty supply. Gladly would every citizen have entertained them in the +best manner; but not even a glass of the worst beer or brandy was now to +be had. Many of them naturally ascribed this to ill will, and even +observed that every thing was denied them because they were not +Frenchmen. How little did they know of our real situation! In the house +where I live six of the Prussian foot-guards were quartered. They +complained when nothing was set before them but dry potatoes; but +listened with calmness to the excuses that were offered. Without making +any reply, four of them took up their arms, and departed. In about an +hour they returned, bringing with them two cows, which they had taken +from the French. These they presented to their host, and immediately +fell to work and killed then. In two hours the family was abundantly +supplied with meat, so that it could assist others; and, as great part +was pickled, it was supplied for a considerable time. Frenchmen would +certainly not have acted thus. + +Among the thousands of facts which might be adduced to prove that it was +absolutely impossible for any thing whatever to be left in the town, +that its resources were completely exhausted, and that extreme want +could not but prevail, let one instance suffice. There were in the city +two granaries, one of which, in the palace of Pleissenburg, had been +filled at the king's cost, and the other, called the corn-magazine, at +the expense of the magistrates. The former had long been put in +requisition by French commissaries, and had been chiefly applied to the +provisioning of the French garrisons of Wittenberg and Torgau. As this +was the king's property, it was perhaps but right to demand it for the +fortresses which were to defend the country. The stores possessed by the +magistrates were purchased in those years when a scarcity of corn +prevailed in Saxony. To afford some relief the government had imported +great quantities from Russia, by way of the Baltic and the Elbe. The +magistrates of Leipzig had bought a considerable part of it, that they +might be able to relieve the wants of the citizens in case a similar +calamity should again occur. It was ground and put into casks, each +containing 450 pounds. They had in their magazine 4000 such casks, which +had been left untouched even in the year 1806, and were carefully +preserved, to be used only in cases of extreme necessity. This was +certainly a wise and truly paternal precaution. So valuable a store +would have been sufficient to protect the city from hunger for a +considerable time. As the French army behaved all over Saxony as though +it had been in an enemy's country, and consumed every thing far and +near, the most urgent want was the inevitable consequence. They forgot +the common maxim, that the bread of which you deprive the citizen and +the husbandman is in fact taken from yourself, and that the soldier can +have nothing where those who feed him have lost their all. The country +round Dresden was already exhausted. Soldiers and travellers coming from +that quarter could scarcely find terms to describe the distress. They +unanimously declared that the country from Oschatz to Leipzig was a real +paradise, in comparison with Lusatia and the circle of Misnia, as far as +the Elbe. Of this we soon had convincing proofs. It was necessary to +pick out a great number of horses from all the regiments, and to send +back numerous troops of soldiers to the depots. Don Quixote's Rosinante +was a superb animal compared with those which returned to Dresden. Most +of them had previously perished by the way. Here they covered all the +streets. The men sold them out of hand, partly for a few groschen. A +great number were publicly put up to auction by the French commissaries; +and you may form some idea what sorry beasts they must have been, when +you know that a lot of 26 was sold for 20 dollars. After some time the +whole of the horse-guards arrived here. They were computed at 5000 men, +all of whom were unfit for service. How changed! how lost was their once +imposing appearance! Scarcely could troops ever make so ludicrous, so +grotesque, and so miserable a figure. Gigantic grenadiers, with caps of +prodigious height, and heavy-armed cuirassiers, were seen riding upon +lean cows, which certainly did not cut many capers. It was wonderful +that the animals shewed no disposition to decline the singular honour. +Their knapsacks were fastened to the horns, so that you were puzzled to +make out what kind of a monstrous creature was approaching. Carbineers, +with cuirasses and helmets polished like mirrors, lay without boots and +stockings in wheelbarrows, to which a peasant had harnessed himself with +his dog, and thus transported the heroes. Few of the horses were yet +able to carry the knapsack, and much less the rider. The men were +therefore obliged to drag the jaded beasts by the bridle through the +deepest morasses, and thought themselves fortunate when at last the +animals dropped to rise no more. Compared with these endless caravans, a +band of strolling players might be considered as the triumphant +procession of a Roman emperor. All these men were proceeding to Erfurt +and Mentz. + +These, and similar scenes which we had daily witnessed, were a natural +consequence of the French system of supply, and the prodigious bodies of +troops, which bore no proportion to the resources of a small tract of +country. Attempts had been made, but without success, to find other +provinces abounding in grain and forage. The fertile fields of Silesia +and Bohemia were beyond their reach. The angel with the fiery sword +vigilantly guarded the avenues to them against the fallen children of +Adam. It was now absolutely necessary to devise some expedient; and to +the French all means were alike. Some rice had been procured by way of +the Elbe and the Rhine. The stocks in the warehouses of the tradesmen of +Leipzig were now put in requisition, and sent off to the army; and I +shrewdly suspect that no part of them was paid for. These, however, were +but small privations; to relieve the general want required no less a +miracle than that by which 4000 men were fed with five small loaves. The +valuable stores in the city magazine had not yet been discovered. But +where is the door, however strong, through which their eagle eyes would +not at last penetrate? The flour was soon spied out, and forthwith +destined for the hungry stomachs of the French. The barrels were rolled +away with incredible expedition, and conveyed to the bakehouses. Each +baker was supplied with two a day, which he was obliged to make up with +all possible dispatch into bread, and to carry to the Cloth-hall. Here +the loaves were piled up in immense rows, and sent off to the famishing +army. From morning till night nothing was to be seen but waggons loading +and setting out. Not a morsel, however, was given to the soldiers +quartered upon the citizens; their superiors well knew that the patient +landlord had yet a penny left in his pocket to help himself out with. +Thus the fine magazine was stripped; and its valuable contents, which +would have kept twenty years longer without spoiling, and had been +preserved with such care, were dissipated in a moment. You may easily +conceive how severe a misfortune this loss proved to the city, and how +keenly it was felt, when you know that we were in a manner besieged for +several weeks, and that not a handful of flour was to be had even at the +mills themselves. + +If you now take into the account the state of the city in a financial +point of view, you may judge how dreadful its condition in general must +have been. In no town is a better provision made for the indigent than +in Leipzig. Here were poor-houses, under most judicious regulations, +where food, fire, and lodging, were afforded. These buildings were +converted into hospitals, their inmates were obliged to turn out, and at +length the necessitous were deprived of their scanty allowance--the +funds were exhausted, and no fresh supplies received. The citizen sunk +under the weight of his burdens; it was impossible to lay any new ones +upon him. Among the different sources of income enjoyed by the city, the +author knows of one which at each of the two principal fairs commonly +produced 4000 dollars; whereas the receipts from it at the late +Michaelmas fair fell short of 100 dollars. All the other branches of +revenue, whether belonging to the king or to the city, fared no better. + +Such was the state of a city, which a few years since might justly be +numbered among the most opulent in Germany, and whose resources appeared +inexhaustible. It may be considered as the heart of all Saxony, on +account of the manifold channels for trade, manufactures, and industry, +which here meet as in one common centre. Hence the commerce of Saxony +extends to every part of the globe. With the credit of Leipzig, that of +all Saxony could not fail to be in a great measure destroyed. Had this +state of things continued a little longer, absolute ruin would probably +have ensued, as the total suspension of trade would certainly have +occasioned the removal of all the yet remaining monied men. So low, +however, the city was not destined to fall. The fatal blow already +impended over Leipzig, which was on the point of being reduced to a heap +of ashes. Black storm-clouds gathered thick around it; but they passed +off; and a new sun, the cheering hope of better times, burst forth. +Large bodies of troops are yet within our walls; and they are a heavy +burden to the impoverished inhabitants, under their present +circumstances. We shall, however, be relieved of some part of it, on the +reduction of the fortresses upon the Elbe, which the enemy may yet +defend for some time, though without any other prospect than that of +final surrender, and of wielding for the last time his desolating arms +on the shores of that river. Symptoms of reviving trade and commerce +begin at least to appear. The gates are no longer beset with the Argus +eyes of French inspectors. The patient indeed, brought as he has been to +the very gates of death, is yet extremely weak, and requires the aid of +crutches. Long will it be before he is free from pain, but his recovery +is sure: he has quitted the close sick room, and is now consigned to +better care, to the hands of Prudence and Philanthropy, who are +acquainted with his condition, and will infallibly restore him to his +former health and vigour. + +The confederation of the Rhine and the Continental system,--terms +synonymous with all the evils which have brought Germany and Europe to +the brink of destruction,--will in future have no other signification in +the vocabularies of the writers on political economy than that interval +of severe probation when Germany seemed to be annihilated, but yet rose +from her ruins with renewed energies, and, united more firmly than ever, +by new ties, with the other states of Europe, resumed her ancient +rights. The battle of Leipzig was the watch-word for this great +revolution. History, therefore, when partiality and passion shall have +long been silent, will not fail to class it among the most important +events recorded in her annals. + +Here permit me to conclude my letters respecting those eventful days of +October, which must ever be so deeply impressed upon the memories of us +all. What may be called the military part of my narrative may be +imperfect; the names of the generals who commanded, the positions of +particular corps, and other circumstances of minor importance, may +perhaps be incorrect; yet the circumstantial details which I have given +will enable you to form to yourself in some measure a complete picture +of that memorable conflict. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] The 14th of October is the anniversary of the battles of Ulm and of +Jena. + +[3] What is yet called the Kohlgärten was formerly gardeners' ground for +the supply of the city, and is now converted into a fashionable village, +consisting chiefly of the country-houses of merchants; and where is also +a public garden for the recreation of the citizens. + +[4] The following fact will serve to shew how completely the king of +Saxony was duped by the imperial plunderer:--The king was standing with +one of his ministers at a window of his palace in Dresden at the moment +when a drove of remarkably fine cattle, intended for the French army, +passed by. His majesty took occasion to praise the paternal care which +the emperor manifested for his troops, in procuring them such abundant +supplies of provisions. "But," replied the minister, "your majesty is +surely not aware that it is at the expense of your poor subjects, as +Napoleon pays for nothing."--"Impossible!" exclaimed the king with +evident indignation. While they were yet in conversation, intelligence +was brought from his domain of Pillnitz, which is well known to be the +most beautiful in Saxony, that the French had taken away by force all +his fine cattle, and just driven them through the city. These were the +very same beasts which he had seen passing, and now for the first time +he became sensible at what price Bonaparte obtained provisions from his +faithful ally. + +[5] Prince Joseph Poniatowsky was nephew to Stanislaus Augustus, the +last king of Poland, and there is no doubt that he was cajoled into a +subservience to the views of the French emperor by the flattering +prospect of the restoration of his country to its former rank among the +nations of Europe. The circumstances attending his death, as related by +his aid-de-camp, are as follow:--On the 19th of October, when the French +army began to retreat, the prince was charged by Napoleon with the +defence of that part of the suburbs of Leipzig which lies nearest to the +Borna road. For this service he had only 2000 Polish infantry assigned +him. Perceiving the French columns on his left flank in full retreat, +and the bridge completely choked up with their artillery and carriages, +so that there was no possibility of getting over it, he drew his sabre, +and, turning to the officers who were about him, "Gentlemen," said he, +"it is better to fall with honour." With these words he rushed, at the +head of a few Polish cuirassiers and the officers surrounding him, upon +the advancing columns of the allies. He had been previously wounded on +the 14th and 16th, and on this occasion also received a musket-ball in +his left arm. He nevertheless pushed forward, but found the suburbs full +of the allied troops, who hastened up to take him prisoner. He cut his +way through them, received another wound through his cross, threw +himself into the Pleisse, and with the assistance of his officers +reached the opposite bank in safety, leaving his horse behind in the +river. Though much exhausted he mounted another, and proceeded to the +Elster, which was already lined by Saxon and Prussian riflemen. Seeing +them coming upon him on all sides, he plunged into the river, and +instantly sunk, together with his horse. Several officers, who threw +themselves in after him, were likewise drowned; and others were taken on +the bank or in the water. The body of the prince was found on the fifth +day (Oct. 24), and taken out of the water by a fisherman. He was dressed +in his gala uniform, the epaulets of which were studded with diamonds. +His fingers were covered with rings set with brilliants; and his pockets +contained snuff-boxes of great value and other trinkets. Many of those +articles were eagerly purchased by the Polish officers who were made +prisoners, evidently for the purpose of being transmitted to his family; +so that the whole produced the fisherman a very considerable sum. + + + + +CONCLUDING REMARKS. + + +In the battle of Leipzig the reflecting observer discovers something +grand; but there is also much that puzzles one who is not a soldier, and +is accustomed to find in all Napoleon's campaigns a consistency of plan +which he here looks for in vain. If in his earlier combinations he did +not in every instance take all possibilities into the account, but +overlooked some, this must be ascribed not so much to the want of +military penetration, as to his firm confidence in his good fortune, and +in his ability to turn unforeseen accidents to his own advantage, or at +least to render them harmless. Rarely has a general been so highly +favoured by fortune for a long series of years as he. It is no wonder +then that this confidence at length increased to such a degree as +frequently to become the height of temerity. In Russia, Napoleon met +with many circumstances which he had not taken into his calculation; but +he nevertheless penetrated to Moscow. Here he for the first time +experienced such a reverse as no general ever yet sustained. His immense +army was entirely annihilated. His stern decree created a new one, to +all outward appearance equally formidable. From the haste with which its +component parts were collected, it could not but be deficient in +intrinsic energy, and it was impossible to doubt that this would be +shewn in time. In this respect his antagonists had a decided advantage, +as must have been obvious to him after the battles of Lützen and +Bautzen. Had he not been so vastly superior in number to the Russian and +Prussian army in the first engagement, he would indisputably have been +defeated on that occasion.--The political relations of Europe had +moreover undergone an extraordinary change. He could not for a thousand +reasons be a moment doubtful of the choice of Austria. If with a strong +and well-appointed army she could not by negotiation bring about a peace +upon the basis of a future balance of power among the principal states +of Europe, in which Prussia and Russia were willing to acquiesce, there +could be no question that for the sake of her own existence she would +espouse the cause of those two powers. This Napoleon seems to have +considered as impossible, or the advantages already obtained must have +inspired him with the confidence that even the accession of Austria to +the alliance could not prevent the prosecution of his victorious career +to the Vistula. Could he have expected to encounter the whole Austrian +army in Silesia, or to reduce the fortresses of Upper Silesia, with such +rapidity as to be able a third time to menace Vienna, and to compel the +force assembled on the Bohemian frontiers to return with precipitation +to cover the capital? This would have been too presumptuous an idea. He +probably fancied himself strong enough, with 400,000 men, led on by +himself and the ablest generals of the age, to cope, if even Austria +should declare against him, with all three powers; especially if he +presumed that he should be able to force all the combined armies united +to a general engagement, and to annihilate them with a single blow. The +proposals for peace were rejected: not the slightest disposition was +shewn to treat, and the armistice of two months answered no other +purpose than to convince Austria of the absolute necessity of joining +the cause of the allies, and exerting all her energies to conquer that +peace by the sword, which there was not the least hope of accomplishing +by negotiation. By the accession of Austria the grand alliance had now +gained a manifest superiority, as well in regard to the number of troops +as to the geographical advantages of the theatre of war and resources. +After the renewal of hostilities Napoleon still seemed determined to +pursue his plan of advancing beyond the Oder. The allies were not to be +deceived by these demonstrations, but unexpectedly took post with their +main force in Bohemia, along the Saxon frontier, leaving in Silesia and +Brandenburg, where the crown-prince of Sweden had by this time arrived +with his gallant troops, armies strong enough to keep him in check by a +vigorous defensive system. The great Bohemian army was destined for +offensive operations. This plan was equally grand and judicious. +Silesia, and all Saxony, to the Elbe, could not fail, in consequence, to +be lost to Napoleon. That river, while he had only Prussia and Russia to +encounter, was a sure support in his rear; but no sooner had Austria +declared herself than it was no longer of any military consequence. +Dresden was the central point for the French army. There were organized +all the military bureaus, and all the branches of administration for the +economy of the army. The allies opened the campaign with a hasty advance +upon that important city. If the enterprise proved successful, its +consequences would be incalculable; if it miscarried, nothing would be +lost for the grand object; and at any rate the expedition would be a +diversion, which would immediately draw the French out of Silesia. +Napoleon now saw how egregiously he was deceived in his reckoning. He +hastened precipitately to save the Saxon capital. The army arrived +breathless. The allies were already assaulting the suburbs; and, had +Napoleon come one hour later, Dresden would have been in their power. +Owing to the unexpected appearance of so prodigious a force, and still +more to physical accidents, the grand enterprise of the allies +miscarried. The battle of Dresden terminated to their disadvantage, but +their primary object was attained. Napoleon's force was divided into +three great armies. Should any of them sustain a defeat, all Saxony to +the right of the Elbe would be lost to him. The engagements of Jauer, +Grossbeeren, and Dennewitz, proved disastrous to the French generals, +and Lusatia and the right bank of the Elbe were soon in the hands of the +allies. All the attempts to penetrate to Prague and Berlin ended in the +discomfiture and annihilation of whole French corps. Oudinot, Ney, +Regnier, Bertrand, and the terrible Vandamme, were in succession so +totally defeated, that it was not possible even for the French +reporters, with all their address, to cloak their disasters. The allies +every where acted offensively. Saxony, surrounded by Silesia, Bohemia, +and Brandenburg, was now, from its situation, likely to become, earlier +or later, the grave of the French armies: the allies had every where the +choice of their operations; they were neither to be turned nor broken +through. It was evident that the long and obstinate continuance of +Napoleon at Dresden could not fail to prove ruinous to him. Of what +service could the Elbe be to him, when Bohemia, the key to that river, +was in the hands of his opponents? These had it in their power to turn +his flank as far as the Saale, without hazard or any great impediment, +as the event actually proved. Napoleon was cooped up in a narrow space, +where in time, even without being defeated, he would have been in danger +of starving with his army. Dresden was to him, in some respects, what +Wilna had been in 1812. Leipzig, an open place, was now of far greater +importance to him than Minsk was then. How easily might he have lost it, +as the allies were advancing in considerable force upon that place! It +was not lost, to be sure; but the communication between Dresden and +Leipzig, and Leipzig and Erfurt, was, if not cut off, at least +interrupted; his supplies became more and more precarious, and a large +garrison, which it was deemed necessary to reinforce with strong +detachments from the main army, was locked up in Leipzig. + +When in August Austria declared herself decidedly in favour of Russia +and Prussia, it was natural to expect that Napoleon would have totally +relinquished the useless defence of Saxony, and have adopted a new plan +of operations, in order to cover and preserve the other states of the +confederation of the Rhine. That he would infallibly be compelled to +evacuate Saxony, was evident from the slightest inspection of the map. +In this beautiful province he could expect no other glory than that of +plunging it, by his inflexible obstinacy, into the most abject misery. +The combined monarchs had nothing to fear for their own dominions; they +needed to do no more than to carry on for some time a mere war of +observation, and to recruit their forces. They might quietly await the +moment when Napoleon should leave Dresden, and, on his arrival, force +him to a general engagement in any situation which they should deem most +advantageous. Too late did Napoleon resolve upon retreat. He was obliged +to commence it in the midst of an immense quadrangle which the allies +formed about him, and to direct his course towards Leipzig. He could +not, however, yet determine to give up Dresden, but left there a +considerable army, thus weakening himself, and sacrificing it, as well +as the garrisons of the fortresses on the Elbe and Oder, to no purpose +whatever, in case he should lose a battle. At length, near Leipzig, he +was forced, into the arduous conflict. Since the latter half of August, +the talents which he had heretofore displayed for comprehensive and +profound combinations seemed to have totally deserted him. All his +measures and plans appeared imperfect, and betrayed a vacillation which +he had never yet manifested. He seems to have been as uncertain +respecting the strength of his antagonists as in regard to their grand +plan of deciding the fate of the campaign with a single blow. + +In the battle of Leipzig we perceive none of that forethought which +characterizes his other engagements. The possibility of losing it seems +never to have entered into his calculations; otherwise he would scarcely +have endeavoured to prevail upon the king of Saxony to repair to Leipzig +to witness his defeat. In the most favourable event he had a right to +anticipate no other result than an unmolested retreat: the allies +however, were producing a very different one from what he expected. Of +this he might have convinced himself so early as the 16th, when he +encountered the strongest resistance at all points which he had probably +deemed the weakest. From that day all his measures were calculated only +for the moment. He boasted of victory when the battle was scarcely +begun. He every where strove to check the impetuous advance of his foes +at the expense of those means which were so necessary for his own +retreat. It could not be difficult for Napoleon to foresee, on the 16th, +that, in case he should be defeated, he had no other route left than to +retreat westward, in the direction of Lützen and Merseburg. He +nevertheless caused all the bridges over the numerous muddy streams on +that side to be destroyed, instead of diligently providing temporary +ones in addition. He was acquainted with the situation of the city, +through the centre of which he would be obliged to pass. He knew the +position of his army, which might, indeed, enter it by three spacious +roads, from north, east, and south; but had only one outlet, and this +the very narrowest of all, for itself and its train, many miles in +length. Let the reader figure to himself a routed army, and that a +French army, in which all order is so easily lost, converging in three +columns to one common centre. The passage at the outermost gate towards +Lützen is so narrow as to admit only one single waggon at a time. When +we consider that at the Kuhthurm again the road is but just wide enough +for one carriage; that, on the west side of the city, the Elster, the +Pleisse, and their different branches, intersect with their thousand +meanders the marshy plains covered with wood, which are scarcely +passable for the pedestrian; when we farther consider the incessant +stoppages of the whole train at every little obstacle, and figure to +ourselves all the three columns united in a road, the two principal +passes of which are scarcely 30 feet in breadth; we shall rather be +astonished that the whole French army was not annihilated than surprised +at the prodigious quantity of waggons and artillery which it was obliged +to abandon. Even in the night between the 18th and 19th, when Napoleon +must have been perfectly aware of his situation, there would still have +been time to throw bridges across the different streams, so that the +army might have marched in five or six columns to Lindenau, and been +again collected at this place, from which several convenient roads +branch off. Such dispositions as circumstances required might then have +been made, and the retreat might have been effected with inconsiderable +loss. Such a precaution was the more necessary, as he could not be +ignorant that Blücher's troops had already gained a march upon him, and +was waiting for him at the Saale. Thus the want of a few paltry wooden +bridges proved as ruinous to the French army as the battle itself. It +lost, solely because it was unprovided with them, great part of its yet +remaining artillery, several thousands of dead, who were mostly drowned, +and a great number of prisoners. It was evident that such a retreat, +conducted without order and without plan, was likely to be attended with +the total destruction of the remnant of the army before it could reach +the Rhine. By the actions on the Unstrut and Saale, at Eisenach and +Hanau, this force was actually so reduced, that, on its arrival at the +Rhine, it must probably have entirely lost its military consequence. How +infinitely inferior is Napoleon in this branch of the military art to +the immortal Moreau, to whom he would have owed everlasting obligations, +had he, at his glorious death, bequeathed to him the transcendent art of +converting retreats into victories! + +In regard to boldness, Napoleon certainly belongs to the generals of the +first rank. He has undertaken and executed the rashest enterprises. But, +if the true hero shines with the greatest lustre in misfortune, like +Hannibal and Frederic the Great, Napoleon must be classed far below +them. He abandoned his army in Russia when it had most need of his +assistance; and the reason assigned for this desertion--that +circumstances rendered his presence necessary in France--is by no means +satisfactory to the rigid inquirer. During the seven-years' war, the +more dangerous the situation of the Prussian army, the more Frederic +felt himself bound to continue with it, and to assist it with his +eminent military genius. The campaign of 1813 has clearly proved that +the secret of Napoleon's most decisive victories has consisted in the +art of assailing his opponents with a superior force. Napoleon would be +incapable of attacking with 30,000 men an army of 90,000, posted in an +advantageous position, and defeating it, as Frederic did at Leuthen. +Napoleon, like the Prussian monarch, attempted to penetrate into +Bohemia, a country so dangerous for an army; but what a wretched +business did he make of it, in comparison with the latter! Frederic +waged war that he might conquer peace; Napoleon never wished for peace, +often as he has made a show of desiring it. Frederic knew how to stop +his victorious career in time, for History had taught him that it is as +difficult to retain as to acquire glory. Napoleon imagined that his fame +was susceptible of increase alone, and lost it all in the fields of +Leipzig. The hardly-earned laurels of France faded along with it. With +what feelings must he direct his views beyond the Rhine, where the eyes +of so many thousands are now opened? He too has lived to witness days +which are far from agreeable to him. He, who represented it to the +countries which he forced into his alliance as a supreme felicity to +have their sons led forth to fight foreign battles, and to have many +thousands of them sacrificed every year upon the altar of his ambition, +now sees them all abandon him, and become his bitterest enemies. The +_Great Empire_ is now an idle dream. Already is he nearly confined +within that ancient France, which has lost through him the flower of her +population. Long has discontent lurked there in every bosom; long have +her people beheld with indignation their youth driven across the Rhine, +into foreign lands, where they were swept away by cold, famine, and the +sword, so that few of them revisited their paternal homes. Will the +nation again be ready to bathe foreign plains with the blood of half a +million of fresh victims? Scarcely can it be so infatuated. The French +too are now roused from their torpor: like the Germans, they will +confine their exertions to the defence of their own frontiers against +those mighty armies of Europe, which, crowned with laurels, wield the +sword in one hand, and bear the olive of peace in the other. + + + + +SUPPLEMENT. + + +The following letter, which cannot but be considered as most honourable +to the writer, contains so many minute, but, at the same time, highly +characteristic traits, that it cannot fail to prove extremely +interesting to every reader. No other apology is necessary for its +introduction here by way of Supplement. + + +_Leipzig, Nov. 3, 1813._ + +DEAREST FRIEND, + +You here see how ready I am to gratify your desire of knowing every +thing that passed in my neighbourhood and that befell myself in the +eventful days of October. I proceed to the point without farther +preamble. + +Ever since the arrival of marshal Marmont I have constantly resided at +the beautiful country-house of my employer at R***, where I imagined +that I might be of some service during the impending events. The general +of brigade Chamois, an honest man, but a severe officer, was at first +quartered there. + +On the 14th of October every body expected a general engagement near +Leipzig. On that day several French corps had arrived in the +neighbourhood. The near thunders of the artillery, which began to roll, +and the repeated assurances of the French officers that the anniversary +of the battles of Ulm and Jena would not be suffered to pass +uncelebrated, seemed to confirm this expectation. The king of Saxony +entered by the palisadoed gates of the outer city, and Napoleon also +soon arrived. The latter came from Düben, and took possession of a +bivouac in the open field, not far from the gallows, close to a great +watch-fire. I was one of those who hastened to the spot, to obtain a +sight of the extraordinary man, little suspecting that a still greater +honour awaited me, namely, that of sleeping under the same roof, nay, +even of being admitted to a personal interview of some length with him. +The state of things at my country-house did not permit me to be long +absent. I hastened back, therefore, with all possible expedition. I +arrived nearly at the same moment with a French _marechal de logis du +palais_, to whom I was obliged to shew every apartment in the house, and +who, to my no small dismay, announced "that the emperor would probably +lodge there that night." The man, having despatched his errand in great +haste, immediately departed. I communicated the unexpected intelligence +to the aid-de-camp of general Pajol, but expressly observed that I had +great doubts about it, as the _marechal de logis_ himself had not spoken +positively. The aid-de-camp appeared very uneasy; and, though I strove +to convince him that it must be some time before our distinguished guest +could arrive, he immediately packed up, and, notwithstanding all my +earnest endeavours to detain him, he was gone with his servant in a few +minutes. Seldom have I witnessed such an extraordinary degree of +anxiety as this man shewed while preparing for his departure. + +The _marechal de logis_ soon returned, and again inspected all the +apartments, and even the smallest closets, more minutely than before. He +announced that _sa majesté_ would certainly take up his head-quarters +here, and asked for a piece of chalk, to mark each room with the names +of the distinguished personages by whom they were to be occupied. When +he had shewn me the apartment destined for the emperor, he desired that +a fire might be immediately lighted in it, as his majesty was very fond +of warmth. The bustle soon began; the guards appeared, and occupied the +house and all the avenues. Many officers of rank, with numerous +attendants, arrived; and six of the emperor's cooks were soon busily +engaged in the kitchen. Thus I was soon surrounded on all sides with +imperial splendour, and might consider myself for the moment as its +centre. I might possibly have felt no small degree of vanity on the +occasion, had I not been every instant reminded that the part which I +should have to act would be that of obedience alone. I heard the beating +of drums at a distance, which, as I presently learned, announced that I +was shortly to descend into a very subordinate station. It proclaimed +the arrival of the emperor, who came on horseback in a grey surtout. +Behind him rode the duke of Vicenza (Caulincourt), who, since the death +of marshal Duroc, has succeeded to his office. When they had come up to +the house, the master of the horse sprung from his steed with a +lightness and agility which I should not have expected in such a +raw-boned, stiff-looking gentleman, and immediately held that of the +emperor. + +His majesty had scarcely reached his apartments when I was hastily +sought and called for. You may easily conceive my astonishment and +perturbation when I was told that the emperor desired to speak with me +immediately. Now, in such a state of things, I had not once thought for +several days of putting on my Sunday clothes; but, to say nothing of +this, my mind was still less prepared for an interview with a hero, the +mere sight of whom was enough to bow me down to the very ground. In this +emergency courage alone could be of any service, and I rallied my +spirits as well as the short notice would permit. I had done nothing +amiss--at least that I knew of--and had performed my duty as _maître +d'hotel_ to the best of my ability. After a general had taken charge of +me, I mustered my whole stock of rhetorical flourishes, best calculated +to win the favour of a mighty emperor. The general conducted me through +a crowd of aid-de-camps and officers of all ranks. They took but little +notice of such an insignificant being, and indeed scarcely deigned to +bestow a look upon me. My conductor opened the door, and I entered with +a heart throbbing violently. The emperor had pulled off his surtout, and +had nobody with him. On the long table was spread a map of prodigious +size. Rustan, the Mameluke, who has so long been falsely reported to be +dead, was, as I afterwards learned, in the next room.--My presence of +mind was all gone again when I came to be introduced to the emperor, and +he must certainly have perceived by my looks that I was not a little +confused. I was just going to begin the harangue which I had studied +with such pains, and to stammer out something or other about the high +and unexpected felicity of being presented to the most powerful, the +most celebrated, and the most sincerely beloved monarch in the world, +when he relieved me at once from my dilemma. He addressed me in French, +speaking very quick, but distinctly, to the following effect:-- + +_Nap._ Are you the master of this house? + +_I._ No, please your majesty, only a servant. + +_N._ Where is the owner? + +_I._ He is in the city. He is advanced in years; and under the present +circumstances has quitted his house leaving me to take care of it as +well as I can. + +_N._ What is your master? + +_I._ He is in business, sire. + +_N._ In what line? + +_I._ He is a banker. + +_N._ (_Laughing._) Oho! then he is worth a plum, (_un millionaire_,) I +suppose? + +_I._ Begging your majesty's pardon, indeed he is not. + +_N._ Well then, perhaps he may be worth two? + +_I._ Would to God I could answer your majesty in the affirmative. + +_N._ You lend money, I presume? + +_I._ Formerly we did, sire; but now we are glad to borrow. + +_N._ Yes, yes, I dare say you do a little in that way yet. What interest +do you charge? + +_I._ We used to charge from 4 to 5 per cent.; now we would willingly +give from 8 to 10. + +_N._ To whom were you used to lend money? + +_I._ To inferior tradesmen and manufacturers. + +_N._ You discount bills too, I suppose? + +_I._ Formerly, sire, we did; now we can neither discount nor get any +discounted. + +_N._ How is business with you? + +_I._ At present, your majesty, there is none doing + +_N._ How so? + +_I._ Because all trade is totally at a stand. + +_N._ But have you not your fair just now? + +_I._ Yes, but it is so only in name. + +_N._ Why? + +_I._ As all communication has for a considerable time been suspended, +and the roads are unsafe for goods, neither sellers nor buyers will run +the risk of coming; and, besides, the greatest scarcity of money +prevails in this country. + +_N._ (_Taking much snuff_) So, so! What is the name of your employer? + +I mentioned his name. + +_N._ Is he married? + +_I._ Yes, sire. + +_N._ Has he any children. + +_I._ He has, and they are married too. + +_N._ In what capacity are you employed by him? + +_I._ As a clerk. + +_N._ Then you have a cashier too, I suppose? + +_I._ Yes, sire, at your service. + +_N._ What wages do you receive? + +I mentioned a sum that I thought fit. + +He now motioned with his hand, and I retired with a low bow. During the +whole conversation the emperor was in very good humour, laughed +frequently, and took a great deal of snuff. After the interview, on +coming out of the room, I appeared a totally different and highly +important person to all those who a quarter of an hour before had not +deigned to take the slightest notice of me. Both officers and domestics +now shewed me the greatest respect. The emperor lodged in the first +floor; his favourite Mameluke, an uncommonly handsome man, was +constantly about his person. The second floor was occupied by the +prince of Neufchatel, who had a very sickly appearance, and the duke of +Bassano, the emperor's secretary. On the ground floor a front room was +converted into a _sallon au service_. Here were marshals Oudinot, +Mortier, Ney, Reynier, with a great number of generals, aid-de-camps, +and other officers in waiting, who lay at night upon straw, crowded as +close as herrings in a barrel. In the left wing lodged the duke of +Vicenza, master of the horse; and above him the physician to the +emperor, whose name, I think, was M. Yvan. The right wing was occupied +by the _officiers du palais_. The smallest room was turned into the +bed-chamber of a general; and every corner was so filled, that the +servants and other attendants were obliged to sleep on the kitchen +floor. Upon my remonstrance to the valet of the _marechal du palais_ I +was allowed to keep a small apartment for my own use, and thought to +guard myself against unwelcome intruders by inscribing with chalk my +high rank--_maitre de la maison_--in large letters upon the door. At +first the new-comers passed respectfully before my little cell, and +durst scarcely venture to peep in at the door; but it was not long +before French curiosity overleaped this written barrier. For sometime +this place served my people and several neighbours in the village as a +protecting asylum at night. + +The keys of the hay-loft and barns I was commanded to deliver to the +emperor's _piqueur_.--I earnestly entreated him to be as sparing of our +stores as possible, supporting this request with a bottle of +wine,--which, under the present circumstance, was no contemptible +present. He knew how to appreciate it, and immediately gave me a proof +of his gratitude. He took me aside, and whispered in my ear, "As long +as the emperor is here you are safe; but the moment he is gone--and +nobody can tell how soon that may be--you will be completely stripped by +the guards; the officers themselves will then shew no mercy. You had +best endeavour to obtain a safeguard, for which you must apply to the +duke of Vicenza." + +This advice was not thrown away upon me: I immediately begged to speak +with the _grand ecuyer_. I explained my business as delicately as +possible, and be with great good humour promised to comply with my +request. Determined to strike while the iron was hot, I soon, afterwards +repeated my application in writing. + +After the emperor's arrival there was no such thing as a moment's rest +for me. Gladly would I have exchanged my high function, which placed me +upon an equal footing with the first officers of the French court, for a +night's tranquil slumber. _M. maitre de la maison_ was every moment +called for. As for shaving, changing linen, brushing clothes--that was +quite out of the question. His guests had remarked his good will, and +they imagined that his ability was capable of keeping pace with it. +Luckily it never came into my head, whilst invested with my high +dignity, to look into a glass, otherwise I should certainly not have +known myself again, and Diogenes would have appeared a beau in +comparison. As to danger of life, or personal ill-treatment, I was under +no apprehension; for who would have presumed to lay hands on so +important a personage, who was every moment wanted, and whose place it +would have been absolutely impossible to supply?--I was much less +concerned about all this than about the means of saving the property of +my employer, as far as lay in my power. The danger of having every thing +destroyed was very great. + +The French guards had kindled a large fire at a small distance from the +house. The wind, being high, drove not only sparks but great flakes of +fire towards it. The whole court-yard was covered with straw, which was +liable every moment to set us all in flames. I represented this +circumstance to an officer of high rank, and observed that the emperor +himself would be exposed to very great risk; on which he ordered a +grenadier belonging to the guards to go and direct it to be put out +immediately. This man, an excessively grim fellow, refused without +ceremony to carry the order. "They are my comrades," said he: "it is +cold--they must have a fire, and dare not go too far off--I cannot +desire them to put it out."--What was to be done? I bethought myself of +the duke of Vicenza, and applied directly to him. My representations +produced the desired effect. He gave orders, and in a quarter of an hour +the fire was out. I was equally fortunate in saving a building situated +near the house. It had been but lately constructed and fitted up. The +young guard were on the point of pulling it down, with the intention of +carrying the wood to their bivouacs. Their design was instantly +prevented, and one single piece of timber only was destroyed. A guard +was sent to the place, to defend it from all farther attacks. It had +been burned down only last summer, through the carelessness of some +French dragoons. + +Late at night the king of Naples came with his retinue from Stötteritz. +He was attended by a black Othello, who seems to serve him in the same +capacity as Rustan does his brother-in-law Napoleon. + +By day-break the emperor started with all his retinue, and took the road +to Wolkwitz. The king of Naples had already set out for the same place. +All was quiet during the day, and towards night the emperor returned. +Several French officers had asserted, the preceding night, that a +general engagement would certainly take place on the 15th. How +imperfectly they were acquainted with the state of things, I could +perceive from many of their expressions. In their opinion the armies of +the allies were already as good as annihilated. By the emperor's +masterly manÅ“uvres, the Russians and Swedes--the latter, by the bye, had +not yet come up--were according to them completely cut off from the +Austrians. A _courier de l'empereur_ was honest enough to tell me +plumply that they had done nothing all day but look at one another, but +that there would be so much the warmer work on the morrow. + +Very early indeed on the morning of the 16th, I remarked preparations +for the final departure of the emperor. The _maitre d'hôtel_ desired a +bill of the provisions furnished him. I had already made out one, but +that would not do. It was necessary that the articles should be arranged +under particular heads, and a distinct account of each given in. I ran +short of time, patience, and paper. All excuses were unavailing, and +there was no time to be lost. I readily perceived that all the elegance +required in a merchant's counting-house would not be expected here, and +accordingly dispensed with many little formalities. I wrote upon the +first paper that came to hand, and my bills were the most miserable +scraps that ever were seen. The amount was immediately paid. Finding +that the _maitre d'hôtel_ had not the least notion that it would be but +reasonable to make some remuneration to the servants, who had been so +assiduous in their attendance, I was uncivil enough to remind him of it. +He then desired me to give him a receipt for 200 francs, which I +immediately divided among the domestics; though he remarked that I ought +to give each but three or four, at most. I also made out a distinct +account for the forage, but this was not paid. + +At length arrived the long wished-for _sauvegarde_. It consisted of +three _gens d'armes d'elite_, who had a written order from the baron de +Lennep, _ecuyer_ to the emperor, by virtue of which they were to defend +my house and property from all depredations. I immediately took a copy +of this important protection, and nailed it upon the door. The house was +gradually evacuated; I was soon left alone with my guards, and sincerely +rejoiced that Heaven had sent me such honest fellows. It was impossible, +indeed, to be quite easy; the thunders of the cannon rolled more and +more awfully, and I had frequent visits from soldiers. My brave _gens +d'armes_, however, drove them all away, and I never applied in vain when +I besought them to assist a neighbour in distress. I shewed my gratitude +as far as lay in my power, and at least took care that they wanted for +nothing. + +One of these three men went into the city, and returned in haste, +bringing the news of a great victory. "_Vive l'empereur!_" cried he; +"_la bataille est gagnée._" When I inquired the particulars, he related, +in the most confident manner, that an Austrian prince had been taken, +with 30,000 men, and that they were already singing _Te Deum_ in the +city. This story seemed extremely improbable to me, as the cannonade was +at that moment rather approaching than receding from us. I expressed my +doubts of the fact, and told him that the battle could not possibly be +yet decided. The man, however, would not give up the point, but insisted +that the intelligence was official. When I asked him if he had seen the +captive prince and the 30,000 Austrians, as they must certainly have +been brought into the city, he frankly replied that he had not. Several +persons from the town had seen no more of them than he, so that I could +give a shrewd guess what degree of credit was due to the story. + +In the afternoon of the 17th marshal Ney suddenly appeared at the door +with a numerous retinue, and without ceremony took up his quarters in +the house. I saw nothing of the emperor all that day, nor did any +circumstance worthy of notice occur. On the 18th, at three in the +morning, Napoleon came quite unexpectedly in a carriage. He went +immediately to marshal Ney, with whom he remained in conversation about +an hour. He then hastened away again, and was soon followed by the +marshal, whose servants staid behind. His post must have been a very +warm one; for before noon he sent for two fresh horses, and a third was +fetched in the afternoon. The cannonade grow more violent, and gradually +approached nearer. I became more and more convinced that the pompous +story of the victory the day before was a mere gasconade. So early as +twelve o'clock things seemed to be taking a very disastrous turn for the +French. About this time they began to fall back very fast upon the city. +Shouts of _Vice l'empereur!_ suddenly resounded from thousands of +voices, and at this cry I saw the weary soldiers turn about and advance. +Appearances nevertheless became still more alarming. The balls from the +cannon of the allies already fell very near us. One of them indeed was +rude enough to kill a cow scarcely five paces from me, and to wound a +Pole. + +The French all this time could talk of nothing but victories, with which +Fortune had, most unfortunately, rendered them but too familiar. One +messenger of victory followed upon the heels of another. "General +Thielemann," cried an aid-de-camp, "has just been taken, with 6000 men; +and the emperor ordered him to be instantly shot on the field of +battle."--The most violent abuse was poured forth upon the Saxons, and I +now learned that great part of them had gone over to the allies in the +midst of the engagement. Heartily as I rejoiced at the circumstance, I +nevertheless joined the French officers in their execrations. The +concourse kept increasing; the wounded arrived in troops. Towards +evening every thing attested that the French were very closely pressed. +A servant came at full gallop to inform us that marshal Ney might +shortly be expected, and that he was wounded. The whole house was +instantly in an uproar. _Mon Dieu, mon Dieu!_--cried one to another--_le +prince est blessé--quel malheur!_ Soon after the marshal himself +arrived; he was on foot, and supported by an aid-de-camp. Vinegar was +hastily called for. The marshal had been wounded in the arm by a +cannon-ball, and the pain was so acute that he could not bear the motion +of riding. + +The houses in the village were every where plundered, and the +inhabitants kept coming in to solicit assistance. I represented their +distress to an aid-de-camp, who only shrugged his shoulders, and gave +the miserable consolation that it was now impossible for him to put a +stop to the evil. + +At length, early on the 19th, we appeared likely to get rid in good +earnest of the monster by which we had been so dreadfully tormented. +All the French hurried in disorder to the city, and our _sauvegarde_ +also made preparations to depart. Already did I again behold in +imagination the pikes of the Cossacks. All the subsequent events +followed in rapid succession. My _gens d'armes_ were scarcely gone when +a very brisk fire of sharp-shooters commenced in our neighbourhood. In a +few moments Pomeranian infantry poured from behind through the garden +into the house. They immediately proceeded, without stopping, to the +city. It was only for a few minutes that I could observe with a glass +the confused retreat of the French. Joy at the long wished-for arrival +of our countrymen and deliverers soon called me away. The galling yoke +was now shaken off, probably for ever. I bade a hearty welcome to the +brave soldiers; and, as I saw several wounded brought in, I hastened to +afford them all the assistance in my power. I may ascribe to my +unwearied assiduity the preservation of the life of lieutenant M**, a +Swedish officer, who was dangerously wounded; and by means of it I had +likewise the satisfaction to save the arm of the Prussian captain Von +B***, which, but for that, would certainly have required amputation. On +the other hand, all my exertions in behalf of the Swedish major Von +Döbeln proved unavailing; I had the mortification to see him expire. + +I was incessantly engaged with my wounded patients, while more numerous +bodies of troops continued to hasten towards the town. We now thought +ourselves fortunate in being already in the rear of the victorious army; +but the universal cry was, 'What will become of poor Leipzig?' which was +at this moment most furiously assaulted. Various officers of +distinction kept dropping in. The Swedish adjutant-general Güldenskiöld +arrived with the captive general Reynier, who alighted and took up his +abode in the apartment in which the emperor had lodged. He was followed +by the Prussian colonel Von Zastrow, a most amiable man, and soon after +the Prussian general Von Bülow arrived with his suite. + +Our stock of provisions was almost entirely consumed, and you may +conceive my vexation at being unable, with the best will in the world, +to treat our ardently wished-for guests in a suitable manner. I had long +been obliged to endure hunger myself, and to take it as an especial +favour if the French cooks and valets had the generosity to allow me a +small portion, of the victuals with which they were supplied. + +At the very moment when marshal Ney arrived, a fire had broken out in +the neighbourhood, through the carelessness of the French. I hastened to +the spot, to render assistance, if possible. It was particularly +fortunate, considering the violence of the wind, and the want of means +to extinguish the flames, that only two houses were destroyed. The +fire-engines and utensils provided for such purposes had been carried +off for fuel to the bivouacs. Such of the inhabitants of the village as +had not run away, just now kept close in their houses, not daring to +venture abroad. A number of unfeeling Frenchmen stood about gazing at +the fire, without moving a finger towards extinguishing it. I called out +to them to lend a hand to check the progress of the conflagration. A +scornful burst of laughter was the only reply: the scoundrels would not +stir, and absolutely could not contain their joy whenever the flames +burned more furiously than usual. At the same time I witnessed +proceedings, of which the wildest savage would not have been guilty. I +saw these same wretches, who, a few days afterwards, voraciously +devoured before my face the flesh of dead horses, and even human +carcasses, wantonly trample bread, already so great a rarity, like brute +beasts in the dirt. + +For six or eight nights I had not been able to get a moment's sleep or +rest, so that at last I reeled about like one drunk or stupid. The only +wonder is that my health was not impaired by these super-human +exertions. My dress and general appearance were frightful. When the +wounded Swedish officer was brought in, he of course wanted a change of +linen. Not a shirt was to be procured any where, and I cheerfully gave +him that which I had on my back; so that I was obliged to go without one +myself for near three days. Several times during the stay of the French +I had assisted in extinguishing fires: even the presence of marshal Ney +was not sufficient to make the French in our houses at all careful in +the use of fire. Those thoughtless fellows took the first combustible +that fell into their hands, and lighted themselves about with it in +every corner. They ran with burning wisps of straw among large piles of +trusses, and this was often done in the house where the marshal lay, +without its being possible to prevent the practice. A French +aid-de-camp, in my presence, took fifty segars out of my bureau, just at +the moment when I was too busy to hinder him. Whether he likewise helped +himself to some fine cravats which lay near them, and which I afterwards +missed, I will not pretend to say. + +I have suffered a little, you see; but yet I have fortunately escaped +the thousands of dangers in which I was incessantly involved. Never +while I live shall I forget those days. That same divine Providence +which was so manifestly displayed in that arduous conflict, and which +crowned the efforts of the powers allied in a sacred cause with so +glorious and so signal a victory, evidently extended its care to me. +After the battle of Jena, in 1806, Napoleon declared in our city that +Leipzig was the most dangerous of his enemies. Little did he imagine +that it would once prove so in a very different sense from that which he +attached to those words. Here the arm of the Most High arrested his +victorious career, of which no mortal eye could have foreseen the +termination. I would not exchange the glory--which I may justly +assume--the glory of having saved the property of my worthy employer, as +far as lay in my power, during those tremendous days of havoc and +devastation, for the laurel wreath with which French adulation attempts +most unseasonably to entwine the brow of the imperial commander, on +account of the battle of Leipzig. + + + + +CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTES. + + +That Napoleon was not quite so much master of himself, during the +retreat through Leipzig, as might have been supposed from his +countenance, may be inferred from various circumstances. While riding +slowly through Peter's gate he was bathed in sweat, and pursued his way +towards the very quarter by which the enemy was advancing. It was not +till he had gone a considerable distance that he bethought himself, and +immediately turned about. He inquired if there was any cross-road to +Borna and Altenburg; and, being answered in the negative, he took the +way to the Ranstädt gate. + + * * * * * + +None of the French officers or soldiers could be brought to admit that +they had sustained any material loss from the Russian arms in 1812; they +maintained, on the contrary, that famine and cold alone had destroyed +their legions, and that it was impossible for a French army to be +beaten. What excuse will they now have to make, when they return, +without baggage and artillery, to their countrymen beyond the Rhine? + + * * * * * + +That the French prophesied nothing good of their retreat the evening +before it commenced, is evinced by the circumstance of their having +broken up a great number of gun-carriages, and buried the cannon, or +thrown them into marshes or ponds. These yet continue to be daily +discovered, and that in places contiguous to houses which are fully +inhabited. It is rather singular that they were not observed while +engaged in this business, which must certainly have been performed with +uncommon silence and expedition. + + * * * * * + +A Russian officer, to whom complaints were made respecting same +irregularities committed by the Cossacks in the villages, expressed +himself in the following manner in regard to those troops:--"The +officers would gladly put a stop to such proceedings, which are strictly +prohibited, and severely punished;--but how is it possible for them to +have these men continually under their eye? The nature of the warfare in +which they are engaged, which obliges them to be constantly making +extensive excursions, prevents this. We are often under the necessity of +leaving them for several days together to themselves, that they may +explore every wood, every corner, and fatigue and harass the enemy. In +services on which no other kind of troops can be employed, they are +frequently obliged to struggle alone for several days through every +species of hardship and danger; and then, indeed, it is no wonder if +they occasionally indulge themselves. On account of the important +service which they render to the army, we cannot possibly dispense with +them. The incessant vigilance of the Cossacks, who are every where at +once, renders it extremely difficult for the enemy to reconnoitre, and +scarcely possible for him to surprise us; and so much the more +frequently are we enabled by them to take him at unawares. In a word, +the Cossacks are the eye of the army;--and it is a pity only that it +sometimes sees too clearly where it needs not see at all." + + + + + +*** _After the preceding Sheets were put to Press, the following +important Documents were received by the Publisher._ + + + + +MEMORIAL + +Addressed by the City of LEIPZIG to the independent and benevolent + +BRITISH NATION, + +In Behalf of the Inhabitants of the adjacent Villages and Hamlets, +who have been reduced to extreme Distress by the Military +Operations in October, 1813. + + +The prosperity of Leipzig depends upon commerce, as that of commerce +depends upon liberty. Till 1806 it was a flourishing city. With England +in particular, whose manufactures and colonial produce were allowed to +be freely imported, its commercial relations were of the highest +importance. For the opulence which Leipzig then enjoyed it was indebted +to its extensive traffic, which contributed to the prosperity of Saxony +in general; but it was more particularly the numerous adjacent villages +and hamlets that owed to our city their respectability, their +improvements, and the easy circumstances of their inhabitants. + +The well-known events in October, 1806, rendered Saxony--the then happy +Saxony--dependent on the will of Napoleon. Commerce, and the liberty of +trade, were annihilated as by magic. A new code was enforced, and +Leipzig was severely punished for the traffic which it had heretofore +carried on with England and which had been encouraged by its sovereign, +as for a heinous crime. Since that catastrophe Saxony had suffered +severely, its prosperity had greatly declined, and our city in +particular had, in addition to the general burdens, the most grievous +oppressions of every kind to endure. How often did Leipzig resemble a +military parade or hospital rather than a commercial city! How many +pledges of our affection were snatched from us by the contagious fever +spread among us by means of the hospitals!--But with the spring of the +present year, with the season which usually fills every tender heart +with delight, commenced the most melancholy epoch for our country, as it +became the theatre of a war which laid it waste without mercy, and of +the most sanguinary engagements. After all the hardships which it had +suffered, a lot still more severe awaited Leipzig and its vicinity. + +From the commencement of October last the French troops here kept daily +increasing, as did also their sick and wounded in a most alarming +manner. On the 14th Napoleon arrived with his army in our neighbourhood, +and the different corps of the allied powers advanced on all sides. On +the 15th commenced all round us a great, a holy conflict, for the +liberation and independence of Germany, for the peace of Europe, for the +repose of the world--a conflict which, after an engagement of three +days, that can scarcely be paralleled in history for obstinacy and +duration, and at last extended to our city itself, terminated on the +19th of October, through the superior talents of the generals and the +valour of their troops, which vanquished all the resistance of despair, +in the most complete and glorious victory. The French still defended +themselves in our unfortified town, and would have devoted it to +destruction; the allies made themselves masters of it by assault at one +o'clock, and spared it. They were received with the loudest acclamations +by the inhabitants, whose joy was heightened into transport when they +beheld their illustrious deliverers, the two emperors, the king of +Prussia, and the crown-prince of Sweden, enter the place in triumph. +During this engagement the Saxon troops went over to the banners of the +allies. + +This eventful victory justifies the hope of a speedy peace, founded upon +the renewed political system of the balance of power,--an honourable, +safe, permanent, and general peace, for which, with all its attendant +blessings, Europe will be indebted, under divine Providence, to the +invincible perseverance of England in the contest with France, to the +combined energies of the south and the north, and to the exertions of +the allied powers, and of the truly patriotic Germans by whom they were +joined. + +The battle of Leipzig will be ever memorable in the annals of History. A +severe lot has hitherto befallen our city. To the burdens and +requisitions of every kind, by which it was overwhelmed, were added the +suspension of trade, and the injury sustained by the entire suppression +this year of our two principal fairs. Our resources are exhausted, and +we have yet here a prodigious number of sick and wounded;--upwards of +30,000 in more than 40 military hospitals, with our own poor and the +troops yet stationed here for our protection, to be provided for; +besides which numberless just claims for the good cause yet remain to be +satisfied. But from misfortune itself we will derive new strength and +new courage, and our now unfettered commerce affords us the prospect of +a happier futurity. We have lost much; but those days when we ourselves +knew the want of provisions, and even of bread--those days of horror, +danger, and consternation--are past; we yet live, and our city has been +preserved through the favour of Heaven and the generosity of the +conquerors. + +One subject of affliction lies heavy upon our hearts. Our prosperous +days afforded us the felicity of being able to perform in its full +extent the duty of beneficence towards the necessitous. We have before +our eyes many thousands of the inhabitants of the adjacent villages and +hamlets, landed proprietors, farmers, ecclesiastics, schoolmasters, +artisans of every description, who, some weeks since, were in +circumstances more or less easy, and at least knew no want; but now, +without a home, and stripped of their all, are with their families +perishing of hunger. + +Their fields have gained everlasting celebrity, for there the most +signal of victories was won for the good cause; but these fields, so +lately a paradise, are now, to the distance of from ten to twelve miles, +transformed into a desert. What the industry of many years had acquired +was annihilated in a few hours. All around is one wide waste. The +numerous villages and hamlets are almost all entirely or partially +reduced to ashes; the yet remaining buildings are perforated with balls, +in a most ruinous condition, and plundered of every thing; the barns, +cellars, and lofts, are despoiled, and stores of every kind carried off; +the implements of farming and domestic economy, for brewing and +distilling--in a word, for every purpose--the gardens, plantations, and +fruit-trees--are destroyed; the fuel collected for the winter, the +gates, the doors, the floors, the wood-work of every description, were +consumed in the watch-fires; the horses were taken away, together with +all the other cattle; and many families are deploring the loss of +beloved relatives, or are doomed to behold them afflicted with sickness +and destitute of relief. + +The miserable condition of these deplorable victims to the thirst of +conquest, the distress which meets our view whenever we cross our +thresholds, no language is capable of describing. The horrid spectacle +wounds us to the very soul. + +But all these unfortunate creatures look up to Leipzig, formerly the +source of their prosperity;--their eloquent looks supplicate our aid; +and the pang that wrings our bosoms arises from this consideration, that +neither the exhausted means of Leipzig nor those of our ruined country +are adequate to afford them that relief and support which may enable +them to rebuild their habitations, and to return to the exercise of +their respective trades and professions. + +All the countries of our continent have been more or less drained by +this destructive war. Whither then are these poor people, who have such +need of assistance--whither are they to look for relief? Whither but to +the sea-girt Albion, whose wooden walls defy every hostile attack,--who +has, uninjured, maintained the glorious conflict with France, both by +water and by land? Ye free, ye beneficent, ye happy Britons, whose +generosity is attested by every page of the annals of suffering +Humanity--whose soil bus been trodden by no hostile foot--who know not +the feelings of the wretch that beholds a foreign master revelling in +his habitation,--of you the city of Leipzig implores relief for the +inhabitants of the circumjacent villages and hamlets, ruined by the +military events in the past month of October. We therefore entreat our +patrons and friends in England to open a subscription in their behalf. +The boon of Charity shall be punctually acknowledged in the public +papers, and conscientiously distributed, agreeably to the object for +which it was designed, by a committee appointed for the purpose. Those +who partake of it will bless their benefactors, and their grateful +prayers for them will ascend to Heaven. + + (Signed) FREGE AND CO. + REICHENBACH AND CO. + JOHANN HEINRICH KÃœSTNER AND CO. + + _Leipzig, Nov. 1, 1813._ + + * * * * * + + _We, the Burgomaster and Council of the city of Leipzig, hereby + attest the truth of the deplorable state of our city, and of the + villages around it, as faithfully and pathetically described in a + Memorial dated November 1st, and addressed to the British nation + by some of our most reputable and highly-respected + fellow-citizens, namely, the bankers Messrs. Frege and Co. Messrs. + Küstner and Co. Messrs. Reichenbach and Co.; and recommend it to + the generosity which has, in all ages, marked the character of the + British nation. We have formally authenticated this attestation, + by affixing to it the seal of our city, and our usual signature._ + + (L.S.) D. FRIEDRICH HULDREICH CARL SIEGMANN, + Acting Burgomaster. + + _Leipzig, Nov. 18, 1813._ + + + + +Printed by W. Clowes, Northumberland-Court, Strand, London. + + + + +FORMED JAN. 1814, + +FOR RELIEVING THE DISTRESS IN GERMANY. + + +About eight years ago the calamities, occasioned by the war in different +provinces of Germany, gave rise to a Subscription and the formation of a +Committee in London, to relieve the distresses on the Continent. By the +generosity of the British Public, and with the aid of several +respectable Foreigners resident in this country, the sum of nearly +50,000_l._ was remitted to the Continent, which rescued multitudes of +individuals and families from the extremity of distress, and the very +brink of ruin. The Committee received, both from Germany and Sweden, the +most satisfactory documents, testifying that the various sums +transmitted had been received and conscientiously distributed; but at no +period since the existence of this Committee has the mass of every kind +of misery been so great, in the country to which their attention was +first directed. Never has the cry of the distressed Germans for help +been so urgent, their appeal to British benevolence so pressing, as at +the present moment. Who could read the reports of the dreadful conflicts +which have taken place in Germany, during the last eventful year; of the +many sanguinary battles fought in Silesia, Lusatia, Bohemia, Saxony, +Brandenburg, and other parts; and peruse the melancholy details of +sufferings, almost unexampled in the annals of history, without the most +lively emotions? Who could hear of so many thousands of families +barbarously driven from Hamburg, in the midst of a severe winter; of so +many villages burnt, cities pillaged, whole principalities desolated, +and not glow with ardent desire to assist in relieving distress so +multifarious and extensive? _To the alleviation of sufferings so +dreadful; to the rescue of our fellow-men, who are literally ready to +perish: the views of the Committee are exclusively directed._ Many +well-authenticated afflicting details of the present distress having +been, on the 14th Jan. 1814, laid before the Committee, it was +immediately resolved, in reliance on the liberality of the British +public, to remit, by that post, the sum of _Three Thousand Five Hundred +Pounds_, to respectable Persons, with directions to form Committees of +Distribution at the several places following:-- + + 1. To Leipsic and its vicinity, £500 + 2. To Dresden and its vicinity, 500 + 3. To Bautzen and its vicinity, 500 + 4. To Silesia; on the borders of which, seventy-two + villages were almost entirely destroyed, 500 + 5. To Lauenburg, Luneburg, and the vicinity of Harburg + in Hanover, 500 + 6. To the many thousands who have been forced from their + habitations in Hamburg, 1000 + +At subsequent Meetings the following sums were voted:-- + + 7. _Jan. 18_, To Erfurt, Naumburg, and their vicinity, £500 + 8. _Jan. 23_, To Hamburg and its vicinity, 1000 + 9. To Berlin, its vicinity, and hospitals, 1000 +10. To Leipsic and its vicinity, 1000 +11. To Silesia and Lusatia, 1000 +12. For several hundred Children, turned out of the + Foundling Hospital at Hamburg, 300 +13. _Jan. 31_, To Wittemberg and its vicinity, 500 +14. To Halle and its vicinity, 500 +15. To Dresden and its vicinity, 500 +16. To the towns, villages, and hamlets, between + Leipsic and Dresden, 1000 +17. _Feb 1_, To Hanover and its vicinity, 500 +18. To Stettin and its vicinity, 500 +19. _Feb 3_, To Stargard, its hospitals, and vicinity, 300 +20. _Feb 10_, To Liegnitz, Neusaltz, Jauer, Buntzlau, + and the 72 villages, which are almost entirely + destroyed, 2000 +21. To Bautzen, with the recommendation of Bischoffswerda, + Zittau, Lauban, Loban, and vicinity, 600 +22. To Culm and neighbourhood, 500 +23. To Dresden and vicinity, 500 +24. To Pirna, Freiberg, and vicinity, 500 +25. To Lützen and vicinity, 300 +26. For the unfortunate Peasantry in the vicinity Leipzig, 1000 +27. To Torgau, 500 +28. To Naumburg and vicinity, 500 +29. To Weissenfels and vicinity, 500 +30. To Erfurt and Eisenach, 500 +31. To Dessau and vicinity, 500 +32. To Fulda, Hanau, and vicinity, 1000 +33. To Schwerin, Rostock, and vicinity, 800 +34. To Wismar and vicinity, 200 +35. To Frankfurt and vicinity, 500 +36. To Lübeck and vicinity, 500 +37. To Lauenburg, Ratzeburg, Luneburg, Zelle, Harburg, + Stade, and neighbouring villages, 1000 +38. To Berlin and Whistock, 1000 +39. To be held at Berlin, for the sufferers at Magdeburg, + when that fortress shall be evacuated by the enemy, 1000 +40. To Stettin, 500 +41. To Hamburg, 1000 +42. To Bremen, 500 +43. To Wurzburg, 500 +44. _Feb 17_, To Stettin, 500 +45. To the Exiles from Hamburg, at Altona, Lübeck, Bremen, + and wherever they may be, 3000 +46. To Kiel, in Holstein, £500 +47. To Leipzig, Chemnitz, and Freyberg, and their vicinity, 2000 +48. To Dresden, Pirna, and their vicinity, 2000 + £36,000 + ------- + +At a General Meeting, convened by the Committee for relieving the +Distress in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, on the 27th of +January, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street; + +HENRY THORNTON, Esq. M.P. in the Chair; + +The Chairman read a letter from His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, +stating, that an illness, which had deprived him of his rest the +preceding night; totally incapacitated him from the proposed pleasure of +presiding at a Meeting, the purpose of which was so congenial to his +feelings, and in the success of which he avowed his heart to be deeply +engaged. + +The Secretary then read an interesting Memorial from the Inhabitants of +Leipsic, praying that relief from British benevolence, which former +experience had taught them, to confide in. + +_The following Resolutions were agreed to:--_ + +1. That it appears to this Meeting that the distress arising out of the +ravages of war in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, is +inconceivably great, and loudly calls on the British Nation for the +exercise of its accustomed beneficence. + +2. That this General Meeting, convened by the Committee appointed in the +year 1805, for relieving the Distresses in Germany and other parts of +the Continent, approves most cordially of the object of the Committee, +and especially of the prompt measures taken at their meetings of the +14th and 18th of January, anticipating the liberality of the British +Public, and sending immediate succour to the places in greatest need. + +3. That an addition to the Subscriptions already opened by the Committee +be now applied for, to meet the relief they have already ordered; and +that the Committee be desired, without delay, to use its utmost +endeavours to procure further contributions, to alleviate, as much as +possible, the present unparalleled distress on the Continent. + +4. That it be recommended to the Committee in the distribution of the +funds to observe the strictest impartiality and that the measure of +distress in each place or district do regulate the proportion of relief +to be afforded. + +5. That the several Bankers in the metropolis and the country be, and +they are hereby, requested to receive Subscriptions for this great +object of charity; and that the country Bankers be, and they are hereby, +requested to remit the amount received, on the first day of March, to +Henry Thornton, Esq. Bartholomew-lane, with the names of Subscribers, +and to continue the same on the first day of each subsequent month. + +6. That the Clergy of the Church of England, and Ministers of all +religious denominations, be, and they are hereby, earnestly requested to +recommend this important object to their several congregations, and to +make public collections in aid of its funds. + +7. That all the Corporate Bodies in the United Kingdom be, and they are +hereby, respectfully requested to contribute to this important object. + +8. That the most respectful thanks of this Meeting are due, and that +they be presented, to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, for his +condescending and, immediate acquiescence in the request that he would +take the Chair on this important occasion. + +Resolved, That the thanks of this Meeting be given to HENRY THORNTON, +Esq. for the zeal and ability evinced in his conduct in the Chair. + + * * * * * + +A Sub-Committee having been commissioned to examine the documental +papers and other sources from which Mr. Ackermann's _Narrative of the +most remarkable Events in and near Leipzig, &c._ is compiled, as some +insinuations have been thrown out that much of what is therein related +is rather exaggerated, and Mr. Ackermann having furnished them with the +said papers, they were found to consist of-- + +1. A Pamphlet, printed at Leipzig, entitled, "_Leipzig, während der +Schreckenstage der Schlachten, im Monat October, 1813; als Beytrag zur +Chronik dieser Stadt._" ("Leipzig, during the terrible Days of the +Battles in the Month of October, 1813; being a Supplement to the History +of this City.") + +2. A printed Advertisement of a large Work, to be accompanied with Nine +Plates, the Advertisement itself giving a brief but comprehensive +account of the battle of Leipzig. + +3. A second Advertisement, giving a similar description of these battles +in German and French. + +4. A Letter from Count Schönfeld to Mr. Ackermann, describing the +dreadful condition of the villages in the neighbourhood of Leipzig, +especially of those over which the storm of the battle passed. + +5. An Official Paper, signed by some of the principal Bankers and +Merchants at Leipzig, containing an appeal to the benevolence of the +British Public, in behalf of the sufferers. + +6. An Official Attestation of the truth of the statement made in the +said Appeal, signed by the acting Burgomaster of Leipzig, with the City +Seal affixed. + +7. Several private Letters, entering more or less into the detail. + +The Sub-Committee, having read and considered the chief parts of these +several sources of information, were unanimous in their opinion, that +far from any exaggeration of facts having been resorted to, in +presenting this Narrative to the British Public, facts have been +suppressed under an idea that they might shock the feelings of +Englishmen, who, in general, by God's mercy, have so imperfect an idea +of the horrors of a campaign, and the unspeakable sufferings occasioned +by the presence of contending armies, that, to hear more of the detail +contained in the said papers, might destroy the effect of exciting +compassion by creating disgust, and doubts of the possibility of the +existence of such enormities. + +The Sub-Committee were likewise fully persuaded that the accounts +contained in these official and printed Papers could not have been +published at Leipzig itself, without being acknowledged by all as +authentic, as they would otherwise have been liable to the censure of +every reader and reviewer; and therefore, comparing them also with +various similar accounts, received from other places, they feel no +hesitation in expressing their opinion, that the Narrative published by +Mr. Ackermann is a true and faithful representation of such facts as +came within the Reporter's own observation. + + Rev. Wm. KUPER. + Rev. Dr. SCHWABE. + Rev. C.F. STEINKOPFF. + Rev. C.J. LATROBE. + + _Tuesday, Feb. 8th, 1814._ + + * * * * * + +_The following are the Instructions given by the London Committee to the +Committees of Distribution on the Continent._ + +Permit me to inform you, that the London Committee for relieving the +Distresses in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, deeply +sympathizing in the distressed situation of your town, (or district,) +and anxiously wishing to afford some relief to the suffering +inhabitants, have devoted the sum of ---- to this purpose in the +distribution of which they request your attention to the following +points:-- + +1. The express design of this Charity is to relieve those who have been +plunged into poverty and distress by the recent calamities of the War. + +2. In the appropriation of its funds, the strictest impartiality is to +be observed. + +3. The distribution is to take place with the least possible loss of +time. + +4. No one family or individual is to receive too large a proportion of +this Charity. The amount of the loss, and all the circumstances of the +persons to be relieved, are duly to be taken into consideration. + +5. For these purposes a Committee of Distribution is immediately to be +formed, consisting of magistrates, clergymen, merchants, and such other +persons as are most generally respected for their knowledge, discretion, +and integrity. Should a Committed be already formed for the disposing of +contributions received from other quarters, they are requested to choose +from among its members a Sub-Committee for the management of the sums +received from London. + +6. This Committee is requested to keep an accurate list of every person +and family they relieve, as well as the sum allotted to each, and to +transmit to the London Committee such authentic accounts of the distress +still prevailing, together with such particulars relative to the good +effects produced by the distribution of the charity, as may prove +interesting to the public. + +7. Finally, the Committee of Distribution will have the goodness, at the +close of their benevolent labours, to draw up a concise Report of the +manner in which they have applied the funds intrusted to their care, +accompanied with such documents as they may deem necessary, and to send +the whole to the London Committee. + +8. The London Committee, considering themselves responsible to the +Public, whose Almoners they are, wish to lay particular stress on a +fair, equitable, and impartial distribution of this bounty; and as +persons of different ranks, and religious denominations, in Great +Britain, have been the contributors, they anxiously wish that the _most +distressed_, without regard to any religious community, whether +Christians or Jews, Protestants or Catholics, may receive their due +proportion in the distribution. + +9. They now conclude with assurances of their deep interest in the +sufferings of their brethren on the Continent; and consider it not only +a duty, but a privilege, to administer to their necessities, as far as +the kind providence of God, through the instrumentality of the British +Public, may enable them to dispense. + +10. The Committee of Distribution are requested to appoint a +Correspondent with the London Committees, and to transmit their letters +to + + R.H. MARTEN, } + LUKE HOWARD, } Secretaries, + + _At the City of London Tavern, London._ + + * * * * * + +Typographical errors corrected in text: + +page 10: Duben replaced with Düben +page 12: repretentations replaced with representations +page 27: Brietenfeld replaced with Breitenfeld +page 28: Brietenfeld replaced with Breitenfeld +page 80: aparment replaced with apartment + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Frederic Shoberl Narrative of the Most +Remarkable Events Which Occurred In an, by Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREDERIC SHOBERL NARRATIVE *** + +***** This file should be named 17595-0.txt or 17595-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/5/9/17595/ + +Produced by Thierry Alberto, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/17595-0.zip b/17595-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..97b9737 --- /dev/null +++ b/17595-0.zip diff --git a/17595-8.txt b/17595-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..95d1cd1 --- /dev/null +++ b/17595-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3865 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Frederic Shoberl Narrative of the Most +Remarkable Events Which Occurred In and Near Leipzig, by Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Frederic Shoberl Narrative of the Most Remarkable Events Which Occurred In and Near Leipzig + Immediately Before, During, And Subsequent To, The + Sanguinary Series Of Engagements Between The Allied Armies + Of The French, From The 14th To The 19th October, 1813 + +Author: Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) + +Release Date: January 24, 2006 [EBook #17595] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREDERIC SHOBERL NARRATIVE *** + + + + +Produced by Thierry Alberto, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net. + + + + + + + * * * * * + + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | A number of obvious typographical errors have | + | been corrected in this text. | + | For a complete list, please see the bottom of this document. | + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + + +NARRATIVE +OF +THE MOST REMARKABLE EVENTS +WHICH OCCURRED +IN AND NEAR LEIPZIG, + +IMMEDIATELY BEFORE, DURING, AND SUBSEQUENT TO, THE SANGUINARY SERIES +OF ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN + +THE ALLIED ARMIES OF THE FRENCH, +FROM THE +14th TO THE 19th OCTOBER, 1813 + + +Illustrated with +MILITARY MAPS, +EXHIBITING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE RESPECTIVE ARMIES. + + +COMPILED AND TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN +BY +FREDERIC SHOBERL. + + +"Suave etiam belli certamina magna tueri + Per campos instructa, tuà sine parte pericli." + LUCRET. Lib. ii. 5. + +EIGHTH EDITION. + + +_LONDON:_ +PRINTED FOR R. ACKERMANN, 101, STRAND, +_By W. CLOWES, Northumberland court, Strand._ + +1814. + +[Price _Five Shillings_.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +After a contest of twenty years' duration, Britain, thanks to her +insular position, her native energies, and the wisdom of her counsels, +knows scarcely any thing of the calamities of war but from report, and +from the comparatively easy pecuniary sacrifices required for its +prosecution. No invader's foot has polluted her shores, no hostile hand +has desolated her towns and villages, neither have fire and sword +transformed her smiling plains into dreary deserts. Enjoying a happy +exemption from these misfortunes, she hears the storm, which is destined +to fall with destructive violence upon others, pass harmlessly over her +head. Meanwhile the progress of her commerce and manufactures, and her +improvement in the arts, sciences, and letters, though liable, from +extraordinary circumstances, to temporary obstructions, are sure and +steady; the channels of her wealth are beyond the reach of foreign +malignity; and, after an unparalleled struggle, her vigour and her +resources seem but to increase with the urgency of the occasions that +call them forth. + +Far different is the lot of other nations and of other countries. There +is scarcely a region of Continental Europe but has in its turn drunk +deep within these few years of the cup of horrors. Germany, the theatre +of unnumbered contests--the mountains of Switzerland, which for ages had +reverberated only the notes of rustic harmony--the fertile vales of the +Peninsula--the fields of Austria--the sands of Prussia--the vast forests +of Poland, and the boundless plains of the Russian empire--have +successively rung with the din of battle, and been drenched with native +blood. To the inhabitants of several of these countries, impoverished by +the events of war, the boon of British benevolence has been nobly +extended; but the facts related in the following sheets will bear me out +in the assertion, that none of these cases appealed so forcibly to the +attention of the humane as that of Leipzig, and its immediate vicinity. +Their innocent inhabitants have in one short year been reduced, by the +infatuation of their sovereign, and by that greatest of all curses, the +friendship of France, from a state of comfort to absolute beggary; and +thousands of them, stripped of their all, are at this moment houseless +and unprotected wanderers, exposed to the horrors of famine, cold, and +disease. + +That Leipzig, undoubtedly the first commercial city of Germany, and the +great Exchange of the Continent, must, in common with every other town +which derives its support from trade and commerce, have severely felt +the effects of what Napoleon chose to nickname _the Continental System_, +is too evident to need demonstration. The sentiments of its inhabitants +towards the author of that system could not of course be very +favourable; neither were they backward in shewing the spirit by which +they were animated, as the following facts will serve to evince:--When +the French, on their return from their disastrous Russian expedition, +had occupied Leipzig, and were beginning, as usual, to levy requisitions +of every kind, an express was sent to the Russian colonel Orloff, who +had pushed forward with his Cossacks to the distance of about 20 miles, +entreating him to release the place from its troublesome guests. He +complied with the invitation; and every Frenchman who had not been able +to escape, and fancied himself secure in the houses, was driven from his +hiding-place, and delivered up to the Cossacks, who were received with +unbounded demonstrations of joy. + +About this time a Prussian corps began to be formed in Silesia, under +the denomination of the Corps of Revenge. It was composed of volunteers, +who bound themselves by an oath not to lay down their arms till Germany +had recovered her independence. On the occupation of Leipzig by the +allies, this corps received a great accession of strength from that +place, where it joined by the greater number of the students at the +university, and by the most respectable young men of the city, and other +parts of Saxony. The people of Leipzig moreover availed themselves of +every opportunity to make subscriptions for the allied troops, and large +sums were raised on these occasions. Their mortification was +sufficiently obvious when the French, after the battle of Lützen, again +entered the city. Those who had so lately welcomed the Russians and +Prussians with the loudest acclamations now turned their backs on their +pretended friends; nay, such was the general aversion, that many strove +to get out of the way, that they might not see them. + +This antipathy was well known to Bonaparte by means of his spies, who +were concealed in the town, and he took care to resent it. When, among +others, the deputies of the city of Leipzig, M. Frege, aulic counsellor, +M. Dufour, and Dr. Gross, waited upon him after the battle of Lützen, he +expressed himself in the following terms respecting the corps of +revenge: _Je sais bien que c'est chez vous qu'on a formé ce corps de +vengeance, mais qui enfin n'est qu'une poliçonnerie qui n'a eté bon à +rien._ It was on this occasion also that the deputies received from the +imperial ruffian one of those insults which are so common with him, and +which might indeed be naturally expected from such an upstart; for, +when they assured him of the submission of the city, he dismissed them +with these remarkable words: _Allez vous en!_ than which nothing more +contemptuous could be addressed to the meanest beggar. + +It was merely to shew his displeasure at the Anti-Gallican sentiments of +the city, that Napoleon, after his entrance into Dresden, declared +Leipzig in a state of siege; in consequence of which the inhabitants +were obliged to furnish gratuitously all the requisitions that he +thought fit to demand. In this way the town, in a very short time, was +plundered of immense sums, exclusively of the expense of the hospitals, +the maintenance of which alone consumed upwards of 30,000 dollars per +week. During this state of things the French, from the highest to the +lowest, seemed to think themselves justified in wreaking upon the +inhabitants the displeasure of their emperor; each therefore, after the +example of his master, was a petty tyrant, whose licentiousness knew no +bounds. + +By such means, and by the immense assemblage of troops which began to be +formed about the city at the conclusion of September 1813, its resources +were completely exhausted, when the series of sanguinary engagements +between the 14th and the 19th of the following month reduced it to the +very verge of destruction. In addition to the pathetic details of the +extreme hardships endured by the devoted inhabitants of the field of +battle, which extended to the distance of ten English miles round +Leipzig, contained in the following sheets, I shall beg leave to +introduce the following extract of a letter, written on the 22d +November, by a person of great commercial eminence in that city, who, +after giving a brief account of those memorable days of October, thus +proceeds:-- + + "By this five days' conflict our city was transformed into one + vast hospital, 56 edifices being devoted to that purpose alone. + The number of sick and wounded amounted to 36,000. Of these a + large proportion died, but their places were soon supplied by the + many wounded who had been left in the adjacent villages. Crowded + to excess, what could be the consequence but contagious diseases? + especially as there was such a scarcity of the necessaries of + life--and unfortunately a most destructive nervous fever is at + this moment making great ravages among us, so that from 150 to 180 + deaths commonly occur in one week, in a city whose ordinary + proportion was between 30 and 40. In the military hospitals there + die at least 300 in a day, and frequently from 5 to 600. By this + extraordinary mortality the numbers there have been reduced to + from 14 to 10,000. Consider too the state of the circumjacent + villages, to the distance of 10 miles round, all completely + stripped; in scarcely any of them is there left a single horse, + cow, sheep, hog, fowl, or corn of any kind, either hay or + implements of agriculture. All the dwelling-houses have been + burned or demolished, and all the wood-work about them carried + off for fuel by the troops in bivouac. The roofs have shared the + same fate; the shells of the houses were converted into forts and + loop-holes made in the walls, as every village individually was + defended and stormed. Not a door or window is any where to be + seen, as those might be removed with the greatest ease, and, + together with the roofs, were all consumed. Winter is now at hand, + and its rigours begin already to be felt. These poor creatures are + thus prevented, not only by the season, from rebuilding their + habitations, but also by the absolute want of means; they have no + prospect before them but to die of hunger, for all Saxony, + together with the adjacent countries, has suffered far too + severely to be able to afford any relief to their miseries. + + "Our commercial house, God be thanked I has not been plundered; + but every thing in my private house, situated in the suburb of + Grimma, was carried off or destroyed, as you may easily conceive, + when I inform you that a body of French troops broke open the door + on the 19th, and defended themselves in the house against the + Prussians. Luckily I had a few days before removed my most + valuable effects to a place of safety. I had in the house one + killed and two wounded; but, a few doors off, not fewer than 60 + were left dead in one single house.--Almost all the houses in the + suburbs have been more or less damaged by the shower of balls on + the 19th." + +That these pictures of the miseries occasioned by the sanguinary +conflict which sealed the emancipation of the Continent from Gallic +despotism are not overcharged is proved by the concurrent testimony of +all the other accounts which have arrived from that quarter. Among the +rest a letter received by the publisher, from the venerable count +Schönfeld, a Saxon nobleman of high character, rank, and affluence, many +years ambassador both at the court of Versailles, before the revolution, +and till within a few years at Vienna, is so interesting, that I am +confident I shall need no excuse for introducing it entire. His +extensive and flourishing estates south-east of Leipzig have been the +bloody cradle of regenerated freedom. The short space of a few days has +converted them into a frightful desert, reduced opulent villages into +smoking ruins; and plunged his Miserable tenants as well as himself into +a state of extreme Want, until means can be found again to cultivate the +soil and to rebuild the dwellings. He writes as follows:-- + + "It is with a sensation truly peculiar and extraordinary that I + take up my pen to address you, to whom I had, some years since, + the pleasure of writing several times on subjects of a very + different kind: but it is that very difference between those times + and the present, and the most wonderful series of events which + have followed each other during that period in rapid succession, + the ever-memorable occurrences of the last years and months, the + astonishing success which rejoices all Europe, and has + nevertheless plunged many thousands into inexpressible misery; it + is all this that has long engaged my attention, and presses itself + upon me at the moment I am writing. In events like these, every + individual, however distant, must take some kind of interest, + either as a merchant or a man of letters, a soldier or an artist; + or, if none of these, at least as a man. How strongly the late + events must interest every benevolent and humane mind I have no + need to tell you, who must more feelingly sympathize in them from + the circumstance that it is your native country, where the + important question, whether the Continent of Europe should + continue to wear an ignominious yoke, and whether it deserved the + fetters of slavery, because it was not capable of bursting them, + has been decisively answered by the greatest and the most + sanguinary contest that has occurred for many ages. That same + Saxony, which three centuries ago released part of the world from + the no less galling yoke of religious bondage; which, according to + history, has been the theatre of fifteen great battles; that same + Saxony is now become the cradle of the political liberty of the + Continent. But a power so firmly rooted could not be overthrown + without the most energetic exertions; and, while millions are now + raising the shouts of triumph, there are, in Saxony alone, a + million of souls who are reduced to misery too severe to be + capable of taking any part in the general joy, and who are now + shedding the bitterest tears of abject wretchedness and want That + such is the fact is confirmed to me by the situation of my + acquaintance and neighbours, by that of my suffering tenants, and + finally by my own. The ever-memorable and eventful battles of the + 16th to the 19th of October began exactly upon and between my two + estates of Störmthal and Liebertwolkwitz. All that the oppressive + imposts, contributions, and quarterings, as well as the rapacity + of the yet unvanquished French, had spared, became on these + tremendous days a prey to the flames, or was plundered by those + who called themselves allies of our king, but whom the country + itself acknowledged as such only through compulsion. Whoever could + save his life with the clothes upon his back might boast of his + good fortune; for many, who were obliged, with broken hearts, to + leave their burning houses, lost their apparel also. Out of the + produce of a tolerably plentiful harvest, not a grain is left for + sowing; the little that was in the barns was consumed in + _bivouac_, or, next morning, in spite of the prayers and + entreaties of the owners, wantonly burned by the laughing fiends. + Not a horse, not a cow, not a sheep, is now to be seen; nay, + several species of animals appear to be wholly exterminated in + Saxony. I have myself lost a flock of 2000 Spanish sheep, Tyrolese + and Swiss cattle, all my horses, waggons, and household utensils. + The very floors of my rooms were torn up; my plate, linen, and + important papers and documents, were carried away and destroyed. + Not a looking-glass, not a pane in the windows, or a chair, is + left. The same calamity befell my wretched tenants, over whose + misfortunes I would willingly forget my own. All is desolation and + despair, aggravated by the certain prospect of epidemic diseases + and famine. Who can relieve such misery, unless God should be + pleased to do it by means of those generous individuals, to whom, + in my own inability to help, I am now obliged to appeal? + + "I apply, therefore, to you, Sir; and request you, out of love to + your wretched country, which is so inexpressibly devastated, to + solicit the aid of your opulent friends and acquaintance, who, + with the generosity peculiar to the whole nation, may feel for the + unmerited misery of others, in behalf of my wretched tenants in + Liebertwolkwitz and Störmthal. These poor and truly helpless + unfortunates would, with tears, pay the tribute of their warmest + gratitude to their generous benefactors, if they needed that + gratitude in addition to the satisfaction resulting from so noble + an action. You will not, I am sure, misunderstand my request, as + it proceeds from a truly compassionate heart, but which, by its + own losses, is reduced so low as to be unable to afford any relief + to others. Should it ever be possible for me to serve you or any + of your friends here, depend upon my doing all that lies within my + poor ability. Meanwhile I remain, in expectation of your kind and + speedy fulfilment of my request, + + "Sir, + + "Your most obedient friend and servant, + + "COUNT SCHONFELD." + + _Leipzig, Nov. 22, 1813. + To Mr. Ackermann, London._ + + "P.S.--I have been obliged, by the weakness of my sight, to employ + another hand. I remember the friendly sentiments which you here + testified for me with the liveliest gratitude. My patriotic way of + thinking, which drew upon me also the hatred of the French + government, occasioned me, four years since, to resign the post of + ambassador, which I had held twenty-five years, and to retire from + service[1]." + +From documents transmitted to the publisher by friends at Leipzig, have +been selected the narratives contained in the following sheets, which +were written by eye-witnesses of the facts there related. The principal +object of their publication is not so much to expose tine atrocities of +Gallic ruffians, as to awaken the sympathies and call forth the humanity +of the British nation. Like that glorious luminary, whose genial rays +vivify and invigorate all nature, Britain is looked up to by the whole +civilized world for support against injustice, and for solace in +distress. To her liberality the really unfortunate have never yet +appealed in vain; and, with this experience before his eyes, the +publisher confidently anticipates in behalf of his perishing countrymen +the wonted exercise of that godlike quality, which + + "---- droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven? + And blesseth him that gives and him that takes." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] R. ACKERMANN would not feel himself justified in printing this +letter, nor in presuming to make an appeal to the British public in +behalf of the writer, were he not personally acquainted with the +character of this unfortunate and patriotic nobleman, who is held in the +highest veneration and respect for his benevolence to his numerous +tenantry, his liberality to strangers, and his general philanthropy. To +relieve the distresses which he has so pathetically described, the +publisher solicits the contributions of the benevolent. A distinct book +has been opened for that charitable-purpose at No. 101, Strand, in which +even the smallest sums, with the names of the donors, may be entered, +and to which, as well as to the original letter, reference may be made +by those who feel disposed to peruse, them. + + + + +NARRATIVE, &c. + + +You know, my dear friend, how often I have expressed the inconsiderate +wish to have some time or other an opportunity of witnessing a general +engagement. This wish has now been accomplished, and in such a way as +had well nigh proved fatal to myself; for my life had like to have been +forfeited to my curiosity. I may boast, however, with perfect truth, +that, during the four most tremendous days, I was wholly unaffected by +that alarm and terror which had seized all around me. On those four days +I was a near and undisturbed observer of a conflict which can scarcely +be paralleled In the annals of the world: a conflict distinguished by a +character which raises it far above your ordinary every-day battles. Its +consequences will extend not to Europe only, but to regions separated +from it by vast oceans. You must not expect from me a narrative that +will enter into military details, but merely a faithful historical +picture of what fell under my own observation; of what my own eyes, +assisted by an excellent telescope, could discover from one of the +highest buildings in the city, in the centre of operations, in the midst +of a circumference of more than eighteen leagues; and what I saw and +heard while venturing, at the hazard of my life, out of the city, not +indeed up to the mouths of the infernal volcanoes, but close in the +rear of the French lines, into the horrible bustle and tumult of the +baggage-waggons and bivouacs. We were here exactly in the middle of the +immense magic circle, where the incantations thundered forth from +upwards of fifteen hundred engines of destruction annihilated many +thousands, in order to produce a new creation. It was the conflict of +the Titans against Olympus. It is unparalleled in regard to the +commanders, great part of whom knew nothing of defeat but from the +discomfiture of their opponents, and among whom were three emperors, a +king, and the heir-apparent to a throne;--it is unparalleled in regard +to the form, for it was fought in a circle which embraced more than +fifteen miles;--it is unparalleled in regard to the prodigious armies +engaged, for almost half a million of warriors out of every region of +Europe and Asia, from the mouth of the Tajo to the Caucasus, with near +two thousand pieces of cannon, were arrayed against one another;--it is +unparalleled in regard to its duration, for it lasted almost one hundred +hours;--it is unparalleled in regard to the plan so profoundly combined +and so maturely digested by the allies, and characterized by an unity, +which, in a gigantic mass, composed of such, multifarious parts, would +have been previously deemed impossible;--it is unparalleled also in +regard to its consequences, the full extent of which time alone can +develop, and the first of which, the dissolution of the confederation of +the Rhine, the overthrow of the Continental system, and the deliverance +of Germany, are already before our eyes:--finally, it is unparalleled in +regard to single extraordinary events, the most remarkable of which is, +that the majority of the allies of the grand army, who had fought under +the banners of France in so many engagements with exemplary valour and +obstinacy, in the midst of this conflict, as if wakened by an electric +shock, went over in large bodies, with their drums beating and with all +their artillery, to the hostile legions, and immediately turned their +arms against their former associates. The annals of modern warfare +exhibit no examples of such a phenomenon, except upon the most +contracted scale. You may possibly object, that in all this there is +some exaggeration; and that, if I rate the battle of Leipzig so highly, +it is only because I happened to be an eye-witness of it myself; that +the French army is by no means annihilated; that in the uncommon talents +of its leader it possesses a sure pledge that it will regain from its +enemies those laurels which on various occasions they have ravished from +it for a moment. You may employ other arguments of a similar kind; but +to these I boldly reply, that neither do I consider the French army as +annihilated; that such a calamity could scarcely befall a force which in +the month of May, after ten engagements, numbered not less than 400,000 +men, and was conducted by a general who had already won near fifty +battles: but this I maintain, that the mighty eagle, which proudly +aspired to encompass the whole globe in his flight, has had his wings +crippled at Leipzig to such a degree, that in future he will scarcely be +inclined to venture beyond the inaccessible crags which he has chosen +for his retreat. For my part, I cannot help considering the battle of +Leipzig as the same (only on an enlarged scale) as that gained near this +very spot 180 years ago, by the great Gustavus Adolphus. In this +conflict it was certainly decided that Napoleon, so far from being able +to sustain such another engagement in Germany, will not have it in his +power to make any stand on the right bank of the Rhine, nor recover +himself till secure with the relics of his dispirited army behind the +bulwarks of his own frontier. + +Four times had the sun pursued his course over the immense field of +battle before the die of Fate decided its issue. The whole horizon was +enveloped in clouds of smoke and vapours; every moment fresh columns of +fire shot up from the circumjacent villages; in all points were seen the +incessant flashes of the guns, whose deep thunders, horribly +intermingled with continual volleys of small arms, which frequently +seemed quite close to the gates of the city, shook the very ground. Add +to this the importance of the question which was to be resolved in this +murderous contest, and you may form a faint conception of the anxiety, +the wishes, the hopes,--in a word, of the cruel suspense which pervaded +every bosom in this city. + +To enable you to pursue the train of events, as far as I was capable of +informing myself respecting them, I will endeavour to relate them as +they occurred. It was not till the arrival of marshal Marmont with his +corps of the army in this neighbourhood that any idea of the probability +of a general engagement at Leipzig began to be entertained. That +circumstance happened in the beginning of October. These guests brought +along with them every species of misery and distress, which daily +increased in proportion as those hosts of destroyers kept gradually +swelling into a large army. They were joined from time to time by +several other corps; the city was nearly surrounded by bivouacs; and, +gracious God! what proceedings! what havoc!--We had frequently been +informed that all Saxony, from Lusatia to the Elbe, resembled one vast +desert, where nothing was to be seen but towns laid waste and +plundered, villages reduced to ashes, naked and famishing +inhabitants;--that there was no appearance of any other living creature; +nay, not even a trace of vegetation remaining. These accounts we +naturally regarded as exaggerations, little imagining that in a short +time we should have to give to our distant friends the same details of +horror respecting our own vicinity. Too true it is that no nation has +made such progress in the art of refinement, and is so ingenious in +devising infernal torments, as that, which, under the name of allies and +protectors, has made us so inexpressibly wretched. Ever since the battle +of Lützen, Leipzig had been one of the principal resources of the grand +French army, and they showed it no mercy. Numberless hospitals +transformed it into one great infirmary; many thousands of troops, +quartered in the habitations of the citizens, one prodigious _corps de +garde_; and requisitions of meat, bread, rice, brandy, and other +articles, one vast poor-house, where the indigent inhabitants were in +danger of starving. But for this well-stored magazine, the great French +army had long since been obliged to abandon the Elbe. No wonder then +that this point should have been guarded with the utmost care. It +required commissaries and inspectors, such as those who had the control +over our store-houses and granaries, to complete the master-piece, to +reduce that Leipzig, which had once patiently sustained, without being +entirely exhausted, the burdens of a war that lasted seven years--to +reduce it, I say, in six months, to so low an ebb, that even the opulent +were in danger of perishing with hunger; that reputable citizens could +no longer procure the coarsest fare; and that, though their hearts +overflowed with pity and compassion, they were absolutely incapable of +affording the slightest relief, not so much as a crust of bread, to the +sick and wounded soldier. It is impossible to give you any idea of the +dexterity and rapidity with which the French soldiers will so totally +change the look of a village, a field, or a garden, that you shall not +know it again, how well soever you may have been acquainted with it +before. Such was the fate of Leipzig, and of the beautiful environs of +our inner city-walls. + +You must know that the bread and forage waggons of a great French army +are destined merely, as they pass through the villages, to receive the +stores collected from all the barns, cellars, lofts, and stables, which +are taken by force from the wretched husbandman, who is beaten, cut, and +mangled, till he puts-to his last horse, and till he carries his last +sheaf of corn and his last loaf of bread to the next bivouac; and then +he may think himself fortunate, if he is suffered to return home without +horses or waggon, and is not compelled to accompany the depredators many +miles without sustenance of any kind. In all other armies, whether +Russians, Prussians, Austrians, or Swedes, when the troops are not drawn +out in line of battle opposite to the enemy, in which case it is +necessary to send back the carriages into the rear, care is always taken +that waggons with bread and forage, and herds of cattle, shall follow +the marching columns. Whenever the army halts, magazines are immediately +established; and, if even the stores necessary for it are required at +the cost of the country, this case bears no comparison with that where +every attendant on the waggon-train is at full liberty to pillage till +his rapacity is satisfied. Woe to the country where, as in our's, +hundreds of thousands of such commissaries are allowed to exercise their +destructive office at discretion! Ask the inhabitants of more than +twenty villages round Leipzig, and many hundred others at a greater +distance, which certainly fared no better, what soldiers they were who +carried off roofs, doors, windows, floors, and every kind of household +furniture and agricultural implements, and threw them like useless +lumber into the watch-fires?--Ask those unfortunates what soldiers they +were who pillaged barns and cellars, and ransacked every corner of the +houses; who tore the scanty clothes from the backs of the poorest class; +who broke open every box and chest, and who searched every dunghill, +that nothing might escape them?--They will tell you that it was the so +highly vaunted French guards, who always led the way, and were the +instructors of their comrades. + +It is a great misfortune for a country when, in time of war, the supply +of the troops is left to themselves by the military authorities, and +when that supply is calculated only from one day to another; but this +calamity has no bounds when they are French troops who attack your +stores. It is not enough for them to satisfy the calls of appetite; +every article is an object of their rapacity: nothing whatever is left +to the plundered victim. What they cannot cram into their knapsacks and +cartouch-boxes is dashed in pieces and destroyed. Of the truth of this +statement the environs of Leipzig might furnish a thousand proofs. The +most fortunate of the inhabitants were those who in good time removed +their stores and cattle to a place of safety, and left their houses to +their fate. He who neglected this precaution, under the idea that the +presence of the owner would be sufficient to restrain those locusts, of +course lost his all. No sooner had he satisfied one party than another +arrived to renew the demand; and thus they proceeded so long as a morsel +or a drop was left in the house. When such a person had nothing more to +give, he was treated with the utmost brutality, till at length, stripped +of all, he was reluctantly compelled to abandon his home. If you should +chance to find a horse or a cow, here and there, in the country round +our city, imagine not that the animal was spared by French +generosity:--no such thing! the owner must assuredly have concealed it +in some hiding-place, where it escaped the prying eyes of the French +soldiers. Nothing--absolutely nothing--was spared; the meanest bedstead +of the meanest beggar was broken up as well as the most costly furniture +from the apartments of the opulent. After they had slept upon the beds +in the bivouacs, as they could not carry them away, they ripped them +open, consigned the feathers to the winds, and sold the bed-clothes and +ticking for a mere trifle. Neither the ox, nor the calf but two days +old; neither the ewe, nor the lamb scarcely able to walk; neither the +brood-hen, nor the tender chicken, was spared. All were carried off +indiscriminately; whatever had life was slaughtered; and the fields were +covered with calves, lambs, and poultry, which the troops were unable to +consume. The cattle collected from far and near were driven along in +immense herds with the baggage. Their cries for food in all the high +roads were truly pitiable. Often did one of those wretches drive away +several cows from the out-house of a little farmer, who in vain implored +him upon his knees to spare his only means of subsistence, merely to +sell them before his face for a most disproportionate price. Hay, oats, +and every species of corn, were thrown unthreshed upon the ground, where +they were consumed by the horses, or mostly trampled in the dirt; and if +these animals had stood for some days in the stable, and been supplied +with forage by the peasant, the rider had frequently the impudence to +require his host to pay for the dung. Woe to the field of cabbages, +turnips, or potatoes, that happened to lie near a bivouac! It was +covered in a trice with men and cattle, and in twenty-four hours there +was not a plant to be seen. Fruit-trees were cut down and used for fuel, +or in the erection of sheds, which were left perhaps as soon as they +were finished. Though Saxony is one of the richest and most fertile +provinces of Germany, and the vicinity of Leipzig has been remarkable +for abundance, yet it cannot appear surprising, that, with such wanton +waste, famine, the most dangerous foe to an army, should have at length +found its way into all the French camps. Barns, stables, and lofts, were +emptied; the fields were laid bare; and the inhabitants fled into the +woods and the towns. Bread and other provisions had not been seen in our +markets for several days, and thus it was now our turn to endure the +pressure of hunger. It was a fortunate circumstance that many families +had laid in a quantity of potatoes, which indeed might yet be purchased, +though at an exorbitant price. The bakers of this place were obliged to +work up the small stock of flour in their possession for the use of the +troops; and all other persons were driven from the doors by the guards +with the butt-ends of their muskets; though the citizen who came in +quest of bread had perhaps twenty men quartered upon him, who all +expected him to find wherewith to satisfy their craving appetites. + +Such was what might be termed the prologue to the grand tragedy which +was about to be performed in an amphitheatre of many square miles, and +to the catastrophe of which we looked forward with an anxiety that had +risen to so high a pitch, because, in case of the longer continuance of +this state of things, our own annihilation might be hourly expected. +That the grand armies of the allies were approaching Leipzig, on every +side, we had heard through several private channels. Napoleon had +quitted Dresden, which he had been compelled to abandon almost solely by +the want of all the means of subsistence. We were long uncertain +respecting his route, and so perhaps was he himself at first. Many, who +were qualified to form a judgment respecting military operation's, were +of opinion that he would make a push with his whole force upon Berlin +and the Oder. They supposed that those parts were not sufficiently +covered, and considered the fortresses on the Elbe as his _point +d'appui_ in the rear. This opinion, however, seemed to lose much of its +probability, as other French corps, under Ney, Regnier, Bertrand, and +Marmont, kept arriving here, and were afterwards joined by that of +Augereau. We had received authentic information that prince +Schwarzenberg had already advanced to Altenburg with the grand combined +army of Austria, Russia, and Prussia; and also that the crown-prince of +Sweden had his head-quarters at Zörbig. Upon the whole, however, our +intelligence was unsatisfactory. For several days (that is to say, from +the 10th) it was reported that the emperor of the French would certainly +remove his head-quarters hither; that he had taken the road to Wurzen, +and was coming by way of Duben. This account was confirmed by several +detachments of the French guard. It is universally known that this +general preferably chooses those days on which he founds his claim to +glory, in order to distinguish them by new achievements. His proximity +to us, and the approaching 14th of October[2], strengthened the +anticipation of some important event in our neighbourhood. The light +troops of the allies, whom we took for the advanced guard of the +crown-prince of Sweden, were distinctly to be seen from the steeples of +the city, on the north side of it, towards Breitenfeld and Lindenthal. +Daily skirmishes ensued, and wounded French were hourly brought in. The +bustle in the city increased; the king of Naples had arrived, and fixed +his head-quarters at Konnewitz. Innumerable generals and staff-officers +filled all the houses. Not a moment's rest was to be had; all were in +bivouac. They seemed wholly ignorant of the motions of the allies; for +the same troops who went out at one gate often returned before night at +another; so that there was an incessant marching in and out at all the +four principal avenues of the city. These movements of cavalry, +infantry, and carriages, ceased not a moment even during the night It +was very rarely that a troop of cavalry, sent out upon patrol or picket +duty, returned without having lost several men and horses, who were +invariably, according to their report, kidnapped by the Cossacks. Upon +the whole, all the troops with whom the French had any rencounters were +called by them _Cossacks_--a name which I have heard them repeat +millions of times, and to which they never failed to add, that "the +fellows had again set up a devilish hurrah." + +The Cossacks are indisputably the troops of whom the French are most +afraid. With them, therefore, all the light cavalry who come upon them +unawares are sure to be Cossacks. In revenge for the many annoyances +which they were incessantly suffering from these men, they applied to +them the opprobrious epithet of _brigands_. Often did I take pains to +convince them that troops who were serving their legitimate sovereign, +and fighting under the conduct of their officers, could not be termed +banditti; my representations had no effect,--they were determined to +have some satisfaction for their disappointment in a thousand attempts +to master such enemies. Their vanity was far too great to suffer them to +do justice to those warriors; and they never would admit what thousands +had witnessed, namely, that thirty French horse had frequently run away +from two Cossacks. If Napoleon had twenty thousand Russian Cossacks in +his service, the French journalists and editors of newspapers would +scarcely be able to find terms strong enough to extol these troops; and +the French have just reason to rejoice that the emperor Alexander has no +such rivals of their government in his pay, otherwise we should hear of +their exploits only, and the vaunted French horse-guards would long +since have sunk into oblivion. + +All the preparations that were making now evidently denoted that we were +on the eve of important events. The French corps had already ranged +themselves in a vast semicircle, extending from north to east, and +thence to south-west. The country towards Merseburg and Weissenfels +seemed to be merely observed. For this purpose the eminences beyond the +village of Lindenau were occupied. Here the access to the city is the +most difficult, a causeway only leading to it in this direction. The +country on the right and left consists of swampy meadows and wood-land, +every where intersected by ditches and muddy streams. If you inquired +of the French officers what might be the total strength of their army +about Leipzig, their statements were so various, that it was impossible +to fix with the least confidence upon any number as a medium. By what +standard, indeed, can you judge of a force rated by some at 150,000, by +others at 400,000 men? They unanimously agreed, on the other hand, that +the allies would be opposed by fifteen corps, exclusively of the guards. +I had an opportunity of forming a tolerably correct estimate of one +division of Marmont's corps, which consisted at the utmost of 4000, so +that the whole might amount to 12,000 men; and it was one of those +which, in comparison of others, had sustained the least loss. Even that +of Augereau, which was incontestably the most complete, as it had just +come out of cantonments, was computed at scarcely 15,000 men. If, then, +we take 10,000 for the average, the total amount of the French armies +collected near Leipzig, as the wrecks only of several were then +remaining, can scarcely have reached 170,000, even including the guards. +Such a force, however, commanded by so many generals who had heretofore +been acknowledged the ablest in Europe, together with wore than 600 +pieces of artillery, was still fully sufficient to make itself +respected, and even feared, by an enemy of double its number. One single +species of troops alone was below mediocrity:--the cavalry, both in +regard to the horses and the men, the former from weakness and want of +sustenance, and the latter from ignorance of their business. With the +force of the allies we are yet unacquainted, but at all events they must +have been more numerous. + +The 14th of October at length dawned. It had preceded by several rainy +days; but this was merely lowering. The cannon thundered at intervals +towards Liebertwolkwitz. In the forenoon wounded French, chiefly +cavalry, kept coming in singly. With whom they had been engaged they +knew not--_Cossacks_, of course. We looked forward with certainty to a +general engagement. It became every hour more dangerous for the +inquisitive to venture out or in at the gates. There was no end to the +marching of horse and foot and the rolling of carriages; at every ten +paces you met in all directions with _corps de garde_, by whom every +non-military person without distinction was ordered back, sometimes with +fair words, and at others with rudeness. Several couriers had been sent +forward to announce the speedy arrival of the king of Saxony and +Napoleon. The hero of the age, as he has been styled, actually came +about noon, not, as we anticipated, by the Dresden road, but by that +from Berlin. He passed hastily through the city, and out at the farthest +Grimma gate, attended by some battalions and squadrons of his guards. A +camp-chair and a table were brought in all haste, and a great watch-fire +kindled in the open field; not far from the gallows. The guards +bivouacked on the right and left. The emperor took possession of the +head-quarters prepared for him, which were any thing but magnificent, +being surrounded only by the relics of the stalks and leaves of the +cabbages consumed by his soldiers, and other matters still more +offensive. The table was instantly covered with maps, over which the +emperor pored most attentively for a considerable time. Of what was +passing around him he seemed not to take the smallest notice. The +spectators, of whom I was one, crowded pretty close about him. On +occasion of his visit to the city, a few months before, the French had +discovered that the people of Leipzig were not so malicious as they had +been represented, but tolerably good-natured creatures. They were +therefore allowed to approach unobstructed within twenty paces. A long +train of carriages from the Wurzen road, the cracking of the whips of +the postilions, together with a great number of horse-soldiers and tall +grenadiers, announced the arrival of another distinguished personage, +and called the attention of the by-standers that way. It was the king of +Saxony, with his guards and retinue. He alighted, and a kind salutation +ensued between him and his august ally. The king soon afterwards mounted +a horse, and thus proceeded into the city. Napoleon meanwhile remained +where he was. He sometimes rose from his seat, went up to the +watch-fire, held his hands over it, rubbed them, and then placed them +behind him, whilst with his foot he pushed the wood, consisting of dry +boards and rafters from the nearest houses, into the flame, to make it +burn more fiercely. At the same time he very frequently took snuff, of +which he seemed to have but a small quantity left in his gold box. At +last he scraped together what was left with his finger, and poured it +out upon his hand. When all was gone, he opened the box several times +and smelt to it, without applying to any of the marshals and generals +around him to relieve his want. As the discharges of artillery towards +Probstheide grew more and more general and alarming, and the wounded +kept returning in continually increasing numbers, I was rather surprised +that the commander should, on this occasion, contrary to his usual +custom, quietly remain so far from the field of battle, which was near +ten miles distant, apparently without giving himself the least concern +about the event. + +It was about four in the afternoon when one of his aid-de-camps came at +full speed from the city, and made a report. The drums instantly beat to +arms, and the divisions of the guards broke up. The emperor immediately +mounted his horse, and followed them. He directed his course towards the +Kohlgärten[3], leaving the field of battle on the right. I soon +perceived the cause of this movement: the message informed him of the +arrival of the whole of his guards, for whom he had been waiting. They +came from Düben, entering by the Halle gate, and now made a countermarch +upon Dresden. When I beheld their endless files and cannon without +number pouring out of the city, I certainly gave up the allies for lost. +I was thoroughly convinced that Napoleon had no other plan than to +strike off to the right behind the Kohlgärten, with his new army, and, +proceeding from Stötteritz, to turn his enemies on the right flank, and, +as he had often done before, to attack and annihilate them. I was +however egregiously mistaken. The emperor went with his retinue scarcely +a thousand paces, to the first houses of the Kohlgärten, where he took +up his quarters, and quietly passed the night. The guards and the whole +train likewise stopped in that neighbourhood, and there bivouacked. It +grew dark. The palisades at the gate had left but a narrow passage, +through which troops and artillery kept pouring without intermission. +People on horseback and on foot, who wanted to return into the city, had +been already detained for several successive hours; the crowd every +moment increased, and with it the danger. To seek another entrance was +impracticable, as a person would run the risk of being detained by the +thousands of pickets, and shot, or at least dragged to the filthiest +bivouacs. The night was dark as pitch, and no hope left of getting home. +It rained fast, and not a corner was to be found where you might take +shelter. I was in the midst of more than a thousand horses, which +threatened every moment to trample me under their feet. Fortunately for +me, they were all tolerably quiet The thunder of the artillery had long +ceased; but, had it even continued, it could not possibly have been +heard amidst the rattling of carriages and cannon; the shouts of +soldiers and officers, as sometimes cavalry, at others infantry, wanted +to pass first; the incessant cursing, cracking, pushing, and thrusting. +Never while I live shall I witness such a scene of confusion, of which +indeed it is impossible to convey any conception. It continued without +intermission from four in the afternoon till twelve at night, so that +you may figure to yourself the disagreeable situation in which I was +placed. No sooner had the first columns arrived at their bivouacs in the +neighbouring villages, than a thousand messengers came to announce the +intelligence in a way that sufficiently proved what unwelcome visitors +they were. Weeping mothers with beds packed up in baskets, leading two +or three stark-naked children by the hand, and with perhaps another +infant at their back; fathers seeking their wives and families; +children, who had lost their parents in the crowd trucks with sick +persons forcing their way among the thousands of horses; cries of misery +and despair in every quarter:--such were the heralds that most feelingly +proclaimed the presence of the warriors who have been celebrated in so +many regions, and whose imposing appearance has been so often admired, +all these unfortunates crowded into the filthy corner formed by the old +hospital and the wall at the Kohlgärten-gate. Their cries and +lamentations were intermingled with the moans and groans of the wounded +who were going to the hospitals, and who earnestly solicited bread and +relief. A number of French soldiers, probably such as had loitered in +the rear, searched every basket and every pocket for provisions. They +turned without ceremony the sleeping infants out of the baskets, and +cared not how the enraged mothers lacerated their faces in return. The +scenes of horror changed so quickly, that you could not dwell more than +half a minute upon any of them. The tenderest heart became torpid and +insensible. One tale of woe followed on the heels of another,--"Such a +person too has been plundered!--Such an one's house has been set on +fire!--This man is cut in pieces; that has been transfixed with the +bayonet!--Those poor creatures are seeking their children!"--These were +the tidings brought by every new fugitive. If you asked the French when +the march would be over, you received the consolatory answer--"Not +before six o'clock in the morning." During the night the sound of drums +and trumpets incessantly announced the arrival of fresh regiments. At +length, about midnight, the bustle somewhat subsided, at least so far as +regarded the marching of troops. I now seized the favourable moment, and +felt myself as it were a new creature; when, having made my way through +the crowd of horses with extraordinary courage and dexterity, I once +more set foot in the city. _Thus the morning and the evening completed +the first day of horror._ + +Notwithstanding the unpleasant circumstances in which my curiosity had +involved me on the preceding day, I had in fact seen and heard nothing +as far as related to my principal object. It was no battle, but merely +an indecisive, though warm, affair. The first act of the piece concluded +with aft illumination extending farther than the eye could reach, and +occasioned by the innumerable watch-fires which were kindled in every +quarter, and gradually spread farther and farther, as the lines of the +bivouacking army were lengthened by the arrival of fresh columns. By way +of variety, the flames rising from a number of burning houses in the +distance formed as it were points of repose. Scarcely was the night over +when all eyes and ears were on the alert, in expectation that the +sanguinary scene would commence with the morning's dawn. All, however, +remained quiet. People, therefore, again ventured abroad, and there +thought themselves more secure than the preceding day, because they +might the more easily avoid the danger while at a distance-than they +could have done the night before. It required, to be sure, considerable +strength of nerves not to be shocked at the spectacles which every where +presented themselves. Many dead bodies of soldiers, who had come sick +into bivouac, lay naked in the fields and upon the roads. The heirs had +taken especial care to be on the spot at the moment of their decease, to +take possession of all that the poor wretches had to bequeath. The +mortality among the horses had been still greater: you met with their +carcasses almost at every step; and, which way soever you turned your +eyes, you beheld a still greater number which Death had so firmly seized +in his iron grasp, that they inclined their heads to the ground, and +fell, in a few minutes, to rise no more! Scarcely was there sufficient +room on the high road for a slender pedestrian to find a passage. All +the fields were covered with troops and baggage. Even on the place of +execution they had erected bivouacs, and not the most inconvenient, +because they were there less crowded than in other places. Except single +musket-shots, nothing was to be heard but incessant cries of _Serrez! +Serrez!_ (Closer! Closer!)--The dice yet lay in the box, and were not +destined to be thrown that day. It was probably spent in reconnoitring, +in order to make up the parties for the grand game in which empires were +the stake. The preparations for the defence of the city became more +serious and alarming. The exterior avenues had been previously +palisaded, and provided with _chevaux de frise_; but the greater part of +them were completely closed up. Loop-holes were formed in every wall, +and _tirailleurs_ posted behind them. In every garden and at every hedge +you stumbled upon pickets. As the inner town is better secured by its +strong walls against a first onset, they contented themselves there with +sawing holes in the great wooden gates, for the purpose of firing +through them. Every thing denoted the determination not to spare the +city in the least, however unfit in itself for a point of defence. The +only circumstance calculated to tranquillize the timid was the presence +of our king, for whom, at any rate, Napoleon could not but have some +respect. + +As there was no appearance of gleaning much information abroad, I now +sought a wider prospect upon a steeple.--So much I had ascertained from +all accounts, that it was principally the Austrians who had been +engaged the preceding day. Some hundreds of prisoners had been brought +in; the church-yard had been allotted to these poor fellows for their +abode, probably that they might study the inscriptions on the +grave-stones, and thus be reminded of their mortality. Nothing was given +them to eat, lest they should be disturbed in these meditations. So far +as the telescope would command were to be seen double and triple lines, +the end of which the eye sought in vain. The French army stretched in a +vast semicircle from Paunsdorf to Probstheide, and was lost in the woods +of Konnewitz. It occupied therefore a space of more than one German mile +(five English miles). Behind all these lines appeared reserves, who were +posted nearer to the city. On this side the main force seemed to be +assembled. Towards the north and west the ranks were more broken and +detached. Of the armies of the allies, only some divisions could yet be +discerned. The Cossacks were plainly distinguished at a distance of two +leagues. They had the boldness to venture within musket-shot of the +French lines, alight, thrust their pikes into the ground, and let their +horses run about. The king of Saxony himself witnessed their audacity +whilst in the midst of the French army, about half a league from +Leipzig. A number of these men came unawares upon him; and a Saxon +officer, with eighty horse, was obliged to face about against them, till +the king had reached a place of safety. This was the principal reason +why he made his entry into the city on horseback. + +The 15th of October, which had been universally expected to give birth +to important events, was now quietly passed. For many weeks the city had +not been so tranquil as it was on the night of that day. Nothing but +the incessant _Qui vive?_ at the gates, denoted the presence of the +troops. On my return about eight o'clock from the suburbs, I was +suddenly surprised by an unusual phenomenon: in the direction of Pegau, +I saw three white rockets ascend to a great height amid the darkness. I +stood still, and waited to observe what would follow. In about a minute +four red ones rose above the horizon, apparently from Halle. After this +there was nothing more to be seen. That they were signals could not be +doubted, any more than that those signals must have been made by the +combined troops. I concluded that they must have armies in those +quarters, and that they were informing one another by these luminous +messengers of the points at which they had arrived. It now became more +certain than ever that the 16th would be the great day that should +decide the fate of Germany. I expressed my conjectures to several French +officers, that, according to all appearance, fresh armies of the allies +were on their march toward Leipzig. They contradicted me point-blank; +partly because, as they said, the crown-prince of Sweden and general +Blücher had been obliged to retreat precipitately across the Elbe, as an +immense French army was in full march upon Berlin; and partly because +they were convinced that the reinforcements which might be coming up +could be of no great consequence; and were confident, that, at all +events, they should be perfectly prepared to receive the enemy. Never +did they make so sure of the most complete victory as they did +previously to the then approaching engagement. Besides the French in +garrison in the city, there were many German troops, who expressed +little hope, and, on the other hand, declared their resolution to make +no resistance, but to pass over to the allies, as many of their comrades +had already done; and there was no reason to doubt their +sincerity.--Thus passed the second day, between hope and fear. + +The dawn of the 16th of October was enveloped in a thick fog. It was +gloomy, rainy, and cold. It was imagined that the hostile armies, though +so eager for the combat, would restrain their ardour to engage till the +fog should have cleared away. Soon after six, however, the thunder of +the artillery began to roll from Liebertwolkwitz. It grew more violent, +and approached nearer;--this was probably the moment when the Austrians +stormed that place. The firing _en pelotons_ was already heard. From our +elevated position we could discern nothing, the dense fog concealing +every object at the distance of one hundred paces. About ten, the +artillery thundered along the whole line of battle. The atmosphere +became clearer, and the clouds dispersed. Every flash from the cannon +was distinctly visible on the side of Konnewitz. Already a thousand +engines of death hurled destruction among the contending armies. The +fire of jägers and sharp-shooters rattled on all sides, and we soon +discovered whole ranges of battalions and regiments. It was a general +engagement;--that was evident enough to every one, even though he had +never before heard a cannon fired in all his life. On the side of the +Halle and Ranstädt gates all was yet quiet, and I began to imagine that +my rockets had deceived me. For six hours the guns had roared, and all +the lines were enveloped in clouds of smoke, through which the flashes +incessantly darted like lightning. As yet neither party seemed to have +receded an inch. The thunders of the artillery still continued to +proceed from the same spot. No longer could the firing of single guns +be distinguished; hundreds were every moment discharged, and united in +one single protracted roar. How many victims must already have strewed +the field!--At length, about eleven o'clock, a considerable change +seemed to have taken place. The firing did not appear more distant, but +became less general; single shots were heard, and the combatants seemed +disposed to make a pause in the work of death. All on a sudden a new and +tremendous cannonade commenced beyond Lindenau, towards Lützen, not much +more than half a league from the city. The batteries of the allies +seemed to fire from Kleinschocher: those of the French were posted on +the heights of Lindenau. The corps of count Giulay had arrived there, +and now it appeared that my interpretation of the rockets was correct. I +then turned my eyes quickly towards the north, in the direction of +Halle, where before there was little or nothing to be seen. How was I +astonished when I now beheld lines of soldiers stretching farther than +the eye could reach, and fresh columns advancing behind them. It +appeared as if the troops which had been so furiously engaged the whole +morning were but the advanced guards of the immense armies that now +extended themselves more and more before me. Whence the French lines +which were so rapidly ranged opposite to them could have sprung, I am +yet at a loss to conceive: an hour before, I should have estimated them +at scarcely 10,000 men; and, what I now saw, my inexperienced eye +computed at more than 200,000 on both sides. This prodigious army seemed +about to form in order of battle. A few cannon-shot which it fired were +probably designed only to announce its arrival to the other chiefs. +Immediately afterwards, the cannonade beyond Lindenau, which had lasted +about two hours, entirely ceased. On the left wing of the French the +action was still very vigorously continued. It was about twelve o'clock +when we descended, to learn what accounts had meanwhile been received in +the city, that our relations with the lower world might not be totally +suspended. Before the residence of our sovereign there was a crowd of +officers of all ranks. The city-guard was drawn out on parade as well as +the grenadier-guard. A full band was playing, by French order, though +nobody could conceive what was the meaning of all this, while the cannon +were yet thundering before the city. We soon learned that the allies had +sustained a total defeat; that an Austrian prince, the archduke +Ferdinand, had lost an arm, and been taken prisoner with 40,000 men; and +that an immense quantity of artillery had been captured. This +intelligence had been forwarded by marshal Ney from the field of battle, +and preparations were instantly made to celebrate the victory. A +regiment of the French guards marched to the promenade before the +city--now, alas! an offensive sewer,--and, agreeably to command, +expressed their exultation in the acquisition of these new laurels by a +loud _Vive l'empereur!_ Of the citizens, but a very small portion took +part in their joy; for what else could they have expected from such a +victory than inevitable death by famine? The more intelligent shook +their heads; and in truth there were but too many reasons to suspect the +truth of the account. If you asked the wounded, who in troops either +hobbled or were carried in at the gates, the answer, was, _Les Cossaques +ont encore la même position_--(The Cossacks are still in the same +position). None of them had heard any thing about captured cannon, but +they well knew that they had themselves lost five pieces that morning. I +was unable to comprehend how the French commander-in-chief, possessing +in so eminent a degree the quality of a correct military _coup d'oeil_, +could so early announce that he had won the battle, when such numerous +armies of the allies had but just arrived upon the field, and had not +yet fired a single shot. Country-people, who had fled from the +neighbourhood of Grimma, declared that a fresh army of Russians, under +general Bennigsen, was in full march towards that place. In truth, only +a small part of the allied forces had yet been engaged. Bennigsen, the +crown-prince of Sweden, and field-marshal Blücher, had not yet entered +the lists. If this fiction was intended merely to pacify our king at the +expense of truth, it was evident that this object could not be attained +without compromising him;--a kind of treatment wholly unmerited by a +prince who was never guilty of wilful falsehood[4]. + +In the midst of these rejoicings for the victory, the thunder of the +artillery was again heard from Lindenau. The tremendous roar was almost +immediately repeated from Taucha, Wiederitsch, and Breitenfeld. The +Swedish army and that of Blücher were now engaged. We again repaired to +our lofty station. There was not a point round the city where the fatal +engines were not dealing forth destruction. We knew not which way first +to direct the glass. "Only look here," cried one. "Oh! that's nothing at +all," replied another, "you must come this way."--"You none of you see +any thing," exclaimed a third: "you must look yonder--there the cavalry +are cutting away--and hark how the fresh artillery is beginning to +fire." It was singular enough that just at the very point where the +allies were reported to have sustained so signal a defeat, that is to +say, on their left wing, at Liebertwolkwitz, the cannonade again became +the most violent. Fresh troops, with artillery, including a large body +of Polish cavalry, were seen hastening out by the Ranstädt gate towards +Lindenau. Napoleon himself rode with the king of Naples along the +causeway to the Kuhthurm (cow-tower), as it is called, probably to +observe how things were going on. The allies strove to make themselves +masters of the pass near Lindenau. Their infantry had actually +penetrated into the village, but was driven back, and this was succeeded +by a tremendous fire of riflemen, which was near enough for us to +distinguish the discharge of every single piece. I remarked on this +occasion the incredible exertions of the French _voltigeurs_, who +defended a ditch near the Kuhthurm, ran to and fro on the bank with +inconceivable agility, availed themselves of the protection afforded by +every tree and every hedge, and fired away as briskly as though they +had carried with them the confederation of the Rhine, as their own +property, in their cartouch-boxes. Cannon-balls and shells had fallen in +the village itself, which was set on fire in several places. Whether +friend or enemy had the advantage it was impossible to judge, on account +of the broken nature of the ground and the woods, behind which the +engagement was the hottest It was evident that one party exerted itself +as strenuously to defend as the other did to take this important +position. The French retained it; therefore the prize of victory in this +instance must be adjudged to them. At Breitenfeld, Lindenthal, and +Wiederitsch, the fortune of the day was different. There the lines of +the allies evidently advanced. The cannonade was an infallible +barometer. The French artillery receded, and was already driven back so +close upon Gohlis and Eutritzsch, that the balls of their opponents fell +in both villages. Night drew on: the vast field of battle became +gradually enveloped in darkness, and the horizon was now illumined by +the flashes of the guns alone, followed at long intervals by the low +thunder of the report. The battle had lasted the whole day all round the +city. The church-clocks struck six; and, as if all parties had +unanimously agreed to suspend at this moment the horrid work of +slaughter, the last cannon-shot was fired beyond Lindenau. The fire of +small arms, however, was yet kept up; but, as though the mortal struggle +became more and more faint, that too gradually ceased. Nothing now was +seen around the horizon but one immense circle of many thousand +watch-fires. In all directions appeared blazing villages, and from their +number might be inferred the havoc occasioned by this arduous day. Its +effects were still more plainly manifested when we descended into the +streets. Thousands of wounded had poured in at all the gates, and every +moment increased their numbers. Many had lost an arm or a leg, and yet +limped along with pitiable moans. As for a dressing for their wounds, +that was a thing which could not yet be thought of; the poor wretches +had themselves bound them up with some old rag or other as well as they +were able. All of them were seeking hospitals, the arrangements for +which had, in truth, been most miserably neglected by the French. Upon +the whole, I have had occasion to remark that the soldier, who has been +crippled in the service, and incapacitated for further warfare, has +nowhere so little regard paid to his situation as in the French army. At +least such is the case just at the moment when he has most need of +attention, that is to say, just after he is wounded. No carriages or +other conveyances were provided for the removal of these mangled and +mutilated soldiers, though the lives of thousands might perhaps have +been preserved by such a precaution. When the combined Russian and +Prussian army marched six months before to Lützen, and prepared for +battle, the amplest provision was made in regard to this point; and it +is well known that their army was thus enabled to carry off by far the +greater part of the wounded, and to afford them medical relief. Such, on +the contrary, were the arrangements of the French, that, five days after +that engagement, soldiers with their wounds still undressed, and near +perishing for want of sustenance, were found on the field of battle, and +at last owed their preservation chiefly to the surgeons and inhabitants +of this city. To each French column are attached a great number of +_ambulances_, but they are never to be found where they are most +wanted. It is universally asserted that the French army surgeons are +very skilful men; but, as they seem to consult their own convenience in +a very high degree, and their number is too small--for a complete +regiment has but five--the arrangements for hospitals in a campaign +during which several great battles take place, and in which it is found +necessary to crowd the sick and wounded much too closely together, as +was the case in Saxony, are always most deplorable. But to return from +this digression:-- + +For the reception of the wounded, in this instance, orders had been +given to clear out the corn-magazine, which is capable of accommodating +about 2,500. Each of these poor fellows received a written ticket at the +outer gate of the city, and was directed to that hospital. The persons +who superintended this business never gave it a thought to distribute +only such a number of these billets as the building would hold of sick, +but continued to send all that came to the corn-magazine, long after it +was too full to admit another individual. Overjoyed on having at last +found the spot, the wretched cripple exerted his last remains of +strength, that he might obtain relief as speedily as possible at the +hands of the surgeons. Judge then of the feelings of the unfortunate man +when his hopes were here most cruelly disappointed; when he found many +hundreds of his fellow-sufferers moaning with anguish on the wet stones, +without straw to lie upon, without shelter of any kind, without medical +or surgical attendance, nay, even without a drop of water, for which +they so often and so earnestly petitioned;--when he was peremptorily +refused admittance at the door, and he too had no other resource than to +seek a couch like the rest upon the hard pavement, which his wounds +very often were unable to endure. No more attention was here paid to +him than the stones on which he gave vent to his anguish. Many hobbled +farther in quest of something to appease the cravings of hunger and +thirst. But who could give it them? Extreme want had long prevailed in +the city; the very inhabitants had great trouble and difficulty to +obtain for money sufficient to make a scanty meal for themselves and +their families. The fainting soldier might think himself fortunate if +his solicitations procured him a crust of bread or an apple. Thousands +were not so lucky.--Such was the state of things at the magazine; such +was the spectacle exhibited in all the streets, and especially in the +market-place, where every corner provided with a shelter was converted +into an hospital. The consequences were inevitable. Many; as might +naturally be expected, perished, in the night, of hunger, agony, and +cold. Their lot was enviable--they no longer needed any human +assistance. What heart would not have bled at such scenes of +horror!--and yet it was the very countrymen of these unfortunate +wretches who seemed to care the least about them, and passed by with the +most frigid indifference, probably because they are so familiarized with +such spectacles. O ye mothers, ye fathers, ye sisters of France, had ye +here beheld your agonized sons and brothers, the sight, like a hideous +phantom, would surely have haunted you to the last moment of your lives. +The laurels acquired by your nation have indeed been purchased at a most +exorbitant price. + +I have forgotten to mention a circumstance worthy of notice in the +history of this day. It is this; that in the midst of the cannonade all +round Leipzig--when the whole city shook with the thunders of the +artillery, and the general engagement had, strictly speaking, but just +commenced--all the bells of the churches were rung by French command, to +celebrate the victory won in the forenoon. Such an instance was +certainly never afforded by any battle which had scarcely begun, and +terminated in the total and decisive overthrow of him who had already +fancied himself mounted in triumph upon the car of victory. This day, +however, the engagement still remained undecided, according to the +reports of those who returned from different points of the field of +battle. The French had stood as if rooted to the spot--the allies, like +rocks of granite. The former had fought like men, the latter like lions. +Both parties, inspired with mutual respect, desisted from hostilities +during the night. + +The combined troops, who had not been able in two sanguinary days to +bring the contest to an issue, had, however, during that time gained +several essential advantages. They had ascertained the strength of their +antagonist, and made themselves acquainted with the nature of the +ground. They knew what points were the most vulnerable, and could thence +infer how the enemy would manoeuvre. They were enabled to make their own +dispositions accordingly, and to give to the plan of the grand +engagement that perfection by which it is so peculiarly characterized. +In this point of view the allies had, without our suspecting it, +advanced a considerable step on the night of the third day. + +According to the general opinion of the inhabitants of Leipzig, the 17th +was destined to be the important day on which the last act of the great +tragedy was to be performed. We were, however, mistaken. The morning +came, and we heard nothing from either side. We had long ceased to take +notice of single shots. The French lines occupied Probstheide, and all +the points where they had the preceding day been posted. The order of +battle had, however, been considerably changed. The vast armies which +had been drawn up to the west and north had almost entirely disappeared. +In the forenoon a cannonade commenced about Gohlis, but soon ceased +again. In the meadows between the city and Lindenau were posted some +cavalry. At a greater distance but few troops were to be seen; and the +allies seemed to have renounced any farther attempts on that pass. The +left wing of the French grand army extended to Abtnaundorf, and had +strong corps posted as far as Taucha; the centre stretched behind the +Kohlgärten and Stötteritz to Probstheide, and the right wing reached +beyond Konnewitz to the wood and the Elster. Several lines were advanced +to Markleeberg. The combined army occupied parallel positions. You will +not expect me to say more respecting the order of battle, especially as +a circumstantial account of it has already appeared. The motives which +occasioned a kind of truce to be observed during the whole of this day +are unknown to me. This phenomenon was, the more surprising, as Napoleon +is not accustomed long to defer business of such importance. From what I +can learn, there was no parleying, as has been asserted, between the +contending parties. Several Frenchmen assigned, as a reason, that the +emperor expected a strong reinforcement of three corps, and therefore +undertook nothing on this day. On all sides columns of smoke were yet +seen rising from the villages that were reduced to ashes. All at once +the church of Probstheide also appeared in flames. It soon fell in, and +is now totally demolished. This fire is said to have been occasioned by +negligence. + +All the large edifices in the city were now selected for the purpose of +being converted into hospitals. The number of the wounded kept +continually augmenting, and by far the greatest part of them had still +no other shelter than the streets. Many, though after three days of +suffering, were yet unable to obtain any assistance. The king resolutely +remained in the city, in order, as the event shewed, there to await his +fate, whatever it might be. Our condition became every moment more +alarming; and, in proportion as our anxiety grew more painful, our hopes +diminished. What will become of us before this time to-morrow? was the +general question on the evening of that day, and we looked forward with +dejection and despondency to the morrow's dawn. We felt much less +anxiety in the midst of the thunder of the artillery than we did at the +close of this fourth day. It resembled the dead calm which precedes the +impending storm. The combined troops took their leave of us for the +night, as they had done on the preceding, with the discharge of three +cannon. It had been Sunday, and you might almost have imagined that the +contending parties had suffered it to pass thus peaceably, out of +respect to the commandment--_Thou shalt keep the sabbath-day holy._ + +The 18th of October at length appeared. It was a day equal in importance +to many a century; and the fewer History can produce that deserve to be +classed along with it, the more memorable it will remain. All that +preceded it had merely opened the way, and there were yet almost +inaccessible cliffs to climb before we could flatter ourselves with the +hope of reaching the wished-for goal. The leaders of the allies had +already shewn the ablest French generals, in several grand engagements, +that they possessed sufficient means and talents to dissolve the charm +of their invincibility. They were now about to enter the lists with the +hero whom a thousand panegyrists, during a period of near twenty years, +had extolled far above the greatest generals of ancient and modern +times; whose enemies had to boast of but one victory over him at most--a +victory which he himself did not admit, as he ascribed the total +destruction of his army in Russia to physical causes alone. It was the +conqueror of Marengo, Austerlitz, Friedland, Ratisbon, Wagram, and +Mojaisk. Fresh laurels entwined his brow at Lützen, Bautzen, and +Dresden. Here at Leipzig the allies attempted to wrest them from him who +grasps so firmly. It was easy to foresee that with unshaken resolution +he would risk all, in order, as on former occasions, to gain all, and to +put an end to the campaign with a single blow. He seemed to contemplate +nothing less than the utter annihilation of the allies, as all the +bridges far and near were broken down to cut off their retreat. Whether +the situation in which he had placed himself was such as to justify +these hopes, I shall leave to the decision of those who are better +qualified to judge. His confidence in victory must, however, have been +very strong, as he had made such inadequate preparations for his own +retreat. + +The action commenced in the centre of the French army beyond +Probstheide, probably with the storming of the villages in its front, +for we afterwards learned that they were several times taken and +recovered. They have been more or less reduced to heaps of rubbish. That +the work of slaughter might be completed on this day, it had been begun +with the first dawn of morning. So early as nine o'clock all the immense +lines from Taucha to Konnewitz were engaged. As the latter village lay +nearest to us, we could see what was passing there the most distinctly. +From Lösnig, a village situated beyond Konnewitz, a hollow, about two +thousand paces in length, runs from north-west to south-east. It is +bordered with a narrow skirt of wood, consisting of alders, limes, and +oaks, and forms an angle with the village. Beyond this line were +advanced several French batteries, the incessant movements of which, as +well as every single shot, might be clearly distinguished with our +glasses. To make myself better acquainted with this neighbourhood, I +explored two days afterwards this part of the field of battle, and found +that the French artillery must there have formed an open triangle; for +the road which runs straight from Leipzig, behind Konnewitz through +Dehlis and Lösnig, of course from north to south, was also lined by +French batteries. The houses of those villages had served them for a +_point d'appui_ in the rear, and were most of them dreadfully shattered +by the balls of the Austrians. The artillery of the latter seems to have +had a great advantage in regard to the ground. The French cannon brought +into the line from Konnewitz to Dehlis and Lösnig stood in a +hollow--those of the Austrians on eminences. These last had moreover the +advantage of enfilading the two angles formed by the batteries of the +French. That this had actually been the case was evident from the +numbers of French cannoniers and horses lying dead in rows in the line +of the above-mentioned villages, where they had been swept down by the +guns of their opponents. On the eminences where the hostile cannon were +planted the number of dead was much smaller, and these were apparently +not artillery-men, but infantry, who were probably engaged in covering +those batteries. The firearms which lay beside them confirmed the +conjecture. This pass must nevertheless have been obstinately defended, +as it was not taken the whole day. The fire of musketry grew more and +more brisk--a proof that the combatants were already in close action. +The French _tirailleurs_ could not be driven out of the woods, on which +their right wing was supported. We remarked frequent charges of cavalry, +which seemed to decide nothing. All the villages lying beyond Konnewitz, +on the road to Borna, as far as Markleeberg, were on fire. The thunder +from the French centre, as well as from the left wing, gradually +approached nearer to the city. The seventh corps, under general Reynier, +was in the left wing, and posted towards Taucha. It was principally +composed of Saxons. They had just come into action, and the allies had +already brought up a great number of guns against them. To the no small +astonishment and consternation of their leader, they suddenly shouldered +their arms, marched forward in close files with their artillery, and +went over to the enemy. Several French battalions, misled by this +movement, joined them, and were immediately disarmed and made prisoners +by the allies. The French cuirassiers, suspecting the design of the +Saxons, followed, apparently with the intention of falling upon them. +The Saxons faced about, and compelled them, by a smart fire of musketry, +to return. A volley of small arms was discharged after them, but with no +more effect--it did them no injury. Their horse-artillery turned about, +and soon dismounted that of the French. They were greeted with a joyful +_hurrah!_ by the Cossacks, who cordially shook hands with their new +comrades. The Saxons desired to be immediately led back to the attack of +the French. The hearts of these soldiers individually had long glowed +with revenge for all the devastations committed in their native land by +their allies and companions in arms, for whom they had so often shed +their blood in torrents. The generals of the allies refused on very good +grounds to comply with their desire. The Saxons marched a league into +the rear of the field of battle, and there bivouacked. Their artillery +only was afterwards invited to take part in the engagement, and did +great execution. This circumstance had an essential influence on the +issue of the contest, inasmuch as the defection of a body of more than +8000 men facilitated the advance of the right wing of the allies. But +for this step the Saxons would have fared very badly, as their opponents +had already ranged upwards of thirty pieces of cannon against their +line, and were bringing up still more to the attack. These now proved +the more galling to the ranks of the French, who were driven back almost +to the Kohlgärten. From my position this advance of the allies was not +to be perceived except by the approach of the thunder of the artillery. +The French centre yet stood immoveable; at least we could not observe +from the city any change which denoted a retrograde movement. The +sanguinary character of this tremendous conflict might be inferred from +the thousands of wounded, who hobbled, crawled, and were carried in at +the gates. Among the latter were many officers of rank. If you inquired +of those who returned from the field, how the battle was going on, the +reply almost invariably was--"Badly enough,--the enemy is very strong." +A Saxon cuirassier declared, without reserve, that it might be +considered as decided, adding, "We have lost a deal of ground +already."--Stötteritz and Schönefeld were stormed the same evening. All +the streets were covered with wounded, and fortunate were they who +could find a shelter. As for surgical aid and refreshments, these were +not to be thought of. A far greater number of those miserable wretches +were yet left behind in the villages, as might be seen from the detached +limbs, which were piled in heaps, especially at Probstheide. + +Had any of the allied corps succeeded this day in penetrating on any +side into our city, nothing less than the total destruction of the +French army would probably have been the consequence; since it might +from this place, as from the centre of the field of battle, have fallen +upon the rear of any part of the French force, and have hemmed in both +the centre and the wings. This misfortune Napoleon had taken good care +to prevent. He now felt, however, that his strength was broken, and that +he was no longer in a condition to maintain the contest. He resolved +upon retreat, but carefully sought to conceal this intention from his +enemies. Though night had come on; yet the cannon thundered as furiously +as in the morning, and the fire of musketry was brisker than ever. A +long column, with an endless train of artillery, was seen defiling from +Probstheide to Konnewitz. Again I trembled for the cause of the allies. +These, I imagined, were the French guards, marching to the attack of the +right wing. Now methought the moment had arrived when Napoleon would +strike the decisive blow, which he had so often deferred till the very +last hour. Soon afterwards the cannonade seemed to gain redoubled +vigour, and continued an hour without intermission, so that every house +in the city was shaken. As, however, it at length ceased without +removing to a greater distance, we naturally concluded that this last +attack had proved unsuccessful. More than ten great conflagrations +illumined the whole horizon amid the obscurity of night. + +The excessive bustle in the city rendered it impossible for us to +observe that the retreat had in fact commenced. The greatest part of the +persons attached to the army had already left the city, while the others +were making all the requisite preparations for their departure. Most of +them had wonderfully changed the tone in which they had spoken the +preceding day. They now talked of the miseries of war, deplored the +sufferings of the people, and declared that peace would be the greatest +of blessings for all parties. The multitude of French officers here was +so great, that even those of high rank on the staff were obliged to put +up with the most wretched accommodations, for which they paid +handsomely, leaving their horses and equipages in the street, where the +former frequently ran away. One of these officers sought a night's +lodging in a mean house in the author's neighbourhood. He was called up +at midnight, and informed that his column had just begun to retreat. He +inquired whether the whole army was doing the same--the messenger +replied that he did not know. This circumstance first confirmed my +belief that the French had sustained a defeat, and rendered the +conjecture that their whole army was retreating highly probable. Many +French _employés_ and soldiers had, several days before, while they yet +had an opportunity, exchanged their uniform for the plainest attire, +that, under this peaceful ægis, they might the more calmly await the +issue of events; and that, in case the allies should come upon them too +unexpectedly, they might, under the disguise of honest citizens, hasten +away to their beloved Rhine without being challenged by the lances of +the Cossacks. With greater composure than any of them did general +Bertrand, the governor of the city, who, perhaps, as an intelligent +officer, was the least confident of victory, look forward to the event. +He abandoned not his post at the precipitate departure of the emperor, +and was in consequence made prisoner the following day. + +Such was the conclusion of the fifth day. It beheld a field of battle, +of unparalleled extent, strewed with slain; and left one of the most +flourishing districts of Saxony, as it were, one general conflagration. +With anxious solicitude the people of Leipzig awaited its coming, and +with expectations unfulfilled they witnessed its close. Though it +appeared probable to us all, that, in this colossal engagement, victory +had wholly forsaken the Gallic eagles, still the fate of our city was +far from being decided. We were yet in the midst of the crater of the +tremendous volcano, which by one mighty effort might hurl us into atoms, +and leave behind scarcely a vestige of our existence. Napoleon had +received a severe blow; and now it behoved him to oppose an immediate +barrier to the impetuous course of the conquerors, and to prevent the +total loss of his yet remaining army, artillery, and baggage. The only +bulwark that he could employ for this purpose was Leipzig. All that art +had formerly done to render it a defensive position had long since +disappeared. Planks, hedges, and mud walls, were scarcely calculated to +resist the butt-end of a musket. This deficiency it was every where +necessary to supply by living walls, and that was in fact done in such a +way as filled us all with consternation. + +At day-break on the 19th the allies put the finishing hand to the great +work. A considerable part of the French army, with an immense quantity +of artillery, had already passed through and into the city with great +precipitation. The troops that covered the retreat were furiously +attacked, and driven on all sides into the city. Napoleon attempted to +arrest the progress of victory by an expedient which had so often before +produced an extraordinary effect, that is, by negotiation. A proposal +was made to evacuate the city voluntarily, and to declare the Saxon +troops there as neutral, on condition that the retreating army should +have sufficient time allowed to withdraw from it with its artillery and +waggon-train, and to reach a certain specified point. The allies too +clearly perceived what an important advantage would in this case be +gained by the French army, which was less anxious for the fate of the +city than to effect its own escape. These terms were rejected, and +several hundred pieces of artillery began to play upon Leipzig. Our fate +would have been decided had the allied sovereigns cherished sentiments +less generous and humane than they did. It behoved them to gain +possession of Leipzig at any rate; and this object they might have +accomplished in the shortest way, and with inconsiderable loss to +themselves, if they had bombarded it for one single hour with shells, +red-hot balls, and Congreve rockets, with which an English battery that +accompanied them was provided. Their philanthropic spirits, on the +contrary, revolted at the idea of involving the innocent population of a +_German_ city in the fate of Moscow and Saragossa. They resolved to +storm the town, and to support the troops employed in this duty with +artillery no farther than was necessary to silence the enemy, and to +force their way through the palisaded avenues and gates. Meanwhile the +discharges of artillery, quite close to us, were so tremendous, that +each seemed sufficient to annihilate the city. The king of Saxony +himself sent flags of truce, entreating that it might be spared. The +allies replied that this should be done in as far as the defence of the +enemy might render it practicable: they promised, moreover, security to +persons and property after the place should be taken, and to enforce as +rigid discipline as it was possible on such an occasion. To these +assurances they annexed the condition that no French should be secreted +in the city, declaring that every house in which one or more of them +should be found would run the risk of being reduced to ashes. The +cannon, though only in a proportionably small number from the north and +east, immediately began to play. They were partly directed against the +palisades at the gates, partly against the French artillery which +defended the avenues. For more than two hours balls and shells from the +east and north frequently fell in the city itself, and in the suburbs. +Many a time I was filled with astonishment at the effects of one single +ball, which often penetrated through two thick walls, and pursued its +course still farther. Though they seldom fell in the streets, it was +impossible to venture abroad without imminent hazard of life, as these +tremendous visitors beat down large fragments of roofs, chimneys, and +walls, which, tumbling with a frightful crash, threatened to bury every +passenger beneath their ruins. Still greater havoc was made by the +shells, which, bursting as soon as they had descended, immediately set +their new habitations in flames. Fortunately for us, but few of these +guests were sent into the city. The most that fell came from the north, +that is, in the direction of Halle. Three times did fires break out in +the Brühl, which, in a short consumed several back buildings contiguous +to the city wall, and nothing but the instantaneous measures adopted for +their extinction prevented farther damage. The allies had no other +object, in dispatching these ministers of destruction, than to shew the +retreating enemy, who, in the general confusion and bustle, could no +longer move either forward or backward, that, if they now forbore to +annihilate him, it was because the innocent citizens might be involved +in equal destruction with the fugitives. Pfaffendorf, a farm-house near +the north side of the city, had previously been set on fire, when the +Russian jägers had penetrated thither through the Rosenthal, and was +consumed to the very walls. As this place had been converted into an +hospital, many poor fellows there fell a sacrifice to the flames. + +You may easily conceive the sensations of the inhabitants of the upper +town when we beheld the black clouds of smoke rising from the lower, +while the incessant fire of the artillery rendered it impossible for us +to repair thither, to obtain information or to afford assistance. Here, +as every where else, the fears of the inhabitants were wound up to the +highest pitch. A cry was raised that several streets were already in +flames, and every one now hastened to his own house, that he might be at +hand in case a similar accident should happen there. It became more and +more dangerous to remain in the upper stories, which the inhabitants +accordingly quitted, and betook themselves to the kitchens and cellars. +If such were the terrors of the inmates, old and young, the fears and +anxiety of the French who chanced to be in the houses surpassed all +description. Many of them were seen weeping like children, and starting +convulsively at every report of the cannon. In the midst of this hideous +uproar I made another attempt to learn what was passing in the suburbs. +In the streets I found inexpressible confusion, people running in all +directions, officers driving their men to the gates. Cries and shouts +resounded from all quarters, though very few of the persons from whom +they proceeded knew what they would be at. At this time cartouch-boxes +and muskets were to be seen thrown away here and there in the streets. +The Saxon grenadier guards were drawn out with wonderful composure and +grounded arms, before the royal residence. Every unarmed person +anxiously sought to gain the nearest house, but commonly found it shut +against him. Several had already lost their lives or been severely +wounded by the balls which fell in all directions. Napoleon was still in +the city; he was at this moment with our king, with whom he had an +animated conversation, which lasted near an hour. Soon afterwards I saw +him, accompanied by the king of Naples, proceeding on horseback toward +the Ranstädt gate. I had meanwhile taken the opportunity of slipping +into a house which overlooks that street, and now for the first time +beheld a French retreat in the height of its confusion. Not a vestige of +regularity was any where observable. The horse and foot guards poured +along in mingled disorder. They would probably have marched in quicker +time, had they been permitted by the waggons and cannon, which were +locked in one another, and obstructed the way. Between these they were +obliged to pass singly, and I really thought that it would be at least +six hours before they could all have effected their passage. Immense +droves of cattle were cooped up among the crowd. These seemed to be +objects of particular concern to the French. They sought out a space, +however narrow, along the town-ditch, by which they might drive forward +their horned favourites. Whoever was bold enough, and had any hopes of +being able to conduct these animals into his own habitation, had now an +opportunity of making an advantageous bargain. A few pieces of silver +might be carried off with much greater facility than a huge clumsy ox. +Notwithstanding all the efforts to preserve this valuable booty from the +general wreck, it was absolutely impossible to save the whole of it. +Many horned cattle and horses were left behind, and now innocently +sought a scanty repast by the city-walls. That, amidst all this +"confusion worse confounded," there was no want of shouting and +blustering, you may easily imagine, though nobody got forward any faster +for all this noise. On a sudden we saw at a distance the emperor +himself, with not a numerous retinue, advancing on horseback into the +midst of this chaos. He got through better than I expected. I afterwards +learned that he took a by-road through a garden to the outer Ranstädt +gate. Prince Poniatowsky attempted, higher up, to ford the Elster. The +banks on each side are of considerable height, soft and swampy; the +current itself narrow, but in this part uncommonly deep and muddy. How +so expert a rider should have lost the management of his horse, I cannot +imagine. According to report, the animal plunged headlong into the water +with him, so that he could not possibly recover himself. He fell a +victim to his temerity, and was drowned. His body was found several days +afterwards, and interred with all the military honours due to his +rank[5]. + +As the commander-in-chief had so precipitately quitted the city, we +could no longer doubt the proximity of the enemy to our walls. The fire +of the artillery and musketry in the place, which gradually approached +nearer, was a much more convincing proof of this than we desired. The +men already began to cut away the traces, in order to save the horses. +The bustle among the soldiers augmented; a weak rearguard had taken post +in Reichel's garden, to keep the allies in check, in case they should +penetrate into the high road. We thought them still at a considerable +distance, when a confused cry suddenly proclaimed that the Russians had +stormed the outer Peter's gate, and were coming round from the +Rossplatz. The French were evidently alarmed. The Russian jägers came +upon them all at once, at full speed, with tremendous huzzas and fixed +bayonets, and discharged their pieces singly, without stopping. I now +thought it advisable to quit my dangerous post, and hasten home with all +possible expedition. I was informed by the way that the Prussians had +that moment stormed the Grimma gate, and would be in the city in a few +minutes. On all sides was heard the firing of small arms, intermixed at +times with the reports of the artillery, already playing upon the +waggon-train in the suburbs. Musket-balls, passing over the city wall, +likewise whizzed through the streets; and, when I ventured to put my +head out of the window, I observed with horror, not far from my house, +two Prussian jägers pursuing and firing at some Frenchmen who were +running away. Behind them I heard the storm-march, and huzzas and shouts +of _Long live Frederic William!_ from thousands of voices. A company of +Baden jägers was charged with the defence of the inner Peter's gate. +These troops immediately abandoned their post, and ran as fast as their +legs would carry them to the market-place, where they halted, and, like +the Saxon grenadier guards, fired not a single shot. + +Thus the so long feared and yet wished-for hour was at length arrived. +What we should never have expected after the 2nd of May, namely, to see +a single Prussian again at Leipzig, was nevertheless come to pass. They +had then left us as friends, and, by their exemplary conduct, had +acquired our highest respect. We bore them, as well as the Russians, in +the most honourable remembrance. They now appeared as enemies, whose +duty had imposed on them the task of storming the city. Our sons and +brothers had fought against them. What might not be our fate? We had not +forgotten that which befell Lübeck, seven years before, under similar +circumstances. But they were the warriors of Alexander, Francis, +Frederic William, and Charles John; terrible as destroying angels to the +foe, kind and generous to the defenceless citizen. As far as the +author's knowledge extends, not a man was guilty of the smallest excess +within our walls. They even paid in specie for bread, tobacco, and +brandy. The suburbs, indeed, fared not quite so well. There many an +inhabitant suffered severely; but how was it possible for the commanders +to be present every where, and to prevent all irregularities, after a +conflict which had raged in every corner of the city? Would you compare +the victors, upon the whole, with our late friends and protectors, go +through all Saxony, and then judge in whose favour the parallel must be +drawn. + +It was half past one o'clock when the allies penetrated into the city. +The artillery had been but little used on this occasion, and in the +interior of the place not at all. Had not the allies shewn so much +tenderness for the town, they might have spared the sacrifice of some +hundreds of their brave soldiers. They employed infantry in the assault, +that the city might not be utterly destroyed. The grand work was now +nearly accomplished. Obstinately as the French in general defended +themselves, they were, nevertheless, unable to withstand the iron masses +of their assailants. They were overthrown in all quarters, and driven +out of the place. The streets, especially in the suburbs, were strewed +with dead. The writer often counted eight in a very small space. In +about an hour you might venture abroad without danger in all parts of +the town. But what sights now met the eye! Leipzig, including the +suburbs, cannot occupy an area of much less than one (German) square +mile. In this extent there was scarcely a spot not covered with houses +but bore evidence of the sanguinary conflict. The ground was covered +with carcasses, and the horses were particularly numerous. The nearer +you approached to the Ranstädt gate, the thicker lay the dead bodies. +The Ranstädt causeway, which is crossed by what is called the Mühlgraben +(mill-dam), exhibited a spectacle peculiarly horrid. Men and horses were +every where to be seen; driven into the water, they had found their +grave in it, and projected in hideous groups above its surface. Here the +storming columns from all the gates, guided by the fleeing foe, had for +the most part united, and had found a sure mark for every shot in the +closely crowded masses of the enemy. But the most dreadful sight of all +was that which presented itself in the beautiful Richter's garden, once +the ornament of the city, on that side where it joins the Elster. There +the cavalry must have been engaged; at least I there saw a great number +of French cuirasses lying about. All along the bank, heads, arms, and +feet, appeared above the water. Numbers, in attempting to ford the +treacherous river, had here perished. People were just then engaged in +collecting the arms that had been thrown away by the fugitives, and they +had already formed a pile of them far exceeding the height of a man. + +The smoking ruins of whole villages and towns, or extensive tracts laid +waste by inundations, exhibit a melancholy spectacle; but a field of +battle is assuredly the most shocking sight that eye can ever behold. +Here all kinds of horrors are united; here Death reaps his richest +harvest, and revels amid a thousand different forms of human suffering. +The whole area has of itself a peculiar and repulsive physiognomy, +resulting from such a variety of heterogeneous objects as are no where +else found together. The relics of torches, the littered and trampled +straw, the bones and flesh of slaughtered animals, fragments of plates, +a thousand articles of leather, tattered cartouch-boxes, old rags, +clothes thrown away, all kinds of harness, broken muskets, shattered +waggons and carts, weapons of all sorts, thousands of dead and dying, +horribly mangled bodies of men and horses,--and all these +intermingled!--I shudder whenever I recall to memory this scene, which, +for the world, I would not again behold. Such, however, was the +spectacle that presented itself in all directions; so that a person, who +had before seen the beautiful environs of Leipzig, would not have known +them again in their present state. Barriers, gardens, parks, hedges, and +walks, were alike destroyed and swept away. These devastations were not +the consequence of this day's engagement, but of the previous +bivouacking of the French, who are now so habituated to conduct +themselves in such a manner that their bivouacs never fail to exhibit +the most deplorable attestations of their presence, as to admit no hopes +of a change. The appearance of Richter's garden was a fair specimen of +the aspect of all the others. Among these the beautiful one of Löhr was +particularly remarkable. Here French artillery had been stationed +towards Göhlis; and here both horses and men had suffered most severely. +The magnificent buildings, in the Grecian style, seemed mournfully to +overlook their late agreeable, now devastated, groves, enlivened in +spring by the warbling of hundreds of nightingales, but where now +nothing was to be heard, save the loud groans of the dying. The dark +alleys, summer-houses, and arbours, so often resorted to for recreation, +social pleasures, or silent meditation, were now the haunts of death, +the abode of agony and despair. The gardens, so late a paradise, were +transformed into the seat of corruption and pestilential putridity. A +similar spectacle was exhibited by Grosbosch's, Reichel's, and all the +other spacious gardens round the city, which the allies had been obliged +to storm.--The buildings which had suffered most were those at the outer +gates of the city. These were the habitations of the excise and other +officers stationed at the gates. Most of them were so perforated as +rather to resemble large cages, which you may see through, than solid +walls. All this, however, though more than a thousand balls must have +been fired at the city, bore no comparison to the mischiefs which might +have ensued, and which we had every reason to apprehend. We now look +forward to a happier futurity; the commerce of Leipzig will revive; and +the activity, industry, and good taste of its inhabitants, will, +doubtless, ere long, call forth from these ruins a new and more +beautiful creation. + +I now summon your attention from these scenes of horror to others of a +different kind, the delineation of which is absolutely necessary to +complete the picture. Those hosts which had so long been the scourge of +Germany and Europe, and had left us this last hideous monument of their +presence, perhaps never to return, were now in precipitate flight, as +though hurried away by an impetuous torrent. The terrors of the Most +High had descended upon them. The conqueror had appeared to them at +Leipzig in the most terrific form, and with uplifted arm followed close +at their heels. About a league beyond the city the ardour of the pursuit +somewhat abated; at Markranstädt the routed army first stopped to take +breath, and to form itself in some measure into a connected whole. The +booty taken by the allies was immense. The suburbs were crowded with +waggons and artillery, which the enemy had been obliged to abandon. It +was impossible for the most experienced eye to form any kind of estimate +of their numbers. The captors left them all just as they were, and +merely examined here and there the contents of the waggons. Many of them +were laden with rice, which was partly given away, especially by the +Prussians. Many a Frenchman probably missed the usual supply of it for +his scanty supper. All the streets were thronged with the allied troops, +who had fought dispersed, and now met to congratulate one another on the +important victory. Soon after the city was taken, their sovereigns made +their entry. The people pressed in crowds to behold their august and so +long wished-for deliverers. They appeared without any pomp in the +simplest officers' uniforms, attended by those heroes, a Blücher, Bülow, +Platow, Barklay de Tolly, Schwarzenberg, Repnin, Sanders, &c. &c., whom +we had so long admired. The acclamations of the people were unbounded. +Tens of thousands of voices greeted them with _Huzzas_ and _Vivats_; and +white handkerchiefs,--symbols of peace,--waved from every window. Some +few indeed were too unhappy to take part in the general joy on this +memorable day. It was the only punishment, but truly a severe one, for +the abject wretches who have not German hearts in their bosoms. Never +did acclamations so sincere greet the ears of emperors and kings as +those which welcomed Alexander, Francis, Frederic William, and Charles +John. They were followed by long files of troops, who had so gloriously +sustained the arduous contest under their victorious banners. In the +midst of Cossacks, Prussian, Russian, Austrian, and Swedish hussars, +appeared also our gallant Saxon cavalry, resolved henceforward to fight +for the liberty of Germany, and the genuine interests of their native +land. + +A great number of regiments immediately continued their march without +halting, and took some the road to Pegau, and others that to Merseburg, +in order to pursue the enemy in his left flank and in his rear. +Blücher's army had the preceding day advanced to the neighbourhood of +Merseburg, where it was now posted in the right flank of the retreating +force. Leipzig had nothing more to fear. French officers and soldiers +were every where seen intermixed with their conquerors. It was only here +and there that they were collected together and conveyed away. Of the +greater part but little notice was taken in the first bustle, as all the +gates were well guarded, and it was scarcely possible for one of them to +escape. Numbers had fled during the assault from their quarters into the +suburbs. Many seemed to have left behind valuable effects and money, as +I should conjecture from various expressions used by some, who offered, +several Napoleon-d'ors to any person who could assist them to reach +their lodgings. For this, however, it was now too late. Strict orders +were issued against the secreting or entertaining of Frenchmen, and they +were therefore obliged to seek, for the moment, a refuge in the +hospitals. + +Only a small part of the combined troops had gone in pursuit of the +French. By far the greatest portion reposed in countless ranks round the +town from the fatigues of the long and sanguinary conflict. Part of the +army equipage entered, and all the streets were soon crowded to such +excess that you could scarcely stir but at the risk of your life. The +allied monarchs alighted in the market-place, where the concourse of +guards and equipages was consequently immense. Here I saw the late +French commandant of the city coming on foot with a numerous retinue of +officers and commissaries, and advancing towards the Russian generals. +The fate of general Bertrand was certainly most to be pitied; he was a +truly honest man, who had no share in those inexpressible miseries in +which we had been for the last six months involved. I felt so much the +less for the commissaries, whom I have ever considered as the Pandora's +box of the French army, whence such numberless calamities have spread +over every country in which they have set foot. At the residence of our +sovereign I observed no other alteration than that a great number of +Saxon generals and officers were collected about it. The life +grenadier-guards were on duty as before, and a battalion of Russian +grenadiers was parading in front of the windows. No interview, that I +know of, took place between the king of Saxony the allied sovereigns. +The king of Prussia remained here longest in conversation with the +prince-royal. The emperors of Austria and Russia, as well as the +crown-prince of Sweden, returned early to the army. After the departure +of the Prussian monarch, our king set out under a strong escort of +Cossacks for Berlin, or, as some asserted, for Schwedt. + +The French hospitals which we had constantly had here since the +beginning of the year, and which, since the battle of Lützen and the +denunciation of the armistice, had increased to such a degree as to +contain upwards of 20,000 sick and wounded, may be considered as a +malignant cancer, that keeps eating farther and farther, and consuming +the vital juices. It was these that introduced among us a dreadfully +destructive nervous fever, which had increased the mortality of the +inhabitants to near double its usual amount. Regarded in this point of +view alone, they were one of the most terrible scourges of the city; but +they proved a still more serious evil, inasmuch as the whole expense of +them fell upon the circle. The French never inquired whence the +prodigious funds requisite for their maintenance were to be derived, nor +ever thought of making the smallest compensation. If we reckon, for six +months, 10,000 sick upon an average, and for each of them 12 groschen +per day (and, including all necessaries, they could scarcely be kept at +that rate), the amount for each day is 5000, and, for the six months, +the enormous sum of 900,000 dollars, which the exhausted coffers were +obliged to pay in specie. This calculation, however, is so far below the +truth, that it ought rather to be greatly augmented. A tolerable +aggregate must have been formed by proportionable contributions from all +our country towns, and this was for the service of the hospitals alone: +judge then of the rest. + +Previously to the battle of Leipzig the state of the inmates of these +pestilential dens, these abodes of misery, was deplorable enough, as +they were continually becoming more crowded and enlarged. Many of the +persons attached to them, and in particular many a valuable and +experienced medical man, carried from them the seeds of death into the +bosom of his family. With their want of accommodations, cleanliness was +a point which could not be attained, and it was impossible to pass them +without extreme disgust. As Leipzig was for a considerable time cut off +from the rest of the world by the vast circle of armies, like the +mariner cast upon a desert island, the wants of these hospitals became +from day to day more urgent. Provisions also at length began to fail. +The distress had arrived at its highest pitch, when the thousands from +the field of battle applied there for relief. Not even bread could any +longer be dispensed to these unfortunates. Many wandered about without +any kind of shelter. Then did we witness scenes which would have +thrilled the most obdurate cannibals with horror. No eye could have +beheld a sight more hideous at Smolensk, on the Berezyna, or on the road +to Wilna--there at least Death more speedily dispatched his victims. +Thousands of ghastly figures staggered along the streets, begging at +every window and at every door; and seldom indeed had Compassion the +power to give. These, however, were ordinary, familiar spectacles. +Neither was it rare to see one of these emaciated wretches picking up +the dirtiest bones, and eagerly gnawing them; nay, even the smallest +crumb of bread which had chanced to be thrown into the street, as well +as apple-parings and cabbage-stalks, were voraciously devoured. But +hunger did not confine itself within these disgusting limits. More than +twenty eye-witnesses can attest that wounded French soldiers crawled to +the already putrid carcasses of horses, with some blunt knife or other +contrived with their feeble hands to cut the flesh from the haunches, +and greedily regaled themselves with the carrion. They were glad to +appease their hunger with what the raven and the kite never feed on but +in cases of necessity. They even tore the flesh from human limbs, and +broiled it to satisfy the cravings of appetite; nay, what is almost +incredible, the very dunghills were searched for undigested fragments to +devour. You know me, and must certainly believe that I would not relate +as facts things which would be liable to be contradicted by the whole +city. Thus the hospitals became a hot-bed of pestilence, from which the +senses of hearing, smell, and sight, turned with disgust, and one of the +most fatal of those vampyres which had so profusely drained our vitals, +and now dispensed destruction to those who had fed them and to the sick +themselves. + +The great church-yard exhibited a spectacle of peculiar horror. The +peaceful dead and their monuments had been spared no more than any other +corner of the city. Here also the king of terrors had reaped a rich +harvest. The slight walls had been converted into one great fort, and +loop-holes formed in them. Troops had long before bivouacked in this +spot, and the Prussian, Russian, and Austrian prisoners, were here +confined, frequently for several successive days, in the most +tempestuous weather and violent rain, without food, straw, or shelter. +These poor fellows had nevertheless spared the many handsome monuments +of the deceased, and only sought a refuge from the wet, or a lodging for +the night, in such vaults as they found open. This spacious ground, +which rather resembled a superbly embellished garden than a +burial-place, now fell under the all-desolating hands of the French. It +soon bore not the smallest resemblance to itself; what Art had, in the +space of a century, employed a thousand hands to produce, was in a short +time, and by very few, defaced and destroyed. The strongest iron doors +to the vaults were broken open, the walls stripped of their decorations +and emblems of mourning, the last tributes of grief and affection +annihilated, and every atom of wood thrown into the watch-fire; so that +the living could no longer know where to look for the remains of the +deceased objects of their love. The elegant rails, with which the +generality of the graves were encompassed, for the most part +disappeared, and the only vestiges of them to be found were their ashes, +or the relics of the reeking brands of the watch-fire. On the 19th this +wretched bulwark also was stormed, and thrown down as easily as a +fowler's net. The carcasses of horses now replaced upon the graves the +monuments of mourning for the peaceful dead. After the battle part of +the French prisoners were confined in this place. The church of St. +John, which stands in it, had, as early as the month of May, been +converted into an hospital, which, ever since the beginning of October, +was crowded with sick. It could hold no more; the sick and prisoners +were therefore intermingled, and lay down pell-mell among the graves. +What had hitherto been spared was now completely destroyed. In this +case, indeed, dire necessity pleaded a sufficient excuse. Who could find +fault with Distress and Despair if they resorted to the only means that +could afford them the slightest alleviation? Who could grudge them a +shelter in the cold autumnal nights, even though they sought it in the +dreary abode of mouldering corpses? Every vault which it was possible +for them to open was converted into a chamber and dwelling-place, which +at least was preferable to a couch between hillocks soaked with rain or +covered with hoar frost. They descended into the deepest graves, broke +open the coffins, and ejected their tenants, to procure fire-wood to +warm their frozen limbs. I myself saw a French soldier who had fallen +among a heap of coffins piled up to the height of more than twelve feet; +and, unable to clamber up again, had probably lain there several days, +and been added by Death to the number of his former victims. The +appearance of the skulls, before so carefully concealed from the view of +the living, now thrown out of the coffins into the graves, was truly +ghastly. + +In spite of all the exertion of the new authorities, appointed by the +allies to alleviate the general misery, it was utterly impossible for +any human power to restore order in the horrid chaos which the French +had left behind them. A severe want of all necessaries was felt in the +city; the circumjacent villages, far and wide, were plundered and laid +waste. From them, of course, no supply could be obtained. More than +thirty hospitals were not capable of receiving all the sick and wounded +who applied for admission. Where were to be found buildings sufficiently +spacious, mattresses, bedding, utensils, provisions, and the prodigious +number of medical attendants, whose services were so urgently required +by these poor creatures? Every edifice at all adapted to the purpose had +long been occupied; and so completely had every thing been drained by +requisitions, that the hospital committee had for some time been unable +to collect even the necessary quantity of lint. Almost every barber's +apprentice was obliged to exercise his unskilful hands in the service of +the hospitals. It would have been impossible to procure any thing with +money, had it been ever so plentiful; and this resource, moreover, was +already completely exhausted. The most acute understanding and the most +invincible presence of mind were inadequate to the providing of a remedy +for these evils. No where was there to be seen either beginning or end. +The city was covered with carcasses, and the rivers obstructed with dead +bodies. Thousands of hands were necessary to remove and bury these +disgusting objects before any attention could be paid to the clearing of +the field of battle about Leipzig. As all sought relief, there was of +course none to afford it. It was difficult to decide whether first to +build, to slaughter, to brew, to bake, to bury the dead, or to assist +the wounded, as all these points demanded equally prompt attention. + +In the city lay many thousands of newly-arrived troops, who came from +the fight, and were both hungry and thirsty. Notwithstanding their +moderation, some of these could obtain nothing, and others but a very +scanty supply. Gladly would every citizen have entertained them in the +best manner; but not even a glass of the worst beer or brandy was now to +be had. Many of them naturally ascribed this to ill will, and even +observed that every thing was denied them because they were not +Frenchmen. How little did they know of our real situation! In the house +where I live six of the Prussian foot-guards were quartered. They +complained when nothing was set before them but dry potatoes; but +listened with calmness to the excuses that were offered. Without making +any reply, four of them took up their arms, and departed. In about an +hour they returned, bringing with them two cows, which they had taken +from the French. These they presented to their host, and immediately +fell to work and killed then. In two hours the family was abundantly +supplied with meat, so that it could assist others; and, as great part +was pickled, it was supplied for a considerable time. Frenchmen would +certainly not have acted thus. + +Among the thousands of facts which might be adduced to prove that it was +absolutely impossible for any thing whatever to be left in the town, +that its resources were completely exhausted, and that extreme want +could not but prevail, let one instance suffice. There were in the city +two granaries, one of which, in the palace of Pleissenburg, had been +filled at the king's cost, and the other, called the corn-magazine, at +the expense of the magistrates. The former had long been put in +requisition by French commissaries, and had been chiefly applied to the +provisioning of the French garrisons of Wittenberg and Torgau. As this +was the king's property, it was perhaps but right to demand it for the +fortresses which were to defend the country. The stores possessed by the +magistrates were purchased in those years when a scarcity of corn +prevailed in Saxony. To afford some relief the government had imported +great quantities from Russia, by way of the Baltic and the Elbe. The +magistrates of Leipzig had bought a considerable part of it, that they +might be able to relieve the wants of the citizens in case a similar +calamity should again occur. It was ground and put into casks, each +containing 450 pounds. They had in their magazine 4000 such casks, which +had been left untouched even in the year 1806, and were carefully +preserved, to be used only in cases of extreme necessity. This was +certainly a wise and truly paternal precaution. So valuable a store +would have been sufficient to protect the city from hunger for a +considerable time. As the French army behaved all over Saxony as though +it had been in an enemy's country, and consumed every thing far and +near, the most urgent want was the inevitable consequence. They forgot +the common maxim, that the bread of which you deprive the citizen and +the husbandman is in fact taken from yourself, and that the soldier can +have nothing where those who feed him have lost their all. The country +round Dresden was already exhausted. Soldiers and travellers coming from +that quarter could scarcely find terms to describe the distress. They +unanimously declared that the country from Oschatz to Leipzig was a real +paradise, in comparison with Lusatia and the circle of Misnia, as far as +the Elbe. Of this we soon had convincing proofs. It was necessary to +pick out a great number of horses from all the regiments, and to send +back numerous troops of soldiers to the depots. Don Quixote's Rosinante +was a superb animal compared with those which returned to Dresden. Most +of them had previously perished by the way. Here they covered all the +streets. The men sold them out of hand, partly for a few groschen. A +great number were publicly put up to auction by the French commissaries; +and you may form some idea what sorry beasts they must have been, when +you know that a lot of 26 was sold for 20 dollars. After some time the +whole of the horse-guards arrived here. They were computed at 5000 men, +all of whom were unfit for service. How changed! how lost was their once +imposing appearance! Scarcely could troops ever make so ludicrous, so +grotesque, and so miserable a figure. Gigantic grenadiers, with caps of +prodigious height, and heavy-armed cuirassiers, were seen riding upon +lean cows, which certainly did not cut many capers. It was wonderful +that the animals shewed no disposition to decline the singular honour. +Their knapsacks were fastened to the horns, so that you were puzzled to +make out what kind of a monstrous creature was approaching. Carbineers, +with cuirasses and helmets polished like mirrors, lay without boots and +stockings in wheelbarrows, to which a peasant had harnessed himself with +his dog, and thus transported the heroes. Few of the horses were yet +able to carry the knapsack, and much less the rider. The men were +therefore obliged to drag the jaded beasts by the bridle through the +deepest morasses, and thought themselves fortunate when at last the +animals dropped to rise no more. Compared with these endless caravans, a +band of strolling players might be considered as the triumphant +procession of a Roman emperor. All these men were proceeding to Erfurt +and Mentz. + +These, and similar scenes which we had daily witnessed, were a natural +consequence of the French system of supply, and the prodigious bodies of +troops, which bore no proportion to the resources of a small tract of +country. Attempts had been made, but without success, to find other +provinces abounding in grain and forage. The fertile fields of Silesia +and Bohemia were beyond their reach. The angel with the fiery sword +vigilantly guarded the avenues to them against the fallen children of +Adam. It was now absolutely necessary to devise some expedient; and to +the French all means were alike. Some rice had been procured by way of +the Elbe and the Rhine. The stocks in the warehouses of the tradesmen of +Leipzig were now put in requisition, and sent off to the army; and I +shrewdly suspect that no part of them was paid for. These, however, were +but small privations; to relieve the general want required no less a +miracle than that by which 4000 men were fed with five small loaves. The +valuable stores in the city magazine had not yet been discovered. But +where is the door, however strong, through which their eagle eyes would +not at last penetrate? The flour was soon spied out, and forthwith +destined for the hungry stomachs of the French. The barrels were rolled +away with incredible expedition, and conveyed to the bakehouses. Each +baker was supplied with two a day, which he was obliged to make up with +all possible dispatch into bread, and to carry to the Cloth-hall. Here +the loaves were piled up in immense rows, and sent off to the famishing +army. From morning till night nothing was to be seen but waggons loading +and setting out. Not a morsel, however, was given to the soldiers +quartered upon the citizens; their superiors well knew that the patient +landlord had yet a penny left in his pocket to help himself out with. +Thus the fine magazine was stripped; and its valuable contents, which +would have kept twenty years longer without spoiling, and had been +preserved with such care, were dissipated in a moment. You may easily +conceive how severe a misfortune this loss proved to the city, and how +keenly it was felt, when you know that we were in a manner besieged for +several weeks, and that not a handful of flour was to be had even at the +mills themselves. + +If you now take into the account the state of the city in a financial +point of view, you may judge how dreadful its condition in general must +have been. In no town is a better provision made for the indigent than +in Leipzig. Here were poor-houses, under most judicious regulations, +where food, fire, and lodging, were afforded. These buildings were +converted into hospitals, their inmates were obliged to turn out, and at +length the necessitous were deprived of their scanty allowance--the +funds were exhausted, and no fresh supplies received. The citizen sunk +under the weight of his burdens; it was impossible to lay any new ones +upon him. Among the different sources of income enjoyed by the city, the +author knows of one which at each of the two principal fairs commonly +produced 4000 dollars; whereas the receipts from it at the late +Michaelmas fair fell short of 100 dollars. All the other branches of +revenue, whether belonging to the king or to the city, fared no better. + +Such was the state of a city, which a few years since might justly be +numbered among the most opulent in Germany, and whose resources appeared +inexhaustible. It may be considered as the heart of all Saxony, on +account of the manifold channels for trade, manufactures, and industry, +which here meet as in one common centre. Hence the commerce of Saxony +extends to every part of the globe. With the credit of Leipzig, that of +all Saxony could not fail to be in a great measure destroyed. Had this +state of things continued a little longer, absolute ruin would probably +have ensued, as the total suspension of trade would certainly have +occasioned the removal of all the yet remaining monied men. So low, +however, the city was not destined to fall. The fatal blow already +impended over Leipzig, which was on the point of being reduced to a heap +of ashes. Black storm-clouds gathered thick around it; but they passed +off; and a new sun, the cheering hope of better times, burst forth. +Large bodies of troops are yet within our walls; and they are a heavy +burden to the impoverished inhabitants, under their present +circumstances. We shall, however, be relieved of some part of it, on the +reduction of the fortresses upon the Elbe, which the enemy may yet +defend for some time, though without any other prospect than that of +final surrender, and of wielding for the last time his desolating arms +on the shores of that river. Symptoms of reviving trade and commerce +begin at least to appear. The gates are no longer beset with the Argus +eyes of French inspectors. The patient indeed, brought as he has been to +the very gates of death, is yet extremely weak, and requires the aid of +crutches. Long will it be before he is free from pain, but his recovery +is sure: he has quitted the close sick room, and is now consigned to +better care, to the hands of Prudence and Philanthropy, who are +acquainted with his condition, and will infallibly restore him to his +former health and vigour. + +The confederation of the Rhine and the Continental system,--terms +synonymous with all the evils which have brought Germany and Europe to +the brink of destruction,--will in future have no other signification in +the vocabularies of the writers on political economy than that interval +of severe probation when Germany seemed to be annihilated, but yet rose +from her ruins with renewed energies, and, united more firmly than ever, +by new ties, with the other states of Europe, resumed her ancient +rights. The battle of Leipzig was the watch-word for this great +revolution. History, therefore, when partiality and passion shall have +long been silent, will not fail to class it among the most important +events recorded in her annals. + +Here permit me to conclude my letters respecting those eventful days of +October, which must ever be so deeply impressed upon the memories of us +all. What may be called the military part of my narrative may be +imperfect; the names of the generals who commanded, the positions of +particular corps, and other circumstances of minor importance, may +perhaps be incorrect; yet the circumstantial details which I have given +will enable you to form to yourself in some measure a complete picture +of that memorable conflict. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] The 14th of October is the anniversary of the battles of Ulm and of +Jena. + +[3] What is yet called the Kohlgärten was formerly gardeners' ground for +the supply of the city, and is now converted into a fashionable village, +consisting chiefly of the country-houses of merchants; and where is also +a public garden for the recreation of the citizens. + +[4] The following fact will serve to shew how completely the king of +Saxony was duped by the imperial plunderer:--The king was standing with +one of his ministers at a window of his palace in Dresden at the moment +when a drove of remarkably fine cattle, intended for the French army, +passed by. His majesty took occasion to praise the paternal care which +the emperor manifested for his troops, in procuring them such abundant +supplies of provisions. "But," replied the minister, "your majesty is +surely not aware that it is at the expense of your poor subjects, as +Napoleon pays for nothing."--"Impossible!" exclaimed the king with +evident indignation. While they were yet in conversation, intelligence +was brought from his domain of Pillnitz, which is well known to be the +most beautiful in Saxony, that the French had taken away by force all +his fine cattle, and just driven them through the city. These were the +very same beasts which he had seen passing, and now for the first time +he became sensible at what price Bonaparte obtained provisions from his +faithful ally. + +[5] Prince Joseph Poniatowsky was nephew to Stanislaus Augustus, the +last king of Poland, and there is no doubt that he was cajoled into a +subservience to the views of the French emperor by the flattering +prospect of the restoration of his country to its former rank among the +nations of Europe. The circumstances attending his death, as related by +his aid-de-camp, are as follow:--On the 19th of October, when the French +army began to retreat, the prince was charged by Napoleon with the +defence of that part of the suburbs of Leipzig which lies nearest to the +Borna road. For this service he had only 2000 Polish infantry assigned +him. Perceiving the French columns on his left flank in full retreat, +and the bridge completely choked up with their artillery and carriages, +so that there was no possibility of getting over it, he drew his sabre, +and, turning to the officers who were about him, "Gentlemen," said he, +"it is better to fall with honour." With these words he rushed, at the +head of a few Polish cuirassiers and the officers surrounding him, upon +the advancing columns of the allies. He had been previously wounded on +the 14th and 16th, and on this occasion also received a musket-ball in +his left arm. He nevertheless pushed forward, but found the suburbs full +of the allied troops, who hastened up to take him prisoner. He cut his +way through them, received another wound through his cross, threw +himself into the Pleisse, and with the assistance of his officers +reached the opposite bank in safety, leaving his horse behind in the +river. Though much exhausted he mounted another, and proceeded to the +Elster, which was already lined by Saxon and Prussian riflemen. Seeing +them coming upon him on all sides, he plunged into the river, and +instantly sunk, together with his horse. Several officers, who threw +themselves in after him, were likewise drowned; and others were taken on +the bank or in the water. The body of the prince was found on the fifth +day (Oct. 24), and taken out of the water by a fisherman. He was dressed +in his gala uniform, the epaulets of which were studded with diamonds. +His fingers were covered with rings set with brilliants; and his pockets +contained snuff-boxes of great value and other trinkets. Many of those +articles were eagerly purchased by the Polish officers who were made +prisoners, evidently for the purpose of being transmitted to his family; +so that the whole produced the fisherman a very considerable sum. + + + + +CONCLUDING REMARKS. + + +In the battle of Leipzig the reflecting observer discovers something +grand; but there is also much that puzzles one who is not a soldier, and +is accustomed to find in all Napoleon's campaigns a consistency of plan +which he here looks for in vain. If in his earlier combinations he did +not in every instance take all possibilities into the account, but +overlooked some, this must be ascribed not so much to the want of +military penetration, as to his firm confidence in his good fortune, and +in his ability to turn unforeseen accidents to his own advantage, or at +least to render them harmless. Rarely has a general been so highly +favoured by fortune for a long series of years as he. It is no wonder +then that this confidence at length increased to such a degree as +frequently to become the height of temerity. In Russia, Napoleon met +with many circumstances which he had not taken into his calculation; but +he nevertheless penetrated to Moscow. Here he for the first time +experienced such a reverse as no general ever yet sustained. His immense +army was entirely annihilated. His stern decree created a new one, to +all outward appearance equally formidable. From the haste with which its +component parts were collected, it could not but be deficient in +intrinsic energy, and it was impossible to doubt that this would be +shewn in time. In this respect his antagonists had a decided advantage, +as must have been obvious to him after the battles of Lützen and +Bautzen. Had he not been so vastly superior in number to the Russian and +Prussian army in the first engagement, he would indisputably have been +defeated on that occasion.--The political relations of Europe had +moreover undergone an extraordinary change. He could not for a thousand +reasons be a moment doubtful of the choice of Austria. If with a strong +and well-appointed army she could not by negotiation bring about a peace +upon the basis of a future balance of power among the principal states +of Europe, in which Prussia and Russia were willing to acquiesce, there +could be no question that for the sake of her own existence she would +espouse the cause of those two powers. This Napoleon seems to have +considered as impossible, or the advantages already obtained must have +inspired him with the confidence that even the accession of Austria to +the alliance could not prevent the prosecution of his victorious career +to the Vistula. Could he have expected to encounter the whole Austrian +army in Silesia, or to reduce the fortresses of Upper Silesia, with such +rapidity as to be able a third time to menace Vienna, and to compel the +force assembled on the Bohemian frontiers to return with precipitation +to cover the capital? This would have been too presumptuous an idea. He +probably fancied himself strong enough, with 400,000 men, led on by +himself and the ablest generals of the age, to cope, if even Austria +should declare against him, with all three powers; especially if he +presumed that he should be able to force all the combined armies united +to a general engagement, and to annihilate them with a single blow. The +proposals for peace were rejected: not the slightest disposition was +shewn to treat, and the armistice of two months answered no other +purpose than to convince Austria of the absolute necessity of joining +the cause of the allies, and exerting all her energies to conquer that +peace by the sword, which there was not the least hope of accomplishing +by negotiation. By the accession of Austria the grand alliance had now +gained a manifest superiority, as well in regard to the number of troops +as to the geographical advantages of the theatre of war and resources. +After the renewal of hostilities Napoleon still seemed determined to +pursue his plan of advancing beyond the Oder. The allies were not to be +deceived by these demonstrations, but unexpectedly took post with their +main force in Bohemia, along the Saxon frontier, leaving in Silesia and +Brandenburg, where the crown-prince of Sweden had by this time arrived +with his gallant troops, armies strong enough to keep him in check by a +vigorous defensive system. The great Bohemian army was destined for +offensive operations. This plan was equally grand and judicious. +Silesia, and all Saxony, to the Elbe, could not fail, in consequence, to +be lost to Napoleon. That river, while he had only Prussia and Russia to +encounter, was a sure support in his rear; but no sooner had Austria +declared herself than it was no longer of any military consequence. +Dresden was the central point for the French army. There were organized +all the military bureaus, and all the branches of administration for the +economy of the army. The allies opened the campaign with a hasty advance +upon that important city. If the enterprise proved successful, its +consequences would be incalculable; if it miscarried, nothing would be +lost for the grand object; and at any rate the expedition would be a +diversion, which would immediately draw the French out of Silesia. +Napoleon now saw how egregiously he was deceived in his reckoning. He +hastened precipitately to save the Saxon capital. The army arrived +breathless. The allies were already assaulting the suburbs; and, had +Napoleon come one hour later, Dresden would have been in their power. +Owing to the unexpected appearance of so prodigious a force, and still +more to physical accidents, the grand enterprise of the allies +miscarried. The battle of Dresden terminated to their disadvantage, but +their primary object was attained. Napoleon's force was divided into +three great armies. Should any of them sustain a defeat, all Saxony to +the right of the Elbe would be lost to him. The engagements of Jauer, +Grossbeeren, and Dennewitz, proved disastrous to the French generals, +and Lusatia and the right bank of the Elbe were soon in the hands of the +allies. All the attempts to penetrate to Prague and Berlin ended in the +discomfiture and annihilation of whole French corps. Oudinot, Ney, +Regnier, Bertrand, and the terrible Vandamme, were in succession so +totally defeated, that it was not possible even for the French +reporters, with all their address, to cloak their disasters. The allies +every where acted offensively. Saxony, surrounded by Silesia, Bohemia, +and Brandenburg, was now, from its situation, likely to become, earlier +or later, the grave of the French armies: the allies had every where the +choice of their operations; they were neither to be turned nor broken +through. It was evident that the long and obstinate continuance of +Napoleon at Dresden could not fail to prove ruinous to him. Of what +service could the Elbe be to him, when Bohemia, the key to that river, +was in the hands of his opponents? These had it in their power to turn +his flank as far as the Saale, without hazard or any great impediment, +as the event actually proved. Napoleon was cooped up in a narrow space, +where in time, even without being defeated, he would have been in danger +of starving with his army. Dresden was to him, in some respects, what +Wilna had been in 1812. Leipzig, an open place, was now of far greater +importance to him than Minsk was then. How easily might he have lost it, +as the allies were advancing in considerable force upon that place! It +was not lost, to be sure; but the communication between Dresden and +Leipzig, and Leipzig and Erfurt, was, if not cut off, at least +interrupted; his supplies became more and more precarious, and a large +garrison, which it was deemed necessary to reinforce with strong +detachments from the main army, was locked up in Leipzig. + +When in August Austria declared herself decidedly in favour of Russia +and Prussia, it was natural to expect that Napoleon would have totally +relinquished the useless defence of Saxony, and have adopted a new plan +of operations, in order to cover and preserve the other states of the +confederation of the Rhine. That he would infallibly be compelled to +evacuate Saxony, was evident from the slightest inspection of the map. +In this beautiful province he could expect no other glory than that of +plunging it, by his inflexible obstinacy, into the most abject misery. +The combined monarchs had nothing to fear for their own dominions; they +needed to do no more than to carry on for some time a mere war of +observation, and to recruit their forces. They might quietly await the +moment when Napoleon should leave Dresden, and, on his arrival, force +him to a general engagement in any situation which they should deem most +advantageous. Too late did Napoleon resolve upon retreat. He was obliged +to commence it in the midst of an immense quadrangle which the allies +formed about him, and to direct his course towards Leipzig. He could +not, however, yet determine to give up Dresden, but left there a +considerable army, thus weakening himself, and sacrificing it, as well +as the garrisons of the fortresses on the Elbe and Oder, to no purpose +whatever, in case he should lose a battle. At length, near Leipzig, he +was forced, into the arduous conflict. Since the latter half of August, +the talents which he had heretofore displayed for comprehensive and +profound combinations seemed to have totally deserted him. All his +measures and plans appeared imperfect, and betrayed a vacillation which +he had never yet manifested. He seems to have been as uncertain +respecting the strength of his antagonists as in regard to their grand +plan of deciding the fate of the campaign with a single blow. + +In the battle of Leipzig we perceive none of that forethought which +characterizes his other engagements. The possibility of losing it seems +never to have entered into his calculations; otherwise he would scarcely +have endeavoured to prevail upon the king of Saxony to repair to Leipzig +to witness his defeat. In the most favourable event he had a right to +anticipate no other result than an unmolested retreat: the allies +however, were producing a very different one from what he expected. Of +this he might have convinced himself so early as the 16th, when he +encountered the strongest resistance at all points which he had probably +deemed the weakest. From that day all his measures were calculated only +for the moment. He boasted of victory when the battle was scarcely +begun. He every where strove to check the impetuous advance of his foes +at the expense of those means which were so necessary for his own +retreat. It could not be difficult for Napoleon to foresee, on the 16th, +that, in case he should be defeated, he had no other route left than to +retreat westward, in the direction of Lützen and Merseburg. He +nevertheless caused all the bridges over the numerous muddy streams on +that side to be destroyed, instead of diligently providing temporary +ones in addition. He was acquainted with the situation of the city, +through the centre of which he would be obliged to pass. He knew the +position of his army, which might, indeed, enter it by three spacious +roads, from north, east, and south; but had only one outlet, and this +the very narrowest of all, for itself and its train, many miles in +length. Let the reader figure to himself a routed army, and that a +French army, in which all order is so easily lost, converging in three +columns to one common centre. The passage at the outermost gate towards +Lützen is so narrow as to admit only one single waggon at a time. When +we consider that at the Kuhthurm again the road is but just wide enough +for one carriage; that, on the west side of the city, the Elster, the +Pleisse, and their different branches, intersect with their thousand +meanders the marshy plains covered with wood, which are scarcely +passable for the pedestrian; when we farther consider the incessant +stoppages of the whole train at every little obstacle, and figure to +ourselves all the three columns united in a road, the two principal +passes of which are scarcely 30 feet in breadth; we shall rather be +astonished that the whole French army was not annihilated than surprised +at the prodigious quantity of waggons and artillery which it was obliged +to abandon. Even in the night between the 18th and 19th, when Napoleon +must have been perfectly aware of his situation, there would still have +been time to throw bridges across the different streams, so that the +army might have marched in five or six columns to Lindenau, and been +again collected at this place, from which several convenient roads +branch off. Such dispositions as circumstances required might then have +been made, and the retreat might have been effected with inconsiderable +loss. Such a precaution was the more necessary, as he could not be +ignorant that Blücher's troops had already gained a march upon him, and +was waiting for him at the Saale. Thus the want of a few paltry wooden +bridges proved as ruinous to the French army as the battle itself. It +lost, solely because it was unprovided with them, great part of its yet +remaining artillery, several thousands of dead, who were mostly drowned, +and a great number of prisoners. It was evident that such a retreat, +conducted without order and without plan, was likely to be attended with +the total destruction of the remnant of the army before it could reach +the Rhine. By the actions on the Unstrut and Saale, at Eisenach and +Hanau, this force was actually so reduced, that, on its arrival at the +Rhine, it must probably have entirely lost its military consequence. How +infinitely inferior is Napoleon in this branch of the military art to +the immortal Moreau, to whom he would have owed everlasting obligations, +had he, at his glorious death, bequeathed to him the transcendent art of +converting retreats into victories! + +In regard to boldness, Napoleon certainly belongs to the generals of the +first rank. He has undertaken and executed the rashest enterprises. But, +if the true hero shines with the greatest lustre in misfortune, like +Hannibal and Frederic the Great, Napoleon must be classed far below +them. He abandoned his army in Russia when it had most need of his +assistance; and the reason assigned for this desertion--that +circumstances rendered his presence necessary in France--is by no means +satisfactory to the rigid inquirer. During the seven-years' war, the +more dangerous the situation of the Prussian army, the more Frederic +felt himself bound to continue with it, and to assist it with his +eminent military genius. The campaign of 1813 has clearly proved that +the secret of Napoleon's most decisive victories has consisted in the +art of assailing his opponents with a superior force. Napoleon would be +incapable of attacking with 30,000 men an army of 90,000, posted in an +advantageous position, and defeating it, as Frederic did at Leuthen. +Napoleon, like the Prussian monarch, attempted to penetrate into +Bohemia, a country so dangerous for an army; but what a wretched +business did he make of it, in comparison with the latter! Frederic +waged war that he might conquer peace; Napoleon never wished for peace, +often as he has made a show of desiring it. Frederic knew how to stop +his victorious career in time, for History had taught him that it is as +difficult to retain as to acquire glory. Napoleon imagined that his fame +was susceptible of increase alone, and lost it all in the fields of +Leipzig. The hardly-earned laurels of France faded along with it. With +what feelings must he direct his views beyond the Rhine, where the eyes +of so many thousands are now opened? He too has lived to witness days +which are far from agreeable to him. He, who represented it to the +countries which he forced into his alliance as a supreme felicity to +have their sons led forth to fight foreign battles, and to have many +thousands of them sacrificed every year upon the altar of his ambition, +now sees them all abandon him, and become his bitterest enemies. The +_Great Empire_ is now an idle dream. Already is he nearly confined +within that ancient France, which has lost through him the flower of her +population. Long has discontent lurked there in every bosom; long have +her people beheld with indignation their youth driven across the Rhine, +into foreign lands, where they were swept away by cold, famine, and the +sword, so that few of them revisited their paternal homes. Will the +nation again be ready to bathe foreign plains with the blood of half a +million of fresh victims? Scarcely can it be so infatuated. The French +too are now roused from their torpor: like the Germans, they will +confine their exertions to the defence of their own frontiers against +those mighty armies of Europe, which, crowned with laurels, wield the +sword in one hand, and bear the olive of peace in the other. + + + + +SUPPLEMENT. + + +The following letter, which cannot but be considered as most honourable +to the writer, contains so many minute, but, at the same time, highly +characteristic traits, that it cannot fail to prove extremely +interesting to every reader. No other apology is necessary for its +introduction here by way of Supplement. + + +_Leipzig, Nov. 3, 1813._ + +DEAREST FRIEND, + +You here see how ready I am to gratify your desire of knowing every +thing that passed in my neighbourhood and that befell myself in the +eventful days of October. I proceed to the point without farther +preamble. + +Ever since the arrival of marshal Marmont I have constantly resided at +the beautiful country-house of my employer at R***, where I imagined +that I might be of some service during the impending events. The general +of brigade Chamois, an honest man, but a severe officer, was at first +quartered there. + +On the 14th of October every body expected a general engagement near +Leipzig. On that day several French corps had arrived in the +neighbourhood. The near thunders of the artillery, which began to roll, +and the repeated assurances of the French officers that the anniversary +of the battles of Ulm and Jena would not be suffered to pass +uncelebrated, seemed to confirm this expectation. The king of Saxony +entered by the palisadoed gates of the outer city, and Napoleon also +soon arrived. The latter came from Düben, and took possession of a +bivouac in the open field, not far from the gallows, close to a great +watch-fire. I was one of those who hastened to the spot, to obtain a +sight of the extraordinary man, little suspecting that a still greater +honour awaited me, namely, that of sleeping under the same roof, nay, +even of being admitted to a personal interview of some length with him. +The state of things at my country-house did not permit me to be long +absent. I hastened back, therefore, with all possible expedition. I +arrived nearly at the same moment with a French _marechal de logis du +palais_, to whom I was obliged to shew every apartment in the house, and +who, to my no small dismay, announced "that the emperor would probably +lodge there that night." The man, having despatched his errand in great +haste, immediately departed. I communicated the unexpected intelligence +to the aid-de-camp of general Pajol, but expressly observed that I had +great doubts about it, as the _marechal de logis_ himself had not spoken +positively. The aid-de-camp appeared very uneasy; and, though I strove +to convince him that it must be some time before our distinguished guest +could arrive, he immediately packed up, and, notwithstanding all my +earnest endeavours to detain him, he was gone with his servant in a few +minutes. Seldom have I witnessed such an extraordinary degree of +anxiety as this man shewed while preparing for his departure. + +The _marechal de logis_ soon returned, and again inspected all the +apartments, and even the smallest closets, more minutely than before. He +announced that _sa majesté_ would certainly take up his head-quarters +here, and asked for a piece of chalk, to mark each room with the names +of the distinguished personages by whom they were to be occupied. When +he had shewn me the apartment destined for the emperor, he desired that +a fire might be immediately lighted in it, as his majesty was very fond +of warmth. The bustle soon began; the guards appeared, and occupied the +house and all the avenues. Many officers of rank, with numerous +attendants, arrived; and six of the emperor's cooks were soon busily +engaged in the kitchen. Thus I was soon surrounded on all sides with +imperial splendour, and might consider myself for the moment as its +centre. I might possibly have felt no small degree of vanity on the +occasion, had I not been every instant reminded that the part which I +should have to act would be that of obedience alone. I heard the beating +of drums at a distance, which, as I presently learned, announced that I +was shortly to descend into a very subordinate station. It proclaimed +the arrival of the emperor, who came on horseback in a grey surtout. +Behind him rode the duke of Vicenza (Caulincourt), who, since the death +of marshal Duroc, has succeeded to his office. When they had come up to +the house, the master of the horse sprung from his steed with a +lightness and agility which I should not have expected in such a +raw-boned, stiff-looking gentleman, and immediately held that of the +emperor. + +His majesty had scarcely reached his apartments when I was hastily +sought and called for. You may easily conceive my astonishment and +perturbation when I was told that the emperor desired to speak with me +immediately. Now, in such a state of things, I had not once thought for +several days of putting on my Sunday clothes; but, to say nothing of +this, my mind was still less prepared for an interview with a hero, the +mere sight of whom was enough to bow me down to the very ground. In this +emergency courage alone could be of any service, and I rallied my +spirits as well as the short notice would permit. I had done nothing +amiss--at least that I knew of--and had performed my duty as _maître +d'hotel_ to the best of my ability. After a general had taken charge of +me, I mustered my whole stock of rhetorical flourishes, best calculated +to win the favour of a mighty emperor. The general conducted me through +a crowd of aid-de-camps and officers of all ranks. They took but little +notice of such an insignificant being, and indeed scarcely deigned to +bestow a look upon me. My conductor opened the door, and I entered with +a heart throbbing violently. The emperor had pulled off his surtout, and +had nobody with him. On the long table was spread a map of prodigious +size. Rustan, the Mameluke, who has so long been falsely reported to be +dead, was, as I afterwards learned, in the next room.--My presence of +mind was all gone again when I came to be introduced to the emperor, and +he must certainly have perceived by my looks that I was not a little +confused. I was just going to begin the harangue which I had studied +with such pains, and to stammer out something or other about the high +and unexpected felicity of being presented to the most powerful, the +most celebrated, and the most sincerely beloved monarch in the world, +when he relieved me at once from my dilemma. He addressed me in French, +speaking very quick, but distinctly, to the following effect:-- + +_Nap._ Are you the master of this house? + +_I._ No, please your majesty, only a servant. + +_N._ Where is the owner? + +_I._ He is in the city. He is advanced in years; and under the present +circumstances has quitted his house leaving me to take care of it as +well as I can. + +_N._ What is your master? + +_I._ He is in business, sire. + +_N._ In what line? + +_I._ He is a banker. + +_N._ (_Laughing._) Oho! then he is worth a plum, (_un millionaire_,) I +suppose? + +_I._ Begging your majesty's pardon, indeed he is not. + +_N._ Well then, perhaps he may be worth two? + +_I._ Would to God I could answer your majesty in the affirmative. + +_N._ You lend money, I presume? + +_I._ Formerly we did, sire; but now we are glad to borrow. + +_N._ Yes, yes, I dare say you do a little in that way yet. What interest +do you charge? + +_I._ We used to charge from 4 to 5 per cent.; now we would willingly +give from 8 to 10. + +_N._ To whom were you used to lend money? + +_I._ To inferior tradesmen and manufacturers. + +_N._ You discount bills too, I suppose? + +_I._ Formerly, sire, we did; now we can neither discount nor get any +discounted. + +_N._ How is business with you? + +_I._ At present, your majesty, there is none doing + +_N._ How so? + +_I._ Because all trade is totally at a stand. + +_N._ But have you not your fair just now? + +_I._ Yes, but it is so only in name. + +_N._ Why? + +_I._ As all communication has for a considerable time been suspended, +and the roads are unsafe for goods, neither sellers nor buyers will run +the risk of coming; and, besides, the greatest scarcity of money +prevails in this country. + +_N._ (_Taking much snuff_) So, so! What is the name of your employer? + +I mentioned his name. + +_N._ Is he married? + +_I._ Yes, sire. + +_N._ Has he any children. + +_I._ He has, and they are married too. + +_N._ In what capacity are you employed by him? + +_I._ As a clerk. + +_N._ Then you have a cashier too, I suppose? + +_I._ Yes, sire, at your service. + +_N._ What wages do you receive? + +I mentioned a sum that I thought fit. + +He now motioned with his hand, and I retired with a low bow. During the +whole conversation the emperor was in very good humour, laughed +frequently, and took a great deal of snuff. After the interview, on +coming out of the room, I appeared a totally different and highly +important person to all those who a quarter of an hour before had not +deigned to take the slightest notice of me. Both officers and domestics +now shewed me the greatest respect. The emperor lodged in the first +floor; his favourite Mameluke, an uncommonly handsome man, was +constantly about his person. The second floor was occupied by the +prince of Neufchatel, who had a very sickly appearance, and the duke of +Bassano, the emperor's secretary. On the ground floor a front room was +converted into a _sallon au service_. Here were marshals Oudinot, +Mortier, Ney, Reynier, with a great number of generals, aid-de-camps, +and other officers in waiting, who lay at night upon straw, crowded as +close as herrings in a barrel. In the left wing lodged the duke of +Vicenza, master of the horse; and above him the physician to the +emperor, whose name, I think, was M. Yvan. The right wing was occupied +by the _officiers du palais_. The smallest room was turned into the +bed-chamber of a general; and every corner was so filled, that the +servants and other attendants were obliged to sleep on the kitchen +floor. Upon my remonstrance to the valet of the _marechal du palais_ I +was allowed to keep a small apartment for my own use, and thought to +guard myself against unwelcome intruders by inscribing with chalk my +high rank--_maitre de la maison_--in large letters upon the door. At +first the new-comers passed respectfully before my little cell, and +durst scarcely venture to peep in at the door; but it was not long +before French curiosity overleaped this written barrier. For sometime +this place served my people and several neighbours in the village as a +protecting asylum at night. + +The keys of the hay-loft and barns I was commanded to deliver to the +emperor's _piqueur_.--I earnestly entreated him to be as sparing of our +stores as possible, supporting this request with a bottle of +wine,--which, under the present circumstance, was no contemptible +present. He knew how to appreciate it, and immediately gave me a proof +of his gratitude. He took me aside, and whispered in my ear, "As long +as the emperor is here you are safe; but the moment he is gone--and +nobody can tell how soon that may be--you will be completely stripped by +the guards; the officers themselves will then shew no mercy. You had +best endeavour to obtain a safeguard, for which you must apply to the +duke of Vicenza." + +This advice was not thrown away upon me: I immediately begged to speak +with the _grand ecuyer_. I explained my business as delicately as +possible, and be with great good humour promised to comply with my +request. Determined to strike while the iron was hot, I soon, afterwards +repeated my application in writing. + +After the emperor's arrival there was no such thing as a moment's rest +for me. Gladly would I have exchanged my high function, which placed me +upon an equal footing with the first officers of the French court, for a +night's tranquil slumber. _M. maitre de la maison_ was every moment +called for. As for shaving, changing linen, brushing clothes--that was +quite out of the question. His guests had remarked his good will, and +they imagined that his ability was capable of keeping pace with it. +Luckily it never came into my head, whilst invested with my high +dignity, to look into a glass, otherwise I should certainly not have +known myself again, and Diogenes would have appeared a beau in +comparison. As to danger of life, or personal ill-treatment, I was under +no apprehension; for who would have presumed to lay hands on so +important a personage, who was every moment wanted, and whose place it +would have been absolutely impossible to supply?--I was much less +concerned about all this than about the means of saving the property of +my employer, as far as lay in my power. The danger of having every thing +destroyed was very great. + +The French guards had kindled a large fire at a small distance from the +house. The wind, being high, drove not only sparks but great flakes of +fire towards it. The whole court-yard was covered with straw, which was +liable every moment to set us all in flames. I represented this +circumstance to an officer of high rank, and observed that the emperor +himself would be exposed to very great risk; on which he ordered a +grenadier belonging to the guards to go and direct it to be put out +immediately. This man, an excessively grim fellow, refused without +ceremony to carry the order. "They are my comrades," said he: "it is +cold--they must have a fire, and dare not go too far off--I cannot +desire them to put it out."--What was to be done? I bethought myself of +the duke of Vicenza, and applied directly to him. My representations +produced the desired effect. He gave orders, and in a quarter of an hour +the fire was out. I was equally fortunate in saving a building situated +near the house. It had been but lately constructed and fitted up. The +young guard were on the point of pulling it down, with the intention of +carrying the wood to their bivouacs. Their design was instantly +prevented, and one single piece of timber only was destroyed. A guard +was sent to the place, to defend it from all farther attacks. It had +been burned down only last summer, through the carelessness of some +French dragoons. + +Late at night the king of Naples came with his retinue from Stötteritz. +He was attended by a black Othello, who seems to serve him in the same +capacity as Rustan does his brother-in-law Napoleon. + +By day-break the emperor started with all his retinue, and took the road +to Wolkwitz. The king of Naples had already set out for the same place. +All was quiet during the day, and towards night the emperor returned. +Several French officers had asserted, the preceding night, that a +general engagement would certainly take place on the 15th. How +imperfectly they were acquainted with the state of things, I could +perceive from many of their expressions. In their opinion the armies of +the allies were already as good as annihilated. By the emperor's +masterly manoeuvres, the Russians and Swedes--the latter, by the bye, had +not yet come up--were according to them completely cut off from the +Austrians. A _courier de l'empereur_ was honest enough to tell me +plumply that they had done nothing all day but look at one another, but +that there would be so much the warmer work on the morrow. + +Very early indeed on the morning of the 16th, I remarked preparations +for the final departure of the emperor. The _maitre d'hôtel_ desired a +bill of the provisions furnished him. I had already made out one, but +that would not do. It was necessary that the articles should be arranged +under particular heads, and a distinct account of each given in. I ran +short of time, patience, and paper. All excuses were unavailing, and +there was no time to be lost. I readily perceived that all the elegance +required in a merchant's counting-house would not be expected here, and +accordingly dispensed with many little formalities. I wrote upon the +first paper that came to hand, and my bills were the most miserable +scraps that ever were seen. The amount was immediately paid. Finding +that the _maitre d'hôtel_ had not the least notion that it would be but +reasonable to make some remuneration to the servants, who had been so +assiduous in their attendance, I was uncivil enough to remind him of it. +He then desired me to give him a receipt for 200 francs, which I +immediately divided among the domestics; though he remarked that I ought +to give each but three or four, at most. I also made out a distinct +account for the forage, but this was not paid. + +At length arrived the long wished-for _sauvegarde_. It consisted of +three _gens d'armes d'elite_, who had a written order from the baron de +Lennep, _ecuyer_ to the emperor, by virtue of which they were to defend +my house and property from all depredations. I immediately took a copy +of this important protection, and nailed it upon the door. The house was +gradually evacuated; I was soon left alone with my guards, and sincerely +rejoiced that Heaven had sent me such honest fellows. It was impossible, +indeed, to be quite easy; the thunders of the cannon rolled more and +more awfully, and I had frequent visits from soldiers. My brave _gens +d'armes_, however, drove them all away, and I never applied in vain when +I besought them to assist a neighbour in distress. I shewed my gratitude +as far as lay in my power, and at least took care that they wanted for +nothing. + +One of these three men went into the city, and returned in haste, +bringing the news of a great victory. "_Vive l'empereur!_" cried he; +"_la bataille est gagnée._" When I inquired the particulars, he related, +in the most confident manner, that an Austrian prince had been taken, +with 30,000 men, and that they were already singing _Te Deum_ in the +city. This story seemed extremely improbable to me, as the cannonade was +at that moment rather approaching than receding from us. I expressed my +doubts of the fact, and told him that the battle could not possibly be +yet decided. The man, however, would not give up the point, but insisted +that the intelligence was official. When I asked him if he had seen the +captive prince and the 30,000 Austrians, as they must certainly have +been brought into the city, he frankly replied that he had not. Several +persons from the town had seen no more of them than he, so that I could +give a shrewd guess what degree of credit was due to the story. + +In the afternoon of the 17th marshal Ney suddenly appeared at the door +with a numerous retinue, and without ceremony took up his quarters in +the house. I saw nothing of the emperor all that day, nor did any +circumstance worthy of notice occur. On the 18th, at three in the +morning, Napoleon came quite unexpectedly in a carriage. He went +immediately to marshal Ney, with whom he remained in conversation about +an hour. He then hastened away again, and was soon followed by the +marshal, whose servants staid behind. His post must have been a very +warm one; for before noon he sent for two fresh horses, and a third was +fetched in the afternoon. The cannonade grow more violent, and gradually +approached nearer. I became more and more convinced that the pompous +story of the victory the day before was a mere gasconade. So early as +twelve o'clock things seemed to be taking a very disastrous turn for the +French. About this time they began to fall back very fast upon the city. +Shouts of _Vice l'empereur!_ suddenly resounded from thousands of +voices, and at this cry I saw the weary soldiers turn about and advance. +Appearances nevertheless became still more alarming. The balls from the +cannon of the allies already fell very near us. One of them indeed was +rude enough to kill a cow scarcely five paces from me, and to wound a +Pole. + +The French all this time could talk of nothing but victories, with which +Fortune had, most unfortunately, rendered them but too familiar. One +messenger of victory followed upon the heels of another. "General +Thielemann," cried an aid-de-camp, "has just been taken, with 6000 men; +and the emperor ordered him to be instantly shot on the field of +battle."--The most violent abuse was poured forth upon the Saxons, and I +now learned that great part of them had gone over to the allies in the +midst of the engagement. Heartily as I rejoiced at the circumstance, I +nevertheless joined the French officers in their execrations. The +concourse kept increasing; the wounded arrived in troops. Towards +evening every thing attested that the French were very closely pressed. +A servant came at full gallop to inform us that marshal Ney might +shortly be expected, and that he was wounded. The whole house was +instantly in an uproar. _Mon Dieu, mon Dieu!_--cried one to another--_le +prince est blessé--quel malheur!_ Soon after the marshal himself +arrived; he was on foot, and supported by an aid-de-camp. Vinegar was +hastily called for. The marshal had been wounded in the arm by a +cannon-ball, and the pain was so acute that he could not bear the motion +of riding. + +The houses in the village were every where plundered, and the +inhabitants kept coming in to solicit assistance. I represented their +distress to an aid-de-camp, who only shrugged his shoulders, and gave +the miserable consolation that it was now impossible for him to put a +stop to the evil. + +At length, early on the 19th, we appeared likely to get rid in good +earnest of the monster by which we had been so dreadfully tormented. +All the French hurried in disorder to the city, and our _sauvegarde_ +also made preparations to depart. Already did I again behold in +imagination the pikes of the Cossacks. All the subsequent events +followed in rapid succession. My _gens d'armes_ were scarcely gone when +a very brisk fire of sharp-shooters commenced in our neighbourhood. In a +few moments Pomeranian infantry poured from behind through the garden +into the house. They immediately proceeded, without stopping, to the +city. It was only for a few minutes that I could observe with a glass +the confused retreat of the French. Joy at the long wished-for arrival +of our countrymen and deliverers soon called me away. The galling yoke +was now shaken off, probably for ever. I bade a hearty welcome to the +brave soldiers; and, as I saw several wounded brought in, I hastened to +afford them all the assistance in my power. I may ascribe to my +unwearied assiduity the preservation of the life of lieutenant M**, a +Swedish officer, who was dangerously wounded; and by means of it I had +likewise the satisfaction to save the arm of the Prussian captain Von +B***, which, but for that, would certainly have required amputation. On +the other hand, all my exertions in behalf of the Swedish major Von +Döbeln proved unavailing; I had the mortification to see him expire. + +I was incessantly engaged with my wounded patients, while more numerous +bodies of troops continued to hasten towards the town. We now thought +ourselves fortunate in being already in the rear of the victorious army; +but the universal cry was, 'What will become of poor Leipzig?' which was +at this moment most furiously assaulted. Various officers of +distinction kept dropping in. The Swedish adjutant-general Güldenskiöld +arrived with the captive general Reynier, who alighted and took up his +abode in the apartment in which the emperor had lodged. He was followed +by the Prussian colonel Von Zastrow, a most amiable man, and soon after +the Prussian general Von Bülow arrived with his suite. + +Our stock of provisions was almost entirely consumed, and you may +conceive my vexation at being unable, with the best will in the world, +to treat our ardently wished-for guests in a suitable manner. I had long +been obliged to endure hunger myself, and to take it as an especial +favour if the French cooks and valets had the generosity to allow me a +small portion, of the victuals with which they were supplied. + +At the very moment when marshal Ney arrived, a fire had broken out in +the neighbourhood, through the carelessness of the French. I hastened to +the spot, to render assistance, if possible. It was particularly +fortunate, considering the violence of the wind, and the want of means +to extinguish the flames, that only two houses were destroyed. The +fire-engines and utensils provided for such purposes had been carried +off for fuel to the bivouacs. Such of the inhabitants of the village as +had not run away, just now kept close in their houses, not daring to +venture abroad. A number of unfeeling Frenchmen stood about gazing at +the fire, without moving a finger towards extinguishing it. I called out +to them to lend a hand to check the progress of the conflagration. A +scornful burst of laughter was the only reply: the scoundrels would not +stir, and absolutely could not contain their joy whenever the flames +burned more furiously than usual. At the same time I witnessed +proceedings, of which the wildest savage would not have been guilty. I +saw these same wretches, who, a few days afterwards, voraciously +devoured before my face the flesh of dead horses, and even human +carcasses, wantonly trample bread, already so great a rarity, like brute +beasts in the dirt. + +For six or eight nights I had not been able to get a moment's sleep or +rest, so that at last I reeled about like one drunk or stupid. The only +wonder is that my health was not impaired by these super-human +exertions. My dress and general appearance were frightful. When the +wounded Swedish officer was brought in, he of course wanted a change of +linen. Not a shirt was to be procured any where, and I cheerfully gave +him that which I had on my back; so that I was obliged to go without one +myself for near three days. Several times during the stay of the French +I had assisted in extinguishing fires: even the presence of marshal Ney +was not sufficient to make the French in our houses at all careful in +the use of fire. Those thoughtless fellows took the first combustible +that fell into their hands, and lighted themselves about with it in +every corner. They ran with burning wisps of straw among large piles of +trusses, and this was often done in the house where the marshal lay, +without its being possible to prevent the practice. A French +aid-de-camp, in my presence, took fifty segars out of my bureau, just at +the moment when I was too busy to hinder him. Whether he likewise helped +himself to some fine cravats which lay near them, and which I afterwards +missed, I will not pretend to say. + +I have suffered a little, you see; but yet I have fortunately escaped +the thousands of dangers in which I was incessantly involved. Never +while I live shall I forget those days. That same divine Providence +which was so manifestly displayed in that arduous conflict, and which +crowned the efforts of the powers allied in a sacred cause with so +glorious and so signal a victory, evidently extended its care to me. +After the battle of Jena, in 1806, Napoleon declared in our city that +Leipzig was the most dangerous of his enemies. Little did he imagine +that it would once prove so in a very different sense from that which he +attached to those words. Here the arm of the Most High arrested his +victorious career, of which no mortal eye could have foreseen the +termination. I would not exchange the glory--which I may justly +assume--the glory of having saved the property of my worthy employer, as +far as lay in my power, during those tremendous days of havoc and +devastation, for the laurel wreath with which French adulation attempts +most unseasonably to entwine the brow of the imperial commander, on +account of the battle of Leipzig. + + + + +CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTES. + + +That Napoleon was not quite so much master of himself, during the +retreat through Leipzig, as might have been supposed from his +countenance, may be inferred from various circumstances. While riding +slowly through Peter's gate he was bathed in sweat, and pursued his way +towards the very quarter by which the enemy was advancing. It was not +till he had gone a considerable distance that he bethought himself, and +immediately turned about. He inquired if there was any cross-road to +Borna and Altenburg; and, being answered in the negative, he took the +way to the Ranstädt gate. + + * * * * * + +None of the French officers or soldiers could be brought to admit that +they had sustained any material loss from the Russian arms in 1812; they +maintained, on the contrary, that famine and cold alone had destroyed +their legions, and that it was impossible for a French army to be +beaten. What excuse will they now have to make, when they return, +without baggage and artillery, to their countrymen beyond the Rhine? + + * * * * * + +That the French prophesied nothing good of their retreat the evening +before it commenced, is evinced by the circumstance of their having +broken up a great number of gun-carriages, and buried the cannon, or +thrown them into marshes or ponds. These yet continue to be daily +discovered, and that in places contiguous to houses which are fully +inhabited. It is rather singular that they were not observed while +engaged in this business, which must certainly have been performed with +uncommon silence and expedition. + + * * * * * + +A Russian officer, to whom complaints were made respecting same +irregularities committed by the Cossacks in the villages, expressed +himself in the following manner in regard to those troops:--"The +officers would gladly put a stop to such proceedings, which are strictly +prohibited, and severely punished;--but how is it possible for them to +have these men continually under their eye? The nature of the warfare in +which they are engaged, which obliges them to be constantly making +extensive excursions, prevents this. We are often under the necessity of +leaving them for several days together to themselves, that they may +explore every wood, every corner, and fatigue and harass the enemy. In +services on which no other kind of troops can be employed, they are +frequently obliged to struggle alone for several days through every +species of hardship and danger; and then, indeed, it is no wonder if +they occasionally indulge themselves. On account of the important +service which they render to the army, we cannot possibly dispense with +them. The incessant vigilance of the Cossacks, who are every where at +once, renders it extremely difficult for the enemy to reconnoitre, and +scarcely possible for him to surprise us; and so much the more +frequently are we enabled by them to take him at unawares. In a word, +the Cossacks are the eye of the army;--and it is a pity only that it +sometimes sees too clearly where it needs not see at all." + + + + + +*** _After the preceding Sheets were put to Press, the following +important Documents were received by the Publisher._ + + + + +MEMORIAL + +Addressed by the City of LEIPZIG to the independent and benevolent + +BRITISH NATION, + +In Behalf of the Inhabitants of the adjacent Villages and Hamlets, +who have been reduced to extreme Distress by the Military +Operations in October, 1813. + + +The prosperity of Leipzig depends upon commerce, as that of commerce +depends upon liberty. Till 1806 it was a flourishing city. With England +in particular, whose manufactures and colonial produce were allowed to +be freely imported, its commercial relations were of the highest +importance. For the opulence which Leipzig then enjoyed it was indebted +to its extensive traffic, which contributed to the prosperity of Saxony +in general; but it was more particularly the numerous adjacent villages +and hamlets that owed to our city their respectability, their +improvements, and the easy circumstances of their inhabitants. + +The well-known events in October, 1806, rendered Saxony--the then happy +Saxony--dependent on the will of Napoleon. Commerce, and the liberty of +trade, were annihilated as by magic. A new code was enforced, and +Leipzig was severely punished for the traffic which it had heretofore +carried on with England and which had been encouraged by its sovereign, +as for a heinous crime. Since that catastrophe Saxony had suffered +severely, its prosperity had greatly declined, and our city in +particular had, in addition to the general burdens, the most grievous +oppressions of every kind to endure. How often did Leipzig resemble a +military parade or hospital rather than a commercial city! How many +pledges of our affection were snatched from us by the contagious fever +spread among us by means of the hospitals!--But with the spring of the +present year, with the season which usually fills every tender heart +with delight, commenced the most melancholy epoch for our country, as it +became the theatre of a war which laid it waste without mercy, and of +the most sanguinary engagements. After all the hardships which it had +suffered, a lot still more severe awaited Leipzig and its vicinity. + +From the commencement of October last the French troops here kept daily +increasing, as did also their sick and wounded in a most alarming +manner. On the 14th Napoleon arrived with his army in our neighbourhood, +and the different corps of the allied powers advanced on all sides. On +the 15th commenced all round us a great, a holy conflict, for the +liberation and independence of Germany, for the peace of Europe, for the +repose of the world--a conflict which, after an engagement of three +days, that can scarcely be paralleled in history for obstinacy and +duration, and at last extended to our city itself, terminated on the +19th of October, through the superior talents of the generals and the +valour of their troops, which vanquished all the resistance of despair, +in the most complete and glorious victory. The French still defended +themselves in our unfortified town, and would have devoted it to +destruction; the allies made themselves masters of it by assault at one +o'clock, and spared it. They were received with the loudest acclamations +by the inhabitants, whose joy was heightened into transport when they +beheld their illustrious deliverers, the two emperors, the king of +Prussia, and the crown-prince of Sweden, enter the place in triumph. +During this engagement the Saxon troops went over to the banners of the +allies. + +This eventful victory justifies the hope of a speedy peace, founded upon +the renewed political system of the balance of power,--an honourable, +safe, permanent, and general peace, for which, with all its attendant +blessings, Europe will be indebted, under divine Providence, to the +invincible perseverance of England in the contest with France, to the +combined energies of the south and the north, and to the exertions of +the allied powers, and of the truly patriotic Germans by whom they were +joined. + +The battle of Leipzig will be ever memorable in the annals of History. A +severe lot has hitherto befallen our city. To the burdens and +requisitions of every kind, by which it was overwhelmed, were added the +suspension of trade, and the injury sustained by the entire suppression +this year of our two principal fairs. Our resources are exhausted, and +we have yet here a prodigious number of sick and wounded;--upwards of +30,000 in more than 40 military hospitals, with our own poor and the +troops yet stationed here for our protection, to be provided for; +besides which numberless just claims for the good cause yet remain to be +satisfied. But from misfortune itself we will derive new strength and +new courage, and our now unfettered commerce affords us the prospect of +a happier futurity. We have lost much; but those days when we ourselves +knew the want of provisions, and even of bread--those days of horror, +danger, and consternation--are past; we yet live, and our city has been +preserved through the favour of Heaven and the generosity of the +conquerors. + +One subject of affliction lies heavy upon our hearts. Our prosperous +days afforded us the felicity of being able to perform in its full +extent the duty of beneficence towards the necessitous. We have before +our eyes many thousands of the inhabitants of the adjacent villages and +hamlets, landed proprietors, farmers, ecclesiastics, schoolmasters, +artisans of every description, who, some weeks since, were in +circumstances more or less easy, and at least knew no want; but now, +without a home, and stripped of their all, are with their families +perishing of hunger. + +Their fields have gained everlasting celebrity, for there the most +signal of victories was won for the good cause; but these fields, so +lately a paradise, are now, to the distance of from ten to twelve miles, +transformed into a desert. What the industry of many years had acquired +was annihilated in a few hours. All around is one wide waste. The +numerous villages and hamlets are almost all entirely or partially +reduced to ashes; the yet remaining buildings are perforated with balls, +in a most ruinous condition, and plundered of every thing; the barns, +cellars, and lofts, are despoiled, and stores of every kind carried off; +the implements of farming and domestic economy, for brewing and +distilling--in a word, for every purpose--the gardens, plantations, and +fruit-trees--are destroyed; the fuel collected for the winter, the +gates, the doors, the floors, the wood-work of every description, were +consumed in the watch-fires; the horses were taken away, together with +all the other cattle; and many families are deploring the loss of +beloved relatives, or are doomed to behold them afflicted with sickness +and destitute of relief. + +The miserable condition of these deplorable victims to the thirst of +conquest, the distress which meets our view whenever we cross our +thresholds, no language is capable of describing. The horrid spectacle +wounds us to the very soul. + +But all these unfortunate creatures look up to Leipzig, formerly the +source of their prosperity;--their eloquent looks supplicate our aid; +and the pang that wrings our bosoms arises from this consideration, that +neither the exhausted means of Leipzig nor those of our ruined country +are adequate to afford them that relief and support which may enable +them to rebuild their habitations, and to return to the exercise of +their respective trades and professions. + +All the countries of our continent have been more or less drained by +this destructive war. Whither then are these poor people, who have such +need of assistance--whither are they to look for relief? Whither but to +the sea-girt Albion, whose wooden walls defy every hostile attack,--who +has, uninjured, maintained the glorious conflict with France, both by +water and by land? Ye free, ye beneficent, ye happy Britons, whose +generosity is attested by every page of the annals of suffering +Humanity--whose soil bus been trodden by no hostile foot--who know not +the feelings of the wretch that beholds a foreign master revelling in +his habitation,--of you the city of Leipzig implores relief for the +inhabitants of the circumjacent villages and hamlets, ruined by the +military events in the past month of October. We therefore entreat our +patrons and friends in England to open a subscription in their behalf. +The boon of Charity shall be punctually acknowledged in the public +papers, and conscientiously distributed, agreeably to the object for +which it was designed, by a committee appointed for the purpose. Those +who partake of it will bless their benefactors, and their grateful +prayers for them will ascend to Heaven. + + (Signed) FREGE AND CO. + REICHENBACH AND CO. + JOHANN HEINRICH KÜSTNER AND CO. + + _Leipzig, Nov. 1, 1813._ + + * * * * * + + _We, the Burgomaster and Council of the city of Leipzig, hereby + attest the truth of the deplorable state of our city, and of the + villages around it, as faithfully and pathetically described in a + Memorial dated November 1st, and addressed to the British nation + by some of our most reputable and highly-respected + fellow-citizens, namely, the bankers Messrs. Frege and Co. Messrs. + Küstner and Co. Messrs. Reichenbach and Co.; and recommend it to + the generosity which has, in all ages, marked the character of the + British nation. We have formally authenticated this attestation, + by affixing to it the seal of our city, and our usual signature._ + + (L.S.) D. FRIEDRICH HULDREICH CARL SIEGMANN, + Acting Burgomaster. + + _Leipzig, Nov. 18, 1813._ + + + + +Printed by W. Clowes, Northumberland-Court, Strand, London. + + + + +FORMED JAN. 1814, + +FOR RELIEVING THE DISTRESS IN GERMANY. + + +About eight years ago the calamities, occasioned by the war in different +provinces of Germany, gave rise to a Subscription and the formation of a +Committee in London, to relieve the distresses on the Continent. By the +generosity of the British Public, and with the aid of several +respectable Foreigners resident in this country, the sum of nearly +50,000_l._ was remitted to the Continent, which rescued multitudes of +individuals and families from the extremity of distress, and the very +brink of ruin. The Committee received, both from Germany and Sweden, the +most satisfactory documents, testifying that the various sums +transmitted had been received and conscientiously distributed; but at no +period since the existence of this Committee has the mass of every kind +of misery been so great, in the country to which their attention was +first directed. Never has the cry of the distressed Germans for help +been so urgent, their appeal to British benevolence so pressing, as at +the present moment. Who could read the reports of the dreadful conflicts +which have taken place in Germany, during the last eventful year; of the +many sanguinary battles fought in Silesia, Lusatia, Bohemia, Saxony, +Brandenburg, and other parts; and peruse the melancholy details of +sufferings, almost unexampled in the annals of history, without the most +lively emotions? Who could hear of so many thousands of families +barbarously driven from Hamburg, in the midst of a severe winter; of so +many villages burnt, cities pillaged, whole principalities desolated, +and not glow with ardent desire to assist in relieving distress so +multifarious and extensive? _To the alleviation of sufferings so +dreadful; to the rescue of our fellow-men, who are literally ready to +perish: the views of the Committee are exclusively directed._ Many +well-authenticated afflicting details of the present distress having +been, on the 14th Jan. 1814, laid before the Committee, it was +immediately resolved, in reliance on the liberality of the British +public, to remit, by that post, the sum of _Three Thousand Five Hundred +Pounds_, to respectable Persons, with directions to form Committees of +Distribution at the several places following:-- + + 1. To Leipsic and its vicinity, £500 + 2. To Dresden and its vicinity, 500 + 3. To Bautzen and its vicinity, 500 + 4. To Silesia; on the borders of which, seventy-two + villages were almost entirely destroyed, 500 + 5. To Lauenburg, Luneburg, and the vicinity of Harburg + in Hanover, 500 + 6. To the many thousands who have been forced from their + habitations in Hamburg, 1000 + +At subsequent Meetings the following sums were voted:-- + + 7. _Jan. 18_, To Erfurt, Naumburg, and their vicinity, £500 + 8. _Jan. 23_, To Hamburg and its vicinity, 1000 + 9. To Berlin, its vicinity, and hospitals, 1000 +10. To Leipsic and its vicinity, 1000 +11. To Silesia and Lusatia, 1000 +12. For several hundred Children, turned out of the + Foundling Hospital at Hamburg, 300 +13. _Jan. 31_, To Wittemberg and its vicinity, 500 +14. To Halle and its vicinity, 500 +15. To Dresden and its vicinity, 500 +16. To the towns, villages, and hamlets, between + Leipsic and Dresden, 1000 +17. _Feb 1_, To Hanover and its vicinity, 500 +18. To Stettin and its vicinity, 500 +19. _Feb 3_, To Stargard, its hospitals, and vicinity, 300 +20. _Feb 10_, To Liegnitz, Neusaltz, Jauer, Buntzlau, + and the 72 villages, which are almost entirely + destroyed, 2000 +21. To Bautzen, with the recommendation of Bischoffswerda, + Zittau, Lauban, Loban, and vicinity, 600 +22. To Culm and neighbourhood, 500 +23. To Dresden and vicinity, 500 +24. To Pirna, Freiberg, and vicinity, 500 +25. To Lützen and vicinity, 300 +26. For the unfortunate Peasantry in the vicinity Leipzig, 1000 +27. To Torgau, 500 +28. To Naumburg and vicinity, 500 +29. To Weissenfels and vicinity, 500 +30. To Erfurt and Eisenach, 500 +31. To Dessau and vicinity, 500 +32. To Fulda, Hanau, and vicinity, 1000 +33. To Schwerin, Rostock, and vicinity, 800 +34. To Wismar and vicinity, 200 +35. To Frankfurt and vicinity, 500 +36. To Lübeck and vicinity, 500 +37. To Lauenburg, Ratzeburg, Luneburg, Zelle, Harburg, + Stade, and neighbouring villages, 1000 +38. To Berlin and Whistock, 1000 +39. To be held at Berlin, for the sufferers at Magdeburg, + when that fortress shall be evacuated by the enemy, 1000 +40. To Stettin, 500 +41. To Hamburg, 1000 +42. To Bremen, 500 +43. To Wurzburg, 500 +44. _Feb 17_, To Stettin, 500 +45. To the Exiles from Hamburg, at Altona, Lübeck, Bremen, + and wherever they may be, 3000 +46. To Kiel, in Holstein, £500 +47. To Leipzig, Chemnitz, and Freyberg, and their vicinity, 2000 +48. To Dresden, Pirna, and their vicinity, 2000 + £36,000 + ------- + +At a General Meeting, convened by the Committee for relieving the +Distress in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, on the 27th of +January, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street; + +HENRY THORNTON, Esq. M.P. in the Chair; + +The Chairman read a letter from His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, +stating, that an illness, which had deprived him of his rest the +preceding night; totally incapacitated him from the proposed pleasure of +presiding at a Meeting, the purpose of which was so congenial to his +feelings, and in the success of which he avowed his heart to be deeply +engaged. + +The Secretary then read an interesting Memorial from the Inhabitants of +Leipsic, praying that relief from British benevolence, which former +experience had taught them, to confide in. + +_The following Resolutions were agreed to:--_ + +1. That it appears to this Meeting that the distress arising out of the +ravages of war in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, is +inconceivably great, and loudly calls on the British Nation for the +exercise of its accustomed beneficence. + +2. That this General Meeting, convened by the Committee appointed in the +year 1805, for relieving the Distresses in Germany and other parts of +the Continent, approves most cordially of the object of the Committee, +and especially of the prompt measures taken at their meetings of the +14th and 18th of January, anticipating the liberality of the British +Public, and sending immediate succour to the places in greatest need. + +3. That an addition to the Subscriptions already opened by the Committee +be now applied for, to meet the relief they have already ordered; and +that the Committee be desired, without delay, to use its utmost +endeavours to procure further contributions, to alleviate, as much as +possible, the present unparalleled distress on the Continent. + +4. That it be recommended to the Committee in the distribution of the +funds to observe the strictest impartiality and that the measure of +distress in each place or district do regulate the proportion of relief +to be afforded. + +5. That the several Bankers in the metropolis and the country be, and +they are hereby, requested to receive Subscriptions for this great +object of charity; and that the country Bankers be, and they are hereby, +requested to remit the amount received, on the first day of March, to +Henry Thornton, Esq. Bartholomew-lane, with the names of Subscribers, +and to continue the same on the first day of each subsequent month. + +6. That the Clergy of the Church of England, and Ministers of all +religious denominations, be, and they are hereby, earnestly requested to +recommend this important object to their several congregations, and to +make public collections in aid of its funds. + +7. That all the Corporate Bodies in the United Kingdom be, and they are +hereby, respectfully requested to contribute to this important object. + +8. That the most respectful thanks of this Meeting are due, and that +they be presented, to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, for his +condescending and, immediate acquiescence in the request that he would +take the Chair on this important occasion. + +Resolved, That the thanks of this Meeting be given to HENRY THORNTON, +Esq. for the zeal and ability evinced in his conduct in the Chair. + + * * * * * + +A Sub-Committee having been commissioned to examine the documental +papers and other sources from which Mr. Ackermann's _Narrative of the +most remarkable Events in and near Leipzig, &c._ is compiled, as some +insinuations have been thrown out that much of what is therein related +is rather exaggerated, and Mr. Ackermann having furnished them with the +said papers, they were found to consist of-- + +1. A Pamphlet, printed at Leipzig, entitled, "_Leipzig, während der +Schreckenstage der Schlachten, im Monat October, 1813; als Beytrag zur +Chronik dieser Stadt._" ("Leipzig, during the terrible Days of the +Battles in the Month of October, 1813; being a Supplement to the History +of this City.") + +2. A printed Advertisement of a large Work, to be accompanied with Nine +Plates, the Advertisement itself giving a brief but comprehensive +account of the battle of Leipzig. + +3. A second Advertisement, giving a similar description of these battles +in German and French. + +4. A Letter from Count Schönfeld to Mr. Ackermann, describing the +dreadful condition of the villages in the neighbourhood of Leipzig, +especially of those over which the storm of the battle passed. + +5. An Official Paper, signed by some of the principal Bankers and +Merchants at Leipzig, containing an appeal to the benevolence of the +British Public, in behalf of the sufferers. + +6. An Official Attestation of the truth of the statement made in the +said Appeal, signed by the acting Burgomaster of Leipzig, with the City +Seal affixed. + +7. Several private Letters, entering more or less into the detail. + +The Sub-Committee, having read and considered the chief parts of these +several sources of information, were unanimous in their opinion, that +far from any exaggeration of facts having been resorted to, in +presenting this Narrative to the British Public, facts have been +suppressed under an idea that they might shock the feelings of +Englishmen, who, in general, by God's mercy, have so imperfect an idea +of the horrors of a campaign, and the unspeakable sufferings occasioned +by the presence of contending armies, that, to hear more of the detail +contained in the said papers, might destroy the effect of exciting +compassion by creating disgust, and doubts of the possibility of the +existence of such enormities. + +The Sub-Committee were likewise fully persuaded that the accounts +contained in these official and printed Papers could not have been +published at Leipzig itself, without being acknowledged by all as +authentic, as they would otherwise have been liable to the censure of +every reader and reviewer; and therefore, comparing them also with +various similar accounts, received from other places, they feel no +hesitation in expressing their opinion, that the Narrative published by +Mr. Ackermann is a true and faithful representation of such facts as +came within the Reporter's own observation. + + Rev. Wm. KUPER. + Rev. Dr. SCHWABE. + Rev. C.F. STEINKOPFF. + Rev. C.J. LATROBE. + + _Tuesday, Feb. 8th, 1814._ + + * * * * * + +_The following are the Instructions given by the London Committee to the +Committees of Distribution on the Continent._ + +Permit me to inform you, that the London Committee for relieving the +Distresses in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, deeply +sympathizing in the distressed situation of your town, (or district,) +and anxiously wishing to afford some relief to the suffering +inhabitants, have devoted the sum of ---- to this purpose in the +distribution of which they request your attention to the following +points:-- + +1. The express design of this Charity is to relieve those who have been +plunged into poverty and distress by the recent calamities of the War. + +2. In the appropriation of its funds, the strictest impartiality is to +be observed. + +3. The distribution is to take place with the least possible loss of +time. + +4. No one family or individual is to receive too large a proportion of +this Charity. The amount of the loss, and all the circumstances of the +persons to be relieved, are duly to be taken into consideration. + +5. For these purposes a Committee of Distribution is immediately to be +formed, consisting of magistrates, clergymen, merchants, and such other +persons as are most generally respected for their knowledge, discretion, +and integrity. Should a Committed be already formed for the disposing of +contributions received from other quarters, they are requested to choose +from among its members a Sub-Committee for the management of the sums +received from London. + +6. This Committee is requested to keep an accurate list of every person +and family they relieve, as well as the sum allotted to each, and to +transmit to the London Committee such authentic accounts of the distress +still prevailing, together with such particulars relative to the good +effects produced by the distribution of the charity, as may prove +interesting to the public. + +7. Finally, the Committee of Distribution will have the goodness, at the +close of their benevolent labours, to draw up a concise Report of the +manner in which they have applied the funds intrusted to their care, +accompanied with such documents as they may deem necessary, and to send +the whole to the London Committee. + +8. The London Committee, considering themselves responsible to the +Public, whose Almoners they are, wish to lay particular stress on a +fair, equitable, and impartial distribution of this bounty; and as +persons of different ranks, and religious denominations, in Great +Britain, have been the contributors, they anxiously wish that the _most +distressed_, without regard to any religious community, whether +Christians or Jews, Protestants or Catholics, may receive their due +proportion in the distribution. + +9. They now conclude with assurances of their deep interest in the +sufferings of their brethren on the Continent; and consider it not only +a duty, but a privilege, to administer to their necessities, as far as +the kind providence of God, through the instrumentality of the British +Public, may enable them to dispense. + +10. The Committee of Distribution are requested to appoint a +Correspondent with the London Committees, and to transmit their letters +to + + R.H. MARTEN, } + LUKE HOWARD, } Secretaries, + + _At the City of London Tavern, London._ + + * * * * * + +Typographical errors corrected in text: + +page 10: Duben replaced with Düben +page 12: repretentations replaced with representations +page 27: Brietenfeld replaced with Breitenfeld +page 28: Brietenfeld replaced with Breitenfeld +page 80: aparment replaced with apartment + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Frederic Shoberl Narrative of the Most +Remarkable Events Which Occurred In and Near Leipzig, by Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREDERIC SHOBERL NARRATIVE *** + +***** This file should be named 17595-8.txt or 17595-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/5/9/17595/ + +Produced by Thierry Alberto, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Frederic Shoberl Narrative of the Most Remarkable Events Which Occurred In and Near Leipzig + Immediately Before, During, And Subsequent To, The + Sanguinary Series Of Engagements Between The Allied Armies + Of The French, From The 14th To The 19th October, 1813 + +Author: Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) + +Release Date: January 24, 2006 [EBook #17595] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREDERIC SHOBERL NARRATIVE *** + + + + +Produced by Thierry Alberto, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen" style="font-weight: bold;">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<br /> +<p class="noin">A number of obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this text.<br /> +For a complete list, please see the <a href="#TN">bottom of this document</a>.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h1>NARRATIVE</h1> +<h4>OF</h4> +<h3>THE MOST REMARKABLE EVENTS</h3> +<h4>WHICH OCCURRED</h4> +<h2>IN AND NEAR LEIPZIG,</h2> +<br /> +<h4>IMMEDIATELY BEFORE, DURING, AND SUBSEQUENT TO, THE SANGUINARY SERIES<br /> +OF ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN</h4> +<br /> +<h2><i>The Allied Armies Of The French,</i></h2> +<h3>FROM THE<br /> +14th TO THE 19th OCTOBER, 1813</h3> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> + +<h5>Illustrated with</h5> +<h3>MILITARY MAPS,</h3> +<h4>EXHIBITING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE RESPECTIVE ARMIES.</h4> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> + +<h3>COMPILED AND TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN</h3> +<h2>FREDERIC SHOBERL.</h2> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div style="margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 30%;"> +<p class="noin">"Suave etiam belli certamina magna tueri<br /> +Per campos instructa, tuà sine parte pericli."</p> +<p class="right"><span class="sc">Lucret</span>. Lib. ii. 5.</p> +</div> +<br /> +<h3>EIGHTH EDITION.</h3> +<br /> +<br /> +<h5><i>LONDON:</i><br /> +PRINTED FOR R. ACKERMANN, 101, STRAND,<br /> +<i>By W. CLOWES, Northumberland court, Strand.</i><br /> +<br /> +1814.</h5> +<br /> +<h5>[Price <i>Five Shillings</i>.]</h5> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span> +<h3><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h3> +<br /> + +<p>After a contest of twenty years' duration, Britain, thanks to her +insular position, her native energies, and the wisdom of her counsels, +knows scarcely any thing of the calamities of war but from report, and +from the comparatively easy pecuniary sacrifices required for its +prosecution. No invader's foot has polluted her shores, no hostile hand +has desolated her towns and villages, neither have fire and sword +transformed her smiling plains into dreary deserts. Enjoying a happy +exemption from these misfortunes, she hears the storm, which is destined +to fall with destructive violence upon others, pass harmlessly over her +head. Meanwhile the progress of her commerce and manufactures, and her +improvement in the arts, sciences, and letters, though liable, from +extraordinary circumstances, to temporary obstructions, are sure and +steady; the channels of her wealth are beyond the reach of foreign +malignity; and, after an unparalleled struggle, her vigour and her +resources seem but to increase with the urgency of the occasions that +call them forth.</p> + +<p>Far different is the lot of other nations and of other countries. There +is scarcely a region of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span>Continental Europe but has in its turn drunk +deep within these few years of the cup of horrors. Germany, the theatre +of unnumbered contests—the mountains of Switzerland, which for ages had +reverberated only the notes of rustic harmony—the fertile vales of the +Peninsula—the fields of Austria—the sands of Prussia—the vast forests +of Poland, and the boundless plains of the Russian empire—have +successively rung with the din of battle, and been drenched with native +blood. To the inhabitants of several of these countries, impoverished by +the events of war, the boon of British benevolence has been nobly +extended; but the facts related in the following sheets will bear me out +in the assertion, that none of these cases appealed so forcibly to the +attention of the humane as that of Leipzig, and its immediate vicinity. +Their innocent inhabitants have in one short year been reduced, by the +infatuation of their sovereign, and by that greatest of all curses, the +friendship of France, from a state of comfort to absolute beggary; and +thousands of them, stripped of their all, are at this moment houseless +and unprotected wanderers, exposed to the horrors of famine, cold, and +disease.</p> + +<p>That Leipzig, undoubtedly the first commercial city of Germany, and the +great Exchange of the Continent, must, in common with every other town +which derives its support from trade <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span>and commerce, have severely felt +the effects of what Napoleon chose to nickname <i>the Continental System</i>, +is too evident to need demonstration. The sentiments of its inhabitants +towards the author of that system could not of course be very +favourable; neither were they backward in shewing the spirit by which +they were animated, as the following facts will serve to evince:—When +the French, on their return from their disastrous Russian expedition, +had occupied Leipzig, and were beginning, as usual, to levy requisitions +of every kind, an express was sent to the Russian colonel Orloff, who +had pushed forward with his Cossacks to the distance of about 20 miles, +entreating him to release the place from its troublesome guests. He +complied with the invitation; and every Frenchman who had not been able +to escape, and fancied himself secure in the houses, was driven from his +hiding-place, and delivered up to the Cossacks, who were received with +unbounded demonstrations of joy.</p> + +<p>About this time a Prussian corps began to be formed in Silesia, under +the denomination of the Corps of Revenge. It was composed of volunteers, +who bound themselves by an oath not to lay down their arms till Germany +had recovered her independence. On the occupation of Leipzig by the +allies, this corps received a great accession of strength from that +place, where it <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span>joined by the greater number of the students at the +university, and by the most respectable young men of the city, and other +parts of Saxony. The people of Leipzig moreover availed themselves of +every opportunity to make subscriptions for the allied troops, and large +sums were raised on these occasions. Their mortification was +sufficiently obvious when the French, after the battle of Lützen, again +entered the city. Those who had so lately welcomed the Russians and +Prussians with the loudest acclamations now turned their backs on their +pretended friends; nay, such was the general aversion, that many strove +to get out of the way, that they might not see them.</p> + +<p>This antipathy was well known to Bonaparte by means of his spies, who +were concealed in the town, and he took care to resent it. When, among +others, the deputies of the city of Leipzig, M. Frege, aulic counsellor, +M. Dufour, and Dr. Gross, waited upon him after the battle of Lützen, he +expressed himself in the following terms respecting the corps of +revenge: <i>Je sais bien que c'est chez vous qu'on a formé ce corps de +vengeance, mais qui enfin n'est qu'une poliçonnerie qui n'a eté bon à +rien.</i> It was on this occasion also that the deputies received from the +imperial ruffian one of those insults which are so common with him, and +which might indeed be naturally expected from such an upstart; for, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span>when they assured him of the submission of the city, he dismissed them +with these remarkable words: <i>Allez vous en!</i> than which nothing more +contemptuous could be addressed to the meanest beggar.</p> + +<p>It was merely to shew his displeasure at the Anti-Gallican sentiments of +the city, that Napoleon, after his entrance into Dresden, declared +Leipzig in a state of siege; in consequence of which the inhabitants +were obliged to furnish gratuitously all the requisitions that he +thought fit to demand. In this way the town, in a very short time, was +plundered of immense sums, exclusively of the expense of the hospitals, +the maintenance of which alone consumed upwards of 30,000 dollars per +week. During this state of things the French, from the highest to the +lowest, seemed to think themselves justified in wreaking upon the +inhabitants the displeasure of their emperor; each therefore, after the +example of his master, was a petty tyrant, whose licentiousness knew no +bounds.</p> + +<p>By such means, and by the immense assemblage of troops which began to be +formed about the city at the conclusion of September 1813, its resources +were completely exhausted, when the series of sanguinary engagements +between the 14th and the 19th of the following month reduced it to the +very verge of destruction. In addition to the pathetic details of the +extreme <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span>hardships endured by the devoted inhabitants of the field of +battle, which extended to the distance of ten English miles round +Leipzig, contained in the following sheets, I shall beg leave to +introduce the following extract of a letter, written on the 22d +November, by a person of great commercial eminence in that city, who, +after giving a brief account of those memorable days of October, thus +proceeds:—</p> + +<div class="block"><p>"By this five days' conflict our city was transformed into one +vast hospital, 56 edifices being devoted to that purpose alone. +The number of sick and wounded amounted to 36,000. Of these a +large proportion died, but their places were soon supplied by the +many wounded who had been left in the adjacent villages. Crowded +to excess, what could be the consequence but contagious diseases? +especially as there was such a scarcity of the necessaries of +life—and unfortunately a most destructive nervous fever is at +this moment making great ravages among us, so that from 150 to 180 +deaths commonly occur in one week, in a city whose ordinary +proportion was between 30 and 40. In the military hospitals there +die at least 300 in a day, and frequently from 5 to 600. By this +extraordinary mortality the numbers there have been reduced to +from 14 to 10,000. Consider too the state of the circumjacent +villages, to the distance of 10 miles round, all completely +stripped; in scarcely any of them is there left a single horse, +cow, sheep, hog, fowl, or corn of any kind, either hay or +implements of agriculture. All the dwelling-houses have been +burned or demolished, and all the wood-work about them carried +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span>off for fuel by the troops in bivouac. The roofs have shared the +same fate; the shells of the houses were converted into forts and +loop-holes made in the walls, as every village individually was +defended and stormed. Not a door or window is any where to be +seen, as those might be removed with the greatest ease, and, +together with the roofs, were all consumed. Winter is now at hand, +and its rigours begin already to be felt. These poor creatures are +thus prevented, not only by the season, from rebuilding their +habitations, but also by the absolute want of means; they have no +prospect before them but to die of hunger, for all Saxony, +together with the adjacent countries, has suffered far too +severely to be able to afford any relief to their miseries.</p> + +<p>"Our commercial house, God be thanked I has not been plundered; +but every thing in my private house, situated in the suburb of +Grimma, was carried off or destroyed, as you may easily conceive, +when I inform you that a body of French troops broke open the door +on the 19th, and defended themselves in the house against the +Prussians. Luckily I had a few days before removed my most +valuable effects to a place of safety. I had in the house one +killed and two wounded; but, a few doors off, not fewer than 60 +were left dead in one single house.—Almost all the houses in the +suburbs have been more or less damaged by the shower of balls on +the 19th."</p></div> + +<p>That these pictures of the miseries occasioned by the sanguinary +conflict which sealed the emancipation of the Continent from Gallic +despotism are not overcharged is proved by the concurrent testimony of +all the other accounts <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span>which have arrived from that quarter. Among the +rest a letter received by the publisher, from the venerable count +Schönfeld, a Saxon nobleman of high character, rank, and affluence, many +years ambassador both at the court of Versailles, before the revolution, +and till within a few years at Vienna, is so interesting, that I am +confident I shall need no excuse for introducing it entire. His +extensive and flourishing estates south-east of Leipzig have been the +bloody cradle of regenerated freedom. The short space of a few days has +converted them into a frightful desert, reduced opulent villages into +smoking ruins; and plunged his Miserable tenants as well as himself into +a state of extreme Want, until means can be found again to cultivate the +soil and to rebuild the dwellings. He writes as follows:—</p> + +<div class="block"><p>"It is with a sensation truly peculiar and extraordinary that I +take up my pen to address you, to whom I had, some years since, +the pleasure of writing several times on subjects of a very +different kind: but it is that very difference between those times +and the present, and the most wonderful series of events which +have followed each other during that period in rapid succession, +the ever-memorable occurrences of the last years and months, the +astonishing success which rejoices all Europe, and has +nevertheless plunged many thousands into inexpressible misery; it +is all this that has long engaged my attention, and presses itself +upon me at the moment I am writing. In events like these, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[xiii]</a></span>every +individual, however distant, must take some kind of interest, +either as a merchant or a man of letters, a soldier or an artist; +or, if none of these, at least as a man. How strongly the late +events must interest every benevolent and humane mind I have no +need to tell you, who must more feelingly sympathize in them from +the circumstance that it is your native country, where the +important question, whether the Continent of Europe should +continue to wear an ignominious yoke, and whether it deserved the +fetters of slavery, because it was not capable of bursting them, +has been decisively answered by the greatest and the most +sanguinary contest that has occurred for many ages. That same +Saxony, which three centuries ago released part of the world from +the no less galling yoke of religious bondage; which, according to +history, has been the theatre of fifteen great battles; that same +Saxony is now become the cradle of the political liberty of the +Continent. But a power so firmly rooted could not be overthrown +without the most energetic exertions; and, while millions are now +raising the shouts of triumph, there are, in Saxony alone, a +million of souls who are reduced to misery too severe to be +capable of taking any part in the general joy, and who are now +shedding the bitterest tears of abject wretchedness and want That +such is the fact is confirmed to me by the situation of my +acquaintance and neighbours, by that of my suffering tenants, and +finally by my own. The ever-memorable and eventful battles of the +16th to the 19th of October began exactly upon and between my two +estates of Störmthal and Liebertwolkwitz. All that the oppressive +imposts, contributions, and quarterings, as well as the rapacity +of the yet unvanquished French, had spared, became on these +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[xiv]</a></span>tremendous days a prey to the flames, or was plundered by those +who called themselves allies of our king, but whom the country +itself acknowledged as such only through compulsion. Whoever could +save his life with the clothes upon his back might boast of his +good fortune; for many, who were obliged, with broken hearts, to +leave their burning houses, lost their apparel also. Out of the +produce of a tolerably plentiful harvest, not a grain is left for +sowing; the little that was in the barns was consumed in +<i>bivouac</i>, or, next morning, in spite of the prayers and +entreaties of the owners, wantonly burned by the laughing fiends. +Not a horse, not a cow, not a sheep, is now to be seen; nay, +several species of animals appear to be wholly exterminated in +Saxony. I have myself lost a flock of 2000 Spanish sheep, Tyrolese +and Swiss cattle, all my horses, waggons, and household utensils. +The very floors of my rooms were torn up; my plate, linen, and +important papers and documents, were carried away and destroyed. +Not a looking-glass, not a pane in the windows, or a chair, is +left. The same calamity befell my wretched tenants, over whose +misfortunes I would willingly forget my own. All is desolation and +despair, aggravated by the certain prospect of epidemic diseases +and famine. Who can relieve such misery, unless God should be +pleased to do it by means of those generous individuals, to whom, +in my own inability to help, I am now obliged to appeal?</p> + +<p>"I apply, therefore, to you, Sir; and request you, out of love to +your wretched country, which is so inexpressibly devastated, to +solicit the aid of your opulent friends and acquaintance, who, +with the generosity peculiar to the whole nation, may feel for the +unmerited misery of others, in behalf of my wretched <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[xv]</a></span>tenants in +Liebertwolkwitz and Störmthal. These poor and truly helpless +unfortunates would, with tears, pay the tribute of their warmest +gratitude to their generous benefactors, if they needed that +gratitude in addition to the satisfaction resulting from so noble +an action. You will not, I am sure, misunderstand my request, as +it proceeds from a truly compassionate heart, but which, by its +own losses, is reduced so low as to be unable to afford any relief +to others. Should it ever be possible for me to serve you or any +of your friends here, depend upon my doing all that lies within my +poor ability. Meanwhile I remain, in expectation of your kind and +speedy fulfilment of my request,</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 20%;">"Sir,</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 15%;">"Your most obedient friend and servant,</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 20%;">"COUNT SCHONFELD."</p> + +<p><i>Leipzig, Nov. 22, 1813.<br /> +To Mr. Ackermann, London.</i></p> + +<p>"P.S.—I have been obliged, by the weakness of my sight, to employ +another hand. I remember the friendly sentiments which you here +testified for me with the liveliest gratitude. My patriotic way of +thinking, which drew upon me also the hatred of the French +government, occasioned me, four years since, to resign the post of +ambassador, which I had held twenty-five years, and to retire from +service<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>."</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi">[xvi]</a></span>From documents transmitted to the publisher by friends at Leipzig, have +been selected the narratives contained in the following sheets, which +were written by eye-witnesses of the facts there related. The principal +object of their publication is not so much to expose tine atrocities of +Gallic ruffians, as to awaken the sympathies and call forth the humanity +of the British nation. Like that glorious luminary, whose genial rays +vivify and invigorate all nature, Britain is looked up to by the whole +civilized world for support against injustice, and for solace in +distress. To her liberality the really unfortunate have never yet +appealed in vain; and, with this experience before his eyes, the +publisher confidently anticipates in behalf of his perishing countrymen +the wonted exercise of that godlike quality, which</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"—— droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And blesseth him that gives and him that takes."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <span class="sc">R. Ackermann</span> would not feel himself justified in +printing this letter, nor in presuming to make an appeal to the British +public in behalf of the writer, were he not personally acquainted with +the character of this unfortunate and patriotic nobleman, who is held in +the highest veneration and respect for his benevolence to his numerous +tenantry, his liberality to strangers, and his general philanthropy. To +relieve the distresses which he has so pathetically described, the +publisher solicits the contributions of the benevolent. A distinct book +has been opened for that charitable-purpose at No. 101, Strand, in which +even the smallest sums, with the names of the donors, may be entered, +and to which, as well as to the original letter, reference may be made +by those who feel disposed to peruse, them.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span> +<h3><a name="NARRATIVE_c" id="NARRATIVE_c"></a>NARRATIVE, &c.</h3> +<br /> + +<p>You know, my dear friend, how often I have expressed the inconsiderate +wish to have some time or other an opportunity of witnessing a general +engagement. This wish has now been accomplished, and in such a way as +had well nigh proved fatal to myself; for my life had like to have been +forfeited to my curiosity. I may boast, however, with perfect truth, +that, during the four most tremendous days, I was wholly unaffected by +that alarm and terror which had seized all around me. On those four days +I was a near and undisturbed observer of a conflict which can scarcely +be paralleled In the annals of the world: a conflict distinguished by a +character which raises it far above your ordinary every-day battles. Its +consequences will extend not to Europe only, but to regions separated +from it by vast oceans. You must not expect from me a narrative that +will enter into military details, but merely a faithful historical +picture of what fell under my own observation; of what my own eyes, +assisted by an excellent telescope, could discover from one of the +highest buildings in the city, in the centre of operations, in the midst +of a circumference of more than eighteen leagues; and what I saw and +heard while venturing, at the hazard of my life, out of the city, not +indeed up to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span>mouths of the infernal volcanoes, but close in the +rear of the French lines, into the horrible bustle and tumult of the +baggage-waggons and bivouacs. We were here exactly in the middle of the +immense magic circle, where the incantations thundered forth from +upwards of fifteen hundred engines of destruction annihilated many +thousands, in order to produce a new creation. It was the conflict of +the Titans against Olympus. It is unparalleled in regard to the +commanders, great part of whom knew nothing of defeat but from the +discomfiture of their opponents, and among whom were three emperors, a +king, and the heir-apparent to a throne;—it is unparalleled in regard +to the form, for it was fought in a circle which embraced more than +fifteen miles;—it is unparalleled in regard to the prodigious armies +engaged, for almost half a million of warriors out of every region of +Europe and Asia, from the mouth of the Tajo to the Caucasus, with near +two thousand pieces of cannon, were arrayed against one another;—it is +unparalleled in regard to its duration, for it lasted almost one hundred +hours;—it is unparalleled in regard to the plan so profoundly combined +and so maturely digested by the allies, and characterized by an unity, +which, in a gigantic mass, composed of such, multifarious parts, would +have been previously deemed impossible;—it is unparalleled also in +regard to its consequences, the full extent of which time alone can +develop, and the first of which, the dissolution of the confederation of +the Rhine, the overthrow of the Continental system, and the deliverance +of Germany, are already before our eyes:—finally, it is unparalleled in +regard to single extraordinary events, the most remarkable of which is, +that the majority of the allies of the grand army, who had fought under +the banners of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>France in so many engagements with exemplary valour and +obstinacy, in the midst of this conflict, as if wakened by an electric +shock, went over in large bodies, with their drums beating and with all +their artillery, to the hostile legions, and immediately turned their +arms against their former associates. The annals of modern warfare +exhibit no examples of such a phenomenon, except upon the most +contracted scale. You may possibly object, that in all this there is +some exaggeration; and that, if I rate the battle of Leipzig so highly, +it is only because I happened to be an eye-witness of it myself; that +the French army is by no means annihilated; that in the uncommon talents +of its leader it possesses a sure pledge that it will regain from its +enemies those laurels which on various occasions they have ravished from +it for a moment. You may employ other arguments of a similar kind; but +to these I boldly reply, that neither do I consider the French army as +annihilated; that such a calamity could scarcely befall a force which in +the month of May, after ten engagements, numbered not less than 400,000 +men, and was conducted by a general who had already won near fifty +battles: but this I maintain, that the mighty eagle, which proudly +aspired to encompass the whole globe in his flight, has had his wings +crippled at Leipzig to such a degree, that in future he will scarcely be +inclined to venture beyond the inaccessible crags which he has chosen +for his retreat. For my part, I cannot help considering the battle of +Leipzig as the same (only on an enlarged scale) as that gained near this +very spot 180 years ago, by the great Gustavus Adolphus. In this +conflict it was certainly decided that Napoleon, so far from being able +to sustain such another engagement in Germany, will not have it in his +power to make any <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>stand on the right bank of the Rhine, nor recover +himself till secure with the relics of his dispirited army behind the +bulwarks of his own frontier.</p> + +<p>Four times had the sun pursued his course over the immense field of +battle before the die of Fate decided its issue. The whole horizon was +enveloped in clouds of smoke and vapours; every moment fresh columns of +fire shot up from the circumjacent villages; in all points were seen the +incessant flashes of the guns, whose deep thunders, horribly +intermingled with continual volleys of small arms, which frequently +seemed quite close to the gates of the city, shook the very ground. Add +to this the importance of the question which was to be resolved in this +murderous contest, and you may form a faint conception of the anxiety, +the wishes, the hopes,—in a word, of the cruel suspense which pervaded +every bosom in this city.</p> + +<p>To enable you to pursue the train of events, as far as I was capable of +informing myself respecting them, I will endeavour to relate them as +they occurred. It was not till the arrival of marshal Marmont with his +corps of the army in this neighbourhood that any idea of the probability +of a general engagement at Leipzig began to be entertained. That +circumstance happened in the beginning of October. These guests brought +along with them every species of misery and distress, which daily +increased in proportion as those hosts of destroyers kept gradually +swelling into a large army. They were joined from time to time by +several other corps; the city was nearly surrounded by bivouacs; and, +gracious God! what proceedings! what havoc!—We had frequently been +informed that all Saxony, from Lusatia to the Elbe, resembled one vast +desert, where nothing was to be seen but towns laid waste and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>plundered, villages reduced to ashes, naked and famishing +inhabitants;—that there was no appearance of any other living creature; +nay, not even a trace of vegetation remaining. These accounts we +naturally regarded as exaggerations, little imagining that in a short +time we should have to give to our distant friends the same details of +horror respecting our own vicinity. Too true it is that no nation has +made such progress in the art of refinement, and is so ingenious in +devising infernal torments, as that, which, under the name of allies and +protectors, has made us so inexpressibly wretched. Ever since the battle +of Lützen, Leipzig had been one of the principal resources of the grand +French army, and they showed it no mercy. Numberless hospitals +transformed it into one great infirmary; many thousands of troops, +quartered in the habitations of the citizens, one prodigious <i>corps de +garde</i>; and requisitions of meat, bread, rice, brandy, and other +articles, one vast poor-house, where the indigent inhabitants were in +danger of starving. But for this well-stored magazine, the great French +army had long since been obliged to abandon the Elbe. No wonder then +that this point should have been guarded with the utmost care. It +required commissaries and inspectors, such as those who had the control +over our store-houses and granaries, to complete the master-piece, to +reduce that Leipzig, which had once patiently sustained, without being +entirely exhausted, the burdens of a war that lasted seven years—to +reduce it, I say, in six months, to so low an ebb, that even the opulent +were in danger of perishing with hunger; that reputable citizens could +no longer procure the coarsest fare; and that, though their hearts +overflowed with pity and compassion, they were absolutely incapable of +affording the slightest relief, not so much <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>as a crust of bread, to the +sick and wounded soldier. It is impossible to give you any idea of the +dexterity and rapidity with which the French soldiers will so totally +change the look of a village, a field, or a garden, that you shall not +know it again, how well soever you may have been acquainted with it +before. Such was the fate of Leipzig, and of the beautiful environs of +our inner city-walls.</p> + +<p>You must know that the bread and forage waggons of a great French army +are destined merely, as they pass through the villages, to receive the +stores collected from all the barns, cellars, lofts, and stables, which +are taken by force from the wretched husbandman, who is beaten, cut, and +mangled, till he puts-to his last horse, and till he carries his last +sheaf of corn and his last loaf of bread to the next bivouac; and then +he may think himself fortunate, if he is suffered to return home without +horses or waggon, and is not compelled to accompany the depredators many +miles without sustenance of any kind. In all other armies, whether +Russians, Prussians, Austrians, or Swedes, when the troops are not drawn +out in line of battle opposite to the enemy, in which case it is +necessary to send back the carriages into the rear, care is always taken +that waggons with bread and forage, and herds of cattle, shall follow +the marching columns. Whenever the army halts, magazines are immediately +established; and, if even the stores necessary for it are required at +the cost of the country, this case bears no comparison with that where +every attendant on the waggon-train is at full liberty to pillage till +his rapacity is satisfied. Woe to the country where, as in our's, +hundreds of thousands of such commissaries are allowed to exercise their +destructive office at discretion! Ask the inhabitants of more than +twenty <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>villages round Leipzig, and many hundred others at a greater +distance, which certainly fared no better, what soldiers they were who +carried off roofs, doors, windows, floors, and every kind of household +furniture and agricultural implements, and threw them like useless +lumber into the watch-fires?—Ask those unfortunates what soldiers they +were who pillaged barns and cellars, and ransacked every corner of the +houses; who tore the scanty clothes from the backs of the poorest class; +who broke open every box and chest, and who searched every dunghill, +that nothing might escape them?—They will tell you that it was the so +highly vaunted French guards, who always led the way, and were the +instructors of their comrades.</p> + +<p>It is a great misfortune for a country when, in time of war, the supply +of the troops is left to themselves by the military authorities, and +when that supply is calculated only from one day to another; but this +calamity has no bounds when they are French troops who attack your +stores. It is not enough for them to satisfy the calls of appetite; +every article is an object of their rapacity: nothing whatever is left +to the plundered victim. What they cannot cram into their knapsacks and +cartouch-boxes is dashed in pieces and destroyed. Of the truth of this +statement the environs of Leipzig might furnish a thousand proofs. The +most fortunate of the inhabitants were those who in good time removed +their stores and cattle to a place of safety, and left their houses to +their fate. He who neglected this precaution, under the idea that the +presence of the owner would be sufficient to restrain those locusts, of +course lost his all. No sooner had he satisfied one party than another +arrived to renew the demand; and thus they proceeded so long as a morsel +or <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>a drop was left in the house. When such a person had nothing more to +give, he was treated with the utmost brutality, till at length, stripped +of all, he was reluctantly compelled to abandon his home. If you should +chance to find a horse or a cow, here and there, in the country round +our city, imagine not that the animal was spared by French +generosity:—no such thing! the owner must assuredly have concealed it +in some hiding-place, where it escaped the prying eyes of the French +soldiers. Nothing—absolutely nothing—was spared; the meanest bedstead +of the meanest beggar was broken up as well as the most costly furniture +from the apartments of the opulent. After they had slept upon the beds +in the bivouacs, as they could not carry them away, they ripped them +open, consigned the feathers to the winds, and sold the bed-clothes and +ticking for a mere trifle. Neither the ox, nor the calf but two days +old; neither the ewe, nor the lamb scarcely able to walk; neither the +brood-hen, nor the tender chicken, was spared. All were carried off +indiscriminately; whatever had life was slaughtered; and the fields were +covered with calves, lambs, and poultry, which the troops were unable to +consume. The cattle collected from far and near were driven along in +immense herds with the baggage. Their cries for food in all the high +roads were truly pitiable. Often did one of those wretches drive away +several cows from the out-house of a little farmer, who in vain implored +him upon his knees to spare his only means of subsistence, merely to +sell them before his face for a most disproportionate price. Hay, oats, +and every species of corn, were thrown unthreshed upon the ground, where +they were consumed by the horses, or mostly trampled in the dirt; and if +these animals had stood for some <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>days in the stable, and been supplied +with forage by the peasant, the rider had frequently the impudence to +require his host to pay for the dung. Woe to the field of cabbages, +turnips, or potatoes, that happened to lie near a bivouac! It was +covered in a trice with men and cattle, and in twenty-four hours there +was not a plant to be seen. Fruit-trees were cut down and used for fuel, +or in the erection of sheds, which were left perhaps as soon as they +were finished. Though Saxony is one of the richest and most fertile +provinces of Germany, and the vicinity of Leipzig has been remarkable +for abundance, yet it cannot appear surprising, that, with such wanton +waste, famine, the most dangerous foe to an army, should have at length +found its way into all the French camps. Barns, stables, and lofts, were +emptied; the fields were laid bare; and the inhabitants fled into the +woods and the towns. Bread and other provisions had not been seen in our +markets for several days, and thus it was now our turn to endure the +pressure of hunger. It was a fortunate circumstance that many families +had laid in a quantity of potatoes, which indeed might yet be purchased, +though at an exorbitant price. The bakers of this place were obliged to +work up the small stock of flour in their possession for the use of the +troops; and all other persons were driven from the doors by the guards +with the butt-ends of their muskets; though the citizen who came in +quest of bread had perhaps twenty men quartered upon him, who all +expected him to find wherewith to satisfy their craving appetites.</p> + +<p>Such was what might be termed the prologue to the grand tragedy which +was about to be performed in an amphitheatre of many square miles, and +to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>catastrophe of which we looked forward with an anxiety that had +risen to so high a pitch, because, in case of the longer continuance of +this state of things, our own annihilation might be hourly expected. +That the grand armies of the allies were approaching Leipzig, on every +side, we had heard through several private channels. Napoleon had +quitted Dresden, which he had been compelled to abandon almost solely by +the want of all the means of subsistence. We were long uncertain +respecting his route, and so perhaps was he himself at first. Many, who +were qualified to form a judgment respecting military operation's, were +of opinion that he would make a push with his whole force upon Berlin +and the Oder. They supposed that those parts were not sufficiently +covered, and considered the fortresses on the Elbe as his <i>point +d'appui</i> in the rear. This opinion, however, seemed to lose much of its +probability, as other French corps, under Ney, Regnier, Bertrand, and +Marmont, kept arriving here, and were afterwards joined by that of +Augereau. We had received authentic information that prince +Schwarzenberg had already advanced to Altenburg with the grand combined +army of Austria, Russia, and Prussia; and also that the crown-prince of +Sweden had his head-quarters at Zörbig. Upon the whole, however, our +intelligence was unsatisfactory. For several days (that is to say, from +the 10th) it was reported that the emperor of the French would certainly +remove his head-quarters hither; that he had taken the road to Wurzen, +and was coming by way of Duben. This account was confirmed by several +detachments of the French guard. It is universally known that this +general preferably chooses those days on which he founds his claim to +glory, in order to distinguish them by new <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>achievements. His proximity +to us, and the approaching 14th of October<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a>, strengthened the +anticipation of some important event in our neighbourhood. The light +troops of the allies, whom we took for the advanced guard of the +crown-prince of Sweden, were distinctly to be seen from the steeples of +the city, on the north side of it, towards Breitenfeld and Lindenthal. +Daily skirmishes ensued, and wounded French were hourly brought in. The +bustle in the city increased; the king of Naples had arrived, and fixed +his head-quarters at Konnewitz. Innumerable generals and staff-officers +filled all the houses. Not a moment's rest was to be had; all were in +bivouac. They seemed wholly ignorant of the motions of the allies; for +the same troops who went out at one gate often returned before night at +another; so that there was an incessant marching in and out at all the +four principal avenues of the city. These movements of cavalry, +infantry, and carriages, ceased not a moment even during the night It +was very rarely that a troop of cavalry, sent out upon patrol or picket +duty, returned without having lost several men and horses, who were +invariably, according to their report, kidnapped by the Cossacks. Upon +the whole, all the troops with whom the French had any rencounters were +called by them <i>Cossacks</i>—a name which I have heard them repeat +millions of times, and to which they never failed to add, that "the +fellows had again set up a devilish hurrah."</p> + +<p>The Cossacks are indisputably the troops of whom the French are most +afraid. With them, therefore, all the light cavalry who come upon them +unawares are sure to be Cossacks. In revenge for the many <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>annoyances +which they were incessantly suffering from these men, they applied to +them the opprobrious epithet of <i>brigands</i>. Often did I take pains to +convince them that troops who were serving their legitimate sovereign, +and fighting under the conduct of their officers, could not be termed +banditti; my representations had no effect,—they were determined to +have some satisfaction for their disappointment in a thousand attempts +to master such enemies. Their vanity was far too great to suffer them to +do justice to those warriors; and they never would admit what thousands +had witnessed, namely, that thirty French horse had frequently run away +from two Cossacks. If Napoleon had twenty thousand Russian Cossacks in +his service, the French journalists and editors of newspapers would +scarcely be able to find terms strong enough to extol these troops; and +the French have just reason to rejoice that the emperor Alexander has no +such rivals of their government in his pay, otherwise we should hear of +their exploits only, and the vaunted French horse-guards would long +since have sunk into oblivion.</p> + +<p>All the preparations that were making now evidently denoted that we were +on the eve of important events. The French corps had already ranged +themselves in a vast semicircle, extending from north to east, and +thence to south-west. The country towards Merseburg and Weissenfels +seemed to be merely observed. For this purpose the eminences beyond the +village of Lindenau were occupied. Here the access to the city is the +most difficult, a causeway only leading to it in this direction. The +country on the right and left consists of swampy meadows and wood-land, +every where intersected by ditches and muddy streams. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>If you inquired +of the French officers what might be the total strength of their army +about Leipzig, their statements were so various, that it was impossible +to fix with the least confidence upon any number as a medium. By what +standard, indeed, can you judge of a force rated by some at 150,000, by +others at 400,000 men? They unanimously agreed, on the other hand, that +the allies would be opposed by fifteen corps, exclusively of the guards. +I had an opportunity of forming a tolerably correct estimate of one +division of Marmont's corps, which consisted at the utmost of 4000, so +that the whole might amount to 12,000 men; and it was one of those +which, in comparison of others, had sustained the least loss. Even that +of Augereau, which was incontestably the most complete, as it had just +come out of cantonments, was computed at scarcely 15,000 men. If, then, +we take 10,000 for the average, the total amount of the French armies +collected near Leipzig, as the wrecks only of several were then +remaining, can scarcely have reached 170,000, even including the guards. +Such a force, however, commanded by so many generals who had heretofore +been acknowledged the ablest in Europe, together with wore than 600 +pieces of artillery, was still fully sufficient to make itself +respected, and even feared, by an enemy of double its number. One single +species of troops alone was below mediocrity:—the cavalry, both in +regard to the horses and the men, the former from weakness and want of +sustenance, and the latter from ignorance of their business. With the +force of the allies we are yet unacquainted, but at all events they must +have been more numerous.</p> + +<p>The 14th of October at length dawned. It had preceded by several rainy +days; but this was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>merely lowering. The cannon thundered at intervals +towards Liebertwolkwitz. In the forenoon wounded French, chiefly +cavalry, kept coming in singly. With whom they had been engaged they +knew not—<i>Cossacks</i>, of course. We looked forward with certainty to a +general engagement. It became every hour more dangerous for the +inquisitive to venture out or in at the gates. There was no end to the +marching of horse and foot and the rolling of carriages; at every ten +paces you met in all directions with <i>corps de garde</i>, by whom every +non-military person without distinction was ordered back, sometimes with +fair words, and at others with rudeness. Several couriers had been sent +forward to announce the speedy arrival of the king of Saxony and +Napoleon. The hero of the age, as he has been styled, actually came +about noon, not, as we anticipated, by the Dresden road, but by that +from Berlin. He passed hastily through the city, and out at the farthest +Grimma gate, attended by some battalions and squadrons of his guards. A +camp-chair and a table were brought in all haste, and a great watch-fire +kindled in the open field; not far from the gallows. The guards +bivouacked on the right and left. The emperor took possession of the +head-quarters prepared for him, which were any thing but magnificent, +being surrounded only by the relics of the stalks and leaves of the +cabbages consumed by his soldiers, and other matters still more +offensive. The table was instantly covered with maps, over which the +emperor pored most attentively for a considerable time. Of what was +passing around him he seemed not to take the smallest notice. The +spectators, of whom I was one, crowded pretty close about him. On +occasion of his visit to the city, a few months <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>before, the French had +discovered that the people of Leipzig were not so malicious as they had +been represented, but tolerably good-natured creatures. They were +therefore allowed to approach unobstructed within twenty paces. A long +train of carriages from the Wurzen road, the cracking of the whips of +the postilions, together with a great number of horse-soldiers and tall +grenadiers, announced the arrival of another distinguished personage, +and called the attention of the by-standers that way. It was the king of +Saxony, with his guards and retinue. He alighted, and a kind salutation +ensued between him and his august ally. The king soon afterwards mounted +a horse, and thus proceeded into the city. Napoleon meanwhile remained +where he was. He sometimes rose from his seat, went up to the +watch-fire, held his hands over it, rubbed them, and then placed them +behind him, whilst with his foot he pushed the wood, consisting of dry +boards and rafters from the nearest houses, into the flame, to make it +burn more fiercely. At the same time he very frequently took snuff, of +which he seemed to have but a small quantity left in his gold box. At +last he scraped together what was left with his finger, and poured it +out upon his hand. When all was gone, he opened the box several times +and smelt to it, without applying to any of the marshals and generals +around him to relieve his want. As the discharges of artillery towards +Probstheide grew more and more general and alarming, and the wounded +kept returning in continually increasing numbers, I was rather surprised +that the commander should, on this occasion, contrary to his usual +custom, quietly remain so far from the field of battle, which was near +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>ten miles distant, apparently without giving himself the least concern +about the event.</p> + +<p>It was about four in the afternoon when one of his aid-de-camps came at +full speed from the city, and made a report. The drums instantly beat to +arms, and the divisions of the guards broke up. The emperor immediately +mounted his horse, and followed them. He directed his course towards the +Kohlgärten<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a>, leaving the field of battle on the right. I soon +perceived the cause of this movement: the message informed him of the +arrival of the whole of his guards, for whom he had been waiting. They +came from Düben, entering by the Halle gate, and now made a countermarch +upon Dresden. When I beheld their endless files and cannon without +number pouring out of the city, I certainly gave up the allies for lost. +I was thoroughly convinced that Napoleon had no other plan than to +strike off to the right behind the Kohlgärten, with his new army, and, +proceeding from Stötteritz, to turn his enemies on the right flank, and, +as he had often done before, to attack and annihilate them. I was +however egregiously mistaken. The emperor went with his retinue scarcely +a thousand paces, to the first houses of the Kohlgärten, where he took +up his quarters, and quietly passed the night. The guards and the whole +train likewise stopped in that neighbourhood, and there bivouacked. It +grew dark. The palisades at the gate had left but a narrow passage, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>through which troops and artillery kept pouring without intermission. +People on horseback and on foot, who wanted to return into the city, had +been already detained for several successive hours; the crowd every +moment increased, and with it the danger. To seek another entrance was +impracticable, as a person would run the risk of being detained by the +thousands of pickets, and shot, or at least dragged to the filthiest +bivouacs. The night was dark as pitch, and no hope left of getting home. +It rained fast, and not a corner was to be found where you might take +shelter. I was in the midst of more than a thousand horses, which +threatened every moment to trample me under their feet. Fortunately for +me, they were all tolerably quiet The thunder of the artillery had long +ceased; but, had it even continued, it could not possibly have been +heard amidst the rattling of carriages and cannon; the shouts of +soldiers and officers, as sometimes cavalry, at others infantry, wanted +to pass first; the incessant cursing, cracking, pushing, and thrusting. +Never while I live shall I witness such a scene of confusion, of which +indeed it is impossible to convey any conception. It continued without +intermission from four in the afternoon till twelve at night, so that +you may figure to yourself the disagreeable situation in which I was +placed. No sooner had the first columns arrived at their bivouacs in the +neighbouring villages, than a thousand messengers came to announce the +intelligence in a way that sufficiently proved what unwelcome visitors +they were. Weeping mothers with beds packed up in baskets, leading two +or three stark-naked children by the hand, and with perhaps another +infant at their back; fathers seeking their wives and families; +children, who had lost their parents in the crowd <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>trucks with sick +persons forcing their way among the thousands of horses; cries of misery +and despair in every quarter:—such were the heralds that most feelingly +proclaimed the presence of the warriors who have been celebrated in so +many regions, and whose imposing appearance has been so often admired, +all these unfortunates crowded into the filthy corner formed by the old +hospital and the wall at the Kohlgärten-gate. Their cries and +lamentations were intermingled with the moans and groans of the wounded +who were going to the hospitals, and who earnestly solicited bread and +relief. A number of French soldiers, probably such as had loitered in +the rear, searched every basket and every pocket for provisions. They +turned without ceremony the sleeping infants out of the baskets, and +cared not how the enraged mothers lacerated their faces in return. The +scenes of horror changed so quickly, that you could not dwell more than +half a minute upon any of them. The tenderest heart became torpid and +insensible. One tale of woe followed on the heels of another,—"Such a +person too has been plundered!—Such an one's house has been set on +fire!—This man is cut in pieces; that has been transfixed with the +bayonet!—Those poor creatures are seeking their children!"—These were +the tidings brought by every new fugitive. If you asked the French when +the march would be over, you received the consolatory answer—"Not +before six o'clock in the morning." During the night the sound of drums +and trumpets incessantly announced the arrival of fresh regiments. At +length, about midnight, the bustle somewhat subsided, at least so far as +regarded the marching of troops. I now seized the favourable moment, and +felt myself as it were a new creature; when, having <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>made my way through +the crowd of horses with extraordinary courage and dexterity, I once +more set foot in the city. <i>Thus the morning and the evening completed +the first day of horror.</i></p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the unpleasant circumstances in which my curiosity had +involved me on the preceding day, I had in fact seen and heard nothing +as far as related to my principal object. It was no battle, but merely +an indecisive, though warm, affair. The first act of the piece concluded +with aft illumination extending farther than the eye could reach, and +occasioned by the innumerable watch-fires which were kindled in every +quarter, and gradually spread farther and farther, as the lines of the +bivouacking army were lengthened by the arrival of fresh columns. By way +of variety, the flames rising from a number of burning houses in the +distance formed as it were points of repose. Scarcely was the night over +when all eyes and ears were on the alert, in expectation that the +sanguinary scene would commence with the morning's dawn. All, however, +remained quiet. People, therefore, again ventured abroad, and there +thought themselves more secure than the preceding day, because they +might the more easily avoid the danger while at a distance-than they +could have done the night before. It required, to be sure, considerable +strength of nerves not to be shocked at the spectacles which every where +presented themselves. Many dead bodies of soldiers, who had come sick +into bivouac, lay naked in the fields and upon the roads. The heirs had +taken especial care to be on the spot at the moment of their decease, to +take possession of all that the poor wretches had to bequeath. The +mortality among the horses had been still greater: you met with their +carcasses almost at every step; and, which way <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>soever you turned your +eyes, you beheld a still greater number which Death had so firmly seized +in his iron grasp, that they inclined their heads to the ground, and +fell, in a few minutes, to rise no more! Scarcely was there sufficient +room on the high road for a slender pedestrian to find a passage. All +the fields were covered with troops and baggage. Even on the place of +execution they had erected bivouacs, and not the most inconvenient, +because they were there less crowded than in other places. Except single +musket-shots, nothing was to be heard but incessant cries of <i>Serrez! +Serrez!</i> (Closer! Closer!)—The dice yet lay in the box, and were not +destined to be thrown that day. It was probably spent in reconnoitring, +in order to make up the parties for the grand game in which empires were +the stake. The preparations for the defence of the city became more +serious and alarming. The exterior avenues had been previously +palisaded, and provided with <i>chevaux de frise</i>; but the greater part of +them were completely closed up. Loop-holes were formed in every wall, +and <i>tirailleurs</i> posted behind them. In every garden and at every hedge +you stumbled upon pickets. As the inner town is better secured by its +strong walls against a first onset, they contented themselves there with +sawing holes in the great wooden gates, for the purpose of firing +through them. Every thing denoted the determination not to spare the +city in the least, however unfit in itself for a point of defence. The +only circumstance calculated to tranquillize the timid was the presence +of our king, for whom, at any rate, Napoleon could not but have some +respect.</p> + +<p>As there was no appearance of gleaning much information abroad, I now +sought a wider prospect upon a steeple.—So much I had ascertained from +all <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>accounts, that it was principally the Austrians who had been +engaged the preceding day. Some hundreds of prisoners had been brought +in; the church-yard had been allotted to these poor fellows for their +abode, probably that they might study the inscriptions on the +grave-stones, and thus be reminded of their mortality. Nothing was given +them to eat, lest they should be disturbed in these meditations. So far +as the telescope would command were to be seen double and triple lines, +the end of which the eye sought in vain. The French army stretched in a +vast semicircle from Paunsdorf to Probstheide, and was lost in the woods +of Konnewitz. It occupied therefore a space of more than one German mile +(five English miles). Behind all these lines appeared reserves, who were +posted nearer to the city. On this side the main force seemed to be +assembled. Towards the north and west the ranks were more broken and +detached. Of the armies of the allies, only some divisions could yet be +discerned. The Cossacks were plainly distinguished at a distance of two +leagues. They had the boldness to venture within musket-shot of the +French lines, alight, thrust their pikes into the ground, and let their +horses run about. The king of Saxony himself witnessed their audacity +whilst in the midst of the French army, about half a league from +Leipzig. A number of these men came unawares upon him; and a Saxon +officer, with eighty horse, was obliged to face about against them, till +the king had reached a place of safety. This was the principal reason +why he made his entry into the city on horseback.</p> + +<p>The 15th of October, which had been universally expected to give birth +to important events, was now quietly passed. For many weeks the city had +not been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>so tranquil as it was on the night of that day. Nothing but +the incessant <i>Qui vive?</i> at the gates, denoted the presence of the +troops. On my return about eight o'clock from the suburbs, I was +suddenly surprised by an unusual phenomenon: in the direction of Pegau, +I saw three white rockets ascend to a great height amid the darkness. I +stood still, and waited to observe what would follow. In about a minute +four red ones rose above the horizon, apparently from Halle. After this +there was nothing more to be seen. That they were signals could not be +doubted, any more than that those signals must have been made by the +combined troops. I concluded that they must have armies in those +quarters, and that they were informing one another by these luminous +messengers of the points at which they had arrived. It now became more +certain than ever that the 16th would be the great day that should +decide the fate of Germany. I expressed my conjectures to several French +officers, that, according to all appearance, fresh armies of the allies +were on their march toward Leipzig. They contradicted me point-blank; +partly because, as they said, the crown-prince of Sweden and general +Blücher had been obliged to retreat precipitately across the Elbe, as an +immense French army was in full march upon Berlin; and partly because +they were convinced that the reinforcements which might be coming up +could be of no great consequence; and were confident, that, at all +events, they should be perfectly prepared to receive the enemy. Never +did they make so sure of the most complete victory as they did +previously to the then approaching engagement. Besides the French in +garrison in the city, there were many German troops, who expressed +little hope, and, on the other hand, declared their resolution to make +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>no resistance, but to pass over to the allies, as many of their comrades +had already done; and there was no reason to doubt their +sincerity.—Thus passed the second day, between hope and fear.</p> + +<p>The dawn of the 16th of October was enveloped in a thick fog. It was +gloomy, rainy, and cold. It was imagined that the hostile armies, though +so eager for the combat, would restrain their ardour to engage till the +fog should have cleared away. Soon after six, however, the thunder of +the artillery began to roll from Liebertwolkwitz. It grew more violent, +and approached nearer;—this was probably the moment when the Austrians +stormed that place. The firing <i>en pelotons</i> was already heard. From our +elevated position we could discern nothing, the dense fog concealing +every object at the distance of one hundred paces. About ten, the +artillery thundered along the whole line of battle. The atmosphere +became clearer, and the clouds dispersed. Every flash from the cannon +was distinctly visible on the side of Konnewitz. Already a thousand +engines of death hurled destruction among the contending armies. The +fire of jägers and sharp-shooters rattled on all sides, and we soon +discovered whole ranges of battalions and regiments. It was a general +engagement;—that was evident enough to every one, even though he had +never before heard a cannon fired in all his life. On the side of the +Halle and Ranstädt gates all was yet quiet, and I began to imagine that +my rockets had deceived me. For six hours the guns had roared, and all +the lines were enveloped in clouds of smoke, through which the flashes +incessantly darted like lightning. As yet neither party seemed to have +receded an inch. The thunders of the artillery still continued to +proceed from the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>same spot. No longer could the firing of single guns +be distinguished; hundreds were every moment discharged, and united in +one single protracted roar. How many victims must already have strewed +the field!—At length, about eleven o'clock, a considerable change +seemed to have taken place. The firing did not appear more distant, but +became less general; single shots were heard, and the combatants seemed +disposed to make a pause in the work of death. All on a sudden a new and +tremendous cannonade commenced beyond Lindenau, towards Lützen, not much +more than half a league from the city. The batteries of the allies +seemed to fire from Kleinschocher: those of the French were posted on +the heights of Lindenau. The corps of count Giulay had arrived there, +and now it appeared that my interpretation of the rockets was correct. I +then turned my eyes quickly towards the north, in the direction of +Halle, where before there was little or nothing to be seen. How was I +astonished when I now beheld lines of soldiers stretching farther than +the eye could reach, and fresh columns advancing behind them. It +appeared as if the troops which had been so furiously engaged the whole +morning were but the advanced guards of the immense armies that now +extended themselves more and more before me. Whence the French lines +which were so rapidly ranged opposite to them could have sprung, I am +yet at a loss to conceive: an hour before, I should have estimated them +at scarcely 10,000 men; and, what I now saw, my inexperienced eye +computed at more than 200,000 on both sides. This prodigious army seemed +about to form in order of battle. A few cannon-shot which it fired were +probably designed only to announce its arrival to the other chiefs. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>Immediately afterwards, the cannonade beyond Lindenau, which had lasted +about two hours, entirely ceased. On the left wing of the French the +action was still very vigorously continued. It was about twelve o'clock +when we descended, to learn what accounts had meanwhile been received in +the city, that our relations with the lower world might not be totally +suspended. Before the residence of our sovereign there was a crowd of +officers of all ranks. The city-guard was drawn out on parade as well as +the grenadier-guard. A full band was playing, by French order, though +nobody could conceive what was the meaning of all this, while the cannon +were yet thundering before the city. We soon learned that the allies had +sustained a total defeat; that an Austrian prince, the archduke +Ferdinand, had lost an arm, and been taken prisoner with 40,000 men; and +that an immense quantity of artillery had been captured. This +intelligence had been forwarded by marshal Ney from the field of battle, +and preparations were instantly made to celebrate the victory. A +regiment of the French guards marched to the promenade before the +city—now, alas! an offensive sewer,—and, agreeably to command, +expressed their exultation in the acquisition of these new laurels by a +loud <i>Vive l'empereur!</i> Of the citizens, but a very small portion took +part in their joy; for what else could they have expected from such a +victory than inevitable death by famine? The more intelligent shook +their heads; and in truth there were but too many reasons to suspect the +truth of the account. If you asked the wounded, who in troops either +hobbled or were carried in at the gates, the answer, was, <i>Les Cossaques +ont encore la même position</i>—(The Cossacks are still in the same +position). None of them had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>heard any thing about captured cannon, but +they well knew that they had themselves lost five pieces that morning. I +was unable to comprehend how the French commander-in-chief, possessing +in so eminent a degree the quality of a correct military <i>coup d'œil</i>, +could so early announce that he had won the battle, when such numerous +armies of the allies had but just arrived upon the field, and had not +yet fired a single shot. Country-people, who had fled from the +neighbourhood of Grimma, declared that a fresh army of Russians, under +general Bennigsen, was in full march towards that place. In truth, only +a small part of the allied forces had yet been engaged. Bennigsen, the +crown-prince of Sweden, and field-marshal Blücher, had not yet entered +the lists. If this fiction was intended merely to pacify our king at the +expense of truth, it was evident that this object could not be attained +without compromising him;—a kind of treatment wholly unmerited by a +prince who was never guilty of wilful falsehood<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>In the midst of these rejoicings for the victory, the thunder of the +artillery was again heard from Lindenau. The tremendous roar was almost +immediately repeated from Taucha, Wiederitsch, and Breitenfeld. The +Swedish army and that of Blücher were now engaged. We again repaired to +our lofty station. There was not a point round the city where the fatal +engines were not dealing forth destruction. We knew not which way first +to direct the glass. "Only look here," cried one. "Oh! that's nothing at +all," replied another, "you must come this way."—"You none of you see +any thing," exclaimed a third: "you must look yonder—there the cavalry +are cutting away—and hark how the fresh artillery is beginning to +fire." It was singular enough that just at the very point where the +allies were reported to have sustained so signal a defeat, that is to +say, on their left wing, at Liebertwolkwitz, the cannonade again became +the most violent. Fresh troops, with artillery, including a large body +of Polish cavalry, were seen hastening out by the Ranstädt gate towards +Lindenau. Napoleon himself rode with the king of Naples along the +causeway to the Kuhthurm (cow-tower), as it is called, probably to +observe how things were going on. The allies strove to make themselves +masters of the pass near Lindenau. Their infantry had actually +penetrated into the village, but was driven back, and this was succeeded +by a tremendous fire of riflemen, which was near enough for us to +distinguish the discharge of every single piece. I remarked on this +occasion the incredible exertions of the French <i>voltigeurs</i>, who +defended a ditch near the Kuhthurm, ran to and fro on the bank with +inconceivable agility, availed themselves of the protection afforded by +every tree and every hedge, and fired away <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>as briskly as though they +had carried with them the confederation of the Rhine, as their own +property, in their cartouch-boxes. Cannon-balls and shells had fallen in +the village itself, which was set on fire in several places. Whether +friend or enemy had the advantage it was impossible to judge, on account +of the broken nature of the ground and the woods, behind which the +engagement was the hottest It was evident that one party exerted itself +as strenuously to defend as the other did to take this important +position. The French retained it; therefore the prize of victory in this +instance must be adjudged to them. At Breitenfeld, Lindenthal, and +Wiederitsch, the fortune of the day was different. There the lines of +the allies evidently advanced. The cannonade was an infallible +barometer. The French artillery receded, and was already driven back so +close upon Gohlis and Eutritzsch, that the balls of their opponents fell +in both villages. Night drew on: the vast field of battle became +gradually enveloped in darkness, and the horizon was now illumined by +the flashes of the guns alone, followed at long intervals by the low +thunder of the report. The battle had lasted the whole day all round the +city. The church-clocks struck six; and, as if all parties had +unanimously agreed to suspend at this moment the horrid work of +slaughter, the last cannon-shot was fired beyond Lindenau. The fire of +small arms, however, was yet kept up; but, as though the mortal struggle +became more and more faint, that too gradually ceased. Nothing now was +seen around the horizon but one immense circle of many thousand +watch-fires. In all directions appeared blazing villages, and from their +number might be inferred the havoc occasioned by this arduous day. Its +effects were still more plainly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>manifested when we descended into the +streets. Thousands of wounded had poured in at all the gates, and every +moment increased their numbers. Many had lost an arm or a leg, and yet +limped along with pitiable moans. As for a dressing for their wounds, +that was a thing which could not yet be thought of; the poor wretches +had themselves bound them up with some old rag or other as well as they +were able. All of them were seeking hospitals, the arrangements for +which had, in truth, been most miserably neglected by the French. Upon +the whole, I have had occasion to remark that the soldier, who has been +crippled in the service, and incapacitated for further warfare, has +nowhere so little regard paid to his situation as in the French army. At +least such is the case just at the moment when he has most need of +attention, that is to say, just after he is wounded. No carriages or +other conveyances were provided for the removal of these mangled and +mutilated soldiers, though the lives of thousands might perhaps have +been preserved by such a precaution. When the combined Russian and +Prussian army marched six months before to Lützen, and prepared for +battle, the amplest provision was made in regard to this point; and it +is well known that their army was thus enabled to carry off by far the +greater part of the wounded, and to afford them medical relief. Such, on +the contrary, were the arrangements of the French, that, five days after +that engagement, soldiers with their wounds still undressed, and near +perishing for want of sustenance, were found on the field of battle, and +at last owed their preservation chiefly to the surgeons and inhabitants +of this city. To each French column are attached a great number of +<i>ambulances</i>, but they are never to be found where they are most +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>wanted. It is universally asserted that the French army surgeons are +very skilful men; but, as they seem to consult their own convenience in +a very high degree, and their number is too small—for a complete +regiment has but five—the arrangements for hospitals in a campaign +during which several great battles take place, and in which it is found +necessary to crowd the sick and wounded much too closely together, as +was the case in Saxony, are always most deplorable. But to return from +this digression:—</p> + +<p>For the reception of the wounded, in this instance, orders had been +given to clear out the corn-magazine, which is capable of accommodating +about 2,500. Each of these poor fellows received a written ticket at the +outer gate of the city, and was directed to that hospital. The persons +who superintended this business never gave it a thought to distribute +only such a number of these billets as the building would hold of sick, +but continued to send all that came to the corn-magazine, long after it +was too full to admit another individual. Overjoyed on having at last +found the spot, the wretched cripple exerted his last remains of +strength, that he might obtain relief as speedily as possible at the +hands of the surgeons. Judge then of the feelings of the unfortunate man +when his hopes were here most cruelly disappointed; when he found many +hundreds of his fellow-sufferers moaning with anguish on the wet stones, +without straw to lie upon, without shelter of any kind, without medical +or surgical attendance, nay, even without a drop of water, for which +they so often and so earnestly petitioned;—when he was peremptorily +refused admittance at the door, and he too had no other resource than to +seek a couch like the rest upon the hard pavement, which his wounds +very <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>often were unable to endure. No more attention was here paid to +him than the stones on which he gave vent to his anguish. Many hobbled +farther in quest of something to appease the cravings of hunger and +thirst. But who could give it them? Extreme want had long prevailed in +the city; the very inhabitants had great trouble and difficulty to +obtain for money sufficient to make a scanty meal for themselves and +their families. The fainting soldier might think himself fortunate if +his solicitations procured him a crust of bread or an apple. Thousands +were not so lucky.—Such was the state of things at the magazine; such +was the spectacle exhibited in all the streets, and especially in the +market-place, where every corner provided with a shelter was converted +into an hospital. The consequences were inevitable. Many; as might +naturally be expected, perished, in the night, of hunger, agony, and +cold. Their lot was enviable—they no longer needed any human +assistance. What heart would not have bled at such scenes of +horror!—and yet it was the very countrymen of these unfortunate +wretches who seemed to care the least about them, and passed by with the +most frigid indifference, probably because they are so familiarized with +such spectacles. O ye mothers, ye fathers, ye sisters of France, had ye +here beheld your agonized sons and brothers, the sight, like a hideous +phantom, would surely have haunted you to the last moment of your lives. +The laurels acquired by your nation have indeed been purchased at a most +exorbitant price.</p> + +<p>I have forgotten to mention a circumstance worthy of notice in the +history of this day. It is this; that in the midst of the cannonade all +round Leipzig—when the whole city shook with the thunders of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>artillery, and the general engagement had, strictly speaking, but just +commenced—all the bells of the churches were rung by French command, to +celebrate the victory won in the forenoon. Such an instance was +certainly never afforded by any battle which had scarcely begun, and +terminated in the total and decisive overthrow of him who had already +fancied himself mounted in triumph upon the car of victory. This day, +however, the engagement still remained undecided, according to the +reports of those who returned from different points of the field of +battle. The French had stood as if rooted to the spot—the allies, like +rocks of granite. The former had fought like men, the latter like lions. +Both parties, inspired with mutual respect, desisted from hostilities +during the night.</p> + +<p>The combined troops, who had not been able in two sanguinary days to +bring the contest to an issue, had, however, during that time gained +several essential advantages. They had ascertained the strength of their +antagonist, and made themselves acquainted with the nature of the +ground. They knew what points were the most vulnerable, and could thence +infer how the enemy would manœuvre. They were enabled to make their own +dispositions accordingly, and to give to the plan of the grand +engagement that perfection by which it is so peculiarly characterized. +In this point of view the allies had, without our suspecting it, +advanced a considerable step on the night of the third day.</p> + +<p>According to the general opinion of the inhabitants of Leipzig, the 17th +was destined to be the important day on which the last act of the great +tragedy was to be performed. We were, however, mistaken. The morning +came, and we heard nothing from either side. We had long ceased to take +notice of single shots. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>French lines occupied Probstheide, and all +the points where they had the preceding day been posted. The order of +battle had, however, been considerably changed. The vast armies which +had been drawn up to the west and north had almost entirely disappeared. +In the forenoon a cannonade commenced about Gohlis, but soon ceased +again. In the meadows between the city and Lindenau were posted some +cavalry. At a greater distance but few troops were to be seen; and the +allies seemed to have renounced any farther attempts on that pass. The +left wing of the French grand army extended to Abtnaundorf, and had +strong corps posted as far as Taucha; the centre stretched behind the +Kohlgärten and Stötteritz to Probstheide, and the right wing reached +beyond Konnewitz to the wood and the Elster. Several lines were advanced +to Markleeberg. The combined army occupied parallel positions. You will +not expect me to say more respecting the order of battle, especially as +a circumstantial account of it has already appeared. The motives which +occasioned a kind of truce to be observed during the whole of this day +are unknown to me. This phenomenon was, the more surprising, as Napoleon +is not accustomed long to defer business of such importance. From what I +can learn, there was no parleying, as has been asserted, between the +contending parties. Several Frenchmen assigned, as a reason, that the +emperor expected a strong reinforcement of three corps, and therefore +undertook nothing on this day. On all sides columns of smoke were yet +seen rising from the villages that were reduced to ashes. All at once +the church of Probstheide also appeared in flames. It soon fell in, and +is now totally demolished. This fire is said to have been occasioned by +negligence.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>All the large edifices in the city were now selected for the purpose of +being converted into hospitals. The number of the wounded kept +continually augmenting, and by far the greatest part of them had still +no other shelter than the streets. Many, though after three days of +suffering, were yet unable to obtain any assistance. The king resolutely +remained in the city, in order, as the event shewed, there to await his +fate, whatever it might be. Our condition became every moment more +alarming; and, in proportion as our anxiety grew more painful, our hopes +diminished. What will become of us before this time to-morrow? was the +general question on the evening of that day, and we looked forward with +dejection and despondency to the morrow's dawn. We felt much less +anxiety in the midst of the thunder of the artillery than we did at the +close of this fourth day. It resembled the dead calm which precedes the +impending storm. The combined troops took their leave of us for the +night, as they had done on the preceding, with the discharge of three +cannon. It had been Sunday, and you might almost have imagined that the +contending parties had suffered it to pass thus peaceably, out of +respect to the commandment—<i>Thou shalt keep the sabbath-day holy.</i></p> + +<p>The 18th of October at length appeared. It was a day equal in importance +to many a century; and the fewer History can produce that deserve to be +classed along with it, the more memorable it will remain. All that +preceded it had merely opened the way, and there were yet almost +inaccessible cliffs to climb before we could flatter ourselves with the +hope of reaching the wished-for goal. The leaders of the allies had +already shewn the ablest French generals, in several grand engagements, +that they possessed sufficient means and talents <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>to dissolve the charm +of their invincibility. They were now about to enter the lists with the +hero whom a thousand panegyrists, during a period of near twenty years, +had extolled far above the greatest generals of ancient and modern +times; whose enemies had to boast of but one victory over him at most—a +victory which he himself did not admit, as he ascribed the total +destruction of his army in Russia to physical causes alone. It was the +conqueror of Marengo, Austerlitz, Friedland, Ratisbon, Wagram, and +Mojaisk. Fresh laurels entwined his brow at Lützen, Bautzen, and +Dresden. Here at Leipzig the allies attempted to wrest them from him who +grasps so firmly. It was easy to foresee that with unshaken resolution +he would risk all, in order, as on former occasions, to gain all, and to +put an end to the campaign with a single blow. He seemed to contemplate +nothing less than the utter annihilation of the allies, as all the +bridges far and near were broken down to cut off their retreat. Whether +the situation in which he had placed himself was such as to justify +these hopes, I shall leave to the decision of those who are better +qualified to judge. His confidence in victory must, however, have been +very strong, as he had made such inadequate preparations for his own +retreat.</p> + +<p>The action commenced in the centre of the French army beyond +Probstheide, probably with the storming of the villages in its front, +for we afterwards learned that they were several times taken and +recovered. They have been more or less reduced to heaps of rubbish. That +the work of slaughter might be completed on this day, it had been begun +with the first dawn of morning. So early as nine o'clock all the immense +lines from Taucha to Konnewitz were engaged. As the latter village lay +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>nearest to us, we could see what was passing there the most distinctly. +From Lösnig, a village situated beyond Konnewitz, a hollow, about two +thousand paces in length, runs from north-west to south-east. It is +bordered with a narrow skirt of wood, consisting of alders, limes, and +oaks, and forms an angle with the village. Beyond this line were +advanced several French batteries, the incessant movements of which, as +well as every single shot, might be clearly distinguished with our +glasses. To make myself better acquainted with this neighbourhood, I +explored two days afterwards this part of the field of battle, and found +that the French artillery must there have formed an open triangle; for +the road which runs straight from Leipzig, behind Konnewitz through +Dehlis and Lösnig, of course from north to south, was also lined by +French batteries. The houses of those villages had served them for a +<i>point d'appui</i> in the rear, and were most of them dreadfully shattered +by the balls of the Austrians. The artillery of the latter seems to have +had a great advantage in regard to the ground. The French cannon brought +into the line from Konnewitz to Dehlis and Lösnig stood in a +hollow—those of the Austrians on eminences. These last had moreover the +advantage of enfilading the two angles formed by the batteries of the +French. That this had actually been the case was evident from the +numbers of French cannoniers and horses lying dead in rows in the line +of the above-mentioned villages, where they had been swept down by the +guns of their opponents. On the eminences where the hostile cannon were +planted the number of dead was much smaller, and these were apparently +not artillery-men, but infantry, who were probably engaged in covering +those batteries. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>firearms which lay beside them confirmed the +conjecture. This pass must nevertheless have been obstinately defended, +as it was not taken the whole day. The fire of musketry grew more and +more brisk—a proof that the combatants were already in close action. +The French <i>tirailleurs</i> could not be driven out of the woods, on which +their right wing was supported. We remarked frequent charges of cavalry, +which seemed to decide nothing. All the villages lying beyond Konnewitz, +on the road to Borna, as far as Markleeberg, were on fire. The thunder +from the French centre, as well as from the left wing, gradually +approached nearer to the city. The seventh corps, under general Reynier, +was in the left wing, and posted towards Taucha. It was principally +composed of Saxons. They had just come into action, and the allies had +already brought up a great number of guns against them. To the no small +astonishment and consternation of their leader, they suddenly shouldered +their arms, marched forward in close files with their artillery, and +went over to the enemy. Several French battalions, misled by this +movement, joined them, and were immediately disarmed and made prisoners +by the allies. The French cuirassiers, suspecting the design of the +Saxons, followed, apparently with the intention of falling upon them. +The Saxons faced about, and compelled them, by a smart fire of musketry, +to return. A volley of small arms was discharged after them, but with no +more effect—it did them no injury. Their horse-artillery turned about, +and soon dismounted that of the French. They were greeted with a joyful +<i>hurrah!</i> by the Cossacks, who cordially shook hands with their new +comrades. The Saxons desired to be immediately led back to the attack of +the French. The hearts of these soldiers <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>individually had long glowed +with revenge for all the devastations committed in their native land by +their allies and companions in arms, for whom they had so often shed +their blood in torrents. The generals of the allies refused on very good +grounds to comply with their desire. The Saxons marched a league into +the rear of the field of battle, and there bivouacked. Their artillery +only was afterwards invited to take part in the engagement, and did +great execution. This circumstance had an essential influence on the +issue of the contest, inasmuch as the defection of a body of more than +8000 men facilitated the advance of the right wing of the allies. But +for this step the Saxons would have fared very badly, as their opponents +had already ranged upwards of thirty pieces of cannon against their +line, and were bringing up still more to the attack. These now proved +the more galling to the ranks of the French, who were driven back almost +to the Kohlgärten. From my position this advance of the allies was not +to be perceived except by the approach of the thunder of the artillery. +The French centre yet stood immoveable; at least we could not observe +from the city any change which denoted a retrograde movement. The +sanguinary character of this tremendous conflict might be inferred from +the thousands of wounded, who hobbled, crawled, and were carried in at +the gates. Among the latter were many officers of rank. If you inquired +of those who returned from the field, how the battle was going on, the +reply almost invariably was—"Badly enough,—the enemy is very strong." +A Saxon cuirassier declared, without reserve, that it might be +considered as decided, adding, "We have lost a deal of ground +already."—Stötteritz and Schönefeld were stormed the same evening. All +the streets were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>covered with wounded, and fortunate were they who +could find a shelter. As for surgical aid and refreshments, these were +not to be thought of. A far greater number of those miserable wretches +were yet left behind in the villages, as might be seen from the detached +limbs, which were piled in heaps, especially at Probstheide.</p> + +<p>Had any of the allied corps succeeded this day in penetrating on any +side into our city, nothing less than the total destruction of the +French army would probably have been the consequence; since it might +from this place, as from the centre of the field of battle, have fallen +upon the rear of any part of the French force, and have hemmed in both +the centre and the wings. This misfortune Napoleon had taken good care +to prevent. He now felt, however, that his strength was broken, and that +he was no longer in a condition to maintain the contest. He resolved +upon retreat, but carefully sought to conceal this intention from his +enemies. Though night had come on; yet the cannon thundered as furiously +as in the morning, and the fire of musketry was brisker than ever. A +long column, with an endless train of artillery, was seen defiling from +Probstheide to Konnewitz. Again I trembled for the cause of the allies. +These, I imagined, were the French guards, marching to the attack of the +right wing. Now methought the moment had arrived when Napoleon would +strike the decisive blow, which he had so often deferred till the very +last hour. Soon afterwards the cannonade seemed to gain redoubled +vigour, and continued an hour without intermission, so that every house +in the city was shaken. As, however, it at length ceased without +removing to a greater distance, we naturally concluded that this last +attack had proved unsuccessful. More <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>than ten great conflagrations +illumined the whole horizon amid the obscurity of night.</p> + +<p>The excessive bustle in the city rendered it impossible for us to +observe that the retreat had in fact commenced. The greatest part of the +persons attached to the army had already left the city, while the others +were making all the requisite preparations for their departure. Most of +them had wonderfully changed the tone in which they had spoken the +preceding day. They now talked of the miseries of war, deplored the +sufferings of the people, and declared that peace would be the greatest +of blessings for all parties. The multitude of French officers here was +so great, that even those of high rank on the staff were obliged to put +up with the most wretched accommodations, for which they paid +handsomely, leaving their horses and equipages in the street, where the +former frequently ran away. One of these officers sought a night's +lodging in a mean house in the author's neighbourhood. He was called up +at midnight, and informed that his column had just begun to retreat. He +inquired whether the whole army was doing the same—the messenger +replied that he did not know. This circumstance first confirmed my +belief that the French had sustained a defeat, and rendered the +conjecture that their whole army was retreating highly probable. Many +French <i>employés</i> and soldiers had, several days before, while they yet +had an opportunity, exchanged their uniform for the plainest attire, +that, under this peaceful ægis, they might the more calmly await the +issue of events; and that, in case the allies should come upon them too +unexpectedly, they might, under the disguise of honest citizens, hasten +away to their beloved Rhine without being challenged by the lances of +the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>Cossacks. With greater composure than any of them did general +Bertrand, the governor of the city, who, perhaps, as an intelligent +officer, was the least confident of victory, look forward to the event. +He abandoned not his post at the precipitate departure of the emperor, +and was in consequence made prisoner the following day.</p> + +<p>Such was the conclusion of the fifth day. It beheld a field of battle, +of unparalleled extent, strewed with slain; and left one of the most +flourishing districts of Saxony, as it were, one general conflagration. +With anxious solicitude the people of Leipzig awaited its coming, and +with expectations unfulfilled they witnessed its close. Though it +appeared probable to us all, that, in this colossal engagement, victory +had wholly forsaken the Gallic eagles, still the fate of our city was +far from being decided. We were yet in the midst of the crater of the +tremendous volcano, which by one mighty effort might hurl us into atoms, +and leave behind scarcely a vestige of our existence. Napoleon had +received a severe blow; and now it behoved him to oppose an immediate +barrier to the impetuous course of the conquerors, and to prevent the +total loss of his yet remaining army, artillery, and baggage. The only +bulwark that he could employ for this purpose was Leipzig. All that art +had formerly done to render it a defensive position had long since +disappeared. Planks, hedges, and mud walls, were scarcely calculated to +resist the butt-end of a musket. This deficiency it was every where +necessary to supply by living walls, and that was in fact done in such a +way as filled us all with consternation.</p> + +<p>At day-break on the 19th the allies put the finishing hand to the great +work. A considerable part of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>French army, with an immense quantity +of artillery, had already passed through and into the city with great +precipitation. The troops that covered the retreat were furiously +attacked, and driven on all sides into the city. Napoleon attempted to +arrest the progress of victory by an expedient which had so often before +produced an extraordinary effect, that is, by negotiation. A proposal +was made to evacuate the city voluntarily, and to declare the Saxon +troops there as neutral, on condition that the retreating army should +have sufficient time allowed to withdraw from it with its artillery and +waggon-train, and to reach a certain specified point. The allies too +clearly perceived what an important advantage would in this case be +gained by the French army, which was less anxious for the fate of the +city than to effect its own escape. These terms were rejected, and +several hundred pieces of artillery began to play upon Leipzig. Our fate +would have been decided had the allied sovereigns cherished sentiments +less generous and humane than they did. It behoved them to gain +possession of Leipzig at any rate; and this object they might have +accomplished in the shortest way, and with inconsiderable loss to +themselves, if they had bombarded it for one single hour with shells, +red-hot balls, and Congreve rockets, with which an English battery that +accompanied them was provided. Their philanthropic spirits, on the +contrary, revolted at the idea of involving the innocent population of a +<i>German</i> city in the fate of Moscow and Saragossa. They resolved to +storm the town, and to support the troops employed in this duty with +artillery no farther than was necessary to silence the enemy, and to +force their way through the palisaded avenues and gates. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>Meanwhile the +discharges of artillery, quite close to us, were so tremendous, that +each seemed sufficient to annihilate the city. The king of Saxony +himself sent flags of truce, entreating that it might be spared. The +allies replied that this should be done in as far as the defence of the +enemy might render it practicable: they promised, moreover, security to +persons and property after the place should be taken, and to enforce as +rigid discipline as it was possible on such an occasion. To these +assurances they annexed the condition that no French should be secreted +in the city, declaring that every house in which one or more of them +should be found would run the risk of being reduced to ashes. The +cannon, though only in a proportionably small number from the north and +east, immediately began to play. They were partly directed against the +palisades at the gates, partly against the French artillery which +defended the avenues. For more than two hours balls and shells from the +east and north frequently fell in the city itself, and in the suburbs. +Many a time I was filled with astonishment at the effects of one single +ball, which often penetrated through two thick walls, and pursued its +course still farther. Though they seldom fell in the streets, it was +impossible to venture abroad without imminent hazard of life, as these +tremendous visitors beat down large fragments of roofs, chimneys, and +walls, which, tumbling with a frightful crash, threatened to bury every +passenger beneath their ruins. Still greater havoc was made by the +shells, which, bursting as soon as they had descended, immediately set +their new habitations in flames. Fortunately for us, but few of these +guests were sent into the city. The most that fell came from the north, +that is, in the direction of Halle. Three times did <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>fires break out in +the Brühl, which, in a short consumed several back buildings contiguous +to the city wall, and nothing but the instantaneous measures adopted for +their extinction prevented farther damage. The allies had no other +object, in dispatching these ministers of destruction, than to shew the +retreating enemy, who, in the general confusion and bustle, could no +longer move either forward or backward, that, if they now forbore to +annihilate him, it was because the innocent citizens might be involved +in equal destruction with the fugitives. Pfaffendorf, a farm-house near +the north side of the city, had previously been set on fire, when the +Russian jägers had penetrated thither through the Rosenthal, and was +consumed to the very walls. As this place had been converted into an +hospital, many poor fellows there fell a sacrifice to the flames.</p> + +<p>You may easily conceive the sensations of the inhabitants of the upper +town when we beheld the black clouds of smoke rising from the lower, +while the incessant fire of the artillery rendered it impossible for us +to repair thither, to obtain information or to afford assistance. Here, +as every where else, the fears of the inhabitants were wound up to the +highest pitch. A cry was raised that several streets were already in +flames, and every one now hastened to his own house, that he might be at +hand in case a similar accident should happen there. It became more and +more dangerous to remain in the upper stories, which the inhabitants +accordingly quitted, and betook themselves to the kitchens and cellars. +If such were the terrors of the inmates, old and young, the fears and +anxiety of the French who chanced to be in the houses surpassed all +description. Many of them were seen weeping like <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>children, and starting +convulsively at every report of the cannon. In the midst of this hideous +uproar I made another attempt to learn what was passing in the suburbs. +In the streets I found inexpressible confusion, people running in all +directions, officers driving their men to the gates. Cries and shouts +resounded from all quarters, though very few of the persons from whom +they proceeded knew what they would be at. At this time cartouch-boxes +and muskets were to be seen thrown away here and there in the streets. +The Saxon grenadier guards were drawn out with wonderful composure and +grounded arms, before the royal residence. Every unarmed person +anxiously sought to gain the nearest house, but commonly found it shut +against him. Several had already lost their lives or been severely +wounded by the balls which fell in all directions. Napoleon was still in +the city; he was at this moment with our king, with whom he had an +animated conversation, which lasted near an hour. Soon afterwards I saw +him, accompanied by the king of Naples, proceeding on horseback toward +the Ranstädt gate. I had meanwhile taken the opportunity of slipping +into a house which overlooks that street, and now for the first time +beheld a French retreat in the height of its confusion. Not a vestige of +regularity was any where observable. The horse and foot guards poured +along in mingled disorder. They would probably have marched in quicker +time, had they been permitted by the waggons and cannon, which were +locked in one another, and obstructed the way. Between these they were +obliged to pass singly, and I really thought that it would be at least +six hours before they could all have effected their passage. Immense +droves of cattle were cooped up among the crowd. These seemed to be +objects of particular concern to the French. They sought out a space, +however narrow, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>along the town-ditch, by which they might drive forward +their horned favourites. Whoever was bold enough, and had any hopes of +being able to conduct these animals into his own habitation, had now an +opportunity of making an advantageous bargain. A few pieces of silver +might be carried off with much greater facility than a huge clumsy ox. +Notwithstanding all the efforts to preserve this valuable booty from the +general wreck, it was absolutely impossible to save the whole of it. +Many horned cattle and horses were left behind, and now innocently +sought a scanty repast by the city-walls. That, amidst all this +"confusion worse confounded," there was no want of shouting and +blustering, you may easily imagine, though nobody got forward any faster +for all this noise. On a sudden we saw at a distance the emperor +himself, with not a numerous retinue, advancing on horseback into the +midst of this chaos. He got through better than I expected. I afterwards +learned that he took a by-road through a garden to the outer Ranstädt +gate. Prince Poniatowsky attempted, higher up, to ford the Elster. The +banks on each side are of considerable height, soft and swampy; the +current itself narrow, but in this part uncommonly deep and muddy. How +so expert a rider should have lost the management of his horse, I cannot +imagine. According to report, the animal plunged headlong into the water +with him, so that he could not possibly recover himself. He fell a +victim to his temerity, and was drowned. His body was found several days +afterwards, and interred with all the military honours due to his +rank<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>As the commander-in-chief had so precipitately quitted the city, we +could no longer doubt the proximity of the enemy to our walls. The fire +of the artillery and musketry in the place, which gradually approached +nearer, was a much more convincing proof of this than we desired. The +men already began to cut away the traces, in order to save the horses. +The bustle among the soldiers augmented; a weak rearguard had taken post +in Reichel's garden, to keep the allies in check, in case they should +penetrate into the high road. We thought them still at a considerable +distance, when a confused cry suddenly proclaimed that the Russians had +stormed the outer Peter's gate, and were coming round from the +Rossplatz. The French were evidently alarmed. The Russian jägers came +upon them all at once, at full speed, with tremendous huzzas and fixed +bayonets, and discharged their pieces singly, without stopping. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>I now +thought it advisable to quit my dangerous post, and hasten home with all +possible expedition. I was informed by the way that the Prussians had +that moment stormed the Grimma gate, and would be in the city in a few +minutes. On all sides was heard the firing of small arms, intermixed at +times with the reports of the artillery, already playing upon the +waggon-train in the suburbs. Musket-balls, passing over the city wall, +likewise whizzed through the streets; and, when I ventured to put my +head out of the window, I observed with horror, not far from my house, +two Prussian jägers pursuing and firing at some Frenchmen who were +running away. Behind them I heard the storm-march, and huzzas and shouts +of <i>Long live Frederic William!</i> from thousands of voices. A company of +Baden jägers was charged with the defence of the inner Peter's gate. +These troops immediately abandoned their post, and ran as fast as their +legs would carry them to the market-place, where they halted, and, like +the Saxon grenadier guards, fired not a single shot.</p> + +<p>Thus the so long feared and yet wished-for hour <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>was at length arrived. +What we should never have expected after the 2nd of May, namely, to see +a single Prussian again at Leipzig, was nevertheless come to pass. They +had then left us as friends, and, by their exemplary conduct, had +acquired our highest respect. We bore them, as well as the Russians, in +the most honourable remembrance. They now appeared as enemies, whose +duty had imposed on them the task of storming the city. Our sons and +brothers had fought against them. What might not be our fate? We had not +forgotten that which befell Lübeck, seven years before, under similar +circumstances. But they were the warriors of Alexander, Francis, +Frederic William, and Charles John; terrible as destroying angels to the +foe, kind and generous to the defenceless citizen. As far as the +author's knowledge extends, not a man was guilty of the smallest excess +within our walls. They even paid in specie for bread, tobacco, and +brandy. The suburbs, indeed, fared not quite so well. There many an +inhabitant suffered severely; but how was it possible for the commanders +to be present every where, and to prevent all irregularities, after a +conflict which had raged in every corner of the city? Would you compare +the victors, upon the whole, with our late friends and protectors, go +through all Saxony, and then judge in whose favour the parallel must be +drawn.</p> + +<p>It was half past one o'clock when the allies penetrated into the city. +The artillery had been but little used on this occasion, and in the +interior of the place not at all. Had not the allies shewn so much +tenderness for the town, they might have spared the sacrifice of some +hundreds of their brave soldiers. They employed infantry in the assault, +that the city might not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>be utterly destroyed. The grand work was now +nearly accomplished. Obstinately as the French in general defended +themselves, they were, nevertheless, unable to withstand the iron masses +of their assailants. They were overthrown in all quarters, and driven +out of the place. The streets, especially in the suburbs, were strewed +with dead. The writer often counted eight in a very small space. In +about an hour you might venture abroad without danger in all parts of +the town. But what sights now met the eye! Leipzig, including the +suburbs, cannot occupy an area of much less than one (German) square +mile. In this extent there was scarcely a spot not covered with houses +but bore evidence of the sanguinary conflict. The ground was covered +with carcasses, and the horses were particularly numerous. The nearer +you approached to the Ranstädt gate, the thicker lay the dead bodies. +The Ranstädt causeway, which is crossed by what is called the Mühlgraben +(mill-dam), exhibited a spectacle peculiarly horrid. Men and horses were +every where to be seen; driven into the water, they had found their +grave in it, and projected in hideous groups above its surface. Here the +storming columns from all the gates, guided by the fleeing foe, had for +the most part united, and had found a sure mark for every shot in the +closely crowded masses of the enemy. But the most dreadful sight of all +was that which presented itself in the beautiful Richter's garden, once +the ornament of the city, on that side where it joins the Elster. There +the cavalry must have been engaged; at least I there saw a great number +of French cuirasses lying about. All along the bank, heads, arms, and +feet, appeared above the water. Numbers, in attempting to ford the +treacherous river, had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>here perished. People were just then engaged in +collecting the arms that had been thrown away by the fugitives, and they +had already formed a pile of them far exceeding the height of a man.</p> + +<p>The smoking ruins of whole villages and towns, or extensive tracts laid +waste by inundations, exhibit a melancholy spectacle; but a field of +battle is assuredly the most shocking sight that eye can ever behold. +Here all kinds of horrors are united; here Death reaps his richest +harvest, and revels amid a thousand different forms of human suffering. +The whole area has of itself a peculiar and repulsive physiognomy, +resulting from such a variety of heterogeneous objects as are no where +else found together. The relics of torches, the littered and trampled +straw, the bones and flesh of slaughtered animals, fragments of plates, +a thousand articles of leather, tattered cartouch-boxes, old rags, +clothes thrown away, all kinds of harness, broken muskets, shattered +waggons and carts, weapons of all sorts, thousands of dead and dying, +horribly mangled bodies of men and horses,—and all these +intermingled!—I shudder whenever I recall to memory this scene, which, +for the world, I would not again behold. Such, however, was the +spectacle that presented itself in all directions; so that a person, who +had before seen the beautiful environs of Leipzig, would not have known +them again in their present state. Barriers, gardens, parks, hedges, and +walks, were alike destroyed and swept away. These devastations were not +the consequence of this day's engagement, but of the previous +bivouacking of the French, who are now so habituated to conduct +themselves in such a manner that their bivouacs never fail to exhibit +the most deplorable attestations of their presence, as to admit no hopes +of a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>change. The appearance of Richter's garden was a fair specimen of +the aspect of all the others. Among these the beautiful one of Löhr was +particularly remarkable. Here French artillery had been stationed +towards Göhlis; and here both horses and men had suffered most severely. +The magnificent buildings, in the Grecian style, seemed mournfully to +overlook their late agreeable, now devastated, groves, enlivened in +spring by the warbling of hundreds of nightingales, but where now +nothing was to be heard, save the loud groans of the dying. The dark +alleys, summer-houses, and arbours, so often resorted to for recreation, +social pleasures, or silent meditation, were now the haunts of death, +the abode of agony and despair. The gardens, so late a paradise, were +transformed into the seat of corruption and pestilential putridity. A +similar spectacle was exhibited by Grosbosch's, Reichel's, and all the +other spacious gardens round the city, which the allies had been obliged +to storm.—The buildings which had suffered most were those at the outer +gates of the city. These were the habitations of the excise and other +officers stationed at the gates. Most of them were so perforated as +rather to resemble large cages, which you may see through, than solid +walls. All this, however, though more than a thousand balls must have +been fired at the city, bore no comparison to the mischiefs which might +have ensued, and which we had every reason to apprehend. We now look +forward to a happier futurity; the commerce of Leipzig will revive; and +the activity, industry, and good taste of its inhabitants, will, +doubtless, ere long, call forth from these ruins a new and more +beautiful creation.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>I now summon your attention from these scenes of horror to others of a +different kind, the delineation of which is absolutely necessary to +complete the picture. Those hosts which had so long been the scourge of +Germany and Europe, and had left us this last hideous monument of their +presence, perhaps never to return, were now in precipitate flight, as +though hurried away by an impetuous torrent. The terrors of the Most +High had descended upon them. The conqueror had appeared to them at +Leipzig in the most terrific form, and with uplifted arm followed close +at their heels. About a league beyond the city the ardour of the pursuit +somewhat abated; at Markranstädt the routed army first stopped to take +breath, and to form itself in some measure into a connected whole. The +booty taken by the allies was immense. The suburbs were crowded with +waggons and artillery, which the enemy had been obliged to abandon. It +was impossible for the most experienced eye to form any kind of estimate +of their numbers. The captors left them all just as they were, and +merely examined here and there the contents of the waggons. Many of them +were laden with rice, which was partly given away, especially by the +Prussians. Many a Frenchman probably missed the usual supply of it for +his scanty supper. All the streets were thronged with the allied troops, +who had fought dispersed, and now met to congratulate one another on the +important victory. Soon after the city was taken, their sovereigns made +their entry. The people pressed in crowds to behold their august and so +long wished-for deliverers. They appeared without any pomp in the +simplest officers' uniforms, attended by those heroes, a Blücher, Bülow, +Platow, Barklay de Tolly, Schwarzenberg, Repnin, Sanders, &c. &c., <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>whom +we had so long admired. The acclamations of the people were unbounded. +Tens of thousands of voices greeted them with <i>Huzzas</i> and <i>Vivats</i>; and +white handkerchiefs,—symbols of peace,—waved from every window. Some +few indeed were too unhappy to take part in the general joy on this +memorable day. It was the only punishment, but truly a severe one, for +the abject wretches who have not German hearts in their bosoms. Never +did acclamations so sincere greet the ears of emperors and kings as +those which welcomed Alexander, Francis, Frederic William, and Charles +John. They were followed by long files of troops, who had so gloriously +sustained the arduous contest under their victorious banners. In the +midst of Cossacks, Prussian, Russian, Austrian, and Swedish hussars, +appeared also our gallant Saxon cavalry, resolved henceforward to fight +for the liberty of Germany, and the genuine interests of their native +land.</p> + +<p>A great number of regiments immediately continued their march without +halting, and took some the road to Pegau, and others that to Merseburg, +in order to pursue the enemy in his left flank and in his rear. +Blücher's army had the preceding day advanced to the neighbourhood of +Merseburg, where it was now posted in the right flank of the retreating +force. Leipzig had nothing more to fear. French officers and soldiers +were every where seen intermixed with their conquerors. It was only here +and there that they were collected together and conveyed away. Of the +greater part but little notice was taken in the first bustle, as all the +gates were well guarded, and it was scarcely possible for one of them to +escape. Numbers had fled during the assault from their quarters into the +suburbs. Many seemed to have left behind valuable effects and money, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>as +I should conjecture from various expressions used by some, who offered, +several Napoleon-d'ors to any person who could assist them to reach +their lodgings. For this, however, it was now too late. Strict orders +were issued against the secreting or entertaining of Frenchmen, and they +were therefore obliged to seek, for the moment, a refuge in the +hospitals.</p> + +<p>Only a small part of the combined troops had gone in pursuit of the +French. By far the greatest portion reposed in countless ranks round the +town from the fatigues of the long and sanguinary conflict. Part of the +army equipage entered, and all the streets were soon crowded to such +excess that you could scarcely stir but at the risk of your life. The +allied monarchs alighted in the market-place, where the concourse of +guards and equipages was consequently immense. Here I saw the late +French commandant of the city coming on foot with a numerous retinue of +officers and commissaries, and advancing towards the Russian generals. +The fate of general Bertrand was certainly most to be pitied; he was a +truly honest man, who had no share in those inexpressible miseries in +which we had been for the last six months involved. I felt so much the +less for the commissaries, whom I have ever considered as the Pandora's +box of the French army, whence such numberless calamities have spread +over every country in which they have set foot. At the residence of our +sovereign I observed no other alteration than that a great number of +Saxon generals and officers were collected about it. The life +grenadier-guards were on duty as before, and a battalion of Russian +grenadiers was parading in front of the windows. No interview, that I +know of, took place between the king of Saxony the allied sovereigns. +The king of Prussia <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>remained here longest in conversation with the +prince-royal. The emperors of Austria and Russia, as well as the +crown-prince of Sweden, returned early to the army. After the departure +of the Prussian monarch, our king set out under a strong escort of +Cossacks for Berlin, or, as some asserted, for Schwedt.</p> + +<p>The French hospitals which we had constantly had here since the +beginning of the year, and which, since the battle of Lützen and the +denunciation of the armistice, had increased to such a degree as to +contain upwards of 20,000 sick and wounded, may be considered as a +malignant cancer, that keeps eating farther and farther, and consuming +the vital juices. It was these that introduced among us a dreadfully +destructive nervous fever, which had increased the mortality of the +inhabitants to near double its usual amount. Regarded in this point of +view alone, they were one of the most terrible scourges of the city; but +they proved a still more serious evil, inasmuch as the whole expense of +them fell upon the circle. The French never inquired whence the +prodigious funds requisite for their maintenance were to be derived, nor +ever thought of making the smallest compensation. If we reckon, for six +months, 10,000 sick upon an average, and for each of them 12 groschen +per day (and, including all necessaries, they could scarcely be kept at +that rate), the amount for each day is 5000, and, for the six months, +the enormous sum of 900,000 dollars, which the exhausted coffers were +obliged to pay in specie. This calculation, however, is so far below the +truth, that it ought rather to be greatly augmented. A tolerable +aggregate must have been formed by proportionable contributions from all +our country towns, and this was for the service of the hospitals alone: +judge then of the rest.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>Previously to the battle of Leipzig the state of the inmates of these +pestilential dens, these abodes of misery, was deplorable enough, as +they were continually becoming more crowded and enlarged. Many of the +persons attached to them, and in particular many a valuable and +experienced medical man, carried from them the seeds of death into the +bosom of his family. With their want of accommodations, cleanliness was +a point which could not be attained, and it was impossible to pass them +without extreme disgust. As Leipzig was for a considerable time cut off +from the rest of the world by the vast circle of armies, like the +mariner cast upon a desert island, the wants of these hospitals became +from day to day more urgent. Provisions also at length began to fail. +The distress had arrived at its highest pitch, when the thousands from +the field of battle applied there for relief. Not even bread could any +longer be dispensed to these unfortunates. Many wandered about without +any kind of shelter. Then did we witness scenes which would have +thrilled the most obdurate cannibals with horror. No eye could have +beheld a sight more hideous at Smolensk, on the Berezyna, or on the road +to Wilna—there at least Death more speedily dispatched his victims. +Thousands of ghastly figures staggered along the streets, begging at +every window and at every door; and seldom indeed had Compassion the +power to give. These, however, were ordinary, familiar spectacles. +Neither was it rare to see one of these emaciated wretches picking up +the dirtiest bones, and eagerly gnawing them; nay, even the smallest +crumb of bread which had chanced to be thrown into the street, as well +as apple-parings and cabbage-stalks, were voraciously devoured. But +hunger did not confine itself within these disgusting limits. More than +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>twenty eye-witnesses can attest that wounded French soldiers crawled to +the already putrid carcasses of horses, with some blunt knife or other +contrived with their feeble hands to cut the flesh from the haunches, +and greedily regaled themselves with the carrion. They were glad to +appease their hunger with what the raven and the kite never feed on but +in cases of necessity. They even tore the flesh from human limbs, and +broiled it to satisfy the cravings of appetite; nay, what is almost +incredible, the very dunghills were searched for undigested fragments to +devour. You know me, and must certainly believe that I would not relate +as facts things which would be liable to be contradicted by the whole +city. Thus the hospitals became a hot-bed of pestilence, from which the +senses of hearing, smell, and sight, turned with disgust, and one of the +most fatal of those vampyres which had so profusely drained our vitals, +and now dispensed destruction to those who had fed them and to the sick +themselves.</p> + +<p>The great church-yard exhibited a spectacle of peculiar horror. The +peaceful dead and their monuments had been spared no more than any other +corner of the city. Here also the king of terrors had reaped a rich +harvest. The slight walls had been converted into one great fort, and +loop-holes formed in them. Troops had long before bivouacked in this +spot, and the Prussian, Russian, and Austrian prisoners, were here +confined, frequently for several successive days, in the most +tempestuous weather and violent rain, without food, straw, or shelter. +These poor fellows had nevertheless spared the many handsome monuments +of the deceased, and only sought a refuge from the wet, or a lodging for +the night, in such vaults as they found open. This spacious ground, +which rather resembled a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>superbly embellished garden than a +burial-place, now fell under the all-desolating hands of the French. It +soon bore not the smallest resemblance to itself; what Art had, in the +space of a century, employed a thousand hands to produce, was in a short +time, and by very few, defaced and destroyed. The strongest iron doors +to the vaults were broken open, the walls stripped of their decorations +and emblems of mourning, the last tributes of grief and affection +annihilated, and every atom of wood thrown into the watch-fire; so that +the living could no longer know where to look for the remains of the +deceased objects of their love. The elegant rails, with which the +generality of the graves were encompassed, for the most part +disappeared, and the only vestiges of them to be found were their ashes, +or the relics of the reeking brands of the watch-fire. On the 19th this +wretched bulwark also was stormed, and thrown down as easily as a +fowler's net. The carcasses of horses now replaced upon the graves the +monuments of mourning for the peaceful dead. After the battle part of +the French prisoners were confined in this place. The church of St. +John, which stands in it, had, as early as the month of May, been +converted into an hospital, which, ever since the beginning of October, +was crowded with sick. It could hold no more; the sick and prisoners +were therefore intermingled, and lay down pell-mell among the graves. +What had hitherto been spared was now completely destroyed. In this +case, indeed, dire necessity pleaded a sufficient excuse. Who could find +fault with Distress and Despair if they resorted to the only means that +could afford them the slightest alleviation? Who could grudge them a +shelter in the cold autumnal nights, even though they sought it in the +dreary abode <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>of mouldering corpses? Every vault which it was possible +for them to open was converted into a chamber and dwelling-place, which +at least was preferable to a couch between hillocks soaked with rain or +covered with hoar frost. They descended into the deepest graves, broke +open the coffins, and ejected their tenants, to procure fire-wood to +warm their frozen limbs. I myself saw a French soldier who had fallen +among a heap of coffins piled up to the height of more than twelve feet; +and, unable to clamber up again, had probably lain there several days, +and been added by Death to the number of his former victims. The +appearance of the skulls, before so carefully concealed from the view of +the living, now thrown out of the coffins into the graves, was truly +ghastly.</p> + +<p>In spite of all the exertion of the new authorities, appointed by the +allies to alleviate the general misery, it was utterly impossible for +any human power to restore order in the horrid chaos which the French +had left behind them. A severe want of all necessaries was felt in the +city; the circumjacent villages, far and wide, were plundered and laid +waste. From them, of course, no supply could be obtained. More than +thirty hospitals were not capable of receiving all the sick and wounded +who applied for admission. Where were to be found buildings sufficiently +spacious, mattresses, bedding, utensils, provisions, and the prodigious +number of medical attendants, whose services were so urgently required +by these poor creatures? Every edifice at all adapted to the purpose had +long been occupied; and so completely had every thing been drained by +requisitions, that the hospital committee had for some time been unable +to collect even the necessary quantity of lint. Almost every barber's +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>apprentice was obliged to exercise his unskilful hands in the service of +the hospitals. It would have been impossible to procure any thing with +money, had it been ever so plentiful; and this resource, moreover, was +already completely exhausted. The most acute understanding and the most +invincible presence of mind were inadequate to the providing of a remedy +for these evils. No where was there to be seen either beginning or end. +The city was covered with carcasses, and the rivers obstructed with dead +bodies. Thousands of hands were necessary to remove and bury these +disgusting objects before any attention could be paid to the clearing of +the field of battle about Leipzig. As all sought relief, there was of +course none to afford it. It was difficult to decide whether first to +build, to slaughter, to brew, to bake, to bury the dead, or to assist +the wounded, as all these points demanded equally prompt attention.</p> + +<p>In the city lay many thousands of newly-arrived troops, who came from +the fight, and were both hungry and thirsty. Notwithstanding their +moderation, some of these could obtain nothing, and others but a very +scanty supply. Gladly would every citizen have entertained them in the +best manner; but not even a glass of the worst beer or brandy was now to +be had. Many of them naturally ascribed this to ill will, and even +observed that every thing was denied them because they were not +Frenchmen. How little did they know of our real situation! In the house +where I live six of the Prussian foot-guards were quartered. They +complained when nothing was set before them but dry potatoes; but +listened with calmness to the excuses that were offered. Without making +any reply, four of them took up their arms, and departed. In about an +hour <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>they returned, bringing with them two cows, which they had taken +from the French. These they presented to their host, and immediately +fell to work and killed then. In two hours the family was abundantly +supplied with meat, so that it could assist others; and, as great part +was pickled, it was supplied for a considerable time. Frenchmen would +certainly not have acted thus.</p> + +<p>Among the thousands of facts which might be adduced to prove that it was +absolutely impossible for any thing whatever to be left in the town, +that its resources were completely exhausted, and that extreme want +could not but prevail, let one instance suffice. There were in the city +two granaries, one of which, in the palace of Pleissenburg, had been +filled at the king's cost, and the other, called the corn-magazine, at +the expense of the magistrates. The former had long been put in +requisition by French commissaries, and had been chiefly applied to the +provisioning of the French garrisons of Wittenberg and Torgau. As this +was the king's property, it was perhaps but right to demand it for the +fortresses which were to defend the country. The stores possessed by the +magistrates were purchased in those years when a scarcity of corn +prevailed in Saxony. To afford some relief the government had imported +great quantities from Russia, by way of the Baltic and the Elbe. The +magistrates of Leipzig had bought a considerable part of it, that they +might be able to relieve the wants of the citizens in case a similar +calamity should again occur. It was ground and put into casks, each +containing 450 pounds. They had in their magazine 4000 such casks, which +had been left untouched even in the year 1806, and were carefully +preserved, to be used only in cases of extreme necessity. This was +certainly a wise and truly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>paternal precaution. So valuable a store +would have been sufficient to protect the city from hunger for a +considerable time. As the French army behaved all over Saxony as though +it had been in an enemy's country, and consumed every thing far and +near, the most urgent want was the inevitable consequence. They forgot +the common maxim, that the bread of which you deprive the citizen and +the husbandman is in fact taken from yourself, and that the soldier can +have nothing where those who feed him have lost their all. The country +round Dresden was already exhausted. Soldiers and travellers coming from +that quarter could scarcely find terms to describe the distress. They +unanimously declared that the country from Oschatz to Leipzig was a real +paradise, in comparison with Lusatia and the circle of Misnia, as far as +the Elbe. Of this we soon had convincing proofs. It was necessary to +pick out a great number of horses from all the regiments, and to send +back numerous troops of soldiers to the depots. Don Quixote's Rosinante +was a superb animal compared with those which returned to Dresden. Most +of them had previously perished by the way. Here they covered all the +streets. The men sold them out of hand, partly for a few groschen. A +great number were publicly put up to auction by the French commissaries; +and you may form some idea what sorry beasts they must have been, when +you know that a lot of 26 was sold for 20 dollars. After some time the +whole of the horse-guards arrived here. They were computed at 5000 men, +all of whom were unfit for service. How changed! how lost was their once +imposing appearance! Scarcely could troops ever make so ludicrous, so +grotesque, and so miserable a figure. Gigantic grenadiers, with caps of +prodigious height, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>and heavy-armed cuirassiers, were seen riding upon +lean cows, which certainly did not cut many capers. It was wonderful +that the animals shewed no disposition to decline the singular honour. +Their knapsacks were fastened to the horns, so that you were puzzled to +make out what kind of a monstrous creature was approaching. Carbineers, +with cuirasses and helmets polished like mirrors, lay without boots and +stockings in wheelbarrows, to which a peasant had harnessed himself with +his dog, and thus transported the heroes. Few of the horses were yet +able to carry the knapsack, and much less the rider. The men were +therefore obliged to drag the jaded beasts by the bridle through the +deepest morasses, and thought themselves fortunate when at last the +animals dropped to rise no more. Compared with these endless caravans, a +band of strolling players might be considered as the triumphant +procession of a Roman emperor. All these men were proceeding to Erfurt +and Mentz.</p> + +<p>These, and similar scenes which we had daily witnessed, were a natural +consequence of the French system of supply, and the prodigious bodies of +troops, which bore no proportion to the resources of a small tract of +country. Attempts had been made, but without success, to find other +provinces abounding in grain and forage. The fertile fields of Silesia +and Bohemia were beyond their reach. The angel with the fiery sword +vigilantly guarded the avenues to them against the fallen children of +Adam. It was now absolutely necessary to devise some expedient; and to +the French all means were alike. Some rice had been procured by way of +the Elbe and the Rhine. The stocks in the warehouses of the tradesmen of +Leipzig were now put in requisition, and sent off to the army; and I +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>shrewdly suspect that no part of them was paid for. These, however, were +but small privations; to relieve the general want required no less a +miracle than that by which 4000 men were fed with five small loaves. The +valuable stores in the city magazine had not yet been discovered. But +where is the door, however strong, through which their eagle eyes would +not at last penetrate? The flour was soon spied out, and forthwith +destined for the hungry stomachs of the French. The barrels were rolled +away with incredible expedition, and conveyed to the bakehouses. Each +baker was supplied with two a day, which he was obliged to make up with +all possible dispatch into bread, and to carry to the Cloth-hall. Here +the loaves were piled up in immense rows, and sent off to the famishing +army. From morning till night nothing was to be seen but waggons loading +and setting out. Not a morsel, however, was given to the soldiers +quartered upon the citizens; their superiors well knew that the patient +landlord had yet a penny left in his pocket to help himself out with. +Thus the fine magazine was stripped; and its valuable contents, which +would have kept twenty years longer without spoiling, and had been +preserved with such care, were dissipated in a moment. You may easily +conceive how severe a misfortune this loss proved to the city, and how +keenly it was felt, when you know that we were in a manner besieged for +several weeks, and that not a handful of flour was to be had even at the +mills themselves.</p> + +<p>If you now take into the account the state of the city in a financial +point of view, you may judge how dreadful its condition in general must +have been. In no town is a better provision made for the indigent <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>than +in Leipzig. Here were poor-houses, under most judicious regulations, +where food, fire, and lodging, were afforded. These buildings were +converted into hospitals, their inmates were obliged to turn out, and at +length the necessitous were deprived of their scanty allowance—the +funds were exhausted, and no fresh supplies received. The citizen sunk +under the weight of his burdens; it was impossible to lay any new ones +upon him. Among the different sources of income enjoyed by the city, the +author knows of one which at each of the two principal fairs commonly +produced 4000 dollars; whereas the receipts from it at the late +Michaelmas fair fell short of 100 dollars. All the other branches of +revenue, whether belonging to the king or to the city, fared no better.</p> + +<p>Such was the state of a city, which a few years since might justly be +numbered among the most opulent in Germany, and whose resources appeared +inexhaustible. It may be considered as the heart of all Saxony, on +account of the manifold channels for trade, manufactures, and industry, +which here meet as in one common centre. Hence the commerce of Saxony +extends to every part of the globe. With the credit of Leipzig, that of +all Saxony could not fail to be in a great measure destroyed. Had this +state of things continued a little longer, absolute ruin would probably +have ensued, as the total suspension of trade would certainly have +occasioned the removal of all the yet remaining monied men. So low, +however, the city was not destined to fall. The fatal blow already +impended over Leipzig, which was on the point of being reduced to a heap +of ashes. Black storm-clouds gathered thick around it; but they passed +off; and a new sun, the cheering hope of better times, burst forth. +Large bodies of troops are <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>yet within our walls; and they are a heavy +burden to the impoverished inhabitants, under their present +circumstances. We shall, however, be relieved of some part of it, on the +reduction of the fortresses upon the Elbe, which the enemy may yet +defend for some time, though without any other prospect than that of +final surrender, and of wielding for the last time his desolating arms +on the shores of that river. Symptoms of reviving trade and commerce +begin at least to appear. The gates are no longer beset with the Argus +eyes of French inspectors. The patient indeed, brought as he has been to +the very gates of death, is yet extremely weak, and requires the aid of +crutches. Long will it be before he is free from pain, but his recovery +is sure: he has quitted the close sick room, and is now consigned to +better care, to the hands of Prudence and Philanthropy, who are +acquainted with his condition, and will infallibly restore him to his +former health and vigour.</p> + +<p>The confederation of the Rhine and the Continental system,—terms +synonymous with all the evils which have brought Germany and Europe to +the brink of destruction,—will in future have no other signification in +the vocabularies of the writers on political economy than that interval +of severe probation when Germany seemed to be annihilated, but yet rose +from her ruins with renewed energies, and, united more firmly than ever, +by new ties, with the other states of Europe, resumed her ancient +rights. The battle of Leipzig was the watch-word for this great +revolution. History, therefore, when partiality and passion shall have +long been silent, will not fail to class it among the most important +events recorded in her annals.</p> + +<p>Here permit me to conclude my letters respecting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>those eventful days of +October, which must ever be so deeply impressed upon the memories of us +all. What may be called the military part of my narrative may be +imperfect; the names of the generals who commanded, the positions of +particular corps, and other circumstances of minor importance, may +perhaps be incorrect; yet the circumstantial details which I have given +will enable you to form to yourself in some measure a complete picture +of that memorable conflict.</p> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The 14th of October is the anniversary of the battles of +Ulm and of Jena.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> What is yet called the Kohlgärten was formerly gardeners' +ground for the supply of the city, and is now converted into a +fashionable village, consisting chiefly of the country-houses of +merchants; and where is also a public garden for the recreation of the +citizens.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> The following fact will serve to shew how completely the +king of Saxony was duped by the imperial plunderer:—The king was +standing with one of his ministers at a window of his palace in Dresden +at the moment when a drove of remarkably fine cattle, intended for the +French army, passed by. His majesty took occasion to praise the paternal +care which the emperor manifested for his troops, in procuring them such +abundant supplies of provisions. "But," replied the minister, "your +majesty is surely not aware that it is at the expense of your poor +subjects, as Napoleon pays for nothing."—"Impossible!" exclaimed the +king with evident indignation. While they were yet in conversation, +intelligence was brought from his domain of Pillnitz, which is well +known to be the most beautiful in Saxony, that the French had taken away +by force all his fine cattle, and just driven them through the city. +These were the very same beasts which he had seen passing, and now for +the first time he became sensible at what price Bonaparte obtained +provisions from his faithful ally.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Prince Joseph Poniatowsky was nephew to Stanislaus +Augustus, the last king of Poland, and there is no doubt that he was +cajoled into a subservience to the views of the French emperor by the +flattering prospect of the restoration of his country to its former rank +among the nations of Europe. The circumstances attending his death, as +related by his aid-de-camp, are as follow:—On the 19th of October, when +the French army began to retreat, the prince was charged by Napoleon +with the defence of that part of the suburbs of Leipzig which lies +nearest to the Borna road. For this service he had only 2000 Polish +infantry assigned him. Perceiving the French columns on his left flank +in full retreat, and the bridge completely choked up with their +artillery and carriages, so that there was no possibility of getting +over it, he drew his sabre, and, turning to the officers who were about +him, "Gentlemen," said he, "it is better to fall with honour." With +these words he rushed, at the head of a few Polish cuirassiers and the +officers surrounding him, upon the advancing columns of the allies. He +had been previously wounded on the 14th and 16th, and on this occasion +also received a musket-ball in his left arm. He nevertheless pushed +forward, but found the suburbs full of the allied troops, who hastened +up to take him prisoner. He cut his way through them, received another +wound through his cross, threw himself into the Pleisse, and with the +assistance of his officers reached the opposite bank in safety, leaving +his horse behind in the river. Though much exhausted he mounted another, +and proceeded to the Elster, which was already lined by Saxon and +Prussian riflemen. Seeing them coming upon him on all sides, he plunged +into the river, and instantly sunk, together with his horse. Several +officers, who threw themselves in after him, were likewise drowned; and +others were taken on the bank or in the water. The body of the prince +was found on the fifth day (Oct. 24), and taken out of the water by a +fisherman. He was dressed in his gala uniform, the epaulets of which +were studded with diamonds. His fingers were covered with rings set with +brilliants; and his pockets contained snuff-boxes of great value and +other trinkets. Many of those articles were eagerly purchased by the +Polish officers who were made prisoners, evidently for the purpose of +being transmitted to his family; so that the whole produced the +fisherman a very considerable sum.</p></div> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +<h3><a name="CONCLUDING_REMARKS" id="CONCLUDING_REMARKS"></a>CONCLUDING REMARKS.</h3> +<br /> + +<p>In the battle of Leipzig the reflecting observer discovers something +grand; but there is also much that puzzles one who is not a soldier, and +is accustomed to find in all Napoleon's campaigns a consistency of plan +which he here looks for in vain. If in his earlier combinations he did +not in every instance take all possibilities into the account, but +overlooked some, this must be ascribed not so much to the want of +military penetration, as to his firm confidence in his good fortune, and +in his ability to turn unforeseen accidents to his own advantage, or at +least to render them harmless. Rarely has a general been so highly +favoured by fortune for a long series of years as he. It is no wonder +then that this confidence at length increased to such a degree as +frequently to become the height of temerity. In Russia, Napoleon met +with many circumstances which he had not taken into his calculation; but +he nevertheless penetrated to Moscow. Here he for the first time +experienced such a reverse as no general ever yet sustained. His immense +army was entirely annihilated. His stern decree created a new one, to +all outward appearance equally formidable. From the haste with which its +component parts were collected, it could not but be deficient in +intrinsic energy, and it was impossible to doubt that this would be +shewn in time. In this respect his antagonists had a decided advantage, +as must have been obvious to him after the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>battles of Lützen and +Bautzen. Had he not been so vastly superior in number to the Russian and +Prussian army in the first engagement, he would indisputably have been +defeated on that occasion.—The political relations of Europe had +moreover undergone an extraordinary change. He could not for a thousand +reasons be a moment doubtful of the choice of Austria. If with a strong +and well-appointed army she could not by negotiation bring about a peace +upon the basis of a future balance of power among the principal states +of Europe, in which Prussia and Russia were willing to acquiesce, there +could be no question that for the sake of her own existence she would +espouse the cause of those two powers. This Napoleon seems to have +considered as impossible, or the advantages already obtained must have +inspired him with the confidence that even the accession of Austria to +the alliance could not prevent the prosecution of his victorious career +to the Vistula. Could he have expected to encounter the whole Austrian +army in Silesia, or to reduce the fortresses of Upper Silesia, with such +rapidity as to be able a third time to menace Vienna, and to compel the +force assembled on the Bohemian frontiers to return with precipitation +to cover the capital? This would have been too presumptuous an idea. He +probably fancied himself strong enough, with 400,000 men, led on by +himself and the ablest generals of the age, to cope, if even Austria +should declare against him, with all three powers; especially if he +presumed that he should be able to force all the combined armies united +to a general engagement, and to annihilate them with a single blow. The +proposals for peace were rejected: not the slightest disposition was +shewn to treat, and the armistice of two months answered no other +purpose <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>than to convince Austria of the absolute necessity of joining +the cause of the allies, and exerting all her energies to conquer that +peace by the sword, which there was not the least hope of accomplishing +by negotiation. By the accession of Austria the grand alliance had now +gained a manifest superiority, as well in regard to the number of troops +as to the geographical advantages of the theatre of war and resources. +After the renewal of hostilities Napoleon still seemed determined to +pursue his plan of advancing beyond the Oder. The allies were not to be +deceived by these demonstrations, but unexpectedly took post with their +main force in Bohemia, along the Saxon frontier, leaving in Silesia and +Brandenburg, where the crown-prince of Sweden had by this time arrived +with his gallant troops, armies strong enough to keep him in check by a +vigorous defensive system. The great Bohemian army was destined for +offensive operations. This plan was equally grand and judicious. +Silesia, and all Saxony, to the Elbe, could not fail, in consequence, to +be lost to Napoleon. That river, while he had only Prussia and Russia to +encounter, was a sure support in his rear; but no sooner had Austria +declared herself than it was no longer of any military consequence. +Dresden was the central point for the French army. There were organized +all the military bureaus, and all the branches of administration for the +economy of the army. The allies opened the campaign with a hasty advance +upon that important city. If the enterprise proved successful, its +consequences would be incalculable; if it miscarried, nothing would be +lost for the grand object; and at any rate the expedition would be a +diversion, which would immediately draw the French out of Silesia. +Napoleon now saw how egregiously he was deceived <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>in his reckoning. He +hastened precipitately to save the Saxon capital. The army arrived +breathless. The allies were already assaulting the suburbs; and, had +Napoleon come one hour later, Dresden would have been in their power. +Owing to the unexpected appearance of so prodigious a force, and still +more to physical accidents, the grand enterprise of the allies +miscarried. The battle of Dresden terminated to their disadvantage, but +their primary object was attained. Napoleon's force was divided into +three great armies. Should any of them sustain a defeat, all Saxony to +the right of the Elbe would be lost to him. The engagements of Jauer, +Grossbeeren, and Dennewitz, proved disastrous to the French generals, +and Lusatia and the right bank of the Elbe were soon in the hands of the +allies. All the attempts to penetrate to Prague and Berlin ended in the +discomfiture and annihilation of whole French corps. Oudinot, Ney, +Regnier, Bertrand, and the terrible Vandamme, were in succession so +totally defeated, that it was not possible even for the French +reporters, with all their address, to cloak their disasters. The allies +every where acted offensively. Saxony, surrounded by Silesia, Bohemia, +and Brandenburg, was now, from its situation, likely to become, earlier +or later, the grave of the French armies: the allies had every where the +choice of their operations; they were neither to be turned nor broken +through. It was evident that the long and obstinate continuance of +Napoleon at Dresden could not fail to prove ruinous to him. Of what +service could the Elbe be to him, when Bohemia, the key to that river, +was in the hands of his opponents? These had it in their power to turn +his flank as far as the Saale, without hazard or any great impediment, +as the event actually proved. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>Napoleon was cooped up in a narrow space, +where in time, even without being defeated, he would have been in danger +of starving with his army. Dresden was to him, in some respects, what +Wilna had been in 1812. Leipzig, an open place, was now of far greater +importance to him than Minsk was then. How easily might he have lost it, +as the allies were advancing in considerable force upon that place! It +was not lost, to be sure; but the communication between Dresden and +Leipzig, and Leipzig and Erfurt, was, if not cut off, at least +interrupted; his supplies became more and more precarious, and a large +garrison, which it was deemed necessary to reinforce with strong +detachments from the main army, was locked up in Leipzig.</p> + +<p>When in August Austria declared herself decidedly in favour of Russia +and Prussia, it was natural to expect that Napoleon would have totally +relinquished the useless defence of Saxony, and have adopted a new plan +of operations, in order to cover and preserve the other states of the +confederation of the Rhine. That he would infallibly be compelled to +evacuate Saxony, was evident from the slightest inspection of the map. +In this beautiful province he could expect no other glory than that of +plunging it, by his inflexible obstinacy, into the most abject misery. +The combined monarchs had nothing to fear for their own dominions; they +needed to do no more than to carry on for some time a mere war of +observation, and to recruit their forces. They might quietly await the +moment when Napoleon should leave Dresden, and, on his arrival, force +him to a general engagement in any situation which they should deem most +advantageous. Too late did Napoleon resolve upon retreat. He was obliged +to commence it in the midst of an immense <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>quadrangle which the allies +formed about him, and to direct his course towards Leipzig. He could +not, however, yet determine to give up Dresden, but left there a +considerable army, thus weakening himself, and sacrificing it, as well +as the garrisons of the fortresses on the Elbe and Oder, to no purpose +whatever, in case he should lose a battle. At length, near Leipzig, he +was forced, into the arduous conflict. Since the latter half of August, +the talents which he had heretofore displayed for comprehensive and +profound combinations seemed to have totally deserted him. All his +measures and plans appeared imperfect, and betrayed a vacillation which +he had never yet manifested. He seems to have been as uncertain +respecting the strength of his antagonists as in regard to their grand +plan of deciding the fate of the campaign with a single blow.</p> + +<p>In the battle of Leipzig we perceive none of that forethought which +characterizes his other engagements. The possibility of losing it seems +never to have entered into his calculations; otherwise he would scarcely +have endeavoured to prevail upon the king of Saxony to repair to Leipzig +to witness his defeat. In the most favourable event he had a right to +anticipate no other result than an unmolested retreat: the allies +however, were producing a very different one from what he expected. Of +this he might have convinced himself so early as the 16th, when he +encountered the strongest resistance at all points which he had probably +deemed the weakest. From that day all his measures were calculated only +for the moment. He boasted of victory when the battle was scarcely +begun. He every where strove to check the impetuous advance of his foes +at the expense of those means which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>were so necessary for his own +retreat. It could not be difficult for Napoleon to foresee, on the 16th, +that, in case he should be defeated, he had no other route left than to +retreat westward, in the direction of Lützen and Merseburg. He +nevertheless caused all the bridges over the numerous muddy streams on +that side to be destroyed, instead of diligently providing temporary +ones in addition. He was acquainted with the situation of the city, +through the centre of which he would be obliged to pass. He knew the +position of his army, which might, indeed, enter it by three spacious +roads, from north, east, and south; but had only one outlet, and this +the very narrowest of all, for itself and its train, many miles in +length. Let the reader figure to himself a routed army, and that a +French army, in which all order is so easily lost, converging in three +columns to one common centre. The passage at the outermost gate towards +Lützen is so narrow as to admit only one single waggon at a time. When +we consider that at the Kuhthurm again the road is but just wide enough +for one carriage; that, on the west side of the city, the Elster, the +Pleisse, and their different branches, intersect with their thousand +meanders the marshy plains covered with wood, which are scarcely +passable for the pedestrian; when we farther consider the incessant +stoppages of the whole train at every little obstacle, and figure to +ourselves all the three columns united in a road, the two principal +passes of which are scarcely 30 feet in breadth; we shall rather be +astonished that the whole French army was not annihilated than surprised +at the prodigious quantity of waggons and artillery which it was obliged +to abandon. Even in the night between the 18th and 19th, when Napoleon +must have been perfectly aware of his situation, there would <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>still have +been time to throw bridges across the different streams, so that the +army might have marched in five or six columns to Lindenau, and been +again collected at this place, from which several convenient roads +branch off. Such dispositions as circumstances required might then have +been made, and the retreat might have been effected with inconsiderable +loss. Such a precaution was the more necessary, as he could not be +ignorant that Blücher's troops had already gained a march upon him, and +was waiting for him at the Saale. Thus the want of a few paltry wooden +bridges proved as ruinous to the French army as the battle itself. It +lost, solely because it was unprovided with them, great part of its yet +remaining artillery, several thousands of dead, who were mostly drowned, +and a great number of prisoners. It was evident that such a retreat, +conducted without order and without plan, was likely to be attended with +the total destruction of the remnant of the army before it could reach +the Rhine. By the actions on the Unstrut and Saale, at Eisenach and +Hanau, this force was actually so reduced, that, on its arrival at the +Rhine, it must probably have entirely lost its military consequence. How +infinitely inferior is Napoleon in this branch of the military art to +the immortal Moreau, to whom he would have owed everlasting obligations, +had he, at his glorious death, bequeathed to him the transcendent art of +converting retreats into victories!</p> + +<p>In regard to boldness, Napoleon certainly belongs to the generals of the +first rank. He has undertaken and executed the rashest enterprises. But, +if the true hero shines with the greatest lustre in misfortune, like +Hannibal and Frederic the Great, Napoleon must be classed far below +them. He abandoned his army in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>Russia when it had most need of his +assistance; and the reason assigned for this desertion—that +circumstances rendered his presence necessary in France—is by no means +satisfactory to the rigid inquirer. During the seven-years' war, the +more dangerous the situation of the Prussian army, the more Frederic +felt himself bound to continue with it, and to assist it with his +eminent military genius. The campaign of 1813 has clearly proved that +the secret of Napoleon's most decisive victories has consisted in the +art of assailing his opponents with a superior force. Napoleon would be +incapable of attacking with 30,000 men an army of 90,000, posted in an +advantageous position, and defeating it, as Frederic did at Leuthen. +Napoleon, like the Prussian monarch, attempted to penetrate into +Bohemia, a country so dangerous for an army; but what a wretched +business did he make of it, in comparison with the latter! Frederic +waged war that he might conquer peace; Napoleon never wished for peace, +often as he has made a show of desiring it. Frederic knew how to stop +his victorious career in time, for History had taught him that it is as +difficult to retain as to acquire glory. Napoleon imagined that his fame +was susceptible of increase alone, and lost it all in the fields of +Leipzig. The hardly-earned laurels of France faded along with it. With +what feelings must he direct his views beyond the Rhine, where the eyes +of so many thousands are now opened? He too has lived to witness days +which are far from agreeable to him. He, who represented it to the +countries which he forced into his alliance as a supreme felicity to +have their sons led forth to fight foreign battles, and to have many +thousands of them sacrificed every year upon the altar of his ambition, +now sees them all abandon him, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>and become his bitterest enemies. The +<i>Great Empire</i> is now an idle dream. Already is he nearly confined +within that ancient France, which has lost through him the flower of her +population. Long has discontent lurked there in every bosom; long have +her people beheld with indignation their youth driven across the Rhine, +into foreign lands, where they were swept away by cold, famine, and the +sword, so that few of them revisited their paternal homes. Will the +nation again be ready to bathe foreign plains with the blood of half a +million of fresh victims? Scarcely can it be so infatuated. The French +too are now roused from their torpor: like the Germans, they will +confine their exertions to the defence of their own frontiers against +those mighty armies of Europe, which, crowned with laurels, wield the +sword in one hand, and bear the olive of peace in the other.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +<h3><a name="SUPPLEMENT" id="SUPPLEMENT"></a>SUPPLEMENT.</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The following letter, which cannot but be considered as most honourable +to the writer, contains so many minute, but, at the same time, highly +characteristic traits, that it cannot fail to prove extremely +interesting to every reader. No other apology is necessary for its +introduction here by way of Supplement.</p> + +<div style="margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;"> + +<p class="right"><i>Leipzig, Nov. 3, 1813.</i></p> +<br /> +<p class="noin">DEAREST FRIEND,</p> + +<p>You here see how ready I am to gratify your desire of knowing every +thing that passed in my neighbourhood and that befell myself in the +eventful days of October. I proceed to the point without farther +preamble.</p> + +<p>Ever since the arrival of marshal Marmont I have constantly resided at +the beautiful country-house of my employer at R***, where I imagined +that I might be of some service during the impending events. The general +of brigade Chamois, an honest man, but a severe officer, was at first +quartered there.</p> + +<p>On the 14th of October every body expected a general engagement near +Leipzig. On that day several <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>French corps had arrived in the +neighbourhood. The near thunders of the artillery, which began to roll, +and the repeated assurances of the French officers that the anniversary +of the battles of Ulm and Jena would not be suffered to pass +uncelebrated, seemed to confirm this expectation. The king of Saxony +entered by the palisadoed gates of the outer city, and Napoleon also +soon arrived. The latter came from Düben, and took possession of a +bivouac in the open field, not far from the gallows, close to a great +watch-fire. I was one of those who hastened to the spot, to obtain a +sight of the extraordinary man, little suspecting that a still greater +honour awaited me, namely, that of sleeping under the same roof, nay, +even of being admitted to a personal interview of some length with him. +The state of things at my country-house did not permit me to be long +absent. I hastened back, therefore, with all possible expedition. I +arrived nearly at the same moment with a French <i>marechal de logis du +palais</i>, to whom I was obliged to shew every apartment in the house, and +who, to my no small dismay, announced "that the emperor would probably +lodge there that night." The man, having despatched his errand in great +haste, immediately departed. I communicated the unexpected intelligence +to the aid-de-camp of general Pajol, but expressly observed that I had +great doubts about it, as the <i>marechal de logis</i> himself had not spoken +positively. The aid-de-camp appeared very uneasy; and, though I strove +to convince him that it must be some time before our distinguished guest +could arrive, he immediately packed up, and, notwithstanding all my +earnest endeavours to detain him, he was gone with his servant in a few +minutes. Seldom have I witnessed such an extraordinary degree <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>of +anxiety as this man shewed while preparing for his departure.</p> + +<p>The <i>marechal de logis</i> soon returned, and again inspected all the +apartments, and even the smallest closets, more minutely than before. He +announced that <i>sa majesté</i> would certainly take up his head-quarters +here, and asked for a piece of chalk, to mark each room with the names +of the distinguished personages by whom they were to be occupied. When +he had shewn me the apartment destined for the emperor, he desired that +a fire might be immediately lighted in it, as his majesty was very fond +of warmth. The bustle soon began; the guards appeared, and occupied the +house and all the avenues. Many officers of rank, with numerous +attendants, arrived; and six of the emperor's cooks were soon busily +engaged in the kitchen. Thus I was soon surrounded on all sides with +imperial splendour, and might consider myself for the moment as its +centre. I might possibly have felt no small degree of vanity on the +occasion, had I not been every instant reminded that the part which I +should have to act would be that of obedience alone. I heard the beating +of drums at a distance, which, as I presently learned, announced that I +was shortly to descend into a very subordinate station. It proclaimed +the arrival of the emperor, who came on horseback in a grey surtout. +Behind him rode the duke of Vicenza (Caulincourt), who, since the death +of marshal Duroc, has succeeded to his office. When they had come up to +the house, the master of the horse sprung from his steed with a +lightness and agility which I should not have expected in such a +raw-boned, stiff-looking gentleman, and immediately held that of the +emperor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>His majesty had scarcely reached his apartments when I was hastily +sought and called for. You may easily conceive my astonishment and +perturbation when I was told that the emperor desired to speak with me +immediately. Now, in such a state of things, I had not once thought for +several days of putting on my Sunday clothes; but, to say nothing of +this, my mind was still less prepared for an interview with a hero, the +mere sight of whom was enough to bow me down to the very ground. In this +emergency courage alone could be of any service, and I rallied my +spirits as well as the short notice would permit. I had done nothing +amiss—at least that I knew of—and had performed my duty as <i>maître +d'hotel</i> to the best of my ability. After a general had taken charge of +me, I mustered my whole stock of rhetorical flourishes, best calculated +to win the favour of a mighty emperor. The general conducted me through +a crowd of aid-de-camps and officers of all ranks. They took but little +notice of such an insignificant being, and indeed scarcely deigned to +bestow a look upon me. My conductor opened the door, and I entered with +a heart throbbing violently. The emperor had pulled off his surtout, and +had nobody with him. On the long table was spread a map of prodigious +size. Rustan, the Mameluke, who has so long been falsely reported to be +dead, was, as I afterwards learned, in the next room.—My presence of +mind was all gone again when I came to be introduced to the emperor, and +he must certainly have perceived by my looks that I was not a little +confused. I was just going to begin the harangue which I had studied +with such pains, and to stammer out something or other about the high +and unexpected felicity of being presented to the most powerful, the +most <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>celebrated, and the most sincerely beloved monarch in the world, +when he relieved me at once from my dilemma. He addressed me in French, +speaking very quick, but distinctly, to the following effect:—</p> + +<p><i>Nap.</i> Are you the master of this house?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> No, please your majesty, only a servant.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> Where is the owner?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> He is in the city. He is advanced in years; and under the present +circumstances has quitted his house leaving me to take care of it as +well as I can.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> What is your master?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> He is in business, sire.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> In what line?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> He is a banker.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> (<i>Laughing.</i>) Oho! then he is worth a plum, (<i>un millionaire</i>,) I +suppose?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> Begging your majesty's pardon, indeed he is not.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> Well then, perhaps he may be worth two?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> Would to God I could answer your majesty in the affirmative.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> You lend money, I presume?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> Formerly we did, sire; but now we are glad to borrow.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> Yes, yes, I dare say you do a little in that way yet. What interest +do you charge?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> We used to charge from 4 to 5 per cent.; now we would willingly +give from 8 to 10.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> To whom were you used to lend money?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> To inferior tradesmen and manufacturers.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> You discount bills too, I suppose?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> Formerly, sire, we did; now we can neither discount nor get any +discounted.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> How is business with you?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> At present, your majesty, there is none doing</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span><i>N.</i> How so?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> Because all trade is totally at a stand.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> But have you not your fair just now?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> Yes, but it is so only in name.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> Why?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> As all communication has for a considerable time been suspended, +and the roads are unsafe for goods, neither sellers nor buyers will run +the risk of coming; and, besides, the greatest scarcity of money +prevails in this country.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> (<i>Taking much snuff</i>) So, so! What is the name of your employer?</p> + +<p>I mentioned his name.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> Is he married?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> Yes, sire.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> Has he any children.</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> He has, and they are married too.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> In what capacity are you employed by him?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> As a clerk.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> Then you have a cashier too, I suppose?</p> + +<p><i>I.</i> Yes, sire, at your service.</p> + +<p><i>N.</i> What wages do you receive?</p> + +<p>I mentioned a sum that I thought fit.</p> + +<p>He now motioned with his hand, and I retired with a low bow. During the +whole conversation the emperor was in very good humour, laughed +frequently, and took a great deal of snuff. After the interview, on +coming out of the room, I appeared a totally different and highly +important person to all those who a quarter of an hour before had not +deigned to take the slightest notice of me. Both officers and domestics +now shewed me the greatest respect. The emperor lodged in the first +floor; his favourite Mameluke, an uncommonly handsome man, was +constantly about his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>person. The second floor was occupied by the +prince of Neufchatel, who had a very sickly appearance, and the duke of +Bassano, the emperor's secretary. On the ground floor a front room was +converted into a <i>sallon au service</i>. Here were marshals Oudinot, +Mortier, Ney, Reynier, with a great number of generals, aid-de-camps, +and other officers in waiting, who lay at night upon straw, crowded as +close as herrings in a barrel. In the left wing lodged the duke of +Vicenza, master of the horse; and above him the physician to the +emperor, whose name, I think, was M. Yvan. The right wing was occupied +by the <i>officiers du palais</i>. The smallest room was turned into the +bed-chamber of a general; and every corner was so filled, that the +servants and other attendants were obliged to sleep on the kitchen +floor. Upon my remonstrance to the valet of the <i>marechal du palais</i> I +was allowed to keep a small apartment for my own use, and thought to +guard myself against unwelcome intruders by inscribing with chalk my +high rank—<i>maitre de la maison</i>—in large letters upon the door. At +first the new-comers passed respectfully before my little cell, and +durst scarcely venture to peep in at the door; but it was not long +before French curiosity overleaped this written barrier. For sometime +this place served my people and several neighbours in the village as a +protecting asylum at night.</p> + +<p>The keys of the hay-loft and barns I was commanded to deliver to the +emperor's <i>piqueur</i>.—I earnestly entreated him to be as sparing of our +stores as possible, supporting this request with a bottle of +wine,—which, under the present circumstance, was no contemptible +present. He knew how to appreciate it, and immediately gave me a proof +of his gratitude. He took me <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>aside, and whispered in my ear, "As long +as the emperor is here you are safe; but the moment he is gone—and +nobody can tell how soon that may be—you will be completely stripped by +the guards; the officers themselves will then shew no mercy. You had +best endeavour to obtain a safeguard, for which you must apply to the +duke of Vicenza."</p> + +<p>This advice was not thrown away upon me: I immediately begged to speak +with the <i>grand ecuyer</i>. I explained my business as delicately as +possible, and be with great good humour promised to comply with my +request. Determined to strike while the iron was hot, I soon, afterwards +repeated my application in writing.</p> + +<p>After the emperor's arrival there was no such thing as a moment's rest +for me. Gladly would I have exchanged my high function, which placed me +upon an equal footing with the first officers of the French court, for a +night's tranquil slumber. <i>M. maitre de la maison</i> was every moment +called for. As for shaving, changing linen, brushing clothes—that was +quite out of the question. His guests had remarked his good will, and +they imagined that his ability was capable of keeping pace with it. +Luckily it never came into my head, whilst invested with my high +dignity, to look into a glass, otherwise I should certainly not have +known myself again, and Diogenes would have appeared a beau in +comparison. As to danger of life, or personal ill-treatment, I was under +no apprehension; for who would have presumed to lay hands on so +important a personage, who was every moment wanted, and whose place it +would have been absolutely impossible to supply?—I was much less +concerned about all this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>than about the means of saving the property of +my employer, as far as lay in my power. The danger of having every thing +destroyed was very great.</p> + +<p>The French guards had kindled a large fire at a small distance from the +house. The wind, being high, drove not only sparks but great flakes of +fire towards it. The whole court-yard was covered with straw, which was +liable every moment to set us all in flames. I represented this +circumstance to an officer of high rank, and observed that the emperor +himself would be exposed to very great risk; on which he ordered a +grenadier belonging to the guards to go and direct it to be put out +immediately. This man, an excessively grim fellow, refused without +ceremony to carry the order. "They are my comrades," said he: "it is +cold—they must have a fire, and dare not go too far off—I cannot +desire them to put it out."—What was to be done? I bethought myself of +the duke of Vicenza, and applied directly to him. My representations +produced the desired effect. He gave orders, and in a quarter of an hour +the fire was out. I was equally fortunate in saving a building situated +near the house. It had been but lately constructed and fitted up. The +young guard were on the point of pulling it down, with the intention of +carrying the wood to their bivouacs. Their design was instantly +prevented, and one single piece of timber only was destroyed. A guard +was sent to the place, to defend it from all farther attacks. It had +been burned down only last summer, through the carelessness of some +French dragoons.</p> + +<p>Late at night the king of Naples came with his retinue from Stötteritz. +He was attended by a black Othello, who seems to serve him in the same +capacity as Rustan does his brother-in-law Napoleon.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>By day-break the emperor started with all his retinue, and took the road +to Wolkwitz. The king of Naples had already set out for the same place. +All was quiet during the day, and towards night the emperor returned. +Several French officers had asserted, the preceding night, that a +general engagement would certainly take place on the 15th. How +imperfectly they were acquainted with the state of things, I could +perceive from many of their expressions. In their opinion the armies of +the allies were already as good as annihilated. By the emperor's +masterly manœuvres, the Russians and Swedes—the latter, by the bye, had +not yet come up—were according to them completely cut off from the +Austrians. A <i>courier de l'empereur</i> was honest enough to tell me +plumply that they had done nothing all day but look at one another, but +that there would be so much the warmer work on the morrow.</p> + +<p>Very early indeed on the morning of the 16th, I remarked preparations +for the final departure of the emperor. The <i>maitre d'hôtel</i> desired a +bill of the provisions furnished him. I had already made out one, but +that would not do. It was necessary that the articles should be arranged +under particular heads, and a distinct account of each given in. I ran +short of time, patience, and paper. All excuses were unavailing, and +there was no time to be lost. I readily perceived that all the elegance +required in a merchant's counting-house would not be expected here, and +accordingly dispensed with many little formalities. I wrote upon the +first paper that came to hand, and my bills were the most miserable +scraps that ever were seen. The amount was immediately paid. Finding +that the <i>maitre d'hôtel</i> had not the least notion that it would be but +reasonable to make some remuneration <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>to the servants, who had been so +assiduous in their attendance, I was uncivil enough to remind him of it. +He then desired me to give him a receipt for 200 francs, which I +immediately divided among the domestics; though he remarked that I ought +to give each but three or four, at most. I also made out a distinct +account for the forage, but this was not paid.</p> + +<p>At length arrived the long wished-for <i>sauvegarde</i>. It consisted of +three <i>gens d'armes d'elite</i>, who had a written order from the baron de +Lennep, <i>ecuyer</i> to the emperor, by virtue of which they were to defend +my house and property from all depredations. I immediately took a copy +of this important protection, and nailed it upon the door. The house was +gradually evacuated; I was soon left alone with my guards, and sincerely +rejoiced that Heaven had sent me such honest fellows. It was impossible, +indeed, to be quite easy; the thunders of the cannon rolled more and +more awfully, and I had frequent visits from soldiers. My brave <i>gens +d'armes</i>, however, drove them all away, and I never applied in vain when +I besought them to assist a neighbour in distress. I shewed my gratitude +as far as lay in my power, and at least took care that they wanted for +nothing.</p> + +<p>One of these three men went into the city, and returned in haste, +bringing the news of a great victory. "<i>Vive l'empereur!</i>" cried he; +"<i>la bataille est gagnée.</i>" When I inquired the particulars, he related, +in the most confident manner, that an Austrian prince had been taken, +with 30,000 men, and that they were already singing <i>Te Deum</i> in the +city. This story seemed extremely improbable to me, as the cannonade was +at that moment rather approaching than receding from us. I expressed my +doubts of the fact, and told <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>him that the battle could not possibly be +yet decided. The man, however, would not give up the point, but insisted +that the intelligence was official. When I asked him if he had seen the +captive prince and the 30,000 Austrians, as they must certainly have +been brought into the city, he frankly replied that he had not. Several +persons from the town had seen no more of them than he, so that I could +give a shrewd guess what degree of credit was due to the story.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon of the 17th marshal Ney suddenly appeared at the door +with a numerous retinue, and without ceremony took up his quarters in +the house. I saw nothing of the emperor all that day, nor did any +circumstance worthy of notice occur. On the 18th, at three in the +morning, Napoleon came quite unexpectedly in a carriage. He went +immediately to marshal Ney, with whom he remained in conversation about +an hour. He then hastened away again, and was soon followed by the +marshal, whose servants staid behind. His post must have been a very +warm one; for before noon he sent for two fresh horses, and a third was +fetched in the afternoon. The cannonade grow more violent, and gradually +approached nearer. I became more and more convinced that the pompous +story of the victory the day before was a mere gasconade. So early as +twelve o'clock things seemed to be taking a very disastrous turn for the +French. About this time they began to fall back very fast upon the city. +Shouts of <i>Vice l'empereur!</i> suddenly resounded from thousands of +voices, and at this cry I saw the weary soldiers turn about and advance. +Appearances nevertheless became still more alarming. The balls from the +cannon of the allies already fell very near us. One of them <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>indeed was +rude enough to kill a cow scarcely five paces from me, and to wound a +Pole.</p> + +<p>The French all this time could talk of nothing but victories, with which +Fortune had, most unfortunately, rendered them but too familiar. One +messenger of victory followed upon the heels of another. "General +Thielemann," cried an aid-de-camp, "has just been taken, with 6000 men; +and the emperor ordered him to be instantly shot on the field of +battle."—The most violent abuse was poured forth upon the Saxons, and I +now learned that great part of them had gone over to the allies in the +midst of the engagement. Heartily as I rejoiced at the circumstance, I +nevertheless joined the French officers in their execrations. The +concourse kept increasing; the wounded arrived in troops. Towards +evening every thing attested that the French were very closely pressed. +A servant came at full gallop to inform us that marshal Ney might +shortly be expected, and that he was wounded. The whole house was +instantly in an uproar. <i>Mon Dieu, mon Dieu!</i>—cried one to another—<i>le +prince est blessé—quel malheur!</i> Soon after the marshal himself +arrived; he was on foot, and supported by an aid-de-camp. Vinegar was +hastily called for. The marshal had been wounded in the arm by a +cannon-ball, and the pain was so acute that he could not bear the motion +of riding.</p> + +<p>The houses in the village were every where plundered, and the +inhabitants kept coming in to solicit assistance. I represented their +distress to an aid-de-camp, who only shrugged his shoulders, and gave +the miserable consolation that it was now impossible for him to put a +stop to the evil.</p> + +<p>At length, early on the 19th, we appeared likely to get rid in good +earnest of the monster by which we <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>had been so dreadfully tormented. +All the French hurried in disorder to the city, and our <i>sauvegarde</i> +also made preparations to depart. Already did I again behold in +imagination the pikes of the Cossacks. All the subsequent events +followed in rapid succession. My <i>gens d'armes</i> were scarcely gone when +a very brisk fire of sharp-shooters commenced in our neighbourhood. In a +few moments Pomeranian infantry poured from behind through the garden +into the house. They immediately proceeded, without stopping, to the +city. It was only for a few minutes that I could observe with a glass +the confused retreat of the French. Joy at the long wished-for arrival +of our countrymen and deliverers soon called me away. The galling yoke +was now shaken off, probably for ever. I bade a hearty welcome to the +brave soldiers; and, as I saw several wounded brought in, I hastened to +afford them all the assistance in my power. I may ascribe to my +unwearied assiduity the preservation of the life of lieutenant M**, a +Swedish officer, who was dangerously wounded; and by means of it I had +likewise the satisfaction to save the arm of the Prussian captain Von +B***, which, but for that, would certainly have required amputation. On +the other hand, all my exertions in behalf of the Swedish major Von +Döbeln proved unavailing; I had the mortification to see him expire.</p> + +<p>I was incessantly engaged with my wounded patients, while more numerous +bodies of troops continued to hasten towards the town. We now thought +ourselves fortunate in being already in the rear of the victorious army; +but the universal cry was, 'What will become of poor Leipzig?' which was +at this moment most furiously assaulted. Various officers of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>distinction kept dropping in. The Swedish adjutant-general Güldenskiöld +arrived with the captive general Reynier, who alighted and took up his +abode in the apartment in which the emperor had lodged. He was followed +by the Prussian colonel Von Zastrow, a most amiable man, and soon after +the Prussian general Von Bülow arrived with his suite.</p> + +<p>Our stock of provisions was almost entirely consumed, and you may +conceive my vexation at being unable, with the best will in the world, +to treat our ardently wished-for guests in a suitable manner. I had long +been obliged to endure hunger myself, and to take it as an especial +favour if the French cooks and valets had the generosity to allow me a +small portion, of the victuals with which they were supplied.</p> + +<p>At the very moment when marshal Ney arrived, a fire had broken out in +the neighbourhood, through the carelessness of the French. I hastened to +the spot, to render assistance, if possible. It was particularly +fortunate, considering the violence of the wind, and the want of means +to extinguish the flames, that only two houses were destroyed. The +fire-engines and utensils provided for such purposes had been carried +off for fuel to the bivouacs. Such of the inhabitants of the village as +had not run away, just now kept close in their houses, not daring to +venture abroad. A number of unfeeling Frenchmen stood about gazing at +the fire, without moving a finger towards extinguishing it. I called out +to them to lend a hand to check the progress of the conflagration. A +scornful burst of laughter was the only reply: the scoundrels would not +stir, and absolutely could not contain their joy whenever the flames +burned more furiously than usual. At the same time I witnessed +proceedings, of which the wildest <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>savage would not have been guilty. I +saw these same wretches, who, a few days afterwards, voraciously +devoured before my face the flesh of dead horses, and even human +carcasses, wantonly trample bread, already so great a rarity, like brute +beasts in the dirt.</p> + +<p>For six or eight nights I had not been able to get a moment's sleep or +rest, so that at last I reeled about like one drunk or stupid. The only +wonder is that my health was not impaired by these super-human +exertions. My dress and general appearance were frightful. When the +wounded Swedish officer was brought in, he of course wanted a change of +linen. Not a shirt was to be procured any where, and I cheerfully gave +him that which I had on my back; so that I was obliged to go without one +myself for near three days. Several times during the stay of the French +I had assisted in extinguishing fires: even the presence of marshal Ney +was not sufficient to make the French in our houses at all careful in +the use of fire. Those thoughtless fellows took the first combustible +that fell into their hands, and lighted themselves about with it in +every corner. They ran with burning wisps of straw among large piles of +trusses, and this was often done in the house where the marshal lay, +without its being possible to prevent the practice. A French +aid-de-camp, in my presence, took fifty segars out of my bureau, just at +the moment when I was too busy to hinder him. Whether he likewise helped +himself to some fine cravats which lay near them, and which I afterwards +missed, I will not pretend to say.</p> + +<p>I have suffered a little, you see; but yet I have fortunately escaped +the thousands of dangers in which I was incessantly involved. Never +while I live shall I forget those days. That same divine Providence +which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>was so manifestly displayed in that arduous conflict, and which +crowned the efforts of the powers allied in a sacred cause with so +glorious and so signal a victory, evidently extended its care to me. +After the battle of Jena, in 1806, Napoleon declared in our city that +Leipzig was the most dangerous of his enemies. Little did he imagine +that it would once prove so in a very different sense from that which he +attached to those words. Here the arm of the Most High arrested his +victorious career, of which no mortal eye could have foreseen the +termination. I would not exchange the glory—which I may justly +assume—the glory of having saved the property of my worthy employer, as +far as lay in my power, during those tremendous days of havoc and +devastation, for the laurel wreath with which French adulation attempts +most unseasonably to entwine the brow of the imperial commander, on +account of the battle of Leipzig.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +<h3><a name="CHARACTERISTIC_ANECDOTES" id="CHARACTERISTIC_ANECDOTES"></a>CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTES.</h3> +<br /> + +<p>That Napoleon was not quite so much master of himself, during the +retreat through Leipzig, as might have been supposed from his +countenance, may be inferred from various circumstances. While riding +slowly through Peter's gate he was bathed in sweat, and pursued his way +towards the very quarter by which the enemy was advancing. It was not +till he had gone a considerable distance that he bethought himself, and +immediately turned about. He inquired if there was any cross-road to +Borna and Altenburg; and, being answered in the negative, he took the +way to the Ranstädt gate.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;" /> + +<p>None of the French officers or soldiers could be brought to admit that +they had sustained any material loss from the Russian arms in 1812; they +maintained, on the contrary, that famine and cold alone had destroyed +their legions, and that it was impossible for a French army to be +beaten. What excuse will they now have to make, when they return, +without baggage and artillery, to their countrymen beyond the Rhine?</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;" /> + +<p>That the French prophesied nothing good of their retreat the evening +before it commenced, is evinced by the circumstance of their having +broken up a great number of gun-carriages, and buried the cannon, or +thrown them into marshes or ponds. These yet continue to be daily +discovered, and that in places <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>contiguous to houses which are fully +inhabited. It is rather singular that they were not observed while +engaged in this business, which must certainly have been performed with +uncommon silence and expedition.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;" /> + +<p>A Russian officer, to whom complaints were made respecting same +irregularities committed by the Cossacks in the villages, expressed +himself in the following manner in regard to those troops:—"The +officers would gladly put a stop to such proceedings, which are strictly +prohibited, and severely punished;—but how is it possible for them to +have these men continually under their eye? The nature of the warfare in +which they are engaged, which obliges them to be constantly making +extensive excursions, prevents this. We are often under the necessity of +leaving them for several days together to themselves, that they may +explore every wood, every corner, and fatigue and harass the enemy. In +services on which no other kind of troops can be employed, they are +frequently obliged to struggle alone for several days through every +species of hardship and danger; and then, indeed, it is no wonder if +they occasionally indulge themselves. On account of the important +service which they render to the army, we cannot possibly dispense with +them. The incessant vigilance of the Cossacks, who are every where at +once, renders it extremely difficult for the enemy to reconnoitre, and +scarcely possible for him to surprise us; and so much the more +frequently are we enabled by them to take him at unawares. In a word, +the Cossacks are the eye of the army;—and it is a pity only that it +sometimes sees too clearly where it needs not see at all."</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> + +<p class="cen"><a name="MEMORIAL" id="MEMORIAL"></a><i>After the preceding Sheets were put to Press, the following +important Documents were received by the Publisher.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;" /> + +<h2>MEMORIAL</h2> + +<h4>Addressed by the City of LEIPZIG to the independent and benevolent</h4> + +<h3><i>BRITISH NATION,</i></h3> + +<h4>In Behalf of the Inhabitants of the adjacent Villages and Hamlets,<br /> +who have been reduced to extreme Distress by the Military<br /> +Operations in October, 1813.</h4> + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;" /> + +<p>The prosperity of Leipzig depends upon commerce, as that of commerce +depends upon liberty. Till 1806 it was a flourishing city. With England +in particular, whose manufactures and colonial produce were allowed to +be freely imported, its commercial relations were of the highest +importance. For the opulence which Leipzig then enjoyed it was indebted +to its extensive traffic, which contributed to the prosperity of Saxony +in general; but it was more particularly the numerous adjacent villages +and hamlets that owed to our city their respectability, their +improvements, and the easy circumstances of their inhabitants.</p> + +<p>The well-known events in October, 1806, rendered Saxony—the then happy +Saxony—dependent on the will of Napoleon. Commerce, and the liberty of +trade, were annihilated as by magic. A new code was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>enforced, and +Leipzig was severely punished for the traffic which it had heretofore +carried on with England and which had been encouraged by its sovereign, +as for a heinous crime. Since that catastrophe Saxony had suffered +severely, its prosperity had greatly declined, and our city in +particular had, in addition to the general burdens, the most grievous +oppressions of every kind to endure. How often did Leipzig resemble a +military parade or hospital rather than a commercial city! How many +pledges of our affection were snatched from us by the contagious fever +spread among us by means of the hospitals!—But with the spring of the +present year, with the season which usually fills every tender heart +with delight, commenced the most melancholy epoch for our country, as it +became the theatre of a war which laid it waste without mercy, and of +the most sanguinary engagements. After all the hardships which it had +suffered, a lot still more severe awaited Leipzig and its vicinity.</p> + +<p>From the commencement of October last the French troops here kept daily +increasing, as did also their sick and wounded in a most alarming +manner. On the 14th Napoleon arrived with his army in our neighbourhood, +and the different corps of the allied powers advanced on all sides. On +the 15th commenced all round us a great, a holy conflict, for the +liberation and independence of Germany, for the peace of Europe, for the +repose of the world—a conflict which, after an engagement of three +days, that can scarcely be paralleled in history for obstinacy and +duration, and at last extended to our city itself, terminated on the +19th of October, through the superior talents of the generals and the +valour of their troops, which vanquished all the resistance of despair, +in the most complete and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>glorious victory. The French still defended +themselves in our unfortified town, and would have devoted it to +destruction; the allies made themselves masters of it by assault at one +o'clock, and spared it. They were received with the loudest acclamations +by the inhabitants, whose joy was heightened into transport when they +beheld their illustrious deliverers, the two emperors, the king of +Prussia, and the crown-prince of Sweden, enter the place in triumph. +During this engagement the Saxon troops went over to the banners of the +allies.</p> + +<p>This eventful victory justifies the hope of a speedy peace, founded upon +the renewed political system of the balance of power,—an honourable, +safe, permanent, and general peace, for which, with all its attendant +blessings, Europe will be indebted, under divine Providence, to the +invincible perseverance of England in the contest with France, to the +combined energies of the south and the north, and to the exertions of +the allied powers, and of the truly patriotic Germans by whom they were +joined.</p> + +<p>The battle of Leipzig will be ever memorable in the annals of History. A +severe lot has hitherto befallen our city. To the burdens and +requisitions of every kind, by which it was overwhelmed, were added the +suspension of trade, and the injury sustained by the entire suppression +this year of our two principal fairs. Our resources are exhausted, and +we have yet here a prodigious number of sick and wounded;—upwards of +30,000 in more than 40 military hospitals, with our own poor and the +troops yet stationed here for our protection, to be provided for; +besides which numberless just claims for the good cause yet remain to be +satisfied. But from misfortune itself we will derive new strength and +new courage, and our now unfettered commerce <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>affords us the prospect of +a happier futurity. We have lost much; but those days when we ourselves +knew the want of provisions, and even of bread—those days of horror, +danger, and consternation—are past; we yet live, and our city has been +preserved through the favour of Heaven and the generosity of the +conquerors.</p> + +<p>One subject of affliction lies heavy upon our hearts. Our prosperous +days afforded us the felicity of being able to perform in its full +extent the duty of beneficence towards the necessitous. We have before +our eyes many thousands of the inhabitants of the adjacent villages and +hamlets, landed proprietors, farmers, ecclesiastics, schoolmasters, +artisans of every description, who, some weeks since, were in +circumstances more or less easy, and at least knew no want; but now, +without a home, and stripped of their all, are with their families +perishing of hunger.</p> + +<p>Their fields have gained everlasting celebrity, for there the most +signal of victories was won for the good cause; but these fields, so +lately a paradise, are now, to the distance of from ten to twelve miles, +transformed into a desert. What the industry of many years had acquired +was annihilated in a few hours. All around is one wide waste. The +numerous villages and hamlets are almost all entirely or partially +reduced to ashes; the yet remaining buildings are perforated with balls, +in a most ruinous condition, and plundered of every thing; the barns, +cellars, and lofts, are despoiled, and stores of every kind carried off; +the implements of farming and domestic economy, for brewing and +distilling—in a word, for every purpose—the gardens, plantations, and +fruit-trees—are destroyed; the fuel collected for the winter, the +gates, the doors, the floors, the wood-work of every description, were +consumed in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>watch-fires; the horses were taken away, together with +all the other cattle; and many families are deploring the loss of +beloved relatives, or are doomed to behold them afflicted with sickness +and destitute of relief.</p> + +<p>The miserable condition of these deplorable victims to the thirst of +conquest, the distress which meets our view whenever we cross our +thresholds, no language is capable of describing. The horrid spectacle +wounds us to the very soul.</p> + +<p>But all these unfortunate creatures look up to Leipzig, formerly the +source of their prosperity;—their eloquent looks supplicate our aid; +and the pang that wrings our bosoms arises from this consideration, that +neither the exhausted means of Leipzig nor those of our ruined country +are adequate to afford them that relief and support which may enable +them to rebuild their habitations, and to return to the exercise of +their respective trades and professions.</p> + +<p>All the countries of our continent have been more or less drained by +this destructive war. Whither then are these poor people, who have such +need of assistance—whither are they to look for relief? Whither but to +the sea-girt Albion, whose wooden walls defy every hostile attack,—who +has, uninjured, maintained the glorious conflict with France, both by +water and by land? Ye free, ye beneficent, ye happy Britons, whose +generosity is attested by every page of the annals of suffering +Humanity—whose soil bus been trodden by no hostile foot—who know not +the feelings of the wretch that beholds a foreign master revelling in +his habitation,—of you the city of Leipzig implores relief for the +inhabitants of the circumjacent villages and hamlets, ruined by the +military events in the past month of October. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>We therefore entreat our +patrons and friends in England to open a subscription in their behalf. +The boon of Charity shall be punctually acknowledged in the public +papers, and conscientiously distributed, agreeably to the object for +which it was designed, by a committee appointed for the purpose. Those +who partake of it will bless their benefactors, and their grateful +prayers for them will ascend to Heaven.</p> + +<p>(Signed)</p> +<p class="noin" style="margin-left: 10%;">FREGE AND CO.<br /> +REICHENBACH AND CO.<br /> +JOHANN HEINRICH KÜSTNER AND CO.</p> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Leipzig, Nov. 1, 1813.</i></span><br /> + + +<hr style='width: 5%;' /> + +<div style="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;"> +<p class="hang"><i>We, the Burgomaster and Council of the city of Leipzig, hereby +attest the truth of the deplorable state of our city, and of the +villages around it, as faithfully and pathetically described in a +Memorial dated November 1st, and addressed to the British nation +by some of our most reputable and highly-respected +fellow-citizens, namely, the bankers Messrs. Frege and Co. Messrs. +Küstner and Co. Messrs. Reichenbach and Co.; and recommend it to +the generosity which has, in all ages, marked the character of the +British nation. We have formally authenticated this attestation, +by affixing to it the seal of our city, and our usual signature.</i></p> + +<p class="noin">(L.S.) D. FRIEDRICH HULDREICH CARL SIEGMANN,<br /> +Acting Burgomaster.<br /> +<br /> +<i>Leipzig, Nov. 18, 1813.</i></p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr style="text-align: left;" /> +<br /> + +<h5 style="text-align: left;">Printed by W. Clowes, <br /> +Northumberland-Court, Strand, London.</h5> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1a" id="Page_1a">[1]</a></span> +<h4><a name="SUBSCRIPTION" id="SUBSCRIPTION"></a>FORMED JAN. 1814,</h4> +<h3>FOR RELIEVING THE DISTRESS IN GERMANY.</h3> +<br /> + +<p>About eight years ago the calamities, occasioned by the war in different +provinces of Germany, gave rise to a Subscription and the formation of a +Committee in London, to relieve the distresses on the Continent. By the +generosity of the British Public, and with the aid of several +respectable Foreigners resident in this country, the sum of nearly +50,000<i>l.</i> was remitted to the Continent, which rescued multitudes of +individuals and families from the extremity of distress, and the very +brink of ruin. The Committee received, both from Germany and Sweden, the +most satisfactory documents, testifying that the various sums +transmitted had been received and conscientiously distributed; but at no +period since the existence of this Committee has the mass of every kind +of misery been so great, in the country to which their attention was +first directed. Never has the cry of the distressed Germans for help +been so urgent, their appeal to British benevolence so pressing, as at +the present moment. Who could read the reports of the dreadful conflicts +which have taken place in Germany, during the last eventful year; of the +many sanguinary battles fought in Silesia, Lusatia, Bohemia, Saxony, +Brandenburg, and other parts; and peruse the melancholy details of +sufferings, almost unexampled in the annals of history, without the most +lively emotions? Who could hear of so many thousands of families +barbarously driven from Hamburg, in the midst of a severe winter; of so +many villages burnt, cities pillaged, whole principalities desolated, +and not glow with ardent desire to assist in relieving distress so +multifarious and extensive? <i>To the alleviation of sufferings so +dreadful; to the rescue of our fellow-men, who are literally ready to +perish: the views of the Committee are exclusively directed.</i> Many +well-authenticated afflicting details of the present distress having +been, on the 14th Jan. 1814, laid before the Committee, it was +immediately resolved, in reliance on the liberality of the British +public, to remit, by that post, the sum of <i>Three Thousand Five Hundred +Pounds</i>, to respectable Persons, with directions to form Committees of +Distribution at the several places following:—</p> +<br /> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="80%" summary="Subscriptions"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="80%">1. To Leipsic and its vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr" width="20%">£500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">2. To Dresden and its vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">3. To Bautzen and its vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">4. To Silesia; on the borders of which, seventy-two villages were almost entirely destroyed,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">5. To Lauenburg, Luneburg, and the vicinity of Harburg in Hanover,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">6. To the many thousands who have been forced from their habitations in Hamburg,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2a" id="Page_2a">[2]</a></span>At subsequent Meetings the following sums were voted:—</p> +<br /> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="80%" summary="Subscriptions"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="80%">7. <i>Jan. 18</i>, To Erfurt, Naumburg, and their vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr" width="20%">£500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">8. <i>Jan. 23</i>, To Hamburg and its vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">9. To Berlin, its vicinity, and hospitals,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">10. To Leipsic and its vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">11. To Silesia and Lusatia,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">12. For several hundred Children, turned out of the Foundling Hospital at Hamburg,</td> + <td class="tdr">300</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">13. <i>Jan. 31</i>, To Wittemberg and its vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">14. To Halle and its vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">15. To Dresden and its vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">16. To the towns, villages, and hamlets, between Leipsic and Dresden,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">17. <i>Feb 1</i>, To Hanover and its vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">18. To Stettin and its vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">19. <i>Feb 3</i>, To Stargard, its hospitals, and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">300</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">20. <i>Feb 10</i>, To Liegnitz, Neusaltz, Jauer, Buntzlau, + and the 72 villages, which are almost entirely destroyed,</td> + <td class="tdr">2000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">21. To Bautzen, with the recommendation of Bischoffswerda, Zittau, Lauban, Loban, and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">600</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">22. To Culm and neighbourhood,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">23. To Dresden and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">24. To Pirna, Freiberg, and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">25. To Lützen and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">300</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">26. For the unfortunate Peasantry in the vicinity Leipzig,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">27. To Torgau,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">28. To Naumburg and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">29. To Weissenfels and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">30. To Erfurt and Eisenach,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">31. To Dessau and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">32. To Fulda, Hanau, and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">33. To Schwerin, Rostock, and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">800</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">34. To Wismar and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">200</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">35. To Frankfurt and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">36. To Lübeck and vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">37. To Lauenburg, Ratzeburg, Luneburg, Zelle, Harburg, Stade, and neighbouring villages,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">38. To Berlin and Whistock,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">39. To be held at Berlin, for the sufferers at Magdeburg, when that + fortress shall be evacuated by the enemy,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">40. To Stettin,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">41. To Hamburg,</td> + <td class="tdr">1000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">42. To Bremen,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">43. To Wurzburg,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">44. <i>Feb 17</i>, To Stettin,</td> + <td class="tdr">500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">45. To the Exiles from Hamburg, at Altona, Lübeck, Bremen, and wherever they may be,</td> + <td class="tdr">3000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3a" id="Page_3a">[3]</a></span>46. To Kiel, in Holstein,</td> + <td class="tdr">£500</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">47. To Leipzig, Chemnitz, and Freyberg, and their vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">2000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2">48. To Dresden, Pirna, and their vicinity,</td> + <td class="tdr">2000</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl2"> </td> + <td class="tdr" style="border-bottom: 3px double black;">£36,000</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<p>At a General Meeting, convened by the Committee for relieving the +Distress in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, on the 27th of +January, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street;</p> + +<p class="cen"><span class="sc">Henry Thornton</span>, Esq. M.P. in the Chair;</p> + +<p>The Chairman read a letter from His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, +stating, that an illness, which had deprived him of his rest the +preceding night; totally incapacitated him from the proposed pleasure of +presiding at a Meeting, the purpose of which was so congenial to his +feelings, and in the success of which he avowed his heart to be deeply +engaged.</p> + +<p>The Secretary then read an interesting Memorial from the Inhabitants of +Leipsic, praying that relief from British benevolence, which former +experience had taught them, to confide in.</p> + +<p class="cen"><i>The following Resolutions were agreed to:—</i></p> + +<p>1. That it appears to this Meeting that the distress arising out of the +ravages of war in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, is +inconceivably great, and loudly calls on the British Nation for the +exercise of its accustomed beneficence.</p> + +<p>2. That this General Meeting, convened by the Committee appointed in the +year 1805, for relieving the Distresses in Germany and other parts of +the Continent, approves most cordially of the object of the Committee, +and especially of the prompt measures taken at their meetings of the +14th and 18th of January, anticipating the liberality of the British +Public, and sending immediate succour to the places in greatest need.</p> + +<p>3. That an addition to the Subscriptions already opened by the Committee +be now applied for, to meet the relief they have already ordered; and +that the Committee be desired, without delay, to use its utmost +endeavours to procure further contributions, to alleviate, as much as +possible, the present unparalleled distress on the Continent.</p> + +<p>4. That it be recommended to the Committee in the distribution of the +funds to observe the strictest impartiality and that the measure of +distress in each place or district do regulate the proportion of relief +to be afforded.</p> + +<p>5. That the several Bankers in the metropolis and the country be, and +they are hereby, requested to receive Subscriptions for this great +object of charity; and that the country Bankers be, and they are hereby, +requested to remit the amount received, on the first day of March, to +Henry Thornton, Esq. Bartholomew-lane, with the names of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4a" id="Page_4a">[4]</a></span>Subscribers, +and to continue the same on the first day of each subsequent month.</p> + +<p>6. That the Clergy of the Church of England, and Ministers of all +religious denominations, be, and they are hereby, earnestly requested to +recommend this important object to their several congregations, and to +make public collections in aid of its funds.</p> + +<p>7. That all the Corporate Bodies in the United Kingdom be, and they are +hereby, respectfully requested to contribute to this important object.</p> + +<p>8. That the most respectful thanks of this Meeting are due, and that +they be presented, to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, for his +condescending and, immediate acquiescence in the request that he would +take the Chair on this important occasion.</p> + +<p>Resolved, That the thanks of this Meeting be given to <span class="sc">Henry +Thornton</span>, Esq. for the zeal and ability evinced in his conduct in +the Chair.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<p>A Sub-Committee having been commissioned to examine the documental +papers and other sources from which Mr. Ackermann's <i>Narrative of the +most remarkable Events in and near Leipzig, &c.</i> is compiled, as some +insinuations have been thrown out that much of what is therein related +is rather exaggerated, and Mr. Ackermann having furnished them with the +said papers, they were found to consist of—</p> + +<p>1. A Pamphlet, printed at Leipzig, entitled, "<i>Leipzig, während der +Schreckenstage der Schlachten, im Monat October, 1813; als Beytrag zur +Chronik dieser Stadt.</i>" ("Leipzig, during the terrible Days of the +Battles in the Month of October, 1813; being a Supplement to the History +of this City.")</p> + +<p>2. A printed Advertisement of a large Work, to be accompanied with Nine +Plates, the Advertisement itself giving a brief but comprehensive +account of the battle of Leipzig.</p> + +<p>3. A second Advertisement, giving a similar description of these battles +in German and French.</p> + +<p>4. A Letter from Count Schönfeld to Mr. Ackermann, describing the +dreadful condition of the villages in the neighbourhood of Leipzig, +especially of those over which the storm of the battle passed.</p> + +<p>5. An Official Paper, signed by some of the principal Bankers and +Merchants at Leipzig, containing an appeal to the benevolence of the +British Public, in behalf of the sufferers.</p> + +<p>6. An Official Attestation of the truth of the statement made in the +said Appeal, signed by the acting Burgomaster of Leipzig, with the City +Seal affixed.</p> + +<p>7. Several private Letters, entering more or less into the detail.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5a" id="Page_5a">[5]</a></span>The Sub-Committee, having read and considered the chief parts of these +several sources of information, were unanimous in their opinion, that +far from any exaggeration of facts having been resorted to, in +presenting this Narrative to the British Public, facts have been +suppressed under an idea that they might shock the feelings of +Englishmen, who, in general, by God's mercy, have so imperfect an idea +of the horrors of a campaign, and the unspeakable sufferings occasioned +by the presence of contending armies, that, to hear more of the detail +contained in the said papers, might destroy the effect of exciting +compassion by creating disgust, and doubts of the possibility of the +existence of such enormities.</p> + +<p>The Sub-Committee were likewise fully persuaded that the accounts +contained in these official and printed Papers could not have been +published at Leipzig itself, without being acknowledged by all as +authentic, as they would otherwise have been liable to the censure of +every reader and reviewer; and therefore, comparing them also with +various similar accounts, received from other places, they feel no +hesitation in expressing their opinion, that the Narrative published by +Mr. Ackermann is a true and faithful representation of such facts as +came within the Reporter's own observation.</p> + +<p class="noin" style="margin-left: 35%;">Rev. Wm. KUPER.<br /> +Rev. Dr. SCHWABE.<br /> +Rev. C.F. STEINKOPFF.<br /> +Rev. C.J. LATROBE.</p> +<br /> +<p style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Tuesday, Feb. 8th, 1814.</i></p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<p class="noin"><i>The following are the Instructions given by the London Committee to the +Committees of Distribution on the Continent.</i></p> + +<p>Permit me to inform you, that the London Committee for relieving the +Distresses in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, deeply +sympathizing in the distressed situation of your town, (or district,) +and anxiously wishing to afford some relief to the suffering +inhabitants, have devoted the sum of —— to this purpose in the +distribution of which they request your attention to the following +points:—</p> + +<p>1. The express design of this Charity is to relieve those who have been +plunged into poverty and distress by the recent calamities of the War.</p> + +<p>2. In the appropriation of its funds, the strictest impartiality is to +be observed.</p> + +<p>3. The distribution is to take place with the least possible loss of +time.</p> + +<p>4. No one family or individual is to receive too large a proportion of +this Charity. The amount of the loss, and all the circumstances of the +persons to be relieved, are duly to be taken into consideration.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6a" id="Page_6a">[6]</a></span>5. For these purposes a Committee of Distribution is immediately to be +formed, consisting of magistrates, clergymen, merchants, and such other +persons as are most generally respected for their knowledge, discretion, +and integrity. Should a Committed be already formed for the disposing of +contributions received from other quarters, they are requested to choose +from among its members a Sub-Committee for the management of the sums +received from London.</p> + +<p>6. This Committee is requested to keep an accurate list of every person +and family they relieve, as well as the sum allotted to each, and to +transmit to the London Committee such authentic accounts of the distress +still prevailing, together with such particulars relative to the good +effects produced by the distribution of the charity, as may prove +interesting to the public.</p> + +<p>7. Finally, the Committee of Distribution will have the goodness, at the +close of their benevolent labours, to draw up a concise Report of the +manner in which they have applied the funds intrusted to their care, +accompanied with such documents as they may deem necessary, and to send +the whole to the London Committee.</p> + +<p>8. The London Committee, considering themselves responsible to the +Public, whose Almoners they are, wish to lay particular stress on a +fair, equitable, and impartial distribution of this bounty; and as +persons of different ranks, and religious denominations, in Great +Britain, have been the contributors, they anxiously wish that the <i>most +distressed</i>, without regard to any religious community, whether +Christians or Jews, Protestants or Catholics, may receive their due +proportion in the distribution.</p> + +<p>9. They now conclude with assurances of their deep interest in the +sufferings of their brethren on the Continent; and consider it not only +a duty, but a privilege, to administer to their necessities, as far as +the kind providence of God, through the instrumentality of the British +Public, may enable them to dispense.</p> + +<p>10. The Committee of Distribution are requested to appoint a +Correspondent with the London Committees, and to transmit their letters +to</p> + +<p class="noin" style="margin-left: 35%;"><span class="sc">R.H. Marten</span>,<br /> +<span class="sc">Luke Howard</span>, Secretaries,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>At the City of London Tavern, London.</i></span></p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen"><a name="TN" id="TN"></a>Typographical errors corrected in text:</p> +<br /> +page 10: Duben replaced with Düben<br /> +page 12: repretentations replaced with representations<br /> +page 27: Brietenfeld replaced with Breitenfeld<br /> +page 28: Brietenfeld replaced with Breitenfeld<br /> +page 80: aparment replaced with apartment<br /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Frederic Shoberl Narrative of the Most +Remarkable Events Which Occurred In an, by Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREDERIC SHOBERL NARRATIVE *** + +***** This file should be named 17595-h.htm or 17595-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/5/9/17595/ + +Produced by Thierry Alberto, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Frederic Shoberl Narrative of the Most Remarkable Events Which Occurred In and Near Leipzig + Immediately Before, During, And Subsequent To, The + Sanguinary Series Of Engagements Between The Allied Armies + Of The French, From The 14th To The 19th October, 1813 + +Author: Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) + +Release Date: January 24, 2006 [EBook #17595] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREDERIC SHOBERL NARRATIVE *** + + + + +Produced by Thierry Alberto, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net. + + + + + + + * * * * * + + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | A number of obvious typographical errors have | + | been corrected in this text. | + | For a complete list, please see the bottom of this document. | + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + + +NARRATIVE +OF +THE MOST REMARKABLE EVENTS +WHICH OCCURRED +IN AND NEAR LEIPZIG, + +IMMEDIATELY BEFORE, DURING, AND SUBSEQUENT TO, THE SANGUINARY SERIES +OF ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN + +THE ALLIED ARMIES OF THE FRENCH, +FROM THE +14th TO THE 19th OCTOBER, 1813 + + +Illustrated with +MILITARY MAPS, +EXHIBITING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE RESPECTIVE ARMIES. + + +COMPILED AND TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN +BY +FREDERIC SHOBERL. + + +"Suave etiam belli certamina magna tueri + Per campos instructa, tua sine parte pericli." + LUCRET. Lib. ii. 5. + +EIGHTH EDITION. + + +_LONDON:_ +PRINTED FOR R. ACKERMANN, 101, STRAND, +_By W. CLOWES, Northumberland court, Strand._ + +1814. + +[Price _Five Shillings_.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +After a contest of twenty years' duration, Britain, thanks to her +insular position, her native energies, and the wisdom of her counsels, +knows scarcely any thing of the calamities of war but from report, and +from the comparatively easy pecuniary sacrifices required for its +prosecution. No invader's foot has polluted her shores, no hostile hand +has desolated her towns and villages, neither have fire and sword +transformed her smiling plains into dreary deserts. Enjoying a happy +exemption from these misfortunes, she hears the storm, which is destined +to fall with destructive violence upon others, pass harmlessly over her +head. Meanwhile the progress of her commerce and manufactures, and her +improvement in the arts, sciences, and letters, though liable, from +extraordinary circumstances, to temporary obstructions, are sure and +steady; the channels of her wealth are beyond the reach of foreign +malignity; and, after an unparalleled struggle, her vigour and her +resources seem but to increase with the urgency of the occasions that +call them forth. + +Far different is the lot of other nations and of other countries. There +is scarcely a region of Continental Europe but has in its turn drunk +deep within these few years of the cup of horrors. Germany, the theatre +of unnumbered contests--the mountains of Switzerland, which for ages had +reverberated only the notes of rustic harmony--the fertile vales of the +Peninsula--the fields of Austria--the sands of Prussia--the vast forests +of Poland, and the boundless plains of the Russian empire--have +successively rung with the din of battle, and been drenched with native +blood. To the inhabitants of several of these countries, impoverished by +the events of war, the boon of British benevolence has been nobly +extended; but the facts related in the following sheets will bear me out +in the assertion, that none of these cases appealed so forcibly to the +attention of the humane as that of Leipzig, and its immediate vicinity. +Their innocent inhabitants have in one short year been reduced, by the +infatuation of their sovereign, and by that greatest of all curses, the +friendship of France, from a state of comfort to absolute beggary; and +thousands of them, stripped of their all, are at this moment houseless +and unprotected wanderers, exposed to the horrors of famine, cold, and +disease. + +That Leipzig, undoubtedly the first commercial city of Germany, and the +great Exchange of the Continent, must, in common with every other town +which derives its support from trade and commerce, have severely felt +the effects of what Napoleon chose to nickname _the Continental System_, +is too evident to need demonstration. The sentiments of its inhabitants +towards the author of that system could not of course be very +favourable; neither were they backward in shewing the spirit by which +they were animated, as the following facts will serve to evince:--When +the French, on their return from their disastrous Russian expedition, +had occupied Leipzig, and were beginning, as usual, to levy requisitions +of every kind, an express was sent to the Russian colonel Orloff, who +had pushed forward with his Cossacks to the distance of about 20 miles, +entreating him to release the place from its troublesome guests. He +complied with the invitation; and every Frenchman who had not been able +to escape, and fancied himself secure in the houses, was driven from his +hiding-place, and delivered up to the Cossacks, who were received with +unbounded demonstrations of joy. + +About this time a Prussian corps began to be formed in Silesia, under +the denomination of the Corps of Revenge. It was composed of volunteers, +who bound themselves by an oath not to lay down their arms till Germany +had recovered her independence. On the occupation of Leipzig by the +allies, this corps received a great accession of strength from that +place, where it joined by the greater number of the students at the +university, and by the most respectable young men of the city, and other +parts of Saxony. The people of Leipzig moreover availed themselves of +every opportunity to make subscriptions for the allied troops, and large +sums were raised on these occasions. Their mortification was +sufficiently obvious when the French, after the battle of Luetzen, again +entered the city. Those who had so lately welcomed the Russians and +Prussians with the loudest acclamations now turned their backs on their +pretended friends; nay, such was the general aversion, that many strove +to get out of the way, that they might not see them. + +This antipathy was well known to Bonaparte by means of his spies, who +were concealed in the town, and he took care to resent it. When, among +others, the deputies of the city of Leipzig, M. Frege, aulic counsellor, +M. Dufour, and Dr. Gross, waited upon him after the battle of Luetzen, he +expressed himself in the following terms respecting the corps of +revenge: _Je sais bien que c'est chez vous qu'on a forme ce corps de +vengeance, mais qui enfin n'est qu'une policonnerie qui n'a ete bon a +rien._ It was on this occasion also that the deputies received from the +imperial ruffian one of those insults which are so common with him, and +which might indeed be naturally expected from such an upstart; for, +when they assured him of the submission of the city, he dismissed them +with these remarkable words: _Allez vous en!_ than which nothing more +contemptuous could be addressed to the meanest beggar. + +It was merely to shew his displeasure at the Anti-Gallican sentiments of +the city, that Napoleon, after his entrance into Dresden, declared +Leipzig in a state of siege; in consequence of which the inhabitants +were obliged to furnish gratuitously all the requisitions that he +thought fit to demand. In this way the town, in a very short time, was +plundered of immense sums, exclusively of the expense of the hospitals, +the maintenance of which alone consumed upwards of 30,000 dollars per +week. During this state of things the French, from the highest to the +lowest, seemed to think themselves justified in wreaking upon the +inhabitants the displeasure of their emperor; each therefore, after the +example of his master, was a petty tyrant, whose licentiousness knew no +bounds. + +By such means, and by the immense assemblage of troops which began to be +formed about the city at the conclusion of September 1813, its resources +were completely exhausted, when the series of sanguinary engagements +between the 14th and the 19th of the following month reduced it to the +very verge of destruction. In addition to the pathetic details of the +extreme hardships endured by the devoted inhabitants of the field of +battle, which extended to the distance of ten English miles round +Leipzig, contained in the following sheets, I shall beg leave to +introduce the following extract of a letter, written on the 22d +November, by a person of great commercial eminence in that city, who, +after giving a brief account of those memorable days of October, thus +proceeds:-- + + "By this five days' conflict our city was transformed into one + vast hospital, 56 edifices being devoted to that purpose alone. + The number of sick and wounded amounted to 36,000. Of these a + large proportion died, but their places were soon supplied by the + many wounded who had been left in the adjacent villages. Crowded + to excess, what could be the consequence but contagious diseases? + especially as there was such a scarcity of the necessaries of + life--and unfortunately a most destructive nervous fever is at + this moment making great ravages among us, so that from 150 to 180 + deaths commonly occur in one week, in a city whose ordinary + proportion was between 30 and 40. In the military hospitals there + die at least 300 in a day, and frequently from 5 to 600. By this + extraordinary mortality the numbers there have been reduced to + from 14 to 10,000. Consider too the state of the circumjacent + villages, to the distance of 10 miles round, all completely + stripped; in scarcely any of them is there left a single horse, + cow, sheep, hog, fowl, or corn of any kind, either hay or + implements of agriculture. All the dwelling-houses have been + burned or demolished, and all the wood-work about them carried + off for fuel by the troops in bivouac. The roofs have shared the + same fate; the shells of the houses were converted into forts and + loop-holes made in the walls, as every village individually was + defended and stormed. Not a door or window is any where to be + seen, as those might be removed with the greatest ease, and, + together with the roofs, were all consumed. Winter is now at hand, + and its rigours begin already to be felt. These poor creatures are + thus prevented, not only by the season, from rebuilding their + habitations, but also by the absolute want of means; they have no + prospect before them but to die of hunger, for all Saxony, + together with the adjacent countries, has suffered far too + severely to be able to afford any relief to their miseries. + + "Our commercial house, God be thanked I has not been plundered; + but every thing in my private house, situated in the suburb of + Grimma, was carried off or destroyed, as you may easily conceive, + when I inform you that a body of French troops broke open the door + on the 19th, and defended themselves in the house against the + Prussians. Luckily I had a few days before removed my most + valuable effects to a place of safety. I had in the house one + killed and two wounded; but, a few doors off, not fewer than 60 + were left dead in one single house.--Almost all the houses in the + suburbs have been more or less damaged by the shower of balls on + the 19th." + +That these pictures of the miseries occasioned by the sanguinary +conflict which sealed the emancipation of the Continent from Gallic +despotism are not overcharged is proved by the concurrent testimony of +all the other accounts which have arrived from that quarter. Among the +rest a letter received by the publisher, from the venerable count +Schoenfeld, a Saxon nobleman of high character, rank, and affluence, many +years ambassador both at the court of Versailles, before the revolution, +and till within a few years at Vienna, is so interesting, that I am +confident I shall need no excuse for introducing it entire. His +extensive and flourishing estates south-east of Leipzig have been the +bloody cradle of regenerated freedom. The short space of a few days has +converted them into a frightful desert, reduced opulent villages into +smoking ruins; and plunged his Miserable tenants as well as himself into +a state of extreme Want, until means can be found again to cultivate the +soil and to rebuild the dwellings. He writes as follows:-- + + "It is with a sensation truly peculiar and extraordinary that I + take up my pen to address you, to whom I had, some years since, + the pleasure of writing several times on subjects of a very + different kind: but it is that very difference between those times + and the present, and the most wonderful series of events which + have followed each other during that period in rapid succession, + the ever-memorable occurrences of the last years and months, the + astonishing success which rejoices all Europe, and has + nevertheless plunged many thousands into inexpressible misery; it + is all this that has long engaged my attention, and presses itself + upon me at the moment I am writing. In events like these, every + individual, however distant, must take some kind of interest, + either as a merchant or a man of letters, a soldier or an artist; + or, if none of these, at least as a man. How strongly the late + events must interest every benevolent and humane mind I have no + need to tell you, who must more feelingly sympathize in them from + the circumstance that it is your native country, where the + important question, whether the Continent of Europe should + continue to wear an ignominious yoke, and whether it deserved the + fetters of slavery, because it was not capable of bursting them, + has been decisively answered by the greatest and the most + sanguinary contest that has occurred for many ages. That same + Saxony, which three centuries ago released part of the world from + the no less galling yoke of religious bondage; which, according to + history, has been the theatre of fifteen great battles; that same + Saxony is now become the cradle of the political liberty of the + Continent. But a power so firmly rooted could not be overthrown + without the most energetic exertions; and, while millions are now + raising the shouts of triumph, there are, in Saxony alone, a + million of souls who are reduced to misery too severe to be + capable of taking any part in the general joy, and who are now + shedding the bitterest tears of abject wretchedness and want That + such is the fact is confirmed to me by the situation of my + acquaintance and neighbours, by that of my suffering tenants, and + finally by my own. The ever-memorable and eventful battles of the + 16th to the 19th of October began exactly upon and between my two + estates of Stoermthal and Liebertwolkwitz. All that the oppressive + imposts, contributions, and quarterings, as well as the rapacity + of the yet unvanquished French, had spared, became on these + tremendous days a prey to the flames, or was plundered by those + who called themselves allies of our king, but whom the country + itself acknowledged as such only through compulsion. Whoever could + save his life with the clothes upon his back might boast of his + good fortune; for many, who were obliged, with broken hearts, to + leave their burning houses, lost their apparel also. Out of the + produce of a tolerably plentiful harvest, not a grain is left for + sowing; the little that was in the barns was consumed in + _bivouac_, or, next morning, in spite of the prayers and + entreaties of the owners, wantonly burned by the laughing fiends. + Not a horse, not a cow, not a sheep, is now to be seen; nay, + several species of animals appear to be wholly exterminated in + Saxony. I have myself lost a flock of 2000 Spanish sheep, Tyrolese + and Swiss cattle, all my horses, waggons, and household utensils. + The very floors of my rooms were torn up; my plate, linen, and + important papers and documents, were carried away and destroyed. + Not a looking-glass, not a pane in the windows, or a chair, is + left. The same calamity befell my wretched tenants, over whose + misfortunes I would willingly forget my own. All is desolation and + despair, aggravated by the certain prospect of epidemic diseases + and famine. Who can relieve such misery, unless God should be + pleased to do it by means of those generous individuals, to whom, + in my own inability to help, I am now obliged to appeal? + + "I apply, therefore, to you, Sir; and request you, out of love to + your wretched country, which is so inexpressibly devastated, to + solicit the aid of your opulent friends and acquaintance, who, + with the generosity peculiar to the whole nation, may feel for the + unmerited misery of others, in behalf of my wretched tenants in + Liebertwolkwitz and Stoermthal. These poor and truly helpless + unfortunates would, with tears, pay the tribute of their warmest + gratitude to their generous benefactors, if they needed that + gratitude in addition to the satisfaction resulting from so noble + an action. You will not, I am sure, misunderstand my request, as + it proceeds from a truly compassionate heart, but which, by its + own losses, is reduced so low as to be unable to afford any relief + to others. Should it ever be possible for me to serve you or any + of your friends here, depend upon my doing all that lies within my + poor ability. Meanwhile I remain, in expectation of your kind and + speedy fulfilment of my request, + + "Sir, + + "Your most obedient friend and servant, + + "COUNT SCHONFELD." + + _Leipzig, Nov. 22, 1813. + To Mr. Ackermann, London._ + + "P.S.--I have been obliged, by the weakness of my sight, to employ + another hand. I remember the friendly sentiments which you here + testified for me with the liveliest gratitude. My patriotic way of + thinking, which drew upon me also the hatred of the French + government, occasioned me, four years since, to resign the post of + ambassador, which I had held twenty-five years, and to retire from + service[1]." + +From documents transmitted to the publisher by friends at Leipzig, have +been selected the narratives contained in the following sheets, which +were written by eye-witnesses of the facts there related. The principal +object of their publication is not so much to expose tine atrocities of +Gallic ruffians, as to awaken the sympathies and call forth the humanity +of the British nation. Like that glorious luminary, whose genial rays +vivify and invigorate all nature, Britain is looked up to by the whole +civilized world for support against injustice, and for solace in +distress. To her liberality the really unfortunate have never yet +appealed in vain; and, with this experience before his eyes, the +publisher confidently anticipates in behalf of his perishing countrymen +the wonted exercise of that godlike quality, which + + "---- droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven? + And blesseth him that gives and him that takes." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] R. ACKERMANN would not feel himself justified in printing this +letter, nor in presuming to make an appeal to the British public in +behalf of the writer, were he not personally acquainted with the +character of this unfortunate and patriotic nobleman, who is held in the +highest veneration and respect for his benevolence to his numerous +tenantry, his liberality to strangers, and his general philanthropy. To +relieve the distresses which he has so pathetically described, the +publisher solicits the contributions of the benevolent. A distinct book +has been opened for that charitable-purpose at No. 101, Strand, in which +even the smallest sums, with the names of the donors, may be entered, +and to which, as well as to the original letter, reference may be made +by those who feel disposed to peruse, them. + + + + +NARRATIVE, &c. + + +You know, my dear friend, how often I have expressed the inconsiderate +wish to have some time or other an opportunity of witnessing a general +engagement. This wish has now been accomplished, and in such a way as +had well nigh proved fatal to myself; for my life had like to have been +forfeited to my curiosity. I may boast, however, with perfect truth, +that, during the four most tremendous days, I was wholly unaffected by +that alarm and terror which had seized all around me. On those four days +I was a near and undisturbed observer of a conflict which can scarcely +be paralleled In the annals of the world: a conflict distinguished by a +character which raises it far above your ordinary every-day battles. Its +consequences will extend not to Europe only, but to regions separated +from it by vast oceans. You must not expect from me a narrative that +will enter into military details, but merely a faithful historical +picture of what fell under my own observation; of what my own eyes, +assisted by an excellent telescope, could discover from one of the +highest buildings in the city, in the centre of operations, in the midst +of a circumference of more than eighteen leagues; and what I saw and +heard while venturing, at the hazard of my life, out of the city, not +indeed up to the mouths of the infernal volcanoes, but close in the +rear of the French lines, into the horrible bustle and tumult of the +baggage-waggons and bivouacs. We were here exactly in the middle of the +immense magic circle, where the incantations thundered forth from +upwards of fifteen hundred engines of destruction annihilated many +thousands, in order to produce a new creation. It was the conflict of +the Titans against Olympus. It is unparalleled in regard to the +commanders, great part of whom knew nothing of defeat but from the +discomfiture of their opponents, and among whom were three emperors, a +king, and the heir-apparent to a throne;--it is unparalleled in regard +to the form, for it was fought in a circle which embraced more than +fifteen miles;--it is unparalleled in regard to the prodigious armies +engaged, for almost half a million of warriors out of every region of +Europe and Asia, from the mouth of the Tajo to the Caucasus, with near +two thousand pieces of cannon, were arrayed against one another;--it is +unparalleled in regard to its duration, for it lasted almost one hundred +hours;--it is unparalleled in regard to the plan so profoundly combined +and so maturely digested by the allies, and characterized by an unity, +which, in a gigantic mass, composed of such, multifarious parts, would +have been previously deemed impossible;--it is unparalleled also in +regard to its consequences, the full extent of which time alone can +develop, and the first of which, the dissolution of the confederation of +the Rhine, the overthrow of the Continental system, and the deliverance +of Germany, are already before our eyes:--finally, it is unparalleled in +regard to single extraordinary events, the most remarkable of which is, +that the majority of the allies of the grand army, who had fought under +the banners of France in so many engagements with exemplary valour and +obstinacy, in the midst of this conflict, as if wakened by an electric +shock, went over in large bodies, with their drums beating and with all +their artillery, to the hostile legions, and immediately turned their +arms against their former associates. The annals of modern warfare +exhibit no examples of such a phenomenon, except upon the most +contracted scale. You may possibly object, that in all this there is +some exaggeration; and that, if I rate the battle of Leipzig so highly, +it is only because I happened to be an eye-witness of it myself; that +the French army is by no means annihilated; that in the uncommon talents +of its leader it possesses a sure pledge that it will regain from its +enemies those laurels which on various occasions they have ravished from +it for a moment. You may employ other arguments of a similar kind; but +to these I boldly reply, that neither do I consider the French army as +annihilated; that such a calamity could scarcely befall a force which in +the month of May, after ten engagements, numbered not less than 400,000 +men, and was conducted by a general who had already won near fifty +battles: but this I maintain, that the mighty eagle, which proudly +aspired to encompass the whole globe in his flight, has had his wings +crippled at Leipzig to such a degree, that in future he will scarcely be +inclined to venture beyond the inaccessible crags which he has chosen +for his retreat. For my part, I cannot help considering the battle of +Leipzig as the same (only on an enlarged scale) as that gained near this +very spot 180 years ago, by the great Gustavus Adolphus. In this +conflict it was certainly decided that Napoleon, so far from being able +to sustain such another engagement in Germany, will not have it in his +power to make any stand on the right bank of the Rhine, nor recover +himself till secure with the relics of his dispirited army behind the +bulwarks of his own frontier. + +Four times had the sun pursued his course over the immense field of +battle before the die of Fate decided its issue. The whole horizon was +enveloped in clouds of smoke and vapours; every moment fresh columns of +fire shot up from the circumjacent villages; in all points were seen the +incessant flashes of the guns, whose deep thunders, horribly +intermingled with continual volleys of small arms, which frequently +seemed quite close to the gates of the city, shook the very ground. Add +to this the importance of the question which was to be resolved in this +murderous contest, and you may form a faint conception of the anxiety, +the wishes, the hopes,--in a word, of the cruel suspense which pervaded +every bosom in this city. + +To enable you to pursue the train of events, as far as I was capable of +informing myself respecting them, I will endeavour to relate them as +they occurred. It was not till the arrival of marshal Marmont with his +corps of the army in this neighbourhood that any idea of the probability +of a general engagement at Leipzig began to be entertained. That +circumstance happened in the beginning of October. These guests brought +along with them every species of misery and distress, which daily +increased in proportion as those hosts of destroyers kept gradually +swelling into a large army. They were joined from time to time by +several other corps; the city was nearly surrounded by bivouacs; and, +gracious God! what proceedings! what havoc!--We had frequently been +informed that all Saxony, from Lusatia to the Elbe, resembled one vast +desert, where nothing was to be seen but towns laid waste and +plundered, villages reduced to ashes, naked and famishing +inhabitants;--that there was no appearance of any other living creature; +nay, not even a trace of vegetation remaining. These accounts we +naturally regarded as exaggerations, little imagining that in a short +time we should have to give to our distant friends the same details of +horror respecting our own vicinity. Too true it is that no nation has +made such progress in the art of refinement, and is so ingenious in +devising infernal torments, as that, which, under the name of allies and +protectors, has made us so inexpressibly wretched. Ever since the battle +of Luetzen, Leipzig had been one of the principal resources of the grand +French army, and they showed it no mercy. Numberless hospitals +transformed it into one great infirmary; many thousands of troops, +quartered in the habitations of the citizens, one prodigious _corps de +garde_; and requisitions of meat, bread, rice, brandy, and other +articles, one vast poor-house, where the indigent inhabitants were in +danger of starving. But for this well-stored magazine, the great French +army had long since been obliged to abandon the Elbe. No wonder then +that this point should have been guarded with the utmost care. It +required commissaries and inspectors, such as those who had the control +over our store-houses and granaries, to complete the master-piece, to +reduce that Leipzig, which had once patiently sustained, without being +entirely exhausted, the burdens of a war that lasted seven years--to +reduce it, I say, in six months, to so low an ebb, that even the opulent +were in danger of perishing with hunger; that reputable citizens could +no longer procure the coarsest fare; and that, though their hearts +overflowed with pity and compassion, they were absolutely incapable of +affording the slightest relief, not so much as a crust of bread, to the +sick and wounded soldier. It is impossible to give you any idea of the +dexterity and rapidity with which the French soldiers will so totally +change the look of a village, a field, or a garden, that you shall not +know it again, how well soever you may have been acquainted with it +before. Such was the fate of Leipzig, and of the beautiful environs of +our inner city-walls. + +You must know that the bread and forage waggons of a great French army +are destined merely, as they pass through the villages, to receive the +stores collected from all the barns, cellars, lofts, and stables, which +are taken by force from the wretched husbandman, who is beaten, cut, and +mangled, till he puts-to his last horse, and till he carries his last +sheaf of corn and his last loaf of bread to the next bivouac; and then +he may think himself fortunate, if he is suffered to return home without +horses or waggon, and is not compelled to accompany the depredators many +miles without sustenance of any kind. In all other armies, whether +Russians, Prussians, Austrians, or Swedes, when the troops are not drawn +out in line of battle opposite to the enemy, in which case it is +necessary to send back the carriages into the rear, care is always taken +that waggons with bread and forage, and herds of cattle, shall follow +the marching columns. Whenever the army halts, magazines are immediately +established; and, if even the stores necessary for it are required at +the cost of the country, this case bears no comparison with that where +every attendant on the waggon-train is at full liberty to pillage till +his rapacity is satisfied. Woe to the country where, as in our's, +hundreds of thousands of such commissaries are allowed to exercise their +destructive office at discretion! Ask the inhabitants of more than +twenty villages round Leipzig, and many hundred others at a greater +distance, which certainly fared no better, what soldiers they were who +carried off roofs, doors, windows, floors, and every kind of household +furniture and agricultural implements, and threw them like useless +lumber into the watch-fires?--Ask those unfortunates what soldiers they +were who pillaged barns and cellars, and ransacked every corner of the +houses; who tore the scanty clothes from the backs of the poorest class; +who broke open every box and chest, and who searched every dunghill, +that nothing might escape them?--They will tell you that it was the so +highly vaunted French guards, who always led the way, and were the +instructors of their comrades. + +It is a great misfortune for a country when, in time of war, the supply +of the troops is left to themselves by the military authorities, and +when that supply is calculated only from one day to another; but this +calamity has no bounds when they are French troops who attack your +stores. It is not enough for them to satisfy the calls of appetite; +every article is an object of their rapacity: nothing whatever is left +to the plundered victim. What they cannot cram into their knapsacks and +cartouch-boxes is dashed in pieces and destroyed. Of the truth of this +statement the environs of Leipzig might furnish a thousand proofs. The +most fortunate of the inhabitants were those who in good time removed +their stores and cattle to a place of safety, and left their houses to +their fate. He who neglected this precaution, under the idea that the +presence of the owner would be sufficient to restrain those locusts, of +course lost his all. No sooner had he satisfied one party than another +arrived to renew the demand; and thus they proceeded so long as a morsel +or a drop was left in the house. When such a person had nothing more to +give, he was treated with the utmost brutality, till at length, stripped +of all, he was reluctantly compelled to abandon his home. If you should +chance to find a horse or a cow, here and there, in the country round +our city, imagine not that the animal was spared by French +generosity:--no such thing! the owner must assuredly have concealed it +in some hiding-place, where it escaped the prying eyes of the French +soldiers. Nothing--absolutely nothing--was spared; the meanest bedstead +of the meanest beggar was broken up as well as the most costly furniture +from the apartments of the opulent. After they had slept upon the beds +in the bivouacs, as they could not carry them away, they ripped them +open, consigned the feathers to the winds, and sold the bed-clothes and +ticking for a mere trifle. Neither the ox, nor the calf but two days +old; neither the ewe, nor the lamb scarcely able to walk; neither the +brood-hen, nor the tender chicken, was spared. All were carried off +indiscriminately; whatever had life was slaughtered; and the fields were +covered with calves, lambs, and poultry, which the troops were unable to +consume. The cattle collected from far and near were driven along in +immense herds with the baggage. Their cries for food in all the high +roads were truly pitiable. Often did one of those wretches drive away +several cows from the out-house of a little farmer, who in vain implored +him upon his knees to spare his only means of subsistence, merely to +sell them before his face for a most disproportionate price. Hay, oats, +and every species of corn, were thrown unthreshed upon the ground, where +they were consumed by the horses, or mostly trampled in the dirt; and if +these animals had stood for some days in the stable, and been supplied +with forage by the peasant, the rider had frequently the impudence to +require his host to pay for the dung. Woe to the field of cabbages, +turnips, or potatoes, that happened to lie near a bivouac! It was +covered in a trice with men and cattle, and in twenty-four hours there +was not a plant to be seen. Fruit-trees were cut down and used for fuel, +or in the erection of sheds, which were left perhaps as soon as they +were finished. Though Saxony is one of the richest and most fertile +provinces of Germany, and the vicinity of Leipzig has been remarkable +for abundance, yet it cannot appear surprising, that, with such wanton +waste, famine, the most dangerous foe to an army, should have at length +found its way into all the French camps. Barns, stables, and lofts, were +emptied; the fields were laid bare; and the inhabitants fled into the +woods and the towns. Bread and other provisions had not been seen in our +markets for several days, and thus it was now our turn to endure the +pressure of hunger. It was a fortunate circumstance that many families +had laid in a quantity of potatoes, which indeed might yet be purchased, +though at an exorbitant price. The bakers of this place were obliged to +work up the small stock of flour in their possession for the use of the +troops; and all other persons were driven from the doors by the guards +with the butt-ends of their muskets; though the citizen who came in +quest of bread had perhaps twenty men quartered upon him, who all +expected him to find wherewith to satisfy their craving appetites. + +Such was what might be termed the prologue to the grand tragedy which +was about to be performed in an amphitheatre of many square miles, and +to the catastrophe of which we looked forward with an anxiety that had +risen to so high a pitch, because, in case of the longer continuance of +this state of things, our own annihilation might be hourly expected. +That the grand armies of the allies were approaching Leipzig, on every +side, we had heard through several private channels. Napoleon had +quitted Dresden, which he had been compelled to abandon almost solely by +the want of all the means of subsistence. We were long uncertain +respecting his route, and so perhaps was he himself at first. Many, who +were qualified to form a judgment respecting military operation's, were +of opinion that he would make a push with his whole force upon Berlin +and the Oder. They supposed that those parts were not sufficiently +covered, and considered the fortresses on the Elbe as his _point +d'appui_ in the rear. This opinion, however, seemed to lose much of its +probability, as other French corps, under Ney, Regnier, Bertrand, and +Marmont, kept arriving here, and were afterwards joined by that of +Augereau. We had received authentic information that prince +Schwarzenberg had already advanced to Altenburg with the grand combined +army of Austria, Russia, and Prussia; and also that the crown-prince of +Sweden had his head-quarters at Zoerbig. Upon the whole, however, our +intelligence was unsatisfactory. For several days (that is to say, from +the 10th) it was reported that the emperor of the French would certainly +remove his head-quarters hither; that he had taken the road to Wurzen, +and was coming by way of Duben. This account was confirmed by several +detachments of the French guard. It is universally known that this +general preferably chooses those days on which he founds his claim to +glory, in order to distinguish them by new achievements. His proximity +to us, and the approaching 14th of October[2], strengthened the +anticipation of some important event in our neighbourhood. The light +troops of the allies, whom we took for the advanced guard of the +crown-prince of Sweden, were distinctly to be seen from the steeples of +the city, on the north side of it, towards Breitenfeld and Lindenthal. +Daily skirmishes ensued, and wounded French were hourly brought in. The +bustle in the city increased; the king of Naples had arrived, and fixed +his head-quarters at Konnewitz. Innumerable generals and staff-officers +filled all the houses. Not a moment's rest was to be had; all were in +bivouac. They seemed wholly ignorant of the motions of the allies; for +the same troops who went out at one gate often returned before night at +another; so that there was an incessant marching in and out at all the +four principal avenues of the city. These movements of cavalry, +infantry, and carriages, ceased not a moment even during the night It +was very rarely that a troop of cavalry, sent out upon patrol or picket +duty, returned without having lost several men and horses, who were +invariably, according to their report, kidnapped by the Cossacks. Upon +the whole, all the troops with whom the French had any rencounters were +called by them _Cossacks_--a name which I have heard them repeat +millions of times, and to which they never failed to add, that "the +fellows had again set up a devilish hurrah." + +The Cossacks are indisputably the troops of whom the French are most +afraid. With them, therefore, all the light cavalry who come upon them +unawares are sure to be Cossacks. In revenge for the many annoyances +which they were incessantly suffering from these men, they applied to +them the opprobrious epithet of _brigands_. Often did I take pains to +convince them that troops who were serving their legitimate sovereign, +and fighting under the conduct of their officers, could not be termed +banditti; my representations had no effect,--they were determined to +have some satisfaction for their disappointment in a thousand attempts +to master such enemies. Their vanity was far too great to suffer them to +do justice to those warriors; and they never would admit what thousands +had witnessed, namely, that thirty French horse had frequently run away +from two Cossacks. If Napoleon had twenty thousand Russian Cossacks in +his service, the French journalists and editors of newspapers would +scarcely be able to find terms strong enough to extol these troops; and +the French have just reason to rejoice that the emperor Alexander has no +such rivals of their government in his pay, otherwise we should hear of +their exploits only, and the vaunted French horse-guards would long +since have sunk into oblivion. + +All the preparations that were making now evidently denoted that we were +on the eve of important events. The French corps had already ranged +themselves in a vast semicircle, extending from north to east, and +thence to south-west. The country towards Merseburg and Weissenfels +seemed to be merely observed. For this purpose the eminences beyond the +village of Lindenau were occupied. Here the access to the city is the +most difficult, a causeway only leading to it in this direction. The +country on the right and left consists of swampy meadows and wood-land, +every where intersected by ditches and muddy streams. If you inquired +of the French officers what might be the total strength of their army +about Leipzig, their statements were so various, that it was impossible +to fix with the least confidence upon any number as a medium. By what +standard, indeed, can you judge of a force rated by some at 150,000, by +others at 400,000 men? They unanimously agreed, on the other hand, that +the allies would be opposed by fifteen corps, exclusively of the guards. +I had an opportunity of forming a tolerably correct estimate of one +division of Marmont's corps, which consisted at the utmost of 4000, so +that the whole might amount to 12,000 men; and it was one of those +which, in comparison of others, had sustained the least loss. Even that +of Augereau, which was incontestably the most complete, as it had just +come out of cantonments, was computed at scarcely 15,000 men. If, then, +we take 10,000 for the average, the total amount of the French armies +collected near Leipzig, as the wrecks only of several were then +remaining, can scarcely have reached 170,000, even including the guards. +Such a force, however, commanded by so many generals who had heretofore +been acknowledged the ablest in Europe, together with wore than 600 +pieces of artillery, was still fully sufficient to make itself +respected, and even feared, by an enemy of double its number. One single +species of troops alone was below mediocrity:--the cavalry, both in +regard to the horses and the men, the former from weakness and want of +sustenance, and the latter from ignorance of their business. With the +force of the allies we are yet unacquainted, but at all events they must +have been more numerous. + +The 14th of October at length dawned. It had preceded by several rainy +days; but this was merely lowering. The cannon thundered at intervals +towards Liebertwolkwitz. In the forenoon wounded French, chiefly +cavalry, kept coming in singly. With whom they had been engaged they +knew not--_Cossacks_, of course. We looked forward with certainty to a +general engagement. It became every hour more dangerous for the +inquisitive to venture out or in at the gates. There was no end to the +marching of horse and foot and the rolling of carriages; at every ten +paces you met in all directions with _corps de garde_, by whom every +non-military person without distinction was ordered back, sometimes with +fair words, and at others with rudeness. Several couriers had been sent +forward to announce the speedy arrival of the king of Saxony and +Napoleon. The hero of the age, as he has been styled, actually came +about noon, not, as we anticipated, by the Dresden road, but by that +from Berlin. He passed hastily through the city, and out at the farthest +Grimma gate, attended by some battalions and squadrons of his guards. A +camp-chair and a table were brought in all haste, and a great watch-fire +kindled in the open field; not far from the gallows. The guards +bivouacked on the right and left. The emperor took possession of the +head-quarters prepared for him, which were any thing but magnificent, +being surrounded only by the relics of the stalks and leaves of the +cabbages consumed by his soldiers, and other matters still more +offensive. The table was instantly covered with maps, over which the +emperor pored most attentively for a considerable time. Of what was +passing around him he seemed not to take the smallest notice. The +spectators, of whom I was one, crowded pretty close about him. On +occasion of his visit to the city, a few months before, the French had +discovered that the people of Leipzig were not so malicious as they had +been represented, but tolerably good-natured creatures. They were +therefore allowed to approach unobstructed within twenty paces. A long +train of carriages from the Wurzen road, the cracking of the whips of +the postilions, together with a great number of horse-soldiers and tall +grenadiers, announced the arrival of another distinguished personage, +and called the attention of the by-standers that way. It was the king of +Saxony, with his guards and retinue. He alighted, and a kind salutation +ensued between him and his august ally. The king soon afterwards mounted +a horse, and thus proceeded into the city. Napoleon meanwhile remained +where he was. He sometimes rose from his seat, went up to the +watch-fire, held his hands over it, rubbed them, and then placed them +behind him, whilst with his foot he pushed the wood, consisting of dry +boards and rafters from the nearest houses, into the flame, to make it +burn more fiercely. At the same time he very frequently took snuff, of +which he seemed to have but a small quantity left in his gold box. At +last he scraped together what was left with his finger, and poured it +out upon his hand. When all was gone, he opened the box several times +and smelt to it, without applying to any of the marshals and generals +around him to relieve his want. As the discharges of artillery towards +Probstheide grew more and more general and alarming, and the wounded +kept returning in continually increasing numbers, I was rather surprised +that the commander should, on this occasion, contrary to his usual +custom, quietly remain so far from the field of battle, which was near +ten miles distant, apparently without giving himself the least concern +about the event. + +It was about four in the afternoon when one of his aid-de-camps came at +full speed from the city, and made a report. The drums instantly beat to +arms, and the divisions of the guards broke up. The emperor immediately +mounted his horse, and followed them. He directed his course towards the +Kohlgaerten[3], leaving the field of battle on the right. I soon +perceived the cause of this movement: the message informed him of the +arrival of the whole of his guards, for whom he had been waiting. They +came from Dueben, entering by the Halle gate, and now made a countermarch +upon Dresden. When I beheld their endless files and cannon without +number pouring out of the city, I certainly gave up the allies for lost. +I was thoroughly convinced that Napoleon had no other plan than to +strike off to the right behind the Kohlgaerten, with his new army, and, +proceeding from Stoetteritz, to turn his enemies on the right flank, and, +as he had often done before, to attack and annihilate them. I was +however egregiously mistaken. The emperor went with his retinue scarcely +a thousand paces, to the first houses of the Kohlgaerten, where he took +up his quarters, and quietly passed the night. The guards and the whole +train likewise stopped in that neighbourhood, and there bivouacked. It +grew dark. The palisades at the gate had left but a narrow passage, +through which troops and artillery kept pouring without intermission. +People on horseback and on foot, who wanted to return into the city, had +been already detained for several successive hours; the crowd every +moment increased, and with it the danger. To seek another entrance was +impracticable, as a person would run the risk of being detained by the +thousands of pickets, and shot, or at least dragged to the filthiest +bivouacs. The night was dark as pitch, and no hope left of getting home. +It rained fast, and not a corner was to be found where you might take +shelter. I was in the midst of more than a thousand horses, which +threatened every moment to trample me under their feet. Fortunately for +me, they were all tolerably quiet The thunder of the artillery had long +ceased; but, had it even continued, it could not possibly have been +heard amidst the rattling of carriages and cannon; the shouts of +soldiers and officers, as sometimes cavalry, at others infantry, wanted +to pass first; the incessant cursing, cracking, pushing, and thrusting. +Never while I live shall I witness such a scene of confusion, of which +indeed it is impossible to convey any conception. It continued without +intermission from four in the afternoon till twelve at night, so that +you may figure to yourself the disagreeable situation in which I was +placed. No sooner had the first columns arrived at their bivouacs in the +neighbouring villages, than a thousand messengers came to announce the +intelligence in a way that sufficiently proved what unwelcome visitors +they were. Weeping mothers with beds packed up in baskets, leading two +or three stark-naked children by the hand, and with perhaps another +infant at their back; fathers seeking their wives and families; +children, who had lost their parents in the crowd trucks with sick +persons forcing their way among the thousands of horses; cries of misery +and despair in every quarter:--such were the heralds that most feelingly +proclaimed the presence of the warriors who have been celebrated in so +many regions, and whose imposing appearance has been so often admired, +all these unfortunates crowded into the filthy corner formed by the old +hospital and the wall at the Kohlgaerten-gate. Their cries and +lamentations were intermingled with the moans and groans of the wounded +who were going to the hospitals, and who earnestly solicited bread and +relief. A number of French soldiers, probably such as had loitered in +the rear, searched every basket and every pocket for provisions. They +turned without ceremony the sleeping infants out of the baskets, and +cared not how the enraged mothers lacerated their faces in return. The +scenes of horror changed so quickly, that you could not dwell more than +half a minute upon any of them. The tenderest heart became torpid and +insensible. One tale of woe followed on the heels of another,--"Such a +person too has been plundered!--Such an one's house has been set on +fire!--This man is cut in pieces; that has been transfixed with the +bayonet!--Those poor creatures are seeking their children!"--These were +the tidings brought by every new fugitive. If you asked the French when +the march would be over, you received the consolatory answer--"Not +before six o'clock in the morning." During the night the sound of drums +and trumpets incessantly announced the arrival of fresh regiments. At +length, about midnight, the bustle somewhat subsided, at least so far as +regarded the marching of troops. I now seized the favourable moment, and +felt myself as it were a new creature; when, having made my way through +the crowd of horses with extraordinary courage and dexterity, I once +more set foot in the city. _Thus the morning and the evening completed +the first day of horror._ + +Notwithstanding the unpleasant circumstances in which my curiosity had +involved me on the preceding day, I had in fact seen and heard nothing +as far as related to my principal object. It was no battle, but merely +an indecisive, though warm, affair. The first act of the piece concluded +with aft illumination extending farther than the eye could reach, and +occasioned by the innumerable watch-fires which were kindled in every +quarter, and gradually spread farther and farther, as the lines of the +bivouacking army were lengthened by the arrival of fresh columns. By way +of variety, the flames rising from a number of burning houses in the +distance formed as it were points of repose. Scarcely was the night over +when all eyes and ears were on the alert, in expectation that the +sanguinary scene would commence with the morning's dawn. All, however, +remained quiet. People, therefore, again ventured abroad, and there +thought themselves more secure than the preceding day, because they +might the more easily avoid the danger while at a distance-than they +could have done the night before. It required, to be sure, considerable +strength of nerves not to be shocked at the spectacles which every where +presented themselves. Many dead bodies of soldiers, who had come sick +into bivouac, lay naked in the fields and upon the roads. The heirs had +taken especial care to be on the spot at the moment of their decease, to +take possession of all that the poor wretches had to bequeath. The +mortality among the horses had been still greater: you met with their +carcasses almost at every step; and, which way soever you turned your +eyes, you beheld a still greater number which Death had so firmly seized +in his iron grasp, that they inclined their heads to the ground, and +fell, in a few minutes, to rise no more! Scarcely was there sufficient +room on the high road for a slender pedestrian to find a passage. All +the fields were covered with troops and baggage. Even on the place of +execution they had erected bivouacs, and not the most inconvenient, +because they were there less crowded than in other places. Except single +musket-shots, nothing was to be heard but incessant cries of _Serrez! +Serrez!_ (Closer! Closer!)--The dice yet lay in the box, and were not +destined to be thrown that day. It was probably spent in reconnoitring, +in order to make up the parties for the grand game in which empires were +the stake. The preparations for the defence of the city became more +serious and alarming. The exterior avenues had been previously +palisaded, and provided with _chevaux de frise_; but the greater part of +them were completely closed up. Loop-holes were formed in every wall, +and _tirailleurs_ posted behind them. In every garden and at every hedge +you stumbled upon pickets. As the inner town is better secured by its +strong walls against a first onset, they contented themselves there with +sawing holes in the great wooden gates, for the purpose of firing +through them. Every thing denoted the determination not to spare the +city in the least, however unfit in itself for a point of defence. The +only circumstance calculated to tranquillize the timid was the presence +of our king, for whom, at any rate, Napoleon could not but have some +respect. + +As there was no appearance of gleaning much information abroad, I now +sought a wider prospect upon a steeple.--So much I had ascertained from +all accounts, that it was principally the Austrians who had been +engaged the preceding day. Some hundreds of prisoners had been brought +in; the church-yard had been allotted to these poor fellows for their +abode, probably that they might study the inscriptions on the +grave-stones, and thus be reminded of their mortality. Nothing was given +them to eat, lest they should be disturbed in these meditations. So far +as the telescope would command were to be seen double and triple lines, +the end of which the eye sought in vain. The French army stretched in a +vast semicircle from Paunsdorf to Probstheide, and was lost in the woods +of Konnewitz. It occupied therefore a space of more than one German mile +(five English miles). Behind all these lines appeared reserves, who were +posted nearer to the city. On this side the main force seemed to be +assembled. Towards the north and west the ranks were more broken and +detached. Of the armies of the allies, only some divisions could yet be +discerned. The Cossacks were plainly distinguished at a distance of two +leagues. They had the boldness to venture within musket-shot of the +French lines, alight, thrust their pikes into the ground, and let their +horses run about. The king of Saxony himself witnessed their audacity +whilst in the midst of the French army, about half a league from +Leipzig. A number of these men came unawares upon him; and a Saxon +officer, with eighty horse, was obliged to face about against them, till +the king had reached a place of safety. This was the principal reason +why he made his entry into the city on horseback. + +The 15th of October, which had been universally expected to give birth +to important events, was now quietly passed. For many weeks the city had +not been so tranquil as it was on the night of that day. Nothing but +the incessant _Qui vive?_ at the gates, denoted the presence of the +troops. On my return about eight o'clock from the suburbs, I was +suddenly surprised by an unusual phenomenon: in the direction of Pegau, +I saw three white rockets ascend to a great height amid the darkness. I +stood still, and waited to observe what would follow. In about a minute +four red ones rose above the horizon, apparently from Halle. After this +there was nothing more to be seen. That they were signals could not be +doubted, any more than that those signals must have been made by the +combined troops. I concluded that they must have armies in those +quarters, and that they were informing one another by these luminous +messengers of the points at which they had arrived. It now became more +certain than ever that the 16th would be the great day that should +decide the fate of Germany. I expressed my conjectures to several French +officers, that, according to all appearance, fresh armies of the allies +were on their march toward Leipzig. They contradicted me point-blank; +partly because, as they said, the crown-prince of Sweden and general +Bluecher had been obliged to retreat precipitately across the Elbe, as an +immense French army was in full march upon Berlin; and partly because +they were convinced that the reinforcements which might be coming up +could be of no great consequence; and were confident, that, at all +events, they should be perfectly prepared to receive the enemy. Never +did they make so sure of the most complete victory as they did +previously to the then approaching engagement. Besides the French in +garrison in the city, there were many German troops, who expressed +little hope, and, on the other hand, declared their resolution to make +no resistance, but to pass over to the allies, as many of their comrades +had already done; and there was no reason to doubt their +sincerity.--Thus passed the second day, between hope and fear. + +The dawn of the 16th of October was enveloped in a thick fog. It was +gloomy, rainy, and cold. It was imagined that the hostile armies, though +so eager for the combat, would restrain their ardour to engage till the +fog should have cleared away. Soon after six, however, the thunder of +the artillery began to roll from Liebertwolkwitz. It grew more violent, +and approached nearer;--this was probably the moment when the Austrians +stormed that place. The firing _en pelotons_ was already heard. From our +elevated position we could discern nothing, the dense fog concealing +every object at the distance of one hundred paces. About ten, the +artillery thundered along the whole line of battle. The atmosphere +became clearer, and the clouds dispersed. Every flash from the cannon +was distinctly visible on the side of Konnewitz. Already a thousand +engines of death hurled destruction among the contending armies. The +fire of jaegers and sharp-shooters rattled on all sides, and we soon +discovered whole ranges of battalions and regiments. It was a general +engagement;--that was evident enough to every one, even though he had +never before heard a cannon fired in all his life. On the side of the +Halle and Ranstaedt gates all was yet quiet, and I began to imagine that +my rockets had deceived me. For six hours the guns had roared, and all +the lines were enveloped in clouds of smoke, through which the flashes +incessantly darted like lightning. As yet neither party seemed to have +receded an inch. The thunders of the artillery still continued to +proceed from the same spot. No longer could the firing of single guns +be distinguished; hundreds were every moment discharged, and united in +one single protracted roar. How many victims must already have strewed +the field!--At length, about eleven o'clock, a considerable change +seemed to have taken place. The firing did not appear more distant, but +became less general; single shots were heard, and the combatants seemed +disposed to make a pause in the work of death. All on a sudden a new and +tremendous cannonade commenced beyond Lindenau, towards Luetzen, not much +more than half a league from the city. The batteries of the allies +seemed to fire from Kleinschocher: those of the French were posted on +the heights of Lindenau. The corps of count Giulay had arrived there, +and now it appeared that my interpretation of the rockets was correct. I +then turned my eyes quickly towards the north, in the direction of +Halle, where before there was little or nothing to be seen. How was I +astonished when I now beheld lines of soldiers stretching farther than +the eye could reach, and fresh columns advancing behind them. It +appeared as if the troops which had been so furiously engaged the whole +morning were but the advanced guards of the immense armies that now +extended themselves more and more before me. Whence the French lines +which were so rapidly ranged opposite to them could have sprung, I am +yet at a loss to conceive: an hour before, I should have estimated them +at scarcely 10,000 men; and, what I now saw, my inexperienced eye +computed at more than 200,000 on both sides. This prodigious army seemed +about to form in order of battle. A few cannon-shot which it fired were +probably designed only to announce its arrival to the other chiefs. +Immediately afterwards, the cannonade beyond Lindenau, which had lasted +about two hours, entirely ceased. On the left wing of the French the +action was still very vigorously continued. It was about twelve o'clock +when we descended, to learn what accounts had meanwhile been received in +the city, that our relations with the lower world might not be totally +suspended. Before the residence of our sovereign there was a crowd of +officers of all ranks. The city-guard was drawn out on parade as well as +the grenadier-guard. A full band was playing, by French order, though +nobody could conceive what was the meaning of all this, while the cannon +were yet thundering before the city. We soon learned that the allies had +sustained a total defeat; that an Austrian prince, the archduke +Ferdinand, had lost an arm, and been taken prisoner with 40,000 men; and +that an immense quantity of artillery had been captured. This +intelligence had been forwarded by marshal Ney from the field of battle, +and preparations were instantly made to celebrate the victory. A +regiment of the French guards marched to the promenade before the +city--now, alas! an offensive sewer,--and, agreeably to command, +expressed their exultation in the acquisition of these new laurels by a +loud _Vive l'empereur!_ Of the citizens, but a very small portion took +part in their joy; for what else could they have expected from such a +victory than inevitable death by famine? The more intelligent shook +their heads; and in truth there were but too many reasons to suspect the +truth of the account. If you asked the wounded, who in troops either +hobbled or were carried in at the gates, the answer, was, _Les Cossaques +ont encore la meme position_--(The Cossacks are still in the same +position). None of them had heard any thing about captured cannon, but +they well knew that they had themselves lost five pieces that morning. I +was unable to comprehend how the French commander-in-chief, possessing +in so eminent a degree the quality of a correct military _coup d'oeil_, +could so early announce that he had won the battle, when such numerous +armies of the allies had but just arrived upon the field, and had not +yet fired a single shot. Country-people, who had fled from the +neighbourhood of Grimma, declared that a fresh army of Russians, under +general Bennigsen, was in full march towards that place. In truth, only +a small part of the allied forces had yet been engaged. Bennigsen, the +crown-prince of Sweden, and field-marshal Bluecher, had not yet entered +the lists. If this fiction was intended merely to pacify our king at the +expense of truth, it was evident that this object could not be attained +without compromising him;--a kind of treatment wholly unmerited by a +prince who was never guilty of wilful falsehood[4]. + +In the midst of these rejoicings for the victory, the thunder of the +artillery was again heard from Lindenau. The tremendous roar was almost +immediately repeated from Taucha, Wiederitsch, and Breitenfeld. The +Swedish army and that of Bluecher were now engaged. We again repaired to +our lofty station. There was not a point round the city where the fatal +engines were not dealing forth destruction. We knew not which way first +to direct the glass. "Only look here," cried one. "Oh! that's nothing at +all," replied another, "you must come this way."--"You none of you see +any thing," exclaimed a third: "you must look yonder--there the cavalry +are cutting away--and hark how the fresh artillery is beginning to +fire." It was singular enough that just at the very point where the +allies were reported to have sustained so signal a defeat, that is to +say, on their left wing, at Liebertwolkwitz, the cannonade again became +the most violent. Fresh troops, with artillery, including a large body +of Polish cavalry, were seen hastening out by the Ranstaedt gate towards +Lindenau. Napoleon himself rode with the king of Naples along the +causeway to the Kuhthurm (cow-tower), as it is called, probably to +observe how things were going on. The allies strove to make themselves +masters of the pass near Lindenau. Their infantry had actually +penetrated into the village, but was driven back, and this was succeeded +by a tremendous fire of riflemen, which was near enough for us to +distinguish the discharge of every single piece. I remarked on this +occasion the incredible exertions of the French _voltigeurs_, who +defended a ditch near the Kuhthurm, ran to and fro on the bank with +inconceivable agility, availed themselves of the protection afforded by +every tree and every hedge, and fired away as briskly as though they +had carried with them the confederation of the Rhine, as their own +property, in their cartouch-boxes. Cannon-balls and shells had fallen in +the village itself, which was set on fire in several places. Whether +friend or enemy had the advantage it was impossible to judge, on account +of the broken nature of the ground and the woods, behind which the +engagement was the hottest It was evident that one party exerted itself +as strenuously to defend as the other did to take this important +position. The French retained it; therefore the prize of victory in this +instance must be adjudged to them. At Breitenfeld, Lindenthal, and +Wiederitsch, the fortune of the day was different. There the lines of +the allies evidently advanced. The cannonade was an infallible +barometer. The French artillery receded, and was already driven back so +close upon Gohlis and Eutritzsch, that the balls of their opponents fell +in both villages. Night drew on: the vast field of battle became +gradually enveloped in darkness, and the horizon was now illumined by +the flashes of the guns alone, followed at long intervals by the low +thunder of the report. The battle had lasted the whole day all round the +city. The church-clocks struck six; and, as if all parties had +unanimously agreed to suspend at this moment the horrid work of +slaughter, the last cannon-shot was fired beyond Lindenau. The fire of +small arms, however, was yet kept up; but, as though the mortal struggle +became more and more faint, that too gradually ceased. Nothing now was +seen around the horizon but one immense circle of many thousand +watch-fires. In all directions appeared blazing villages, and from their +number might be inferred the havoc occasioned by this arduous day. Its +effects were still more plainly manifested when we descended into the +streets. Thousands of wounded had poured in at all the gates, and every +moment increased their numbers. Many had lost an arm or a leg, and yet +limped along with pitiable moans. As for a dressing for their wounds, +that was a thing which could not yet be thought of; the poor wretches +had themselves bound them up with some old rag or other as well as they +were able. All of them were seeking hospitals, the arrangements for +which had, in truth, been most miserably neglected by the French. Upon +the whole, I have had occasion to remark that the soldier, who has been +crippled in the service, and incapacitated for further warfare, has +nowhere so little regard paid to his situation as in the French army. At +least such is the case just at the moment when he has most need of +attention, that is to say, just after he is wounded. No carriages or +other conveyances were provided for the removal of these mangled and +mutilated soldiers, though the lives of thousands might perhaps have +been preserved by such a precaution. When the combined Russian and +Prussian army marched six months before to Luetzen, and prepared for +battle, the amplest provision was made in regard to this point; and it +is well known that their army was thus enabled to carry off by far the +greater part of the wounded, and to afford them medical relief. Such, on +the contrary, were the arrangements of the French, that, five days after +that engagement, soldiers with their wounds still undressed, and near +perishing for want of sustenance, were found on the field of battle, and +at last owed their preservation chiefly to the surgeons and inhabitants +of this city. To each French column are attached a great number of +_ambulances_, but they are never to be found where they are most +wanted. It is universally asserted that the French army surgeons are +very skilful men; but, as they seem to consult their own convenience in +a very high degree, and their number is too small--for a complete +regiment has but five--the arrangements for hospitals in a campaign +during which several great battles take place, and in which it is found +necessary to crowd the sick and wounded much too closely together, as +was the case in Saxony, are always most deplorable. But to return from +this digression:-- + +For the reception of the wounded, in this instance, orders had been +given to clear out the corn-magazine, which is capable of accommodating +about 2,500. Each of these poor fellows received a written ticket at the +outer gate of the city, and was directed to that hospital. The persons +who superintended this business never gave it a thought to distribute +only such a number of these billets as the building would hold of sick, +but continued to send all that came to the corn-magazine, long after it +was too full to admit another individual. Overjoyed on having at last +found the spot, the wretched cripple exerted his last remains of +strength, that he might obtain relief as speedily as possible at the +hands of the surgeons. Judge then of the feelings of the unfortunate man +when his hopes were here most cruelly disappointed; when he found many +hundreds of his fellow-sufferers moaning with anguish on the wet stones, +without straw to lie upon, without shelter of any kind, without medical +or surgical attendance, nay, even without a drop of water, for which +they so often and so earnestly petitioned;--when he was peremptorily +refused admittance at the door, and he too had no other resource than to +seek a couch like the rest upon the hard pavement, which his wounds +very often were unable to endure. No more attention was here paid to +him than the stones on which he gave vent to his anguish. Many hobbled +farther in quest of something to appease the cravings of hunger and +thirst. But who could give it them? Extreme want had long prevailed in +the city; the very inhabitants had great trouble and difficulty to +obtain for money sufficient to make a scanty meal for themselves and +their families. The fainting soldier might think himself fortunate if +his solicitations procured him a crust of bread or an apple. Thousands +were not so lucky.--Such was the state of things at the magazine; such +was the spectacle exhibited in all the streets, and especially in the +market-place, where every corner provided with a shelter was converted +into an hospital. The consequences were inevitable. Many; as might +naturally be expected, perished, in the night, of hunger, agony, and +cold. Their lot was enviable--they no longer needed any human +assistance. What heart would not have bled at such scenes of +horror!--and yet it was the very countrymen of these unfortunate +wretches who seemed to care the least about them, and passed by with the +most frigid indifference, probably because they are so familiarized with +such spectacles. O ye mothers, ye fathers, ye sisters of France, had ye +here beheld your agonized sons and brothers, the sight, like a hideous +phantom, would surely have haunted you to the last moment of your lives. +The laurels acquired by your nation have indeed been purchased at a most +exorbitant price. + +I have forgotten to mention a circumstance worthy of notice in the +history of this day. It is this; that in the midst of the cannonade all +round Leipzig--when the whole city shook with the thunders of the +artillery, and the general engagement had, strictly speaking, but just +commenced--all the bells of the churches were rung by French command, to +celebrate the victory won in the forenoon. Such an instance was +certainly never afforded by any battle which had scarcely begun, and +terminated in the total and decisive overthrow of him who had already +fancied himself mounted in triumph upon the car of victory. This day, +however, the engagement still remained undecided, according to the +reports of those who returned from different points of the field of +battle. The French had stood as if rooted to the spot--the allies, like +rocks of granite. The former had fought like men, the latter like lions. +Both parties, inspired with mutual respect, desisted from hostilities +during the night. + +The combined troops, who had not been able in two sanguinary days to +bring the contest to an issue, had, however, during that time gained +several essential advantages. They had ascertained the strength of their +antagonist, and made themselves acquainted with the nature of the +ground. They knew what points were the most vulnerable, and could thence +infer how the enemy would manoeuvre. They were enabled to make their own +dispositions accordingly, and to give to the plan of the grand +engagement that perfection by which it is so peculiarly characterized. +In this point of view the allies had, without our suspecting it, +advanced a considerable step on the night of the third day. + +According to the general opinion of the inhabitants of Leipzig, the 17th +was destined to be the important day on which the last act of the great +tragedy was to be performed. We were, however, mistaken. The morning +came, and we heard nothing from either side. We had long ceased to take +notice of single shots. The French lines occupied Probstheide, and all +the points where they had the preceding day been posted. The order of +battle had, however, been considerably changed. The vast armies which +had been drawn up to the west and north had almost entirely disappeared. +In the forenoon a cannonade commenced about Gohlis, but soon ceased +again. In the meadows between the city and Lindenau were posted some +cavalry. At a greater distance but few troops were to be seen; and the +allies seemed to have renounced any farther attempts on that pass. The +left wing of the French grand army extended to Abtnaundorf, and had +strong corps posted as far as Taucha; the centre stretched behind the +Kohlgaerten and Stoetteritz to Probstheide, and the right wing reached +beyond Konnewitz to the wood and the Elster. Several lines were advanced +to Markleeberg. The combined army occupied parallel positions. You will +not expect me to say more respecting the order of battle, especially as +a circumstantial account of it has already appeared. The motives which +occasioned a kind of truce to be observed during the whole of this day +are unknown to me. This phenomenon was, the more surprising, as Napoleon +is not accustomed long to defer business of such importance. From what I +can learn, there was no parleying, as has been asserted, between the +contending parties. Several Frenchmen assigned, as a reason, that the +emperor expected a strong reinforcement of three corps, and therefore +undertook nothing on this day. On all sides columns of smoke were yet +seen rising from the villages that were reduced to ashes. All at once +the church of Probstheide also appeared in flames. It soon fell in, and +is now totally demolished. This fire is said to have been occasioned by +negligence. + +All the large edifices in the city were now selected for the purpose of +being converted into hospitals. The number of the wounded kept +continually augmenting, and by far the greatest part of them had still +no other shelter than the streets. Many, though after three days of +suffering, were yet unable to obtain any assistance. The king resolutely +remained in the city, in order, as the event shewed, there to await his +fate, whatever it might be. Our condition became every moment more +alarming; and, in proportion as our anxiety grew more painful, our hopes +diminished. What will become of us before this time to-morrow? was the +general question on the evening of that day, and we looked forward with +dejection and despondency to the morrow's dawn. We felt much less +anxiety in the midst of the thunder of the artillery than we did at the +close of this fourth day. It resembled the dead calm which precedes the +impending storm. The combined troops took their leave of us for the +night, as they had done on the preceding, with the discharge of three +cannon. It had been Sunday, and you might almost have imagined that the +contending parties had suffered it to pass thus peaceably, out of +respect to the commandment--_Thou shalt keep the sabbath-day holy._ + +The 18th of October at length appeared. It was a day equal in importance +to many a century; and the fewer History can produce that deserve to be +classed along with it, the more memorable it will remain. All that +preceded it had merely opened the way, and there were yet almost +inaccessible cliffs to climb before we could flatter ourselves with the +hope of reaching the wished-for goal. The leaders of the allies had +already shewn the ablest French generals, in several grand engagements, +that they possessed sufficient means and talents to dissolve the charm +of their invincibility. They were now about to enter the lists with the +hero whom a thousand panegyrists, during a period of near twenty years, +had extolled far above the greatest generals of ancient and modern +times; whose enemies had to boast of but one victory over him at most--a +victory which he himself did not admit, as he ascribed the total +destruction of his army in Russia to physical causes alone. It was the +conqueror of Marengo, Austerlitz, Friedland, Ratisbon, Wagram, and +Mojaisk. Fresh laurels entwined his brow at Luetzen, Bautzen, and +Dresden. Here at Leipzig the allies attempted to wrest them from him who +grasps so firmly. It was easy to foresee that with unshaken resolution +he would risk all, in order, as on former occasions, to gain all, and to +put an end to the campaign with a single blow. He seemed to contemplate +nothing less than the utter annihilation of the allies, as all the +bridges far and near were broken down to cut off their retreat. Whether +the situation in which he had placed himself was such as to justify +these hopes, I shall leave to the decision of those who are better +qualified to judge. His confidence in victory must, however, have been +very strong, as he had made such inadequate preparations for his own +retreat. + +The action commenced in the centre of the French army beyond +Probstheide, probably with the storming of the villages in its front, +for we afterwards learned that they were several times taken and +recovered. They have been more or less reduced to heaps of rubbish. That +the work of slaughter might be completed on this day, it had been begun +with the first dawn of morning. So early as nine o'clock all the immense +lines from Taucha to Konnewitz were engaged. As the latter village lay +nearest to us, we could see what was passing there the most distinctly. +From Loesnig, a village situated beyond Konnewitz, a hollow, about two +thousand paces in length, runs from north-west to south-east. It is +bordered with a narrow skirt of wood, consisting of alders, limes, and +oaks, and forms an angle with the village. Beyond this line were +advanced several French batteries, the incessant movements of which, as +well as every single shot, might be clearly distinguished with our +glasses. To make myself better acquainted with this neighbourhood, I +explored two days afterwards this part of the field of battle, and found +that the French artillery must there have formed an open triangle; for +the road which runs straight from Leipzig, behind Konnewitz through +Dehlis and Loesnig, of course from north to south, was also lined by +French batteries. The houses of those villages had served them for a +_point d'appui_ in the rear, and were most of them dreadfully shattered +by the balls of the Austrians. The artillery of the latter seems to have +had a great advantage in regard to the ground. The French cannon brought +into the line from Konnewitz to Dehlis and Loesnig stood in a +hollow--those of the Austrians on eminences. These last had moreover the +advantage of enfilading the two angles formed by the batteries of the +French. That this had actually been the case was evident from the +numbers of French cannoniers and horses lying dead in rows in the line +of the above-mentioned villages, where they had been swept down by the +guns of their opponents. On the eminences where the hostile cannon were +planted the number of dead was much smaller, and these were apparently +not artillery-men, but infantry, who were probably engaged in covering +those batteries. The firearms which lay beside them confirmed the +conjecture. This pass must nevertheless have been obstinately defended, +as it was not taken the whole day. The fire of musketry grew more and +more brisk--a proof that the combatants were already in close action. +The French _tirailleurs_ could not be driven out of the woods, on which +their right wing was supported. We remarked frequent charges of cavalry, +which seemed to decide nothing. All the villages lying beyond Konnewitz, +on the road to Borna, as far as Markleeberg, were on fire. The thunder +from the French centre, as well as from the left wing, gradually +approached nearer to the city. The seventh corps, under general Reynier, +was in the left wing, and posted towards Taucha. It was principally +composed of Saxons. They had just come into action, and the allies had +already brought up a great number of guns against them. To the no small +astonishment and consternation of their leader, they suddenly shouldered +their arms, marched forward in close files with their artillery, and +went over to the enemy. Several French battalions, misled by this +movement, joined them, and were immediately disarmed and made prisoners +by the allies. The French cuirassiers, suspecting the design of the +Saxons, followed, apparently with the intention of falling upon them. +The Saxons faced about, and compelled them, by a smart fire of musketry, +to return. A volley of small arms was discharged after them, but with no +more effect--it did them no injury. Their horse-artillery turned about, +and soon dismounted that of the French. They were greeted with a joyful +_hurrah!_ by the Cossacks, who cordially shook hands with their new +comrades. The Saxons desired to be immediately led back to the attack of +the French. The hearts of these soldiers individually had long glowed +with revenge for all the devastations committed in their native land by +their allies and companions in arms, for whom they had so often shed +their blood in torrents. The generals of the allies refused on very good +grounds to comply with their desire. The Saxons marched a league into +the rear of the field of battle, and there bivouacked. Their artillery +only was afterwards invited to take part in the engagement, and did +great execution. This circumstance had an essential influence on the +issue of the contest, inasmuch as the defection of a body of more than +8000 men facilitated the advance of the right wing of the allies. But +for this step the Saxons would have fared very badly, as their opponents +had already ranged upwards of thirty pieces of cannon against their +line, and were bringing up still more to the attack. These now proved +the more galling to the ranks of the French, who were driven back almost +to the Kohlgaerten. From my position this advance of the allies was not +to be perceived except by the approach of the thunder of the artillery. +The French centre yet stood immoveable; at least we could not observe +from the city any change which denoted a retrograde movement. The +sanguinary character of this tremendous conflict might be inferred from +the thousands of wounded, who hobbled, crawled, and were carried in at +the gates. Among the latter were many officers of rank. If you inquired +of those who returned from the field, how the battle was going on, the +reply almost invariably was--"Badly enough,--the enemy is very strong." +A Saxon cuirassier declared, without reserve, that it might be +considered as decided, adding, "We have lost a deal of ground +already."--Stoetteritz and Schoenefeld were stormed the same evening. All +the streets were covered with wounded, and fortunate were they who +could find a shelter. As for surgical aid and refreshments, these were +not to be thought of. A far greater number of those miserable wretches +were yet left behind in the villages, as might be seen from the detached +limbs, which were piled in heaps, especially at Probstheide. + +Had any of the allied corps succeeded this day in penetrating on any +side into our city, nothing less than the total destruction of the +French army would probably have been the consequence; since it might +from this place, as from the centre of the field of battle, have fallen +upon the rear of any part of the French force, and have hemmed in both +the centre and the wings. This misfortune Napoleon had taken good care +to prevent. He now felt, however, that his strength was broken, and that +he was no longer in a condition to maintain the contest. He resolved +upon retreat, but carefully sought to conceal this intention from his +enemies. Though night had come on; yet the cannon thundered as furiously +as in the morning, and the fire of musketry was brisker than ever. A +long column, with an endless train of artillery, was seen defiling from +Probstheide to Konnewitz. Again I trembled for the cause of the allies. +These, I imagined, were the French guards, marching to the attack of the +right wing. Now methought the moment had arrived when Napoleon would +strike the decisive blow, which he had so often deferred till the very +last hour. Soon afterwards the cannonade seemed to gain redoubled +vigour, and continued an hour without intermission, so that every house +in the city was shaken. As, however, it at length ceased without +removing to a greater distance, we naturally concluded that this last +attack had proved unsuccessful. More than ten great conflagrations +illumined the whole horizon amid the obscurity of night. + +The excessive bustle in the city rendered it impossible for us to +observe that the retreat had in fact commenced. The greatest part of the +persons attached to the army had already left the city, while the others +were making all the requisite preparations for their departure. Most of +them had wonderfully changed the tone in which they had spoken the +preceding day. They now talked of the miseries of war, deplored the +sufferings of the people, and declared that peace would be the greatest +of blessings for all parties. The multitude of French officers here was +so great, that even those of high rank on the staff were obliged to put +up with the most wretched accommodations, for which they paid +handsomely, leaving their horses and equipages in the street, where the +former frequently ran away. One of these officers sought a night's +lodging in a mean house in the author's neighbourhood. He was called up +at midnight, and informed that his column had just begun to retreat. He +inquired whether the whole army was doing the same--the messenger +replied that he did not know. This circumstance first confirmed my +belief that the French had sustained a defeat, and rendered the +conjecture that their whole army was retreating highly probable. Many +French _employes_ and soldiers had, several days before, while they yet +had an opportunity, exchanged their uniform for the plainest attire, +that, under this peaceful aegis, they might the more calmly await the +issue of events; and that, in case the allies should come upon them too +unexpectedly, they might, under the disguise of honest citizens, hasten +away to their beloved Rhine without being challenged by the lances of +the Cossacks. With greater composure than any of them did general +Bertrand, the governor of the city, who, perhaps, as an intelligent +officer, was the least confident of victory, look forward to the event. +He abandoned not his post at the precipitate departure of the emperor, +and was in consequence made prisoner the following day. + +Such was the conclusion of the fifth day. It beheld a field of battle, +of unparalleled extent, strewed with slain; and left one of the most +flourishing districts of Saxony, as it were, one general conflagration. +With anxious solicitude the people of Leipzig awaited its coming, and +with expectations unfulfilled they witnessed its close. Though it +appeared probable to us all, that, in this colossal engagement, victory +had wholly forsaken the Gallic eagles, still the fate of our city was +far from being decided. We were yet in the midst of the crater of the +tremendous volcano, which by one mighty effort might hurl us into atoms, +and leave behind scarcely a vestige of our existence. Napoleon had +received a severe blow; and now it behoved him to oppose an immediate +barrier to the impetuous course of the conquerors, and to prevent the +total loss of his yet remaining army, artillery, and baggage. The only +bulwark that he could employ for this purpose was Leipzig. All that art +had formerly done to render it a defensive position had long since +disappeared. Planks, hedges, and mud walls, were scarcely calculated to +resist the butt-end of a musket. This deficiency it was every where +necessary to supply by living walls, and that was in fact done in such a +way as filled us all with consternation. + +At day-break on the 19th the allies put the finishing hand to the great +work. A considerable part of the French army, with an immense quantity +of artillery, had already passed through and into the city with great +precipitation. The troops that covered the retreat were furiously +attacked, and driven on all sides into the city. Napoleon attempted to +arrest the progress of victory by an expedient which had so often before +produced an extraordinary effect, that is, by negotiation. A proposal +was made to evacuate the city voluntarily, and to declare the Saxon +troops there as neutral, on condition that the retreating army should +have sufficient time allowed to withdraw from it with its artillery and +waggon-train, and to reach a certain specified point. The allies too +clearly perceived what an important advantage would in this case be +gained by the French army, which was less anxious for the fate of the +city than to effect its own escape. These terms were rejected, and +several hundred pieces of artillery began to play upon Leipzig. Our fate +would have been decided had the allied sovereigns cherished sentiments +less generous and humane than they did. It behoved them to gain +possession of Leipzig at any rate; and this object they might have +accomplished in the shortest way, and with inconsiderable loss to +themselves, if they had bombarded it for one single hour with shells, +red-hot balls, and Congreve rockets, with which an English battery that +accompanied them was provided. Their philanthropic spirits, on the +contrary, revolted at the idea of involving the innocent population of a +_German_ city in the fate of Moscow and Saragossa. They resolved to +storm the town, and to support the troops employed in this duty with +artillery no farther than was necessary to silence the enemy, and to +force their way through the palisaded avenues and gates. Meanwhile the +discharges of artillery, quite close to us, were so tremendous, that +each seemed sufficient to annihilate the city. The king of Saxony +himself sent flags of truce, entreating that it might be spared. The +allies replied that this should be done in as far as the defence of the +enemy might render it practicable: they promised, moreover, security to +persons and property after the place should be taken, and to enforce as +rigid discipline as it was possible on such an occasion. To these +assurances they annexed the condition that no French should be secreted +in the city, declaring that every house in which one or more of them +should be found would run the risk of being reduced to ashes. The +cannon, though only in a proportionably small number from the north and +east, immediately began to play. They were partly directed against the +palisades at the gates, partly against the French artillery which +defended the avenues. For more than two hours balls and shells from the +east and north frequently fell in the city itself, and in the suburbs. +Many a time I was filled with astonishment at the effects of one single +ball, which often penetrated through two thick walls, and pursued its +course still farther. Though they seldom fell in the streets, it was +impossible to venture abroad without imminent hazard of life, as these +tremendous visitors beat down large fragments of roofs, chimneys, and +walls, which, tumbling with a frightful crash, threatened to bury every +passenger beneath their ruins. Still greater havoc was made by the +shells, which, bursting as soon as they had descended, immediately set +their new habitations in flames. Fortunately for us, but few of these +guests were sent into the city. The most that fell came from the north, +that is, in the direction of Halle. Three times did fires break out in +the Bruehl, which, in a short consumed several back buildings contiguous +to the city wall, and nothing but the instantaneous measures adopted for +their extinction prevented farther damage. The allies had no other +object, in dispatching these ministers of destruction, than to shew the +retreating enemy, who, in the general confusion and bustle, could no +longer move either forward or backward, that, if they now forbore to +annihilate him, it was because the innocent citizens might be involved +in equal destruction with the fugitives. Pfaffendorf, a farm-house near +the north side of the city, had previously been set on fire, when the +Russian jaegers had penetrated thither through the Rosenthal, and was +consumed to the very walls. As this place had been converted into an +hospital, many poor fellows there fell a sacrifice to the flames. + +You may easily conceive the sensations of the inhabitants of the upper +town when we beheld the black clouds of smoke rising from the lower, +while the incessant fire of the artillery rendered it impossible for us +to repair thither, to obtain information or to afford assistance. Here, +as every where else, the fears of the inhabitants were wound up to the +highest pitch. A cry was raised that several streets were already in +flames, and every one now hastened to his own house, that he might be at +hand in case a similar accident should happen there. It became more and +more dangerous to remain in the upper stories, which the inhabitants +accordingly quitted, and betook themselves to the kitchens and cellars. +If such were the terrors of the inmates, old and young, the fears and +anxiety of the French who chanced to be in the houses surpassed all +description. Many of them were seen weeping like children, and starting +convulsively at every report of the cannon. In the midst of this hideous +uproar I made another attempt to learn what was passing in the suburbs. +In the streets I found inexpressible confusion, people running in all +directions, officers driving their men to the gates. Cries and shouts +resounded from all quarters, though very few of the persons from whom +they proceeded knew what they would be at. At this time cartouch-boxes +and muskets were to be seen thrown away here and there in the streets. +The Saxon grenadier guards were drawn out with wonderful composure and +grounded arms, before the royal residence. Every unarmed person +anxiously sought to gain the nearest house, but commonly found it shut +against him. Several had already lost their lives or been severely +wounded by the balls which fell in all directions. Napoleon was still in +the city; he was at this moment with our king, with whom he had an +animated conversation, which lasted near an hour. Soon afterwards I saw +him, accompanied by the king of Naples, proceeding on horseback toward +the Ranstaedt gate. I had meanwhile taken the opportunity of slipping +into a house which overlooks that street, and now for the first time +beheld a French retreat in the height of its confusion. Not a vestige of +regularity was any where observable. The horse and foot guards poured +along in mingled disorder. They would probably have marched in quicker +time, had they been permitted by the waggons and cannon, which were +locked in one another, and obstructed the way. Between these they were +obliged to pass singly, and I really thought that it would be at least +six hours before they could all have effected their passage. Immense +droves of cattle were cooped up among the crowd. These seemed to be +objects of particular concern to the French. They sought out a space, +however narrow, along the town-ditch, by which they might drive forward +their horned favourites. Whoever was bold enough, and had any hopes of +being able to conduct these animals into his own habitation, had now an +opportunity of making an advantageous bargain. A few pieces of silver +might be carried off with much greater facility than a huge clumsy ox. +Notwithstanding all the efforts to preserve this valuable booty from the +general wreck, it was absolutely impossible to save the whole of it. +Many horned cattle and horses were left behind, and now innocently +sought a scanty repast by the city-walls. That, amidst all this +"confusion worse confounded," there was no want of shouting and +blustering, you may easily imagine, though nobody got forward any faster +for all this noise. On a sudden we saw at a distance the emperor +himself, with not a numerous retinue, advancing on horseback into the +midst of this chaos. He got through better than I expected. I afterwards +learned that he took a by-road through a garden to the outer Ranstaedt +gate. Prince Poniatowsky attempted, higher up, to ford the Elster. The +banks on each side are of considerable height, soft and swampy; the +current itself narrow, but in this part uncommonly deep and muddy. How +so expert a rider should have lost the management of his horse, I cannot +imagine. According to report, the animal plunged headlong into the water +with him, so that he could not possibly recover himself. He fell a +victim to his temerity, and was drowned. His body was found several days +afterwards, and interred with all the military honours due to his +rank[5]. + +As the commander-in-chief had so precipitately quitted the city, we +could no longer doubt the proximity of the enemy to our walls. The fire +of the artillery and musketry in the place, which gradually approached +nearer, was a much more convincing proof of this than we desired. The +men already began to cut away the traces, in order to save the horses. +The bustle among the soldiers augmented; a weak rearguard had taken post +in Reichel's garden, to keep the allies in check, in case they should +penetrate into the high road. We thought them still at a considerable +distance, when a confused cry suddenly proclaimed that the Russians had +stormed the outer Peter's gate, and were coming round from the +Rossplatz. The French were evidently alarmed. The Russian jaegers came +upon them all at once, at full speed, with tremendous huzzas and fixed +bayonets, and discharged their pieces singly, without stopping. I now +thought it advisable to quit my dangerous post, and hasten home with all +possible expedition. I was informed by the way that the Prussians had +that moment stormed the Grimma gate, and would be in the city in a few +minutes. On all sides was heard the firing of small arms, intermixed at +times with the reports of the artillery, already playing upon the +waggon-train in the suburbs. Musket-balls, passing over the city wall, +likewise whizzed through the streets; and, when I ventured to put my +head out of the window, I observed with horror, not far from my house, +two Prussian jaegers pursuing and firing at some Frenchmen who were +running away. Behind them I heard the storm-march, and huzzas and shouts +of _Long live Frederic William!_ from thousands of voices. A company of +Baden jaegers was charged with the defence of the inner Peter's gate. +These troops immediately abandoned their post, and ran as fast as their +legs would carry them to the market-place, where they halted, and, like +the Saxon grenadier guards, fired not a single shot. + +Thus the so long feared and yet wished-for hour was at length arrived. +What we should never have expected after the 2nd of May, namely, to see +a single Prussian again at Leipzig, was nevertheless come to pass. They +had then left us as friends, and, by their exemplary conduct, had +acquired our highest respect. We bore them, as well as the Russians, in +the most honourable remembrance. They now appeared as enemies, whose +duty had imposed on them the task of storming the city. Our sons and +brothers had fought against them. What might not be our fate? We had not +forgotten that which befell Luebeck, seven years before, under similar +circumstances. But they were the warriors of Alexander, Francis, +Frederic William, and Charles John; terrible as destroying angels to the +foe, kind and generous to the defenceless citizen. As far as the +author's knowledge extends, not a man was guilty of the smallest excess +within our walls. They even paid in specie for bread, tobacco, and +brandy. The suburbs, indeed, fared not quite so well. There many an +inhabitant suffered severely; but how was it possible for the commanders +to be present every where, and to prevent all irregularities, after a +conflict which had raged in every corner of the city? Would you compare +the victors, upon the whole, with our late friends and protectors, go +through all Saxony, and then judge in whose favour the parallel must be +drawn. + +It was half past one o'clock when the allies penetrated into the city. +The artillery had been but little used on this occasion, and in the +interior of the place not at all. Had not the allies shewn so much +tenderness for the town, they might have spared the sacrifice of some +hundreds of their brave soldiers. They employed infantry in the assault, +that the city might not be utterly destroyed. The grand work was now +nearly accomplished. Obstinately as the French in general defended +themselves, they were, nevertheless, unable to withstand the iron masses +of their assailants. They were overthrown in all quarters, and driven +out of the place. The streets, especially in the suburbs, were strewed +with dead. The writer often counted eight in a very small space. In +about an hour you might venture abroad without danger in all parts of +the town. But what sights now met the eye! Leipzig, including the +suburbs, cannot occupy an area of much less than one (German) square +mile. In this extent there was scarcely a spot not covered with houses +but bore evidence of the sanguinary conflict. The ground was covered +with carcasses, and the horses were particularly numerous. The nearer +you approached to the Ranstaedt gate, the thicker lay the dead bodies. +The Ranstaedt causeway, which is crossed by what is called the Muehlgraben +(mill-dam), exhibited a spectacle peculiarly horrid. Men and horses were +every where to be seen; driven into the water, they had found their +grave in it, and projected in hideous groups above its surface. Here the +storming columns from all the gates, guided by the fleeing foe, had for +the most part united, and had found a sure mark for every shot in the +closely crowded masses of the enemy. But the most dreadful sight of all +was that which presented itself in the beautiful Richter's garden, once +the ornament of the city, on that side where it joins the Elster. There +the cavalry must have been engaged; at least I there saw a great number +of French cuirasses lying about. All along the bank, heads, arms, and +feet, appeared above the water. Numbers, in attempting to ford the +treacherous river, had here perished. People were just then engaged in +collecting the arms that had been thrown away by the fugitives, and they +had already formed a pile of them far exceeding the height of a man. + +The smoking ruins of whole villages and towns, or extensive tracts laid +waste by inundations, exhibit a melancholy spectacle; but a field of +battle is assuredly the most shocking sight that eye can ever behold. +Here all kinds of horrors are united; here Death reaps his richest +harvest, and revels amid a thousand different forms of human suffering. +The whole area has of itself a peculiar and repulsive physiognomy, +resulting from such a variety of heterogeneous objects as are no where +else found together. The relics of torches, the littered and trampled +straw, the bones and flesh of slaughtered animals, fragments of plates, +a thousand articles of leather, tattered cartouch-boxes, old rags, +clothes thrown away, all kinds of harness, broken muskets, shattered +waggons and carts, weapons of all sorts, thousands of dead and dying, +horribly mangled bodies of men and horses,--and all these +intermingled!--I shudder whenever I recall to memory this scene, which, +for the world, I would not again behold. Such, however, was the +spectacle that presented itself in all directions; so that a person, who +had before seen the beautiful environs of Leipzig, would not have known +them again in their present state. Barriers, gardens, parks, hedges, and +walks, were alike destroyed and swept away. These devastations were not +the consequence of this day's engagement, but of the previous +bivouacking of the French, who are now so habituated to conduct +themselves in such a manner that their bivouacs never fail to exhibit +the most deplorable attestations of their presence, as to admit no hopes +of a change. The appearance of Richter's garden was a fair specimen of +the aspect of all the others. Among these the beautiful one of Loehr was +particularly remarkable. Here French artillery had been stationed +towards Goehlis; and here both horses and men had suffered most severely. +The magnificent buildings, in the Grecian style, seemed mournfully to +overlook their late agreeable, now devastated, groves, enlivened in +spring by the warbling of hundreds of nightingales, but where now +nothing was to be heard, save the loud groans of the dying. The dark +alleys, summer-houses, and arbours, so often resorted to for recreation, +social pleasures, or silent meditation, were now the haunts of death, +the abode of agony and despair. The gardens, so late a paradise, were +transformed into the seat of corruption and pestilential putridity. A +similar spectacle was exhibited by Grosbosch's, Reichel's, and all the +other spacious gardens round the city, which the allies had been obliged +to storm.--The buildings which had suffered most were those at the outer +gates of the city. These were the habitations of the excise and other +officers stationed at the gates. Most of them were so perforated as +rather to resemble large cages, which you may see through, than solid +walls. All this, however, though more than a thousand balls must have +been fired at the city, bore no comparison to the mischiefs which might +have ensued, and which we had every reason to apprehend. We now look +forward to a happier futurity; the commerce of Leipzig will revive; and +the activity, industry, and good taste of its inhabitants, will, +doubtless, ere long, call forth from these ruins a new and more +beautiful creation. + +I now summon your attention from these scenes of horror to others of a +different kind, the delineation of which is absolutely necessary to +complete the picture. Those hosts which had so long been the scourge of +Germany and Europe, and had left us this last hideous monument of their +presence, perhaps never to return, were now in precipitate flight, as +though hurried away by an impetuous torrent. The terrors of the Most +High had descended upon them. The conqueror had appeared to them at +Leipzig in the most terrific form, and with uplifted arm followed close +at their heels. About a league beyond the city the ardour of the pursuit +somewhat abated; at Markranstaedt the routed army first stopped to take +breath, and to form itself in some measure into a connected whole. The +booty taken by the allies was immense. The suburbs were crowded with +waggons and artillery, which the enemy had been obliged to abandon. It +was impossible for the most experienced eye to form any kind of estimate +of their numbers. The captors left them all just as they were, and +merely examined here and there the contents of the waggons. Many of them +were laden with rice, which was partly given away, especially by the +Prussians. Many a Frenchman probably missed the usual supply of it for +his scanty supper. All the streets were thronged with the allied troops, +who had fought dispersed, and now met to congratulate one another on the +important victory. Soon after the city was taken, their sovereigns made +their entry. The people pressed in crowds to behold their august and so +long wished-for deliverers. They appeared without any pomp in the +simplest officers' uniforms, attended by those heroes, a Bluecher, Buelow, +Platow, Barklay de Tolly, Schwarzenberg, Repnin, Sanders, &c. &c., whom +we had so long admired. The acclamations of the people were unbounded. +Tens of thousands of voices greeted them with _Huzzas_ and _Vivats_; and +white handkerchiefs,--symbols of peace,--waved from every window. Some +few indeed were too unhappy to take part in the general joy on this +memorable day. It was the only punishment, but truly a severe one, for +the abject wretches who have not German hearts in their bosoms. Never +did acclamations so sincere greet the ears of emperors and kings as +those which welcomed Alexander, Francis, Frederic William, and Charles +John. They were followed by long files of troops, who had so gloriously +sustained the arduous contest under their victorious banners. In the +midst of Cossacks, Prussian, Russian, Austrian, and Swedish hussars, +appeared also our gallant Saxon cavalry, resolved henceforward to fight +for the liberty of Germany, and the genuine interests of their native +land. + +A great number of regiments immediately continued their march without +halting, and took some the road to Pegau, and others that to Merseburg, +in order to pursue the enemy in his left flank and in his rear. +Bluecher's army had the preceding day advanced to the neighbourhood of +Merseburg, where it was now posted in the right flank of the retreating +force. Leipzig had nothing more to fear. French officers and soldiers +were every where seen intermixed with their conquerors. It was only here +and there that they were collected together and conveyed away. Of the +greater part but little notice was taken in the first bustle, as all the +gates were well guarded, and it was scarcely possible for one of them to +escape. Numbers had fled during the assault from their quarters into the +suburbs. Many seemed to have left behind valuable effects and money, as +I should conjecture from various expressions used by some, who offered, +several Napoleon-d'ors to any person who could assist them to reach +their lodgings. For this, however, it was now too late. Strict orders +were issued against the secreting or entertaining of Frenchmen, and they +were therefore obliged to seek, for the moment, a refuge in the +hospitals. + +Only a small part of the combined troops had gone in pursuit of the +French. By far the greatest portion reposed in countless ranks round the +town from the fatigues of the long and sanguinary conflict. Part of the +army equipage entered, and all the streets were soon crowded to such +excess that you could scarcely stir but at the risk of your life. The +allied monarchs alighted in the market-place, where the concourse of +guards and equipages was consequently immense. Here I saw the late +French commandant of the city coming on foot with a numerous retinue of +officers and commissaries, and advancing towards the Russian generals. +The fate of general Bertrand was certainly most to be pitied; he was a +truly honest man, who had no share in those inexpressible miseries in +which we had been for the last six months involved. I felt so much the +less for the commissaries, whom I have ever considered as the Pandora's +box of the French army, whence such numberless calamities have spread +over every country in which they have set foot. At the residence of our +sovereign I observed no other alteration than that a great number of +Saxon generals and officers were collected about it. The life +grenadier-guards were on duty as before, and a battalion of Russian +grenadiers was parading in front of the windows. No interview, that I +know of, took place between the king of Saxony the allied sovereigns. +The king of Prussia remained here longest in conversation with the +prince-royal. The emperors of Austria and Russia, as well as the +crown-prince of Sweden, returned early to the army. After the departure +of the Prussian monarch, our king set out under a strong escort of +Cossacks for Berlin, or, as some asserted, for Schwedt. + +The French hospitals which we had constantly had here since the +beginning of the year, and which, since the battle of Luetzen and the +denunciation of the armistice, had increased to such a degree as to +contain upwards of 20,000 sick and wounded, may be considered as a +malignant cancer, that keeps eating farther and farther, and consuming +the vital juices. It was these that introduced among us a dreadfully +destructive nervous fever, which had increased the mortality of the +inhabitants to near double its usual amount. Regarded in this point of +view alone, they were one of the most terrible scourges of the city; but +they proved a still more serious evil, inasmuch as the whole expense of +them fell upon the circle. The French never inquired whence the +prodigious funds requisite for their maintenance were to be derived, nor +ever thought of making the smallest compensation. If we reckon, for six +months, 10,000 sick upon an average, and for each of them 12 groschen +per day (and, including all necessaries, they could scarcely be kept at +that rate), the amount for each day is 5000, and, for the six months, +the enormous sum of 900,000 dollars, which the exhausted coffers were +obliged to pay in specie. This calculation, however, is so far below the +truth, that it ought rather to be greatly augmented. A tolerable +aggregate must have been formed by proportionable contributions from all +our country towns, and this was for the service of the hospitals alone: +judge then of the rest. + +Previously to the battle of Leipzig the state of the inmates of these +pestilential dens, these abodes of misery, was deplorable enough, as +they were continually becoming more crowded and enlarged. Many of the +persons attached to them, and in particular many a valuable and +experienced medical man, carried from them the seeds of death into the +bosom of his family. With their want of accommodations, cleanliness was +a point which could not be attained, and it was impossible to pass them +without extreme disgust. As Leipzig was for a considerable time cut off +from the rest of the world by the vast circle of armies, like the +mariner cast upon a desert island, the wants of these hospitals became +from day to day more urgent. Provisions also at length began to fail. +The distress had arrived at its highest pitch, when the thousands from +the field of battle applied there for relief. Not even bread could any +longer be dispensed to these unfortunates. Many wandered about without +any kind of shelter. Then did we witness scenes which would have +thrilled the most obdurate cannibals with horror. No eye could have +beheld a sight more hideous at Smolensk, on the Berezyna, or on the road +to Wilna--there at least Death more speedily dispatched his victims. +Thousands of ghastly figures staggered along the streets, begging at +every window and at every door; and seldom indeed had Compassion the +power to give. These, however, were ordinary, familiar spectacles. +Neither was it rare to see one of these emaciated wretches picking up +the dirtiest bones, and eagerly gnawing them; nay, even the smallest +crumb of bread which had chanced to be thrown into the street, as well +as apple-parings and cabbage-stalks, were voraciously devoured. But +hunger did not confine itself within these disgusting limits. More than +twenty eye-witnesses can attest that wounded French soldiers crawled to +the already putrid carcasses of horses, with some blunt knife or other +contrived with their feeble hands to cut the flesh from the haunches, +and greedily regaled themselves with the carrion. They were glad to +appease their hunger with what the raven and the kite never feed on but +in cases of necessity. They even tore the flesh from human limbs, and +broiled it to satisfy the cravings of appetite; nay, what is almost +incredible, the very dunghills were searched for undigested fragments to +devour. You know me, and must certainly believe that I would not relate +as facts things which would be liable to be contradicted by the whole +city. Thus the hospitals became a hot-bed of pestilence, from which the +senses of hearing, smell, and sight, turned with disgust, and one of the +most fatal of those vampyres which had so profusely drained our vitals, +and now dispensed destruction to those who had fed them and to the sick +themselves. + +The great church-yard exhibited a spectacle of peculiar horror. The +peaceful dead and their monuments had been spared no more than any other +corner of the city. Here also the king of terrors had reaped a rich +harvest. The slight walls had been converted into one great fort, and +loop-holes formed in them. Troops had long before bivouacked in this +spot, and the Prussian, Russian, and Austrian prisoners, were here +confined, frequently for several successive days, in the most +tempestuous weather and violent rain, without food, straw, or shelter. +These poor fellows had nevertheless spared the many handsome monuments +of the deceased, and only sought a refuge from the wet, or a lodging for +the night, in such vaults as they found open. This spacious ground, +which rather resembled a superbly embellished garden than a +burial-place, now fell under the all-desolating hands of the French. It +soon bore not the smallest resemblance to itself; what Art had, in the +space of a century, employed a thousand hands to produce, was in a short +time, and by very few, defaced and destroyed. The strongest iron doors +to the vaults were broken open, the walls stripped of their decorations +and emblems of mourning, the last tributes of grief and affection +annihilated, and every atom of wood thrown into the watch-fire; so that +the living could no longer know where to look for the remains of the +deceased objects of their love. The elegant rails, with which the +generality of the graves were encompassed, for the most part +disappeared, and the only vestiges of them to be found were their ashes, +or the relics of the reeking brands of the watch-fire. On the 19th this +wretched bulwark also was stormed, and thrown down as easily as a +fowler's net. The carcasses of horses now replaced upon the graves the +monuments of mourning for the peaceful dead. After the battle part of +the French prisoners were confined in this place. The church of St. +John, which stands in it, had, as early as the month of May, been +converted into an hospital, which, ever since the beginning of October, +was crowded with sick. It could hold no more; the sick and prisoners +were therefore intermingled, and lay down pell-mell among the graves. +What had hitherto been spared was now completely destroyed. In this +case, indeed, dire necessity pleaded a sufficient excuse. Who could find +fault with Distress and Despair if they resorted to the only means that +could afford them the slightest alleviation? Who could grudge them a +shelter in the cold autumnal nights, even though they sought it in the +dreary abode of mouldering corpses? Every vault which it was possible +for them to open was converted into a chamber and dwelling-place, which +at least was preferable to a couch between hillocks soaked with rain or +covered with hoar frost. They descended into the deepest graves, broke +open the coffins, and ejected their tenants, to procure fire-wood to +warm their frozen limbs. I myself saw a French soldier who had fallen +among a heap of coffins piled up to the height of more than twelve feet; +and, unable to clamber up again, had probably lain there several days, +and been added by Death to the number of his former victims. The +appearance of the skulls, before so carefully concealed from the view of +the living, now thrown out of the coffins into the graves, was truly +ghastly. + +In spite of all the exertion of the new authorities, appointed by the +allies to alleviate the general misery, it was utterly impossible for +any human power to restore order in the horrid chaos which the French +had left behind them. A severe want of all necessaries was felt in the +city; the circumjacent villages, far and wide, were plundered and laid +waste. From them, of course, no supply could be obtained. More than +thirty hospitals were not capable of receiving all the sick and wounded +who applied for admission. Where were to be found buildings sufficiently +spacious, mattresses, bedding, utensils, provisions, and the prodigious +number of medical attendants, whose services were so urgently required +by these poor creatures? Every edifice at all adapted to the purpose had +long been occupied; and so completely had every thing been drained by +requisitions, that the hospital committee had for some time been unable +to collect even the necessary quantity of lint. Almost every barber's +apprentice was obliged to exercise his unskilful hands in the service of +the hospitals. It would have been impossible to procure any thing with +money, had it been ever so plentiful; and this resource, moreover, was +already completely exhausted. The most acute understanding and the most +invincible presence of mind were inadequate to the providing of a remedy +for these evils. No where was there to be seen either beginning or end. +The city was covered with carcasses, and the rivers obstructed with dead +bodies. Thousands of hands were necessary to remove and bury these +disgusting objects before any attention could be paid to the clearing of +the field of battle about Leipzig. As all sought relief, there was of +course none to afford it. It was difficult to decide whether first to +build, to slaughter, to brew, to bake, to bury the dead, or to assist +the wounded, as all these points demanded equally prompt attention. + +In the city lay many thousands of newly-arrived troops, who came from +the fight, and were both hungry and thirsty. Notwithstanding their +moderation, some of these could obtain nothing, and others but a very +scanty supply. Gladly would every citizen have entertained them in the +best manner; but not even a glass of the worst beer or brandy was now to +be had. Many of them naturally ascribed this to ill will, and even +observed that every thing was denied them because they were not +Frenchmen. How little did they know of our real situation! In the house +where I live six of the Prussian foot-guards were quartered. They +complained when nothing was set before them but dry potatoes; but +listened with calmness to the excuses that were offered. Without making +any reply, four of them took up their arms, and departed. In about an +hour they returned, bringing with them two cows, which they had taken +from the French. These they presented to their host, and immediately +fell to work and killed then. In two hours the family was abundantly +supplied with meat, so that it could assist others; and, as great part +was pickled, it was supplied for a considerable time. Frenchmen would +certainly not have acted thus. + +Among the thousands of facts which might be adduced to prove that it was +absolutely impossible for any thing whatever to be left in the town, +that its resources were completely exhausted, and that extreme want +could not but prevail, let one instance suffice. There were in the city +two granaries, one of which, in the palace of Pleissenburg, had been +filled at the king's cost, and the other, called the corn-magazine, at +the expense of the magistrates. The former had long been put in +requisition by French commissaries, and had been chiefly applied to the +provisioning of the French garrisons of Wittenberg and Torgau. As this +was the king's property, it was perhaps but right to demand it for the +fortresses which were to defend the country. The stores possessed by the +magistrates were purchased in those years when a scarcity of corn +prevailed in Saxony. To afford some relief the government had imported +great quantities from Russia, by way of the Baltic and the Elbe. The +magistrates of Leipzig had bought a considerable part of it, that they +might be able to relieve the wants of the citizens in case a similar +calamity should again occur. It was ground and put into casks, each +containing 450 pounds. They had in their magazine 4000 such casks, which +had been left untouched even in the year 1806, and were carefully +preserved, to be used only in cases of extreme necessity. This was +certainly a wise and truly paternal precaution. So valuable a store +would have been sufficient to protect the city from hunger for a +considerable time. As the French army behaved all over Saxony as though +it had been in an enemy's country, and consumed every thing far and +near, the most urgent want was the inevitable consequence. They forgot +the common maxim, that the bread of which you deprive the citizen and +the husbandman is in fact taken from yourself, and that the soldier can +have nothing where those who feed him have lost their all. The country +round Dresden was already exhausted. Soldiers and travellers coming from +that quarter could scarcely find terms to describe the distress. They +unanimously declared that the country from Oschatz to Leipzig was a real +paradise, in comparison with Lusatia and the circle of Misnia, as far as +the Elbe. Of this we soon had convincing proofs. It was necessary to +pick out a great number of horses from all the regiments, and to send +back numerous troops of soldiers to the depots. Don Quixote's Rosinante +was a superb animal compared with those which returned to Dresden. Most +of them had previously perished by the way. Here they covered all the +streets. The men sold them out of hand, partly for a few groschen. A +great number were publicly put up to auction by the French commissaries; +and you may form some idea what sorry beasts they must have been, when +you know that a lot of 26 was sold for 20 dollars. After some time the +whole of the horse-guards arrived here. They were computed at 5000 men, +all of whom were unfit for service. How changed! how lost was their once +imposing appearance! Scarcely could troops ever make so ludicrous, so +grotesque, and so miserable a figure. Gigantic grenadiers, with caps of +prodigious height, and heavy-armed cuirassiers, were seen riding upon +lean cows, which certainly did not cut many capers. It was wonderful +that the animals shewed no disposition to decline the singular honour. +Their knapsacks were fastened to the horns, so that you were puzzled to +make out what kind of a monstrous creature was approaching. Carbineers, +with cuirasses and helmets polished like mirrors, lay without boots and +stockings in wheelbarrows, to which a peasant had harnessed himself with +his dog, and thus transported the heroes. Few of the horses were yet +able to carry the knapsack, and much less the rider. The men were +therefore obliged to drag the jaded beasts by the bridle through the +deepest morasses, and thought themselves fortunate when at last the +animals dropped to rise no more. Compared with these endless caravans, a +band of strolling players might be considered as the triumphant +procession of a Roman emperor. All these men were proceeding to Erfurt +and Mentz. + +These, and similar scenes which we had daily witnessed, were a natural +consequence of the French system of supply, and the prodigious bodies of +troops, which bore no proportion to the resources of a small tract of +country. Attempts had been made, but without success, to find other +provinces abounding in grain and forage. The fertile fields of Silesia +and Bohemia were beyond their reach. The angel with the fiery sword +vigilantly guarded the avenues to them against the fallen children of +Adam. It was now absolutely necessary to devise some expedient; and to +the French all means were alike. Some rice had been procured by way of +the Elbe and the Rhine. The stocks in the warehouses of the tradesmen of +Leipzig were now put in requisition, and sent off to the army; and I +shrewdly suspect that no part of them was paid for. These, however, were +but small privations; to relieve the general want required no less a +miracle than that by which 4000 men were fed with five small loaves. The +valuable stores in the city magazine had not yet been discovered. But +where is the door, however strong, through which their eagle eyes would +not at last penetrate? The flour was soon spied out, and forthwith +destined for the hungry stomachs of the French. The barrels were rolled +away with incredible expedition, and conveyed to the bakehouses. Each +baker was supplied with two a day, which he was obliged to make up with +all possible dispatch into bread, and to carry to the Cloth-hall. Here +the loaves were piled up in immense rows, and sent off to the famishing +army. From morning till night nothing was to be seen but waggons loading +and setting out. Not a morsel, however, was given to the soldiers +quartered upon the citizens; their superiors well knew that the patient +landlord had yet a penny left in his pocket to help himself out with. +Thus the fine magazine was stripped; and its valuable contents, which +would have kept twenty years longer without spoiling, and had been +preserved with such care, were dissipated in a moment. You may easily +conceive how severe a misfortune this loss proved to the city, and how +keenly it was felt, when you know that we were in a manner besieged for +several weeks, and that not a handful of flour was to be had even at the +mills themselves. + +If you now take into the account the state of the city in a financial +point of view, you may judge how dreadful its condition in general must +have been. In no town is a better provision made for the indigent than +in Leipzig. Here were poor-houses, under most judicious regulations, +where food, fire, and lodging, were afforded. These buildings were +converted into hospitals, their inmates were obliged to turn out, and at +length the necessitous were deprived of their scanty allowance--the +funds were exhausted, and no fresh supplies received. The citizen sunk +under the weight of his burdens; it was impossible to lay any new ones +upon him. Among the different sources of income enjoyed by the city, the +author knows of one which at each of the two principal fairs commonly +produced 4000 dollars; whereas the receipts from it at the late +Michaelmas fair fell short of 100 dollars. All the other branches of +revenue, whether belonging to the king or to the city, fared no better. + +Such was the state of a city, which a few years since might justly be +numbered among the most opulent in Germany, and whose resources appeared +inexhaustible. It may be considered as the heart of all Saxony, on +account of the manifold channels for trade, manufactures, and industry, +which here meet as in one common centre. Hence the commerce of Saxony +extends to every part of the globe. With the credit of Leipzig, that of +all Saxony could not fail to be in a great measure destroyed. Had this +state of things continued a little longer, absolute ruin would probably +have ensued, as the total suspension of trade would certainly have +occasioned the removal of all the yet remaining monied men. So low, +however, the city was not destined to fall. The fatal blow already +impended over Leipzig, which was on the point of being reduced to a heap +of ashes. Black storm-clouds gathered thick around it; but they passed +off; and a new sun, the cheering hope of better times, burst forth. +Large bodies of troops are yet within our walls; and they are a heavy +burden to the impoverished inhabitants, under their present +circumstances. We shall, however, be relieved of some part of it, on the +reduction of the fortresses upon the Elbe, which the enemy may yet +defend for some time, though without any other prospect than that of +final surrender, and of wielding for the last time his desolating arms +on the shores of that river. Symptoms of reviving trade and commerce +begin at least to appear. The gates are no longer beset with the Argus +eyes of French inspectors. The patient indeed, brought as he has been to +the very gates of death, is yet extremely weak, and requires the aid of +crutches. Long will it be before he is free from pain, but his recovery +is sure: he has quitted the close sick room, and is now consigned to +better care, to the hands of Prudence and Philanthropy, who are +acquainted with his condition, and will infallibly restore him to his +former health and vigour. + +The confederation of the Rhine and the Continental system,--terms +synonymous with all the evils which have brought Germany and Europe to +the brink of destruction,--will in future have no other signification in +the vocabularies of the writers on political economy than that interval +of severe probation when Germany seemed to be annihilated, but yet rose +from her ruins with renewed energies, and, united more firmly than ever, +by new ties, with the other states of Europe, resumed her ancient +rights. The battle of Leipzig was the watch-word for this great +revolution. History, therefore, when partiality and passion shall have +long been silent, will not fail to class it among the most important +events recorded in her annals. + +Here permit me to conclude my letters respecting those eventful days of +October, which must ever be so deeply impressed upon the memories of us +all. What may be called the military part of my narrative may be +imperfect; the names of the generals who commanded, the positions of +particular corps, and other circumstances of minor importance, may +perhaps be incorrect; yet the circumstantial details which I have given +will enable you to form to yourself in some measure a complete picture +of that memorable conflict. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] The 14th of October is the anniversary of the battles of Ulm and of +Jena. + +[3] What is yet called the Kohlgaerten was formerly gardeners' ground for +the supply of the city, and is now converted into a fashionable village, +consisting chiefly of the country-houses of merchants; and where is also +a public garden for the recreation of the citizens. + +[4] The following fact will serve to shew how completely the king of +Saxony was duped by the imperial plunderer:--The king was standing with +one of his ministers at a window of his palace in Dresden at the moment +when a drove of remarkably fine cattle, intended for the French army, +passed by. His majesty took occasion to praise the paternal care which +the emperor manifested for his troops, in procuring them such abundant +supplies of provisions. "But," replied the minister, "your majesty is +surely not aware that it is at the expense of your poor subjects, as +Napoleon pays for nothing."--"Impossible!" exclaimed the king with +evident indignation. While they were yet in conversation, intelligence +was brought from his domain of Pillnitz, which is well known to be the +most beautiful in Saxony, that the French had taken away by force all +his fine cattle, and just driven them through the city. These were the +very same beasts which he had seen passing, and now for the first time +he became sensible at what price Bonaparte obtained provisions from his +faithful ally. + +[5] Prince Joseph Poniatowsky was nephew to Stanislaus Augustus, the +last king of Poland, and there is no doubt that he was cajoled into a +subservience to the views of the French emperor by the flattering +prospect of the restoration of his country to its former rank among the +nations of Europe. The circumstances attending his death, as related by +his aid-de-camp, are as follow:--On the 19th of October, when the French +army began to retreat, the prince was charged by Napoleon with the +defence of that part of the suburbs of Leipzig which lies nearest to the +Borna road. For this service he had only 2000 Polish infantry assigned +him. Perceiving the French columns on his left flank in full retreat, +and the bridge completely choked up with their artillery and carriages, +so that there was no possibility of getting over it, he drew his sabre, +and, turning to the officers who were about him, "Gentlemen," said he, +"it is better to fall with honour." With these words he rushed, at the +head of a few Polish cuirassiers and the officers surrounding him, upon +the advancing columns of the allies. He had been previously wounded on +the 14th and 16th, and on this occasion also received a musket-ball in +his left arm. He nevertheless pushed forward, but found the suburbs full +of the allied troops, who hastened up to take him prisoner. He cut his +way through them, received another wound through his cross, threw +himself into the Pleisse, and with the assistance of his officers +reached the opposite bank in safety, leaving his horse behind in the +river. Though much exhausted he mounted another, and proceeded to the +Elster, which was already lined by Saxon and Prussian riflemen. Seeing +them coming upon him on all sides, he plunged into the river, and +instantly sunk, together with his horse. Several officers, who threw +themselves in after him, were likewise drowned; and others were taken on +the bank or in the water. The body of the prince was found on the fifth +day (Oct. 24), and taken out of the water by a fisherman. He was dressed +in his gala uniform, the epaulets of which were studded with diamonds. +His fingers were covered with rings set with brilliants; and his pockets +contained snuff-boxes of great value and other trinkets. Many of those +articles were eagerly purchased by the Polish officers who were made +prisoners, evidently for the purpose of being transmitted to his family; +so that the whole produced the fisherman a very considerable sum. + + + + +CONCLUDING REMARKS. + + +In the battle of Leipzig the reflecting observer discovers something +grand; but there is also much that puzzles one who is not a soldier, and +is accustomed to find in all Napoleon's campaigns a consistency of plan +which he here looks for in vain. If in his earlier combinations he did +not in every instance take all possibilities into the account, but +overlooked some, this must be ascribed not so much to the want of +military penetration, as to his firm confidence in his good fortune, and +in his ability to turn unforeseen accidents to his own advantage, or at +least to render them harmless. Rarely has a general been so highly +favoured by fortune for a long series of years as he. It is no wonder +then that this confidence at length increased to such a degree as +frequently to become the height of temerity. In Russia, Napoleon met +with many circumstances which he had not taken into his calculation; but +he nevertheless penetrated to Moscow. Here he for the first time +experienced such a reverse as no general ever yet sustained. His immense +army was entirely annihilated. His stern decree created a new one, to +all outward appearance equally formidable. From the haste with which its +component parts were collected, it could not but be deficient in +intrinsic energy, and it was impossible to doubt that this would be +shewn in time. In this respect his antagonists had a decided advantage, +as must have been obvious to him after the battles of Luetzen and +Bautzen. Had he not been so vastly superior in number to the Russian and +Prussian army in the first engagement, he would indisputably have been +defeated on that occasion.--The political relations of Europe had +moreover undergone an extraordinary change. He could not for a thousand +reasons be a moment doubtful of the choice of Austria. If with a strong +and well-appointed army she could not by negotiation bring about a peace +upon the basis of a future balance of power among the principal states +of Europe, in which Prussia and Russia were willing to acquiesce, there +could be no question that for the sake of her own existence she would +espouse the cause of those two powers. This Napoleon seems to have +considered as impossible, or the advantages already obtained must have +inspired him with the confidence that even the accession of Austria to +the alliance could not prevent the prosecution of his victorious career +to the Vistula. Could he have expected to encounter the whole Austrian +army in Silesia, or to reduce the fortresses of Upper Silesia, with such +rapidity as to be able a third time to menace Vienna, and to compel the +force assembled on the Bohemian frontiers to return with precipitation +to cover the capital? This would have been too presumptuous an idea. He +probably fancied himself strong enough, with 400,000 men, led on by +himself and the ablest generals of the age, to cope, if even Austria +should declare against him, with all three powers; especially if he +presumed that he should be able to force all the combined armies united +to a general engagement, and to annihilate them with a single blow. The +proposals for peace were rejected: not the slightest disposition was +shewn to treat, and the armistice of two months answered no other +purpose than to convince Austria of the absolute necessity of joining +the cause of the allies, and exerting all her energies to conquer that +peace by the sword, which there was not the least hope of accomplishing +by negotiation. By the accession of Austria the grand alliance had now +gained a manifest superiority, as well in regard to the number of troops +as to the geographical advantages of the theatre of war and resources. +After the renewal of hostilities Napoleon still seemed determined to +pursue his plan of advancing beyond the Oder. The allies were not to be +deceived by these demonstrations, but unexpectedly took post with their +main force in Bohemia, along the Saxon frontier, leaving in Silesia and +Brandenburg, where the crown-prince of Sweden had by this time arrived +with his gallant troops, armies strong enough to keep him in check by a +vigorous defensive system. The great Bohemian army was destined for +offensive operations. This plan was equally grand and judicious. +Silesia, and all Saxony, to the Elbe, could not fail, in consequence, to +be lost to Napoleon. That river, while he had only Prussia and Russia to +encounter, was a sure support in his rear; but no sooner had Austria +declared herself than it was no longer of any military consequence. +Dresden was the central point for the French army. There were organized +all the military bureaus, and all the branches of administration for the +economy of the army. The allies opened the campaign with a hasty advance +upon that important city. If the enterprise proved successful, its +consequences would be incalculable; if it miscarried, nothing would be +lost for the grand object; and at any rate the expedition would be a +diversion, which would immediately draw the French out of Silesia. +Napoleon now saw how egregiously he was deceived in his reckoning. He +hastened precipitately to save the Saxon capital. The army arrived +breathless. The allies were already assaulting the suburbs; and, had +Napoleon come one hour later, Dresden would have been in their power. +Owing to the unexpected appearance of so prodigious a force, and still +more to physical accidents, the grand enterprise of the allies +miscarried. The battle of Dresden terminated to their disadvantage, but +their primary object was attained. Napoleon's force was divided into +three great armies. Should any of them sustain a defeat, all Saxony to +the right of the Elbe would be lost to him. The engagements of Jauer, +Grossbeeren, and Dennewitz, proved disastrous to the French generals, +and Lusatia and the right bank of the Elbe were soon in the hands of the +allies. All the attempts to penetrate to Prague and Berlin ended in the +discomfiture and annihilation of whole French corps. Oudinot, Ney, +Regnier, Bertrand, and the terrible Vandamme, were in succession so +totally defeated, that it was not possible even for the French +reporters, with all their address, to cloak their disasters. The allies +every where acted offensively. Saxony, surrounded by Silesia, Bohemia, +and Brandenburg, was now, from its situation, likely to become, earlier +or later, the grave of the French armies: the allies had every where the +choice of their operations; they were neither to be turned nor broken +through. It was evident that the long and obstinate continuance of +Napoleon at Dresden could not fail to prove ruinous to him. Of what +service could the Elbe be to him, when Bohemia, the key to that river, +was in the hands of his opponents? These had it in their power to turn +his flank as far as the Saale, without hazard or any great impediment, +as the event actually proved. Napoleon was cooped up in a narrow space, +where in time, even without being defeated, he would have been in danger +of starving with his army. Dresden was to him, in some respects, what +Wilna had been in 1812. Leipzig, an open place, was now of far greater +importance to him than Minsk was then. How easily might he have lost it, +as the allies were advancing in considerable force upon that place! It +was not lost, to be sure; but the communication between Dresden and +Leipzig, and Leipzig and Erfurt, was, if not cut off, at least +interrupted; his supplies became more and more precarious, and a large +garrison, which it was deemed necessary to reinforce with strong +detachments from the main army, was locked up in Leipzig. + +When in August Austria declared herself decidedly in favour of Russia +and Prussia, it was natural to expect that Napoleon would have totally +relinquished the useless defence of Saxony, and have adopted a new plan +of operations, in order to cover and preserve the other states of the +confederation of the Rhine. That he would infallibly be compelled to +evacuate Saxony, was evident from the slightest inspection of the map. +In this beautiful province he could expect no other glory than that of +plunging it, by his inflexible obstinacy, into the most abject misery. +The combined monarchs had nothing to fear for their own dominions; they +needed to do no more than to carry on for some time a mere war of +observation, and to recruit their forces. They might quietly await the +moment when Napoleon should leave Dresden, and, on his arrival, force +him to a general engagement in any situation which they should deem most +advantageous. Too late did Napoleon resolve upon retreat. He was obliged +to commence it in the midst of an immense quadrangle which the allies +formed about him, and to direct his course towards Leipzig. He could +not, however, yet determine to give up Dresden, but left there a +considerable army, thus weakening himself, and sacrificing it, as well +as the garrisons of the fortresses on the Elbe and Oder, to no purpose +whatever, in case he should lose a battle. At length, near Leipzig, he +was forced, into the arduous conflict. Since the latter half of August, +the talents which he had heretofore displayed for comprehensive and +profound combinations seemed to have totally deserted him. All his +measures and plans appeared imperfect, and betrayed a vacillation which +he had never yet manifested. He seems to have been as uncertain +respecting the strength of his antagonists as in regard to their grand +plan of deciding the fate of the campaign with a single blow. + +In the battle of Leipzig we perceive none of that forethought which +characterizes his other engagements. The possibility of losing it seems +never to have entered into his calculations; otherwise he would scarcely +have endeavoured to prevail upon the king of Saxony to repair to Leipzig +to witness his defeat. In the most favourable event he had a right to +anticipate no other result than an unmolested retreat: the allies +however, were producing a very different one from what he expected. Of +this he might have convinced himself so early as the 16th, when he +encountered the strongest resistance at all points which he had probably +deemed the weakest. From that day all his measures were calculated only +for the moment. He boasted of victory when the battle was scarcely +begun. He every where strove to check the impetuous advance of his foes +at the expense of those means which were so necessary for his own +retreat. It could not be difficult for Napoleon to foresee, on the 16th, +that, in case he should be defeated, he had no other route left than to +retreat westward, in the direction of Luetzen and Merseburg. He +nevertheless caused all the bridges over the numerous muddy streams on +that side to be destroyed, instead of diligently providing temporary +ones in addition. He was acquainted with the situation of the city, +through the centre of which he would be obliged to pass. He knew the +position of his army, which might, indeed, enter it by three spacious +roads, from north, east, and south; but had only one outlet, and this +the very narrowest of all, for itself and its train, many miles in +length. Let the reader figure to himself a routed army, and that a +French army, in which all order is so easily lost, converging in three +columns to one common centre. The passage at the outermost gate towards +Luetzen is so narrow as to admit only one single waggon at a time. When +we consider that at the Kuhthurm again the road is but just wide enough +for one carriage; that, on the west side of the city, the Elster, the +Pleisse, and their different branches, intersect with their thousand +meanders the marshy plains covered with wood, which are scarcely +passable for the pedestrian; when we farther consider the incessant +stoppages of the whole train at every little obstacle, and figure to +ourselves all the three columns united in a road, the two principal +passes of which are scarcely 30 feet in breadth; we shall rather be +astonished that the whole French army was not annihilated than surprised +at the prodigious quantity of waggons and artillery which it was obliged +to abandon. Even in the night between the 18th and 19th, when Napoleon +must have been perfectly aware of his situation, there would still have +been time to throw bridges across the different streams, so that the +army might have marched in five or six columns to Lindenau, and been +again collected at this place, from which several convenient roads +branch off. Such dispositions as circumstances required might then have +been made, and the retreat might have been effected with inconsiderable +loss. Such a precaution was the more necessary, as he could not be +ignorant that Bluecher's troops had already gained a march upon him, and +was waiting for him at the Saale. Thus the want of a few paltry wooden +bridges proved as ruinous to the French army as the battle itself. It +lost, solely because it was unprovided with them, great part of its yet +remaining artillery, several thousands of dead, who were mostly drowned, +and a great number of prisoners. It was evident that such a retreat, +conducted without order and without plan, was likely to be attended with +the total destruction of the remnant of the army before it could reach +the Rhine. By the actions on the Unstrut and Saale, at Eisenach and +Hanau, this force was actually so reduced, that, on its arrival at the +Rhine, it must probably have entirely lost its military consequence. How +infinitely inferior is Napoleon in this branch of the military art to +the immortal Moreau, to whom he would have owed everlasting obligations, +had he, at his glorious death, bequeathed to him the transcendent art of +converting retreats into victories! + +In regard to boldness, Napoleon certainly belongs to the generals of the +first rank. He has undertaken and executed the rashest enterprises. But, +if the true hero shines with the greatest lustre in misfortune, like +Hannibal and Frederic the Great, Napoleon must be classed far below +them. He abandoned his army in Russia when it had most need of his +assistance; and the reason assigned for this desertion--that +circumstances rendered his presence necessary in France--is by no means +satisfactory to the rigid inquirer. During the seven-years' war, the +more dangerous the situation of the Prussian army, the more Frederic +felt himself bound to continue with it, and to assist it with his +eminent military genius. The campaign of 1813 has clearly proved that +the secret of Napoleon's most decisive victories has consisted in the +art of assailing his opponents with a superior force. Napoleon would be +incapable of attacking with 30,000 men an army of 90,000, posted in an +advantageous position, and defeating it, as Frederic did at Leuthen. +Napoleon, like the Prussian monarch, attempted to penetrate into +Bohemia, a country so dangerous for an army; but what a wretched +business did he make of it, in comparison with the latter! Frederic +waged war that he might conquer peace; Napoleon never wished for peace, +often as he has made a show of desiring it. Frederic knew how to stop +his victorious career in time, for History had taught him that it is as +difficult to retain as to acquire glory. Napoleon imagined that his fame +was susceptible of increase alone, and lost it all in the fields of +Leipzig. The hardly-earned laurels of France faded along with it. With +what feelings must he direct his views beyond the Rhine, where the eyes +of so many thousands are now opened? He too has lived to witness days +which are far from agreeable to him. He, who represented it to the +countries which he forced into his alliance as a supreme felicity to +have their sons led forth to fight foreign battles, and to have many +thousands of them sacrificed every year upon the altar of his ambition, +now sees them all abandon him, and become his bitterest enemies. The +_Great Empire_ is now an idle dream. Already is he nearly confined +within that ancient France, which has lost through him the flower of her +population. Long has discontent lurked there in every bosom; long have +her people beheld with indignation their youth driven across the Rhine, +into foreign lands, where they were swept away by cold, famine, and the +sword, so that few of them revisited their paternal homes. Will the +nation again be ready to bathe foreign plains with the blood of half a +million of fresh victims? Scarcely can it be so infatuated. The French +too are now roused from their torpor: like the Germans, they will +confine their exertions to the defence of their own frontiers against +those mighty armies of Europe, which, crowned with laurels, wield the +sword in one hand, and bear the olive of peace in the other. + + + + +SUPPLEMENT. + + +The following letter, which cannot but be considered as most honourable +to the writer, contains so many minute, but, at the same time, highly +characteristic traits, that it cannot fail to prove extremely +interesting to every reader. No other apology is necessary for its +introduction here by way of Supplement. + + +_Leipzig, Nov. 3, 1813._ + +DEAREST FRIEND, + +You here see how ready I am to gratify your desire of knowing every +thing that passed in my neighbourhood and that befell myself in the +eventful days of October. I proceed to the point without farther +preamble. + +Ever since the arrival of marshal Marmont I have constantly resided at +the beautiful country-house of my employer at R***, where I imagined +that I might be of some service during the impending events. The general +of brigade Chamois, an honest man, but a severe officer, was at first +quartered there. + +On the 14th of October every body expected a general engagement near +Leipzig. On that day several French corps had arrived in the +neighbourhood. The near thunders of the artillery, which began to roll, +and the repeated assurances of the French officers that the anniversary +of the battles of Ulm and Jena would not be suffered to pass +uncelebrated, seemed to confirm this expectation. The king of Saxony +entered by the palisadoed gates of the outer city, and Napoleon also +soon arrived. The latter came from Dueben, and took possession of a +bivouac in the open field, not far from the gallows, close to a great +watch-fire. I was one of those who hastened to the spot, to obtain a +sight of the extraordinary man, little suspecting that a still greater +honour awaited me, namely, that of sleeping under the same roof, nay, +even of being admitted to a personal interview of some length with him. +The state of things at my country-house did not permit me to be long +absent. I hastened back, therefore, with all possible expedition. I +arrived nearly at the same moment with a French _marechal de logis du +palais_, to whom I was obliged to shew every apartment in the house, and +who, to my no small dismay, announced "that the emperor would probably +lodge there that night." The man, having despatched his errand in great +haste, immediately departed. I communicated the unexpected intelligence +to the aid-de-camp of general Pajol, but expressly observed that I had +great doubts about it, as the _marechal de logis_ himself had not spoken +positively. The aid-de-camp appeared very uneasy; and, though I strove +to convince him that it must be some time before our distinguished guest +could arrive, he immediately packed up, and, notwithstanding all my +earnest endeavours to detain him, he was gone with his servant in a few +minutes. Seldom have I witnessed such an extraordinary degree of +anxiety as this man shewed while preparing for his departure. + +The _marechal de logis_ soon returned, and again inspected all the +apartments, and even the smallest closets, more minutely than before. He +announced that _sa majeste_ would certainly take up his head-quarters +here, and asked for a piece of chalk, to mark each room with the names +of the distinguished personages by whom they were to be occupied. When +he had shewn me the apartment destined for the emperor, he desired that +a fire might be immediately lighted in it, as his majesty was very fond +of warmth. The bustle soon began; the guards appeared, and occupied the +house and all the avenues. Many officers of rank, with numerous +attendants, arrived; and six of the emperor's cooks were soon busily +engaged in the kitchen. Thus I was soon surrounded on all sides with +imperial splendour, and might consider myself for the moment as its +centre. I might possibly have felt no small degree of vanity on the +occasion, had I not been every instant reminded that the part which I +should have to act would be that of obedience alone. I heard the beating +of drums at a distance, which, as I presently learned, announced that I +was shortly to descend into a very subordinate station. It proclaimed +the arrival of the emperor, who came on horseback in a grey surtout. +Behind him rode the duke of Vicenza (Caulincourt), who, since the death +of marshal Duroc, has succeeded to his office. When they had come up to +the house, the master of the horse sprung from his steed with a +lightness and agility which I should not have expected in such a +raw-boned, stiff-looking gentleman, and immediately held that of the +emperor. + +His majesty had scarcely reached his apartments when I was hastily +sought and called for. You may easily conceive my astonishment and +perturbation when I was told that the emperor desired to speak with me +immediately. Now, in such a state of things, I had not once thought for +several days of putting on my Sunday clothes; but, to say nothing of +this, my mind was still less prepared for an interview with a hero, the +mere sight of whom was enough to bow me down to the very ground. In this +emergency courage alone could be of any service, and I rallied my +spirits as well as the short notice would permit. I had done nothing +amiss--at least that I knew of--and had performed my duty as _maitre +d'hotel_ to the best of my ability. After a general had taken charge of +me, I mustered my whole stock of rhetorical flourishes, best calculated +to win the favour of a mighty emperor. The general conducted me through +a crowd of aid-de-camps and officers of all ranks. They took but little +notice of such an insignificant being, and indeed scarcely deigned to +bestow a look upon me. My conductor opened the door, and I entered with +a heart throbbing violently. The emperor had pulled off his surtout, and +had nobody with him. On the long table was spread a map of prodigious +size. Rustan, the Mameluke, who has so long been falsely reported to be +dead, was, as I afterwards learned, in the next room.--My presence of +mind was all gone again when I came to be introduced to the emperor, and +he must certainly have perceived by my looks that I was not a little +confused. I was just going to begin the harangue which I had studied +with such pains, and to stammer out something or other about the high +and unexpected felicity of being presented to the most powerful, the +most celebrated, and the most sincerely beloved monarch in the world, +when he relieved me at once from my dilemma. He addressed me in French, +speaking very quick, but distinctly, to the following effect:-- + +_Nap._ Are you the master of this house? + +_I._ No, please your majesty, only a servant. + +_N._ Where is the owner? + +_I._ He is in the city. He is advanced in years; and under the present +circumstances has quitted his house leaving me to take care of it as +well as I can. + +_N._ What is your master? + +_I._ He is in business, sire. + +_N._ In what line? + +_I._ He is a banker. + +_N._ (_Laughing._) Oho! then he is worth a plum, (_un millionaire_,) I +suppose? + +_I._ Begging your majesty's pardon, indeed he is not. + +_N._ Well then, perhaps he may be worth two? + +_I._ Would to God I could answer your majesty in the affirmative. + +_N._ You lend money, I presume? + +_I._ Formerly we did, sire; but now we are glad to borrow. + +_N._ Yes, yes, I dare say you do a little in that way yet. What interest +do you charge? + +_I._ We used to charge from 4 to 5 per cent.; now we would willingly +give from 8 to 10. + +_N._ To whom were you used to lend money? + +_I._ To inferior tradesmen and manufacturers. + +_N._ You discount bills too, I suppose? + +_I._ Formerly, sire, we did; now we can neither discount nor get any +discounted. + +_N._ How is business with you? + +_I._ At present, your majesty, there is none doing + +_N._ How so? + +_I._ Because all trade is totally at a stand. + +_N._ But have you not your fair just now? + +_I._ Yes, but it is so only in name. + +_N._ Why? + +_I._ As all communication has for a considerable time been suspended, +and the roads are unsafe for goods, neither sellers nor buyers will run +the risk of coming; and, besides, the greatest scarcity of money +prevails in this country. + +_N._ (_Taking much snuff_) So, so! What is the name of your employer? + +I mentioned his name. + +_N._ Is he married? + +_I._ Yes, sire. + +_N._ Has he any children. + +_I._ He has, and they are married too. + +_N._ In what capacity are you employed by him? + +_I._ As a clerk. + +_N._ Then you have a cashier too, I suppose? + +_I._ Yes, sire, at your service. + +_N._ What wages do you receive? + +I mentioned a sum that I thought fit. + +He now motioned with his hand, and I retired with a low bow. During the +whole conversation the emperor was in very good humour, laughed +frequently, and took a great deal of snuff. After the interview, on +coming out of the room, I appeared a totally different and highly +important person to all those who a quarter of an hour before had not +deigned to take the slightest notice of me. Both officers and domestics +now shewed me the greatest respect. The emperor lodged in the first +floor; his favourite Mameluke, an uncommonly handsome man, was +constantly about his person. The second floor was occupied by the +prince of Neufchatel, who had a very sickly appearance, and the duke of +Bassano, the emperor's secretary. On the ground floor a front room was +converted into a _sallon au service_. Here were marshals Oudinot, +Mortier, Ney, Reynier, with a great number of generals, aid-de-camps, +and other officers in waiting, who lay at night upon straw, crowded as +close as herrings in a barrel. In the left wing lodged the duke of +Vicenza, master of the horse; and above him the physician to the +emperor, whose name, I think, was M. Yvan. The right wing was occupied +by the _officiers du palais_. The smallest room was turned into the +bed-chamber of a general; and every corner was so filled, that the +servants and other attendants were obliged to sleep on the kitchen +floor. Upon my remonstrance to the valet of the _marechal du palais_ I +was allowed to keep a small apartment for my own use, and thought to +guard myself against unwelcome intruders by inscribing with chalk my +high rank--_maitre de la maison_--in large letters upon the door. At +first the new-comers passed respectfully before my little cell, and +durst scarcely venture to peep in at the door; but it was not long +before French curiosity overleaped this written barrier. For sometime +this place served my people and several neighbours in the village as a +protecting asylum at night. + +The keys of the hay-loft and barns I was commanded to deliver to the +emperor's _piqueur_.--I earnestly entreated him to be as sparing of our +stores as possible, supporting this request with a bottle of +wine,--which, under the present circumstance, was no contemptible +present. He knew how to appreciate it, and immediately gave me a proof +of his gratitude. He took me aside, and whispered in my ear, "As long +as the emperor is here you are safe; but the moment he is gone--and +nobody can tell how soon that may be--you will be completely stripped by +the guards; the officers themselves will then shew no mercy. You had +best endeavour to obtain a safeguard, for which you must apply to the +duke of Vicenza." + +This advice was not thrown away upon me: I immediately begged to speak +with the _grand ecuyer_. I explained my business as delicately as +possible, and be with great good humour promised to comply with my +request. Determined to strike while the iron was hot, I soon, afterwards +repeated my application in writing. + +After the emperor's arrival there was no such thing as a moment's rest +for me. Gladly would I have exchanged my high function, which placed me +upon an equal footing with the first officers of the French court, for a +night's tranquil slumber. _M. maitre de la maison_ was every moment +called for. As for shaving, changing linen, brushing clothes--that was +quite out of the question. His guests had remarked his good will, and +they imagined that his ability was capable of keeping pace with it. +Luckily it never came into my head, whilst invested with my high +dignity, to look into a glass, otherwise I should certainly not have +known myself again, and Diogenes would have appeared a beau in +comparison. As to danger of life, or personal ill-treatment, I was under +no apprehension; for who would have presumed to lay hands on so +important a personage, who was every moment wanted, and whose place it +would have been absolutely impossible to supply?--I was much less +concerned about all this than about the means of saving the property of +my employer, as far as lay in my power. The danger of having every thing +destroyed was very great. + +The French guards had kindled a large fire at a small distance from the +house. The wind, being high, drove not only sparks but great flakes of +fire towards it. The whole court-yard was covered with straw, which was +liable every moment to set us all in flames. I represented this +circumstance to an officer of high rank, and observed that the emperor +himself would be exposed to very great risk; on which he ordered a +grenadier belonging to the guards to go and direct it to be put out +immediately. This man, an excessively grim fellow, refused without +ceremony to carry the order. "They are my comrades," said he: "it is +cold--they must have a fire, and dare not go too far off--I cannot +desire them to put it out."--What was to be done? I bethought myself of +the duke of Vicenza, and applied directly to him. My representations +produced the desired effect. He gave orders, and in a quarter of an hour +the fire was out. I was equally fortunate in saving a building situated +near the house. It had been but lately constructed and fitted up. The +young guard were on the point of pulling it down, with the intention of +carrying the wood to their bivouacs. Their design was instantly +prevented, and one single piece of timber only was destroyed. A guard +was sent to the place, to defend it from all farther attacks. It had +been burned down only last summer, through the carelessness of some +French dragoons. + +Late at night the king of Naples came with his retinue from Stoetteritz. +He was attended by a black Othello, who seems to serve him in the same +capacity as Rustan does his brother-in-law Napoleon. + +By day-break the emperor started with all his retinue, and took the road +to Wolkwitz. The king of Naples had already set out for the same place. +All was quiet during the day, and towards night the emperor returned. +Several French officers had asserted, the preceding night, that a +general engagement would certainly take place on the 15th. How +imperfectly they were acquainted with the state of things, I could +perceive from many of their expressions. In their opinion the armies of +the allies were already as good as annihilated. By the emperor's +masterly manoeuvres, the Russians and Swedes--the latter, by the bye, had +not yet come up--were according to them completely cut off from the +Austrians. A _courier de l'empereur_ was honest enough to tell me +plumply that they had done nothing all day but look at one another, but +that there would be so much the warmer work on the morrow. + +Very early indeed on the morning of the 16th, I remarked preparations +for the final departure of the emperor. The _maitre d'hotel_ desired a +bill of the provisions furnished him. I had already made out one, but +that would not do. It was necessary that the articles should be arranged +under particular heads, and a distinct account of each given in. I ran +short of time, patience, and paper. All excuses were unavailing, and +there was no time to be lost. I readily perceived that all the elegance +required in a merchant's counting-house would not be expected here, and +accordingly dispensed with many little formalities. I wrote upon the +first paper that came to hand, and my bills were the most miserable +scraps that ever were seen. The amount was immediately paid. Finding +that the _maitre d'hotel_ had not the least notion that it would be but +reasonable to make some remuneration to the servants, who had been so +assiduous in their attendance, I was uncivil enough to remind him of it. +He then desired me to give him a receipt for 200 francs, which I +immediately divided among the domestics; though he remarked that I ought +to give each but three or four, at most. I also made out a distinct +account for the forage, but this was not paid. + +At length arrived the long wished-for _sauvegarde_. It consisted of +three _gens d'armes d'elite_, who had a written order from the baron de +Lennep, _ecuyer_ to the emperor, by virtue of which they were to defend +my house and property from all depredations. I immediately took a copy +of this important protection, and nailed it upon the door. The house was +gradually evacuated; I was soon left alone with my guards, and sincerely +rejoiced that Heaven had sent me such honest fellows. It was impossible, +indeed, to be quite easy; the thunders of the cannon rolled more and +more awfully, and I had frequent visits from soldiers. My brave _gens +d'armes_, however, drove them all away, and I never applied in vain when +I besought them to assist a neighbour in distress. I shewed my gratitude +as far as lay in my power, and at least took care that they wanted for +nothing. + +One of these three men went into the city, and returned in haste, +bringing the news of a great victory. "_Vive l'empereur!_" cried he; +"_la bataille est gagnee._" When I inquired the particulars, he related, +in the most confident manner, that an Austrian prince had been taken, +with 30,000 men, and that they were already singing _Te Deum_ in the +city. This story seemed extremely improbable to me, as the cannonade was +at that moment rather approaching than receding from us. I expressed my +doubts of the fact, and told him that the battle could not possibly be +yet decided. The man, however, would not give up the point, but insisted +that the intelligence was official. When I asked him if he had seen the +captive prince and the 30,000 Austrians, as they must certainly have +been brought into the city, he frankly replied that he had not. Several +persons from the town had seen no more of them than he, so that I could +give a shrewd guess what degree of credit was due to the story. + +In the afternoon of the 17th marshal Ney suddenly appeared at the door +with a numerous retinue, and without ceremony took up his quarters in +the house. I saw nothing of the emperor all that day, nor did any +circumstance worthy of notice occur. On the 18th, at three in the +morning, Napoleon came quite unexpectedly in a carriage. He went +immediately to marshal Ney, with whom he remained in conversation about +an hour. He then hastened away again, and was soon followed by the +marshal, whose servants staid behind. His post must have been a very +warm one; for before noon he sent for two fresh horses, and a third was +fetched in the afternoon. The cannonade grow more violent, and gradually +approached nearer. I became more and more convinced that the pompous +story of the victory the day before was a mere gasconade. So early as +twelve o'clock things seemed to be taking a very disastrous turn for the +French. About this time they began to fall back very fast upon the city. +Shouts of _Vice l'empereur!_ suddenly resounded from thousands of +voices, and at this cry I saw the weary soldiers turn about and advance. +Appearances nevertheless became still more alarming. The balls from the +cannon of the allies already fell very near us. One of them indeed was +rude enough to kill a cow scarcely five paces from me, and to wound a +Pole. + +The French all this time could talk of nothing but victories, with which +Fortune had, most unfortunately, rendered them but too familiar. One +messenger of victory followed upon the heels of another. "General +Thielemann," cried an aid-de-camp, "has just been taken, with 6000 men; +and the emperor ordered him to be instantly shot on the field of +battle."--The most violent abuse was poured forth upon the Saxons, and I +now learned that great part of them had gone over to the allies in the +midst of the engagement. Heartily as I rejoiced at the circumstance, I +nevertheless joined the French officers in their execrations. The +concourse kept increasing; the wounded arrived in troops. Towards +evening every thing attested that the French were very closely pressed. +A servant came at full gallop to inform us that marshal Ney might +shortly be expected, and that he was wounded. The whole house was +instantly in an uproar. _Mon Dieu, mon Dieu!_--cried one to another--_le +prince est blesse--quel malheur!_ Soon after the marshal himself +arrived; he was on foot, and supported by an aid-de-camp. Vinegar was +hastily called for. The marshal had been wounded in the arm by a +cannon-ball, and the pain was so acute that he could not bear the motion +of riding. + +The houses in the village were every where plundered, and the +inhabitants kept coming in to solicit assistance. I represented their +distress to an aid-de-camp, who only shrugged his shoulders, and gave +the miserable consolation that it was now impossible for him to put a +stop to the evil. + +At length, early on the 19th, we appeared likely to get rid in good +earnest of the monster by which we had been so dreadfully tormented. +All the French hurried in disorder to the city, and our _sauvegarde_ +also made preparations to depart. Already did I again behold in +imagination the pikes of the Cossacks. All the subsequent events +followed in rapid succession. My _gens d'armes_ were scarcely gone when +a very brisk fire of sharp-shooters commenced in our neighbourhood. In a +few moments Pomeranian infantry poured from behind through the garden +into the house. They immediately proceeded, without stopping, to the +city. It was only for a few minutes that I could observe with a glass +the confused retreat of the French. Joy at the long wished-for arrival +of our countrymen and deliverers soon called me away. The galling yoke +was now shaken off, probably for ever. I bade a hearty welcome to the +brave soldiers; and, as I saw several wounded brought in, I hastened to +afford them all the assistance in my power. I may ascribe to my +unwearied assiduity the preservation of the life of lieutenant M**, a +Swedish officer, who was dangerously wounded; and by means of it I had +likewise the satisfaction to save the arm of the Prussian captain Von +B***, which, but for that, would certainly have required amputation. On +the other hand, all my exertions in behalf of the Swedish major Von +Doebeln proved unavailing; I had the mortification to see him expire. + +I was incessantly engaged with my wounded patients, while more numerous +bodies of troops continued to hasten towards the town. We now thought +ourselves fortunate in being already in the rear of the victorious army; +but the universal cry was, 'What will become of poor Leipzig?' which was +at this moment most furiously assaulted. Various officers of +distinction kept dropping in. The Swedish adjutant-general Gueldenskioeld +arrived with the captive general Reynier, who alighted and took up his +abode in the apartment in which the emperor had lodged. He was followed +by the Prussian colonel Von Zastrow, a most amiable man, and soon after +the Prussian general Von Buelow arrived with his suite. + +Our stock of provisions was almost entirely consumed, and you may +conceive my vexation at being unable, with the best will in the world, +to treat our ardently wished-for guests in a suitable manner. I had long +been obliged to endure hunger myself, and to take it as an especial +favour if the French cooks and valets had the generosity to allow me a +small portion, of the victuals with which they were supplied. + +At the very moment when marshal Ney arrived, a fire had broken out in +the neighbourhood, through the carelessness of the French. I hastened to +the spot, to render assistance, if possible. It was particularly +fortunate, considering the violence of the wind, and the want of means +to extinguish the flames, that only two houses were destroyed. The +fire-engines and utensils provided for such purposes had been carried +off for fuel to the bivouacs. Such of the inhabitants of the village as +had not run away, just now kept close in their houses, not daring to +venture abroad. A number of unfeeling Frenchmen stood about gazing at +the fire, without moving a finger towards extinguishing it. I called out +to them to lend a hand to check the progress of the conflagration. A +scornful burst of laughter was the only reply: the scoundrels would not +stir, and absolutely could not contain their joy whenever the flames +burned more furiously than usual. At the same time I witnessed +proceedings, of which the wildest savage would not have been guilty. I +saw these same wretches, who, a few days afterwards, voraciously +devoured before my face the flesh of dead horses, and even human +carcasses, wantonly trample bread, already so great a rarity, like brute +beasts in the dirt. + +For six or eight nights I had not been able to get a moment's sleep or +rest, so that at last I reeled about like one drunk or stupid. The only +wonder is that my health was not impaired by these super-human +exertions. My dress and general appearance were frightful. When the +wounded Swedish officer was brought in, he of course wanted a change of +linen. Not a shirt was to be procured any where, and I cheerfully gave +him that which I had on my back; so that I was obliged to go without one +myself for near three days. Several times during the stay of the French +I had assisted in extinguishing fires: even the presence of marshal Ney +was not sufficient to make the French in our houses at all careful in +the use of fire. Those thoughtless fellows took the first combustible +that fell into their hands, and lighted themselves about with it in +every corner. They ran with burning wisps of straw among large piles of +trusses, and this was often done in the house where the marshal lay, +without its being possible to prevent the practice. A French +aid-de-camp, in my presence, took fifty segars out of my bureau, just at +the moment when I was too busy to hinder him. Whether he likewise helped +himself to some fine cravats which lay near them, and which I afterwards +missed, I will not pretend to say. + +I have suffered a little, you see; but yet I have fortunately escaped +the thousands of dangers in which I was incessantly involved. Never +while I live shall I forget those days. That same divine Providence +which was so manifestly displayed in that arduous conflict, and which +crowned the efforts of the powers allied in a sacred cause with so +glorious and so signal a victory, evidently extended its care to me. +After the battle of Jena, in 1806, Napoleon declared in our city that +Leipzig was the most dangerous of his enemies. Little did he imagine +that it would once prove so in a very different sense from that which he +attached to those words. Here the arm of the Most High arrested his +victorious career, of which no mortal eye could have foreseen the +termination. I would not exchange the glory--which I may justly +assume--the glory of having saved the property of my worthy employer, as +far as lay in my power, during those tremendous days of havoc and +devastation, for the laurel wreath with which French adulation attempts +most unseasonably to entwine the brow of the imperial commander, on +account of the battle of Leipzig. + + + + +CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTES. + + +That Napoleon was not quite so much master of himself, during the +retreat through Leipzig, as might have been supposed from his +countenance, may be inferred from various circumstances. While riding +slowly through Peter's gate he was bathed in sweat, and pursued his way +towards the very quarter by which the enemy was advancing. It was not +till he had gone a considerable distance that he bethought himself, and +immediately turned about. He inquired if there was any cross-road to +Borna and Altenburg; and, being answered in the negative, he took the +way to the Ranstaedt gate. + + * * * * * + +None of the French officers or soldiers could be brought to admit that +they had sustained any material loss from the Russian arms in 1812; they +maintained, on the contrary, that famine and cold alone had destroyed +their legions, and that it was impossible for a French army to be +beaten. What excuse will they now have to make, when they return, +without baggage and artillery, to their countrymen beyond the Rhine? + + * * * * * + +That the French prophesied nothing good of their retreat the evening +before it commenced, is evinced by the circumstance of their having +broken up a great number of gun-carriages, and buried the cannon, or +thrown them into marshes or ponds. These yet continue to be daily +discovered, and that in places contiguous to houses which are fully +inhabited. It is rather singular that they were not observed while +engaged in this business, which must certainly have been performed with +uncommon silence and expedition. + + * * * * * + +A Russian officer, to whom complaints were made respecting same +irregularities committed by the Cossacks in the villages, expressed +himself in the following manner in regard to those troops:--"The +officers would gladly put a stop to such proceedings, which are strictly +prohibited, and severely punished;--but how is it possible for them to +have these men continually under their eye? The nature of the warfare in +which they are engaged, which obliges them to be constantly making +extensive excursions, prevents this. We are often under the necessity of +leaving them for several days together to themselves, that they may +explore every wood, every corner, and fatigue and harass the enemy. In +services on which no other kind of troops can be employed, they are +frequently obliged to struggle alone for several days through every +species of hardship and danger; and then, indeed, it is no wonder if +they occasionally indulge themselves. On account of the important +service which they render to the army, we cannot possibly dispense with +them. The incessant vigilance of the Cossacks, who are every where at +once, renders it extremely difficult for the enemy to reconnoitre, and +scarcely possible for him to surprise us; and so much the more +frequently are we enabled by them to take him at unawares. In a word, +the Cossacks are the eye of the army;--and it is a pity only that it +sometimes sees too clearly where it needs not see at all." + + + + + +*** _After the preceding Sheets were put to Press, the following +important Documents were received by the Publisher._ + + + + +MEMORIAL + +Addressed by the City of LEIPZIG to the independent and benevolent + +BRITISH NATION, + +In Behalf of the Inhabitants of the adjacent Villages and Hamlets, +who have been reduced to extreme Distress by the Military +Operations in October, 1813. + + +The prosperity of Leipzig depends upon commerce, as that of commerce +depends upon liberty. Till 1806 it was a flourishing city. With England +in particular, whose manufactures and colonial produce were allowed to +be freely imported, its commercial relations were of the highest +importance. For the opulence which Leipzig then enjoyed it was indebted +to its extensive traffic, which contributed to the prosperity of Saxony +in general; but it was more particularly the numerous adjacent villages +and hamlets that owed to our city their respectability, their +improvements, and the easy circumstances of their inhabitants. + +The well-known events in October, 1806, rendered Saxony--the then happy +Saxony--dependent on the will of Napoleon. Commerce, and the liberty of +trade, were annihilated as by magic. A new code was enforced, and +Leipzig was severely punished for the traffic which it had heretofore +carried on with England and which had been encouraged by its sovereign, +as for a heinous crime. Since that catastrophe Saxony had suffered +severely, its prosperity had greatly declined, and our city in +particular had, in addition to the general burdens, the most grievous +oppressions of every kind to endure. How often did Leipzig resemble a +military parade or hospital rather than a commercial city! How many +pledges of our affection were snatched from us by the contagious fever +spread among us by means of the hospitals!--But with the spring of the +present year, with the season which usually fills every tender heart +with delight, commenced the most melancholy epoch for our country, as it +became the theatre of a war which laid it waste without mercy, and of +the most sanguinary engagements. After all the hardships which it had +suffered, a lot still more severe awaited Leipzig and its vicinity. + +From the commencement of October last the French troops here kept daily +increasing, as did also their sick and wounded in a most alarming +manner. On the 14th Napoleon arrived with his army in our neighbourhood, +and the different corps of the allied powers advanced on all sides. On +the 15th commenced all round us a great, a holy conflict, for the +liberation and independence of Germany, for the peace of Europe, for the +repose of the world--a conflict which, after an engagement of three +days, that can scarcely be paralleled in history for obstinacy and +duration, and at last extended to our city itself, terminated on the +19th of October, through the superior talents of the generals and the +valour of their troops, which vanquished all the resistance of despair, +in the most complete and glorious victory. The French still defended +themselves in our unfortified town, and would have devoted it to +destruction; the allies made themselves masters of it by assault at one +o'clock, and spared it. They were received with the loudest acclamations +by the inhabitants, whose joy was heightened into transport when they +beheld their illustrious deliverers, the two emperors, the king of +Prussia, and the crown-prince of Sweden, enter the place in triumph. +During this engagement the Saxon troops went over to the banners of the +allies. + +This eventful victory justifies the hope of a speedy peace, founded upon +the renewed political system of the balance of power,--an honourable, +safe, permanent, and general peace, for which, with all its attendant +blessings, Europe will be indebted, under divine Providence, to the +invincible perseverance of England in the contest with France, to the +combined energies of the south and the north, and to the exertions of +the allied powers, and of the truly patriotic Germans by whom they were +joined. + +The battle of Leipzig will be ever memorable in the annals of History. A +severe lot has hitherto befallen our city. To the burdens and +requisitions of every kind, by which it was overwhelmed, were added the +suspension of trade, and the injury sustained by the entire suppression +this year of our two principal fairs. Our resources are exhausted, and +we have yet here a prodigious number of sick and wounded;--upwards of +30,000 in more than 40 military hospitals, with our own poor and the +troops yet stationed here for our protection, to be provided for; +besides which numberless just claims for the good cause yet remain to be +satisfied. But from misfortune itself we will derive new strength and +new courage, and our now unfettered commerce affords us the prospect of +a happier futurity. We have lost much; but those days when we ourselves +knew the want of provisions, and even of bread--those days of horror, +danger, and consternation--are past; we yet live, and our city has been +preserved through the favour of Heaven and the generosity of the +conquerors. + +One subject of affliction lies heavy upon our hearts. Our prosperous +days afforded us the felicity of being able to perform in its full +extent the duty of beneficence towards the necessitous. We have before +our eyes many thousands of the inhabitants of the adjacent villages and +hamlets, landed proprietors, farmers, ecclesiastics, schoolmasters, +artisans of every description, who, some weeks since, were in +circumstances more or less easy, and at least knew no want; but now, +without a home, and stripped of their all, are with their families +perishing of hunger. + +Their fields have gained everlasting celebrity, for there the most +signal of victories was won for the good cause; but these fields, so +lately a paradise, are now, to the distance of from ten to twelve miles, +transformed into a desert. What the industry of many years had acquired +was annihilated in a few hours. All around is one wide waste. The +numerous villages and hamlets are almost all entirely or partially +reduced to ashes; the yet remaining buildings are perforated with balls, +in a most ruinous condition, and plundered of every thing; the barns, +cellars, and lofts, are despoiled, and stores of every kind carried off; +the implements of farming and domestic economy, for brewing and +distilling--in a word, for every purpose--the gardens, plantations, and +fruit-trees--are destroyed; the fuel collected for the winter, the +gates, the doors, the floors, the wood-work of every description, were +consumed in the watch-fires; the horses were taken away, together with +all the other cattle; and many families are deploring the loss of +beloved relatives, or are doomed to behold them afflicted with sickness +and destitute of relief. + +The miserable condition of these deplorable victims to the thirst of +conquest, the distress which meets our view whenever we cross our +thresholds, no language is capable of describing. The horrid spectacle +wounds us to the very soul. + +But all these unfortunate creatures look up to Leipzig, formerly the +source of their prosperity;--their eloquent looks supplicate our aid; +and the pang that wrings our bosoms arises from this consideration, that +neither the exhausted means of Leipzig nor those of our ruined country +are adequate to afford them that relief and support which may enable +them to rebuild their habitations, and to return to the exercise of +their respective trades and professions. + +All the countries of our continent have been more or less drained by +this destructive war. Whither then are these poor people, who have such +need of assistance--whither are they to look for relief? Whither but to +the sea-girt Albion, whose wooden walls defy every hostile attack,--who +has, uninjured, maintained the glorious conflict with France, both by +water and by land? Ye free, ye beneficent, ye happy Britons, whose +generosity is attested by every page of the annals of suffering +Humanity--whose soil bus been trodden by no hostile foot--who know not +the feelings of the wretch that beholds a foreign master revelling in +his habitation,--of you the city of Leipzig implores relief for the +inhabitants of the circumjacent villages and hamlets, ruined by the +military events in the past month of October. We therefore entreat our +patrons and friends in England to open a subscription in their behalf. +The boon of Charity shall be punctually acknowledged in the public +papers, and conscientiously distributed, agreeably to the object for +which it was designed, by a committee appointed for the purpose. Those +who partake of it will bless their benefactors, and their grateful +prayers for them will ascend to Heaven. + + (Signed) FREGE AND CO. + REICHENBACH AND CO. + JOHANN HEINRICH KUeSTNER AND CO. + + _Leipzig, Nov. 1, 1813._ + + * * * * * + + _We, the Burgomaster and Council of the city of Leipzig, hereby + attest the truth of the deplorable state of our city, and of the + villages around it, as faithfully and pathetically described in a + Memorial dated November 1st, and addressed to the British nation + by some of our most reputable and highly-respected + fellow-citizens, namely, the bankers Messrs. Frege and Co. Messrs. + Kuestner and Co. Messrs. Reichenbach and Co.; and recommend it to + the generosity which has, in all ages, marked the character of the + British nation. We have formally authenticated this attestation, + by affixing to it the seal of our city, and our usual signature._ + + (L.S.) D. FRIEDRICH HULDREICH CARL SIEGMANN, + Acting Burgomaster. + + _Leipzig, Nov. 18, 1813._ + + + + +Printed by W. Clowes, Northumberland-Court, Strand, London. + + + + +FORMED JAN. 1814, + +FOR RELIEVING THE DISTRESS IN GERMANY. + + +About eight years ago the calamities, occasioned by the war in different +provinces of Germany, gave rise to a Subscription and the formation of a +Committee in London, to relieve the distresses on the Continent. By the +generosity of the British Public, and with the aid of several +respectable Foreigners resident in this country, the sum of nearly +50,000_l._ was remitted to the Continent, which rescued multitudes of +individuals and families from the extremity of distress, and the very +brink of ruin. The Committee received, both from Germany and Sweden, the +most satisfactory documents, testifying that the various sums +transmitted had been received and conscientiously distributed; but at no +period since the existence of this Committee has the mass of every kind +of misery been so great, in the country to which their attention was +first directed. Never has the cry of the distressed Germans for help +been so urgent, their appeal to British benevolence so pressing, as at +the present moment. Who could read the reports of the dreadful conflicts +which have taken place in Germany, during the last eventful year; of the +many sanguinary battles fought in Silesia, Lusatia, Bohemia, Saxony, +Brandenburg, and other parts; and peruse the melancholy details of +sufferings, almost unexampled in the annals of history, without the most +lively emotions? Who could hear of so many thousands of families +barbarously driven from Hamburg, in the midst of a severe winter; of so +many villages burnt, cities pillaged, whole principalities desolated, +and not glow with ardent desire to assist in relieving distress so +multifarious and extensive? _To the alleviation of sufferings so +dreadful; to the rescue of our fellow-men, who are literally ready to +perish: the views of the Committee are exclusively directed._ Many +well-authenticated afflicting details of the present distress having +been, on the 14th Jan. 1814, laid before the Committee, it was +immediately resolved, in reliance on the liberality of the British +public, to remit, by that post, the sum of _Three Thousand Five Hundred +Pounds_, to respectable Persons, with directions to form Committees of +Distribution at the several places following:-- + + 1. To Leipsic and its vicinity, L500 + 2. To Dresden and its vicinity, 500 + 3. To Bautzen and its vicinity, 500 + 4. To Silesia; on the borders of which, seventy-two + villages were almost entirely destroyed, 500 + 5. To Lauenburg, Luneburg, and the vicinity of Harburg + in Hanover, 500 + 6. To the many thousands who have been forced from their + habitations in Hamburg, 1000 + +At subsequent Meetings the following sums were voted:-- + + 7. _Jan. 18_, To Erfurt, Naumburg, and their vicinity, L500 + 8. _Jan. 23_, To Hamburg and its vicinity, 1000 + 9. To Berlin, its vicinity, and hospitals, 1000 +10. To Leipsic and its vicinity, 1000 +11. To Silesia and Lusatia, 1000 +12. For several hundred Children, turned out of the + Foundling Hospital at Hamburg, 300 +13. _Jan. 31_, To Wittemberg and its vicinity, 500 +14. To Halle and its vicinity, 500 +15. To Dresden and its vicinity, 500 +16. To the towns, villages, and hamlets, between + Leipsic and Dresden, 1000 +17. _Feb 1_, To Hanover and its vicinity, 500 +18. To Stettin and its vicinity, 500 +19. _Feb 3_, To Stargard, its hospitals, and vicinity, 300 +20. _Feb 10_, To Liegnitz, Neusaltz, Jauer, Buntzlau, + and the 72 villages, which are almost entirely + destroyed, 2000 +21. To Bautzen, with the recommendation of Bischoffswerda, + Zittau, Lauban, Loban, and vicinity, 600 +22. To Culm and neighbourhood, 500 +23. To Dresden and vicinity, 500 +24. To Pirna, Freiberg, and vicinity, 500 +25. To Luetzen and vicinity, 300 +26. For the unfortunate Peasantry in the vicinity Leipzig, 1000 +27. To Torgau, 500 +28. To Naumburg and vicinity, 500 +29. To Weissenfels and vicinity, 500 +30. To Erfurt and Eisenach, 500 +31. To Dessau and vicinity, 500 +32. To Fulda, Hanau, and vicinity, 1000 +33. To Schwerin, Rostock, and vicinity, 800 +34. To Wismar and vicinity, 200 +35. To Frankfurt and vicinity, 500 +36. To Luebeck and vicinity, 500 +37. To Lauenburg, Ratzeburg, Luneburg, Zelle, Harburg, + Stade, and neighbouring villages, 1000 +38. To Berlin and Whistock, 1000 +39. To be held at Berlin, for the sufferers at Magdeburg, + when that fortress shall be evacuated by the enemy, 1000 +40. To Stettin, 500 +41. To Hamburg, 1000 +42. To Bremen, 500 +43. To Wurzburg, 500 +44. _Feb 17_, To Stettin, 500 +45. To the Exiles from Hamburg, at Altona, Luebeck, Bremen, + and wherever they may be, 3000 +46. To Kiel, in Holstein, L500 +47. To Leipzig, Chemnitz, and Freyberg, and their vicinity, 2000 +48. To Dresden, Pirna, and their vicinity, 2000 + L36,000 + ------- + +At a General Meeting, convened by the Committee for relieving the +Distress in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, on the 27th of +January, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street; + +HENRY THORNTON, Esq. M.P. in the Chair; + +The Chairman read a letter from His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, +stating, that an illness, which had deprived him of his rest the +preceding night; totally incapacitated him from the proposed pleasure of +presiding at a Meeting, the purpose of which was so congenial to his +feelings, and in the success of which he avowed his heart to be deeply +engaged. + +The Secretary then read an interesting Memorial from the Inhabitants of +Leipsic, praying that relief from British benevolence, which former +experience had taught them, to confide in. + +_The following Resolutions were agreed to:--_ + +1. That it appears to this Meeting that the distress arising out of the +ravages of war in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, is +inconceivably great, and loudly calls on the British Nation for the +exercise of its accustomed beneficence. + +2. That this General Meeting, convened by the Committee appointed in the +year 1805, for relieving the Distresses in Germany and other parts of +the Continent, approves most cordially of the object of the Committee, +and especially of the prompt measures taken at their meetings of the +14th and 18th of January, anticipating the liberality of the British +Public, and sending immediate succour to the places in greatest need. + +3. That an addition to the Subscriptions already opened by the Committee +be now applied for, to meet the relief they have already ordered; and +that the Committee be desired, without delay, to use its utmost +endeavours to procure further contributions, to alleviate, as much as +possible, the present unparalleled distress on the Continent. + +4. That it be recommended to the Committee in the distribution of the +funds to observe the strictest impartiality and that the measure of +distress in each place or district do regulate the proportion of relief +to be afforded. + +5. That the several Bankers in the metropolis and the country be, and +they are hereby, requested to receive Subscriptions for this great +object of charity; and that the country Bankers be, and they are hereby, +requested to remit the amount received, on the first day of March, to +Henry Thornton, Esq. Bartholomew-lane, with the names of Subscribers, +and to continue the same on the first day of each subsequent month. + +6. That the Clergy of the Church of England, and Ministers of all +religious denominations, be, and they are hereby, earnestly requested to +recommend this important object to their several congregations, and to +make public collections in aid of its funds. + +7. That all the Corporate Bodies in the United Kingdom be, and they are +hereby, respectfully requested to contribute to this important object. + +8. That the most respectful thanks of this Meeting are due, and that +they be presented, to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, for his +condescending and, immediate acquiescence in the request that he would +take the Chair on this important occasion. + +Resolved, That the thanks of this Meeting be given to HENRY THORNTON, +Esq. for the zeal and ability evinced in his conduct in the Chair. + + * * * * * + +A Sub-Committee having been commissioned to examine the documental +papers and other sources from which Mr. Ackermann's _Narrative of the +most remarkable Events in and near Leipzig, &c._ is compiled, as some +insinuations have been thrown out that much of what is therein related +is rather exaggerated, and Mr. Ackermann having furnished them with the +said papers, they were found to consist of-- + +1. A Pamphlet, printed at Leipzig, entitled, "_Leipzig, waehrend der +Schreckenstage der Schlachten, im Monat October, 1813; als Beytrag zur +Chronik dieser Stadt._" ("Leipzig, during the terrible Days of the +Battles in the Month of October, 1813; being a Supplement to the History +of this City.") + +2. A printed Advertisement of a large Work, to be accompanied with Nine +Plates, the Advertisement itself giving a brief but comprehensive +account of the battle of Leipzig. + +3. A second Advertisement, giving a similar description of these battles +in German and French. + +4. A Letter from Count Schoenfeld to Mr. Ackermann, describing the +dreadful condition of the villages in the neighbourhood of Leipzig, +especially of those over which the storm of the battle passed. + +5. An Official Paper, signed by some of the principal Bankers and +Merchants at Leipzig, containing an appeal to the benevolence of the +British Public, in behalf of the sufferers. + +6. An Official Attestation of the truth of the statement made in the +said Appeal, signed by the acting Burgomaster of Leipzig, with the City +Seal affixed. + +7. Several private Letters, entering more or less into the detail. + +The Sub-Committee, having read and considered the chief parts of these +several sources of information, were unanimous in their opinion, that +far from any exaggeration of facts having been resorted to, in +presenting this Narrative to the British Public, facts have been +suppressed under an idea that they might shock the feelings of +Englishmen, who, in general, by God's mercy, have so imperfect an idea +of the horrors of a campaign, and the unspeakable sufferings occasioned +by the presence of contending armies, that, to hear more of the detail +contained in the said papers, might destroy the effect of exciting +compassion by creating disgust, and doubts of the possibility of the +existence of such enormities. + +The Sub-Committee were likewise fully persuaded that the accounts +contained in these official and printed Papers could not have been +published at Leipzig itself, without being acknowledged by all as +authentic, as they would otherwise have been liable to the censure of +every reader and reviewer; and therefore, comparing them also with +various similar accounts, received from other places, they feel no +hesitation in expressing their opinion, that the Narrative published by +Mr. Ackermann is a true and faithful representation of such facts as +came within the Reporter's own observation. + + Rev. Wm. KUPER. + Rev. Dr. SCHWABE. + Rev. C.F. STEINKOPFF. + Rev. C.J. LATROBE. + + _Tuesday, Feb. 8th, 1814._ + + * * * * * + +_The following are the Instructions given by the London Committee to the +Committees of Distribution on the Continent._ + +Permit me to inform you, that the London Committee for relieving the +Distresses in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, deeply +sympathizing in the distressed situation of your town, (or district,) +and anxiously wishing to afford some relief to the suffering +inhabitants, have devoted the sum of ---- to this purpose in the +distribution of which they request your attention to the following +points:-- + +1. The express design of this Charity is to relieve those who have been +plunged into poverty and distress by the recent calamities of the War. + +2. In the appropriation of its funds, the strictest impartiality is to +be observed. + +3. The distribution is to take place with the least possible loss of +time. + +4. No one family or individual is to receive too large a proportion of +this Charity. The amount of the loss, and all the circumstances of the +persons to be relieved, are duly to be taken into consideration. + +5. For these purposes a Committee of Distribution is immediately to be +formed, consisting of magistrates, clergymen, merchants, and such other +persons as are most generally respected for their knowledge, discretion, +and integrity. Should a Committed be already formed for the disposing of +contributions received from other quarters, they are requested to choose +from among its members a Sub-Committee for the management of the sums +received from London. + +6. This Committee is requested to keep an accurate list of every person +and family they relieve, as well as the sum allotted to each, and to +transmit to the London Committee such authentic accounts of the distress +still prevailing, together with such particulars relative to the good +effects produced by the distribution of the charity, as may prove +interesting to the public. + +7. Finally, the Committee of Distribution will have the goodness, at the +close of their benevolent labours, to draw up a concise Report of the +manner in which they have applied the funds intrusted to their care, +accompanied with such documents as they may deem necessary, and to send +the whole to the London Committee. + +8. The London Committee, considering themselves responsible to the +Public, whose Almoners they are, wish to lay particular stress on a +fair, equitable, and impartial distribution of this bounty; and as +persons of different ranks, and religious denominations, in Great +Britain, have been the contributors, they anxiously wish that the _most +distressed_, without regard to any religious community, whether +Christians or Jews, Protestants or Catholics, may receive their due +proportion in the distribution. + +9. They now conclude with assurances of their deep interest in the +sufferings of their brethren on the Continent; and consider it not only +a duty, but a privilege, to administer to their necessities, as far as +the kind providence of God, through the instrumentality of the British +Public, may enable them to dispense. + +10. The Committee of Distribution are requested to appoint a +Correspondent with the London Committees, and to transmit their letters +to + + R.H. MARTEN, } + LUKE HOWARD, } Secretaries, + + _At the City of London Tavern, London._ + + * * * * * + +Typographical errors corrected in text: + +page 10: Duben replaced with Dueben +page 12: repretentations replaced with representations +page 27: Brietenfeld replaced with Breitenfeld +page 28: Brietenfeld replaced with Breitenfeld +page 80: aparment replaced with apartment + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Frederic Shoberl Narrative of the Most +Remarkable Events Which Occurred In and Near Leipzig, by Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREDERIC SHOBERL NARRATIVE *** + +***** This file should be named 17595.txt or 17595.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/5/9/17595/ + +Produced by Thierry Alberto, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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