diff options
158 files changed, 17 insertions, 26258 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3db2b05 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #55131 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55131) diff --git a/old/55131-0.txt b/old/55131-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index b02135c..0000000 --- a/old/55131-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11029 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Camp-fires of Napoleon, by Henry C. Watson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Camp-fires of Napoleon - Comprising The Most Brilliant Achievemnents of the Emperor - and His Marshals - -Author: Henry C. Watson - -Release Date: July 17, 2017 [EBook #55131] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMP-FIRES OF NAPOLEON *** - - - - -Produced by KD Weeks, Brian Coe and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Transcriber’s Note: - -This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. -Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character as _italic_. - -Footnotes have been moved to follow the paragraphs in which they are -referenced. - -Not all illustrations are mentioned in the table of ‘Embellishments’. -Most chapters include both a illustration above the chapter head, and a -trailing caption at the end. With a few exceptions the heading -illustrations have no captions. - -Illustrations which refer in their captions to a facing page have been -positioned to precede that page. These were not included in the -pagination. Others, also mentioned in the table, have been moved -slightly to fall on paragraph breaks. - -[Illustration: - - NAPOLEON CROSSING THE ALPS. - Frontispiece. -] - -[Illustration: CAMP FIRES OF NAPOLEON] - - THE - CAMP-FIRES - OF - _NAPOLEON_: - COMPRISING - THE MOST BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS - OF THE - EMPEROR AND HIS MARSHALS. - - BY HENRY C. WATSON. - - - PHILADELPHIA: - H. C. PECK & THEO. BLISS. - 1867. - - ---------------------------------------------------------------- - - ENTERED According to the Act of Congress, in the year 1854, - - BY H. C. PECK & THEO. BLISS, - - In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of - Pennsylvania. - - ---------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - PREFACE. - -The vivid pictures of war, however ensanguined, have a wonderful -attraction for the mass of men. They stir the heart like a trumpet. No -narratives are so generally perused with avidity as those of “feats of -broils and battles;” for in them, in spite of many disgusting features, -there is always something to excite a pleasing thrill. We love -excitement, and it seems that it is to war, and the descriptions of its -varied scenes of danger, during which the faculties of the combatants -are roused to extraordinary strength, that most look for the -gratification of their natural desires. We have heard of many persons -who, in the abstract, condemn all wars as brutal and degrading to -humanity, peruse, with unwearied attention, narratives of the campaigns -of great generals, and dwell upon their details with evident -manifestations of delight. The passion is irresistible. - -In this work, the author has endeavored to present to the mental eye, -more vividly than the so-termed dignity of ordinary history permits, the -most striking scenes and remarkable personages of Napoleon’s astonishing -career of glory—to show the greatest warrior of any age in the field, -and at the nightly bivouacs—upon the fertile plains of Piedmont—in the -shadow of the Egyptian pyramids—amid the forests of Germany, and on the -frozen plains of Russia—surrounded by his galaxy of splendid generals, -his military family—to illustrate a passage in the history of Europe, -which, for stirring scenes and powerful characters, has, perhaps, no -parallel. From the camp-fire at Toulon, where the young lieutenant of -artillery gave the first impression of his wonderful genius, till the -terrible night of darkness and death following the battle of Waterloo, -the career of Napoleon is traced by his bivouacs; and around each -watch-fire is grouped the incidents of the conflicts which there -occurred. The salient points in the life of the great warrior are, -therefore, illumined, so as to fix them in the memory. - -Who can know the incidents of that career of glory without astonishment? -We find a genius, under the smile of fortune, rising from the ranks of -the people to the summit of despotic power—surpassing the generalship of -Hannibal—the statesmanship of Cæsar, and performing exploits, which, -before his time, were placed among the impossible. There is imperishable -interest attached to every event in the life of such a character; and, -therefore, no work which honestly aims to illustrate them can be -considered superfluous. - -It is hoped that the numerous engravings will add to the attractions of -the book, and render its word-pictures clearer and more perfect to the -mind. Their value is so well established, that the time is approaching -when few historical works will be published without such illustrations. - - - - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - CONTENTS. - - CAMP-FIRE OF TOULON, 13 - CAMP-FIRE OF MONTE-NOTTE, 19 - CAMP-FIRE OF MONDOVI, 26 - CAMP-FIRE OF THE BRIDGE OF LODI, 37 - CAMP-FIRE OF CASTIGLIONE, 46 - CAMP-FIRE OF ARCOLA, 58 - CAMP-FIRE OF RIVOLI, 69 - CAMP-FIRE OF THE ALPS, 79 - CAMP-FIRE OF THE NILE, 89 - CAMP-FIRE OF MOUNT TABOR, 98 - CAMP-FIRE OF ABOUKIR, 110 - CAMP-FIRE OF THE VALLEY OF AOSTA, 121 - CAMP-FIRE OF MARENGO, 139 - CAMP-FIRE OF ULM, 156 - CAMP-FIRE OF AUSTERLITZ, 163 - CAMP-FIRE OF PALENY, 180 - CAMP-FIRE OF JENA, 186 - CAMP-FIRE OF THE NAREW, 210 - CAMP-FIRE OF EYLAU, 218 - CAMP-FIRE OF FRIEDLAND, 239 - CAMP-FIRE OF MADRID, 260 - CAMP-FIRE OF RATISBON, 266 - CAMP-FIRES OF ASPERN AND ESSLING, 275 - CAMP-FIRE OF WAGRAM, 282 - CAMP-FIRE OF NIEMEN, 291 - CAMP-FIRE OF WITEPSK, 298 - CAMP-FIRE OF SMOLENSKO, 305 - CAMP-FIRE OF WIASMA, 317 - CAMP-FIRE OF BORODINO, 326 - CAMP-FIRE OF MOSCOW, 348 - CAMP-FIRE OF MALO-YAROSLAVETZ, 362 - CAMP-FIRE IN THE SNOW, 371 - CAMP-FIRE AT KRASNOE, 389 - CAMP-FIRE OF BORYSTHENES, 397 - THE LAST CAMP-FIRES IN RUSSIA, 404 - CAMP-FIRE OF LUTZEN, 413 - CAMP-FIRE OF BAUTZEN, 417 - CAMP-FIRE OF MONTEREAU, 421 - CAMP-FIRE OF ARCIS, 427 - CAMP-FIRE OF WATERLOO. 434 - - - - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - LIST OF PRINCIPAL EMBELLISHMENTS. - - - NAPOLEON CROSSING THE ALPS, FRONTISPIECE. - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT EYLAU, TITLE. - - BATTERY OF THE MEN WITHOUT FEAR, 13 - - BATTLE OF MONTE-NOTTE, 19 - - MARSHAL MURAT, 33 - - NAPOLEON INFORMED OF HIS ELECTION AS CORPORAL, 42 - - NAPOLEON AT THE BRIDGE OF ARCOLA, 58 - - NAPOLEON’S ARRIVAL IN EGYPT, 89 - - NAPOLEON AT THE PYRAMIDS, 93 - - BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS, 94 - - NAPOLEON ENTERING CAIRO, 97 - - NAPOLEON AT MOUNT TABOR, 98 - - MARSHAL JUNOT, 101 - - NAPOLEON AT ACRE, 105 - - BONAPARTE AS FIRST CONSUL, 133 - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT ULM, 159 - - NAPOLEON AT JENA, 186 - - CAMP SCENE ON THE EVENING BEFORE THE BATTLE OF 171 - AUSTERLITZ, - - BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ, 177 - - THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE NAREW, 214 - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT FRIEDLAND, 258 - - MARSHAL LANNES, 269 - - BATTLE OF ESSLING, 275 - - NAPOLEON AT WIASMA, 317 - - NAPOLEON AT KRASNOE, 389 - - NAPOLEON AT MONTEREAU, 421 - - BATTLE OF WATERLOO, 434 - - THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, 444 - - DEATH OF NAPOLEON. 448 - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: BATTERY OF THE MEN WITHOUT FEAR. Page 13.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT TOULON. - - -[Illustration] - -It was the night of the 19th of December, 1793. A sky of darkness, -unbroken by the twinkling of a single star, arched over the town and -harbor of Toulon. But on the rugged heights of Balagrier and -L’Equillette, where the English had vainly constructed their “Little -Gibraltar,” the watch-fires of the French beseigers were redly burning; -sending up showers of sparks, which looked like rising stars against the -intense blackness of the heavens. It was the 19th of December, and the -fate of Toulon, which for four months had lingered in the balance, was -decided. Britons, Spaniards, Neapolitans and French—a garrison of the -enemies of the republic—had fought in vain. The “Little Gibraltar,” -which commanded the town and harbor was in the hands of the French; -their troops were even forcing their way into the town, and -consternation had seized those who dared to oppose the decrees of the -Committee of Safety, as well as those who had so promptly tendered them -aid. The evacuation of Toulon had been hurriedly resolved; and now, as -the red gleam of the watch-fires and the blaze of the thundering -artillery shone upon the dark waters of the bay, crowds of trembling -people could be seen embarking in vessels of all kinds, glad to avail -themselves of the protection of the English fleet, to escape the bloody -revenge of the triumphant republicans. - -The batteries of the “Little Gibraltar,” were already sending a shower -of death upon the hostile fleet in the roadstead. On a rock, by a small -blazing fire, and just above a battery, a form could be dimly seen -through the smoke of the guns, which was destined to rise as a terrible -image before the eyes of Europe, as it stood now, the conqueror of the -foes of France, at Toulon. It was a slender form, on which the costume -of a commandant of artillery hung loosely. But the inexorable resolution -of the pale face, and the keen, quick flashes of the eagle eyes, caused -those who gazed to forget all but awe and wonder before this genius of -war. Occasionally, between the reports of the heavy guns, could be heard -the shrill voice of command, which none refused to obey—it would be -obeyed. Those eyes had seen where to strike, and that voice had -commanded, the blow which brought Toulon to the feet of the republic. -The commander was Napoleon Bonaparte, the young Corsican—the pet of -Paoli—the child cradled amid the civil wars of his native island—who had -made the cannon his toy—and who had been educated to war at the military -school of Brienne. A subordinate, he had compelled his superior officers -to bow before the oracles of his genius. One after another they had -yielded, till the last, General Dugommier, a brave old warrior, -acknowledged his artillery officer as the conqueror of Toulon. - -That was a proud moment for the young Napoleon. He knew that the triumph -was secured, and that to him, alone, it was due; for his plan had -prevailed against the ignorant and imbecile schemes of the republic’s -generals, and his devices for rousing an irresistible enthusiasm in the -troops,—such as naming a battery in a desperate position, the battery -“_des hommes sans peur_” had rendered the execution of that plan -complete. And now the enemy were preparing for flight—precipitate -flight. - -“A cooler aim—cut down a flag, brave Junot!” commands the shrill voice, -amid the thunder of the guns, and the dusky, slovenly looking artillery -man on the right of the battery, fronting Napoleon, steadily watches for -a moment when the red glare shall show him a portion of the fleet in the -roadstead. A glimpse of the cross of St. George! Loud thunders the gun, -and at the next vivid glare, the flag falls; and amid the roar of the -storm of death rises the cheer of the artillery men. - -“Well done, Junot!” exclaimed the shrill voice. The slovenly man who -brought down the cross of St. George was Andoche Junot, afterwards -Marshal of France and Duke d’Abrantes, whose cool courage had more than -once won the commendation of the commandant during this memorable siege. - -But now occurred a scene which caused the fire of the “Little -Gibraltar,” to slacken. Even as Napoleon spoke to Junot, he discovered a -spreading flame in the harbor, and in a few moments, great tongues of -fire licked the air in front of the town, and fit up the scene for miles -around with a terrible brilliancy. The English and Spaniards, under the -direction of Sir Sydney Smith, had set fire to the arsenal, the stores, -and the French ships which they could not remove. The rising flames, -growing redder and redder, seemed at length like the glowing crater of a -volcano, amid which could be seen the masts and yards of the burning -vessels, and the advance of the republican troops who were attempting to -force their way into the town. The waters of the bay resembled streams -of lava flowing from the mountains and hills around the town, which, -themselves glowed like living coals. The Jacobins in the town now arose -to take revenge upon the flying royalists. Horrid screams and yells, -cries and entreaties rang upon the air like sounds from the infernal -regions, while in the midst of all could be heard the swelling chorus of -the Marseillais. The guns of Malbosquet were turned upon the town, and -their thunder increased the uproar of this terrible scene. Suddenly, a -tremendous explosion, as if a mountain had been shattered to its base by -a bolt from heaven, shocked the air, and even caused the stern men under -the eye of Napoleon to tremble. Hundreds of barrels of powder had -exploded, and high above the harbor, the air was filled with the blazing -fragments, which descended even among the batteries of the “Little -Gibraltar,” causing the men to spring about to save themselves from the -fire. Again that awful shock was given, a second magazine had exploded, -and again the air seemed fairly alive with soaring fires, which -threatened destruction when they fell. Fragments fell at the very feet -of Napoleon, but he stood still, as a statue of resolution, a man -without fear. His eyes were fixed upon the British fleet, which, by the -red glare of earth and sky, could be seen slowly making sail, the decks -of the vessels being crowded with fugitives. Once more he commanded the -artillery to fire; and before the fleet got beyond the range of the -guns, it received a shower of balls. The triumph was now complete. - -Wearied officers and men now threw themselves upon the ground to rest, -beside the fire. But to most of them, sleep could not come, with such a -scene of terror, conflagration and tears before them. Napoleon, however, -surveyed the harbor and town, for a few moments, and then, stretching -himself upon the ground, commanded himself to slumber,—a faculty which -he possessed through life—an evidence of his astonishing force of will. - -The day dawned with a pale, ashen light. The roll of the drums, -resounding among the hills, roused the triumphant soldiers of the -republic; and as they gazed upon the smouldering ruins of the arsenal, -and the bay strewn with the black fragments of the ships destroyed, they -would have cursed their enemy; but they remembered their conquest, and -pitied the destructive spite. Cheer after cheer rent the air. The -artillery men crowded round their young chief, and with clamorous -congratulations, gave him the first evidence of that enthusiastic -affection, which, years afterwards, caused them to yearn to die in his -service—to pave with their bodies his path to victory. What -thoughts—what feelings burned within that young conqueror’s breast none -could know; for his stern, bronze countenance expressed nothing but his -concentred strength of resolution. The same day, General Dugommier sent -intelligence of the capture of Toulon to the Committee of Public Safety, -and in the despatch he particularly recommended Napoleon for promotion, -in these remarkable words,—“Promote him, or he will promote himself.” - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: BATTLE OF MONTENOTTE. Page 19.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT MONTE NOTTE. - - -The pure, bright moon shone with serene majesty in the soft, dark blue -of the Italian sky, dimming the light of the silver stars, in her own -calm glory. The rugged heights of Monte Notte, with here and there a -tower and wall, or a row of trees upon its broken ascent, and the two -small villages at its base, surrounded with groves and vineyards, were -revealed with scarce the variation of a shadow. They would have seemed -to sleep beneath the soothing influence of the night, but for the -numerous red fires, which burned here and there along the mountain side, -and at intervals for the distance of half a mile from its base; and the -occasional booming of a gun, with its grumbling echoes. At a -considerable distance in front could be seen the lights of the redoubts -upon the heights of Monte Legino, which throughout the day, under the -command of the indomitable Colonel Rampon, had withstood the furious -assaults of the Austrians under d’Argenteau, the commander preferring to -perish rather than capitulate. His resolution had saved the plans of -Bonaparte from receiving a check, and now the young general of the -French felt sure of his game. - -Around the watch-fires to which we have alluded were gathered the -half-fed, half-clothed, but enthusiastic troops of the divisions -commanded by La Harpe and Cervoni, who had united and marched to this -strong position in the rear of Monte Legino, in accordance with the -plans of Bonaparte. The general-in-chief was with them, for near this -place he anticipated the triumph of his wonderful combinations, and the -defeat of the Austrians. Most of the principal officers were quartered -in the villages, resting from the fatigues of a rapid march. But the -time was too critical for Bonaparte to think of sleep. He was abroad -among those camp-fires, accompanied by the brave and active Swiss, La -Harpe, that faithful and untiring friend, Michael Duroc, then -aid-de-camp to the young general, and several other officers of -distinction. As he walked among them, he looked like a mere boy -attending a throng of rough and hardy soldiers. To each group gathered -round a fire, he had a pleasant and encouraging word to say, a -condescension to which these war-worn veterans were unaccustomed. As he -turned away from them he might have heard expressions which showed that -the troops believed in his invincibility, and at all events, were -prepared to suffer any hardships in his service. The wretched clothing -of many of them was observed by the general, and he occasionally -reminded them, that they had now an opportunity of winning not only -glory, which every true soldier should seek first, but wealth and -abundance, amid the fertile plains of Italy. Such words, uttered by a -commander among the camp-fires of an army are calculated to have more -effect in arousing its enthusiasm than the most eloquent of regular and -formal addresses. At length, arriving at a fire much larger than any of -the others upon the side of the mountain, Bonaparte threw himself upon -the ground, and, motioning his officers to follow his example, he took -out the plan of operations, which he had drawn up, and began with his -usual precision, to explain how far it had been carried out, and what -would be the movements of the next day. In the meantime the soldiers, -grim, moustached veterans, withdrew and set about kindling another fire -at a respectful distance. - -“Augereau will reach this point early in the morning, and render -efficient support to the troops already in position. Marching by this -road on the other side of the Appenines, Massena will show himself, -nearly at the same time, in d’Argenteau’s rear, and then the Austrians -cannot escape us. They will be surrounded on all sides by a superior -force. - -“Thus far it has been successful,” said La Harpe. “But if Rampon had not -fought so desperately at Monte Legino, the plan would have been -defeated, or at least, checked for a time.” - -“Rampon fought bravely; but when such a plan depends upon the -maintenance of a post, a good officer should prefer to die rather than -yield it to the enemy,” replied Bonaparte. - -“Rampon fought like a hero because he knew the importance of his -position,” said Duroc. - -“I trust Massena will be as active as the occasion demands. He has -courage, perseverance, and skill; but it requires the most imminent -danger to awaken his activity,” said the young commander-in-chief. - -“A singular man, truly,” remarked Duroc. - -“However,” continued Bonaparte, following the train of his own -reflections, “never had a commander-in-chief more reason to be proud of -his general officers than myself. They are all men born to lead. With -them, I have nothing to fear from the delinquency of our half-fed -troops.” - -“Yet, general, the soldiers are in a condition calculated to depress -their spirits,” said La Harpe. “We officers, who chiefly fight for -glory, and for the honor of our country, never murmur, although very -badly treated by our government. But the majority of the soldiers in the -ranks have a constant eye to their pay.” - -“But to make soldiers worthy of France, we must alter that;” replied -Bonaparte, “one and all must be taught to fight for glory, and then our -arms will be irresistible.” - -La Harpe shook his head. But the enthusiastic Duroc, catching the noble -fire of his illustrious friend, exclaimed. - -“Yes, the love of glory makes the true soldier! This will cause the -troops to forget their toilsome, bare-foot marches, and their long days -of hunger! And never have I seen the French soldiers more eager for -conflict in defence of their country’s honor, than they have been since -our young general took command of the army of Italy. That first -proclamation gave them a new spirit, which has been growing stronger -every day. There are splendid triumphs before us, I am sure.” - -The face of Bonaparte expressed nothing of the emotions which must have -heaved in his soul at these words. But he grasped the hand of Duroc and -shook it warmly. - -“My friends,” said he, “it is all clear enough to me. To-morrow will be -a great day for France. Old Beaulieu will begin to know his enemy. The -plain before us shall be the scene of more Austrian astonishment and -dismay than has been known in Italy for many years. Beaulieu supposes -that I intended to file off along the coast to Genoa; whereas, here I -am, ready to overwhelm his centre. Following up this victory, it will be -easy to cut him off from communication with the Piedmontese.” - -The officers gazed with wonder and admiration upon the stripling who was -thus summarily disposing of the fate of armies and countries, and while -they listened to his words of conscious power, an awe crept over them, -they felt themselves in the presence of a superior being; and yet among -them were several men of splendid qualities,—born to command. - -By this time the groups around the fires had stretched themselves upon -the hard earth to repose, and the pacing of the sentinels alone -disturbed the stillness of the scene, where thousands of brave warriors -submitted to the conqueror, sleep. Bonaparte and his officers returned -to a house in the little village of Monte Notte, which had been selected -as the quarters for the night. And the army slumbered on, beneath the -sweet vigil of the moon, and beside the cheerful warmth of the -camp-fires until the cold, white light in the east told that the most -glorious king of day, who has arisen and set upon so many fields of -conflict, was about to ascend the heavens. - - “Far off his coming shone,” - -and the stars soared out of sight, and the moon slowly faded to vapor, -as the white light turned to a golden glow. - -Then was heard the roll of the reveillé. With astonishing rapidity, the -French were under arms and in motion. Bonaparte and his staff rode to an -elevated knoll, commanding the whole plain, and then were ordered the -movements which gave to the young commander-in-chief the victory of -Monte Notte. D’Argenteau, the Austrian commander, found himself attacked -upon one side by the divisions of La Harpe, Cervoni and Augereau, and -upon the other by Massena. Then boomed the cannon, and the rattled -musketry over the plain. The Austrian infantry sustained the conflict -with admirable courage. But they were surrounded by superior forces and -after several charges had been made by the French, in the full -confidence of victory, the discomfited d’Argenteau was compelled to -retreat towards Dego. In fact, the retreat was a disorderly flight. The -French made two thousand prisoners, and several hundred Austrians were -left dead on the field. The centre of the Austrian army had been -completely overwhelmed. Bonaparte was the victor of Monte Notte. In -after years, when the imperial crown adorned his brow, the conqueror -showed his contempt for ancestral distinctions by saying that he dated -his title to rule from this battle. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT MONDOVI. - - -[Illustration] - -When the conflict is at an end, and the awful silence of night descends -upon the field where stark and stiff lie the mangled dead, among the -broken weapons and spoils of the fight, the scene is fearfully -impressive. There lie the cold forms of those, who in life were furious -foes; but in death, side by side, united in their doom of darkness, they -are all clay together. The bugle and the drum, which were sounded to -signal the contest, are broken beside the mutilated and bloody bodies of -those who played them at the head of the marching regiments. The -captain, whose gallant “forward!” roused the spirits of his men, lies -where he perished, in the van. The standard-bearer still clasps a -portion of that dear symbol of his country, which numbers cut from his -hands, and seems to have yielded his breath, while hugging that remnant -to his heart. The grim veteran of a hundred fights, to whom death has -been a jeer and a mockery, and the youth, with blooming cheek and eager -eye, who left his mother’s cottage high in the hope of a glorious -renown, are found cold and stiff together; the one with a smile of scorn -curling his lip, the other with the keen agony, kindled by the rushing -remembrance of the dear home lost forever, pictured in his countenance. -The meek moon and the sentinel stars shining on this field of death, -with a pallid light, add to its horrors, increasing the ghastly hue in -the faces of the slain. - -Such a scene was presented on the night of the 22nd of April, 1796, -after the desperate battle of Mondovi. Near the town of that name, the -dispirited army of Colli had been overtaken by two divisions of -Bonaparte’s army, commanded by Serrurier and Massena. Serrurier had been -repulsed, but the onset of Massena was irresistible, and the enemy were -attacked on both flanks at once. The cavalry of the Piedmontese over -powered and drove back that of the French, but the wonderful valor of -Murat, the most glorious of cavalry officers, renewed the fortune of the -day, and, shortly afterwards, Colli’s army was put to flight. During the -retreat, the Piedmontese suffered dreadfully, losing the best of their -troops, their cannons, baggage and appointments. - -Wearied with the desperate conflict, the greater portion of the -victorious army encamped in and about the town of Mondovi, a body of -cavalry, alone pursuing and harassing the enemy. The description of the -field of battle given above, will apply to this one, with the addition -of a view of the towers and spires of Mondovi, and of numerous blazing -fires in the vicinity, around which the exhausted troops had sunk to -repose. Bonaparte had arrived; and, now, having gathered his principal -officers at a ruined building, just outside of the town, which seemed to -have been an old chapel, talked over with them the achievements of the -day, and what was contemplated for the morrow. The ruin consisted of -four broken walls, and was entirely roofless. It was several yards -square, and the floor was strewn with fragments of sculpture which had -once adorned the edifice. In the centre of the floor a fire was kindled, -and camp-stools were ranged around it. At some distance from the ruin, -guards were placed, with orders to keep the inquisitive beyond ear-shot. -This place had evidently been selected by Bonaparte, in preference to -the best mansion of Mondovi, to be secure from the treachery of -Italians, who might have overheard and communicated to the enemy -important information. - -As usual, Bonaparte had the paper containing the lines of his movements -before him, and with pencil and compasses in hand, he devised and marked -alterations even while he talked. Among the officers gathered around the -fire, were Massena, Berthier, Serrurier, Murat and Duroc. - -Next to the commander-in-chief himself, Massena had the most remarkable -personal appearance of any of the group. His massive features had a -somewhat Jewish cast and their general expression was extremely heavy, -or rather drowsy. The eyes were half-closed, and they did not sparkle -like those of the rest, when Bonaparte spoke. Yet it was well known -that, when excited by the storm of battle, their flash was terrible. The -expression of the mouth, was always that of an inexorable will. The -whole aspect of Andrew Massena was that of a man of great powers, -difficult to rouse. Napoleon himself remarked that it was only in danger -that appalled most men, that Massena acquired clearness and force of -thought. His want of activity was his great defect as a commander. - -Serrurier was a large man, with rough, prominent features, in which -strong passions and dogged determinations were plainly expressed. His -dress was torn and dusty; for although repulsed by the Piedmontese, he -had fought like a lion on that desperate day. - -The face of Duroc was manly and prepossessing. The slightly receding -forehead, prominent nose, clear, bright eyes, and firm mouth, were -illumined by a bland, but determined expression, indicative of the truly -heroic spirit of this faithful friend of Napoleon. By the side of -Michael Duroc, could be seen the stalwart form and noble countenance of -Joachim Murat, the great leader of the cavalry, whose desperate charge -had decided the battle in favor of the French. His gaudy costume was -arranged with scrupulous nicety, and it bore no traces of the conflict. -He sat toying with his long, dark curls during the conference. - -“To-morrow, we will occupy Cherasco, which is within ten leagues of the -Piedmontese capital,” said Bonaparte. “It has been a month of glory. -Within that time, we have gained complete possession of the mountain -passes and thus opened the road for our armies into Italy. We have -gained three battles over forces far superior to our own; inflicted upon -the enemy a loss of about twenty-five thousand men in killed, wounded, -and prisoners, taken eighty pieces of cannon and twenty-one stand of -colors; and almost annihilated the army of Sardinia. We can dictate a -treaty at Turin.” - -“The fight to-day was desperate enough, however,” said Murat, ever vain -of his services. “The cavalry was beaten back by the Piedmontese, and -General Stengel was among the slain.” - -“A brave man lost to France,” interrupted Bonaparte. - -“But I soon taught them that the French cavalry was not so easily -beaten,” continued Murat. “That charge decided the day.” - -“I am told,” said Bonaparte, “that the charge was indeed brilliant. But -we expect such from Murat, and we hope that, hereafter, he may have the -best opportunities of displaying his valor and horsemanship at the head -of the cavalry of France. You have won a high promotion. General -Serrurier, you were repulsed; but you afterwards bravely sustained your -reputation, and contributed much to the victory. As for you, General -Massena, high as were my expectations from your valor and skill, you -have astonished me. France will yet regard you as a child of victory.” - -Massena opened his eyes somewhat wider and nodded his thanks. “The -troops,” he remarked, “are sadly worn with their rapid marches, and four -days’ fighting. Besides, since they have been so severely treated for -seizing upon what food and clothes they found along the line of march, -they have suffered much for want of the common necessaries of life.” - -“I know—I know,” replied Bonaparte; “I pity them, and hope that their -wants may soon be relieved. But they must not become Goths and Vandals. -What did you say was the loss of the enemy, to-day, Berthier?” - -“It is estimated at about three thousand men,” replied the officer -addressed—an elegant looking soldier, with a frank, intelligent -countenance. - -“Colli is then effectually crippled,” said Bonaparte. “He will not dare -to make a stand between us and Turin. I learn that Cherasco is an -ill-defended place, but it has an important position at the confluence -of the Stura and the Tanaro, and with the artillery taken from the -enemy, we can soon render it defensible, should that be necessary. But -at present, the prospect is that we shall in a few days conclude a peace -with the king of Sardinia, and then we must pursue the Austrians, whom -we shall drive beyond the Alps. But in the meantime, you, Murat, shall -take some of our trophies to Paris, and proclaim the triumphs of France. -A more fitting messenger of victory could not be found.” At this -intelligence Murat’s eyes sparkled, and a smile lit up his dark -features; for next to the storm of battle, this proud soldier loved to -boast of victory. Next to being a lion upon the field of battle, he -desired to be a lion in the saloons of Paris. - -“General,” said Duroc, “you may remember that when we stood upon the -heights of Monte Lemoto, and beheld that glorious picture of the plains -of Piedmont and Italy, you exclaimed, ‘Hannibal crossed the Alps; as for -us, we have gone round them!’ It seems to me, with deference, that if -reinforcements are not speedily sent to our aid, you will find yourself -in a position more nearly resembling that of Hannibal, when, although -victorious in Italy, he was deserted by Carthage. The chief difference -will be, however, that Hannibal, by fortunate circumstances, was enabled -to maintain his army against all the forces of Rome. But we should soon -be overwhelmed by superior numbers.” - -“The government of France has neglected its duty,” replied Bonaparte, -“but I cannot believe that it will desert us altogether. If so, however, -I have no doubt, that we can provide for ourselves.” - -“For myself,” said Serrurier, “I love France, but despise the present -government. But for the bravery of the army, whose triumphs they have -taken to themselves, the members of that government would not now hold -their places.” - -At these words, Bonaparte raised his head, and gave a steady, piercing -glance at the frank, out-spoken soldier’s countenance, probably with the -design of ascertaining the full depth of his meaning. But Serrurier -returned glance for glance, and Bonaparte returned to the contemplation -of his map. There was more in that young conqueror’s look than, perhaps, -any of that martial group, suspected. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The chief incidents of the fight of the day having been communicated to -Bonaparte by the various officers engaged in its terrible scenes, he -proceeded to award commendation where it was due; and then gave the -generals orders in regard to the movements of the next day. Despatches, -hurriedly written, were sent to the generals of the divisions not -engaged at Mondovi, and then the conference terminated. Most of the -officers retired to their respective commands; but, accompanied by Duroc -and Murat, the sleepless commander-in-chief rode over the field, to gain -a more accurate knowledge of the terrible character of the battle—to -observe where the fight had been thickest, what corps had suffered the -greatest loss, and what had the been advantages and disadvantages of the -ground. In many places, it was difficult for the horses to proceed -without trampling upon the groups of ghastly dead; and the reckless -Murat occasionally rode directly over the corpses, while talking to the -commander-in-chief. A considerable number of women, from Mondovi, were -seen among the bodies, collecting many little articles of value attached -to the clothing of the dead warriors. At the approach of Bonaparte and -his officers they scampered away, like so many frightened vultures, upon -which Murat would give chase for a short distance to increase their -alarm. After a complete survey of the field, Bonaparte and his aids -returned to Mondavi. The only remark the young commander-in-chief was -heard to make, was, “It was a hard-won victory—Mondovi ought to be -decisive.” And it was decisive. At Cherasco, Sardinia submitted to the -victor’s terms; and thus one of the bravest of the foes of France was -crushed after a campaign of very brief duration, the glories of which -are thus touched upon by Bonaparte in an eloquent and powerful -proclamation to his soldiers. - -“Soldiers! in a fortnight you have gained six victories, taken -twenty-one pair of colors, fifty-live pieces of cannon, several -fortresses, and conquered the richest part of Piedmont; you have made -fifteen thousand prisoners, and killed or wounded more than ten thousand -men; you had hitherto been fighting for barren rocks, rendered famous by -your courage, but of no service to the country; you this day compete by -your services with the army of Holland and of the Rhine. Destitute of -every thing, you have supplied all your wants. You have gained battles -without cannon, crossed rivers without bridges, made forced marches -without shoes, bivouacked without brandy, and often without bread. -Republican phalanxes, the soldiers of liberty alone, could have endured -what you have endured. Thanks be to you for it, soldiers!” - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT THE BRIDGES OF LODI. - - -[Illustration] - -Beaulieu, the veteran general of the Austrians, had been beaten and -compelled to retreat before the French commander of twenty-six. The Po -being crossed and the Tesino turned, Bonaparte beheld the road to Milan -open before him. But he prepared to make the effort to cut off -Beaulieu’s retreat, and compel the Austrian army to surrender. Like -Nelson, upon the sea, he thought no triumph complete unless the enemy -was entirely prostrated. But to cut off the retreat of Beaulieu, it was -necessary to anticipate him at the passage of the rivers. A great number -of these flow from the Alps, and cross Lombardy on their way to the Po -and the Adriatic. After the Po and the Tesino, come the Adda, the Oglio, -the Mincio, the Adige and numerous others. - -The Adda was now before Bonaparte. It is a large and deep river, -although fordable in some places. The passage was to be made at the town -of Lodi, an old place containing about twelve thousand inhabitants. It -has old Gothic walls, but its chief defence consists in the river, which -flows through it, and which is crossed by a wooden bridge, about five -hundred feet in length. Having crossed the river, Beaulieu drew up -twelve thousand infantry and four thousand horse on the opposite bank, -posted twenty pieces of artillery so as to sweep the bridge, and lined -the bank with sharpshooters. It was against all military practice to -attempt the passage of a river in the face of such difficulties. But it -was the military mission of Bonaparte to astonish the routine generals. - -Napoleon, coming up on the 10th of May, easily drove the rear-guard of -the Austrian army before him into the town, but found his further -progress threatened by the tremendous fire of the pieces of cannon, -stationed at the opposite end of the bridge, so as to sweep it most -completely. The whole body of the enemy’s infantry drawn up in a dense -line, supported this appalling disposition of the artillery. - -An answering battery was instantly constructed on the French side, -Napoleon exposing himself in the thickest of the fire to point two of -the guns with his own hands. This he effected in such a manner as to -prevent the possibility of any approach on the part of the enemy to -undermine or blow up the bridge. Observing, meanwhile, that Beaulieu had -removed his infantry to a considerable distance backwards, to keep them -out of the range of the French battery, he instantly detached his -cavalry, with orders to gallop out of sight, and then ford the river, -and coming suddenly upon the enemy, attack them in flank. - -He now drew up a body of six thousand grenadiers in close column, under -the shelter of the houses, and bade them prepare for the desperate -attempt of forcing a passage across the narrow bridge, in the face of -the enemy’s thickly-planted artillery. - -The cavalry of Napoleon had a difficult task to perform in passing the -river, and he waited with anxiety for their appearance on the opposite -bank. But a sudden movement in the ranks of the enemy showed him that -his cavalry had arrived and charged, and he instantly gave the word. The -head of the column of grenadiers wheeled to the left, and was at once -upon the bridge. The whole body rushed forward with impetuosity, -shouting, “Vive la Republique!” A hundred bodies rolled dead, and the -advancing column faltered under the redoubled roar of the guns, and the -tempest of the grape shot. At this critical moment, Lannes, Napoleon, -Berthier, and L’Allemand, hurried to the front, and dashing onwards were -followed by the whole column in the very mouth of the artillery. They -gained the opposite side: Lannes reached the guns first, and Napoleon -second. The artillerymen were killed; their guns seized; and the -Austrian infantry, which had been removed too far back, not having time -to come up to support the artillery, the whole army was put to flight. - -The French cavalry pursued in the blazing enthusiasm of almost -unprecedented victory. About two thousand Austrians were either killed -or wounded, and the same number made prisoners, while twenty pieces of -cannon remained in the hands of the French. - -The victorious army encamped on the banks of the Adda, in the position -which had been occupied by the defeated Austrians. Before night fell, -Bonaparte was informed that he had failed to get between Beaulieu, and -the other divisions of the Austrian army; but, aware of the terror which -his daring exploit would strike into the enemy, he scarcely regretted -his trifling failure of movement. The line of the Adda was carried; -tremendous difficulties had been vanquished with a loss of only two -hundred men, and the courage and devotion of the soldiers had been -raised to the highest pitch. - -The encampment upon the Adda presented a remarkable aspect. Most of the -officers had the accommodation of tents, but the troops were destitute -of that luxury, and their only resource for rest was to throw themselves -upon the ground around their fires. These gallant men, although fatigued -with the efforts of the glorious day, were too much excited by their -victory to rest without some demonstration. It was a clear, beautiful -moonlight night. Although filled in some places with the dead, the Adda -danced merrily onward, the ripples sparkling in the moonbeams. All was -quiet above; but in camp and town, there was the bustle of men to whom -sleep would not come. Bonaparte had retired to his tent to partake of -some refreshment, and having soon satisfied his abstemious appetite, he -was about to traverse the camp, alone, to observe the spirit of his -troops, as well as to ascertain the character and rank of the prisoners. -In front of his tent, he was astonished to meet a small deputation of -grim-visaged grenadiers, who saluted him with the title of the “Little -Corporal.” One of their number then stepped forward, and respectfully -communicated the intelligence that they had elected him a corporal, in -consideration of his gallant service in the ranks that day, and hoped -that they might one day confer still higher honors upon him. Three -hearty cheers were then given by the veterans, who appeared to enjoy the -joke amazingly; and after they had retired, the young general was -saluted in various parts of the camp as the “Little Corporal.” This -gaiety was characteristic of the French soldiers. Bonaparte was rather -pleased with the singular mode of showing affection for his person, and -admiration of his intrepidity. - -The general approached a group of Hungarian prisoners without being -recognised by them. They were standing near a fire, conversing, and -evidently much irritated at the misfortunes of their position. He went -among them and mingled in the conversation. An old officer, who spoke to -him, appeared to be extremely moody. Bonaparte could not but smile at -his language. “Things are going on as ill and irregular as possible,” -said this veteran of routine. “The French have got a young general who -knows nothing of the regular rules of war; he is sometimes on our front, -sometimes on our flank, sometimes on the rear. There is no supporting -such a gross violation of rules.” He evidently preferred to be whipped -in a regular way. But it is agreed that the object of war is victory, -and if rules do not secure that victory, they are of no value. -Bonaparte’s system appeared very extraordinary to the Austrian -commanders. It was something beyond what they had learned at their -German military schools. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON INFORMED OF HIS ELECTION AS CORPORAL.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -After traversing the camp, and receiving many testimonials of the warm -devotion of the troops to his person, Bonaparte returned to his tent, -where he was soon joined by Berthier, Massena, Augereau, Bessieres, -Duroc, Serrurier, Lannes, and others. To each and all he gave a word of -compliment; but he was especially fluent in his praise of the -indomitable young General Lannes, whose daring courage had attracted his -attention in previous engagements as well as at the tremendous charge -across the bridge of Lodi. They were, indeed, as gallant a group of -officers, as ever a general had at his command—men who could as calmly -reason and determine upon manœuvres in the hottest storm of battle, -as during the quiet hours of this moonlight night—quick in devising, -irresistible in the execution; and yet it was only yonder stripling, -with the Roman features and the piercing eyes, who could give a glorious -harmony to their action, bring their peculiar faculties into play, and -secure their triumph. Great as they undoubtedly were, they failed to -achieve great triumphs when beyond the reach of the “Little Corporal’s” -controlling mind. The conference was long, for there were difficulties -in the arrangement of the plan for moving upon Milan, and some of the -officers, particularly Massena, had objections to urge. However, -Bonaparte determined according to his own views. The officers observed -that there was a remarkable change in his bearing towards them. He had -hitherto admitted them to complete familiarity; but they now felt -constrained by his lofty manner to keep at a respectful distance. When -they retired that night, some of them exchanged glances of significance; -they were evidently displeased at the haughty bearing of the young -commander-in-chief; yet few of them, perhaps, comprehended the change. - -The fact was that the victory of Lodi had a great influence upon -Napoleon’s mind. He afterwards acknowledged, that neither the quelling -of the sections at Paris, nor the victory of Monte Notte made him regard -himself as any thing superior, but that after Lodi, for the first time, -the idea dawned upon him, that he should one day be “a decisive actor,” -on the stage of the political world. It was Lodi which gave birth to the -18th Brumaire. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT CASTIGLIONE. - - -It was at Castiglione and in its vicinity that the wonderful spirit and -rapidity of Napoleon’s movements were more fully displayed than at any -other of his scenes of victory in Italy. The aged Beaulieu had been -superseded in the command of the Austrian army, by General Wurmser, a -commander of high reputation. His army was greatly superior in numbers -to that of Bonaparte. It descended from the Tyrol during the last days -of July, in three divisions, commanded by Davidowich, Quasdanowitch, and -Wurmser himself. - -Wurmser, confident in his numbers, and calculating upon the absorption -of the energies of the French army, by its endeavors to subdue Mantua, -disposed his forces in the most admirable way to improve a victory; -never reflecting that he might happen to be defeated. Untaught by all -the previous disasters of Beaulieu, he committed the error of dividing -his army, in order to cover an extent of country. His right wing was -detached, with orders to occupy Brescia, and cut off the retreat of the -French in the direction of Milan: his left wing was to descend the -Adige, and manœuvre on Verona; while the centre, under his own -command, advanced to raise the siege of Mantua. During the two first -days of his approach, the French generals, after resisting to the -utmost, yielded up successively, Rivoli, Brescia, and Salo; but these -two days were sufficient to make Napoleon master of the plan on which -Wurmser proposed to carry on the campaign, and he instantly disconcerted -the whole of it, by a movement so unlike that of any ordinary general, -as to defy all calculation. - -In one night, (31st July,) he raised the siege of Mantua; sacrificing -the whole of his artillery. The men were employed to destroy as much as -the time would allow. They spiked the guns, burnt the carriages, threw -the powder into the lake, and buried the balls. Augereau and Massena -were stationed to defend the line of the Mincio as long as possible. -Before morning the whole French army had disappeared from Mantua, and -Napoleon was hurrying forward to attack the right wing of the Austrian -army, before it could effect a junction with the central body of -Wurmser. - -The Austrian right wing was advancing in three divisions. Napoleon -defeated one division at Salo, and another at Lonato. At the same time, -Augereau and Massena, leaving a sufficient number of men at their posts -to maintain a defence, or at least to impede the enemy, marched upon the -third division at Brescia; but it had already fled in disorder towards -the Tyrol. The French generals instantly countermarched to the support -of their rear-guards, which had been forced by the Austrians. - -Wurmser reached Mantua and was astonished to find what he believed to be -a precipitate flight. He entered the city in triumph—but he was -completely deceived. (August 2nd.) - -Bonaparte did not halt for a moment. His troops had been constantly on -the march, he had himself been all the time on horseback; he resolved to -make them fight the very next morning. He had before him Bayalitsch at -Lonato, and Liptai at Castiglione, presenting to both of them a front of -twenty-five thousand men. He had to attack them before Wurmser should -return from Mantua. Sauret had for the second time abandoned Salo; -Bonaparte sent Guyeux again thither to recover the position, and to keep -back Quasdanowitch. After these precautions on his left and on his rear, -he resolved to march forward to Lonato with Massena, and to throw -Augereau upon the heights of Castiglione, which had been abandoned on -the preceding day by General Vallette. He broke that general at the head -of his army, in order to make his lieutenants do their duty without -flinching. On the following day, the 16th (August 3rd,) the whole army -was in motion; Guyeux re-entered Salo, and this rendered any -communication between Quasandowitch and the Austrian army still more -impracticable. Bonaparte advanced upon Lonato; but his advanced guard -was beaten back, some pieces of cannon were taken, and General Pigeon -was made prisoner. Bayalitsch, proud of this success advanced with -confidence, and extended his wings around the French division. He had -two objects in performing this manœuvre; in the first place, to -surround Bonaparte, and in the second, to extend himself on the right -for the purpose of entering into communication with Quasandowitch, whose -cannon he heard at Salo. Bonaparte, not alarming himself about his rear, -suffered himself to be surrounded with imperturbable coolness; he placed -some sharp-shooters on his exposed wings, and next took the 18th and 32d -demi-brigades of infantry, ranged them in close column, gave them a -regiment of dragoons to support them, and rushed headlong upon the -enemy’s centre, which was weakened by its extension. With this brave -body of infantry he overthrew all before him, and thus broke the line of -the Austrians. The latter, divided into two bodies, immediately lost -their courage: one part of the division of Bayalitsch fell back in all -haste towards the Mincio; but the other, which had extended itself in -order to communicate with Quasandowitch, was driven towards Salo, where -Guyeux was at that moment. Bonaparte caused it to be pursued without -intermission, that he might place it between two fires. He let loose -Junot in pursuit of it, with a regiment of cavalry. Junot dashed off at -a gallop, killed six horsemen with his own hand, and fell, having -received several sabre wounds. The fugitive division, entrapped between -the corps at Salo and that which was pursuing it from Lonato, was -routed, and lost at every step thousands of prisoners. During this -successful pursuit, Bonaparte proceeded on his right to Castiglione, -where Augereau had been fighting ever since the morning with admirable -bravery. The heights on which Liptai’s division had placed itself had -now to be carried. After an obstinate combat, several times renewed, he -had at length accomplished his object, and Bonaparte on his arrival -found the enemy retreating on all sides. Such was the battle called the -battle of Lonato, fought on the 16th (August 3rd.) - -This battle produced considerable results. The French had taken twenty -pieces of cannon and three thousand prisoners from the division cut off -and driven back upon Salo, and they were still pursuing its scattered -remnant in the mountains. They had made a thousand or fifteen hundred -prisoners at Castiglione, and killed or wounded three thousand men; they -had alarmed Quasandowitch, who finding the French army at Salo, and -hearing it in the distance at Lonato, thought that it was every where. -They had thus nearly disorganized the divisions of Bayalitsch and -Liptai, which fell back upon Wurmser. That general at this moment came -up with fifteen thousand men to rally the two beaten divisions, and -began to draw out his lines in the plains of Castiglione. - -Bonaparte now determined upon fighting a decisive battle upon the ground -which the Austrian general had chosen, but as it was necessary to -collect all his disposable force at Castiglione, he deferred the action -until the 5th. - -It was the night of the 4th of August. The weather had been excessively -warm for several days, and the troops were almost exhausted by their -rapid marches under a burning sun. The hostile armies were encamped -close in front of each other, vertically from the line of the heights on -which both supported one wing, Bonaparte having his left thereon, and -Wurmser his right. A series of heights formed by the last range of the -Alps extends from Chiessa to the Mincio, by Lonato, Castiglione and -Solferino. At the foot of these heights was the plains on which the -great battle was to be fought. Bonaparte had at most twenty-two thousand -men, Serrurier’s division not having come up yet; and, indeed, it had -been ordered to make an effort to gain the rear of the Austrians. -Wurmser had thirty thousand men under his command, and the wing of his -army which was on the plain was supported by a redoubt placed upon the -elevation of Medolano. It was a clear, warm night. The stars were -thickly sprinkled in the arching heaven, but there was no moon, and the -position of each army could only be clearly distinguished by the light -of the lines of watch-fires, stretching away from the foot of the -heights. In the rear of the Austrians, the low wall, and tower of the -old town of Castiglione could be distinguished, forming a looming and -shadowy background to a striking and imposing picture. - -Around one of the fires in the vicinity of the tent of the -commander-in-chief, was sitting a group of officers, among whom -Bessieres, Duroc, and Augereau were the only men of renown. All ears -were opened listening to Bessieres, who was giving an account of -Bonaparte’s wonderful exploit that day, in escaping from a surprise at -Lonato. He told the story as follows: - -“You know that this morning, our commander-in-chief set off for Lonato -at full gallop, to personally hasten the movements of the troops. He was -accompanied only by his staff and the Guides under my command. We -arrived at Lonato about noon. We found that the orders of the general -were already carried out; part of the troops were marching upon -Castiglione, and the rest were proceeding towards Salo and Gavardo. -About a thousand men remained at Lonato. Scarcely had the general -entered the place, when an Austrian flag of truce presented itself, and -the bearer summoned him to surrender. The general started at the -summons. He could not understand how it was possible that the Austrians -could be so close upon him. But the case was soon explained. The -division separated in the battle of Lonato, and driven back upon Salo, -had been partly captured; but a body of about four thousand five hundred -men had been wandering all night in the mountains; and seeing the town -almost abandoned, wanted to enter the place, in order to open for itself -an outlet upon the Mincio. General Bonaparte had no time to fight a -battle, or perhaps he would have done it, even with his force of one -thousand men. His plan was formed with his usual quickness and decision. -He ordered all the officers about him to mount their horses, and then, -the bearer of the flag to be brought before him, with his eyes -uncovered; for, as usual on such occasions, the officer was blindfolded. -You should have seen the Austrian’s astonishment when he found himself -in the presence of our general and his staff. ‘Unhappy man!’ said -General Bonaparte, ‘you know not then that you are in the presence of -the commander-in-chief, and that he is here with his whole army. Go tell -those who sent you, that I give them five minutes to surrender, or I -will put them to the sword to punish the insult which they have dared to -offer me.’ The astonished bearer of the flag returned with this message -to his general. In the meantime, General Bonaparte prepared his small -force for action. The Austrian then asked him to propose terms of -capitulation. But our general, knowing the importance of immediate -action, replied—‘No, you must become at once prisoners of war.’ The -Austrian hesitated, but when General Bonaparte ordered his artillery and -grenadiers to advance to the attack, the enemy surrendered; and thus, -without striking a blow, four thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry -surrendered themselves prisoners of war to about one thousand Frenchmen. -We gained, besides, two pieces of artillery.” - -A general laugh followed this narrative. All agreed that it was an -admirable exploit, and quite worthy of the genius of Bonaparte. At this -moment, the young commander-in-chief appeared at the door of his tent. -His horse was standing near, and he was quickly mounted. “Come, -Bessieres and Duroc,” said he in a sharp voice, “we will go over the -field.” So saying, he rode away, leaving the officers addressed to -follow him as soon as they could. They immediately left the group, which -was now joined, however, by Lannes and Berthier, who, wearied out, -sought the vacant seats to obtain a short rest. - -“Who ever saw the like?” said young Lannes,—he of the tall, stout form, -stern countenance, and long, fair hair, parted in the centre. “Such -incessant activity! That slender ‘little Corporal’ would tire a host of -us. In a few days he has killed five horses with fatigue. He will not -entrust any of us with the execution of his important orders. He must -see every thing with his own eyes, inquire into every thing, and set -every body in a fever of motion by his presence. Such tremendous energy -I never knew any other person to possess. I do not believe he sleeps at -all. There he goes again, to make his final arrangements for the -battle.” - -“He will wear himself out too soon, I am afraid,” said Augereau. - -“But he will accomplish more in one month than many men could achieve in -years. His immortality is already established, and he is but -twenty-six,” replied Berthier. - -“He will have a glorious opportunity to achieve a decisive victory -to-morrow,” said Lannes; “but I doubt whether the battle will be as long -and as desperate as that of yesterday.” - -“Yesterday was indeed a day of hard fighting, for my division here, at -least,” said Augereau. “My troops were completely exhausted, when -Liptai’s division was driven from the heights. But how did Junot get cut -up in such a way?” - -“I’ll tell you,” replied Berthier. “When the Austrian line was broken by -the charge of our infantry, one division was driven towards Salo, where -Guyeux was posted. General Bonaparte caused it to be pursued, in order -to place it between two fires, and General Junot was let loose, with a -regiment of cavalry. Junot set off at full speed. He encountered Colonel -Bender with a party of his regiment of hussars, whom he charged, with -his wonted bravery. But not wishing to waste his time by attacking the -rear, Junot made a detour to the right, charged the regiment in front, -wounded Colonel Bender and attempted to take him prisoner, when he -suddenly found himself surrounded. Of course, he fought like a hero, as -he is, and it is said that he killed six of the enemy with his own hand, -before he was cut down, and thrown into a ditch. I suppose he will be -disabled for some time, which is a real misfortune to the army, as Junot -is one of the bravest and most active officers now under General -Bonaparte’s command.” - -“Yes,” said the generous Lannes, “we shall miss him. He was promoted -from the ranks on account of his cool bravery, and he certainly has done -honor to the judgment of our general, who first noticed his merit at the -siege of Toulon.” - -“Still,” said Augereau, “brave men are not scarce in the army of Italy. -We shall conquer without Junot, I have no doubt.” - -Thus the group continued to converse, until General Bonaparte came up, -with Massena and others, and invited them to his tent to receive their -final instructions. The quick movements, and rapid, concise speech of -the young conqueror indicated the unwearied activity of his mind. He had -undergone tremendous exertion, but no trace of it appeared in his -bearing. The restless fire of his eye was undimmed; his mind labored as -vigorously and with as much precision as if he had been enjoying repose -for several days; and the commander of the Guides reported that the -general slept but an hour that night. - -At the first peep of day, the two armies were in motion. Wurmser, -impatient to attack, moved his right along the heights; Bonaparte, to -favor this movement, drew back his left, formed by Massena’s division; -he kept his centre immovable in the plain. He soon heard Serrurier’s -fire. Then, while he continued to draw back his left, and Wurmser to -draw out his right, he ordered the redoubt of Medolano to be attacked. -At first, he directed twenty pieces of light artillery upon that -redoubt, and after briskly cannonading it, he detached General Verdier, -with three battalions, to storm it. That brave general advanced, -supported by a regiment of cavalry, and took the redoubt. The left flank -of the Austrians was thus exposed at the very moment when Serrurier, -arriving at Cauriana, excited alarm upon their rear. Wurmser immediately -moved part of his second line upon his right, now deprived of support, -and placed it _en potence_ to front the French, who were debouching from -Medolano. He took the remainder of his second line to the rear, to -protect Cauriana, and thus continued to make head against the enemy. But -Bonaparte, seizing the opportunity with his accustomed promptness, -immediately ceased to avoid engaging his left and his centre, and gave -Massena and Augereau the signal which they were impatiently awaiting. -Massena with the left, Augereau with the centre, rushed upon the -weakened line of the Austrians, and charged it with impetuosity. -Attacked so briskly on its entire front, and threatened on its left and -its rear, it began to give ground. The ardour of the French increased. -Wurmser seeing his army jeopardized then gave the signal for retreat. He -was pursued, and some prisoners were taken. To put him completely to the -rout, it would have been necessary to make much more haste, and to push -him while in disorder upon the Mincio. But for six days the troops had -been constantly marching and fighting; they were unable to advance -further, and slept on the field of battle. Wurmser had on that day lost -no more than two thousand men, but he had nevertheless lost Italy. - -That night, the first time for five days, Bonaparte enjoyed the sweets -of repose. The anxiety was at an end—Italy was his own. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT ARCOLA. - - -The indomitable Bonaparte had nearly destroyed the army of Wurmser. The -laurels of Roveredo, Bassano, and Saint George, adorned his young brow, -beside those of Monte Notte, Lodi and Castiglione. Within ten days, he -had carried positions, the natural difficulties of which seemed to defy -human assault, killed or captured about twenty thousand men, and taken -artillery and stores which were almost an encumbrance to his gallant -little army. His brave officers, Massena, Augereau, Bessieres, Murat, -Berthier, Lannes, and the rest, had heaped up their titles to immortal -renown. To use the language of Thiers, “France was lost in admiration of -the commander-in-chief of the army of Italy.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON AT THE BRIDGE OF ARCOLA. Page 58.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -Still, Bonaparte’s situation was rapidly becoming one of startling -peril. Austria redoubled her efforts to recover Lombardy. A fine army -was prepared from the wrecks of Wurmser, the troops from Poland and -Turkey, the detachments from the Rhine, and fresh recruits. Marshal -Alvinzi was appointed to the command. Bonaparte’s army at this time -numbered about thirty thousand men, but they were badly provided, while -Alvinzi could bring sixty thousand men into the field. On the 1st of -November, 1796, the Austrian commander advanced upon the Brenta. At -first, the French fell back, but Bonaparte resolved to strike a blow at -the onset of this new series of movements, which would break the spirit -of the enemy. The action took place on the 5th, between Carmignano and -Bassano, and after a hot and bloody conflict, the French were -victorious. Other contests followed; but in spite of the advantages -gained by Bonaparte, he found that unless a great decisive battle was -fought, Italy would be lost. The troops began to murmur at the neglect -with which their government treated them, and the general complained to -the Directory that the majority of his best officers were either killed -or disabled by wounds. But in the meantime, Bonaparte conceived a daring -plan of action, which, considering the circumstances, stands -unparalleled in the annals of war. He resolved to give battle, -unexpectedly, amid the marshes of the Adige, where the difference in -numbers would be neutralized. Then followed the tremendous battle of -Arcola, which lasted seventy-two hours, and ended in the complete -triumph of the French. - -It was the night of the 17th of November. The sun had set upon a third -day of slaughter amid the marshes and upon the plain at Arcola. But with -the quiet shadows of evening, came victory to gladden the hearts of the -French and their glorious general. Exhausted by the terrible conflict, -both armies were to pass the night upon the plain. But the Austrians -took care to be beyond the reach of the conquerors and far towards -Vicenza. The French kindled their camp-fires upon the field of their -triumph. It was a gloomy night. Neither moon nor star smiled in the sky; -and the line of the encampments could only be traced by the fires, -blazing even among the heaps of the dead, while far away over the plain -the long line of Austrian fires could be distinguished. Having partaken -of some slight refreshment, the French soldiers were stretched upon the -ground around the fires. The majority slept. But to some, wearied as -they were in body, sleep would not come, so excited were their minds by -the vivid and terrible images of the conflict through which they had -passed. The Guides, who had kindled their fires around a little cottage -in which Bonaparte had taken quarters for the night, were among the -wakeful ones. They had secured for themselves, at the order of the -commander-in-chief, abundant refreshments, and now, sitting upon their -camp-stools to rest their weary limbs, they discussed both the provision -and the glorious achievements of the army of Italy. Their number had -been considerably thinned by the great battle through which they had -just passed, for they, as well as their general, had been in the -thickest of the fire. But there were still Bessieres, the commander, -young Lemarois, Duroc, and others of distinction; while among them was, -Augereau, who, having been reared in the democratic faubourg St. -Antoine, never had any scruples upon the subject of rank, outside of -actual military operations. He associated with general and private upon -equal terms. The others doubtless considered themselves as honoring the -company with their presence; but they could not have formed a part of a -more gallant group. Not an officer among them but bore marks of the -terrible conflict through which they had passed. Their costume was -bespattered with mud, their faces blackened with powder, and some of -them had sabre wounds, which, for the time, disfigured their -countenances. - -“The officers of the army have suffered dreadfully, during these three -days of fighting,” said Augereau. “I thought that before the battle we -were crippled enough in that way; but only look now. Here’s General -Lannes, who was wounded before he went into the conflict, and he now -lies low with three more wounds. Verne, Bon, Verdier, and several others -are also wounded, while General Robert and the brave Colonel Muiron, who -saved General Bonaparte’s life at Toulon, and covered him here again, -are killed.” - -“This battle will long be deemed a glorious monument of the genius of -Bonaparte,” said Bessieres, “I say it with deference, that heroic as are -his principal officers, they might have striven in vain against the -superior numbers of the enemy, but for the daring and profound -combinations of the general-in-chief, while much is also due to his -efforts of resolute valor during the struggle.” - -“No one will venture to deny that,” said the frank and generous -Augereau. Massena merely nodded his head, but left the meaning of the -nod unexplained. - -“For,” continued Bessieres, “consider the position of the army before -the battle. Our army was greatly inferior in numbers to that of Alvinzi, -as, in spite of the immense loss of the Austrians, it remains. Our -hospitals were full of sick and wounded. The troops were dispirited, -because of the shameful neglect with which their government treated -them. A large number of our best officers were entirely disabled. Yet an -address from General Bonaparte restored confidence to the army, and -when, on the night of the 15th, orders were given to the troops to fall -back, they obeyed with alacrity, although they believed they were -retreating—a movement to which they are unaccustomed, for they supposed -that some daring plan had been formed for their glory. When they had -recrossed the Adige by the bridge of boats here at Ronco, they found -that their confidence in their general had not been misplaced.” - -“See then,” said Duroc, “how General Bonaparte availed himself of the -advantages of the ground. What other general of this age would have -thought of fighting among the marshes. Alvinzi was encamped on the road -from Verona to the Brenta. Consequently when General Bonaparte reached -Ronco, he found himself brought back on the flanks and nearly on the -rear of the Austrians. The army was then amidst extensive marshes, -traversed by two causeways, which we were ordered to occupy. - -“Now mark the result of his calculations; amidst these marshes numerical -advantage was neutralized; there was no deploying but upon the -causeways, and on the causeways the courage of the advanced guards of -the columns would decide the event. By the causeway on the left, which -communicated with the road between Verona and Caldiero, he could fall -upon the Austrians if they attempted to scale Verona. By the causeway on -the right, which crossed the Alpon at the bridge of Arcola, and -terminated at Villa Nova, he might debouch upon the rear of Alvinzi, -take his artillery and baggage, and cut off his retreat. He was -therefore impregnable at Ronco, and he stretched his two arms around the -enemy. He had caused the gates at Verona to be shut, and had left -Kilmaine there, with fifteen hundred men, to stand a first assault. This -combination, so daring and so profound, struck the army, and inspired -them with confidence.” - -“It was a grand stroke of genius,” said Massena. “I was stationed on the -_dike_ at the left, so as to go up to Gombione and Porcil, and take the -enemy in the rear, if he should march to Verona.” - -“And I,” observed Augereau, “was despatched to the right, to debouch -upon Villa Nova. But before I could advance along the right hand dike, I -had to cross the Alpon by the bridge of Arcola. Some battalions of -Croats were stationed along the river, and had their cannon pointed at -the bridge. They received my advance guard with a rattling fire of -musketry, and at first the men fell back. I rode up and did all in my -power to push them on, but the fire compelled them to halt. Soon after -that, I saw a party of Hungarian cavalry come to inquire into the reason -of the firing among the marshes. The Austrian marshal could not -understand it. He did not for a moment suppose that General Bonaparte -would choose such a field of battle, at least I judge so, from his -orders.” - -“Ha! ha!” shouted Massena, “you should have seen Rivera leading his -division close along the left dike where I was posted. I permitted them -to get too far on the dike to retreat, and then dashed upon them at a -run. How we tumbled them into the marsh! Ha! ha! The troops shot them by -scores, as they floundered in the mud and water. Ha! ha!” It was a grim -laugh. - -“I did the same for Mitrowski’s division,” said Augereau. “I then -pursued, and attempted to pass the bridge, the soldiers gallantly -crowding around the flag I held to cheer them on. But they could not -stand that tremendous fire. Lannes, Bon, Verne, and Verdier were -wounded. In spite of my utmost efforts, the column fell back, and the -soldiers descended to the side of the dike, to shelter themselves from -the fire.” - -“Then came the heroism of the ‘Little Corporal,’” exclaimed Duroc, his -eyes glowing with enthusiasm. “He saw from Ronco, that Alvinzi had -become sensible of his danger, and was striving to prevent you, brave -Guyeux, from taking him in the rear at Villa Nova. He saw that it was of -the utmost importance to cross the river at Arcola immediately, if he -would gain Alvinzi’s rear, and thus secure great results. Did you see -that glorious commander? He set off at full gallop, came near the -bridge, threw himself from his horse, went to the soldiers who were -crouching down by the borders of the dike, asked them if they were still -the conquerors of Lodi, revived their courage by his words, and seizing -a flag cried, ‘Follow your general!’ Hearing his voice, a number of -soldiers went up to the causeway and followed him; unfortunately, the -movement could not be communicated to the whole of the column, the rest -of which remained behind the dike. Bonaparte advanced, carrying the flag -in his hand, amidst a shower of balls and grape-shot. We all surrounded -him. Lannes, who had already received two wounds from musket-shots -during the battle, was struck by a third. Muiron, the general’s -aid-de-camp, striving to cover him with his body, fell dead at his feet. -The column was nevertheless on the point of clearing the bridge, when a -last discharge arrested it, and threw it back. The rear abandoned the -advance. The soldiers who still remained with the general, then laid -hold of him, carried him away amidst the fire and smoke, and insisted on -his remounting his horse. An Austrian column debouching upon them, threw -them in disorder into the marsh. Bonaparte fell in, and sunk up to the -waist. As soon as the soldiers perceived his danger, ‘Forward,’ cried -they, ‘to save the general.’ They ran after Belliard and Vignolles to -extricate him. They pulled him out of the mud, set him upon his horse -again, pressed forward and Arcola was taken. - -“Was there ever a more glorious man?” And as the enthusiastic Duroc -concluded his animated description of the splendid exploit, his eyes -gleamed in admiration of his great friend and patron. - -“Yes,” said Guyeux, “Arcola was taken. But I could not get across the -river in time to attack Alvinzi’s rear, and thus the Austrian was -enabled to deploy into the plain. The general had striven gloriously, -but he had not attained his object. In my humble opinion, he might have -avoided the obstacle of Arcola by throwing his bridge over the Adige a -little below Ronco. - -“Aye,” said Massena, “but then he would have debouched into the plain, -which it was of great importance to avoid. The general had the best -reasons for doing what he did, and although the success was imperfect, -important results had been obtained. Alvinzi had quitted the formidable -position of Caldiero; he had descended again into the plain, he no -longer threatened Verona; and he had lost a great number of men in the -marshes. The two dikes had become the only field of battle between the -two armies, which gave the superiority to bravery. Besides, so glorious -had been the conflict, that our soldiers had completely recovered their -confidence, a result of immense importance, as all may perceive.” This -defence of Bonaparte’s course did honor to the intelligence of Massena. - -“But it must be admitted,” said Bessieres, “that the battle of to-day -surpassed all the rest in the display of strategic genius. Yesterday was -glorious for us, for the bravery and perseverance of the whole army was -exerted in beating the enemy from the dikes, and tumbling them into the -marsh, and we destroyed an immense number of them. But to-day proved -most conclusively that in strategy our general is at least the rival of -the Carthagenian Hannibal. Our general saw that the long conflict had -disheartened the enemy, and considerably reduced their superior numbers. -He then dared to encounter them on the plain. You, General Massena, -marching at the head of your column, with your hat upon the point of -your sword, showed them the way to victory, and the Austrians were once -more crowded into the marsh. But General Robert was repulsed at the -bridge of Ronco. Yet mark the resources of the general-in-chief! -Sensible of the danger, he placed the 32d in a wood of willows, which -borders the right hand dike. While the enemy’s column, victorious over -Robert, was advancing, the 32d sallied from its ambuscade, and, of the -three thousand Croates who composed it, the greater part were slain or -captured. Crossing the Alpon, Bonaparte brought the whole army into the -plain, in front of the Austrians. An ordinary general would now have -ordered a simple charge. But the ‘Little Corporal’ determined upon a -stratagem. A marsh, overgrown with reeds, covered the left wing of the -Austrians. Hercule, _chef de battallion_, was ordered to take -twenty-five guards, to march in single line through the reeds, and to -make a sudden charge, with a great blast of trumpets.” - -“And Hercule was the very man for such a desperate service,” observed -Duroc. - -“Precisely,” said Bessieres. “Then the great charge was made by you -generals, Massena and Augereau; but the Austrians stood their ground -until they heard the great blast of trumpets, when, thinking they were -going to be charged by a whole division of cavalry, they fled, and the -battle was decided in favor of France. Italy is our own.” - -“Not yet,” said Massena. “Austria is stubborn. In spite of her many -defeats, she will make at least one more effort to recover possession of -this fair land. We have much fighting yet to do, I am sure.” - -“We have lost many brave men in these three fighting days,” said young -Lemarois. “But the enemy have suffered a loss of at least twelve -thousand killed, and six thousand made prisoners, while we have taken -eighteen pieces of cannon and four stand of colors.” - -“Trophies enough,” said Augereau. “It seems to me, that whether this -battle has decided the fate of Italy or not, we shall soon have a short -respite from our toils, which will give us time to recruit.” - -The conversation continued thus till most of the officers, being -overcome with fatigue, retired to their quarters. The Guides slept -around their fires, in close proximity to numbers of the gallant dead, -whose slumber was destined to be broken only by the archangel’s trump. - -In the meantime, the young conqueror had sought his couch for much -needed repose, and so soundly did he sleep that even the glories of -Arcola were forgotten for the time. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT RIVOLI. - - -[Illustration] - -The chain of Monte Baldo divides the lake of Garda from the Adige. The -high road winds between the Adige and the foot of the mountains, to the -extent of some leagues. At Incanale the river washes the very base of -the mountains, leaves no room whatever for proceeding along its bank. -The road then leaves the banks of the river, rises by a zig-zag -direction round the sides of the mountain, and debouches upon an -extensive elevated plain, which is that of Rivoli. It overlooks the -Adige on one side, and is encompassed on the other side by the -amphitheatre of Monte Baldo. An army in position of this _plateau_ -commands the winding road by which the ascent to it is made, and sweeps -by its fire both banks of the Adige to a great distance. It is very -difficult to storm this _plateau_ in front, since you must climb up the -narrow zig-zag road before you can reach it. Therefore no one would -attempt to attack it by that single way. Before arriving at Incanale, -other roads lead to Monte Baldo, and ascending its long and sloping -acclivities terminate at the _plateau_ of Rivoli. They are not passable -either for cavalry or for artillery, but they afford easy access to foot -soldiers, and may be made available for carrying a considerable force in -infantry upon the flanks and rear of the body defending the _plateau_. - -Here the star of Napoleon was destined to shine with new glory. Alvinzi -commanded the principal attack on the Tyrolese side, at the head of -fifty thousand men, and advanced his head-quarters from Bassano to -Roveredo. General Provera took the command of the army on the lower -Adige, which was twenty thousand strong: its head-quarters were at -Padua. A great many troops appeared on different points, and some -spirited actions also took place in the course of the 12th and 13th; but -the enemy had not fully unmasked his plans, so that the moment for -adopting a decisive course had not yet arrived. On the 13th it rained -very heavily, and Napoleon had not yet resolved in what direction to -march, whether up or down the Adige. At ten in the evening, the accounts -from Joubert, at La Corona, determined him. It was plain that the -Austrians were operating with two independent corps, the principal -attack being intended against Monte Baldo, the minor one on the Lower -Adige. Augereau’s division appeared sufficient to dispute the passage of -the river with Provera; but on the Monte Baldo side the danger was -imminent. There was not a moment to lose; for the enemy was about to -effect a junction with his artillery and cavalry, by taking possession -of the level of Rivoli; and if he could be attacked before he could gain -that important point, he would be obliged to fight without artillery or -cavalry. All the troops were therefore put in motion from the -head-quarters at Verona, to reach Rivoli before day-break; the -general-in-chief proceeded to the same point, and arrived there at two -in the morning. - -The weather had been rainy for several days. But now the sky was without -a cloud. The moon and stars shone with a brilliancy peculiar to their -light in this region. The air was keen and bitter cold. The French -general, accompanied by his aids and the faithful Guides, proceeded to a -projecting rock on the heights of Monte Maggone, to gain a complete view -of the enemy, previous to fixing the plan of battle. And now behold the -group, dismounted, and collected near the fire, Bonaparte being in -advance, with glass in hand, surveying the positions of the enemy. -Duroc, Lemarois, Murat, Berthier and Bessieres stood together just -behind him. The whole horizon was in a blaze with the Austrian fires, -and the red glare contrasted strangely with the pure white light of the -moon. Bonaparte observed and talked with his customary precision and -rapidity. - -“Alvinzi has at least forty-five thousand men under his command. We have -but twenty-two thousand; while the brave Joubert, who has so nobly -maintained his position at Rivoli, has but ten thousand. The enemy has -divided his force into three columns, although I see no less than five -camps. The principal column, will proceed along the high road between -the river and Monte Baldo, and will debouch by the winding road of -Incanale. Three divisions of infantry have climbed the steep mountains, -and will get to the field by descending the steps of the amphitheatre -formed by this chain of heights. Another division will wind round the -side of the mountains and attempt to gain our rear. - -“But yonder seems to be another camp on the other side of the Adige,” -said Murat, pointing to a line of fires. - -“True,” said Bonaparte, “but that can do no damage. It can only fire a -few balls across the river. It is clear, we must keep the plateau at all -events. Posted there we prevent the junction of the different divisions -of the enemy. We may play our artillery upon the infantry which is -deprived of its cannon, and drive back the cavalry and artillery which -must be crowded together in a narrow, winding road. The other divisions -will not trouble us much.” Thus, with lightning-like rapidity, did this -matchless general conceive the plan which was to give him a glorious -victory. - -“I suppose we are to begin the battle at daybreak,” said Duroc. - -“At daybreak! Now! now is the time!” replied the French general, -sharply. “Duroc! Joubert’s troops have been fighting forty-eight hours, -and they are now taking a little repose. They must be aroused -immediately. Tell them for me, that they must not let Massena’s division -surpass them in endurance, and his troops have marched by night and -fought by day. Order General Joubert to attack the advanced post of the -Austrian infantry, drive them back, and extend his force more widely -upon the plateau.” - -Duroc immediately spurred away to communicate the order to Joubert. - -“Joubert has done well; but he should not have abandoned yonder St. -Mark’s Chapel. At all events, I do not believe the enemy have occupied -it. Duroc is rapid in movement. The battle of Rivoli will soon -commence,” said the French general. - -“I wish Massena was nearer the field,” observed Murat. - -“He will be up in time, never fear. He is indomitable. Besides, if the -battle should assume a critical aspect, I will go myself to hurry up his -division. Ha! Joubert is up like a roused lion, and in movement. Who -leads the column? Vial—a brave officer,” continued Bonaparte. At this -moment, a rattling fire of musketry rang on the air, and from the height -where Bonaparte stood, could be seen the rapid advance of Joubert’s -troops, as well as the long line of D’Ocksky’s column of Croats against -whom the attack was directed. Then the thunder of the artillery was -heard, and clouds of smoke curled up from the plateau.” - -“St. Mark’s Chapel is recovered,” said Bessieres. - -“The Austrian infantry cannot stand against the artillery, and they are -falling back in a semicircle, with the heights at their rear,” remarked -Bonaparte. - -At this moment, Liptai’s division which kept the extremity of the -enemy’s semicircle, fell upon Joubert’s left, composed of the 89th and -25th demi-brigades, surprised them, broke their lines and compelled them -to retire in disorder. The 14th coming immediately after these -demi-brigades formed _en crochet_ to cover the rest of the line, and -bravely stood their ground. The Austrians now put forth all their -strength and almost overwhelmed this little band of heroes. They made -desperate efforts to capture the artillery, the horses of which had all -been killed. They had even reached the pieces, when a brave officer -rushed forward, and exhorted the grenadiers not to allow their guns to -be taken. Fifty men immediately rushed forward, repulsed the enemy, -harnessed themselves to the pieces, and drew them back. - -In the midst of this terrible struggle, the day began to dawn upon the -field of Rivoli. Bonaparte who had watched the progress of the fight -with the keenest interest, repeatedly making exclamations of surprise or -admiration, now perceived the critical position of affairs. Turning to -Berthier, he said quickly, - -“General Berthier, I leave you in charge of my troops at the point where -they are threatened. I know you and General Joubert can hold that -position, no matter what the number of the enemy may be. I am going with -all speed after Massena. Come, aids—Bessieres, mount and forward!” The -whole party was quickly in the saddle, and away, leaving the watch-fire -to smoulder and die, as the lurid blaze of battle arose upon the plain. - -Massena’s first troops had scarcely come up, after marching all night. -Bonaparte took the 32d, already distinguished by its exploits during the -campaign, and brought it to bear upon the left, so as to rally the two -demi-brigades, which had given way. The intrepid Massena advanced at its -head, rallied behind him the broken troops, and overthrew all before -him. He repulsed the Austrians, and placed himself by the side of the -14th, which had not ceased to perform prodigies of valor. The fight was -thus kept up on this point, and the army occupied the semicircle of the -plateau. But the momentary check of the left wing had obliged Joubert to -fall back with the right; he gave ground, and already the Austrian -infantry was a second time nearing that point which Bonaparte had such -an object in compelling him to abandon; in fact, the Austrian infantry -was about getting up to the outlet by which the winding road of Incanale -led to the plateau. At this moment, the column composed of artillery and -cavalry, and preceded by several battalions of grenadiers, ascended the -winding road, and with incredible efforts of bravery, repulsed the 29th. -Wukassovich, from the other bank of the Adige, sent a shower of cannon -balls to protect this kind of escalade. Already had the grenadiers -climbed the summit of the defile, and the cavalry was debouching in -their train upon the plateau. This was not all. Lusignan’s column, whose -fires had been seen at a distance, and who had been perceived on the -left, getting to the rear of the position of the French, were now coming -up to their rear, in order to cut them off from the road to Verona, and -to stop Rey, who was coming from Castel-Novo with the division of -reserve. Lusignan’s soldiers finding themselves on the rear of the -French army, already clapped their hands, and considered it as taken. -Thus, on this plateau, closely pressed in front by a semicircle of -infantry, pressed on the rear, on the left by a strong column, sealed on -the right by the main body of the Austrian army, and galled by the -cannon balls which came from the opposite bank of the Adige in the -direction of this plateau, Bonaparte was alone with Joubert’s and -Massena’s divisions, in the midst of a cloud of enemies. In fact, he was -with sixteen thousand men, surrounded by forty thousand at least. - -At this anxious moment, Bonaparte was not shaken; he retained all the -fire of inspiration. On seeing Lusignan’s Austrians, he said, “_Those -are ours!_” and he allowed them to engage without giving himself any -concern about their movement. The soldiers, conjecturing what their -general meant, experienced the same confidence, and also repeated to one -another, “_They are ours!_” Bonaparte did not concern himself with more -than what was passing before him. His left was protected by the heroism -of the 14th and the 32d. His right was threatened at once by the -infantry which had resumed the offensive, and by the column that was -scaling the plateau. He immediately directed decisive movements to be -effected. - -A battery of light artillery and two squadrons, under two brave -officers, Leclerc and Laselle, were ordered to the outlet of which the -enemy had taken possession. Joubert, who, with the extreme right, had -this outlet at his back, suddenly faced about with a corps of light -infantry. All charged at once. The artillery first poured a discharge -upon all that had debouched; the cavalry and light infantry then charged -with vigor. Joubert’s horse was killed under him; he got up nowise -daunted, and rushed upon the enemy with a musket in his hand. All that -had debouched, grenadiers, cavalry, artillery, all were hurled pell-mell -headlong down the winding road of Incanale. The confusion was awful; -some pieces of cannon firing down into the defile, augmented the terror -and confusion. At every step, the French killed and made prisoners. - -Having cleared the plateau of the assailants who had scaled it, -Bonaparte again returned to his attacks against the infantry which was -ranged in semicircle before him, and set Joubert upon it with the light -infantry, and Laselle with two hundred hussars. On this new attack, -consternation seized that infantry, now deprived of all hope of -effecting a junction with the main body; it fled in confusion. The -French semicircular line then moved from right to left, drove back the -Austrians against the amphitheatre of Monte Baldo, and pursued them as -far as possible into the mountains. Bonaparte then returned, and -proceeded to realize his prediction upon Lusignan’s division. That body, -on witnessing the disasters of the Austrian army, soon perceived what -would be its own fate. Bonaparte, after firing upon it with grape-shot, -ordered the 18th and the 75th demi-brigades to charge. These brave -demi-brigades moved onwards, singing the _chant du départ_, and drove -Lusignan back by the road which Rey was coming up with the reserve. The -Austrian corps at first made a stand, then retreated, and came full butt -upon the advanced guard of Rey’s division. Terrified at this sight, it -sought the clemency of the conqueror, and laid down its arms, to the -number of four thousand men. Two thousand had been taken in the defile -of the Adige. - -It was five o’clock. The Austrian army was almost annihilated. Lusignan -was taken. The infantry which had advanced from the mountains, was -flying over the rugged declivities. The principal column was pent up on -the bank of the river, while the subordinate division of Wukassovich was -an idle spectator of the disaster, separated by the Adige from the field -of battle. The French general had had several horses killed under him, -and had received several slight wounds, but in spite of his constant -activity and exposure, he was still ready to follow up his victory -immediately. The battle of La Favorita ensued, in which the army of -Provera was annihilated. In three days, twenty-three thousand men were -captured. Massena’s troops had marched and fought four days and nights, -without any considerable intermission. The intrepid general himself, -afterwards received the title of Duke of Rivoli. Mantua was at the feet -of Bonaparte, and Italy was won. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: BONAPARTE CROSSING THE ALPS AT TARWIS.] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE ALPS. - - -Although Bonaparte had performed amazing, and, in some respects, -unparalleled, exploits in Italy, there was a general disposition among -both Frenchmen and foreigners to set up inferior commanders as his -rivals. Now it was Moreau, then Massena; then Hoche, and then the young -Archduke Charles, of Austria. The last mentioned had attained a high -reputation by a campaign in which he triumphed over Generals Moreau and -Jourdan, but his valor and skill, although great, were overrated, as -Bonaparte and Massena soon rendered evident. - -The Archduke took command of the Austrian army of Italy, and on the 6th -of February, 1797, advanced his head-quarter to Innspruck. During that -month, his engineers visited the passes of the Julien and Noric Alps, -which it had been designed to fortify. Napoleon, having about -fifty-three thousand troops under his command, resolved to astonish his -enemy by a rapid and daring march upon the passes of the Alps before -they could be fortified. He formed the plan of a campaign, the great -object of which was the Austrian capital, Vienna, and the execution was -as prompt as the conception was bold. The Tagliamento was passed, and -the enemy completely defeated; the passes of the Alps were carried, -after a tremendous struggle. Joubert beat the Austrians in the Tyrol, -the Archduke’s reputation was reduced to its proper dimensions, and -Vienna trembled, having no means of resisting the all-conquering -Bonaparte. Tarwis is the loftiest pass of the Noric Alps. It is above -the clouds and is generally covered with snow and ice, which give it a -desolate and terrible aspect. It overlooks Germany and Dalmatia. At this -point the roads leading to Italy and Trieste separate; the road to Italy -running west, and that leading to Trieste running south. At this place, -Bonaparte fixed his head-quarters, shortly after the pass had been -captured by the indomitable Massena. It was the last day of March. The -weather was intensely cold, and and the body of troops accompanying the -French general suffered severely. Bonaparte and his aids were snugly -quartered in the rude chalets, which are the only habitations upon the -height of Tarwis. The soldiers were grouped amid a cordon of fires, the -fuel for which they had brought from a great distance below, with a vast -amount of labor and difficulty. Yet they shivered beside the crackling -blaze. It was a wild and startling scene. The night was cloudy—the wind, -keen and furious. The red glare of the fires was reflected by walls of -ice and blood-stained snow. As the soldiers wrapped themselves in their -blankets, crept as close to the fires as they could get, and conversed -with a French attempt at gaiety, they were surprised to see their -beloved general, accompanied by Berthier and Duroc, come out of a -chalet, to examine their condition, and speak a word of cheer. - -“A freezing time, men; but it will be hot enough soon,” he remarked to a -group of veterans. - -“The cold is more terrible than the Austrians, general,” said one of -them, with an attempt at a laugh. - -“But it cannot conquer the conquerors of Italy,” replied Bonaparte. Thus -he went among the brave men who followed his standard, and thus he -communicated his own spirit to all with whom he came in contact. After -traversing the whole ground occupied by the troops, the French general -returned to his quarters to repose. - -Beneath a kind of shed in the rear of the chalet, several of the Guides -were seated round a cheerful fire, smoking pipes and conversing of the -recent actions and their thrilling incidents. Among them were Bessieres -and Lemarois. The wall of the chalet, which formed the rear of the shed, -served to keep off the fury of the wind, so that this place was -comfortable, compared with the position of the soldiers. Besides, the -hearts of these veterans had been gladdened with abundance of good -eating at the chalet, and satisfaction was evident in their faces. The -manly face of Bessieres, wore that expression of calm circumspection, -which it never lost in the thickest of battle. - -“The passage of the Tagliamento,” said this brave leader, “will take -rank with any similar exploit, recorded in history.” - -“It must be acknowledged that the archduke had posted his forces in an -admirable style,” said young Lemarois. “His artillery covered the level -shingle of the river, and his fine cavalry, deployed on the wings, so as -to be brought rapidly into service, was an admirable disposition.” - -“Yes,” said Bessieres, “but as usual, the character of the manœuvres -which defeated the Austrians throws all their dispositions into -insignificance. Was there ever a general so fertile of stratagem as -Bonaparte? See how quickly he determined upon a plan to diminish the -vigilance of the enemy! An immense number of men might have been lost if -he had attempted the passage of the river as soon as he reached its -banks. But he valued the lives of his soldiers too much, to throw them -away, when a simple stratagem could save them. The Austrians naturally -supposed that after marching all night, he wanted rest, and when the -general ordered us to halt and begin to partake of our soup, they were -completely deceived. How the archduke must have opened his eyes, when he -saw us get suddenly in motion at noon!” - -“The disposition of our forces was so admirable that it made some of our -own skilful officers open their eyes,” said Lemarois. “Look at it! -Guyeux’s division on the left, and Bernadotte’s on the right, by which -arrangement the troops of Italy and the soldiers of the Rhine were -brought into a noble rivalry. Then battalions of grenadiers were formed. -At the head of each division was placed the light infantry, ready to -disperse as sharp-shooters, then the grenadiers who were to charge, and -the dragoons who were to support them. Each demi-brigade had its first -battalions, deployed in line, and the two others arranged in close -column on the wings of the first. The cavalry hovered on the wings. A -finer disposition could not have been made.” - -“Crossing the river was a glorious scene!” said Bessieres. “The light -infantry covered the bank with a cloud of sharp-shooters. Then the -grenadiers entered the water. ‘Soldiers of the Rhine!’ exclaimed -Bernadotte, ‘the army of Italy has its eyes upon you.’ Each division -displayed the utmost bravery in the charge; we can make no distinction -between them.” - -“No, indeed,” observed a grim-visaged Guide, who sat next to Bessieres. -“Our soldiers called the troops of the Rhine _the contingent_, and -treated them with the greatest contempt before the battle. A number of -sabre cuts were exchanged on account of this raillery. But the -contingent proved themselves worthy of any army at Tagliamento. They -drove the Austrians before them like a flock of sheep.” - -“All acted in a manner worthy of France,” said Lemarois. “The archduke -was routed and the line of the Tagliamento cleared in a remarkably short -time.” - -“What is the name of that general of cavalry who was captured?” inquired -one of the Guides—a burly fellow, with a good-humored cast of -countenance. - -“I forget his name,” replied Bessieres; “but I cannot forget that he is -a brave man, and that he fought with a courage and resolution which put -most of his countrymen to shame. - -“To be just, however,” observed Lemarois, “there are many gallant -officers in the Austrian army. It is not their fault if they have not a -Bonaparte to bring victory to their standard. They have a large number -of hearts following their flag, as intrepid as old Wurmser. But strange -to say, they have never had a first class general. - -“That’s about the truth of the matter,” commented the burly Guide. - -“By the way, Jacques,” said Bessieres, “it seems to be getting colder as -the night advances. Put on a little more of that wood. Its bad enough -fuel, though, for it smokes abominably.” - -Jacques was the burly Guide previously alluded to. He obeyed the order -of his commander. - -“The men outside ought to have plenty of provision to console them amid -their sufferings on such a night. They will scarcely dare to sleep,” -said Lemarois. - -“I saw our general out among them a short time ago,” replied Bessieres. -“A few sympathetic words from him will do more than any amount of -provision.” - -“That’s a fact,” said the grim veteran who sat next to the commander of -the Guides. “They know that he feels for them, and that he would help -them if he could. See there at St. George, an outpost of Mantua, where -there was a necessity for constant vigilance, to prevent Provera from -surprising us, and relieving Wurmser. The general visiting one of the -outposts at night, found a sentinel lying at the foot of a tree, where -he had fallen fast asleep from exhaustion. He took the soldier’s musket -and walked backwards and forwards on sentry for more than half an hour. -Suddenly the soldier started up, and was terrified at seeing General -Bonaparte on duty; he expected nothing less than death. But the general -spoke kindly to him, told him that after his great fatigues, he wanted -sleep; but cautioned him against chosing such a time. That is the way -for a general to make heroes out of soldiers. That sentinel would have -risked his life at any time to give victory to General Bonaparte.” - -“Bonaparte is every inch of a general, a soldier and a man,” said -Bessieres. - -“Some miserable judges wish to set up this young Archduke Charles as a -rival to our general,” said Lemarois. “Why, this battle of Tarwis, in -which he had every thing in his favor, proves that he is not by a great -deal, up to the measure of Massena.” - -“Have you heard the full particulars of the struggle at this pass?” -inquired Bessieres. “Battles come so rapidly, that it is difficult to -gain a complete knowledge of them.” - -“I was present when an officer of Massena’s division who participated in -the fight communicated the intelligence,” replied Lemarois. “While we -were advancing to Gradisca, General Massena pressed forward, reached -this pass, and made himself master of it without much difficulty. The -division of Bayalitsch, proceeding across the sources of the Izonzo to -anticipate Massena at the pass, would therefore find the outlet closed. -The Archduke Charles, foreseeing this result, left the rest of his army -on the Friule and Carniola road, with orders to come and rejoin him -behind the Alps at Klagenfurt; he then himself made the utmost haste to -Villach, where numerous detachments were coming up from the Rhine, to -make a fresh attack on the pass, to drive Massena from it, and to -re-open the road for Bayalitsch’s division. Bonaparte, on his side, left -Bernadotte’s division to pursue the divisions that were retreating into -Carniola, and with Guyeux’s and Serrurier’s divisions, proceeded to -harass the Bayalitsch division in its rear, in its passage through the -valley of the Izonzo. Prince Charles, after rallying behind the Alps the -wrecks of Lusignan and Orksay, who had lost the pass, reinforced them -with six thousand grenadiers, the finest and bravest soldiers in the -imperial service, and again attacked the pass, where Massena had left -scarcely a detachment. He succeeded in recovering it, and posted himself -here with the regiments of Lusignan and Orksay, and the six thousand -grenadiers. Massena collected his whole division, in order to carry it -again. Both generals were sensible of the importance of this point. -Tarwis retaken, the French army would be masters of the Alps, and would -make prisoners of the whole of Bayalitsch’s division. Massena rushed on -headlong with his brave infantry, and suffered as usual in person. -Prince Charles was not less chary of himself than the republican -general, and several times ran the risk of being taken by the French -riflemen. Whole lines of cavalry were thrown down and broken on this -frightful field of battle. At length, after having brought forward his -last battalion, the Archduke Charles abandoned Tarwis to his -pertinacious adversary, and found himself compelled to sacrifice -Bayalitsch’s division. Massena, left master of Tarwis, fell down upon -that division which now came up, attacked it in front, while it was -pressed in the rear by the divisions of Guyeux and Serrurier. That -division had no other resource than to be made prisoners; and our army -captured all the baggage, artillery and ammunition of the enemy that had -followed this route. For my part, I think that a good general could have -maintained this pass against a greatly superior force.” - -“It is a strong position, and it does not appear to me that it could be -turned,” observed Bessieres. “However,” continued he, rising, “the pass -is ours; Joubert has beaten the enemy and will soon join us; the -archduke is completely beaten, and there is scarcely an obstacle in the -way of a march to Vienna. These are the results of a march as daring and -skilful as any ever conceived by a general. So much glory for General -Bonaparte, and renown to the arms of France. Come, Lemarois, we will -enter the chalet, and strive to gain some repose. Keep up your spirits, -men, and above all keep up the fire. Good night!” - -And keen and swiftly blew the Alpine wind, and redly blazed the fires of -Tarwis till the light of day arose from the ashes of the night. Then the -French general pursued his march. He united his forces; Vienna was -threatened, and the treaty of Campo Formio was extorted from Austria. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON’S ARRIVAL IN EGYPT p. 89] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE NILE. - - -The evening of the 21st of July, 1798, had cast its shadows on the Nile. -Although the day had been excessively warm, the air was now cool and -pleasant. The full moon was gradually deepening the placid splendor of -her light, and giving a silvery sheen to the winding waters of the -river. On an elevated terrace, in the distance, could be distinguished -the bold and gorgeous minarets and gilded domes of Cairo. The villages -of Bulak and Shoubra were nestled on the river banks, overlooking a vast -extent of cultivated plain, rich in vineyards and grain. The great -obelisk of Heliopolis stood out against the eastern sky; and the vast -Lybian desert stretched away in desolation to the west. In the midst of -this sea of sand, could be faintly distinguished the awful forms of the -great pyramids of Ghizeh, from which that day, “forty centuries had -looked down,” upon the victory achieved by Bonaparte over the Mameluke -tyrants of Egypt. - -The French were encamped upon the banks of the Nile; and the light of -their watch-fires could be seen for a great distance along the river. -The victorious general was at Ghizeh, having fixed his quarters in the -country-seat of Murad Bey. But although the watch-fires were burning, -the soldiers of the conquering army were not gathered around them. No; -the spoils of victory would not let them rest. They had suffered much in -the dreary march towards Cairo, and fought bravely in overcoming the -gallant cavalry of the Egyptian army, and now very naturally sought to -repay themselves for their hardships and toils. The field of battle was -covered with the troops, who were engaged in stripping the valuable -articles from the bodies of the slain Mamelukes. Among the spoils thus -obtained were splendid shawls, weapons of fine workmanship, purses, some -of which contained as many as two and three hundred pieces of gold; for -the Mamelukes carried all their ready money on their persons. More than -a thousand of these Egyptian warriors had been drowned in the Nile; and -even now, by the light of the moon, the French troops were engaged in -dragging for the bodies, to swell the amount of their booty. A more -indefatigable set of spoil-seekers never won a victory. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: TURKISH ENCAMPMENT.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON AT THE PYRAMIDS. Page 93.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The Mamelukes had sixty vessels on the Nile, containing the bulk of -their riches. In consequence of the unexpected result of the battle, -they lost all hope of saving them, and set them on fire. The great blaze -suddenly rising to the sky, caused the French troops to pause in the -midst of their search for valuables. They knew the contents of those -vessels, and they beheld the gradual destruction of those vast treasures -with feelings of disappointment not easily delineated. During the whole -night, through the volumes of smoke and flame, the French could perceive -the forms of the minarets and buildings of Cairo and the City of the -Dead; and the red glare was even gloriously reflected by the Pyramids. -To increase the terrors of the scene, the wild and treacherous populace -of Cairo, learning the disasters of their countrymen, set fire to the -splendid palaces of the Beys, and these great edifices blazed and -crackled up against the sky throughout the night. - -About nine, in the evening, Bonaparte, accompanied by Berthier, Desaix, -Lannes, Regnier, and nearly all his principal officers, and even a -number of the privates, entered the country-house of Murad Bey, at -Ghizeh. This residence presented a magnificent appearance at a distance, -and a close inspection disclosed many additional beauties. But it was a -point of some difficulty at first to make it serve for a lodging, or to -comprehend the distribution of the apartments. But what chiefly struck -the officers with surprise, was the great quantity of cushions and -divans covered with the finest damasks and Lyons silks, and ornamented -with gold fringe. For the first time, they found the luxury and arts of -Europe in Egypt—the cradle of luxury and arts. Bonaparte and his staff -explored this singular structure in every direction. The gardens were -full of magnificent trees, but without avenues, and not unlike the -gardens in some of the nunneries of Italy. The soldiers were much elated -at the discovery of large arbors of vines, burdened with the finest -grapes in the world. The rapid vintage excited the laughter of the -French generals, who, themselves, joined in the scramble for the -delicious fruit. - -In the meantime, the two divisions of Bon and Menou, which had remained -behind in an entrenched camp, were equally well supplied. Among the -baggage taken, had been found a great number of canteens full of -preserves, both of confectionary and sweetmeats, besides carpets, -porcelain, vases of perfume, and a multitude of little elegancies used -by the Mamelukes. All these luxuries had been purchased by the -oppression of the mass of the Egyptians, and it was but a stroke of -justice which took them from the oppressor. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS. Page 94.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: COSTUMES OF CAIRO.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The French troops, who had murmured much while traversing the hot sands -of the desert, now fell in love with Egypt, and began to hope for a -career of easy conquest and rare enjoyment. Their general was pleased at -their change of tone, and permitted them to revel amidst the fruits of -their labor and endurance. - -Bonaparte and his officers spent the greater part of the night in -exploring the residence of Murad Bey. Towards morning they reclined upon -its luxurious couches, and while the conflagration raged without, and -the soldiers were revelling among the spoil, these veteran officers -indulged in repose. A short time previous these gallant men had shared -Bonaparte’s doubt and anxiety as he stood upon the deck of a vessel, in -the harbor of Alexandria, viewing the shores of the land of the -Pharoahs. Now they could sleep in the confidence of continued victory. - -On the 20th of July, the young conqueror of the Pyramids, entered Grand -Cairo, receiving the humble submission of the sic and the shouts of the -thronging populace. The capital of Egypt was in the power of the French. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON ENTERING CAIRO. Page 97.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT MOUNT TABOR. - - -[Illustration] - -In Lower Galilee, to the north-east of the great plain of Esdraelon, -rises an eminence rendered intensely interesting by memories sacred and -profane. It is Mount Tabor. Although surrounded by chains of mountains -on nearly all sides, it is the only one that stands entirely aloof from -its neighbors. The figure of the mount approaches that of a semi-sphere, -and presents a regular appearance. Its ground figure is usually -described as round; and, indeed, seems to be perfectly so to those -coming from the midst of the great plain, or from the sea of Galilee. -But, in reality, it is really somewhat longer from east to west than -broad, so that its true figure is oval. The height of this mountain has -never been subjected to actual measurement. It appears, however, that it -occupies three hours to travel round the base of the mountain; that an -hour is generally required to reach the summit by a circuitous path, and -that the plain upon the top of the eminence is seldom traversed in less -time than half an hour. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON AT MOUNT TABOR. Page 98.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The mountain is inaccessible except on the north, where the ascent -offers so little difficulty that there are few parts which suggest to -the traveler the prudence or necessity of dismounting from his horse. -This remarkable mountain offers so rare a combination of the bold and -beautiful, that pilgrims of all ages have expatiated upon its glories -with untiring wonder and delight. The trees of various species, and the -bushes always green, with which it is invested, and the small groves -with which it is crowned, contribute no less than its figure to its -perfect beauty. Ounces, wild boars, gazelles, and hares, are among the -animals which find shelter in its more wooded parts; while the trees are -tenanted by “birds of every wing,” whose warblings and motions beguile -the fatigues of the ascent. “The path,” says Mr. Stephens, “wound around -the mountain, and gave us a view from all its different sides, every -step presenting something new, and more and more beautiful, until all -was completely forgotten and lost in the exceeding loveliness of the -view from the summit. Stripped of every association, and considered -merely as an elevation commanding a view of unknown valleys and -mountains, I never saw a mountain which, for beauty of scene, better -repaid the toil of ascending it.” - -The view it commands is magnificent. To the north, in successive ranges, -are the mountains of Galilee, backed by the mighty Lebanon; and Safet, -as always, stands out in prominent relief. To the north-east is the -Mount of Beatitudes, with its peculiar outline and interesting -associations; behind which rise Great Hermon, and the whole chain of -Anti-Lebanon. To the east are the hills of the Haouran, and the country -of the Gadarenes, below which the eye catches a glimpse of the Lake of -Tiberius, while to the south-east it crosses the valley of the Jordan, -and rests on the high land of Bashan. Due south rise the mountains of -Gilboa, and behind them those of Samaria, stretching far to the west. On -the south-south-west the villages of Endor and Nain are seen on the -Little Hermon. Mount Carmel and the Bay of Acre appear on the -north-west; and towards them flows, through the fertile plains of -Esdraelon, “that great river, the River Kishon,” now dwindled into a -little stream. Each feature in this prospect is beautiful: the eye and -mind are delighted; and, by a combination of objects and associations, -unusual to fallen man, earthly scenes, which more than satisfy the -external sense, elevate the soul to heavenly contemplations. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: JUNOT.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The beautiful upper plain is inclosed by a wall,—probably the same which -was built by Josephus, when Governor of Galilee,—and contains some -ruins, which are probably those of the two monasteries, which, according -to William of Tyre, were built here by Godfrey of Bouillon, in the place -of others of earlier date which the Moslems had destroyed. The plain has -at different times been under cultivation; but when, from oppression or -fear, abandoned by the cultivator, it becomes a table of rich grass and -wild flowers, which send forth a most refreshing and luxurious odor. In -summer the dews fall copiously on Tabor, and a strong wind blows over it -all day. - -Tabor is chiefly interesting to the Christian, however, as the supposed -scene of the Transfiguration, when Christ appeared in glory, with Moses, -and Elias. To the reader of profane history and the student of the -career of Napoleon Bonaparte, it is also rendered interesting as the -scene of a decisive victory gained by the French general over some of -the bravest forces of the East. - -It was the night of the 16th of April. The victorious French had -encamped at the foot of Mount Tabor. The evening had set in calmly and -beautifully, above a plain heaped with the dead of the annihilated army, -but the deep shadows of night had scarcely descended, before the French -general-in-chief ordered all the villages of the Naplousians to be set -on fire; and although they were distant, their red light was so glaring, -that it illumined the field of battle and the camp of the victors, and -rendered evident many ghastly features of the scene. - -At the tent of General Kleber were assembled that gallant officer, -Junot, Murat and Bon. Bonaparte was in his tent, surrounded by his -faithful Guides. Just outside of the line of tents the watch-fires were -brightly burning, and the sentinels paced up and down with solemn tread. -Kleber, and his brothers in glory, were seated on camp-stools around a -table, on which were several bottles of wine. After Napoleon himself, -Kleber was the most remarkable man of the army of Egypt. See him there, -with his large and powerful frame—his great head of shaggy hair, his -quick, piercing eyes, prominent features, and slovenly costume. -Great-souled Jean Baptiste Kleber! The revolution found him a peaceful -architect. He entered the ranks as a grenadier, and rose to be esteemed -a military genius indispensable to France, and a commander as humane and -generous as he was brave and skilful. Always peevish, he yet was guilty -of no bitterness of action—mean conduct was with him an impossibility. -Opposite Kleber sat Andoche Junot. His mild, pleasant, handsome features -expressed nothing of the indomitable spirit which he ever displayed in -action; but his eyes were quick and intelligent. His costume was much -cut and soiled by the desperate service he had performed during the last -two days. Murat was as usual finely dressed. He seemed weary, and drank -deeply to revive his spirits. Most terrible had been the slaughter of -his sabres that day on the banks of the Jordan. General Bon had nothing -remarkable in his appearance. The expression of his sun-burned -countenance was that of firmness, united with intelligence and -promptitude. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON AT ACRE. Page 105.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -“I wonder how things go on at Acre,” said Junot. - -“Bad as usual,” replied Kleber. “The place cannot be taken, that is -evident. It was clear to me long ago, that Sidney Smith, and the -engineer Philippeaux have stimulated the troops to extraordinary -exertions. They repulse every assault; and as we have no siege trains, -where is our chance for taking the town. Nowhere, nowhere—and so I told -General Bonaparte—the stubborn specimen of lean genius. We shall waste -our army before the walls of that place, and gain nothing; whereas, if -the siege were raised, we might yet do much for Egypt. - -“Then here must end our general’s grand project for striking a blow at -the English dominion in Asia,” observed Bon. - -“Aye,” said Kleber, “and it was folly to entertain such projects after -the destruction of our fleet at Aboukir, by that confounded Englishman, -Nelson. The most we could hope to do after that was to consolidate our -empire in Egypt, and that would have been no ordinary task. But this -‘Little Corporal,’ will not listen to any one.” - -“The march to El Arisch, across that burning desert was bad enough; but -I’m afraid that we shall have the same thing to do again, under worse -circumstances,” said Murat. - -“But this battle has won us glories enough to atone for many hardships,” -remarked Junot. “At first the prospect was desperate enough.” - -“You, Junot, have certainly increased your reputation,” said Bon. “The -advanced guard which you commanded consisted of, at most, but five -hundred men. Yet with that force you dared to encounter the enemy on the -8th, and not only covered the field with their dead, but took five stand -of colors, and came off with but little loss.” - -“Very well, but that is scarcely worthy of mention when we consider the -long and successful defence made by Kleber’s whole division on the -ground.” - -“If I had not arrived too late last night, I might have surprised the -Turkish army, and then that long defence would have been unnecessary. I -designed to attempt the surprise,” said Kleber. - -“The number of the enemy surprised me this morning, when they were drawn -up in battle array,” said Junot. “Fifteen thousand infantry occupied the -village of Fouli, and more than twelve thousand horse were drawn up in -the plain, while we had scarcely three thousand infantry in square.” - -“They made an imposing show, but they were met with such steady bravery, -and such a blaze of fire, that their ranks seemed to melt away like mist -before the sun,” said Kleber. “However, it was well that General -Bonaparte came up. The furious charges of the Turkish cavalry had begun -to make an impression on my ranks, and it is probable enough they might -have been broken in the course of the afternoon, if the general-in-chief -had not brought up your division, Bon, and made those admirable -dispositions, which placed the enemy between two fires, and soon put -them to the rout. A tremendous fire discharged from three points of the -triangle, sent the Mamelukes away in heaps. We took the village of -Fouli—yes, Fouli, you call it—and then finished the enemy by putting -them to soak in the waters of the Jordan. It has been a glorious day.” - -“Six thousand French have destroyed an army which the Naplousians stated -could no more be numbered than the stars in the heavens and the sands on -the seashore,” observed Junot. “Well, we may fail in the conquest of the -East, but this victory cannot be forgotten.” - -“Besides glory,” said Kleber, “it may be as well to mention that the -booty taken is worth considerable. The Turkish camp was well supplied -with both necessaries and luxuries. We have taken four hundred camels, -and the other booty is sufficient to satisfy our soldiers.” - -“And see,” said Bon, “the Naplousians will have reason to remember us,” -and he pulled aside the canvass of the tent and pointed to the red light -of the burning villages. - -At this moment, General Bonaparte appeared at the door of the tent, in -company with Bessieres. The young general looked much worn and fatigued. -His figure was stouter than it had been during the campaign of Italy; -but his stern countenance still showed the hollow cheeks and sunken -eyes, caused by the constant and powerful workings of his genius. His -costume was much soiled, and its appearance indicated his want of -attention to such matters during the press of the business of life and -death. He held some papers in his hand. - -“Generals, I hope I do not interrupt your conversation. But business -like ours admits of no delay. I set off at day-break for Acre, where I -am determined to press the siege with renewed vigor. I have reason to -dread that a large Turkish army will soon be landed near the mouth of -the Nile, and if Acre is to be taken at all, we must accomplish the feat -very speedily; and it must be taken,” said Bonaparte, in his emphatic -way. - -“Must be taken,” said Kleber, always outspoken. “My opinion is that the -siege will cost us many valuable lives, and yet not be successful. Every -day increases the difficulties of our safe return to Cairo.” - -“Yes, yes,” said Bonaparte, impatiently, “but it will not do to let this -Englishman, Sidney Smith, and his Turks, baffle the conquerors of Italy -and Egypt. General Kleber, you will lead your division back to Acre; and -you, General Bon, will follow. We have annihilated our foes in this -quarter, and have nothing more to fear from them. Hasten your march to -Acre, and, doubtless, with a few more determined efforts, that town will -be in our hands.” So saying, he bowed, and hurried out of the tent. - -“A man destined to do great things; but destined to be mistaken in his -present enterprise,” observed Kleber. - -Murat now proposed a ride over the field of battle, before retiring to -repose. The others agreed, and all were soon mounted, and cantering away -along the line of the camp-fires, and among the heaps of the dead. A -large number of the French soldiers were engaged in searching for -valuables among the bodies of the Mamelukes, and to the inquiries of the -generals, they responded that they were reaping a full harvest. Around -the line occupied by the troops of Kleber’s division, was seen the wall -of carcasses which had served as a protection to those gallant men, when -they had become extremely fatigued by the struggle against the -overwhelming numbers of the enemy. The light of the burning villages, -and the watch-fires, was quite sufficient to enable them to pursue their -spoil-seeking occupation. After riding over the whole field, the -generals separated, and each sought his tent to stretch himself for -repose, and to dream of the glorious incidents of the victory of Mount -Tabor. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT ABOUKIR. - - -The battle of Aboukir, was, perhaps, the only instance in the history of -war, in which a hostile army was utterly annihilated by an inferior -force. The victory, therefore, was one of the most splendid which -Bonaparte ever achieved. The Turkish army, conveyed by the squadron of -Sir Sidney Smith, anchored in Aboukir Bay on the 11th of July, 1799. - -The place fixed upon by the English for their landing, was the peninsula -which defends this road, and which bears the same name. This narrow -peninsula runs out between the sea and Lake Madieh, and has a fort at -its extremity. Bonaparte had ordered Marmont, who commanded at -Alexandria, to improve the defences of the fort, and to destroy the -village of Aboukir, situated around it. But, instead of destroying the -village, he thought it better to keep the place in order to lodge the -soldiers there; and it had merely been surrounded by a redoubt to -protect it on the land side. But the redoubt not joining on both sides -the sea, did not present the appearance of a close work, and put the -fort on the same footing as a simple field-work. The Turks, in fact, -landed with great boldness, attacked the intrenchments sword in hand, -carried them, and made themselves masters of the village of Aboukir, -putting the garrison to the sword. The village being taken, the fort -could no longer hold out, and it was obliged to surrender. Marmont, who -commanded at Alexandria, had issued forth, at the head of twelve hundred -men, to hasten to the assistance of the troops at Aboukir. But learning -that the Turks had landed in considerable numbers, he durst not attempt -to drive them into the sea by a bold attack. He returned to Alexandria, -and left them to quietly take up their position on the peninsula of -Aboukir. - -The Turks amounted to nearly eighteen thousand infantry. These were not -the miserable Fellahs who had composed the infantry of the Mamelukes; -but brave janizaries, carrying a musket without bayonet, slinging it at -their back after firing, and rushing pistol and sword in hand upon the -enemy. They had a numerous and well-served artillery, and were under the -direction of English officers. They had no cavalry, for they had not -brought more than three hundred horses; but they expected Murad Bey, who -was to leave Upper Egypt, proceed along the desert, cross the oasis, and -throw himself into Aboukir with two or three thousand Mamelukes. - -When Bonaparte was informed of the particulars of the landing, he left -Cairo instantly, and made from that city to Alexandria one of those -extraordinary marches of which he had given so many instances in Italy. -He took with him the divisions of Lannes, Bon, and Murat. He had ordered -Desaix to evacuate Upper Egypt, and Kleber and Regnier, who were in the -Delta, to bring themselves nearer Aboukir. He had chosen the point of -Birket, midway between Alexandria and Aboukir, in order to concentrate -his forces thither, and to manœuvre according to circumstances. He -was very fearful lest an English army had landed with the Turks. - -Murad Bey, according to the plan settled with Mustapha Pacha, had tried -a descent into Lower Egypt; but being met and beaten by Murat, he had -been obliged to regain the desert. There was now nothing left but the -Turkish army to fight, destitute as it was of cavalry, but yet encamped -behind intrenchments, and disposed to stand its ground there with its -usual pertinacity. Bonaparte, after inspecting Alexandria and the -admirable works executed by Colonel Cretin, and after reprimanding -Marmont, his lieutenant, who had not dared to attack the Turks at the -moment of landing, left Alexandria on the 6th Thermidor, (July 24th.) -Next day, the 7th, he was at the entrance of the peninsula. His plan was -to inclose the Turkish army by intrenchments, and to await the arrival -of all his divisions, for all he had with him were no more than the -divisions of Lannes, Bon, and Murat, about six thousand men. But on -observing the arrangements made by the Turks, he altered his intentions, -and resolved to attack them immediately, hoping to inclose them in the -village of Aboukir, and to overwhelm them with bombs and howitzers. - -The Turks occupied the furthest end of the peninsula, which is very -narrow. They were covered by two lines of intrenchments. Half a league -in advance of the village of Aboukir, where their camp was, they had -occupied two round sand-hills, supported the one on the sea, the other -on Lake Madieh, and thus forming their right and left. In the centre of -these two hillocks was a village, which they had likewise kept. They had -one thousand men on the hillock to the right, two thousand on the -hillock to the left, and three or four thousand men in the village. Such -was their first line. The second was at the village of Aboukir itself. -It consisted of the redoubt constructed by the French, and was connected -with the sea by two trenches. It was there that they had stationed their -principal camp and the bulk of their forces. - -Bonaparte made his arrangements with his usual promptitude and decision. -He ordered General Destaing, with some battalions, to march to the hill -on the left, where one thousand Turks were posted; Lannes to march to -that on the right, where the two thousand others were; and Murat, who -was at the centre, to make the cavalry file on the rear of the two -hillocks. These arrangements were executed with great precision. -Destaing marched to the hillock on the left, and boldly climbed it; -Murat contrived to get at its rear with a troop of cavalry. The Turks, -when they saw this, abandoned their post, fell in with the cavalry, -which cut them in pieces, and drove them into the sea, into which they -chose rather to throw themselves than to surrender. The same operation -was executed on the right. Lannes attacked the two thousand Mamelukes, -Murat got at their rear; and they were in like manner cut to pieces and -driven into the sea. Destaing and Lannes then moved towards the centre, -formed by a village, and attacked it in front. The Turks there defended -themselves bravely, relying upon assistance from the second line. A -column in fact was detached from the camp of Aboukir; but Murat, who had -already filed upon the rear of the village, cut this column in pieces, -and drove it back into Aboukir. Destaing’s infantry and that of Lannes -entered the village at the charge step, driving the Turks out of it, who -were dispersed in all directions, and who obstinately refusing to -surrender, had no other retreat than the sea, wherein they were drowned. - -Already four or five thousand had perished in this manner. The first -line was carried; Bonaparte’s object was accomplished, and now, -inclosing the Turks in Aboukir, he could bombard them while waiting for -the arrival of Kleber and Regnier. But he desired to make the most of -his success, and to complete his victory that very moment. After giving -his troops a little breathing time, he marched upon the second line. The -division under Lanusse, which had been left as a reserve, supported -Lannes and Destaing. The redoubt which covered Aboukir was difficult to -carry; it had within it nine or ten thousand Turks. On the right, a -trench joined it to the sea; on the left, another trench brought it -further out; but was not continued quite to Lake Madieh. The open space -was occupied by the enemy, and swept by the fire of numerous gun-boats. -Bonaparte, having accustomed his soldiers to defy the most formidable -obstacles, sent them upon the enemy’s position. His divisions of -infantry marched upon the front and the right of the redoubt. The -cavalry, concealed in a wood of palm-trees, had to make the attack on -the left, and then to cross, under the fire of the gun-boats, the open -space between the redoubt and Lake Madieh. The charge was made; Lannes -and Destaing urged forward their brave infantry. The 32d marched with -their pieces on their arms towards the intrenchments, and the 18th got -at the rear of the intrenchments on the extreme right. The enemy, -without waiting for them, advanced to meet them. They fought hand to -hand. The Turkish soldiers, having fired their pieces and their two -pistols, drew their flashing sabres. They endeavored to grasp the -bayonets, but received them in their flanks before they could lay hold -of them. Thus a great slaughter took place in the intrenchments. The -18th was on the point of getting into the redoubt, when a tremendous -fire of artillery repulsed it, and sent it back to the foot of the -works. The gallant Leturcq fell gloriously, by desiring to be the last -to retire; Fugieres lost an arm. Murat on his part had advanced with his -cavalry, with a view to clear the space between the fire of the redoubt -and Lake Madieh. Several times he had dashed forward, and had turned -back the enemy; but taken between the two fires of the redoubt, and that -of the gun-boats, he had been obliged to fall back on the rear. Some of -his horse-soldiers had advanced to the ditches of the redoubt. The -efforts of so many brave fellows appeared likely to be entirely -unavailable. Bonaparte looked coolly on this carnage, waiting for a -favorable moment to return to the charge. Fortunately the Turks, as they -usually did, quitted the intrenchments for the purpose of cutting off -the heads of the slain. Bonaparte seized this opportunity, launched -forth two battalions, one of the 22d, the other of the 69th, which -marched upon the intrenchments and carried them. On the right, the 18th -also took advantage of this opportunity, and entered the redoubt. Murat, -on his side, ordered a fresh charge. One of his divisions of cavalry -traversed that most exposed space between the intrenchments and the -lake, and made his way into the village of Aboukir. The Turks, -affrighted, fled on all sides, and a horrible slaughter of them ensued. -They were pressed by the point of the bayonet and driven into the sea. -Murat, at the head of his heroes, penetrated into the camp of Mustapha -Pacha. The latter, in a fit of despair, snatched up a pistol and fired -it at Murat, whom he wounded slightly. Murat struck off two of his -fingers and sent him prisoner to Bonaparte. Such of the Turks as were -not killed or drowned retired into the fort of Aboukir.[A] - ------ - -Footnote A: - - Thiers. - ------ - -The proud army of the Turks was thus completely overwhelmed, as if it -had been entirely buried by an avalanche. No wonder that the -enthusiastic Kleber, after witnessing the manœuvres that gained this -splendid victory, clasped Bonaparte in his arms, and exclaimed, -“General, you are as great as the world itself.” - -It was the second night after the battle. The army was encamped upon the -field. Bonaparte was alone in his tent. That day he had contrived to -obtain from Sir Sidney Smith a file of papers from Europe, from which he -eagerly sought information as to the condition and prospects of France. -He had dismissed all his officers, and now, as they were either -carousing in their tents, or wandering among the camp-fires of the -troops, he sat in his tent to obtain that information which was destined -to lead to such great and decisive plans. See him, as he sits there, -with his eyes keenly fixed upon the papers, and an occasional smile -lighting up his features of bronze! He learns the calamities which have -visited the armies of France, and then the smile is turned to a terrible -frown, and he exclaims, passionately, - -“The imbeciles! the imbeciles! Why was I not there?” - -He perused the accounts of the overthrow of the French armies in Italy -and Germany; he saw that all that he had gained for France, had been -lost; he knew that these disasters would not have occurred if he had -retained a European command; and he felt more strongly than ever that he -was destined to retrieve the condition of affairs, to bind victory once -more to the tri-color standard. Perhaps, also, his mind perceived the -opportunity for gratifying the aspirations of a selfish ambition, and -that this perception caused the frown to melt once more into a smile—a -smile of triumph. He saw that the disasters attending the French arms -had rendered the Directory unpopular, and that power was within the -reach of any bold, decisive man, who would dare to attempt the overthrow -of that government; and he had faith enough in himself to decide that he -was the very man for the crisis. Long he read, and long he pondered. -Cæsar deliberated upon the banks of the Rubicon. At length he started -up. The die was cast. He would return to France and strike for the -supreme authority. Having once decided upon his movements, no man could -have taken his measures with more promptitude. He resolved to sail -secretly for Europe. He wrote a dispatch to Admiral Gantheaume, -directing him to get the Muiron and Carrere frigates ready for sea. He -determined that as Kleber was very popular with the army, that general -should be left in command. There could be no doubt of Klebers vigor, -activity and skill. Bonaparte then sat down, and, with astonishing -rapidity and precision, drew up a long list of instructions for the new -commander-in-chief. He then sent word to Berthier, Lannes, Murat, -Andreossy, Marmont, Berthollet, and Monge, that he wished to see them in -his tent. It was late. But they came, without exception, at his summons. -Kleber and Menou were then at Cairo, or they, also, would have been -invited to this important conference. In a few words, Bonaparte -communicated his sudden resolution to those officers he had assembled -around him. They were surprised, but when he told them that he wished -them to go with him, they were glad; for in spite of the glory achieved -in Egypt, they were anxious to return to France. Berthier had been -suffering for some time from depression of spirits, owing to a long -standing matrimonial engagement; and he fairly leaped from his seat when -he heard of the intention of the general-in-chief. Monge, that -circumspect votary of science, hinted that there was the greatest danger -of the whole party being captured by the English cruisers, which were -exceedingly vigilant in the Mediterranean. The only reply was the brief -and emphatic “I must incur the risk.” The officers cast significant -glances at each other, but it was extremely doubtful if they fathomed -his designs. - -“I have received ill news from Europe, my friends,” said Bonaparte, -toning over his papers, and seemingly attending to several matters at -once. “The Austrians and Muscovites have gained the superiority. That -which we won with so much toil has been lost, and France is threatened -with the invasion of her territory. We are wanted in Europe, and in -spite of winds, waves, and English cruisers, we must go thither.” - -Soon afterwards the conference was broken up, and the general-in-chief -was again alone in his tent—nay, not alone, for the images of ambition -were fast crowding around him, and they were companions whom he valued -more than the ordinary human realities of the camp. And there this -all-daring, all-achieving soldier sat till the peep of day, perfecting -his plans, the ultimate reach of which was a throne above thrones; for -it was his habit of mind never to form a design which did not extend to -the farthest point. In war, it was the conquest of a world at which he -aimed; in politics, consul nor king could satisfy the cravings of his -soul—he would be an emperor. Doubtless, his Rubicon was at Aboukir, and -there the die was cast which determined him to be master of France. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - CAMP-FIRE IN THE VALLEY OF AOSTA. - - -We are now to behold Bonaparte as First Consul of France—as the -successful rival of the Carthagenian Hannibal in the prodigious exploit -of leading an army over the lofty and wintry Alps—and as the conqueror -of his old enemies the Austrians. - -The time was May, 1800. At Paris, Bonaparte had formed the plan of the -most astonishing of his campaigns, with a precision so wonderful that it -pointed to the very spot on which the decisive battle should be fought. -While the intrepid Massena defended Genoa with unwearied energy, and -Moreau engaged the attention of the Austrians on the line of the Danube, -the First Consul had created a third army, caused the passes of the Alps -to be explored, determined to take that of the Great St. Bernard, and -achieved the passage as far as the vale of Aosta, where an unexpected -obstacle was found in the fortress of Bard. - -The valley of Aosta is traversed by a river which receives all the -waters of the St. Bernard, and carries them into the Po, under the name -of Dora-Baltea. As it approaches Bard, the valley narrows; the road -lying between the base of the mountains and the bed of the river becomes -gradually more contracted, until at length, a rock, which seems to have -fallen from the neighboring crags into the middle of the valley, almost -entirely blocks it. The river then runs on one side of the rock, and the -road proceeds on the other. This road lined with houses composes all the -town of Bard. On the top of the rock stands a fort, impregnable by its -position, though ill-constructed, which sweeps with its fire, on the -right, the whole course of the Dora-Baltea, and on the left, the long -street forming the little town of Bard. Drawbridges close the entrance -and the outlet of this single street. A garrison, small in number, but -well commanded, occupied this fort. - -The brave and persevering Lannes commanded the advanced division of the -French. He was not a man to be easily stopped. He immediately put -forward a few companies of grenadiers, who broke down the drawbridge, -and, in the face of a sweeping fire, entered Bard. The commandant of the -fort then poured a storm of shot and shell upon the town, but was soon -induced to cease, by a feeling of compassion for the inhabitants. Lannes -stationed his division out of the town and under cover; but it was -impossible to pass the materiel of the army under the fire of the fort. -He then reported to General Berthier, who, coming up, was dismayed at -the unexpected obstacle. General Marescot, the skilful engineer of the -army, was then brought forward. - -He examined the fort, and declared it nearly impregnable, not on account -of its construction, which was indifferent, but from its position, which -was entirely isolated. The escarpment of the rock did not admit -escalading, and the walls, though not covered by an embankment, could -not be battered in breach, as there was no possibility of establishing a -battery in a position suitable for breaching them. Nevertheless, it was -possible, by strength of arm, to hoist a few guns of small calibre to -the top of the neighboring heights. Berthier gave orders to this end. -The soldiers, who were used to the most difficult undertakings, went to -work eagerly to hoist up two four-pounders, and even two eight-pounders. -These they in fact succeeded in elevating to the mountain of Albaredo, -which overlooks the rock and fort of Bard; and a plunging fire, suddenly -opened, greatly surprised the garrison, which, nevertheless, did not -lose courage, but replied, and soon dismounted one of the guns, which -were of too feeble a calibre to be useful. - -Marescot declared that there was no hope of taking the fort, and that -some other means must be devised for overcoming this obstruction. -Berthier, in great alarm, instantly counter-ordered all the columns as -they successively came up; suspended the march of the men and the -artillery all along the line, in order to prevent them from involving -themselves further, should it be necessary, after all, to retreat. An -instant panic circulated to the rear, and all the men thought themselves -arrested in this glorious enterprise. Berthier sent courier after -courier to the First Consul, to inform him of this unexpected -disappointment. - -The latter tarried still at Martigny, not meaning to pass over the St. -Bernard, until he had seen, with his own eyes, the last of the artillery -sent forward. But this announcement of an obstacle, considered -insurmountable at first, made a terrible impression on him; but he -recovered quickly, and refused positively to admit the possibility of a -retreat. Nothing in the world should reduce him to such an extremity. He -thought that, if one of the loftiest mountains in the world had failed -to arrest his progress, a secondary rock could not be capable of -vanquishing his courage and his genius. The fort, said he to himself, -might be taken by bold courage; if it could not be taken, it still could -be turned. Besides, if the infantry and the cavalry could pass by it, -with but a few four-pounders, they could then proceed to Ivrea at the -mouth of the gorge, and wait until their heavy guns could follow them. -And if the heavy guns could not pass by the obstacle which had arisen; -and if, in order to get any, that of the enemy must be taken, the French -infantry were brave and numerous enough to assail the Austrians and take -their cannon. Moreover, he studied his maps again and again, questioned -a number of Italian officers; and learning from these that many other -roads led from Aosta to the neighboring valleys, he wrote letter after -letter to Berthier, forbidding him to stop the progress of the army, and -pointing out to him, with wonderful precision, what reconnoissances -should be made around the fort of Bard. He would not allow himself to -see any serious danger, except from the arrival of a hostile corps, -shutting up the debouch of Ivrea; he instructed Berthier to send Lannes -as far as Ivrea, by the path of Albaredo, and make him take a stronger -position there, which should be safe from the Austrian artillery and -cavalry. When Lannes guards the entrance of the valley, added the First -Consul, whatever may happen, it is of little consequence, the only -result may be a loss of time. We have enough provisions to subsist -ourselves awhile, and one way or other we shall succeed in avoiding or -overcoming the obstacles which now delay us. - -These instructions having been sent to Berthier, he addressed his last -orders to General Moncey, who should debouch by the St. Gothard; to -General Chabran, who should come down by the Little St. Bernard, -directly in front of the fort of Bard; and then, at last, resolved to -cross the Alps in person. Before he set forth, he received news from the -Var, informing him that on the 14th of May—the 24th of Floreal—the Baron -de Melas was still at Nice. As it was now the 20th of May, it could not -reasonably be supposed, that the Austrian general, in the space of six -days, could have marched from Nice to Ivrea. It was then on the 20th of -May, before daylight, that he set out to pass the defile. His -aid-de-camp Duroc, and his secretary Bourrienne, accompanied him. - -Behold him now ascending the rugged and difficult St. Bernard, the rocks -and precipices around him, and above, the towering summits of perpetual -snow! He is mounted on a mule, conducted by a young, hardy mountaineer. -The grey great coat, which he always wore during his campaigns of -sleepless activity, is buttoned closely around him. His cheeks are -fuller than when we saw him in Egypt; but he has the same pale, olive -complexion, the same firm-set mouth, the same steady, piercing eyes, and -the same air of constant thought. Occasionally he turns to address a -remark to Duroc or Bourrienne; and he has many questions to ask of those -officers he meets upon the road. But, strange to say, he converses the -longest with that simple-hearted mountaineer who leads his mule. The -young guide unrolls his little catalogue of troubles, to which the First -Consul listens as he would to a pastoral romance. The great man learns -that the mountaineer is much grieved, because, for want of a little -money, he is unable to marry one of the maidens of the valley who has -won his heart. Thus proceeding, the party at length arrived at the -monastery of St. Bernard, where the benevolent monks displayed much -pleasure at seeing the illustrious general. He alighted; but before he -partook of any refreshment, he wrote a brief note, which he handed to -his guide, and told him to give it without delay to the administrator of -the army, who had remained on the other side of the St. Bernard. In the -evening, when the young mountaineer reached St. Pierre, he learned how -great a person he had conducted, and also that the First Consul had -given him a house and a field, as the means of marrying the girl of his -heart. A delightful pastoral episode in the great warrior’s stormy -career. - -Bonaparte halted a short time with the monks, thanked them for the care -shown to his troops, made them a noble gift, and then pursued his route. -The descent of St. Bernard was made very rapidly, the First Consul -descending on a sledge, which glided down the glacier with almost -fearful swiftness. The party arrived the same evening at Etroubles. The -following morning, having spent some time in examining the park of -artillery and the provisions, he started for Aosta and Bard. - -The night of the 23d of May was clear, bright and cold, in the valley of -Aosta. Just beyond the town of Bard—a long, narrow line of old, -picturesque houses—were encamped the troops of Lannes’s division, the -line of the encampment being indicated by the watch-fires. In front of -the large tent which had been erected as the quarters of the First -Consul, stood Bonaparte, Berthier, Marescot, Lannes, Duroc, and -Bourrienne. Marescot stood next to the illustrious commander-in-chief, -who was examining the fort and its surroundings with a glass. - -“The report was perfectly correct; that is a serious obstacle,” said the -First Consul. “But I have no doubt that we, who surmounted the -difficulties of the St. Bernard, will conquer this rocky position, -either by taking or turning it.” - -“The only hope of capturing the fort, is by an escalade, on the outer -ramparts, as you will perceive,” remarked Marescot. - -“True, we can place a battery on the heights of Albaredo; but that will -produce but little effect,” replied Bonaparte. - -“The fire of the fort sweeps the whole course of the river, and that -long street of the town,” observed Berthier. - -“We have made reconnoissances to the left, along the sinuous flanks of -the Albaredo mountain, and found a path, which through vast dangers, -more terrible than those of the St. Bernard, rejoins the great road -below the fort at St. Donaz,” said Marescot. - -“Can it be made practicable for infantry, cavalry, and a few light -guns?” quickly inquired Bonaparte. - -“I think it can. With about fifteen hundred workmen, it could soon be -greatly altered,” replied Marescot. - -“Enough; you shall have the workmen, and the infantry, cavalry, and -four-pounders shall be sent by that road,” said the First Consul, -decisively. - -“The artillery horses may be sent by the same road, and the only -remaining difficulty will be to get the heavy guns along beyond this -fort,” remarked Duroc. - -A short time previous, the officers of the advanced division had been -appalled by an unexpected obstruction. But difficulties of all kinds -seemed to vanish before the First Consul’s burning faith in possibility. -No thought of retreat was now entertained. - -“Come in, Marescot, and Bourrienne. Generals, you shall hear from me -either in the course of the night, or at dawn,” said Bonaparte, and he -entered his tent, followed by Marescot and Bourrienne. Lannes and Duroc -followed General Berthier to his tent, where they were soon seated and -engaged in conversation. - -“Come, Lannes, as this is the first time we have met since we were at -Dijon, let us know the particulars of your march over Mount St. -Bernard,” said Duroc. - -Lannes was much better fitted for doing a great thing than giving an -account of it, and it required a short period of hard thinking to bring -his ideas to the proper point. However, he commenced. - -“The march was no exploit of which an officer should boast. You saw that -I had under my command six regiments of excellent troops—there are none -better in the army. To them belongs all the glory; for they were heavily -laden with provisions and ammunition, and their task was one of great -difficulty and hardship. We started from St. Pierre, about midnight, in -order to get over the mountain before the period of danger from tumbling -avalanches. We calculated it would require eight hours to reach the -summit of the pass, and two hours to descend to St. Remy. The troops -went to their work in high spirits. Burdened as they were, they scaled -the craggy paths, singing among the precipices, and talking gaily, as if -they were certain they were marching to new victories in Italy. The -labor of the foot soldiers was not near so great as that of the cavalry. -The horsemen marched on foot, leading their animals. In this, there was -no danger while ascending; but when they came to the descent, the -narrowness of the paths obliged each man to walk before his horse, so -that each was exposed at each tumble of his animal to be dragged -headlong down a precipice.” - -“Did any of the men perish in that way?” inquired Duroc. - -“Yes, several,” replied Lannes, “and about a dozen horses. The horse is -not a sure-footed animal. Near daybreak, we arrived at the hospital, -where the First Consul had ordered the monks to provide an agreeable -surprise for the troops, in the shape of refreshment. Every soldier -received a ration of bread, cheese, and wine. We did not stop longer -than was required to dispatch this breakfast, and pursuing our march, we -reached St. Remy, without any other accidents than those I have -mentioned. While the other divisions of the army were advancing, I -received orders from the First Consul to push forward to Aosta, then to -Ivrea, and by taking that town, secure the entrance to the plains of -Piedmont. On the 16th and 17th, I marched upon Aosta. There I found some -Croatians, whom I drove down the valley. I reached Chatillon on the -18th, and routed a battalion of the enemy found there, capturing a -goodly number of them. I then marched on down the valley, thinking that -I would soon be upon the fertile plains of Italy, when this confounded -fort suddenly appeared, and checked my march.” - -“We have had a difficult task upon the other side of the mountain,” said -Duroc. “You know that it was arranged that each day one division of the -army should pass over. The materiel had to be transported with each -division. The provisions and the ammunition were easily sent forward, -for they could be divided into small packages. But the heavier articles -which could not be divided and reduced, caused us a vast amount of -trouble. In spite of the liberal expenditure of money, a sufficient -number of mules could not be obtained. The transportation of the -artillery was the most difficult task of all. - -“The gun-carriages and caissons had been dismounted, and loaded on the -backs of mules. The cannon themselves yet remained. For the twelve -pounders and howitzers, the difficulty was much greater than was at -first supposed. The sledges with rollers, which had been constructed in -the arsenals, were wholly useless. Another mode was suggested, and -immediately adopted; and it proved successful. This was to split pine -trunks into two parts, hollow them out, secure a gun between them, and -drag the pieces thus protected along the slippery ravines. Thanks to -wise precautions, no shock could occur to injure them. Mules were -attached to these strange loads, and succeeded in bringing a few pieces -to the top of the defile. But the descent was more difficult: it was -only to be achieved by manual exertion, and by incurring imminent risk; -as the pieces had to be restrained and checked from rolling down the -precipices. Unfortunately, at this juncture, the mules began to fail; -the muleteers, too, who were now required in great numbers, became -exhausted, and in consequence fresh means must be resorted to. A price -as high as a thousand francs was offered to the neighboring peasants, -for dragging a gun from St. Pierre to St. Remy. One hundred men were -required for one cannon, one day to bring it up, and one day to let it -down. Several hundred peasants presented themselves, and, under the -direction of artillerists, transported a few pieces. - -“But not even the allurement of such gain could induce them to maintain -this effort. All disappeared ere long, and although officers were sent -out to seek them, lavishing money, so as to bring them back, it was in -vain; and it became necessary to call on the soldiers of the several -divisions to drag their own artillery themselves. It seemed that nothing -could be asked, too arduous, of these devoted soldiers. The money which -the exhausted peasants would no longer earn, was offered as a stimulus; -but they refused it to a man, exclaiming that it was a point of honor -for all troops to save their cannon; and they took charge of the -abandoned pieces. Parties, each of a hundred men, leaving the ranks -successively, dragged them, each in their turn. Their bands struck up -lively tunes in the more difficult defiles, and animated them to -surmount these novel obstacles. Arrived at the mountain top, they found -refreshments prepared for them by the monks, and took some brief repose, -as a preparation for greater and more perilous efforts to be exerted in -descending. Thus the divisions of Chambarlhac and Monnier were seen -toiling at their own artillery; and as the advanced hour of the day did -not permit them to descend, they preferred bivouacking in the snow, to -abandoning their cannon. Fortunately the sky was clear; nor had they to -endure bad weather, in addition to the hard toils of the way.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: BONAPARTE AS FIRST CONSUL.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -“I am aware of much that you have been telling us,” said Berthier, -“having been unceasingly employed in receiving the stores, and -superintending the artillery mounted again. The troops have fully -communicated their toils and sufferings, but they have borne up under -them with astonishing courage and fortitude. Their faithful performance -of duty has enabled the First Consul to execute a grand campaign, which -places him above all the generals of antiquity.” - -“The campaign is not yet decided. We must fight at least one great -battle, and the prospect is not favorable to our getting near the -Austrians in time to take them by surprise,” said Lannes. - -“I think not,” replied Duroc. “The First Consul will either take or turn -this fort within a few days at the farthest. I have no doubt of it—and -the Austrians will be as much astonished as if we had dropped from the -clouds. The campaign will cover us with glory.” - -Here Bourrienne entered the tent, and communicated to the generals the -plan which the First Consul had formed, which was as follows: - -He resolved to make his infantry, cavalry, and the four-pounders, -proceed by the path of Albaredo, which would be possible, after repairs. -All the troops should be sent to take possession of the outlets of the -mountains before Ivrea; and the First Consul, meanwhile, would attempt -an attack on the fort, or find some means of avoiding its obstruction, -by sending his artillery through one of the neighboring defiles. He -ordered General Lecchi, commanding the Italians, to proceed on the left, -advancing by the road to Grassoney in the valley of the Sesia, which -extended to the Simplon and the Lago Maggiore. This movement was -intended to clear the road of the Simplon, to form a junction with the -detachment which was coming down it, and lastly to examine all the paths -practicable to wheeled carriages. - -After some further conversation, the generals separated for the night. - -The next day, it was apparent that the conqueror of Italy was present, -and among the French. All was activity and resolution. The First Consul -directed his mind to the fort of Bard. - -The single street, which composed this town, was in possession of the -French, but only passable, if passable at all, under such a storm of -fire as would make it impossible to move artillery that way, even if the -distance had been only five or six hundred yards. The commandant was -summoned; but replied, with the firmness of a man who appreciated fully -the importance of the post intrusted to his courage. Force, therefore, -alone, could make them masters of the passage. The artillery, which had -been placed in battery on the heights of Albaredo, produced no great -effect; an escalade was attempted on the outer ramparts of the fort; but -some brave grenadiers and an excellent officer, Dufour, were killed or -wounded to no purpose. At this time the troops were defiling by the path -of Albaredo; for fifteen hundred workmen had wrought the necessary -repairs on it. Places that were too narrow they had enlarged by mounds -of the earth; declivities too sudden they had eased, by cutting steps -for the feet; trunks of trees they had thrown across other places, to -form bridges over ravines, which were too broad to be leaped. - -The army defiled man by man in succession, the cavaliers leading their -horses by the bridles. The Austrian officer commanding in the fort of -Bard, seeing the columns thus march past, was in despair that he could -not stop their progress; he, therefore, sent a message to M. de Melas, -informing him that he had seen the passage of a whole army of infantry -and cavalry, without having any means to prevent it; but pledged his -head that they should arrive without a single piece of cannon. During -this time, the artillerymen made one of the boldest of attempts. This -was, under the cloud of night, to carry a piece of cannon under the very -fire of the fort. Unfortunately, the enemy, aroused by the noise, threw -down fire-pots, which made the whole road light as day, enabling him by -that means to sweep it with a hail-storm of deadly missiles. Out of -thirteen gunners who had run the risk of taking this piece forward, -seven were killed or wounded. There was in that enough to discourage -hardy spirits; yet it was not long ere another way, ingenious, but still -very perilous, was devised. The street was strewn with straw and litter; -tow was fastened around all the cannon, to prevent the slightest -resonance of those huge metallic masses on their carriages; the horses -were taken out, and the bold artillerists, dragging them with their own -hands, were so daring as to carry them under the batteries of the fort, -along the street of Bard. These means succeeded to perfection. The -enemy, who occasionally fired as a precaution, wounded a few of the -gunners; but soon, in spite of this fire, all the heavy artillery was -transported through the defile; and this formidable obstruction, which -had given the First Consul more anxiety than the St. Bernard itself, was -now entirely overcome. - -The Alps were passed, and victory already hovered over the banner of -Bonaparte. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT MARENGO. - - -The victory of Marengo was the crowning glory of a campaign unsurpassed -in the annals of war, as regards the display of daring genius and -profound combination. It was a stroke which changed the face of affairs -in Europe, and raised the conqueror to the imperial height of his -ambition. - -The immense plain of Marengo extends between the Scrivia and the -Bormida. In this place, the Po retreats from the Appenine, and leaves a -vast space, across which the Bormida and the Tanaro roll their waters, -now become less rapid, till meeting near Alessandria, they flow on -together into the bed of the Po. The road, leading along the foot of the -Appenines to Tortona, departs from it abreast of this place, turns to -the right, passes the Scrivia, and opens into a vast plain. The stream -it crosses at a first village, called San Giuliano, runs forward to a -second, named Marengo, and at length crosses the Bormida, and terminates -at the celebrated fortress of Alessandria. - -On the 13th of June, 1800, that army which had surmounted the crags and -snows of the Alps, debouched into the plain. Here Bonaparte expected to -find the Austrians; but his cavalry scoured the plain without finding a -single corps, and the First Consul then concluded that Melas had -escaped. He then ordered the wise and valiant Desaix, who had joined him -a few days previous, to march upon Rivolta and Novi with a single -division, that of Boudet, in order to check Melas, if he had gone from -Alessandria to Genoa. But the division of Monnier, which was Desaix’s -second, he retained at head-quarters. Victor was left at the town of -Marengo, with two divisions; Lannes, the indomitable Lannes, fresh from -the glorious field of Montebello, was left with one division on the -plain, and Murat, with his cavalry, was retained at the side of the -general-in-chief, with the splendid Consular Guard. - -But the First Consul had been deceived. Melas had not escaped; he -expected to fight at Marengo, and had adopted measures to advance upon -the French army. - -The French, marching from Placentia and the Scrivia, would first come -upon San Giuliano, and afterward, at three quarters of a league farther, -upon Marengo, which almost touches the Bormida, and forms the principal -outlet which the Austrian army had to conquer, in order to issue from -Alessandria. Between San Giuliano and Marengo extends, in a right line, -the road which was to be disputed; and on each side, wide spreads the -plain covered with fields of wheat and vineyards. Below Marengo, to the -right of the French, and left of the Austrians, lay Castel-Ceriolo, a -large borough, through which General Ott intended to pass, in order to -turn the corps of General Victor, stationed in Marengo. It was, -therefore, upon Marengo that the principal attack of the Austrians would -be directed, as this village commanded the entrance of the plain. - -At day-break, the Austrian army passed the two bridges of the Bormida. -But its movement was slow, because it had but one bridge-head, from -which to debouch. O’Reilly passed first, and encountered the division of -Gardanne, which General Victor, after having occupied Marengo, had led -forward. This division was formed only of the 101st and 44th -demi-brigades. O’Reilly, supported by a numerous artillery, and with -double the force of his opponent, compelled him to fall back, and shut -himself up in Marengo. Fortunately, he did not throw himself into the -place after him, but waited till the centre, under General Haddick, -should come to his support. The slowness of their march across the -defile formed by the bridges, cost the Austrians two or three hours. At -length Generals Haddick and Kaim deployed their forces in the rear of -O’Reilly, and General Ott passed the same bridges on his way to -Castel-Ceriolo. - -Thus commenced the great battle of Marengo. The advance, under Gardanne, -was obliged to fall back upon Victor. Victor held his position during -two hours against the enormous force opposed to him. He was obliged to -vacate Marengo, but retook it; and this occurred twice or thrice. -Napoleon now ordered Lannes to advance to the support of Victor; but -after a long and obstinate contest, the cavalry of Elsnitz suddenly -appeared upon the right of Lannes, and both lines were compelled to -retreat. The Austrians had fought the battle admirably. The infantry had -opened an attack on every point of the French line, while the cavalry -debouched across the bridge which the French had failed to destroy, and -assailed the right of their army with such fury and rapidity, that it -was thrown into complete disorder. The attack was successful every -where; the centre of the French was penetrated, the left routed, and -another desperate charge of the cavalry would have terminated the -battle. The order for this, however, was not given; but the retreating -French were still in the utmost peril. Napoleon had been collecting -reserves between Garafolo and Marengo, and now sent orders for his army -to retreat towards these reserves, and rally round his guard, which he -stationed in the rear of the village of Marengo, and placed himself at -their head. The soldiers could all see the First Consul, with his staff, -surrounded by the two hundred grenadiers of the guard, in the midst of -the immense plain. The sight revived their hopes. The right wing, under -Lannes, quickly rallied; the centre, reinforced by the scattered troops -of the left, recovered its strength; the left wing no longer existed; -its scattered remains fled in disorder, pursued by the Austrians. The -battle continued to rage, and was obstinately disputed; but the main -body of the French army, which still remained in order of battle, was -continually, though very slowly, retreating, The First Consul had now -dispatched his aid-de-camp, Bruyere, to Desaix, with an urgent message -to hasten to the field of battle. Desaix, on his part, had been arrested -in his march upon Novi, by the repeated discharges of distant artillery: -he had in consequence made a halt, and dispatched Savary, then his -aid-de-camp, with a body of fifty horse, to gallop with all possible -haste to Novi, and ascertain the state of affairs there, according to -the orders of the First Consul, while he kept his division fresh and -ready for action. Savary found all quiet at Novi; and returning to -Desaix, after the lapse of about two hours, with this intelligence, was -next sent to the First Consul. He spurred his horse across the country, -in the direction of the fire and smoke, and fortunately met Bruyere, who -was taking the same short cut to find Desaix. Giving him the necessary -directions, Savary hastened to the First Consul. He found him in the -midst of his guard, who stood their ground, on the field of battle; -forming a solid body in the face of the enemy’s fire, the dismounted -grenadiers stationed in front, and the place of each man who fell being -instantly supplied from the ranks behind. Maps were spread open before -Napoleon: he was planning the movement which decided the action. Savary -made his report, and told him of Desaix’s position. “At what hour did -you leave him?” said the First Consul, pulling out his watch. Having -been informed, he continued, “Well, he cannot be far off; go, and tell -him to form in that direction (pointing with his hand to a particular -spot:) let him quit the main road, and make way for all those wounded -men, who would only embarrass him, and perhaps draw his own soldiers -after them.” It was now three o’clock in the afternoon. - -The aged Melas, believing the victory his own, had retired from the -field, and left General Zach in command. At this critical moment, the -division of Desaix appeared upon the plain. Outstripping the troops, -this glorious lieutenant galloped up to the First Consul. He said the -battle was lost, but there was yet time to gain another. Bonaparte -immediately set about availing himself of the resources brought up by -his beloved general. - -Desaix’s three demi-brigades were formed in front of San-Giuliano, a -little way to the right of the main road. The 30th deployed in line, the -9th and 59th in close column, on the wings of the former. A slight -undulation of ground concealed them from the enemy. On the right, -rallying and somewhat recovered, were the shattered relics of -Chambarlhac’s and Gardanne’s divisions under General Victor. To their -right, in the plain, Lannes, whose retreat had been stopped; next to him -the Consular Guard, and next again to that, Carra Saint-Cyr, who had -maintained himself as near as possible to Castel-Ceriolo. In this -position the army formed a long oblique line, from San-Giuliano to -Castel-Ceriolo. In an interval between Desaix and Lannes, but somewhat -more in the rear, was stationed Kellerman, with his cavalry. A battery -of twelve pieces, the sole remains of the whole artillery of the army, -was spread out in front of Desaix’s line. - -These dispositions made, the First Consul passed on horseback along the -lines of his soldiers, speaking to several corps. “My friends,” said he -to them, “you have retreated far enough; recollect that I am in the -habit of sleeping on the field of battle.” After having re-animated his -troops, who were re-assured by the arrival of their reserves, and -burning to avenge the events of the morning, he gave the signal. The -charge was beaten along the whole length of the lines. - -The Austrians, who were rather in order of march than of battle, kept -the high road. The column directed by M. de Zach came first; a little -behind it came the centre, half deployed on the plain and facing Lannes. -General Marmont suddenly unmasked his twelve pieces of cannon. A heavy -discharge of grape-shot fell upon the head of the column, which was -completely taken by surprise, and suspecting nothing less than further -resistance, for they thought the French decidedly on their retreat. They -had not yet recovered from their surprise, when Desaix put the 9th light -infantry in movement. “Go and inform the First Consul,” said he, to his -aid-de-camp, Savary, “that I am charging, and that I must be supported -by the cavalry.” Desaix, on horseback, charged in person at the head of -his demi-brigade. He led it over the slight inequality of ground which -concealed him from the view of the Austrians, and made them aware of his -presence by a discharge of musketry at point blank distance. The -Austrians poured in an answering volley; and Desaix fell on the instant, -pierced by a bullet in the breast. “Conceal my death,” said he to -General Boudet, who was his chief of division, for it might, he thought, -produce a panic among his men. Useless precaution of the young hero. He -was seen to fall, and his soldiers, like those of Turenne, clamorously -demanded to be led forward to avenge the death of their leader. The 9th -light infantry, which on that day gained for itself the title of “_The -Incomparable_,” a distinction which it bore to the conclusion of the -war; the 9th light infantry, after pouring its fire upon the enemy, -formed in column, and fell upon the deep mass of the Austrians. At the -sight, the two first regiments that led the march, surprised and -confounded, fell back in disorder upon the second line, and disappeared -amidst its ranks. Lattermann’s column of grenadiers were now at the -head, and received the shock as chosen troops might be expected to -receive it. They were firm. The struggle extended to the two sides of -the main road. The 9th light infantry was supported to the right by -Victor’s troops, which had rallied; to the left, by the 30th and 59th -demi-brigades of Boudet’s division, which followed the movement. -Lattermann’s grenadiers were defending themselves stoutly, though hard -pressed, when suddenly a storm burst on their heads. General Kellermann, -who, at the instance of Desaix, had received orders to charge, set off -at full gallop, and passing between Lannes and Desaix, placed part of -his squadron _en potence_ to make head against the Austrian cavalry, -whom he saw before him, and then, with the remainder, threw himself on -the flank of the column of grenadiers, already assailed in front by -Boudet’s infantry. By this charge, which was executed with extraordinary -vigor, the column was cut in two. Kellermann’s dragoons sabred it to the -right and left, till, pressed on every side, the unfortunate grenadiers -threw down their arms. Two thousand of them surrendered themselves -prisoners. At their head, General Zach himself was compelled to give up -his sword, and in this manner the Austrians were deprived of any leader -until the battle ended. But Kellermann did not stop here; he dashed on -the dragoons of Lichtenstein and broke them! These recoiled in disorder -on the centre of the Austrians, as it was forming in the plain, in front -of Lannes, and there caused some confusion. At this moment Lannes -advanced, pressed vigorously on the Austrians’ centre, which was shaken, -while the grenadiers of the Consular Guard and of Carra Saint-Cyr again -bore down upon Castel-Ceriolo, from which they were not far distant. -Along the whole line from San-Giuliano to Castel-Ceriolo, the French had -now resumed the offensive; they marched forward, drunk with joy and -enthusiasm, at seeing the victory again returning to their hands. -Surprise and discouragement had passed to the side of the Austrians. - -From the Giuliano to Castel-Ceriolo, the oblique line of the French -advancing at charging pace, pushed the enemy back, and compelled them to -strive to escape by way of the bridges over the Bormida. - -The slaughter of the Austrians was dreadful. Their army was thus thrown -into the utmost confusion in a moment; and the victory, which had seemed -quite secure to them at three o’clock, was completely won by the French -at six. The pursuit continued far into the night, the mixed deaths and -mangling upon the dark bridges being one confused and crowded horror; -while the whole of the Austrians who had remained on the left bank were -taken prisoners, or driven with headlong devastation into the Bormida. -The waters ran a deep red with the blood of horses and of men, and -presented in some parts a clotted surface of their mangled remains. -Several entire battalions surrendered at discretion, and General Zach -and all his staff were made prisoners. - -The greater part of the French army encamped on the field of battle. - -It was now about seven o’clock in the evening. The storm of conflict was -hushed; but the ghastly burden of the field was revealed in all its -horror by the glare of the watch-fires, and the light of the moon. The -mangled dead were lying in heaps where the struggle had been most -desperate; and the Bormida was a river of blood. Near the village of San -Giuliano, a single officer could be seen walking among the bodies of the -slain, leading his horse. For some time it seemed as if his search would -be vain. Many of the bodies had been completely stripped by the enemy, -and their features were mangled so that it was almost impossible to -recognise them. Suddenly, however, Savary halted. In the midst of a -circle of bodies, was stretched the manly form of Desaix, which the -aid-de-camp recognised by the long, flowing hair which fell upon the -neck, and the noble expression of the countenance, which had not altered -in the agonies of death. The young man knelt down and wept over that -form, like a child; for he had learned to look up to the heroic general -as a father. He loved Desaix with that noble devotion which only the -highest qualities can excite, and which is so admirable as to make us -proud of our human nature. Savary gave free vent to his grief, and then, -wrapping his cloak around the body, he lifted it upon his horse, and -slowly returned with it to head-quarters. As he passed the watch-fires, -the troops, who were in the highest spirits in consequence of the -unexpected victory, recognised the body of Desaix, ceased their talk, -and respectfully uncovered. At length, Savary brought his melancholy -burden to the head-quarters of General Bonaparte, at Torre-di-Garofolo. -Leaving the body in charge of some soldiers, he entered the old mansion, -which had been selected for head-quarters, and was ushered into the -presence of the First Consul. Bonaparte was seated amidst his principal -officers, talking over the thrilling incidents of the day, and -complimenting those who had particularly distinguished themselves, and -there was scarcely one who did not bear sanguine marks of the fight. - -“Your business, sir?” said Bonaparte, as Savary appeared. - -“Your excellency, I have found the body of General Desaix, and brought -it here to await your orders.” - -“Ah! Desaix!” interrupted Bonaparte in a tone full of sad feeling. He -then appeared to indulge in mournful reflection, and there was a silence -of a few minutes. He then continued, “This victory would have been, -indeed, glorious, could I this evening embrace Desaix. I was going to -make him a minister of war. I would have made him a prince, had I been -able. As mild and modest in manners as he was firm and heroic in battle, -he deserves a monument from France. You, and Rapp, are faithful aids.” - -“General Desaix was our father,” said Savary. - -“I will take you both for my aids.” - -This Savary was afterwards Duke of Rovigo. He was faithful to Napoleon -to the end, and General Rapp deserves the same praise. - -The First Consul now gave directions to Savary as to the immediate -disposal of the body of Desaix. He designed that it should be embalmed -as soon as possible, and placed in a fitting sarcophagus. Having -received full and accurate directions, Savary retired. - -“Most of you will recollect the critical position of affairs when Desaix -arrived on the field,” said the First Consul. “His coming was a happy -thought. You all know the worth of his opinion. You drew around him and -informed him of the events of the day. Yet most of you advised a -retreat. I demurred, and asked the counsel of General Desaix. He cast -his eye over the field, and then, taking out his watch and looking at -the hour, replied, ‘Yes, the battle is completely lost; but it is only -three o’clock. There is yet time to gain another.’ These words -encouraged me, and I immediately ordered those movements which gave us -the victory. What is the loss of the enemy, according to your estimate, -M. de Bourrienne?” - -“In my opinion, they have lost about one-third of their army, which, -before the battle, consisted of about twenty-eight thousand men. Besides -that, General Haddick is killed, and a large number of their best -generals are disabled by severe wounds. General Zach is a prisoner,” -replied the secretary. - -“Aye; then they have paid a portion of their debt,” said Bonaparte. - -“But,” said Victor, “our staff has suffered also; Generals Mainomy, -Rivaud, Mahler, and Champeaux are wounded, and it is believed that -Champeaux has received his mortal stroke.” - -“We have lost about one-fourth of the army, estimating it at -twenty-eight thousand men,” observed Bourrienne. - -“But we have gained a great victory, and the Austrians are completely -prostrated,” said Bonaparte, quickly. “Let us now talk of our triumph. -Little Kellermann made a fine charge—he did it just at the right time—we -owe him much; see what trifles decide these affairs!” - -Just then, General Kellermann, a young-looking man, of short stature and -rather thin, but possessing a manly countenance, entered the room. -Strange to say, the First Consul immediately changed his tone. As the -gallant young general, whose charge had decided the day, approached the -table at which Bonaparte was writing, he said, coldly, “You made a -pretty good charge,” and as a set off to this coldness, he turned to -Bessieres, who commanded the horse grenadiers of the guard, and said to -him audibly, “Bessieres, the guard has covered itself with glory.” -Kellermann bit his lips, and his eyes flashed; but in spite of reports -to the contrary, he said nothing, and soon after retired from the room. -The reason of the treatment extended to him by the First Consul has -never been developed. It certainly does no credit to the -general-in-chief. Kellermann had charged with about five hundred heavy -cavalry. It was this handful of brave men who had cut in two the -Austrian column. The guard made no charge till night-fall. Yet -Kellermann was never raised to the rank of marshal. - -Turning to Lannes, who seemed suffering from fatigue, the First Consul -said, - -“You ought to be fatigued, General Lannes. Never were witnessed efforts -of bravery beyond those you have shown this day. I saw you, with your -four demi-brigades. The enemy poured a storm of grape from eighty pieces -of artillery upon your troops; yet you protracted your retreating fight -three-quarters of a league for two whole hours. Every battle adds to the -glory of the hero of Montebello.” - -Lannes was pleased at receiving praise from Bonaparte, who was the god -of his idolatry. Yet it was nothing more than his due. A short time -previous, he had defeated the Austrians at Montebello, in a long, -bloody, hand-to-hand struggle, against greatly superior numbers, and yet -he had almost surpassed the achievements of that desperate fight, when, -to use his own terrific expression, “the bones were cracking in his -division like hail upon a sky-light,” by his unparalleled retreat at -Marengo. - -“I knew that so long as I maintained the right,” said Lannes, “the army -preserved a sure line of retreat by Sale towards the banks of the Po. I -compelled the Austrians to fight, and lose a man for every inch of -ground. I blew up the caissons I could not bring off.” - -It was late when the generals retired to their respective quarters, to -sleep upon the laurels of Marengo. Even then the cavalry which had -pursued the enemy had not all returned. The vanquished were allowed no -repose. The First Consul slept but little that night. He knew that he -should hear from the enemy, the next morning, and sat up, with his -secretary Bourrienne, to fix upon the precise terms he should grant. He -was not mistaken. The watch-fires of the victorious French had not been -long extinguished, before Prince Lichtenstein, bearing a flag of truce, -reached head-quarters. Negotiations for a capitulation were commenced, -and the convention of Alessandria was signed on the 15th of June. - -It was agreed, in the first place, that there should be a suspension of -arms in Italy, until such time as an answer should be received from -Vienna. Should the convention be accepted, the Austrians were free to -retire, with the honors of war, beyond the line of the Mincio. They -bound themselves, in withdrawing, to restore to the French all the -strongholds which they occupied. The castles of Tortona, Alessandria, -Milan, Arona, and Placentia, were to be surrendered between the 16th and -20th of June—27th Prairial, and 1st of Messidor—the castles of Ceva and -Savona, the strongholds of Coni and Genoa, between the 16th and the -24th, and the fort of Urbia, on the 26th of June. The Austrian army was -to be divided into three columns, which were to withdraw one after the -other, and proportionally to the delivery of the strongholds. The -immense military stores accumulated by M. de Melas, in Italy, were to be -divided into two parts; the artillery of the Italian foundries was -granted to the French army; the artillery of the Austrian foundries to -the imperial army. The Imperialists, after having evacuated Lombardy as -far as the Mincio, were to fall back behind the following line:—the -Mincio, La Fossa, Maestra, the left bank of the Po, from Borgo-Forte to -the mouth of that river, on the Adriatic. Peschiera and Mantua were to -remain in possession of the Austrian army. It was stated, without -explanation, that the detachment of this army, then actually in Tuscany, -should continue to occupy that province. There could be no allusion -made, in this capitulation, to the States of the Pope, or those of the -King of Naples, because these potentates were strangers to the affairs -of upper Italy. Should this convention not receive the emperor’s -ratification, ten days’ notice was to be given of the resumption of -hostilities. In the meantime, no detachment on the one side or the -other, should be sent into Germany. - -It is said that the First Consul was strongly affected at the sight of -the field of Marengo, on which so many brave men had fallen. Under the -influence of these feelings he wrote a remarkable letter to the Emperor -of Austria. - -“It is on the field of battle,” said he to him, “amid the sufferings of -a multitude of wounded, and surrounded by fifteen thousand corpses, that -I beseech your majesty to listen to the voice of humanity, and not to -suffer two brave nations to cut each other’s throats for interests not -their own. It is my part to press this on your majesty, being upon the -very theatre of war. Your majesty’s heart cannot feel it so keenly as -does mine.” - -He then argued with peculiar eloquence for the cause of peace, and -fortunately the conqueror of Marengo could contend with much grace for -the restoration of tranquillity. He conquered the peace, and returned to -Paris, to receive the homage of an admiring populace, who were now -willing to concede to him the imperial crown. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT ULM. - - -Five years of peace, following the battle of Marengo, had enabled -Napoleon Bonaparte to do much for France, and more for his own -elevation. Under his wise and vigorous administration, the country made -wonderful progress. But the price she paid was first the Consulship for -Life, and finally the imperial crown. Napoleon now appears as Emperor of -France. His old brothers-in-arms, are Marshals. His beloved Josephine is -an Empress. Besides, he has cherished designs of placing his brothers -upon the thrones of Europe. Yet the man who has achieved all this -greatness, is only thirty-eight years of age. - -But now, (1805) the peace of Europe is again disturbed. The treaty of -Amiens is alleged by both parties to have been violated, and once more -vast armies traverse the fertile fields seeking for conflict. A -coalition against Napoleon has been formed by Great Britain, Austria, -and Russia. Napoleon has formed the plan of a campaign on a gigantic -scale, and has executed a part of the proposed scheme with a rapidity -and precision that has astonished the enemy. By a brilliant series of -manœuvres, he has completely surrounded the Austrian army, commanded -by General Mack, in the city of Ulm, (October 13.) In several great -actions, the French had already captured twenty thousand Austrian -troops, and Napoleon now has the satisfaction of knowing that thirty -thousand more are within his reach. - -On the 13th, Napoleon (who expected that Mack would rouse himself with -one last effort to avoid a surrender) made an exciting address to the -troops, on the bridge of the Lech, amid the most intense cold, the -ground being covered with snow, and the troops sunk to their knees in -mud. He warned them to expect a great battle, and explained to them the -desperate condition of the enemy. He was answered with acclamations, and -repeated shouts of “Vive l’Empereur.” In listening to his exciting -words, the soldiers forgot their fatigues and privations, and were -impatient to rush into the fight. אליה Bernadotte entered Munich on the -14th of October, taking eight hundred prisoners. On the same day, -Marshal Ney forced the strong position of Elchingen, taking three -thousand prisoners and many pieces of cannon; and the Emperor’s -head-quarters were fixed there, in the evening. The French soldiers were -in a state of great excitement from these rapid successes, and were with -difficulty restrained. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: THE CAMP-FIRE AT ULM. Page 159.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -From the height of the Abbey of Elchingen, Napoleon now beheld the city -of Ulm at his feet, commanded on every side by his cannon; his -victorious troops ready for the assault, and the great Austrian army -cooped up within the walls. He expected a desperate sally, and prepared -the soldiers for a general engagement; but four days passed without any -movement whatever. Meanwhile, his own troops clamored for the assault, -but he chose to wait in vigilant patience for the result. A scene of -horrible carnage and the probable destruction of a fine city would have -been the consequences of his acting differently; being what he would -have called “unnecessary evils,” and therefore criminal in his eyes. The -weather continued dreadful; the rain fell incessantly, and the soldiers -were often up to their knees in mud. The Emperor only kept his feet out -of the water in his bivouac, by means of a plank. He was in this -situation when Prince Maurice Lichtenstein was brought before him, with -a flag of truce from General Mack. The looks of the prince evidently -showed that he did not expect to have found the Emperor there in person; -otherwise it is probable he would not have brought such a proposition as -that which he delivered. He came commissioned to treat for the -evacuation of Ulm, with permission for the Austrian army to return to -Vienna. The Emperor could not help smiling as he listened to him. “I -have not forgotten Marengo,” he replied; “I suffered M. de Melas to go, -and in two months Moreau had to fight his troops, in spite of the most -solemn promises to conclude peace. You will be forced to surrender, for -want of provisions, in eight days. The Russians have scarcely reached -Bohemia. There is the capitulation of your general at Memingen, his -whole garrison becoming prisoners of war: carry it to General Mack; I -will accept no other conditions.” The same evening General Mack sent his -surrender to the Emperor, and on the following morning the capitulation -was signed. - -On the 20th of October, the French army was drawn up on the heights, -overlooking the fine city of Ulm, to receive the surrender, according to -the conditions. The rain had ceased, and the sky was bright and clear. -The dress and accoutrements of the French troops, and especially those -of the cavalry, shone resplendent in the sun. The Emperor was posted on -a slight eminence in front of the centre of his army. He had caused a -large fire to be kindled there, for the air was intensely cold. A short -distance in the rear, that faithful Mameluke who always accompanied -Napoleon after the Egyptian campaign, held the bridle of a restless -horse. His gaudy, Asiatic costume, was in singular contrast with that of -the French soldiers. The French marshals and generals were grouped in -the vicinity of the fire. Among them were the commanding forms of Ney, -Lannes, Murat, Davoust, Duroc, Bernadotte, Bessiere, Soult and Dupont—a -brotherhood of daring valor. The calm, immovable countenance of Marshal -Soult was in strange contrast with the more vivacious faces near him, -and bespoke the cool, steady mind of that skilful general. The Emperor -stood, as usual, with his hands behind him, and his head slightly bent. -His figure had grown stout, and had a decided tendency to corpulency. -The countenance was stern, but the eyes were unquiet, and his mind was -evidently very busy, as usual. In every lineament could be traced that -keen, daring genius, which had raised the lieutenant of artillery to an -imperial throne. - -It was a glorious day for the French. Their drums beat, and their bands -poured forth the swelling strains of triumph. The gates of Ulm were -opened; and then the long line of white uniforms marked the egress of -the Austrians. They advanced in silence, becoming the dejection of the -vanquished, filed off slowly, and went, corps by corps, to lay down -their arms upon the plain between them and the heights on which the -French army appeared. The ceremony lasted the whole day. In the morning, -General Mack and his principal officers, to the number of sixteen, -advanced to meet the conqueror at the fire near which he stood. He -received the conquered generals with respect, and addressed many remarks -to them; but the officers were too deeply humiliated to reply. To -General Mack, he said— - -“I must complain of the iniquitous proceeding of your government, in -coming without any declaration of war to _seize me by the throat_. The -Aulic Council would have done better, if, instead of mixing up Asiatic -hordes in European quarrels, it had joined with me to repel Russian -encroachment.” Mack bowed, but made no reply. - -During the interview, a general officer, more remarkable for his -petulance than his wit, repeated aloud an expression as coming from one -of the soldiers, throwing ridicule upon the vanquished. Napoleon, whose -ear was quick to catch the words, immediately sent Savary to tell the -officer to retire, saying then to those near him, “He must have little -respect for himself, who insults men in misfortune!” - -All the officers were allowed to return home, on giving their word of -honor not to serve against France until a general exchange of prisoners -should take place. The men were to be marched into France, to be -distributed throughout the agricultural districts of the country, where -their work in the field might supply the place of that of the conscripts -required for the army. The unfortunate Mack was immediately consigned to -a dungeon on the charge of treachery, upon his return to Vienna. - -The capitulation of Ulm gave Napoleon the remainder of the Austrian -army, which had numbered fifty thousand men. The campaign was, perhaps, -unexampled in the annals of war. Of the French army, scarcely fifteen -hundred men were killed and wounded; while the enemy had lost an immense -number of men in battle, fifty thousand excellent troops by -capitulation, two hundred cannon, ninety flags, and a large number of -horses. Such were the glorious results of Napoleon’s skilful -manœuvres and rapid movements. - -The Emperor slept that night at Elchingen. Joy pervaded the French camp. -The troops were now more strongly convinced than ever, that their -Emperor was invincible. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT AUSTERLITZ. - - -The victory of Austerlitz is considered by many competent judges as the -most splendid triumph ever gained by Napoleon; and the “sun of -Austerlitz,” is a watchword with the French soldiery to the present day. -The scene of this great battle is in the vicinity of the small seignoral -town of Austerlitz, situated on the Littawa, in Moravia. - -Napoleon, with that military tact which he had received from nature, and -which he had so greatly improved by experience, had adopted, among other -positions which he might have taken about Brunn, one which could not -fail to insure to him the most important results, under the supposition -that he should be attacked—a supposition which had become a certainty. - -The mountains of Moravia, which connect the mountains of Bohemia with -those of Hungary, subside successively towards the Danube, so completely -that near that river Moravia presents but one wide plain. In the -environs of Brunn, the capital of the province, they are not of greater -altitude than high hills, and are covered with dark firs. Their waters, -retained for want of drains, form numerous ponds, and throw themselves -by various streams into the Morawa, or March, and by the Morawa and the -Danube. - -All these characters are found together in the position between Brunn -and Austerlitz, which Napoleon has rendered forever celebrated. The high -road of Moravia, running from Vienna to Brunn, rises in a direct line to -the northward, then, in passing from Brunn to Olmutz, descends abruptly -to the right, that is to the east, thus forming a right angle with its -first direction. In the angle is situated the position in question. It -commences on the left towards the Olmutz road, with heights studded with -firs; it then runs to the right in an oblique direction towards the -Vienna road, and after subsiding gradually, terminates in ponds full of -deep water in winter. Along this position, and in front of it, runs a -rivulet, which has no name known in geography, but which, in part of its -course, is called Goldbach by the people of the country. It runs through -the little villages of Girzikowitz, Puntowitz, Kobelnitz, Sokolnitz, and -Telnitz, and, sometimes forming marshes, sometimes confined in channels, -terminates in the ponds above mentioned, which are called the ponds of -Satschau and Menitz. - -Concentrated with all his forces on this ground, defended on the one -hand upon the wooded hills of Moravia, and particularly upon a rounded -knoll to which the soldiers of Egypt gave the name of the Centon, -defended on the other, upon the ponds of Satschau and Menitz—thus -covering by his left the Olmutz road, by his right the Vienna -road—Napoleon was in a condition to accept with advantage a decisive -battle. He meant not, however, to confine his operations to -self-defence, for he was accustomed to reckon upon greater results; he -had divined, as though he had read them, the plans framed at great -length by General Weirother. The Austro-Russians, having no chance of -wresting from him the _point d’appui_ which he found for his left in the -high wooded hills, would be tempted to turn his right, which was not -close to the ponds, and to take the Vienna road from him. There was -sufficient inducement for this step; for Napoleon, if he lost that road, -would have no other resource but to retire into Bohemia. The rest of his -forces, hazarded towards Vienna, would be obliged to ascend separately -the valley of the Danube. The French army, thus divided, would find -itself doomed to a retreat, eccentric, perilous, nay, even disastrous, -if it should fall in with the Prussians by the way. - -Napoleon was perfectly aware that such must be the plan of the enemy. -Accordingly, after concentrating his army towards his left and the -heights, he left towards his right, that is towards Sokolnitz, Telnitz, -and the ponds, a space almost unguarded. He thus invited the Russians to -persevere in their plans. But it was not precisely there that he -prepared the mortal stroke for them. The ground facing him presented a -feature from which he hoped to derive a decisive result. - -Beyond the stream that ran in front of the position, the ground spread -at first, opposite to the left, into a slightly undulated plain, through -which passed the Olmutz road; then, opposite to the centre, it rose -successively, and at last formed facing the right a plateau, called the -plateau of Pratzen, after the name of a village situated half-way up, in -the hollow of a ravine. This plateau terminated on the right in rapid -declivities towards the ponds, and at the back in a gentle slope towards -Austerlitz, the chateau of which appeared at some distance. - -There were to be seen considerable forces; there a multitude of fires -blazed at night, and a great movement of men and horses was observable -by day. On these appearances, Napoleon had no longer any doubt of the -designs of the Austro-Russians. They intended evidently to descend from -the position which they occupied, and, crossing the Goldbach rivulet, -between the ponds and the French right, to cut them off from the Vienna -road. But, for this reason, it was resolved to take the offensive in -turn, to cross the rivulet at the villages of Girzikowitz and Puntowitz, -to ascend to the plateau of Pratzen while the Russians were leaving it, -and to take possession of it. In case of success, the enemy’s army would -be cut in two; one part would be thrown to the left into the plain -crossed by the Olmutz road; the other to the right into the ponds. -Thenceforward the battle could not fail to be disastrous for the -Austro-Russians. But, for this effect, it was requisite that they should -not blunder by halves. The prudent, nay even timid attitude of Napoleon, -exciting their silly confidence, would induce them to commit the entire -blunder. - -Agreeably to these ideas, Napoleon made his dispositions. Expecting for -two days past to be attacked, he had ordered Bernadotte to quit Iglau on -the frontier of Bohemia, to leave there the Bavarian division which he -had brought with him, and to hasten by forced marches to Brunn. He had -ordered Marshal Davoust to march Friant’s and if possible Gudin’s -division towards the abbey of Gross Raigern, situated on the road from -Vienna to Brunn, opposite to the ponds. In consequence of these orders, -Bernadotte marched, and had arrived on the 1st of December. General -Friant, being alone apprised in time, because General Gudin was at a -greater distance towards Presburg, had set out immediately, and -travelled in forty-eight hours the thirty-six leagues which separate -Vienna from Gross Raigern. The soldiers sometimes dropped on the road, -exhausted with fatigue; but at the least sound, imagining that they -heard the cannon, they rose with ardor to hasten to the assistance of -their comrades, engaged, they said, in a bloody battle. On the night of -the 1st of December, which was extremely cold, they bivouacked at Gross -Raigern, a league and a half from the field of battle. Never did troops -on foot perform so astonishing a march; for it is a march of eighteen -leagues a day for two successive days. - -On the 1st of December, Napoleon, reinforced by Bernadotte’s corps and -Friant’s division, could number sixty-five or seventy thousand men, -present under arms, against ninety thousand men, Russians and Austrians, -likewise present under arms. - -At his left he placed Lannes, in whose corps Caffarelli’s division -supplied the place of Gazan’s. Lannes, with the two divisions of Suchet -and Caffarelli, was to occupy the Olmutz road, and to fight in the -undulated plain outspread on either side of that road. Napoleon gave -him, moreover, Murat’s cavalry, comprising the cuirassiers of Generals -d’Hautpoul and Nansouty, the dragoons of General Walther and Beaumont, -and the chasseurs of Generals Milhaud and Kellermann. The level surface -of the ground led him to expect a prodigious engagement of cavalry on -this spot. On the knoll of the Centon, which commands this part of the -ground, and is topped by a chapel called the chapel of Bosenitz, he -placed the 17th light artillery, commanded by General Claparede, with -eighteen pieces of cannon, and made him take an oath to defend this -position to the death. - -At the centre, behind the Goldbach rivulet, he ranged Vandamme’s and St. -Hilaire’s divisions, which belong to the corps of Marshal Soult. He -destined them to cross that stream at the villages of Girzikowitz and -Puntowitz, and to gain possession of the plateau of Pratzen, when the -proper moment should arrive. A little further behind the marsh of -Kobelnitz and the chateau of Kobelnitz, he placed Marshal Soult’s third -division, that of General Legrand. He reinforced it with two battalions -of tirailleurs, known by the names of chasseurs of the Po and Corsican -chasseurs, and by a detachment of light cavalry, under General Margaron. -This division was to have only the third of the line and the Corsican -chasseurs at Telnitz, the nearest point to the ponds, and to which -Napoleon was desirous of drawing the Russians. Far in rear, at the -distance of a league and a half, was posted Friant’s division at Gross -Raigern. - -Having ten divisions of infantry, Napoleon, therefore, presented but six -of them in line. Behind Marshals Lannes and Soult, he kept in reserve -Oudinot’s grenadiers, separated on this occasion from Lannes’s corps, -the corps of Bernadotte, composed of Drouet’s and Rivaud’s divisions, -and, lastly, the imperial guard. He thus kept at hand a mass of -twenty-five thousand men, to move to any point where they might be -needed, and particularly to the heights of Pratzen, in order to take -those heights at any cost, if the Russians should not have cleared them -sufficiently. - -Such were the skilful dispositions of the Emperor, and having completed -what may be called the foundation of victory, he issued a confident -proclamation to his soldiers, as follows: - -“Soldiers—The Russian army appears before you to avenge the Austrian -army of Ulm. They are the same battalions that you beat at Hollabrunn, -and that you have since been constantly pursuing to this spot. - -“The positions which we occupy are formidable; and while they are -marching to turn my right, they will present their flank to me. - -“Soldiers, I shall myself direct your battalions. I shall keep out of -the fire, if, with your usual bravery, you throw disorder and confusion -into the enemy’s ranks. But, if the victory should be for a moment -uncertain, you will see your Emperor the foremost to expose himself to -danger. For victory must not hang doubtful on this day, most -particularly, when the honor of the French infantry, which so deeply -concerns the honor of the whole nation, is at stake. - -“Let not the ranks be thinned upon pretence of carrying away the -wounded, and let every one be thoroughly impressed with this thought, -that it behoves us to conquer these hirelings of England, who are -animated with such bitter hatred against our nation. - -“This victory will put an end to the campaign, and we shall then be able -to return to our winter-quarters, where we shall be joined by the new -armies which are forming in France, and then the peace which I shall -make will be worthy of my people, of you, and of myself. - - NAPOLEON.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: CAMP SCENE ON THE EVENING BEFORE THE BATTLE OF -AUSTERLITZ. Page 171.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -Napoleon had passed the whole day on horseback, and had himself placed -every division in position, inspecting every position. All his marshals -dined with him, and received his careful and precise orders for the -operations of the next day. He then once more glanced at the position of -the Russian and Austrian armies, and a smile illumined his features as -he said to his marshals, - -“Before to-morrow night that army will be in my power. Since the Czar -refuses to negotiate for a peace, we must drub him into it.” - -He then entered a rude hut, which his soldiers had constructed for him, -and stretched himself upon some straw to repose. A hard couch for an -emperor! Yet there Napoleon fell into so deep a sleep that his -aid-de-camp, Savary, was obliged to shake him, in order to wake him up, -to listen to a report which he had ordered to be brought to him. Rousing -himself, he left the hut, accompanied by his aid, and proceeded to visit -the bivouacs of the army. The night was cold and dark; and the Emperor -had reason to believe that he could go among the soldiers without being -noticed. But he had only proceeded a few steps before he was discovered, -and in a few moments, the whole line was illuminated with torches of -straw, while the air was filled with acclamations of “Vive l’Empereur!” -It was a glorious sight, and the glare of the torches must have -astonished the enemy. That tremendous shout must have told Kutusoff, the -Prussian general, that he would be compelled to fight an enemy, full of -spirit and confidence. - -As Napoleon passed along, one of the old grenadiers, a veteran of Italy, -stepped forward, and accosted him with an air of republican familiarity -and kindly patronage. - -“Sire,” said this old soldier, “you will have no need to expose yourself -to danger; I promise you, in the name of the grenadiers of the army, -that you will only have to fight with your eyes, and that we will bring -you all the flags and cannon of the Russian army, to celebrate the -anniversary of your coronation.” - -The Emperor was delighted at the spirit displayed by the troops, and, in -accordance with their general request, he promised to keep beyond the -reach of the enemy’s guns. - -Sir Walter Scott finely remarks upon this: “Napoleon,” says he, -“promises that he will keep his person out of the reach of the fire: -thus showing the full confidence that the assurance of his personal -safety would be considered as great an encouragement to the troops as -the usual protestations of sovereigns and leaders, that they will be in -the front, and share the dangers of the day. This is, perhaps, the -strongest proof possible of the complete and confidential understanding -which subsisted between Napoleon and his soldiers. Yet there have not -been wanting those who have thrown the imputation of cowardice on the -victor of a hundred battles, and whose reputation was so well -established amongst those troops, who must have been the best judges, -that his attention to the safety of his person was requested by them, -and granted by him, as a favor to his army.” - -The Emperor was on the field by one o’clock in the morning, to get an -army under arms in silence. A thick fog, through which the light of the -torches could not penetrate to the distance of ten paces, enveloped all -the bivouacs; but he knew the ground as well as the environs of Paris. -His army, amounting in all to about seventy thousand men, was arranged -as follows. The two divisions of Marshal Soult, placed on a vast -plateau, formed the right; the division of united grenadiers, drawn up -in line behind, constituting the reserve of the right. The two divisions -of Marshal Bernadotte, in line with the united grenadiers, formed the -centre of the army. The left wing was composed of the two divisions of -Marshal Lannes; the infantry of the guard forming the reserve of the -left. In advance of the centre, and between the right and left wings, -was posted the whole of the cavalry, under the command of Murat. The -divisions of hussars and chasseurs were entrusted to Kellermann; the -dragoons, to Valther and Beaumont. The cuirassiers and eighty pieces of -light artillery formed the reserve of the cavalry. The right of the army -rested on some long and narrow defiles formed by ponds; the left, on the -strongly fortified position of the Centon. The two divisions of Marshal -Davoust were posted on the extreme right, beyond the ponds, to face the -left wing of the Russians, which had been extended, as we have said, to -a dangerous distance from their centre, and intended, as the Emperor -perceived, to commence the battle with an attempt to turn his right. The -Emperor himself, with Berthier, Junot, and the whole of his staff, -occupied a commanding position, as the reserve of the army, with ten -battalions of the imperial guard, and ten battalions of grenadiers, -commanded by Oudinot and Duroc. This reserve was ranged in two lines, in -columns, by battalions, having in their intervals forty pieces of cannon -served by the artillery of the guard. With this reserve, equal to -turning the fate of almost any battle, he held himself ready to act -wherever occasion should require. - -As the day dawned, the mist which had overhung all the dreadful show, -began slowly to ascend, like a vast curtain, from the broad plain below. -The sun rose in unclouded and majestic brilliancy; and dissipating all -remains of the vapors, disclosed to view the great Russian army, -commanded by Field-Marshal Kutusoff, to the number of eighty thousand -men, ranged in six divisions, on the opposite heights of Pratzen. The -magnificence of the sunrise of this eventful morning, enhanced at the -time by the previous dense mist, and by the national memories ever -since, has caused the “sun of Austerlitz” to become proverbial with the -people of France. The two emperors of Russia and Austria were witnesses -of the fierce contest; being stationed on horseback on the heights of -Austerlitz. As the first rays of the sun were flung from the horizon, -the Emperor Napoleon appeared in front of his army, surrounded by his -marshals, and formed every division, both of infantry and cavalry, into -columns. A brisk fire had just commenced on the extreme right, where -Davoust was already at his post; and the Russians began to put -themselves in motion to descend from the heights upon the plain. The -marshals who surrounded the Emperor importuned him to begin. “How long -will it take you,” said he to Soult, “to crown those opposite heights -which the Russians are now abandoning?” “One hour,” answered the -marshal. “In that case, we will wait yet a quarter of an hour,” replied -the Emperor. The cannonade increased, denoting that the attack had -become serious. The extreme of the Russian left had commenced its -movement to turn the right flank of the French army, but had encountered -the formidable resistance of Davoust’s two divisions, with whom they -were just engaged. Napoleon now dismissed all the marshals to their -posts, and ordered them to begin. - -The whole of the right and left wings at once moved forward, in columns, -to the foot of the Russian position. They marched as if to exercise, -halting at times to rectify their distances and directions; while the -words of command of the individual officers were distinctly heard. The -two divisions of Marshal Soult came first within reach of the enemy’s -fire. The division commanded by General Vandamme overthrew the opposing -column, and was master of its position and artillery in an instant; the -other, commanded by General St Hilaire, had to sustain a tremendous -fire, which lasted for two hours, and brought every one of its -battalions into action. The Emperor now dispatched the united -grenadiers, and one of Marshal Bernadotte’s division, to support those -of Soult, while Lannes had engaged the right of the Russians, and -effectually prevented them from moving to the assistance of their left, -which was wholly engaged by the tremendous attack we have described, and -entirely cut off from their centre. The extreme left of the Russians, -which had begun the battle, perceiving the fatal mistake which had been -made, attempted to re-ascend the Pratzer, but were so desperately -pressed by Davoust, that they were compelled to fight where they stood, -without daring either to advance or retire. - -Marshal Soult now ordered his division, under Vandamme, supported by one -of Bernadotte’s divisions, to make a change of direction by the right -flank, for the purpose of turning all the Russian troops which still -resisted St. Hilaire’s division. The movement was completely successful; -and Soult’s two divisions crowned the heights to which the Emperor had -pointed before the battle began. - -The right wing of the Russian army was meanwhile sustaining the -tremendous onset of Lannes with both his divisions. The fight raged in -that quarter throughout the whole of the operations we have detailed; -but at this point, Bernadotte’s division being no longer required to -support those of Soult, the Emperor ordered the centre of the army to -support the left. The Russian right was now entirely broken; the French -cavalry by desperate and repeated charges completed the rout, and -pursued the fugitives, who took the road to Austerlitz, till nightfall. -Bernadotte, after pursuing the Russian infantry a full league, returned -to his former position; nobody knew why. Had he, on the contrary, -continued marching another half hour, he would have entirely intercepted -the retreat, and taken or destroyed the whole of the Russian right. As -it was, their flight was disastrous in the extreme: they were forced -into a hollow, where numbers attempted to escape across a frozen lake; -but the ice proving too weak for them, gave way, and the horrible scene -which ensued—the crashing of the broken fragments, the thundering of the -artillery, and the groans and shrieks of wounded and drowning -men—baffles the imagination. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ. Page 177.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -Marshal Soult, now changing his position again by the right flank, -descended the heights, having traversed a complete semi-circle, and took -the Russian extreme left in the rear. The Emperor of Russia, who -perceived the imminent danger of his whole army, dispatched his fine -regiment of Russian guards, supported by a strong force of artillery, to -attack Soult. Their desperate charge broke one of the French regiments. -It was at this crisis that Napoleon brought his reserve into action. -Bessieres, at the head of the imperial guard, rushed with irresistible -fury into the fight. The Russians were entirely broken; their army, -surprised in a flank movement, had been cut into as many separate masses -as there were columns brought up to attack it. They fled in disorder, -and the victory of Austerlitz was decided. - -It was with the utmost difficulty that the two emperors of Russia and -Austria effected their personal escape. The Emperor Alexander lost all -his artillery, baggage, and standards; twenty thousand prisoners, and -upwards of twenty thousand killed and wounded. In the precipitate -flight, the wounded were abandoned to their fate. Kutusoff, however, -with laudable humanity, left placards in the French language, on the -doors of the churches and the barns towards which they had crept, -inscribed with these words:—“I recommend these unfortunate men to the -generosity of the Emperor Napoleon, and the humanity of his brave -soldiers.” - -In attempting to escape across some frozen ponds, the Russians broke -through, and a large number of them were drowned. An eye-witness, -General Langeron, says, “I have previously seen some lost battles, but I -had no conception of such a defeat.” - -Napoleon, who had participated in the pursuit, returned about -night-fall. He was received with shouts by his triumphant troops, and -they could scarcely be prevented from taking him in their arms. He soon -commanded silence, and set about relieving the wounded, who actually -covered the field. He administered brandy with his own hand to some -suffering Russians, who could only repay him with a blessing, and gave -orders that all the wounded should be attended to as speedily as -possible. The troops had already given a name to the battle, that of the -“Three Emperors.” But Napoleon himself gave this great conflict the name -of the village near which it was fought. He issued the following -proclamation, immediately after victory had been achieved. - -“Soldiers—I am satisfied with you: in the battle of Austerlitz you have -justified all that I expected from your intrepidity. You have decorated -your eagles with immortal glory. An army of one hundred thousand men, -commanded by the Emperors of Russia and Austria, has been in less than -four hours either cut in pieces or dispersed. Those who escaped your -weapons are drowned in the lakes. - -“Forty colors, the standards of the imperial guard of Russia, one -hundred and twenty pieces of cannon, more than thirty thousand -prisoners, are the result of this ever-celebrated battle. That infantry, -so highly vaunted and superior in number, could not withstand your -shocks, and thenceforward you have no rivals to fear. Thus, in two -months, this third coalition has been vanquished and dissolved. Peace -cannot now be far distant, but, as I promised my people, before I passed -the Rhine, I will make only such a peace as gives us guarantees and -insures rewards to our allies. - -“Soldiers, when all that is necessary to secure the welfare and the -prosperity of our country is accomplished, I will lead you back to -France: there you will be the object of my tenderest concern. My people -will see you again with joy, and it will be sufficient to say, I was at -the battle of Austerlitz, for them to reply, there is a brave man. - - “NAPOLEON.” - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT PALENY. - - -The disaster at Austerlitz affected the Emperors Francis and Alexander -very differently, Alexander was deeply dejected; but Francis was -tranquil. Under the common misfortune, he had at least the consolation, -that the Russians could no longer allege that the cowardice of the -Austrians constituted all the glory of Napoleon. The two emperors -retreated precipitately over the plain of Moravia, amidst profound -darkness, separated from their household, and liable to be insulted -through the barbarity of their own soldiers. Francis took it upon -himself to send their gallant Prince John of Lichtenstein to Napoleon, -to solicit an armistice, with a promise to sign a peace in a few days. -He commissioned him, also, to express to Napoleon, his wish to have an -interview with him at the advanced posts of the army. The French -Emperor, having returned to his head-quarters at Posoritz, there -received Prince John. He treated him as a conqueror full of courtesy, -and agreed to an interview with the Emperor of Austria. But an armistice -was not to be granted until the Emperors had met and explained -themselves. - -Napoleon hastened to recall his columns to Nasiedlowitz and Goding. -Marshal Davoust, reinforced by the junction of Friant’s whole division, -and by the arrival in line of Gudin’s division, had lost no time, thanks -to his nearer position to the Hungary road. He set out in pursuit of the -Russians, and pressed them closely. He intended to overtake them before -the passage of the Morava, and to cut off perhaps a part of their army. -After marching on the 3d, he was, on the morning of the 4th, in sight of -Goding and nearly up with them. The greatest confusion prevailed in -Goding. Beyond that place there was a mansion belonging to the Emperor -of Germany, that of Holitsch, where the two allied sovereigns had taken -refuge. The perturbation there was as great as at Goding. The Russian -officers continued to hold the most unbecoming language respecting the -Austrians. They laid the blame of the common defeat on them, as if they -ought not to have attributed it to their own presumption, to the -incapacity of their generals, and to the levity of their government. The -Austrians, moreover, had behaved quite as well as the Russians on the -field of battle. - -The two vanquished monarchs were very cool towards each other. The -Emperor Francis wished to confer with the Emperor Alexander, before he -went to the interview agreed upon with Napoleon. Both thought that they -ought to solicit an armistice and peace, for it was impossible to -continue the struggle. Alexander was desirous, though he did not -acknowledge it, that himself and his army should be saved as soon as -possible from the consequences of an impetuous pursuit, such as might be -apprehended from Napoleon. As for the conditions, he left his ally to -settle them as he pleased. The Emperor Francis alone having to defray -the expenses of the war, the conditions on which peace should be signed -concerned him exclusively. Some time before, the Emperor Alexander, -setting himself up for the arbiter of Europe, would have insisted that -those conditions concerned him also. His pride was less exigent since -the battle of the 2d of December. - -The Emperor Francis accordingly set out for Nasiedlowitz, a village and -there, near the mill of Paleny, between Nasiedlowitz and Urschitz, -amidst the French and the Austrian advanced posts, he found Napoleon -waiting for him, before a bivouac fire kindled by his soldiers. Napoleon -had had the politeness to arrive first. He went to meet the Emperor -Francis, received him as he alighted from his carriage and embraced him. -The Austrian monarch, encouraged by the welcome of his all-powerful foe, -had a long conversation with him. The principal officers of the two -armies, standing aside, beheld with great curiosity the extraordinary -spectacle of the successor of the Cæsars vanquished and soliciting peace -of the crowned soldier, whom the French Revolution had raised to the -pinnacle of human greatness. - -Francis wore the brilliant costume of an Austrian field-marshal, and was -a monarch of dignified aspect. - -Napoleon apologized to the Emperor Francis for receiving him in such a -place. “Such are the palaces,” said he, “which your majesty has obliged -me to inhabit for these three months.”—“The abode in them,” replied the -Austrian monarch, “makes you so thriving, that you have no right to be -angry with me for it.” The conversation then turned upon the general -state of affairs, Napoleon insisting that he had been forced into the -war against his will at a moment when he least expected it, and when he -was exclusively engaged with England; the Emperor of Austria affirming -that he had been urged to take arms solely by the designs of France in -regard to Italy. Napoleon declared that, on the conditions already -specified to M. de Giulay, and which he had no need to repeat, he was -ready to sign a peace. The Emperor Francis, without explaining himself -on this subject, wished to know how Napoleon was disposed in regard to -the Russian army. Napoleon first required that the Emperor Francis -should separate his cause from that of the Emperor Alexander, and that -the Russian army should retire by regulated marches from the Austrian -territories, and promised to grant him an armistice on this condition. -As for peace with Russia, he added, that would be settled afterwards, -for this peace concerned him alone. “Take my advice,” said Napoleon to -the Emperor Francis, “do not mix up your cause with that of the Emperor -Alexander. Russia alone can now wage only a _fancy war_ in Europe. -Vanquished, she retires to her deserts, and you, you pay with your -provinces the costs of the war.” The forcible language of Napoleon -expressed but too well the state of things in Europe between that great -empire and the rest of the continent. The Emperor Francis pledged his -word as a man and a sovereign not to renew the war, and above all to -listen no more to the suggestions of powers which had nothing to lose in -the struggle. He agreed to an armistice for himself—and for the Emperor -Alexander, an armistice, the condition of which was that the Russians -should retire by regulated marches—and that the Austrian cabinet should -immediately send negotiators empowered to sign a separate peace with -France. - -The two emperors parted with reiterated demonstrations of cordiality. -Napoleon handed into his carriage that monarch whom he had just called -his brother, and remounted his horse to return to Austerlitz. - -General Savary was sent to suspend the march of Davoust’s corps. He -first proceeded to Holitsch, with the suite of the Emperor Francis, to -learn whether the Emperor Alexander acceded to the proposed conditions. -He saw the latter, around whom every thing was much changed since the -mission on which he was sent to him a few days before. “Your master,” -said Alexander to him, “has shown himself very great. I acknowledge all -the power of his genius, and, as for myself, I shall retire, since my -ally is satisfied.” General Savary conversed for some time with the -young czar on the late battle, explained to him how the French army, -inferior in number to the Russian army, had nevertheless appeared -superior on all points, owing to the art of manœuvring which Napoleon -possessed in so eminent a degree. He courteously added that with -experience Alexander, in his turn, would become a warrior, but that so -difficult an art was not to be learned in a day. After these flatteries -to the vanquished monarch, he set out for Goding to stop Marshal -Davoust, who had rejected all the proposals for a suspension of arms, -and was ready to attack the relics of the Russian army. To no purpose he -had been assured in the name of the Emperor of Russia himself that an -armistice was negotiating between Napoleon and the Emperor of Austria. -He would not on any account abandon his prey. But General Savary stopped -him with a formal order from Napoleon. These were the last musket-shots -fired during that unexampled campaign. The troops of the several nations -separated to go into winter-quarters, awaiting what should be decided by -the negotiators of the belligerent powers. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT JENA. - - -Jena was one of Napoleon’s most decisive fields. There, in the conflict -of a day, Prussia, who had dared to defy a power which had brought -Austria and Russia to the dust, was completely annihilated. There the -descendants of the great Frederick reaped the bitter consequences of his -weak presumption. At Jena, the valley of the Saale begins to widen. The -right bank is low, damp and covered with meadows. The left bank presents -steep heights, whose peaked tops overlook the town of Jena, and are -ascended by narrow, winding ravines, overhung with wood. On the left of -Jena, a gorge more open, less abrupt, called the Muhlthal, has become -the passage through which the high road from Jena to Weimar has been -carried. This road first keeps along the bottom of the Muhlthal, then -rises in form of a spiral staircase, and opens upon the plateaux in -rear. It would have required a fierce assault to force this pass. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON AT JENA. Page 186.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The principal of the heights that overlook the town of Jena is called -Landgrafenberg, and, since the memorable events of which it has been the -theatre, it has received from the inhabitants the name of Napoleonsberg. -It is the highest in these parts. Napoleon and Lannes, surveying from -that height the surrounding country, with their backs turned to Jena, -beheld on their right the Saale running in a deep, winding, wooded -gorge, to Naumburg, which is six or seven leagues from Jena. Before them -they saw undulated plateaux, extending to a distance, and subsiding by a -gentle slope to the little valley of the Ilm, at the extremity of which -is situated the town of Weimar. They perceived on their left the high -road from Jena to Weimar, rising by a series of slopes from the gorge of -the Muhlthal to these plateaux, and running in a straight line to -Weimar. These slopes, somewhat resembling a sort of snail’s shell, have -thence received in German the appellation of the _Schneeke_ (snail.) - -It was in September, 1806, that Napoleon, having set all his divisions -in motion, left Paris and put himself at the head of his grand army. The -Prussians were superior in numbers, well disciplined, and full of -spirit. They numbered between one hundred and thirty thousand and one -hundred and forty thousand men. The cavalry especially, bore a high -reputation, which, however, as we shall see, it could not sustain. The -French Emperor had an army of one hundred and seventy thousand men in -the field, with a power of concentrating one hundred thousand of them -within a few hours. - -On learning that the Prussian army was changing its position and -advancing from Erfurt upon Weimar, with a view to approach the banks of -the Saale, Napoleon manœuvred to meet the changes of the enemy. - -They might be coming thither with one of the two following intentions: -either to occupy the bridge over the Saale at Naumburg, over which -passes the great central road of Germany, in order to retire upon the -Elbe, while covering Leipzig and Dresden; or to approach the course of -the Saale, for the purpose of defending its banks against the French. To -meet this double contingency, Napoleon took a first precaution, which -was to dispatch Marshal Davoust immediately to Naumburg, with orders to -bar the passage of the bridge there with the twenty-six thousand men of -the third corps. He sent Murat, with the cavalry, along the banks of the -Saale, to watch its course, and to push reconnoisances as far as -Leipzig. He directed Marshal Bernadette upon Naumburg, with instructions -to support Marshal Davoust in case of need. He sent Marshals Lannes and -Augereau to Jena itself. His object was to make himself master -immediately of the two principal passages of the Saale, those at -Naumburg and Jena, either to stop the Prussian army there, if it should -design to cross and to retire to the Elbe, or to go and seek it on the -heights bordering that river, if it purposed to remain there on the -defensive. As for himself, he continued with Marshals Ney and Soult, -within reach of Naumburg and Jena, ready to march for either point -according to circumstances. - -On the morning of the 13th, he learned by more circumstantial accounts -that the enemy was definitively approaching the Saale, with the yet -uncertain resolution of fighting a defensive battle on its banks, or of -crossing and pushing on to the Elbe. It was in the direction from Weimar -to Jena that the largest assemblage appeared. Without losing a moment, -Napoleon mounted his horse to proceed to Jena. He gave himself his -instructions to Marshals Soult and Ney, and enjoined them to be at Jena -in the evening, or at latest in the night. He directed Murat to bring -his cavalry towards Jena, and Marshal Bernadotte to take at Dornburg an -intermediate position between Jena and Naumburg. He set out immediately, -sending officers to stop all troops on march to Gera, and to make them -turn back for Jena. - -In the evening of the preceding day, Marshal Davoust had entered -Naumburg, occupied the bridge of the Saale, and taken considerable -magazines, with a fine bridge equipage. Marshal Bernadotte had joined -him. Murat had sent his light cavalry as far as Leipzig, and surprised -the gates of that great commercial city. Lannes had proceeded towards -Jena, a small university town, seated on the very banks of the Saale, -and had driven back pell-mell the enemy’s troops left beyond the river, -as well as the baggage, which encumbered the road. He had taken -possession of Jena, and immediately pushed his advanced posts upon the -heights which command it. From these heights he had perceived the army -of the Prince of Hohenlohe, which, after recrossing the Saale, encamped -between Jena and Weimar, and he had reason to suspect that a great -assemblage was collecting in that place. - -Napoleon had arrived at Jena on the afternoon of the 13th of October. -Marshal Lannes, who had outstripped him, was waiting for him with -impatience, like that of a war-horse, snuffing the battle. Both mounted -their horses to reconnoitre the localities. We have described the ground -upon which the battle was fought. The Prussians were posted on the -heights which overlook the town of Jena. The French were coming up on -the low ground on the opposite side of the river. The chief difficulty -was to reach the Prussians. There was but one method that appeared -practicable. The bold tirailleurs of Lannes, entering the ravines which -are met with on going out of Jena, had succeeded in ascending the -principal eminence, and all at once perceived the Prussian army encamped -on the plateaux of the left bank. Followed presently by some detachments -of Suchet’s division, they had made room for themselves by driving in -General Tauenzien’s advanced posts. Thus by force of daring, the heights -which commanded the left bank of the Saale were gained; but by a route -which was scarcely practicable to artillery. Thither, Lannes conducted -the emperor, amidst an incessant fire of tirailleurs which rendered -reconnoisance extremely dangerous. - -Napoleon, having before him a mass of troops, the force of which could -scarcely be estimated, supposed that the Prussian army had chosen this -ground for a field of battle, and immediately made his dispositions, so -as to debouch with his army on the Landgrafenberg, before the enemy -should hasten up, _en masse_, to hurl him into the precipices of the -Saale. He was obliged to make the best use of his time, and to take -advantage of the space gained by the tirailleurs to establish himself on -the height. He had, it is true, no more of it than the summit, for, only -a few paces off, there was the corps of General Tauenzien, separated -from the French only by a slight ridge of ground. This corps was -stationed near two villages, one on the right, that of Closewitz, -surrounded by a small wood, the other on the left, that of Cospoda, -likewise surrounded by a wood of some extent. Napoleon purposed to leave -the Prussians quiet in this position till the next day, and meanwhile to -lead part of his army up the Landgrafenberg. The space which it occupied -was capable of containing the corps of Lannes and the guard. He ordered -them to be led up immediately through the steep ravines which serve to -ascend from Jena to the Landgrafenberg. On the left, he placed Gazan’s -division. On the right, Suchet’s division; in the centre, and a little -in rear, the foot-guard. He made the latter encamp in a square of four -thousand men, and in the centre of this square he established his own -bivouac. - -But it was not enough to bring infantry upon the Landgrafenberg—it was -necessary to mount artillery too upon it. Napoleon, riding about in all -directions, discovered a passage less steep than the others, and by -which the artillery might be dragged up with great exertion. Unluckily, -the way was too narrow. Napoleon sent forthwith for a detachment of the -engineers, and had it widened by cutting the rock; he himself, in his -impatience, directed the works, torch in hand. He did not retire till -the night was far advanced, when he had seen the first pieces of cannon -rolled up. It required twelve horses to drag each gun-carriage to the -top of the Landgrafenberg. Napoleon purposed to attack General Tauenzien -at day-break, and, by pushing him briskly, to conquer the space -necessary for deploying his army. Fearful, however, of debouching by a -single outlet, wishing also to divide the attention of the enemy, he -directed Augereau towards the left, to enter the gorge of the Muhlthal, -to march one of his two divisions upon the Weimar road, and to gain with -the other the back of the Landgrafenberg, in order to fall upon the rear -of General Tauenzien. On the right, he ordered Marshal Soult, whose -corps, breaking up from Gera, was to arrive in the night, to ascend the -other ravines, which, running from Lobstedt and Dornburg, debouch upon -Closewitz, likewise for the purpose of falling upon the rear of General -Tauenzien. With this double diversion, on the right and on the left, -Napoleon had no doubt of forcing the Prussians in their position, and -gaining for himself the space needed by his army for deploying. Marshals -Ney and Murat were to ascend the Landgrafenberg by the route Lannes and -the guard had followed. - -The day of the 13th had closed; profound darkness enveloped the field of -battle. Napoleon had placed his tent in the centre of the square formed -by his guard, and had suffered only a few fires to be lighted; but all -those of the Prussian army were kindled. The fires of the Prince of -Hohenlohe were to be seen over the whole extent of the plateaux, and at -the horizon on the right, topped by the old castle of Eckartsberg, those -of the army of the Duke of Brunswick, which had all at once become -visible for Napoleon. He conceived that, so far from retiring, the whole -of the Prussian forces had come to take part in the battle. He sent -immediately fresh orders to Marshals Davoust and Bernadotte. He enjoined -Marshal Davoust to guard strictly the bridge of Naumburg, even to cross -it, if possible, and to fall upon the rear of the Prussians, while they -were engaged in front. He ordered Marshal Bernadotte, placed -immediately, to concur in the projected movement, either by joining -Marshal Davoust, if he was near the latter, or by throwing himself -directly on the flank of the Prussians, if he had already taken at -Dornburg a position nearer to Jena. Lastly, he desired Murat to arrive -as speedily as possible with his cavalry. - -While Napoleon was making these dispositions, the Prince of Hohenlohe -was in complete ignorance of the lot which awaited him. Still persuaded -that the bulk of the French army, instead of halting before Jena, was -hurrying to Leipzig and Dresden, he supposed that he should at most have -to deal with the corps of Marshals Lannes and Augereau, which, having -passed the Saale, would, he imagined, make their appearance between Jena -and Weimar, as if they had descended from the heights of the forest of -Thuringia. Under this idea, not thinking of making front towards Jena, -he had on that side opposed only the corps of General Tauenzien, and -ranged his army along the road from Jena to Weimar. His left, composed -of Saxons, guarded the summit of the Schnecke; his right extended to -Weimar, and connected itself with General Ruchel’s corps. However, a -fire of tirailleurs, which was heard on the Landgrafenberg, having -excited a sort of alarm, and General Tauenzien applying for succor, the -Prince of Hohenlohe ordered the Saxon brigade of Cerini, the Prussian -brigade of Sanitz, and several squadrons of cavalry, to get under arms, -and dispatched these forces to the Landgrafenberg, to dislodge from it -the French, whom he conceived to be scarcely established on that point. -At the moment when he was about to execute this resolution, Colonel de -Massenbach brought him from the Duke of Brunswick a reiterated order not -to involve himself in any serious action, to guard well the passages of -the Saale, and particularly that of Dornburg, which excited uneasiness -because some light troops had been perceived there. The Prince of -Hohenlohe, who had become one of the most obedient of lieutenants when -he ought not to have been so, desisted at once, in compliance with these -injunctions from the head-quarters. It was singular, nevertheless, that -in obeying the order not to fight, he should abandon the _debouche_ by -which, on the morrow, a disastrous battle was to be forced upon him. Be -this as it may, relinquishing the idea of retaking the Landgrafenberg, -he contented himself with sending the Saxon brigade of Cerini to General -Tauenzien, and with placing at Nerkwitz, facing Dornburg, the Prussian -brigade of Schemmelpfennig, lastly several detachments of cavalry and -artillery, under the command of General Holzendorf. He sent some light -horse to Dornburg itself, to learn what was passing there. The Prince of -Hohenlohe confined himself to these dispositions: he returned to his -head-quarters at Capellendorf. - -Napoleon, stirring before daylight, gave his last instructions to his -lieutenants, and orders for his soldiers to get under arms. The night -was cold, the country covered to a distance with a thick fog, like that -which for some hours enveloped the field of Austerlitz. Escorted by men -carrying torches, Napoleon went along the front of the troops, talking -to the officers and soldiers. He explained the position of the two -armies, demonstrated to them that the Prussians were as deeply -compromised as the Austrians in the preceding year; that, if vanquished -in that engagement, they would be cut off from the Elbe and the Oder, -separated from the Russians, and forced to abandon to the French the -whole Prussian monarchy; that, in such a situation, the French corps -which should suffer itself to be beaten would frustrate the grandest -designs, and disgrace itself for ever. He exhorted them to keep on their -guard against the Prussian cavalry, and to receive it in square with -their usual firmness. His words everywhere drew forth shouts of -“Forward! _vive l’Empereur!_” Though the fog was thick, yet through its -veil the enemy’s advanced posts perceived the glare of the torches, -heard the acclamations of the French, and went to give the alarm to -General Tauenzien. At that moment, the corps of Lannes set itself in -motion, on a signal from Napoleon. Suchet’s division, formed into three -brigades, advanced first. Claparede’s brigade, composed of the 17th -light infantry, and a battalion of _elite_, marched at the head, -deployed in a single line. On the wings of this line, and to preserve it -from attacks of cavalry, the 34th and 40th regiments, forming the second -brigade, were disposed in close column, Vedel’s brigade, deployed, -closed this sort of square. On the left of Suchet’s division, but a -little in rear, came Gazan’s division, ranged in two lines and preceded -by its artillery. Thus they advanced, groping their way through the fog. -Suchet’s division directed its course towards the village of Closewitz, -which was on the right, Gazan’s division towards the village of Cospoda, -which was on the left. The Saxon battalions of Frederick Augustus and -Rechten, and the Prussian battalion of Zweifel, perceiving through the -fog a mass in motion, fired all together. The 17th light infantry -sustained that fire, and immediately returned it. This fire of musketry -was kept up for a few minutes, the parties seeing the flash and hearing -the report, but not discerning one another. The French, on approaching, -at length discovered the little wood which surrounded the village of -Closewitz. General Claparede briskly threw himself into it, and, after a -fight hand to hand, had soon carried it, as well as the village of -Closewitz itself. Having deprived General Tauenzien’s line of this -support, the French continued their march amidst the balls that issued -from that thick fog. Gazan’s division, on its part, took the village of -Cospoda, and established itself there. Between these two villages, but a -little farther off, was a small hamlet, that of Lutzenrode, occupied by -Erichsen’s fusiliers. Gazan’s division carried that also, and was then -able to deploy more at its ease. - -At this moment the two divisions of Lannes were assailed by fresh -discharges of artillery and musketry. These were from the Saxon -grenadiers of the Cerini brigade, who, after taking up the advanced -posts of General Tauenzien, continued to move forward, firing battalion -volleys with as much precision as if they had been at a review. The 17th -light infantry, which formed the head of Suchet’s division, having -exhausted its cartridges, was sent to the rear. The 34th took its place, -kept up the fire for some time, then encountered the Saxon grenadiers -with the bayonet, and broke them. The route having soon extended to the -whole corps of General Tauenzien. Gazan’s and Suchet’s divisions picked -up about twenty pieces of cannon and many fugitives. From the -Landgrafenberg, the undulated plateaux, on which the French had just -deployed, gradually subsided to the little valley of the Ilm. Hence they -marched rapidly upon sloping ground, to the heels of a fleeing enemy. In -this quick movement they encountered two battalions of Cerini, and also -Pelet’s fusiliers, which had been left in the environs of Closewitz. -These troops were flung back for the rest of the day towards General -Holzendorf, commissioned on the preceding day to guard the _debouche_ of -Dornburg. - -This action had not lasted two hours. It was nine o’clock, and Napoleon -had thus early realized the first part of his plan, which consisted in -gaining the space necessary for deploying his army. At the same moment -his instructions were executed at all points with remarkable -punctuality. Towards the left, Marshal Augereau, having sent off -Heudelet’s division, and likewise his artillery and cavalry, to the -extremity of the Muhlthal, on the high road from Weimar, was climbing -with Desjardin’s divisions, the back of the Landgrafenberg, and coming -to form on the plateaux to the left of Gazan’s division. Marshal Soult, -only one of whose divisions, that of General St. Hilaire, had arrived, -was ascending from Lobstedt, in the rear of Closewitz, facing the -positions of Nerkwitz and Alten-Krone, occupied by the relics of -Tauenzien’s corps and by the detachment of General Holzendorf. Marshal -Ney, impatient to share in the battle, had detached from his corps a -battalion of voltigeurs, a battalion of grenadiers, the 25th light -infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and had gone on before with this -body of _elite_. He entered Jena at the very hour when the first act of -the engagement was over. Lastly, Murat, returning at a gallop, with the -dragoons and cuirassiers, from reconnoisances executed on the Lower -Saale, was mounting in breathless haste towards Jena. Napoleon resolved, -therefore, to halt for a few moments on the conquered ground, to afford -his troops time to get into line. - -Meanwhile, the fugitives belonging to General Tauenzien’s force had -given the alarm to the whole camp of the Prussians. At the sound of the -cannon, the Prince of Hohenlohe had hastened to the Weimar road, where -the Prussian infantry was encamped, not yet believing the action to be -general, and complaining that the troops were harassed by being obliged -needlessly to get under arms. Being soon undeceived, he took his -measures for giving battle. Knowing that the French had passed the Saale -at Saalfeld, he had expected to see them make their appearance between -Jena and Weimar, and had drawn up his army along the road running from -one to the other of these towns. As this conjuncture was not realized, -he was obliged to change his dispositions, and he did it with promptness -and resolution. He sent the bulk of the Prussian infantry, under the -command of General Grawert, to occupy the positions abandoned by General -Tauenzien. Towards the Schnecke, which was to form his right, he left -the Niesemuchel division, composed of the two Saxon brigades of -Burgsdorf and Nehroff, of the Prussian Boguslawski battalion, and of a -numerous artillery, with orders to defend to the last extremity the -winding slopes by which the Weimar road rises to the plateaux. To aid -them, he gave them the Cerini brigade, rallied and reinforced by four -Saxon battalions. In rear of his centre, he placed a reserve of five -battalions under General Dyherrn, to support General Grawert. He had the -wrecks of Tauenzien’s corps rallied at some distance from the field of -battle, and supplied with ammunition. As for his left, he directed -General Holzendorf to push forward, if he could, and to fall upon the -right of the French, while he would himself endeavor to stop them in -front. He sent General Ruchel information of what was passing, and -begged him to hasten his march. Lastly, he hurried off himself with the -Prussian cavalry and the artillery horses, to meet the French, for the -purpose of keeping them in check and covering the formation of General -Grawert’s infantry. - -It was about ten o’clock, and the action of the morning, interrupted for -an hour, was about to begin again with greater violence, while, on the -right, Marshal Soult, debouching from Lobstedt, was climbing the heights -with St. Hilaire’s division; while in the centre Marshal Lannes, with -Suchet’s and Gazan’s divisions, was deploying on the plateaux won in the -morning; and while, on the left, Marshal Augereau, ascending from the -bottom of the Muhlthal, had reached the village of Iserstedt, Marshal -Ney, in his ardour for fighting, had advanced with his three thousand -men of the _elite_, concealed by the fog, and had placed himself between -Lannes and Augereau, facing the village of Vierzehn-Heiligen, which -occupied the centre of the field of battle. He arrived at the very -moment when the Prince of Hohenlohe was hastening up at the head of the -Prussian cavalry. Finding himself all at once facing the enemy, he -engaged before the Emperor had given orders for renewing the action. The -horse artillery of the Prince of Hohenlohe having already placed itself -in battery, Ney pushed the 10th chasseurs upon this artillery. This -regiment, taking advantage of a clump of trees to form, dashed forward -on the gallop, ascended by its right upon the flank of the Russian -artillery, cut down the gunners, and took seven pieces of cannon, under -the fire of the whole line of the enemy. But a mass of Prussian -cuirassiers rushed upon it, and he was obliged to retire with -precipitation. Ney then dispatched the 3d hussars. This regiment, -manœuvring as the 10th chasseurs had done, took advantage of the -clump of trees to form, ascended upon the flank of the cuirassiers, then -fell upon them suddenly, threw them into disorder, and forced them to -retire. Two regiments of light cavalry, however, were not enough to make -head against thirty squadrons of dragoons and cuirassiers. The chasseurs -and hussars were soon obliged to seek shelter behind the infantry. -Marshal Ney then sent forward the battalion of grenadiers and the -battalion of voltigeurs which he had brought, formed two squares, then -placing himself in one of them, opposed the charges of the Prussian -cavalry. He allowed the enemy’s cuirassiers to approach within twenty -paces of his bayonets, and terrified them by the aspect of a motionless -infantry which had reserved its fire. At his signal, a discharge within -point-blank range strewed the ground with dead and wounded. Though -several times assailed, these two squares remained unbroken. - -Napoleon, on the top of the Landgrafenberg, had been highly astonished -to hear the firing recommence without his order. He learned with still -more astonishment that Marshal Ney, whom he had supposed to be in the -rear, was engaged with the Prussians. He hastened up greatly displeased, -and on approaching Vierzehn-Heiligen, perceived from the height Marshal -Ney defending himself, in the middle of two weak squares, against the -whole of the Prussian cavalry. This heroic demonstration was enough to -dispel all displeasure. Napoleon sent General Bertrand with two -regiments of light cavalry, all that he had at hand, in the absence of -Murat, to assist in extricating Ney, and ordered Lannes to advance with -his infantry. During the time that elapsed before relief arrived, the -intrepid Ney was not disconcerted. While, with four regiments of horse, -he renewed his charges of cavalry, he moved the 25th infantry to his -left, in order to station himself on the wood of Iserstedt, which -Augereau, on his part, was striving to reach; he made the battalion of -grenadiers advance as far as the little wood which had protected his -chasseurs, and dispatched the battalion of voltigeurs to gain possession -of the village of Vierzehn-Heiligen. But, at the same instant, Lannes, -coming to his assistance, threw the 21st regiment of light infantry into -the village of Vierzehn-Heiligen, and, putting himself at the head of -the 100th, 103d, 34th, 64th, and 88th of the line, debouched in the face -of the Prussian infantry of General Grawert. The latter deployed before -the village of Vierzehn-Heiligen, with a regularity of movement due to -long exercises. It drew up in order of battle, and opened a regular and -terrible fire of small arms. Ney’s three little detachments suffered -severely; but Lannes, ascending on the right of General Grawert’s -infantry, endeavored to turn it in spite of repeated charges of the -Prince of Hohenlohe’s cavalry, which came to attack him in his march. - -The Prince of Hohenlohe bravely supported his troops amidst the danger. -The regiment of Sanitz was completely broken; he formed it anew under -the fire. He then purposed that the Zastrow regiment should retake the -village of Vierzehn-Heiligen at the point of the bayonet, hoping thereby -to decide the victory. Meanwhile he was informed that more hostile -columns began to appear; that General Holzendorf, engaged with superior -forces, was incapable of seconding him; that General Ruchel, however, -was on the point of joining him with his corps. He then judged it -expedient to wait for this powerful succor, and poured a shower of -shells into the village of Vierzehn-Heiligen, resolved to try the effect -of flames before he attacked it with his bayonets. He sent at the same -time officers to General Ruchel, to urge him to hasten up, and to -promise him the victory if he arrived in time; for, according to him, -the French were on the point of giving way. At that very hour fortune -was deciding otherwise. Augereau debouching at last from the wood of -Iserstedt with Desjardin’s division, disengaged Ney’s left, and began to -exchange a fire of musketry with the Saxons who were defending the -Schnecke, while General Heudelet attacked them in column on the high -road from Jena to Weimar. On the other side of the field of battle, the -corps of Marshal Soult, after driving the remains of the Cerini brigade, -as well as the Pelet fusiliers, out of the wood of Closewitz, and -flinging back Holzendorf’s detachment to a distance, opened its guns on -the flank of the Prussians. Napoleon, seeing the progress of his two -wings, and learning the arrival of the troops which had been left in -rear, was no longer afraid to bring into action all the forces present -on the ground, the guard included, and gave orders for advancing. An -irresistible impulse was communicated to the whole line. The Prussians -were driven back, broken, and hurled down the sloping ground which -descends from Landgrafenberg to the valley of the Ilm. The regiments of -Hohenlohe and the Hahn grenadiers, of Grawert’s division, were almost -entirely destroyed by the fire or by the bayonet. The Cerini brigade, -assailed with grape, fell back upon the Dyherrn reserve, which in vain -opposed its five battalions to the movement of the French. That reserve, -being soon left uncovered, found itself attacked, surrounded on all -sides, and forced to disperse. Tauenzien’s corps, rallied for a moment, -and brought back into the fire by the Prince of Hohenlohe, was hurried -away, like the others, in the general rout. The Prussian cavalry, taking -advantage of the absence of the heavy French cavalry, made charges to -cover its broken infantry; but the chasseurs and hussars kept it in -check; and though driven back several times, returned incessantly to the -charge. A terrible carnage followed this disorderly retreat. At every -step prisoners were made; artillery was taken by whole batteries. - -In this great danger, General Ruchel at length made his appearance, but -too late. He marched in two fines of infantry, having on the left the -cavalry belonging to his corps, and on the right the Saxon cavalry, -commanded by the brave General Zeschwitz, who had come of his own accord -and taken that position. He ascended at a foot-pace those plateaux, -sloping from the Landgrafenberg to the Ilm. While mounting, Prussian and -French poured down around him like a torrent, the one pursued by the -other. He was thus met by a sort of tempest, at the moment of his -appearance on the field of battle. While he was advancing, his heart -rent with grief at this disaster, the French rushed upon him with the -impetuosity of victory. The cavalry which covered his left flank was -first dispersed. That unfortunate general, an unwise but ardent friend -of his country, was the first to oppose the shock in person. A ball -entered his chest, and he was borne off dying in the arms of his -soldiers. His infantry, deprived of the cavalry which covered it, found -itself attacked in flank by the troops of Marshal Soult, and threatened -in front by those of Marshals Lannes and Ney. The battalions placed at -the left extremity of the line, seized with terror, dispersed, and -hurried along the rest of the corps in their flight. To aggravate the -disaster, the French dragoons and cuirassiers came up at a gallop, under -the conduct of Murat, impatient to take a share in the battle. They -surrounded those hapless and dispersed battalions, cut in pieces all who -attempted to resist, and pursued the others to the banks of the Ilm, -where they made a great number of prisoners. - -On the field of battle were left only the two Saxon brigades of -Burgsdorf and Nehroff, which, after honorably defending the Schnecke -against Heudelet’s and Desjardin’s division of Augereau’s corps, had -been forced in their position by the address of the French tirailleurs, -and effected their retreat, formed into two squares. These squares -presented three sides of infantry and one of artillery, the latter being -the rear side. The two Saxon brigades retired, halting alternately, -firing their guns, and then resuming their march. Augereau’s artillery -followed, sending balls after them; a swarm of French tirailleurs ran -after them, harassing them with their small arms. Murat, who had just -overthrown the relics of Ruchel’s corps, fell upon the two Saxon -brigades, and ordered them to be charged to the utmost extremity by his -dragoons and cuirassiers. The dragoons attacked first without forcing an -entrance; but they returned to the charge, penetrated and broke the -square. General d’Hatpoul, with the cuirassiers, attacked the second, -broke it, and made that havoc which a victorious cavalry inflicts on a -broken infantry. Those unfortunate men had no other resource but to -surrender. The Prussian battalion of Boguslawski was forced in its turn, -and treated like the others. The brave General Zeschwitz, who had -hastened with the Saxon cavalry to the assistance of its infantry, made -vain efforts to support it, and was driven back, and forced to give way -to the general rout. - -Murat rallied his squadrons, and hastened to Weimar, to collect fresh -trophies. At some distance from that town were crowded together, -pell-mell, detachments of infantry, cavalry, artillery, at the top of a -long and steep slope, formed by the high road leading down to the bottom -of the valley of the Ilm. These troops, confusedly huddled together, -were supported upon a small wood, called the wood of Webicht. All at -once, the bright helmets of the French cavalry made their appearance. A -few musket-shots were instinctively fired by this affrighted crowd. At -this signal, the mass, seized with terror, rushed down the hill, at the -foot of which Weimar is situated: foot, horse, artillerymen, all tumbled -over one another into this gulf—a new and tremendous disaster. Murat now -sent after them a part of his dragoons, who goaded on this mob with the -points of their swords, and pursued it into the streets of Weimar. With -the others he made a circuit to the other side of Weimar, and cut off -the retreat of the fugitives, who surrendered by thousands. - -Out of the seventy thousand Prussians who had appeared on the field of -battle, not a single corps remained entire, not one retreated in order. -Out of one hundred thousand French troops, composed of the corps of -Marshals Soult, Lannes, Augereau, Ney, Murat, and the guard, not more -than fifty thousand had fought, and they had been sufficient to -overthrow the Prussian army. The greater part of that army, seized with -a sort of vertigo, throwing away its arms, ceasing to know either its -colors or its officers, covered all the roads of Thuringin. About twelve -thousand Prussians and Saxons, killed and wounded, about four thousand -French killed and wounded also, strewed the ground from Jena to Weimar. -On the ground were seen stretched a great number—a greater number, -indeed, than usual—of Prussian officers, who had nobly paid for their -silly passions with their lives; Fifteen thousand prisoners, two hundred -pieces of cannon, were in the hands of the French, intoxicated with joy. -The shells of the Prussians had set fire to the town of Jena, and from -the plateaux where the battle was fought, columns of flame were seen -bursting from the dark bosom of night. French shells ploughed up the -city of Weimar, and threatened it with a similar fate. The shrieks of -fugitives while running through the streets, the tramp of Murat’s -cavalry, dashing through them at a gallop, slaughtering without mercy -all who were not quick enough in flinging down them arms, had filled -with horror that charming city—the noble asylum of letters. - -At Weimar, as at Jena, part of the inhabitants had fled. The conquerors, -disposing like masters of their almost deserted towns, established their -magazines and their hospitals in the churches and public buildings. -Napoleon, on returning from Jena, directed his attention, according to -his custom, to the collecting of the wounded, and heard shouts of _Vive -l’Empereur!_ mingled with the moans of the dying. - -But Napoleon knew not yet the full measure of his victory. In the course -of the day, he had heard the distant thundering of the cannon in the -direction of Naumberg, where he had posted Marshal Davoust. He had the -greatest confidence in the wisdom, valor, and inflexible resolution of -that great general, but he did not know of the immensely superior forces -the Marshal had to fight, to maintain his position. The facts were soon -learned. Marshal Davoust, with only twenty-six thousand men, had not -only sustained his position for many hours against the impetuous attack -of seventy thousand Prussians, commanded by the Duke of Brunswick, and -cheered by the presence of Frederick William himself, but had routed his -enemy, and thus achieved the victory of Auerstadt. Never had there been -a grander display of heroic firmness by general and soldiers. The -Prussians had lost three thousand prisoners, nine or ten thousand men, -killed or wounded, besides the Duke of Brunswick, Marshal Mollendorf and -General Schwettan mortally wounded, together with a prodigious number of -their gallant officers. Davoust had suffered a loss of seven thousand -men, killed or wounded, and half the generals of brigade and colonels -were placed _hors de combat_. The king was denied the consolation of his -army retreating in good order. Nearly every corps was broken and -disbanded, being seized with a panic. The roads were crowded with -fear-stricken fugitives. - -During the terrible night, which followed the bloody day of Jena and -Auerstadt, the victors suffered not less than the vanquished. The night -was intensely cold, and they were obliged to bivouac on the ground, -having scarcely any thing to eat. Many of them wounded, more or less -severely, were stretched on the cold earth beside wounded enemies, -mingling their groans. Napoleon made every effort in his power to -relieve their sufferings, and many a poor soldier, almost fainting from -loss of blood, exerted his feeble strength to shout “_Vive l’Empereur!_” - -But the Prussian army was annihilated. The road to Berlin was open, and -thither the French Emperor hastened, in following up his decisive -victory. A few small actions were fought and the French made thousands -of prisoners almost every day. Frederick William solicited an armistice, -but the Emperor refused to grant it for wise military reasons. He was -destined to enter the Prussian capital in triumph. Never did Europe -dread the name of Napoleon so notably as when that Prussian army, upon -which the last hope was founded, vanished before his resistless arms. - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE NAREW. - - -Napoleon, having vanquished the Prussians, once more turned his arms -against the Russians, who, under the command of Kamenski and Bennigsen, -numbered about one hundred and fifteen thousand men. They were posted -upon the Vistula; but as Napoleon easily passed that great river, they -retired behind the Narew. The passage of this stream was one of the -remarkable achievements of the French, during this portion of the -Emperor’s splendid career. - -Having arrived in the night, between the 18th and 19th of December, -1806, Napoleon reconnoitred the position of Marshal Davoust on the -Narew, but a thick fog prevented him from attaining much accurate -intelligence. He made his dispositions for attacking the enemy on the -22d or 23d of December. It is high time, he wrote to Marshal Davoust, to -take our winter quarters; but this cannot be done till we have driven -back the Russians. - -The four divisions of General Bennigsen first presented themselves. -Count Tolstoy’s division, posted at Czarnowo, occupied the apex of the -angle formed by the junction of the Ukra and the Narew. That of General -Sacken, also placed in rear towards Lopaczym, guarded the banks of the -Ukra. The division of Prince Gallitzin was in reserve at Pultusk. The -four divisions of General Buxhovden were at a great distance from those -of General Bennigsen, and not calculated to render support to him. - -It is easy to perceive that the distribution of the Russian corps was -not judiciously combined in the angle of the Ukra and the Narew, and -that they had not sufficiently concentrated their forces. If, instead of -having a single division at the point of the angle, and one on each side -at too great a distance from the first, lastly, five out of reach, they -had distributed themselves with intelligence over ground so favourable -for the defensive; if they had strongly occupied, first the conflux, -then the two rivers, the Narew from Czarnowo to Pultusk, the Ukra from -Pomichowo to Kolozomb; if they had placed in reserve in a central -position, at Nasielsk, for example, a principal mass, ready to run to -any threatened point, they might have disputed the ground with -advantage. But Generals Bennigsen and Buxhovden were on bad terms; they -disliked to be near each other; and old Kamenski, who had arrived only -on the preceding day, had neither the necessary intelligence nor spirit -for prescribing other dispositions than they had adopted in following -each of them his whim. - -Napoleon, who saw the position of the Russians from without only, -certainly concluded that they were intrenched behind the Narew and the -Ukra, for the purpose of guarding the banks, but without knowing how -they were established and distributed there. He thought that it would be -advisable to take, in the first place, the conflux, where it was -probable, they would defend themselves with energy, and having carried -that point, to proceed to the execution of his plan, which consisted in -throwing the Russians, by a wheel from right to left, into the marshy -and woody country in the interior of Poland. In consequence, having -repeated the order to Marshals Ney, Bernadotte and Bessieres, forming -his left, to proceed rapidly from Thorn to Biezun on the upper course of -the Ukra; to Marshals Soult and Augereau, forming in his centre, to set -out from Plock and Modlin, and form a junction at Plonsk on the Ukra; he -put himself at the head of his right, composed of Davoust’s corps, -Lannes’s corps, of the guard, and the reserves, resolved to force -immediately the position of the Russians at the conflux of the Ukra and -the Narew. He left in the works of Praga the Poles of the new levy, with -a division of dragoons, a force sufficient to ward off all accidents, as -the army was not to remove far from Warsaw. - -Having arrived on the morning of the 23d of December at Okunin on the -Narew, in wet weather, by muddy and almost impassable roads, Napoleon -alighted, to superintend in person the dispositions of attack. This -general, who, according to some critics, while directing armies of three -hundred thousand men, knew not how to lead a brigade into fire, went -himself to reconnoitre the enemy’s positions, and to place his forces on -the ground, down to the very companies of the voltigeurs. - -The Narew had been already crossed at Okunin, below the conflux of the -Ukra and the Narew. To penetrate into the angle formed by those two -rivers, it was necessary to pass either the Narew or the Ukra above -their point of junction. The Ukra, being the narrower of the two, was -deemed preferable for attempting a passage. Advantage had been taken of -an island which divided it into two arms, near its mouth, in order to -diminish the difficulty. On this island the French had established -themselves, and they had yet to pass the second arm to reach the point -of land occupied by the Russians between the Ukra and the Narew. This -point of land, covered with woods, coppices, marshes, &c., looked like -one very dense thicket. Further off, the ground became somewhat clearer, -then rose and formed a steep declivity, which extended from the Narew to -the Ukra. To the right of this natural intrenchment appeared the village -of Czarnowo on the Narew, to the left of the village of Pomichowo on the -Ukra. The Russians had advanced guards of tirailleurs in the thicket, -several battalions and a numerous artillery on the elevated part of the -ground, two battalions in reserve, and all their cavalry in the rear. -Napoleon repaired to the island, mounted the roof of a barn by means of -a ladder, studied the position of the Russians with a telescope, and -immediately made the following dispositions. He scattered a great -quantity of tirailleurs all along the Ukra, and to a considerable -distance above the point of passage. He ordered them to keep up a brisk -firing, and to kindle large fires with damp straw, so as to cover the -bed of the river with a cloud of smoke, and to cause the Russians to -apprehend an attack above the conflux, towards Pomichowo. He even -directed to that quarter Gauthier’s brigade, belonging to Davoust’s -corps, in order the more effectually to draw the enemy’s attention -thither. During the execution of these orders, he collected at dusk all -the companies of voltigeurs of Morand’s division, on the intended point -of passage, and ordered them to fire from one bank to the other, through -the clumps of wood, to drive off the enemy’s posts, while the seamen of -the guard were equipping the craft collected on the Narew. The 17th of -the line and the 13th light infantry were in column, ready to embark by -detachments, and the rest of Morand’s division was assembled in the -rear, in order to pass as soon as the bridge was established. The other -divisions of Davoust’s corps were at the bridge of Okunin, awaiting the -moment for acting. Lannes was advancing from Warsaw to Okunin. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE NAREW. Page 214.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The seamen of the guard soon brought some boats, by means of which -several detachments of voltigeurs were conveyed from one bank to the -other. These penetrated into the thicket, while the officers of the -pontoniers and the seamen of the guard were occupied in forming a bridge -of boats with the utmost expedition. At seven in the evening, the bridge -being passable, Morand’s division crossed in close column, and marched -forward, preceded by the 17th of the line and the 13th light infantry, -and by a swarm of tirailleurs. They advanced under cover of the darkness -and the wood. The sappers of the regiment cleared a passage through the -thicket for the infantry. No sooner had they overcome these first -obstacles, than they found themselves unsheltered, opposite to the -elevated plateau which runs from the Narew to the Ukra, and which was -defended either by abattis or by a numerous artillery. The Russians, -amidst the darkness of the night, opened upon the French columns a -continuous fire of grape and musketry, which did some mischief. While -the voltigeurs of Morand’s division and the 13th light infantry -approached as tirailleurs, Colonel Lanusse, at the head of the 17th of -the line, formed in column of attack on the right, to storm the Russian -batteries. He had already carried one of them, when the Russians -advancing in mass upon his left flank, obliged him to fall back. The -rest of Morand’s division came up to the support of the two first -regiments. The 13th light, infantry having exhausted its cartridges, was -replaced by the 30th, and again they marched by the right to attack the -village of Czarnowo, while on the left, General Petit proceeded with -four hundred picked men to the attack of the Russian intrenchments -facing the Ukra, opposite to Pomichowo. In spite of the darkness, they -manœuvred with the utmost order. Two battalions of the 30th and one -of the 17th attacked Czarnowo, one by going along the bank of the Narew, -the two others by directly climbing the plateau on which the village is -seated. These three battalions carried Czarnowo, and, followed by the -51st and the 61st regiments, debouched on the plateau, driving back the -Russians into the plain beyond it. At the same moment General Petit had -assaulted the extremity of the enemy’s intrenchments towards the Ukra, -and, seconded by the fire of artillery, kept up by Gauthier’s brigade -from the other side of the river, had carried them. At midnight, the -assailants were masters of the position of the Russians from the Narew -to the Ukra, but, from the tardiness of their retreat, which could be -discerned in the dark, it was to be inferred that they would return to -the charge, and, for this reason, Marshal Davoust sent the second -brigade of General Gudin’s division to the assistance of General Petit -who was most exposed. During the night, the Russians, as it had been -foreseen, returned three times to the charge, with the intention of -retaking the position which they had lost, and hurling down the French -from the plateau towards that point of woody and marshy ground on which -they had landed. Thrice were they suffered to approach within thirty -paces, and each time the French replying to their attack by a -point-blank fire, brought them to a dead stand, and then, meeting them -with the bayonet, repulsed them. At length, the night being far -advanced, they betook themselves in full retreat, towards Nasielsk. -Never was night action fought with greater order, precision, and -hardihood. The Russians left, killed, wounded and prisoners, about -eighteen hundred men, and a great quantity of artillery. The French had -six hundred wounded, and about one hundred killed. - -Napoleon, at his evening camp-fire on the Narew, congratulated General -Morand and Marshal Davoust upon their gallant conduct, and hastened to -reap the benefits of the victory. Then followed a series of actions in -terrible weather, and in a country now hardened with frost, and then -slushed with rain. In all these, the lieutenants of the Emperor, and -especially the indomitable Lannes, gained unfading glory. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - CAMP-FIRE AT EYLAU. - - -The Russians, under General Bennigsen, were pursued and harassed by the -French Marshals after the passage of the Narew, until the evening of the -7th of February, 1807, when they halted beyond the village of Eylau, and -evinced a determination to give battle on the following day. The French -army was worn with fatigue, reduced in number by rapid marches and -rear-guard actions, pinched with hunger and suffering from cold. But -they were now to fight a great battle against a superior number of brave -and disciplined troops. - -Napoleon, losing no time, dispatched the same evening several officers -to Marshals Davoust and Ney, to bring them back, the one to his right, -the other to his left. Marshal Davoust had continued to follow the Alle -to Bartenstein, and he was not more than three or four leagues off. He -replied that he should arrive at daybreak upon the right of Eylau (the -right of the French army) ready to fall upon the flank of the Russians. -Marshal Ney, who had been directed upon the left, so as to keep the -Prussians at a distance, and to be able to rush upon Konigsberg, in case -the Russians should throw themselves behind the Pregel—Marshal Ney was -marching for Krentzburg. Messengers were dispatched after him, though it -was not so sure that he could be brought back in time to the field of -battle, as it was that Marshal Davoust would make his appearance there. - -Deprived of Ney’s corps, the French army amounted at most to fifty and -some thousand men. If Marshal Ney were to arrive in time, it would be -possible to oppose sixty-three thousand men to the enemy, all present -under fire. No expectation could be entertained of the arrival of -Bernadotte’s corps, which was thirty leagues off. - -Napoleon, who slept that night but three or four hours in a chair in the -house of the postmaster, placed the corps of Marshal Soult at Eylau -itself, partly within the town, partly on the right and left of it, -Augereau’s corps and the imperial guard a little in rear, and all the -cavalry upon the wings, till daylight should enable him to make his -dispositions. - -General Bennigsen had at last determined to give battle. He was on level -ground, or nearly so, excellent ground for his infantry, not much versed -in manœuvres, but solid, and for his cavalry, which was numerous. His -heavy artillery, which he had directed to make a circuit, that it might -not cramp his movements, had just rejoined him. - -His army, amounting to seventy-eight or eighty thousand men, and to -ninety thousand with the Prussians, had sustained considerable losses in -the late battles, but scarcely any in marches, for an army in retreat, -without being in disorder, is rallied by the enemy that pursues it, -whereas the pursuing army, not having the same motives for keeping close -together, always leaves part of its effective force behind. Deducting -the losses sustained at Mohrungen, Bergfried, Waltersdorf, Hoff, -Heilsberg, and at Eylau itself, one may say that General Bennigsen’s -army was reduced to about eighty thousand men, seventy-two thousand of -whom were Russians, and eight thousand Prussians. Thus, in case General -Lestocq and Marshal Ney should not arrive, fifty-four thousand French -would have to fight seventy-two thousand Russians. The Russians had, -moreover, a formidable artillery, computed at four or five hundred -pieces. That of the French amounted to two hundred at most, including -the guard. It is true that it was superior to all the artilleries of -Europe, even to that of the Austrians. General Bennigsen, therefore, -determined to attack at daybreak. The character of his soldiers was -energetic, like that of the French soldiers, but governed by other -motives. The Russians had neither that confidence of success nor that -love of glory which the French exhibited, but a certain fanaticism of -obedience, which induced them to brave death blindly. - -Since debouching upon Eylau, the country appeared level and open. The -little town of Eylau, situated on a slight eminence, and topped by a -Gothic spire, was the only conspicuous point. The ground gently sloping, -on the right of the church, presented a cemetery. In front it rose -perceptibly, and on this rise, marked by some hillocks, appeared the -Russians in a deep mass. Several lakes, full of water in spring, frozen -in winter, at this time covered with snow, were not distinguishable in -any way from the rest of the plain. Scarcely did a few barns united into -hamlets, and lines of barriers for folding cattle, form a _point -d’appui_, or an obstacle on this dreary field of battle. A gray sky, -dissolving at times into thick snow, added its dreariness to that of the -country, a dreariness which seized upon both the eye and heart. - -During the greater part of the night Napoleon was employed in learning -the force and position of the enemy, and drawing a plan of the battle, -as he reclined on the snow by his dreary camp-fire. The four hours of -sleep in a chair was quite sufficient to refresh his energies, and -prepare him for the great struggle of the next day. The troops who -bivouacked in the vicinity of Eylau, suffered severely from the cold. -They had but few fires, as fuel was scarce. Most of these gallant -soldiers, who had been marching and fighting for several days, dared not -trust themselves to slumber on the ground for fear of freezing to death. - -At break of the day, the position of the Russians was discovered. They -were drawn up in two lines, very near to each other, their front being -covered by three hundred pieces of cannon, planted on the salient points -of the ground. In the rear, two close columns, appuying, like two flying -buttresses, this double fine of battle seemed designed to support it, -and to prevent its breaking under the shock of a charge from the -impetuous French. A strong reserve of artillery was placed at some -distance. The cavalry was partly in the rear, and partly on the wings. -The Cossacks kept with the body of the army. - -Napoleon, on horseback, at daybreak, stationed himself in the cemetery -to the right of Eylau, where, scarcely protected by a few trees from the -cannonade which the Russians had already commenced, he surveyed the -positions of the enemy. He could foresee that victory would cost him -dearly, from the solid and obstinate mass which the Russian general had -formed. - -Owing to the position of Eylau, which stretched itself out facing the -Russians, Napoleon could give the less depth to his line of battle, and -consequently the less scope to the balls of the artillery. Two of -Marshal Soult’s divisions were placed at Eylau, Legrand’s division in -advance and a little to the left, Leval’s division, partly on the left -of the town, upon an eminence topped by a mill, partly on the right, at -the cemetery itself. The third division of Marshal Soult’s, St. -Hilaire’s division, was established still further to the right, at a -considerable distance from the cemetery, in the village of Rothenen, -which formed the prolongation of the position of Eylau. In the interval -between the village of Rothenen, and the town of Eylau, an interval left -vacant for the purpose of making the rest of the army debouch there, was -posted a little in rear, Augereau’s corps, drawn up in two lines, and -formed of Desjardins’s and Heudelet’s divisions. Augereau, tormented -with fever, his eyes red and swollen, but forgetting his complaints at -the sound of the cannon, had mounted his horse to put himself at the -head of his troops. Further in rear of that same _debouche_ came the -infantry and cavalry of the imperial guard, the divisions of cuirassiers -and dragoons, both ready to present themselves to the enemy by the same -outlet, and meanwhile somewhat sheltered from the cannon by a hollow of -the ground. Lastly, at the extreme right of this field of battle, beyond -and in advance of Rothenen, at the hamlet of Serpallen, the corps of -Marshal Davoust was to enter into action in such a manner as to fall -upon the flank of the Russians. - -Thus Napoleon was in open order, and his line having the advantage of -being covered on the left by the buildings of Eylau, on the right by -those of Rothenen, the combat of artillery, by which he designed to -demolish the kind of wall opposed to him by the Russians, would be much -less formidable for him than for them. He had caused all the cannon of -the army to be removed from the corps, and placed in order of battle. To -these he had ordered the forty pieces belonging to the guard, and he was -thus about to reply to the formidable artillery of the Russians by an -artillery far inferior in number, but much superior in skill. - -The Russians had commenced the firing. The French had answered it -immediately by a violent cannonade at half cannon-shot. The earth shook -under the tremendous detonation. The French artillerymen, not only more -expert, but firing at a living mass, which served them for a butt, made -dreadful havoc. The balls swept down whole files. Those of the Russians, -on the contrary, directed with less precision, and striking against -buildings, inflicted less mischief. The town of Eylau and the village of -Rothenen were soon set on fire. The glare of the conflagration added its -terrors to the horrors of the carnage. Though there fell far fewer -French than Russians, still there fell a great many, especially in the -ranks of the imperial guard, motionless in the cemetery. The -projectiles, passing over the head of Napoleon, and sometimes very close -to him, penetrated the walls of the church, or broke branches from the -trees at the foot of which he had placed himself to direct the battle. - -This cannonade lasted for a long time, and both armies bore it with -heroic tranquillity, never stirring, and merely closing their ranks as -fast as the cannon made breaches in them. The Russians seemed first to -feel a sort of impatience. Desirous of accelerating the result by the -taking of Eylau, they moved off to carry the position of the mill, -situated on the left of the town. - -Part of their right formed in column, and came to the attack. Leval’s -division gallantly repulsed it, and by their firmness left the Russians -no hope of success. - -As for Napoleon, he attempted nothing decisive, for he would not -endanger, by sending it forward, the corps of Marshal Soult, which had -done so well to keep Eylau under such a tremendous cannonade. He waited -for acting till the presence of Marshal Davoust’s corps, which was -coming on the right, should begin to be felt on the flank of the -Russians. - -This lieutenant, punctual as he was intrepid, had actually arrived at -the village of Serpallen. Friant’s division marched at the head. It -debouched the first, encountered the Cossacks, whom it had soon driven -back, and occupied the village of Serpallen with some companies of fight -infantry. No sooner was it established in the village and in the grounds -on the right, than one of the masses of cavalry posted on the wings of -the Russian army detached itself, and advanced towards. General Friant, -availing himself with intelligence and coolness of the advantages -afforded by the accidents of the locality, drew up the three regiments -of which his division was then composed behind the long and solid wooden -barrier, which served for folding cattle. Sheltered behind this natural -intrenchment, he kept up a fire within point-blank range upon the -Russian squadrons, and forced them to retire. They fell back, but soon -returned, accompanied by a column of nine or ten thousand infantry. It -was one of the two close columns, which served for flying buttresses to -the Russian fine of battle, and which now bore to the left of that fine, -to retake Serpallen. General Friant had but five hundred men to oppose -to it. Still, sheltered behind the wooden barrier with which he had -covered himself, and able to deploy without apprehension of being -charged by the cavalry, he saluted the Russians with a fire so -continuous and so well directed, as to occasion them considerable loss. -Their squadrons having shown an intention to turn him, he formed the 33d -into square on his right, and stopped them by the imperturbable bearing -of his foot-soldiers. As he could not make use of his cavalry, which -consisted of some horse chasseurs, he made amends for it by a swarm of -tirailleurs, who kept up such a fire upon the flanks of the Russians, as -to oblige them to retire towards the heights in rear of Serpallen, -between Serpallen and Klein-Sausgarten. On retiring to these heights, -the Russians covered themselves by a numerous artillery, the downward -fire of which was very destructive. Morand’s division had arrived in its -turn on the field of battle. Marshal Davoust, taking the first brigade, -that of General Ricard, went and placed it beyond and on the left of -Serpallen; he then posted the second, composed of the 51st and the 61st, -on the right of the villages, so as to support either Ricard’s brigade -or Friant’s division. The latter had proceeded to the right of -Serpallen, towards Klein-Sausgarten. At this very moment, Gudin’s -division was accelerating its speed to get into line. Thus the Russians -had been obliged by the movement of the French right to draw back their -left from Serpallen towards Klein-Sausgarten. - -The expected effect on the flank of the enemy’s army was therefore -produced. Napoleon, from the position which he occupied, had distinctly -seen the Russian reserves directed towards the corps of Marshal Davoust. -The hour for acting had arrived; for, unless he interfered, the Russians -might fall in mass upon Marshal Davoust and crush him. Napoleon -immediately gave his orders. He directed St. Hilaire’s division, which -was at Rothenen, to push forward and to give a hand to Morand’s division -about Serpallen. He commanded the two divisions of Augereau’s corps, to -debouch by the interval between Rothenen and Eylau, to connect -themselves with St. Hilaire’s division, and to form all together an -oblong line from the cemetery of Eylau to Serpallen. The result expected -from this movement was to overturn the Russians, by throwing their right -upon their centre, and thus break down, beginning at its extremity, the -long wall which he had before him. - -It was ten in the morning. General St. Hilaire moved off, left Rothenen, -and deployed obliquely in the plain, under a terrible fire of artillery, -his right at Serpallen, his left towards the cemetery. Augereau moved -nearly at the same time, not without a melancholy foreboding of the fate -reserved for his _corps d’armee_, which he saw exposed to the danger of -being dashed to pieces against the centre of the Russians, solidly -appuyed upon several hillocks. While General Corbineau was delivering -the orders of the Emperor to him, a ball pierced the side of that -gallant officer. Marshal Augereau marched immediately. The two divisions -of Desjardins and Heudelet debouched between Rothenen and the cemetery, -in close columns; then, having cleared the defile, formed in order of -battle, the first brigade of each division deployed, the second in -square. While they were advancing, a squall of wind and snow, beating -all at once into the faces of the soldiers, prevented them from seeing -the field of battle. The two divisions, enveloped in this kind of cloud, -mistook their direction, and bore a little to the left, leaving on their -right a considerable space between them and St. Hilaire’s division. The -Russians, but little incommoded by the snow, which they had at their -backs, seeing Augereau’s two divisions advancing towards the hillocks on -which they appuyed their centre, suddenly unmasked a battery of -seventy-two pieces, which they kept in reserve. So thick was the grape -poured forth by this formidable battery, that in a quarter of an hour -half of Augereau’s corps was swept down. General Desjardins, commanding -the first division, was killed; General Heudelet, commanding the second, -received a wound that was nearly mortal. The staff of the two divisions -was soon _hors de combat_. While they were sustaining this tremendous -fire, being obliged to re-form while marching, so much were their ranks -thinned, the Russian cavalry, throwing itself into the space which -separated it from Morand’s division, rushed upon them _en masse_. Those -brave divisions, however, resisted—but they were obliged to fall back -towards the cemetery of Eylau, giving ground without breaking, under the -repeated assaults of numerous squadrons. The snow having suddenly -ceased, they could then perceive the melancholy spectacle. Out of six or -seven thousand combatants, about four thousand killed or wounded strewed -the ground. Augereau, wounded, himself, but more affected by the -disaster of his _corps d’armee_ than by his personal danger, was carried -into the cemetery of Eylau to the feet of Napoleon, to whom he -complained, not without bitterness, of not having been timely succored. -Silent grief pervaded every face in the imperial staff. Napoleon, calm -and firm, imposing on others the impassibility which he imposed on -himself, addressed a few soothing words to Augereau, then sent him to -the rear, and took his measures for repairing the mischief. Dispatching, -in the first place, the chasseurs of his guard and some squadrons of -dragoons which were at hand, to drive back the enemy’s cavalry, he sent -for Murat, and ordered him to make a decisive effort on the line of -infantry which formed the centre of the Russian army, and which, taking -advantage of Augereau’s disaster, began to press forward. At the first -summons, Murat came up at a gallop. “Well,” said Napoleon, “_are you -going to let those fellows eat us up_?” He then ordered that heroic -chief of his cavalry to collect the chasseurs, the dragoons, the -cuirassiers, and to fall upon the Russians with eighty squadrons, to try -what effect the shock of such a mass of horse, charging furiously, would -have on an infantry reported not to be shaken. The cavalry of the guard -was brought forward, ready to add its shock to the cavalry of the army. -The moment was critical, for, if the Russian infantry were not stopped, -it would go and attack the cemetery, the centre of the position, and -Napoleon had only six foot battalions of the imperial guard to defend -it. - -Murat galloped off, collected his squadrons, made them pass between the -cemetery and Rothenen, through the same debouch by which Augereau’s -corps had already marched to almost certain destruction. General -Grouchy’s dragoons charged first, to sweep the ground, and clear it of -the enemy’s cavalry. That brave officer, whose horse fell with him, put -himself, on rising, at the head of a second brigade, and effected his -purpose of dispersing the groups of cavalry which preceded the Russian -infantry. But, for overturning the latter, nothing short of the heavy -iron-clad squadrons of General d’Hautpoul was required. That officer, -who distinguished himself by consummate skill in the art of managing a -numerous cavalry, came forward with twenty-four squadrons of -cuirassiers, followed by the whole mass of dragoons. These cuirassiers, -ranged in several lines, started off and threw themselves upon the -Russian bayonets. The first lines, arrested by the fire, could not -penetrate, and falling back to right and left, went to form afresh -behind those who followed them, in order to charge anew. At length, one -of them, rushing on with more violence, broke the enemy’s infantry at -one point, and opened a breach, through which cuirassiers and dragoons -strove which should penetrate first. As a river, which has begun to -break down a dike, soon carries it away entirely, so the masses of the -squadrons, having once penetrated the infantry of the Russians, finished -in a few moments the overthrow of their first line. The horse then -dispersed to slaughter. A most horrible fray ensued between them and the -Russian foot soldiers. They went, and came, and struck on all sides -those obstinate antagonists. While the first line of infantry was thus -overturned and cut in pieces, the second fell back to a wood that -bounded the field of battle. A last reserve of artillery had been left -there. The Russians placed it in battery, and fired confusedly at their -own soldiers and at the French, not caring whether they slaughtered -friends or foes, if they only got rid of the formidable horse. General -d’Hautpoul was mortally wounded by a rifle ball. While the cavalry was -thus engaged with the second line of the Russian infantry, some parties -of the first rallied and renewed their fire. At this sight the horse -grenadiers of the guard, headed by General Lepic, one of the heroes of -the army, came forward in their turn to second Murat’s efforts. Dashing -off at a gallop, they charged the groups of infantry which they -perceived to be still on their legs, and crossing the ground in all -directions, completed the destruction of the centre of the Russian army, -the wrecks of which at last fled for refuge to the patches of wood which -had served them for an asylum. - -During this scene of confusion, a fragment of that vast line of infantry -had advanced to that same cemetery. Three or four thousand Russian -grenadiers, marching straight forward with the blind courage of braver -and more intelligent troops, came to throw themselves on the church of -Eylau, and threatened the cemetery occupied by the imperial staff. The -foot guard, motionless till then, had endured the cannonade without -firing a piece. With joy it beheld an occasion for fighting arrive. A -battalion was called for; two disputed the honor of marching. The first -in order, led by General Dorsenne, obtained the advantage of measuring -its strength with the Russian grenadiers, went up to them without firing -a shot, attacked them with the bayonet, and threw one upon another, -while Murat dispatched against them two battalions of chasseurs under -General Bruyere. The Russian grenadiers, hemmed in between the bayonets -of the grenadiers of the guard and the swords of the chasseurs, were -almost all taken or killed, before the face of Napoleon, and only a few -paces from him. - -This cavalry action, the most extraordinary perhaps of any in the great -wars, had for its result to overthrow the centre of the Russians, and to -drive it back to a considerable distance. It would have been requisite -to have at hand a reserve of infantry, in order to complete the defeat -of troops which, after being laid on the ground, rose again to fire. But -Napoleon durst not venture to dispose of Marshal Soult’s corps, reduced -to half of its effective, and necessary for keeping Eylau. Augereau’s -corps was almost destroyed. - -Napoleon, in the cemetery, in which were heaped the bodies of a great -number of his officers among the time-browned tombstones, was graver -than usual; but his countenance was inflexible as ever, and no thought -of retreat crossed his resolute soul. Crowds of his bravest veterans -were lying mangled around him; and the prospect of the field must have -been gloomy, indeed. But his iron will did not bend; he had confidence -that the star of his fortune had not yet begun to descend. - -Marshal Davoust and General St. Hilaire justified the confidence of -their chief, and not only maintained their own position against the -enemy, but had even pushed detachments upon their rear. But the event -which Napoleon dreaded had occurred. - -General Lestocq, perseveringly pursued by Marshal Ney, appeared on that -field of carnage, with seven or eight thousand Prussians, eager to -revenge themselves for the disdain of the Russians. General Lestocq, -only an hour or two ahead of Marshal Ney’s corps, had merely time to -strike one blow before he was struck himself. He debouched upon the -field of battle at Schmoditten, passed behind the double line of the -Russians, now broken by the fire of the artillery, by the swords of the -horse, and presented himself at Kuschitten, in front of Friant’s -division, which, passing beyond Klein-Sausgarten; had already driven -back the left of the enemy upon its centre. The village of Kuschitten -was occupied by four companies of the 108th, and by the 51st, which had -been detached from Morand’s division for the support of Friant’s -division. The Prussians, rallying the Russians around them, dashed -impetuously on the 51st, and on the four companies of the 108th, without -being able to break them, though they obliged them to fall back to a -considerable distance, in rear of Kuschitten. The Prussians, after this -first advantage, pushed on beyond Kuschitten, in order to recover the -positions of the morning. They marched, deployed in two lines. The -Russian reserves, being rallied, formed two close columns on their -wings. A numerous artillery preceded them. In this manner they advanced -across the rear of the field of battle, to regain the lost ground, and -to beat back Marshal Davoust upon Klein-Sausgarten, and from -Klein-Sausgarten to Serpallen. But Generals Friant and Gudin, having -Marshal Davoust at their head, hastened up. Friant’s entire division, -and the 12th, 21st and 25th regiments, belonging to Gudin’s division, -placed themselves foremost, covered by the whole of the artillery of the -third corps. To no purpose did the Russians and Prussians exert -themselves to overcome the formidable obstacle; they were unsuccessful. -The French, appuyed on woods, marshes and hillocks, here deployed in -line, there dispersed as tirailleurs, opposed an invincible obstinacy to -this last effort of the allies. Marshal Davoust, passing through the -ranks till dark, kept up the firmness of his soldiers, saying, “Cowards -will be sent to die in Siberia; the brave will die here like men of -honor.” The Prussians and the raided Russians desisted from the attack. -Marshal Davoust remained firm in that position of Klein-Sausgarten, -where he threatened the rear of the enemy. - -The two armies were exhausted. That day, so sombre, was every moment -becoming more sombre still, and about to terminate in a tremendous -night. More than thirty thousand Russians, struck by the balls and the -swords of the French, strewed the ground, some dead, others wounded more -or less severely. Many of the soldiers began to abandon their colors. -General Bennigsen, surrounded by his lieutenants, was deliberating -whether to resume the offensive, and try the effect of one more effort. -But, out of an army of eighty thousand men, not more than forty thousand -were left in a state to fight, the Prussians included. If he were -worsted in this desperate engagement, he would not have wherewithal to -cover his retreat. However, he was still hesitating, when intelligence -was brought him of a last and important incident. Marshal Ney, who had -closely followed the Prussians, arriving in the evening on the left, as -Marshal Davoust had arrived in the morning on the right, debouched at -length near Althof. - -Thus Napoleons combinations, retarded by time, had, nevertheless, -brought upon the two flanks of the Russian army the forces that were to -decide the victory. The order for retreat could no longer be deferred; -for Marshal Davoust, having maintained himself at Klein-Sausgarten, -would not have much to do to meet Marshal Ney, who had advanced to -Schmoditten; and the junction of these two Marshals would have exposed -the Russians to the risk of being enveloped. The order for retreating -was instantly given by General Bennigsen; but, to insure the retreat, he -purposed to curb Marshal Ney, by attempting to take from him the village -of Schmoditten. The Russians marched upon that village, under favor of -the night, and in profound silence, in hopes of surprising the troops of -Marshal Ney, who had arrived late on the field of battle, when it was -difficult to recognise one another. But the latter were on their guard. -General Marchand, with the 6th light infantry, and the 39th of the line, -allowing the Russians to approach, then receiving them with a -point-blank fire, stopped them short. He then rushed upon them with the -bayonet, and obliged them to renounce all serious attack. From that -moment they definitely commenced their retreat. - -Napoleon knew that he was master of the field of battle. He occupied the -slightly rising plain beyond Eylau, having his cavalry and his guard -before him and at the centre, and his other corps in possession of the -positions which the Russians had occupied in the morning. - -Certain of being victorious, but grieved to the bottom of his heart, the -Emperor had remained amidst his troops, and ordered them to kindle -fires, and not leave the ranks, even to go in quest of provisions. A -small quantity of bread and brandy was distributed among the soldiers, -and, though there was not enough for all, yet no complaints were heard. -Less joyous than at Austerlitz and at Jena, they were full of -confidence, proud of themselves, ready to renew that dreadful struggle, -if the Russians had the courage and the strength to do so. Whoever had -given them, at this moment, bread and brandy, which they were in want -of, would have found them in as high spirits as usual. Two artillerymen -of Marshal Davoust’s corps having been absent from their company during -this engagement, and arrived too late to be present at the battle, their -comrades assembled in the evening at the bivouac, tried them, and not -liking their reasons, inflicted upon them, on that frozen and -blood-stained ground, the burlesque punishment which the soldiers call -the _savate_. - -There was no great abundance of any thing but ammunition. The service of -the artillery, performed with extraordinary activity, had already -replaced the ammunition consumed. With not less zeal was the service of -the medical and surgical department performed. A great number of wounded -had been picked up; to the others relief was administered on the spot, -till they could be removed in their turn. Napoleon, overwhelmed with -fatigue, was still afoot, and superintending the attentions that were -paid to his soldiers. - -In the rear of the army, so firm a countenance was not every where -presented. Many stragglers, excluded from the effective in the morning, -in consequence of the marches, had heard the din of that tremendous -battle, had caught some hourras of the Cossacks, and fallen back, -circulating bad news along the roads. The brave collected to range -themselves beside their comrades, the others dispersed in the various -routes which the army had traversed. - -Daybreak next morning threw a light upon that frightful field of battle, -and Napoleon himself was moved to such a degree as to betray his -feelings in the bulletin which he published. On that icy plain, -thousands of dead and dying, cruelly mangled, thousands of prostrate -horses, an infinite quantity of dismounted cannon, broken carriages, -scattered projectiles, burning hamlets, _all this standing out from a -ground of snow_, exhibited a thrilling and terrible spectacle. “This -spectacle,” exclaimed Napoleon, “is fit to excite in princes a love of -peace and a horror of war!” - -This singularity struck all eyes. From a propensity for returning to the -things of past times, and also from economy, an attempt had been made to -introduce the white uniform again into the army. The experiment had been -made with some regiments, but the sight of blood on the white dress -decided the question. Napoleon, filled with disgust and horror, declared -that he would have none but blue uniforms, whatever might be the cost. - -The Russians had left upon the field, about seven thousand dead, and -five thousand wounded, and they took with them fifteen thousand more -wounded. They had consequently twenty-seven thousand men placed _hors de -combat_. Besides this loss, four thousand prisoners were made by the -French, who also captured twenty-four pieces of cannon and sixteen -colors. The loss of the French was about three thousand killed and four -thousand wounded. Several eagles had been carried away by Bennigsen. It -was a terrible, but indecisive battle. The victor was too much grieved -to listen to the pæans of triumph, although his valor and skill had been -nobly displayed in defeating a superior enemy. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT FRIEDLAND. - - -After the bloody struggle of Eylau, in which thirty thousand men were -placed _hors de combat_, the Russians seemed desirous of avoiding a -conflict until they had received large reinforcements. In the mean time, -Napoleon collected about two hundred thousand men between the Vistula, -and the Memel, besieged and captured Dantzic, and was again in a -condition to strike a tremendous blow at the inferior forces of the -enemy. Early in June, 1807, the Russian general, Bennigsen, made the -first offensive movement. The division of Marshal Ney, stationed at -Gustadt, was attacked by a superior force, and that intrepid officer -retreated, fighting, as far as Deppen. But on the 8th of June, Napoleon -moved forward to extricate his lieutenant, and the Russians then fell -back upon Heilsberg. There a desperate action occurred, in which both -armies suffered terribly. The Russians were compelled to retreat, but -they retired unmolested. On the 13th, Bennigsen approached the town of -Friedland, situated on the west bank of the Alle, communicating with the -eastern bank by long wooden bridges. Here the decisive battle of the -next day was fought. - -The course of the Alle, near the spot where the two armies were about to -meet, exhibits numerous windings. The French came up by the woody hills, -beyond which the ground gradually sinks to the banks of the Alle. The -ground at this season was covered with rye of great height. To the right -of the French, the river was seen pursuing its way through the plain, -then turning round Friedland, coming to the left, thus forming an elbow. -At daybreak on the morning of the 14th, Lannes, who commanded the -advanced division of the French army, reached Posthenen, whence he could -see the Russians marching across the bridges to deploy into the plain, -and drawing up in a line of battle facing the heights. A rivulet, called -the Mill Stream, there formed a small pond, after dividing the plain -into two unequal halves. Bennigsen imagined that he had to contend with -but one division of the French army, and, for the time, he had this -advantage. But the whole force under Napoleon’s immediate command was -coming up to support the gallant Lannes, and by crossing the bridges, -the Russian general fairly placed himself in the power of the Emperor. -For this Napoleon had manœuvred several days, and he now saw that the -victory would be one of that complete, decisive kind he loved. - -Marshal Lannes, in his haste to march, had brought with him only -Oudinot’s voltigeurs and grenadiers, the 9th hussars, Grouchy’s -dragoons, and two regiments of Saxon cavalry. He could not oppose more -than ten thousand men to the enemy’s advanced guard, which, successively -reinforced, was treble that number, and was soon to be followed by the -whole Russian army. Fortunately for the French, the soil afforded -numerous resources to the skill and courage of their illustrious -marshal. In the centre of the position which it was necessary to occupy, -in order to bar the way against the Russians, was a village, that of -Posthenen, through which ran the Mill Stream to pursue its course to -Friedland. Somewhat in rear rose a plateau, from which the plain of the -Alle might be battered. Lannes placed his artillery there, and several -battalions of grenadiers to protect it. On the right, a thick wood, that -of Sortlack, protruded in a salient, and divided into two the space -comprised between the village of Posthenen and the banks of the Alle. -There Lannes posted two battalions of voltigeurs, which, dispersed as -tirailleurs, would be able to stop for a long time troops not numerous -and not very resolute. The 9th hussars, Grouchy’s dragoons, the Saxon -cavalry, amounted to three thousand horse, ready to fall upon any column -which should attempt to penetrate that curtain of tirailleurs. On the -left of Posthenen, the line of woody heights extended, gradually -lowering in the village of Heinrichsdorf, through which ran the high -road from Friedland to Konigsberg. This point was of great importance, -for the Russians, desirous to reach Konigsberg, would, of course, -obstinately dispute the road thither. Besides, this part of the field of -battle being more open, was naturally more difficult to defend. Lannes, -who had not yet troops sufficient to establish himself there, had placed -on his left, taking advantage of the woods and heights, the rest of his -battalions, thus approaching the houses of Heinrichsdorf without being -able to occupy them. - -The fire, commenced at three in the morning, became all at once -extremely brisk. The artillery, placed on the plateau of Posthenen, -under the protection of Oudinot’s grenadiers, kept the Russians at a -distance, and made considerable havoc among them. On the right, the -voltigeurs, scattered on the skirt of the wood of Sortlack, stopped -their infantry by an incessant tirailleur fire, and the Saxon horse, -directed by General Grouchy, had made several unsuccessful charges -against their cavalry. The Russians having become threatening towards -Heinrichsdorf, General Grouchy, moving from the right to the left, -galloped thither, to dispute with them the Konigsberg road, the -important point for the possession of which torrents of blood were about -to be spilt. - -Though, in these first moments, Marshal Lannes had but ten thousand men -to oppose twenty-five or thirty thousand, he maintained his ground, -thanks to great skill and energy, and also to the able concurrence of -General Oudinot, commanding the grenadiers, and of General Grouchy, -commanding the cavalry. But the enemy reinforced himself from hour to -hour, and General Bennigsen, on arriving at Friedland, had suddenly -formed the resolution to give battle—a very rash resolution, for it -would have been much wiser for him to have continued to descend the Alle -to the junction of that river with the Pregel, and to take a position -behind the latter, with his left to Wehlau, his right to Konigsberg. It -would have taken him, it is true, another day to reach Konigsberg; but -he would not have risked a battle against an army superior in number, in -quality, better officered, and in a very unfavorable situation for him, -since he had a river at his back, and he was very likely to be pushed -into the elbow of the Alle, with all that vigor of impulsion of which -the French army was capable. - -He lost no time in having three bridges thrown over the Alle, one above -and two below Friedland, in order to accelerate the passage of his -troops, and also to furnish them with means of retreat. He lined with -artillery the right bank, by which he arrived, and which commanded the -left bank. Then, nearly his whole army having debouched, he disposed it -in the following manner:—In the plain around Heinrichsdorf, on the right -for him, on the left for the French, he placed four divisions of -infantry, under Lieutenant-General Gortschakoff, and the better part of -the cavalry under General Ouwarroff. The infantry was formed in two -lines. In the first were two battalions of each regiment deployed, and a -third drawn up in close column behind the two others, closing the -interval which separated them. In the second, the field of battle -gradually narrowing the further it extended into the angle of the Alle, -a single battalion was deployed and two were formed in close column. The -cavalry, ranged on the side and a little in advance, flanked the -infantry. On the left (the right of the French,) two Russian divisions, -of which the imperial guard formed part, increased by all the -detachments of chasseurs, occupied the portion of the ground comprised -between the Mill Stream and the Alle. They were drawn up in two lines, -but very near each other, on account of the want of room. Prince -Bagration commanded them. The cavalry of the guard was there, under -General Kollogribow. Four flying bridges had been thrown across the Mill -Stream, that it might interrupt the communications between the two wings -as little as possible. The fourth Russian division had been left on the -other side of the Alle, on the ground commanding the left bank, to -collect the army in case of disaster or to come and decide the victory, -if it obtained any commencement of success. The Russians had more than -two hundred pieces of cannon upon their front, besides those which were -either in reserve or in battery on the right bank. Their army, reduced -to eighty or eighty-two thousand men after Heilsberg, separated at this -time from Kamenski’s corps and from some detachments sent to Wehlau to -guard the bridges of the Alle, still amounted to seventy-two or -seventy-five thousand men. General Bennigsen caused the mass of the -Russian army to be moved forward in the order just described, so that, -on getting out of the elbow of the Alle, it might deploy, extend its -fires, and avail itself of the advantages of number which it possessed -at the beginning of the battle. - -The situation of Lannes was perilous, for he had the whole Russian army -upon his hands. Fortunately, the time which had elapsed had procured him -some reinforcements. General Nansouty’s division of heavy cavalry, -composed of three thousand five hundred cuirassiers and carbineers, -Dupas’s division, which was the first of Mortier’s corps, and numbered -six thousand foot soldiers, lastly, Verdier’s division, which contained -seven thousand, and was the second of Lannes’s corps, marched off -successively, had come with all possible expedition. It was a force of -twenty-six or twenty-seven thousand men, to fight seventy-five thousand. -It was seven in the morning, and the Russians, preceded by a swarm of -Cossacks, advanced towards Heinrichsdorf, where they already had -infantry and cannon. Lannes, appreciating the importance of that post, -sent thither the brigade of Albert’s grenadiers, and ordered General -Grouchy to secure possession of it at any cost. General Grouchy, who had -been reinforced by the cuirassiers, proceeded immediately to the -village. Without stopping to consider the difficulty, he dispatched the -brigade of Milet’s dragoons to attack Heinrichsdorf, while Carrie’s -brigade turned the village, and the cuirassiers marched to support this -movement. Milet’s brigade passed through Heinrichsdorf at a gallop, -drove out the Russian foot-soldiers at the point of the sword, while -Carrie’s brigade, going round it, took or dispersed those who had saved -themselves by flight. Four pieces of cannon were taken. At this moment, -the enemy’s cavalry, coming to the assistance of the infantry, expelled -from Heinrichsdorf, rushed upon the dragoons and drove them back. But -Nansouty’s cuirassiers charged it in their turn, and threw it upon the -Russian infantry, which in this fray was obliged to withhold its fire. - -During these occurrences, Dupas’s division entered into line. Marshal -Mortier, whose horse was killed by a cannon-ball, the moment he appeared -on the field of battle, placed that division between Heinrichsdorf and -Posthenen, and opened on the Russians a fire of artillery which, poured -upon deep masses, made prodigious havoc in their ranks. The arrival of -Dupas’s division rendered disposable those battalions of grenadiers -which had at first been drawn up to the left of Posthenen. Lannes drew -them nearer to him, and could oppose their closer ranks to the attacks -of the Russians, either before Posthenen or before the wood of Sortlack. -General Oudinot, who commanded them, taking advantage of all the -accidents of ground, sometimes from clumps of wood scattered here and -there, sometimes from pools of water, produced by the rains of the -preceding days, sometimes from above the corn, disputed the ground with -equal skill and energy. By turns he hid or exhibited his soldiers, -dispersed them as tirailleurs, or exposed them in a mass, bristling with -bayonets, to all the efforts of the Russians. Those brave grenadiers, -notwithstanding their inferiority in number, kept up the fight, -supported by their general, when, luckily for them, Verdier’s division -arrived. Marshal Lannes divided it into two movable columns, to be sent -alternately to the right, to the centre, to the left, wherever the -danger was most pressing. It was the skirt of the wood of Sortlack and -the village of the same name, situated on the Alle, that were the most -furiously disputed. In the end, the French remained masters of the -village, the Russians of the skirts of the wood. - -Lannes was enabled to prolong till noon this conflict of twenty-six -thousand men against seventy-five thousand. But it was high time for -Napoleon to arrive with the rest of his army. Lannes, anxious to apprize -him of what was passing, had sent to him almost all his aides-de-camp, -one after another, ordering them to get back to him without loss of -time, if they killed their horses. They found him coming at a gallop to -Friedland, and full of a joy that was expressed in his countenance. -“This is the 14th of June,” he repeated to those whom he met; “it is the -anniversary of Marengo; it is a lucky day for us!” Napoleon, -outstripping his troops through the speed of his horse, had successively -passed the long files of the guard, of Ney’s corps, of Bernadotte’s -corps, all marching for Posthenen. He had saluted in passing, Dupont’s -fine division, which from Ulm to Braunsberg, had never ceased to -distinguish itself, though never in his presence, and he had declared -that it would give him great pleasure to see it fight for once. - -The presence of Napoleon at Posthenen fired his soldiers and his -generals with fresh ardor. Lannes, Mortier, Oudinot, who had been there -since morning, and Ney, who had just arrived, surrounded him with the -most lively joy. The brave Oudinot hastening up with his coat perforated -by balls, and his horse covered with blood, exclaimed to the Emperor: -“Make haste, Sire, my grenadiers are knocked up; but, give me a -reinforcement, and I will drive all the Russians into the water.” -Napoleon, surveying with his glass the plain, where the Russians, backed -in the elbow of the Alle, were endeavoring in vain to deploy, soon -appreciated their perilous situation and the unique occasion offered him -by Fortune, swayed, it must be confessed, by his genius; for the fault -which the Russian army were committing had been inspired, as it were, by -him, when he pushed them from the other side of the Alle, and thus -forced them to pass in before him, in going to the relief of Konigsberg. -The day was far advanced, and it would take several hours to collect all -the French troops. Some of Napoleon’s lieutenants were, therefore, of -opinion that they ought to defer fighting a decisive battle till the -morrow. “No, no,” replied Napoleon, “one does not catch an enemy twice -in such a scrape.” He immediately made his dispositions for the attack. -They were worthy of his marvellous perspicacity. - -To drive the Russians into the Alle was the aim which every individual, -down to the meanest soldier, assigned to the battle. But how to set -about it, how to ensure that result, and how to render it as great as -possible, was the question. At the farthest extremity of the elbow of -the Alle, in which the Russian army was engulphed, there was a decisive -point to occupy, namely, the little point of Friedland itself, situated -on the right, between the Mill Stream and the Alle. There were the four -bridges, the sole retreat of the Russian army, and Napoleon purposed to -direct his utmost efforts against that point. He destined for Ney’s -corps the difficult and glorious task of plunging into that gulf, of -carrying Friedland at any cost, in spite of the desperate resistance -which it would not fail to make, of wresting the bridges from them, and -thus barring against them the only way of safety. But at the same time -he resolved, while acting vigorously on his right, to suspend all -efforts on his left, to amuse the Russian army on that side with a -feigned fight, and not to push it briskly on the left till, the bridges -being taken on the right, he should be sure, by pushing it, to fling it -into a receptacle without an outlet. - -Surrounded by his lieutenants, he explained to them, with that energy -and that precision of language which were usual with him, the part which -each of them had to act in that battle. Grasping the arm of Marshal Ney, -and pointing to Friedland, the bridges, the Russians crowded together in -front, “Yonder is the goal,” said he; “march to it without looking about -you: break into that thick mass whatever it costs you; enter Friedland, -take the bridges, and give yourself no concern about what may happen on -your right, on your left, or on your rear. The army and I shall be there -to attend to that.” Ney, boiling with ardor, proud of the formidable -task assigned to him, set out at a gallop to arrange his troops before -the wood of Sortlack. Struck with his martial attitude, Napoleon, -addressing Marshal Mortier, said, “That man is a lion!” - -On the same ground, Napoleon had his dispositions written down from his -dictation, that each of his generals might have them bodily present to -his mind, and not be liable to deviate from them. He ranged, then, -Marshal Ney’s corps on the right, so that Lannes, bringing back -Verdier’s division upon Posthenen, could present two strong lines with -that and the grenadiers. He placed Bernadotte’s corps (temporarily -Victor’s) between Ney and Lannes, a little in advance of Posthenen, and -partly hidden by the inequalities of the ground. Dupont’s fine division -formed the head of this corps. On the plateau, behind Posthenen, -Napoleon established the imperial guard, the infantry in three close -columns, the cavalry in two lines. Between Posthenen and Henrichsdorf -was the corps of Marshal Mortier, posted as in the morning, but more -concentrated and augmented by the young fusiliers of the imperial guard. -A battalion of the 4th light infantry, and the regiment of the municipal -guard of Paris, had taken the place of the grenadiers of the Albert -brigade in Heinrichsdorf. Dumbrowski’s Polish division had joined -Dupas’s division, and guarded the artillery. Napoleon left to General -Grouchy the duty of which he had already so ably acquitted himself, that -of defending the plain of Heinrichsdorf. To the dragoons and the -cuirassiers commanded by that general he added the light cavalry of -Generals Beaumont and Colbert, to assist him to rid himself of the -Cossacks. Lastly, having two more divisions of dragoons to dispose of, -he placed that of General Latour Maubourg, reinforced by the Dutch -cuirassiers, behind the corps of Marshal Ney, and that of General La -Houssaye, reinforced by the Saxon cuirassiers, behind Victor’s corps. -The French in this imposing order amounted to no fewer than eighty -thousand men. The order was repeated to the left not to advance, but -merely to keep back the Russians till the success of the right was -decided. Napoleon required that before the troops recommenced firing, -they should wait for the signal from a battery of twenty pieces of -cannon placed above Posthenen. - -The Russian general, struck by this deployment, discovered the mistake -which he had committed in supposing that he had to do with but the -single corps of Marshal Lannes; he was surprised, and naturally -hesitated. His hesitation had produced a sort of slackening in the -action. Scarcely did occasional discharges of artillery indicate the -continuance of the battle. Napoleon, who desired that all his troops -should have got into line, rested for at least an hour, and being -abundantly supplied with ammunition, was in no hurry to begin, and -resisted the impatience of his generals, well knowing that, at this -season, in this country, it was light till ten in the evening, he should -have time to subject the Russian army to the disaster that he was -preparing for it. At length, the fit moment appeared to him to have -arrived, he gave the signal. The twenty pieces of cannon of the battery -of Posthenen fired at once; the artillery of the army answered them -along the whole line; and at this impatiently awaited signal, Marshal -Ney moved off his _corps d’armee_. - -From the wood of Sortlack issued Marchand’s division, advancing the -first to the right, Bisson’s division the second to the left. Both were -preceded by a storm of tirailleurs, who, as they approached the enemy, -fell back and returned into the ranks. These troops marched resolutely -up to the Russians, and took from them the village of Sortlack, so long -disputed. Their cavalry, in order to stop the offensive movement, made a -charge on Marchand’s division. But Latour Maubourg’s dragoons and the -Dutch cuirassiers, passing through the intervals of the battalions, -charged that cavalry in their turn, drove it back upon its infantry, -and, pushing the Russians against the Alle, precipitated a great number -into the deeply embanked bed of that river. Some saved themselves by -swimming; many were drowned. His right once appuyed on the Alle, Marshal -Ney slackened his march, and pushed forward his left, formed by Bisson’s -division, in such a manner as to thrust back the Russians into the -narrow space comprised between the Mill Stream and the Alle. When -arrived at this point, the fire of the enemy’s artillery redoubled. The -French had to sustain not only the fire of the batteries in front, but -also the fire of those on the right bank of the Alle; and it was -impossible to get rid of the latter by taking them, as they were -separated from them by the deep bed of the river. The columns, battered -at once in front and flank by the balls, endured with admirable coolness -this terrible convergence of fires. Marshal Ney, galloping from one end -of the line to the other, kept up the courage of his soldiers by his -heroic bearing. Meanwhile, whole files were swept away, and the fire -became so severe that the very bravest of the troops could no longer -endure it. At this sight, the cavalry of the Russian guard, commanded by -General Kollogribow, dashed off at a gallop, to try to throw into -disorder the infantry of Bisson’s division, which appeared to waver. -Staggered for the first time, that valiant infantry gave ground, and two -or three battalions threw themselves in rear. General Bisson, who, from -his stature, overlooked the lines of his soldiers, strove in vain to -detain them. They retired, grouping themselves around their officers. -The situation soon became most critical. Luckily, General Dupont, placed -at some distance on the left of Ney’s corps, perceived this commencement -of disorder, and without waiting for directions to march, moved off his -division, passing in front of it, reminding it of Ulm, Dirnstein and -Halle, and taking it to encounter the Russians. It advanced, in the -finest attitude, under the fire of that tremendous artillery, while -Latour Maubourg’s dragoons, returning to the charge, fell upon the -Russian cavalry, which had scattered in pursuit of the foot soldiers, -and succeeded in the attempt to drive it back. Dupont’s division, -continuing its movement on that open ground, and, supporting its left on -the Mill Stream, brought the Russian infantry at a stand. By its -presence it filled Ney’s soldiers with confidence and joy. Bisson’s -battalions formed anew, and the whole line, re-invigorated, began to -march forward again. It was necessary to reply to the formidable -artillery of the enemy, and Ney’s artillery was so very inferior in -number, that it could scarcely stand in battery before that of the -Russians. Napoleon ordered General Victor to collect all the guns of his -division, and to range them in mass on the front of Ney. The skilful and -intrepid General Senarmont commanded that artillery. He moved it off at -full trot, joined it to that of Marshal Ney, took it some hundred paces -ahead of the infantry, and, daringly placing himself in front of the -Russians, opened upon them a fire, terrible from the number of the -pieces and the accuracy of aim. Directing one of his batteries against -the right bank, he soon silenced those which the enemy had on that side. -Then, pushing forward his line of artillery, he gradually approached to -within grape-shot range, and, firing upon the deep masses, crowding -together as they fell back into the elbow of the Alle, he made frightful -havoc among them. The line of infantry followed this movement, and -advanced under the protection of General Senarmont’s numerous guns. The -Russians, thrust further and further back into this gulf, felt a sort of -despair, and made an effort to extricate themselves. Their imperial -guard, placed upon the Mill Stream, issued from that retreat, and -marched, with bayonet fixed, upon Dupont’s division, also placed along -the rivulet. The latter, without waiting for the imperial guard, went to -meet it, repulsed it with the bayonet, and forced it back to the ravine. -Thus driven, some of the Russians threw themselves beyond the ravine, -the others upon the suburbs of Friedland. General Dupont, with part of -his division, crossed the Mill Stream, drove before him all that he met, -found himself on the rear of the right wing of the Russians engaged with -the left in the plain of Heinrichsdorf, turned Friedland, and attacked -it by the Konigsberg road; while Ney, continuing to march straight -forward, entered by the Eylau road. A terrible conflict ensued at the -gates of the town. The assailants pressed the Russians in all quarters; -they forced their way into the street in pursuit of them; they drove -them upon the bridges of the Alle, which General Senarmont’s artillery, -left outside, enfiladed with its shot. The Russians crowded upon the -bridges to seek refuge in the ranks of the fourteenth division, left, in -reserve, on the other side of the Alle, by General Bennigsen. That -unfortunate general, full of grief, had hurried to this division, with -the intention of taking it to the bank of the river to the assistance of -his endangered army. Scarcely had some wrecks of his left wing passed -the bridges, when those bridges were destroyed—set on fire by the -French, and, by the Russians themselves, in their anxiety to stop -pursuit. Ney and Dupont, having performed their task, met in the heart -of Friedland in flames, and congratulated one another on this glorious -success. - -Napoleon, placed in the centre of the divisions which he kept in -reserve, had never ceased to watch this grand sight. While he was -contemplating it attentively, a ball passed at the height of the -bayonets, and a soldier, from an instinctive movement, stooped his head. -“If that ball was intended for you,” said Napoleon, smiling, “though you -were to burrow a hundred feet under ground, it would be sure to find you -there.” Thus he wished to give currency to that useful belief that Fate -strikes the brave and the coward without distinction, and that the -coward who seeks a hiding-place disgraces himself to no purpose. - -On seeing that Friedland was occupied and the bridges of the Alle -destroyed, Napoleon at length pushed forward his left upon the right -wing of the Russian army, deprived of all means of retreat, and having -behind it a river without bridges. General Gortschakoff, who commanded -that wing, perceived the danger with which he was threatened, and, -thinking to dispel the storm, made an attack on the French line, -extending from Posthenen to Heinrichsdorf, formed by the corps of -Marshal Lannes, by that of Mortier, and by General Grouchy’s cavalry. -But Lannes, with his grenadiers, made head against the Russians. Marshal -Mortier, with the 15th and the fusiliers of the guard, opposed to them -an iron barrier. Mortier’s artillery, in particular, directed by Colonel -Balbois and an excellent Dutch officer, M. Vanbriennen, made -incalculable havoc among them. At length, Napoleon, anxious to take -advantage of the rest of the day, carried forward his whole line. -Infantry, cavalry, artillery, started all at once. General Gortschakoff, -while he found himself thus pressed, was informed that Friedland was in -the possession of the French. In hopes of retaking it, he dispatched a -column of infantry to the gates of the town. That column penetrated into -it, and for a moment drove back Dupont’s and Ney’s soldiers; but these -repulsed in their turn the Russian column. A new fight took place in -that unfortunate town, and the possession of it was disputed by the -light of the flames that were consuming it. The French finally remained -masters, and drove Gortschakoff’s corps into that plain without -thoroughfare which had served it for field of battle. Gortschakoff’s -infantry defended itself with intrepidity, and threw itself into the -Alle rather than surrender. Part of the Russian soldiers were fortunate -enough to find fordable passages, and contrived to escape. Another -drowned itself in the river. The whole of the artillery was captured. A -column, the furthest on the right (right of the Russians) fled and -descended the Alle, under General Lambert, with a portion of the -cavalry. The darkness of the night and the disorder of victory -facilitated its retreat, and enabled it to escape. - -It was half-past ten at night. The victory was complete on the right and -on the left. Napoleon, in his vast career, had not gained a more -splendid one. He had for trophies eighty pieces of cannon, few -prisoners, it is true, for the Russians chose rather to drown -themselves, than to surrender, but twenty-five thousand men, killed, -wounded, or drowned, covered with their bodies both banks of the Alle. -The right bank, to which great numbers of them had dragged themselves, -exhibited almost as frightful a scene of carnage as the left bank. -Several columns of fire, rising from Friedland and the neighboring -villages, threw a sinister light over that place, a theatre of anguish -for some, of joy for others. The French had to regret upwards of eight -thousand men, killed or wounded. The Russian army, deprived of -twenty-five thousand combatants, weakened, moreover, by a great number -of men who had lost their way, was thenceforward incapable of keeping -the field. - -The French Emperor slept near the camp-fire, surrounded by his soldiers, -who continued to shout “_Vive l’Empereur!_” They had eaten nothing but a -ration of bread, which they had carried in their knapsacks, during their -hurried march. But their souls had drunk deeply of the intoxicating -nectar of glory, and they felt not the pang of hunger. The night was -clear and beautiful. The Russians were not pursued. If Napoleon had had -his entire cavalry, with Murat at their head, he could have captured the -whole force which, under command of General Lambert, descended the Alle. -But only half the cavalry were with the army, and the Russians were left -to escape as speedily as possible. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: THE CAMP-FIRE AT FRIEDLAND. Page 258.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -Friedland was a decisive field. Konigsberg surrendered soon afterwards; -and the Russians were pursued till they took refuge beyond the Niemen. -Here ended that daring march of the French Emperor—the new -Alexander—from Boulogne to the Niemen, to crush the only power which -could offer any effectual resistance to his arms. In the transport of -triumph, the Emperor issued the following noble proclamation to his -soldiers: - -Soldiers—On the 5th of June we were attacked in our cantonments by the -Russian army. The enemy had mistaken the causes of our inactivity. He -perceived too late that our repose was that of the lion: he repents of -having disturbed it. - -“In the battles of Guttstadt and Heilsberg, and in that ever memorable -one of Friedland, in a campaign of ten days; in short, we have taken one -hundred and twenty pieces of cannon, seven colors, killed, wounded, or -made prisoners, sixty thousand Russians, taken from the enemy’s army all -its magazines, its hospitals, its _ambulances_, the fortress of -Konigsberg, the three hundred vessels which were in that port, laden -with all kinds of military stores, one hundred and sixty thousand -muskets which England was sending to arm our enemies. - -“From the banks of the Vistula, we have come with the speed of the eagle -to those of the Niemen. You celebrated at Austerlitz the anniversary of -the coronation; this year you have worthily celebrated that of the -battle of Marengo, which put an end to the war of the second coalition. - -“Frenchmen, you have been worthy of yourselves and of me. You will -return to France covered with laurels, and, after obtaining a glorious -peace, which carries with it the guarantee of its duration. It is high -time for our country to live in quiet, screened from the malignant -influence of England. My bounties shall prove to you my gratitude, and -the full extent of the love I feel for you.” - -Then followed the interview of Napoleon and Alexander upon the Niemen, -and the treaty of Tilsit, by which the two emperors parcelled out Europe -as if it were their own. The star of Napoleon had reached its zenith, -and truly its lustre dazzled the eyes of the world. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT MADRID. - - -The war of the Peninsula and the invasion of Russia were the great -sources of Napoleon’s overthrow. Having summarily dethroned Ferdinand -VII. of Spain, he placed the crown of that kingdom upon the head of his -elder brother Joseph. But the Spaniards resisted this transfer from -Bourbon to Bonaparte, and having taken the field, with enthusiasm, they -defeated and captured a French army, commanded by General Dupont, and -drove King Joseph beyond the Ebro. Napoleon then left Paris, (October, -1808,) and placed himself at the head of two hundred thousand men, to -crush all opposition in Spain. - -In the meantime, the Spaniards had vested the management of their -affairs in a central or supreme junta, stationed at their recovered -capital of Madrid. The determined spirit of opposition to French -interference continued as strong as ever; but the power to act in -concert, or maintain well directed efforts in a common cause, already -appeared doubtful. The Supreme Junta found it difficult, sometimes -impossible, to enforce obedience on their generals; and the provincial -juntas were too apt to act independently, and assert their own right to -separate command. The English government, at the same time, though -promising aid, and making large preparations to afford it, yet -continually procrastinated; and when Napoleon invaded the country, the -native forces alone were in the field. Three armies had been formed, all -intended to co-operate, and amounting to about one hundred thousand men, -but, unfortunately, all under independent generals. Blake commanded the -army on the western frontier, which extended from Burgos to Bilbao. -General Romana, who commanded one of the auxiliary divisions of Spanish -soldiers in the French service, had dexterously contrived to escape from -the Island of Funen, and had been landed in Spain, with ten thousand -men, by British ships. His corps was attached to that of General Blake. -The head-quarters of the central army under Castanos, were at Soria; -those on the eastern side, under Palafox, extended between Saragossa and -Sanguesa. The Spanish armies were therefore arranged in the form of a -long and weak crescent, the horns of which advanced towards France. The -fortresses in the north of Spain were all in the possession of the -French, and strongly garrisoned. - -Napoleon was at Bayonne on the 3d of November, and by the 8th, he had -directed the movements of the last columns of his advancing army across -the frontier: on the same evening, he arrived at Vittoria, where Joseph -held his court. The civil and military authorities met him at the gates, -and prepared to conduct him with pomp to the house prepared for his -reception; but he leaped off his horse, entered the first inn he -observed, and called for maps and detailed reports of the position of -the armies. In two hours, he had arranged the plan of the campaign; and -by daybreak on the 9th, Soult took the command of Bessieres’s corps, and -began to push forward his columns upon the plains of Burgos, against an -auxiliary corps, under the Count de Belvidere, designed to support the -right flank of Blake’s army. Belvidere was completely defeated at -Gomenal; one of his battalions, composed entirely of students from -Salamanca and Leon, refused to fly, and fell in their ranks. Blake was -then routed at Espinosa, by General Victor, and again at Reynosa, by -Soult, whence the wreck of his army fled in disorder, and took refuge in -Santander. Nearly the whole of Romana’s corps perished in the cliffs of -Espinosa, after the battle. Palafox and Castanos had, mean time, united -their forces, and waited the attack of the French under Lannes, at -Tudela, on the 22d of November. The Spaniards were on this occasion, -also, utterly defeated, with the loss of four thousand killed, and three -thousand prisoners. Castanos fled, after the action, in the direction of -Calatayud; and Palafox once more threw himself and the remains of his -troops into Saragossa, where he was immediately invested closely by -Lannes. - -The road to Madrid was now open to Napoleon. He advanced at the head of -his guards and the first division of the army, and reached the strong -pass of the Somosierra Chain, about ten miles distant from the city, on -the 30th of November. The way lies through a very steep and narrow -defile, and twelve thousand men, with sixteen pieces of cannon, which -completely swept the road, were strongly posted to dispute his passage. -On the 1st of December, the French began the attack at daybreak, with an -attempt to turn the flanks of the Spaniards. Napoleon rode into the -mouth of the pass, and surveyed the scene. His infantry were straggling -along the sides of the defiles, and making no efficient progress; but -the smoke of the sharp skirmishing fire, mingling with the morning fog, -was curling up the rocks, and almost hid the combatants from view. Under -this veil, he ordered the Polish lancers of the guard to charge up the -road in face of the artillery. They obeyed with impetuous courage. The -Spanish infantry, panic struck, fired, threw down their arms, and fled: -the Poles dashing onward, seized the cannon in an instant. The whole of -the Spanish force fled. - -On the 2d of December, the French soldiers celebrated the anniversary of -the coronation of King Joseph under the walls of Madrid. The city had -been prepared for defence. A strong, but irregular force were in array -within the gates. The pavement had been taken up to form barricades; the -houses on the out-skirts loop-holed; and a spirit of desperate -resolution, similar to that which had immortalized the people of -Saragossa, was displayed. The French officer sent to summon the town, -narrowly escaped being torn to pieces by the mob. The Emperor then made -his dispositions for attack, and long after the camp-fires of his troops -had encircled Madrid with flame, and scared the darkness of the night, -the work of investure proceeded. The French were in high spirits. Their -invincible Emperor was with them, and they had the greatest contempt for -the Spaniards. About midnight, Napoleon again summoned the city to -surrender; but an answer of defiance was returned; and then, -dispositions were made for storming. There was but little sleep that -night among besieged or besiegers. The clangor of arms, “the dreadful -note of preparation,” resounded on the air until the dawn, when the -Emperor was on horseback to direct operations. The Retiro and the palace -of the Duke of Medina Celi were stormed, and as terror began to fill the -breasts of the citizens, Napoleon again summoned the authorities to -surrender. The governor came out to the French, and said he desired a -suspension of arms, but was afraid of openly talking of surrender. -Napoleon, wishing to avert the horrors of assault, gave a little longer -time to the distracted city, whence there issued, throughout the night, -“a sound,” says Napier, with vivid force, “as if some mighty beast was -struggling and howling in the toils.” At eight or nine in the morning of -the 4th of December, the gates were opened to the conqueror, and the -French took possession of Madrid. - -Joseph was now restored to his authority in the capital. Corunna -followed, and the English were driven out of Spain. Napoleon then -returned to Paris. But the subjection of the Spaniards was not complete, -and was destined never to be completed by his arms. His ablest -lieutenants, although successful for a time, were at length overthrown -by the British and Spaniards, under Wellington, and the contest proved -but an exhausting struggle, in which were developed the influences which -brought the imperial throne to the dust. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT RATISBON. - - -Napoleon could never trust his allies. Completely beaten, they submitted -to the conqueror; and yet they hated as deeply as they feared him, and -therefore took advantage of every opportunity to rupture the peace of -Europe, and attack his power. No wonder that he lost patience, and -treated their representations, when humbled, with contempt. These old -legitimates proved themselves as false as they were imbecile, and they -deserved the contempt of a man who was an Emperor by nature. After the -peace of Tilset, Napoleon turned his attention to Spanish affairs, and -placed his brother Joseph upon the throne of Spain. The Spaniards -immediately took up arms to restore Ferdinand VII. to the crown of his -ancestors, although they had long suffered from the misrule of the -Bourbons. They resisted the armies of France, and being aided by the -English, threatened the invaders with a terrible overthrow. This -spectacle caused the faithless house of Austria to break all its -engagements. Once more the Austrian Emperor resolved to make an effort -to destroy the dominion of Napoleon. He collected an army of one hundred -and fifty thousand men, which was placed under the command of the brave -and skilful Archduke Charles. - -Napoleon collected an army much inferior in number to that of the enemy, -and with his usual rapidity advanced to the attack. The Empress -Josephine accompanied him as far as Strasburg, and there watched the -event of the campaign, although its termination was destined to be so -melancholy for herself. - -The Archduke Charles’s plan was to act upon the offensive. His talents -were undoubted, his army greatly superior in numbers to the French, and -favorably disposed, whether for attack or defence; yet, by a series of -combinations, the most beautiful and striking, perhaps, which occur in -the life of one so famed for his power of forming such, Buonaparte was -enabled, in the short space of five days, totally to defeat the -formidable masses which were opposed to him. Napoleon found his own -force unfavorably disposed, on a long line, extending between the towns -of Augsburg and Ratisbon, and presenting, through the incapacity, it is -said, of Berthier, an alarming vacancy in the centre, by operating on -which the enemy might have separated the French army into two parts, and -exposed each to a flank attack. Sensible of the full, and perhaps fatal -consequences, which might attend this error, Napoleon determined on the -daring attempt to concentrate his army by a lateral march, to be -accomplished by the two wings simultaneously. With this view he posted -himself in the centre, where the danger was principally apprehended, -commanding Massena to advance by a flank movement from Augsburg to -Pfaffenhoffen, and Davoust to approach the centre by a similar -manœuvre from Ratisbon to Neustadt. These marches must necessarily be -forced, that of Davoust, being eight, that of Massena between twelve and -thirteen leagues. The order for this daring operation was sent to -Massena on the night of the 17th, and concluded with an earnest -recommendation of speed and intelligence. When the time for executing -these movements had been allowed, Bonaparte, at the head of the centre -of his forces, made a sudden and desperate assault upon two Austrian -divisions, commanded by the Archduke Louis and General Hiller. So -judiciously was this timed, that the appearance of Davoust on the one -flank kept in check those other Austrian corps _d’armee_, by whom the -divisions attacked ought to have been supported; while the yet more -formidable operations of Massena, in the rear of the Archduke Louis, -achieved the defeat of the enemy. The victory, gained at Abensberg, upon -the 20th of April, broke the line of the Austrians, and exposed them to -farther misfortunes. The Emperor attacked the fugitives the next day at -Landshut, where the Austrians lost thirty pieces of cannon, nine -thousand prisoners, and much ammunition and baggage. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: MARSHAL LANNES.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -On the 22d of April, Napoleon manœuvred so as to bring his entire -force, by different routes upon Eckmuhl, where the Archduke had -collected full one hundred thousand men. Here, perhaps, was one of the -most splendid triumphs of military combination ever displayed. The -Austrians were attacked on all sides about two o’clock in the afternoon. -They fought with stubborn courage, and the Archduke displayed great -bravery. But nothing could avail against the overwhelming attack of a -scientific adversary, and about dusk the Austrians were completely -defeated. All the Austrian wounded, a great part of their artillery, and -twenty thousand prisoners, remained in the hands of the French, and many -more prisoners were taken during the pursuit. Davoust, whose services -were conspicuous on this occasion, was created Prince of Eckmuhl. - -On the 23d, the Austrians made an attempt to cover the retreat of their -army, by defending Ratisbon. Six regiments occupied the town, and seemed -determined upon a vigorous defence. The Emperor himself came up to order -the attack. Ratisbon is situated on the Upper Danube, across which it -communicates with its suburb Stadt-an-Hop, by a bridge a thousand German -feet in length. It is one of the oldest towns in Germany, and has an -antique aspect. Its streets are narrow and irregular, and its houses, -although lofty, are old fashioned and inconvenient. Many have tall -battlemented towers, loop-holed for musketry, etc. Among the most -striking public buildings are the cathedral, an old Roman tower, and the -bishop’s palace. The ramparts are dilapidated, and scarcely useful for -defence. - -The French soon effected a breach in the ancient walls, but again and -again were they repulsed by a tremendous fire of musketry. At length -there was difficulty to find volunteers to renew the attack. Such a -storm of death appalled even brave men. But nothing could daunt the -impetuous Lannes. His courage was of the kind that rose with the danger. -He rushed to the front, seized a ladder, and fixed it against the wall. -“I will show you!” he shouted, “that your general is still a grenadier!” -In spite of the tremendous fire, the troops followed the example of -their glorious leader, for whom there were never laurels enough—scaled -the walls, and continued the fight in the streets of the town, which was -set on fire. - -A detachment of French, rushing to charge a body of Austrians, which -still occupied one end of a burning street, were interrupted by some -wagons belonging to the enemy’s train. “They are tumbrils of powder,” -cried the Austrian commanding, to the French. “If the flames reach them, -both sides perish.” The combat ceased, and the two parties joined in -averting a calamity which must have been fatal to both, and finally, -saved the ammunition from the flames. At length the Austrians were -driven out of Ratisbon, leaving much cannon, baggage, and prisoners, in -the hands of the French. - -In the middle of this last _melee_, Bonaparte, who was speaking with his -adjutant, Duroc, observing the affair at some distance, was struck on -the foot by a spent musket-ball, which occasioned a severe contusion. -“That must have been a Tyrolese,” said the Emperor, coolly, “who has -aimed at me from such a distance. These fellows fire with wonderful -precision.” Those around remonstrated with him for exposing his person; -to which he answered, “What can I do? I must needs see how matters go -on.” The soldiers crowded about him in alarm at the report of his wound; -but he would hardly allow it to be dressed, so eager was he to get on -horseback, and show himself publicly among the troops. - -That night the Emperor fixed his quarters in Ratisbon, and the -watch-fires of his victorious troops illumined the air for miles around. -There was much revelry that night. A glorious, decisive campaign of five -days had prostrated the foes of the Emperor, and why should not the -soldiers rejoice? The following proclamation was issued by the Emperor: - -“Soldiers—You have justified my expectations; you have made up for -numbers by your courage; you have gloriously marked the difference which -exists between the soldiers of Cæsar and the armies of Xerxes. - -“In a few days, we have triumphed in the three battles of Tann, -Abensberg and Eckmuhl, and the affairs of Peissing, Landshut and -Ratisbon. One hundred pieces of cannon, fifty thousand prisoners, three -equipages, three thousand baggage wagons, all the funds of the -regiments, are the result of the rapidity of your your courage. - -“The enemy intoxicated by a perjured cabinet, appeared to have lost all -recollection of us; they have been promptly awakened; you have appeared -to them more terrible than ever. But lately, they had crossed the Inn, -and invaded the territory of our allies; but lately they had promised -themselves to carry the war into the bosom of our country. Now, -defeated, dismayed they fly in disorder; already my advance-guard has -passed the Inn; before a month we shall be at Vienna.” - -As Sir Walter Scott says: “It was no wonder that others, nay, that he -himself, should have annexed to his person the degree of superstitious -influence claimed for the chosen instruments of Destiny, whose path must -not be crossed, and whose arms cannot be arrested.” When before had -Europe witnessed such a campaign? So much glory was enough to intoxicate -even Napoleon, and we have yet to see that his deep draught of the -nectar was fatal. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: BATTLE OF ESSLING. Page 275.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - CAMP-FIRES AT ASPERN AND ESSLING. - - -After the taking of Ratisbon, Napoleon advanced upon Vienna, which -offered but a feeble resistance, and was easily occupied. But the -Austrian army, in abandoning the capital of the empire, had not given up -the struggle. - -Sheltered by the Danube, the bridges over which they had destroyed at -Vienna, and the surrounding places, they awaited a favorable opportunity -of taking the offensive. The bridge of Lintz was the first object of -their attacks; but Vandamme opposed to them a vigorous resistance, and -Bernadotte, arriving, completely routed them. On his side, Napoleon was -also impatient to force the passage of the river, in order to finish -this glorious campaign. The reconstruction of the bridge, was, -therefore, his first care. Massena had thrown several over the arms of -the Danube, which bathe the island of Lobau; Napoleon resolved to make -use of it for the passage of the whole army. In three days, the corps of -Lannes, Bessieres, and Massena had taken up a position on the island. -The communication with the right bank, was by a bridge of boats, five -hundred yards in length, and extending over three arms of the river. -Another bridge, which was not more than sixty-one yards in length, -connected the island with the left bank. It was here, that on the 21st -of May, thirty-five thousand men crossed without opposition, to give -battle between Aspern and Essling. - -The reports brought to the French during the night were contradictory. -Many lights were seen on the heights of Bisamberg; but nearer to the -French and in their front, the horizon exhibited a pale streak of about -a league in length, the reflected light of numerous watch-fires, which a -rising ground between prevented from being themselves visible. From such -indications as could be collected, Lannes was of opinion that they were -in presence of the whole Austrian army. Napoleon was on horseback by -break of day on the 21st, to judge for himself; but clouds of light -troops prevented his getting near enough to reconnoitre accurately. -Presently the skirmishers were withdrawn, and the Austrians were seen -advancing with their whole force, double in number to the French, and -with two hundred and twenty pieces of artillery. Yet with this vast -disproportion of odds, they were strangely astonished at the stand which -they made on this occasion, as the French were mortified and reproached -with having suffered a repulse or made only a drawn battle of it instead -of a complete victory. The conflict commenced about four in the -afternoon with a furious attack on the village of Aspern, which was -taken and retaken several times, and at the close of the day remained -(except the church and church-yard) in the possession of Massena, though -on fire with the bombs and choked up with the slain. Essling was the -object of three general attacks, against all which the French stood -their ground. Lannes was at one time on the point of being overpowered, -had not Napoleon by a sudden charge of cavalry come to his relief. Night -separated the combatants. - -The hundred thousand Austrians of the Archduke had not been able to gain -an inch of ground from the thirty-five thousand French of Massena, -Lannes and Bessieres. After the camp-fires were kindled among the dead -of Aspern and Essling, both armies received reinforcements. The -grenadiers of Oudinot, the division of St. Hilaire, two brigades of -light cavalry, and the train of artillery passed the bridges, and took -up a position on the line of battle. Napoleon confidently expected to -achieve a decisive victory on the following day. - -At four o’clock in the morning, the signal for battle was again given by -the enemy against the village of Aspern; but Massena was there to defend -it. This illustrious warrior, whose intrepidity, coolness and military -talents, never appeared to better advantage than in difficult positions, -did not content himself with repulsing the Austrians each time they -attacked; he soon took upon himself the defensive, and completely -overthrew the columns which were opposed to him. At the same moment, -Lannes and the young guard fell impetuously on the centre of the -Austrian army, in order to cut off the communication with the two wings. -Every thing gave way before the heroic marshal, and the victory became -certain and decisive, when, about seven o’clock in the morning, it was -announced to the Emperor, that a sudden increase of the Danube, which -had carried away trees, vessels and even houses, had also borne away the -great bridge which joined the island of Lobau with the right bank, and -which formed the only method of communication between the troops engaged -on the left bank, and the rest of the French army. At this news, -Napoleon, who had scarcely fifty thousand men with him, to make head -against a hundred thousand, suspended the movement in advance, and -ordered his marshals merely to retain their position, in order, -afterwards to effect their retreat in good order to the island of Lobau. -This order was executed. Generals and soldiers valorously upheld the -honor of the French flag. The enemy informed of the destruction of the -bridges, which had kept back the park of reserve of the French army, and -which thus deprived the cannon and infantry of cartridges, became so -emboldened as to resume the offensive on all points. They attacked -Aspern and Essling, three times at the same moment, and were three times -repulsed. General Mouton distinguished himself at the head of the -fusileers of the guard. Marshal Lannes, whom the Emperor had charged to -maintain the field of battle, valiantly fulfilled his task; he -powerfully contributed to save this fine portion of the French army, the -existence of which a stroke of fate had nearly compromised. But this -striking service was the last which this illustrious soldier was to -render to his country and to the great captain who was rather his friend -than his master. A bullet struck him in the thigh towards the close of -the day. Amputation was immediately performed, and with such success as -caused hopes to be conceived which were not to be realized. - -Lannes was borne on a litter before the Emperor, who wept at the sight -of the companion of all his victories mortally wounded. - -“Was it requisite,” said he in a tone of anguish, “that my heart on this -day should have been struck so severe a blow, to force me to give way to -other cares than those of my army!” - -Lannes was conveyed to the island of Lobau. He had fainted. But he -recovered his senses in the presence of Napoleon, the god of his -idolatry: he clung around his neck, and said— - -“In an hour you will have lost him who dies with the glory and -conviction of having been your best friend!” - -But Lannes lingered in agony for ten days. He did not want to die. He -had not drank deep enough of glory. He said the man who could not cure a -Marshal and a Duke of Montebello ought to be hanged! - -“It is at the moment of quitting life,” said Napoleon, later, “that one -clings to it with all one’s strength. Lannes, the bravest of all men, -Lannes, deprived of both legs, wished not to die. Every moment, the -unfortunate man asked for the Emperor; he clung to me for the rest of -his life; he wished but for me, thought of me only. A species of -instinct! Assuredly he loved his wife and children better than me; and -yet he spoke not of them; it was because he expected nought from them; -it was he who protected them, whilst, on the contrary, I was his -protector. I was for him something vague, superior; I was his -providence; he prayed to me! It was impossible,” added Napoleon, -“impossible to be more brave than Lannes and Murat. Murat remained brave -only. The mind of Lannes would have increased with his courage; he would -have become a giant. If he had lived in these times, I do not think it -would have been possible to have seen him fail either in honor or duty. -He was of that class of men who change the face of affairs by their own -weight and influence.” - -The illustrious marshal expired at Viluna on the 31st of May. He was -lamented as the Roland of the army, and one of the greatest generals -France had produced. General St. Hilaire, also, an excellent officer, -was mortally wounded in this bloody struggle. He was highly esteemed by -the Emperor, and if he had lived would doubtless have risen to the rank -of marshal. - -Napoleon was now cooped up in the island of Lobau. He had fought two -indecisive battles. But that they were indecisive, when he contended -with an army double his own in number, was a triumph, of which any other -commander would not have ceased to boast. However, the Emperor prepared -himself to strike a blow as decisive as was Friedland after Eylau. - -In the meantime, Napoleon ordered the funeral obsequies of the -illustrious Lannes to be celebrated in a style which astonished all -Europe, and showed how a man should be honored who had risen from the -ranks by force of talent, to be a marshal and a Duke of Montebello. It -was a funeral procession of an army of thirty thousand men, detailed for -this service, who escorted the remains of the illustrious warrior from -Germany to France. They remind us of Alexander honoring the remains of -his friend Hœphestion. Paris had never witnessed a grander procession -than that which conveyed the remains of Lannes from the Invalides to the -Pantheon. It was not a cortege; it was a whole army marching in mourning -for a hero, with arms lowered and flags bound with crape, and bearing a -magnificent cenotaph. The funeral march was composed by the greatest -composer of Germany, the peerless Beethoven, and it was performed by a -band, the like of which had never been heard in Paris. Occasionally, the -mournful strains were interrupted by the solemn roll of three hundred -drums, and the firing of many guns reminded those who listened, of those -tremendous storms of battle, in which the lion-hearted Lannes had so -often bled for France. The whole funeral ceremony was eminently worthy -of the Emperor and his illustrious friend. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT WAGRAM. - - -After the bloody conflicts of Essling and Aspern, Napoleon remained -stationary for a considerable time. The Archduke, uneasy at the -movements of Marshal Davoust before Presburg, dared not assume the -offensive, and employed himself in fortifying his position between -Aspern and Ebersdorf. Napoleon labored at the reconstruction of the -bridges, and the communication between the island and the right bank was -re-established. Soon afterwards, the Emperor learned that the army of -Italy, under the command of Prince Eugene, had defeated the Austrians, -and that the victors had effected a junction with the army of Germany, -on the heights of Simmering. On the 14th of June, the Prince gained -another victory over the Austrians at Raab. Marmont, after some -successes in Dalmatia, came to re-unite himself with the Grand Army, and -to place himself within the circle of the Emperor’s operations. -Napoleon’s eagle eye saw that the moment for a decisive stroke had -arrived, and he immediately began the advance movement, which led to the -famous battle of Wagram. - -About ten o’clock at night, on the 4th of July, the French began to -cross the Danube. Gunboats, prepared for the purpose, silenced some of -the Austrian batteries. Others were avoided by passing the river out of -reach of their fire, which the French were enabled to do by their new -bridges. At daybreak, on the morning of the 5th, the Archduke Charles -was astonished to see the whole French army on the left bank of the -Danube, and so posted as to render the fortifications which he had -constructed with so much labor utterly useless for defence. - -Greatly frightened at the progress of the French army, and at the great -results obtained by it, almost without effort, the Archduke ordered all -the troops to march, and at six o’clock in the evening, occupied the -following position:—the right, from Stradelau to Gerasdorf; the centre, -from Gerasdorf to Wagram, and the left, from Wagram to Neusiedel. The -French army had their left at Gros-Aspern, their centre at Rachsdorf, -and their right at Glinzendorf. In this position, the day had almost -closed, and a great battle was expected on the morrow; but this would be -avoided, and the position of the enemy destroyed, by preventing them -from conceiving any system, if, in the night, possession were taken of -Wagram; then their line, already immense, taken by surprise and exposed -to the chances of battle, would allow the different bodies of the army -to err without order or directions, and they would thus become an easy -prey without any serious engagement. The attack on Wagram took place; -the French carried this place; but a column of Saxons and another of -French mistook each other in the obscurity for hostile troops, and so -the operation failed. - -When the bloody and indecisive struggle was relinquished for the night, -only one house was left standing of the village of Wagram, which had -been taken and retaken, and at length destroyed by the furious -cannonade. - -As the movement designed by the Emperor had failed, it remained to -prepare for the struggle of the next day. It appeared that the -dispositions of the French and Austrian generals was reversed. The -Emperor passed the whole night in strengthening his centre, where he was -in person within cannon-shot of Wagram. To effect this, the lion-hearted -Massena marched to the left of Aderklau, leaving a single division at -Aspern, which had orders to fall back if hard pressed, upon the island -of Lobau. The intrepid and inexorable Davoust received orders to leave -the village of Grosshoffen to approach the centre. The Austrian general, -on the contrary, committed the time-condemned error of weakening his -centre in order to strengthen his wings. All night could be seen the -far-extending lines of the blazing fires, which seemed to join each -other in the distance; and all night could be heard the heavy tread of -the troops, marching to take up positions under the vigilant eye of the -Emperor. Brave, confident hearts, how many of them were destined to be -swept to earth by the storm of the Austrian artillery! - -At length, the day of the 6th dawned upon the plain of Wagram, and -exhibited the two vast bodies of men, whose accoutrements glittered in -the light, who were about to be hurled together in deadly conflict. At -the first peep of day, Bernadotte occupied the left, leaving Massena in -the second line. Prince Eugene, with the laurels of Raab freshly -enwreathing his brow, connected him with the centre, where the corps of -Oudinot, Marmont, those of the imperial guard, and the divisions of the -cuirassiers, formed eight lines of battle-scarred veterans, eager for -the fray. Davoust marched from the right in order to reach the centre. - -The enemy, on the contrary, ordered the corps of Bellegarde to march -upon Stradelau. The corps of Colowrath, Lichtenstein, and Hiller, -connected this right with the position of Wagram, where the Prince of -Hohenzollern was, and to the extremity of the left, at Neusiedel, to -which extended the corps of Rosemberg, in order to fall upon Davoust. -The corps of Rosemberg and that of Davoust, making an inverse movement, -met with the first rays of the sun, and gave the signal for battle. The -Emperor made immediately for this point, reinforced Davoust with the -divisions of cuirassiers, and took the corps of Rosemberg in flank with -a battery of twelve pieces of General Count Nansouty. In less than three -quarters of an hour, the fine corps of Davoust had defeated Rosemberg’s -troop, and driven it beyond Neusiedel, with great loss. - -In the meantime the cannonade commenced throughout the line, and the -dispositions of the enemy became developed every moment; the whole of -their left was studded with artillery; one would have said that the -Austrian general was not fighting for the victory, but that the only -object he had in view, was how to profit by it. This disposition of the -enemy appeared so absurd, that some snare was dreaded, and the Emperor -hesitated some time before ordering the easy dispositions which he had -to make, in order to annul those of the enemy, and render them fatal to -him. He ordered Massena to make an attack on a village occupied by the -foe, and which somewhat pressed the extremity of the centre of the army. -He ordered Davoust to turn the position of Neusiedel, and to push from -thence upon Wagram; and bade Massena and General Macdonald form in -column, in order to carry Wagram the moment Davoust should march upon -it. - -While this was going forward, word was brought that the enemy was -furiously attacking the village which Massena had carried; that the left -had advanced about three thousand yards; that a heavy cannonade was -already heard at Gross-Aspern, and that the interval from Gros-Aspern to -Wagram appeared covered by an immense line of artillery. It could no -longer be doubted: the enemy had committed an enormous fault, and it -only remained to profit by it. The Emperor immediately ordered General -Macdonald to dispose the divisions of Broussier and Lamarque in -attacking columns; they were supported by the division of General -Nansouty, by the horse guards, and by a battery of sixty pieces of the -guard and forty pieces of different corps. General Count de Lauriston, -at the head of this battery of a hundred pieces of artillery, galloped -towards the enemy, advanced without firing to within half cannon-shot, -and then commenced a prodigious cannonade which soon silenced that of -the enemy, and carried death into their ranks. General Macdonald marched -forward to the charge. And such a charge had never before been witnessed -upon the field of battle. Macdonald advanced, as it were, in the face of -a volcano pouring forth a red tide of death. Whole squadrons were swept -to the earth, but, led by a man without fear, the guards never even -faltered; but on, on—still on—they advanced, like a decree of fate, -which nothing could check. To sustain them, Bessieres charged with the -cavalry of the old guard, but was hurled from his horse by a -cannon-shot, which damped the enthusiasm of his troops, and rendered -their onset weak. Napoleon, who, riding on a splendid white charger, was -a conspicuous mark for the balls of the enemy, seeing his faithful -Bessieres fall, turned away, saying, “Let us avoid another scene!” -alluding to the incidents attending the death of the illustrious Lannes. -But Macdonald continued his rapid advance, attacked and broke the centre -of the Austrians, and captured their guns. But here he was compelled to -halt; the column which he had led to the charge had been reduced to -between two and three thousand effective men. Its path was piled with -the slain. But the centre of the enemy was broken. Their right, seized -with a panic, fell back in haste, and Massena then attacked in front, -while Davoust, who had carried Neusiedel and Wagram, attacked and -penetrated the left. It was but ten o’clock, and yet the victory already -clung to the eagles of the French. From that time until noon, the -Archduke only fought for a safe retreat. The French continued to gain -ground; until, when the sun had reached the meridian, the dispirited -Austrian general gave the order for retreat. The French pursued. But -Murat, to Napoleon’s regret, was not at the head of the cavalry, and -many of the advantages of such a glorious victory were lost. Long before -night’s shadows descended, the Austrians were out of sight, and the -French encamped upon the field of their victory, although the cavalry -had posts advanced as far as Soukirchen. - -At dark, the Emperor could sum up the results of this terrible battle, -in which between three and four hundred thousand men, with from twelve -to fifteen hundred pieces of artillery, did the work of death. Ten -flags, forty pieces of cannon, twenty thousand prisoners, of whom three -or four hundred were officers, were the trophies. Besides these, the -Austrians left upon the field about nine thousand men wounded, and an -immense number of slain. The Archduke himself was wounded in this bloody -struggle. The French had suffered a severe loss. Besides a great number -of brave men who had been swept into the sea of death by the storm of -the Austrian artillery, there were six thousand wounded, among whom were -Marshal Bessieres, and the Generals Sahuc, Seras, Defranc, Grenier, -Vignoble and Frere. - -It was a fitting time to do honor to the unrivalled commanders of the -army. Macdonald had been in a kind of disgrace. But the Emperor now -forgot all but his unequalled charge. He advanced to that intrepid -general, and said, “Shake hands, Macdonald; no more animosity between -us: let us henceforth be friends!” That night, by the camp-fire of -Wagram, three new marshals of the empire were created, viz.:—Macdonald, -Oudinot and Marmont. - -The troops were excessively fatigued, and were glad when they received -orders from the Emperor to cease the pursuit, and bivouac on the plain -of Wagram. The Emperor then entered his tent to seek repose. But he had -not tasted its sweets more than half an hour, when an aid-de-camp came -in hurriedly, crying, “Up! up! to arms!” This cry was caught up and -repeated throughout the whole army, startling the quiet night. “In five -minutes,” says the author of Travels in Moravia, “the troops were in -position and ready for action, and the Emperor was on horseback, with -all his generals around him. This rapid and regular movement was -unparalleled. And certainly it was an astonishing display of perfect -discipline and promptitude. The cause of this alarm was the approach of -an Austrian corps, numbering three thousand men, under the Archduke -John. But that body, having failed in an attempt at surprise, retreated, -and the French returned to their bivouacs, much amused with the incident -of the night. In a short time, all was silent again upon the bloody -plain of Wagram. - -Then followed the treaty of Schœnbrunn, which once more prostrated -the coalition, and secured Maria Louisa, a daughter of the proud house -of Hapsburg-Lorraine, in the place of the beloved Josephine, as Empress -of France. Thus the child of the people had conquered an alliance with -the daughter of emperors. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: MURAT.] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE NIEMEN. - - -The oppressive continental policy of Napoleon caused the rupture of the -peace of Tilsit, and led to the grand, but disastrous invasion of -Russia. Alexander gave the first offence by not fulfilling the condition -of his treaty with Napoleon. The French Emperor then began to see the -error of that treaty. It should have secured the independence of Poland. -The czar pressed Napoleon for a declaration that Poland should never be -re-established, but the Emperor refused to make this concession. Both -rulers then prepared for a struggle on a gigantic scale. Napoleon -determined to invade, and Alexander was resolved to make a resolute -defence. - -Napoleon determined to concentrate an army of four hundred thousand men -upon the banks of the Niemen. He was thoroughly informed of the vast -resources of France and of the condition of the country through which he -would be compelled to march. As far as human calculation could reach, -his views were clear and accurate. - -It was from the bosom of that France, of which he had made a “citadel,” -which appeared impregnable, and across that Germany whose sovereigns -were at his feet, that Napoleon wended his way towards the frontier of -the Russian empire, in order to place himself at the head of the most -formidable army which the genius of conquest had ever led. Fouche, -Cardinal Fesch, and other noted councillors strove to dissuade Napoleon -from the impending war; but the Emperor was confident, and seems to have -entertained no doubt of his success. “The war,” he said, “is a wise -measure, called for by the true interests of France and the general -welfare. The great power I have already attained, compels me to assume -an universal dictatorship. My views are not ambitious. I desire to -obtain no further acquisition; and reserve to myself only the glory of -doing good, and the blessings of posterity. There must be but one -European code; one court of appeal; one system of money, weights and -measures; equal justice and uniform laws throughout the continent. -Europe must constitute but one great nation, and Paris must be the -capital of the world.” Grand but premature conception! - -The signal for the advance of the Grand Army was now sounded. It moved -forward in thirteen divisions, besides the Imperial Guard, and certain -chosen troops. The first division was headed by the stern and intrepid -Davoust; the second, by Oudinot; the third, by the indomitable Ney; the -fourth, by the skilful Prince Eugene; the fifth, by the devoted -Poniatowski; the sixth, by that cool and skilful general, Gouvion St. -Cyr; the seventh, by the veteran Regnier; the eighth, by the brave but -reckless Jerome Bonaparte; the ninth, by the resolute Victor; the tenth, -by the hero of Wagram, Macdonald; the eleventh, by the old veteran of -Italy, Augereau; the twelfth, by the bold and brilliant Murat; and the -thirteenth by Prince Schwartzenberg. The Old Guard—that solid and -impenetrable phalanx—was commanded by Bessieres, Le Febre and Mortier. - -Long before daybreak, on the 23d of June, the French army approached the -Niemen. It was only two o’clock in the morning, when the Emperor, -accompanied only by General Hays, rode forward to reconnoitre. He wore a -Polish dress and bonnet, and thus escaped observation. After a close -scrutiny, he discovered a spot near the village of Poineven, above -Kowno, favorable to the passage of the troops, and gave orders for three -bridges to be thrown across, at nightfall. The whole day was occupied in -preparing facilities for the passage of the river, the line which -separated them from the Russian soil. - -The first who crossed the river were a few sappers in a boat. The day -had been very warm, and the night was welcomed by the weary soldiers, -who knew they had yet a difficult task to perform. Napoleon, who had -been somewhat depressed all day, now seemed to regain his cheerful -spirits. He posted himself upon a slight eminence, where he could -superintend operations. The sappers found all silent on the Russian -soil, and no enemy appeared to oppose them, with the exception of a -single Cossack officer on patrole, who asked, with an air of surprise, -who they were, and what they wanted. The sappers quickly replied, -“Frenchmen!” and one of them briskly added, “Come to make war upon you; -to take Wilna, and deliver Poland.” The Cossack fled into the wood, and -three French soldiers discharged their pieces at him without effect. -These three shots were the signals for the opening of this -ever-memorable campaign. Their echoes roused Napoleon from the lethargy -into which he had fallen, and he immediately planned the most active -measures. - -Three hundred voltigeurs were sent across to protect the erection of the -bridges. At the same time, the dark masses of the French columns began -to issue from the valleys and forests, and to approach the river, in -order to cross it at dawn of day. - -All fires were forbidden, and perfect silence was enjoined. The men -slept with their arms in their hands, on the green corn, heavily -moistened with dew, which served them for beds, and their horses for -provender. Those on watch, passed the hours in reading over the -Emperor’s proclamation, and speculating on the prospect which the -daylight would disclose. The night was keen, and pitch dark. The silence -maintained amidst such a prodigious mass of life—felt to be there, -whilst nothing could be seen—rendered the hours unspeakably solemn. - -Before dawn, the whole array was under arms; but the first beams of the -sun shewed no opposing enemy; nothing but dry and desert sand, and dark -silent forests. On their own side of the river, men and horses, and -glittering arms, covered every spot of ground within the range of the -eye, and the Emperor’s tent in the midst of them stood on an elevation. -At a given signal, the immense mass began to defile in three columns -towards the bridges. Two divisions of the advanced guard, in their ardor -for the precedence, nearly came to blows. Napoleon crossed among the -first, and stationed himself near the bridges to encourage the men by -his presence. They saluted him with their usual acclamations. He seemed -depressed, for a time, partly owing to his previous exertions and want -of rest, partly from the excessive heat of the day, but no doubt still -more from the passive desolation which met his forces, when he had -expected a mortal enemy to contend with him in arms. This latter feeling -was presently manifested in its reaction, and with a fierce impatience -he set spurs to his horse, dashed into the country, and penetrated the -forest which bordered the river; “as if,” says Segur, “he were on fire -to come in contact with the enemy alone.” He rode more than a league in -the same direction, surrounded throughout by the same solitude. He then -returned to the vicinity of the bridges, and led the army into the -country, while a menacing sky hung black and heavy over the moving host. -The distant thunder began to roar and swell, and the storm soon -descended. The lightning flamed across the whole expanse above their -heads; they were drenched with torrents of rain; the roads were all -inundated; and the recently oppressive heat of the atmosphere was -suddenly changed to a bitter chilliness. Some thousands of horses -perished on the march, and in the bivouacs which followed: many -equipages were abandoned on the sands; and many men fell sick and died. - -The Emperor found shelter in a convent, from the first fury of the -tempest, but shortly departed for Kowno, where the greatest disorder -prevailed. The passage of Oudinot had been impeded by the bridge across -the Vilia having been broken down by the Cossacks. Napoleon treated this -circumstance with contempt, and ordered a squadron of the Polish guard -to spur into the flood, and swim across. This fine picked troop -instantly obeyed. They proceeded at first in good order, and soon -reached the centre of the river; but here the current was too strong, -and their ranks were broken. They redoubled their exertions, but the -horses became frightened and unmanageable. Both men and horses were soon -exhausted. They no longer swam, but floated about in scattered groups, -rising and sinking, while some among them went down. At length, the men, -finding destruction inevitable, ceased their struggles, but as they were -sinking, they turned their faces towards Napoleon, and cried out, “Vive -l’Empereur!” Three of these noble-spirited patriots uttered this cry, -while only a part of their faces were above the waters. The army was -struck with a mixture of horror and admiration. Napoleon watched the -scene apparently unmoved, but gave every order he could devise for the -purpose of saving as many of them as possible, though with little -effect. It is probable that his strongest feeling, even at the time, was -a presentiment that this disastrous event was but the beginning of -others, at once tremendous and extensive. - -Marshal Oudinot with the second corps crossed the Vilia, by a bridge at -Keydani. Meanwhile the rest of the army was still crossing the Niemen, -in which operation three entire days were consumed. - -After the first night of the arrival upon the Niemen, camp-fires were -permitted, and their vast line illumined the sky to a great distance. -The troops suffered severely from the sudden changes of the weather—from -oppressive heat to piercing cold. But when we learn their sufferings in -the rest of the campaign, we forget this first taste of misery. Before -the army had entirely crossed the Niemen, Napoleon reached the plain of -Wilna, which he found the Russians had deserted. However, he was -received by the inhabitants of Wilna as a deliverer, and the restorer of -the nationality of Poland. Still the steady movement of retreat, laying -waste the country—the plan which the Russian generals had adopted—caused -the Emperor to be gloomy, and it seemed as if the cloud of adversity had -already begun to obscure his star. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: MASSENA.] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT WITESPSK. - - -The first combat of importance during the Russian campaign was fought at -Ostrowna. On the 18th of July, Napoleon reached Klubokoe. There he was -informed that the Russian general, Barclay de Tolly, had abandoned the -camp at Drissa, and was marching towards Witepsk. He immediately ordered -all his corps upon Beszenkowici; and so admirable and precise were his -combinations, that the whole of his immense mass of armies reached the -place in one day. Segur has graphically described the apparent chaos of -confusion which seemed to result from that very regularity itself. The -columns of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, presenting themselves on -every side; the rush, the crossing, the jostling; the contention for -quarters, and for forage and provisions; the aides-de-camp bearing -important orders vainly struggling to open a passage. At length, before -mid night, order had taken the place of this apparent anarchy. The vast -collection of troops had flowed off towards Ostrowno, or been quartered -in the town, and profound silence succeeded the tumult. The Russian army -had got the start of Napoleon, and now occupied Witepsk. - -The first combat of Ostrowno took place on the 25th of July. The Russian -infantry, protected by a wood, fiercely contested the ground, but were -beaten back at every point by the repeated charges of Murat, seconded by -the eighth regiment of infantry, and the divisions of Bruyeres and St. -Germains; and at length the division of Delzons coming up completed the -victory of the French. On the 26th, the Russians who had been -reinforced, and had occupied a very strong position, seemed disposed to -renew the struggle. Barclay had thrown forward this portion of his force -to retard the French advance, while he daily looked for the junction of -Bagration. The French van had also been reinforced; Prince Eugene with -the Italian division having joined in the night. The numbers and strong -position of the Russians gave them an immense superiority in the -beginning of the day. They attacked with fury, issuing in large masses -out of their woods with deafening war cries. The French regiments -opposed to this onset were mowed down, beaten back, and in danger of an -irretrievable rout. At this critical moment, Murat placed himself at the -head of a regiment of Polish lancers, and with word and gesture incited -them to an unanimous and energetic rush. Roused by his address, and -inspired with rage at the sight of their oppressors, they obeyed with -impetuosity. His object had been to launch them against the enemy, not -to mingle personally in the torrent of the fight, which must disqualify -him for the command; but their lances were in their rests, and closely -filed behind him; they occupied the whole width of the ground; they -hurried him forwards at the full speed of their horses, and he was -absolutely compelled to charge at their head, which he did, as the -eye-witnesses affirm, “with an admirable grace,” his plumed hat and -splendid uniform giving him on this occasion, and numberless others in -which he displayed a most joyous and reckless courage, the air of some -knight of romance. This impetuous onset was seconded by the other French -leaders. Eugene, General Girardin, and General Pire attacked at the head -of their columns, and finally the wood was gained. The Russians -retreated, and disappeared from view in a forest two leagues in depth, -into the recesses of which even the impetuosity of Murat hesitated to -follow. The forest was the last obstacle which hid Witepsk from their -view. At this moment of uncertainty, Napoleon appeared with the main -body of the army, and all difficulties and uncertainties soon vanished. -After hearing the report of the two princes, he went without delay to -the highest point of ground he could reach. There he observed long and -carefully the nature of the position, and calculated the movements of -his enemies; he then ordered an immediate advance. The whole army -rapidly traversed the forest, and began to debouch upon the plain of -Witepsk before night-fall. The approaching darkness, the multitude of -Russian watch-fires which covered the open ground, and the time -requisite to complete the extrication of his several divisions from the -defiles of the forest, obliged Napoleon to halt at this point. He -believed himself to be in presence of the main Russian army, and on the -eve of the great battle he so ardently desired. He left his tent, and -repaired to his advanced posts before daybreak on the 27th, and the -first rays of the sun shewed him the whole of Barclay’s forces encamped -on an elevated position, commanding all the avenues of Witepsk. The deep -channel of the river Lucszissa marked the foot of this position, and ten -thousand cavalry and a body of infantry were stationed in advance of the -river to dispute its approaches; the main body of the Russian infantry -was in the centre on the high road; its left, on woody eminences; its -right, supported by cavalry, resting on the Dwina. - -Napoleon took his station on an insulated hill in view of both armies. -Here, surrounded by a circle of chasseurs of his guard, he directed the -movements of his troops as they successively advanced to form in line of -battle. Two hundred Parisian voltigeurs of the ninth regiment of the -line, were the first who debouched, and were ranged on the left in front -of the Russian cavalry, and resting, like it, on the Dwina; they were -followed by the sixteenth chasseurs and some artillery. The Russians -looked on with coolness, offering no opposition. This favorable state of -inaction was suddenly interrupted by Murat. Intoxicated at the brilliant -and imposing assemblage of so many thousands of spectators, he -precipitated the French chasseurs upon the whole Russian cavalry. They -were met by an overwhelming opposition; broken, put to flight, and the -foremost cut to pieces. The King of Naples, stung to the quick at this -result, threw himself into the thickest of the rout and confusion, sword -in hand. His life had nearly been forfeited to his headstrong valor. A -furious and well-directed blow was just descending on his head, aimed -from behind by a Russian trooper, and it was only averted by a sudden -slash from the sabre of the orderly who attended Murat, which cut off -the trooper’s arm. The consequences of these rash proceedings did not -stop here. The successful resistance of the Russian cavalry impelled -them to advance nearly as far as the hill on which Napoleon was posted, -and his guard with great difficulty drove them back by repeated -discharges of their carbines. The two hundred Parisian voltigeurs, left -in an isolated position by the disorder into which the chasseurs had -been thrown, were next placed in imminent peril. The Russian cavalry in -returning to the main body, attacked and surrounded the voltigeurs. Both -armies, spectators of this sudden and unequal conflict, regarded that -small band of men as utterly lost. To the amazement of both French and -Russians, however, this handful of apparent victims was presently seen -to emerge unhurt from the dense cloud of assailants, who continued their -original movement upon their own position. The voltigeurs had rapidly -thrown themselves into square on a woody and broken space of ground, -close to the river. Here the Russian cavalry could not act, while the -steady fire of the voltigeurs made such havoc that their assailants were -glad to leave them as they found them. Napoleon sent the cross of the -Legion of Honor to every one of them on the spot. - -The remainder of the day was spent by Napoleon in stationing his army; -in waiting for the successive arrivals of different corps,—to be brief, -in preparing for a decisive battle on the morrow. The more ardent of his -generals wished that he had not waited till “the morrow,” and when he -took leave of Murat with the words, “To-morrow you will see the sun of -Austerlitz,” the King of Naples incredulously shook his head, saying, -that “Barclay only assumed that posture of defiance, the better to -ensure his retreat;” and then, with a temerity, verging on the -ludicrous, gave vent to his impatient irritation by ordering his tent to -be pitched on the banks of the Lucszissa, nearly in the midst of the -enemy, that he might be the first to catch the sounds of their retreat. - -Murat was right. The Russians retreated while the Emperor was preparing -to make Witepsk the scene of a decisive battle. At daybreak, Murat came -to inform the Emperor that he was going in pursuit of the Russians who -were no longer in sight. Napoleon would not at first credit the report, -but their empty camp soon convinced him of the truth. There was not even -a trace to indicate the route Barclay had taken. The army then entered -Witepsk, and found it deserted. They then followed in pursuit for six -leagues, through a deep and burning sand, and during the march the -soldiers suffered dreadfully from thirst. At last, night put an end to -their progress at Agliaponorchtchina. While the troops were busy in -procuring some muddy water to drink, Napoleon held a council, the result -of which was, that it was useless to pursue the Russian army any further -at present, and that it was advisable to halt where they were, on the -borders of Old Russia. As soon as the Emperor had formed this -resolution, he returned to Witepsk with his guards. On entering his -head-quarters in that city on the 28th, he took off his sword, and laid -it down on the maps which covered his table. “Here!” said he, “I halt. I -want to reconnoitre, to rally, to rest my army, and to organize Poland. -The campaign of 1812 is over; that of 1813 will do the rest.” Ah! well -for him would it have been, had he been content with the laurels that -were heaped upon his head, and fallen back then to devote himself to the -restoration of Poland. But his faith in his star had not yet been -weakened, and on, on—he would press, till checked by obstacles which no -human power could overcome. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT SMOLENSKO. - - -Napoleon halted two weeks at Witepsk. He felt that if he could not find -the Russian army, it was necessary to make a conquest that would end the -campaign with substantial glory. Now, more than ever the idea of -capturing the ancient Moscow entered his head, and he quickly decided to -advance. Already full of the plan, which was to crown him with success, -he ran to his maps. There he saw nothing but Smolensko and Moscow. - -“At the sight of them,” says Hazlitt, “he appeared inflamed by the -genius of war. His voice became harsh; his glance fiery, and his whole -air stern and fierce. His attendants retired from his presence, through -fear as well as respect; but at length his mind was fixed, his -determination taken, and his line of march traced out. Immediately -after, the tempest was calmed, and having given consistency and -utterance to his great conceptions, his features resumed their wonted -character of placidity and cheerfulness.” He did all in his power to -gain over his officers to his purposes, and redoubled his attentions to -his soldiers. The latter soon displayed a spirit of heroic devotion to -his person. - -The column of advance consisted of one hundred and eighty-five thousand -men; not one half of the complement of the vast army which had entered -Russia on the 23d of June. - -It must be remembered that the great tract of country already passed was -now occupied by his army, and necessarily expended a force, amounting -perhaps to nearly eighty thousand men; but it is computed that in -addition to this diminution of his army engaged in actual service, he -had lost one-third of his original numbers by desertion, wounds, or -death, either from fatigue or disease, or in the field of battle. -Numbers of his hospital wagons, pontoons, and provision wagons, also, -were far in the rear. Still, all these considerations gave way before -his ardent desire to hurry the war to a termination, and the exertions -he made at Witepsk were all with a view to an advance. Several actions, -occurred between his generals and the different divisions of the Russian -army during the period in which he held his head-quarters at Witepsk. -Schwartzenberg conquered Tormazoff at Gorodeczna; Barclay retreated -before Ney at Krasnoi; and Oudinot defeated Witgenstein near Polotsk, in -a second combat,—the first in which they encountered was indecisive. It -was at this moment that Napoleon received news of the conclusion of -peace between Russia and Turkey, an event which much more than -counterbalanced these successes. - -During the first week of August, intelligence reached Witepsk, that the -advanced guard, led by Prince Eugene, had obtained some advantages near -Suraij; but that, in the centre, at Tukowo, near the Dnieper, Sebastiani -had been surprised, and conquered by superior numbers. This information, -together with the march of Barclay upon Rudnia, decided Napoleon. He -conjectured that the whole Russian army was united between the Dwina and -the Dnieper, and was marching against his cantonments. His conjecture -proved to be perfectly correct. The Russian commander-in-chief -conceiving that the French army at Witepsk lay considerably more -dispersed than his own, had resolved to attempt a surprise. The utmost -activity now pervaded head-quarters. On the 10th of August, Napoleon was -observed to write eight letters to Davoust, and nearly as many to each -of his commanders. “If the enemy defends Smolensko,” he said, in one of -his letters to Davoust, “as I am tempted to believe he will, we shall -have a decisive engagement there, and we cannot have too large a force. -Orcha will become the central point of the army. Every thing induces me -to believe that there will be a great battle at Smolensko.” Barclay -having laid a plan for the surprise of Napoleon, the latter by a daring -manœuvre avoided it, and almost succeeded in an attempt to turn the -very same plan of surprise upon his enemy. Allowing the skirmishing to -continue on the advanced posts, he changed his line of operations, and -turning the left of the Russians instead of their right, which was -expected by Barclay, he gained the rear of their army, and endeavored to -occupy Smolensko, and act upon their lines of communication with Moscow. -To effect this, he had withdrawn his forces from Witepsk and the line of -the Dwina, with equal skill and rapidity, and throwing four bridges -across the Dnieper, made a passage for Ney, Eugene Beauharnais, and -Davoust, with Murat at the head of two large bodies of cavalry. They -were supported by Poniatowski and Junot, who advanced in different -routes. The attack was led by Ney and Murat, who bore down all -opposition till they reached Krasnoi, where a battle was fought on the -14th of August. He had thus suddenly changed his line of operations from -the Dwina to the Dnieper, and the manœuvre has been the subject of -much admiration and criticism among French and Russian tacticians. - -The Russian general, Newerowskoi, who commanded at Krasnoi, finding -himself attacked by a body of infantry stronger than his own, and two -large bodies of cavalry besides, retreated upon the road to Smolensko. -This road being favorable for the action of cavalry, he was hotly -pressed by Murat, who led the pursuit in full splendor of attire, and -with all the reckless valor which characterised him. He also dispatched -some of his light squadrons to alarm if not attack the front of the -retreating corps, while he made furious onsets upon their flank and -rear. Newerowskoi, however, effected a skilful and gallantly-conducted -retreat, availing himself of a double row of trees on the high road to -Smolensko, by which he evaded the charges of the cavalry, and was -enabled to pour in a heavy fire. He made good his retreat into -Smolensko, with the loss of four hundred men. - -The day on which the combat at Krasnoi was fought, happened to be the -Emperor’s birth-day. There was no intention of keeping it in these -immense solitudes, and under the present circumstances of peril and -anxiety. There could be no heartfelt festival without a complete -victory. Murat and Ney, however, on giving in the report of their recent -success, could not refrain from complimenting the Emperor on the -anniversary of his nativity. A salute from a hundred pieces of artillery -was now heard, fired according to their orders. Napoleon, with a look of -displeasure, observed, that in Russia it was important to be economical -of French powder. But he was informed in reply, that it was Russian -powder, and had been taken the night before. The idea of having his -birth-day celebrated at the expense of the Russians made Napoleon smile. -Prince Eugene also paid his compliments to the Emperor on this occasion; -but was cut short by Napoleon saying, “Every thing is preparing for a -battle. I will gain that, and then we will see Moscow.” - -While Newerowskoi was intrenched in Smolensko, the generals, Barclay and -Bagration, who were stationed towards Inkowo, between the Dnieper and -Lake Kasplia, hesitated whether to attack the French army, which they -believed to be still in their front. But when they heard of the -situation of Newerowskoi, the question of forcing the French lines was -superseded by the necessity of hurrying to the rescue of Smolensko. -Murat had already commenced an attack on the city. Ney had attempted to -carry the citadel by a _coup de main_, but was repulsed with the loss of -two or three hundred men, and was himself slightly wounded. He withdrew -to an eminence on the river’s bank, to examine the various positions, -when on the other side of the Dnieper he thought he could discern some -large masses of troops in motion. He hastened to inform the Emperor. -Napoleon was presently on the spot, and distinguished, amidst clouds of -dust, long dark columns which seemed electric with the intermittent -glancing of innumerable arms. These masses were advancing with rapidity. -It was Barclay and Bagration at the head of a hundred and twenty -thousand men. At this sight, Napoleon clapped his hands for joy, -exclaiming,—“At last I have them!” The moment that was to decide the -fate of Russia or the French army, had apparently arrived. - -Napoleon passed along the line, and assigned to each commander his -station, leaving an extensive plain unoccupied in front, between himself -and the Dnieper. This he offered to the enemy as a field of battle. The -French army in this position was backed by defiles and precipices; but -Napoleon had no anxiety about retreat, so certain felt he of victory. - -Instead, however, of accepting the challenge to a decisive battle, -Barclay and Bagration were seen next morning in full retreat towards -Elnia; a movement which was so bitterly disappointing to Napoleon that -he for some time refused to credit the fact. Various plans were -contemplated by the Emperor for partially cutting off their retreat, but -could not be brought into operation. He instantly ordered the storming -of Smolensko, inferring that it should be considered as a mere passage -through which he would force his way to Moscow. It appears that Murat -was very anxious to dissuade him from this attempt, but finding his -efforts in vain, the King of Naples was so exasperated that he rode in -front of the most formidable of the Russian batteries while it was in -full play upon the French; and having dismounted, remained standing -immoveable, while the balls were cutting down men on all sides. The -storming proceeded with success, except in the attack made by Ney upon -the citadel, which repulsed him with loss. One battalion happening to -present itself in flank before the Russian batteries, lost the entire -row of a company by a single ball, which thus killed twenty-two men at -the same instant. In the mean time, the main army, on an amphitheatre of -hills, surveyed in anxiety the struggles of their comrades in arms, and -occasionally applauded them with loud clapping hands as in a theatre, -while they made good any fresh onset, dashing through a maze of balls -and grape-shot which shadowed the air. - -The troops were drawn off as night came on, and Napoleon retired to his -tent. Count Lobau, having obtained possession of the ditch, ordered some -shells to be thrown into the city, to dislodge the enemy. Almost -immediately were seen rising thick and black columns of smoke, with -occasional gleams of light; then sparks and burning flakes; and at -length pyramids of flame, which ascended from every part. These distinct -and distant fires soon became united in one vast conflagration, which -rose in whirling and destructive grandeur,—hung over nearly the whole of -Smolensko, and consumed it amidst ominous and awful crashes. This -disaster, which Count Lobau very naturally attributed to his shells, -though it was the work of the Russians, threw him into great -consternation. Napoleon, seated in front of his tent, viewed the -terrific spectacle in silence. Neither the cause nor the result could as -yet be ascertained, and the night was passed under arms. About three in -the morning, a subaltern officer, belonging to Davoust, had ventured to -the foot of the wall, and scaled it, without giving the least alarm. -Emboldened by the silence which reigned around him, he made his way into -the city, when suddenly hearing a number of voices speaking with the -Sclavonian accent, he gave himself up for lost. But at this instant, the -level rays of the sun discovered these supposed enemies to be the Poles -of Poniatowski. They had been the first to penetrate the city, which -Barclay had just abandoned to the flames. Smolensko having been -reconnoitred, the army entered within its walls. The remarks of Segur on -this occasion are very fine:—“They passed over the smoking and bloody -ruins in martial order, and with all the pomp of military music and -displayed banners; triumphant over deserted ruins, and the solitary -witness of their own glory. A spectacle without spectators; a victory -scarcely better than fruitless; a glory steeped in blood; and of which -the smoke that surrounded them, and that seemed indeed to be the only -conquest, was the best and most characteristic emblem.” - -Here Napoleon found, as at the Niemen, at Wilna, and at Witepsk, that -phantom of victory which had decoyed him onward, had again eluded his -grasp; and with mute and gloomy rage he walked along the city over heaps -of smoking ruins and the naked bodies of the slain. He sat down in front -of the citadel, on a mat at the door of a cottage, and here he held -forth for an hour on the cowardice of Barclay, while bullets from the -citadel walls were whizzing about his head. He dwelt upon the fine field -for action he had offered him, the disgrace it was to have delivered up -the keys of Old Russia without a struggle; the advantages he had given -him in a strong city to support his efforts or to receive him in case of -need. Without taking the slightest notice of the bullets from the -Russian riflemen in the citadel, he thus continued to sit and vent his -passionate disappointment, uttering the most bitter sarcasms upon the -Russian general and army. “He was not yet in the secret,” laconically -observes Hazlitt, “of the new Scythian tactics of defending a country by -burning its capitals.” At length, he remounted his horse. One of his -marshals remarked, as soon as he was out of hearing, that “if Barclay -had been so very wrong in refusing battle, the Emperor would not have -taken so much time to convince us of it.” The truth was, he had no -patience with the Russians for not staying—to be beaten. - -The Russians still retained the suburbs of Smolensko, on the right bank -of the Dnieper. During the night, Napoleon caused the bridges to be -repaired, and a heavy cannonade to be kept up; and by the morning, the -suburb had been deserted after being first set on fire. Ney and Junot -immediately pressed forward through the burning labyrinth, and halted on -the spot at which the roads to Petersburg and Moscow diverge, uncertain -in which direction to continue the pursuit. At length, the French scouts -brought information that Barclay had retreated in the direction of -Moscow, taking at first a circuitous route through marshy and woody -defiles. Ney came up with the rear guard at Stubna, where he dislodged -them from a strong position, without difficulty; and next at Valoutina, -where a desperate conflict took place, in which thirty thousand men were -successively engaged on either side. Encumbered as he was by a long line -of artillery and baggage, and hard pressed by Ney, Barclay was in -extreme danger of losing his whole army, but he was saved by the -unaccountable remissness of Junot, who had absolutely got into his rear, -yet suspended his attack. Junot was a favorite with Napoleon, but he -lost his command for this indecision. It was transferred to Rapp, who -had just joined the army. The action had been sanguinary, and among -other severe losses, the French general Gudin was mortally wounded. -Napoleon visited the field of battle, which would probably have been a -decisive one had he been present to direct the manœuvres. The -soldiers were ranged round the dead bodies of French and Russians which -covered the ground; the ghastly nature of their wounds, and the wrenched -and twisted bayonets scattered about, bearing witness to the violence of -the conflict. Napoleon felt that the time was come when his men required -the support both of praise and rewards. Accordingly, he suppressed his -chagrin at the indecisive result of the victory. His looks were never -more impressive and affectionate. He declared this battle was the most -brilliant exploit in their military history. In his rewards, he was -munificent. The division of Gudin alone received eighty-seven -decorations and promotions. He watched over and secured the care of the -wounded, and left the field amidst the enthusiastic acclamations of his -soldiers. He then returned to Smolensko. His carriage jolted over the -grisly ruins of the fight, and his eyes were met on every side by all -that is odious and horrible in fields of battle. Long lines of wounded -were dragging themselves, or being borne along, and retarded his -progress; when he entered the ruined city, carts were conveying out of -sight the streaming heap of amputated limbs. Smolensko seemed one vast -hospital, and its groans of anguish prevailed over and obliterated the -glories and acclamations of Valoutina. - -The situation of the French army had now become grave and critical. -There could no longer be a doubt of the plan which Barclay was pursuing, -and disastrous apprehensions crowded upon Napoleon’s mind. The burning -of Smolensko was evidently one result of a deep laid design; it could -not be attributed to accident. - -What must have been his reflections on the evening of this disastrous -day, when, with a burning city for a camp-fire, he at length discovered -the settled policy of his enemy—the policy, namely, by which Robert -Bruce, in his last will, directed his countrymen how to conquer the -ever-invading English—the policy by which Francis the First baffled his -great rival, Charles the Fifth, in his attempt to conquer France—the -policy of laying waste the country, burning the cities, retreating -without a pitched battle and leaving famine, cold and disease to destroy -the invading force? - -Whatever misfortune awaited him, the Emperor was resolved to meet it -without delay. He really dared fate to do its worst. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON AT WIAZMA. Page 317.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT WIAZMA. - - -Even after quitting Smolensko, Napoleon did not penetrate the designs of -the Russian general, Barclay de Tolly. He called the retreat, flight; -their circumspection, pusillanimity. - -Barclay had retreated to Dorogobouje, without attempting any resistance; -but here he renewed his junction with Bagration, and Murat wishing to -reconnoitre a small wood, met with a vigorous resistance, and pressing -forwards found himself in front of the whole Russian army. He -immediately sent word to Napoleon, who was in the rear. Davoust also, -who disapproved of Murat’s dispositions, wrote to hasten the Emperor’s -advance, “if he did not wish Murat to engage without him.” Napoleon -received the news with transport, and pressed on with his guard twelve -leagues without stopping; but on the evening before he arrived, the -enemy had disappeared. Barclay persevered in his retreat amidst -imputations of treachery from Bagration, and discord and impatience -throughout his camp. Rage at the continual falling back before the -invaders had produced so many complaints, that Alexander had at last -resolved to supersede Barclay by Kutusoff, who was shortly expected. -Meantime, the French army advanced, marching three columns abreast; the -Emperor, Murat, Davoust, and Ney, in the middle, along the great road to -Moscow; Poniatowski on the right, and the army of Italy on the left. - -It was not likely that the centre column could obtain any supplies on a -road where the advanced guard had found nothing to subsist upon but the -leavings of the, Russians. They could not in so rapid a march find time -to deviate from the direct route; besides which, the right and left -columns were collecting and devouring all they could find on each side -of the road. It seemed that a second army would have been required to -follow them with the requisite necessaries; but as it was, they were -obliged to carry everything with them. The existence of the army was a -prodigy. With the French and Polish corps, the difficulties were not so -great, owing to their excellent arrangements in packing their knapsacks, -and by every regiment having attached to it a number of dwarf-horses, -carts, and a drove of oxen. Their baggage was conducted by soldiers as -drivers. But with the other chiefs in command, the case was very -different. They had none of these excellent arrangements among them, and -only existed by sending out marauding detachments on every side, who -devoured their fill, and then returned to their respective bodies with -the remainder—if any remained. Napoleon had not paid sufficient -attention to these distinctions, in the arrangements of the various -divisions, and the consequences were highly injurious. Very great -distress, and very disorderly conduct incessantly occurred in the course -of the march, particularly at Slawokowo. But Napoleon seemed only -possessed by the idea of Moscow, and victory. He evidently took a great -pleasure in frequently dating decrees and dispatches from the middle of -Old Russia, which he knew would find their way even into the smallest -hamlets throughout France, and make him appear present every where in -full power. - -Murat and Davoust had frequent misunderstandings at this period, which -on one occasion came to an open quarrel. Davoust had been placed under -the orders of the King of Naples, but the latter having brought the -troops into the greatest peril by his headstrong valor and love of -personal display and prowess, Davoust showed an unwillingness to support -him. This presently led to a violent altercation in presence of the -Emperor. Murat upbraided Davoust with slow and dilatory circumspection, -and with a personal hostility towards himself ever since they were in -Egypt. He became more vehement as he proceeded, and finally challenged -the Prince of Eckmuhl. At this last provocation, the deliberate Davoust -gave way to his feelings, and began a long history of the extraordinary -pranks played by the King of Naples in pursuing the Russians. He said it -was high time that the Emperor should be made acquainted with what -passed every day in the management of his advanced guard. He showed that -Murat wasted lives by useless attacks upon the Russians, for the sake of -gaining a few acres of ground, although it invariably happened that the -enemy left the ground of their own accord, whenever a sufficient force -came up with them; that Murat was in the constant habit of losing men by -slaughterous follies in the front to no purpose, after which he began to -think of the propriety of reconnoitering; that he kept the whole of the -advanced guard in a state of restless activity during sixteen hours of -the twenty-four, with no cause, and finally chose the worst quarters for -the night; so that the soldiers, instead of taking their food and rest, -were groping about for provisions and forage, and calling to each other -in the dark, in order to find their way back to the bivouacs: and that -the king did nothing else but storm and rage through the ranks, and then -ride close to the enemy’s lines in all directions. - -Napoleon listened to the whole of this in silence, pushing a Russian -bullet backwards and forwards under the sole of his foot. When they were -both quite out of breath, he mildly told them that under present -circumstances he preferred impetuosity to methodical caution; that each -had his merits; it was impossible for one man to combine all -descriptions of merit; and enjoining them to be friends for the future, -dismissed them to their tents. - -On the 28th of August, the army traversed the great plains of Wiazma. -They passed hastily onwards, several regiments abreast, over the fields. -The high road was given up to the train of artillery, and the hospital -wagons. The Emperor appeared among them in all directions. He was -occupied in calculating, as he went forward, how many thousands of -cannon-balls would be required to destroy the Russian army. He ordered -all private carriages to be broken up, as they might tend to impede -their progress, and be in the way when a battle occurred. The carriage -of his aid-de-camp, General Narbonne, was the first that was demolished. -The baggage of all the corps was collected in the rear, comprised of a -long train of bat-horses, and of carriages called _kibics_, drawn by -rope-traces. These were loaded with provisions, plunder, military -stores, sick soldiers, and the arms of these soldiers, and of those who -acted as drivers and guards. In this heterogeneous column were seen tall -cuirassiers, who had lost their horses, and were mounted on horses not -much larger than asses. Among such a confused and disorderly multitude, -the Cossacks might have made most harassing attacks; but Barclay seemed -cautious to avoid disheartening the French too much. His object was to -impede and delay the progress of the invaders, by contests with the -advanced guard only, and without inducing them to abandon their design. - -This protracted state of affairs, the fatigued condition of the army, -the quarrels among the chiefs, and the approach of yet more dangerous -circumstances, filled the mind of Napoleon with distrust and -apprehension. He had for some time hoped and expected that Alexander -would open some negotiation with him, or at least send him a letter. At -length, he gave the opportunity himself, by causing Berthier to write to -Barclay; and the letter concluded with these words:—“The Emperor -commands me to entreat you to present his compliments to the Emperor -Alexander, and to say to him that neither the vicissitudes of war, nor -any other circumstances, can ever impair the friendship which he feels -for him.” Napoleon’s sincerity in this profession was probably of the -same value as the previous good faith of Alexander. No answer was -returned. On the very day the letter was sent, the advanced guard of the -French drove the Russians into Wiazma. The army was so exhausted by -fatigue, heat, and thirst, that the soldiers fought among themselves for -precedence in obtaining water from some muddy pools. Napoleon himself -was very glad to obtain a little of this thick puddle to allay his -thirst. In the course of the night, the Russians destroyed the bridges -of the Wiazma; and, after pillaging the town, set fire to it, and -decamped. Murat and Davoust, after some opposition, succeeded in making -an entrance and extinguishing the flames. Various reports now made to -the Emperor left him no longer in the least doubt as to who were the -incendiaries, and he clearly perceived the regular plan on which the -Russians were acting. Entering Wiazma, he found a few resources had been -left in the town, but that his soldiers had wasted them all by pillage. -This so exasperated him that he rode in among them, and threw several of -them down. Seeing a suttler who had been very busy in this wasteful -disorder, he ordered him to be shot. But it is well known of Napoleon, -that his fits of passion were of short duration, and always followed by -a disposition to clemency. Those, therefore, who heard this order, -placed the suttler a few minutes afterwards, in a place which the -Emperor would have to pass; and making the man kneel, they got a woman -and several children to kneel at his side, who were to appear as his -wife and family. Napoleon inquired what they wanted, and granted the -offender his pardon. - -Belliard, at this time the head of Murat’s staff, now rode up to him in -a very excited state. He reported that the enemy had shown himself in -full force, in an advantageous position, beyond the Wiazma, and ready to -engage; that the cavalry on both sides had immediately come to action; -and that the infantry becoming necessary, the King of Naples had placed -himself at the head of one of Davoust’s divisions, and ordered the -advance—when Davoust hastened to the spot and commanded them to halt, as -he did not approve of the intended manœuvre, and told the king that -it was absurd and ruinous. Murat had therefore sent to the Emperor, -declaring that he would no longer hold a disputed command. Napoleon was -enraged at this renewal of the quarrel at such a moment, and sent off -Berthier to place under the command of Murat that division which he had -intended to lead. Meantime, the contest was over, and Murat, now -reverting to the conduct of Davoust, was boiling with indignation. He -asked of what use was his royal rank? It could not obtain him obedience, -or even protect him from insult. But as his sword had made him a king, -to that alone would he appeal. It was with the greatest difficulty that -he was restrained from going to attack Davoust. He then cursed his -crown, and shed a torrent of tears. Davoust did not attempt to excuse -the insubordination of his conduct, but persisted that Murat had been -misled by his own temerity, and that the Emperor had been misinformed as -to the whole affair with the Russians. - -Napoleon re-entered Wiazma, and here intelligence was brought him from -the interior of Russia, that the government deliberately appropriated -all his successes to themselves, and that _Te Deum_ had been repeatedly -celebrated at Petersburg for the Russian “victories” of Witepsk and -Smolensko! “_Te Deum!_” ejaculated Napoleon, in amazement—“then they -dare to tell lies, not only to man but to God!” He also learned, that -while their towns were in flames there was nothing but ringing of bells -in Petersburg, hymns of gratitude, and publications of the triumph of -the Russian arms. - -Yet he did not perceive the plan of the Russian general. For a time, at -least, his usual penetration seemed to have been dulled. He remained -among the smoking ruins of Wiazma, which might have conveyed to his mind -an ominous lesson of the result of a system of tactics to which he was -unaccustomed. But now this system, having accomplished its purpose, was -to be abandoned. Barclay had persisted in carrying out his plan against -all the clamor and imputations of the Russians. He was now superseded by -Kutusoff, a general of the school of Suwarrow; but the skilful De Tolly -willingly served under that general. This alteration of plan, and change -of commanders, Napoleon learned while at Wiazma. He could now expect a -battle, and he prepared to render it decisive. He advanced to the bloody -field of Borodino. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE OF BORODINO. - - -Napoleon esteemed the battle of Borodino, or Moskwa, his “greatest feat -of arms.” But his conduct during the conflict has been the subject of -much animadversion, and many critics agree with Segur that he did not -display upon that field his usual splendor and power of genius.—But to -the incidents of Borodino. - -The Russian army halted at Borodino, and intelligence was brought to the -Emperor of the French that they were breaking up the whole plain and -forming intrenchments in every part. Napoleon then announced to his -troops the approaching battle, and allowed them two days rest to prepare -their arms and collect their provision. - -Napoleon was leading his army onwards farther and farther, through -pathless deserts, or over ruined fields, or towns laid in ashes; -fatigue, famine, and war, were reducing his numbers, and he was at every -step increasing his distance from his resources, while his enemies were -in the heart of their own country. Even at Wilna, a deficiency had been -discovered in the hospital department; the evil increased at Witepsk. At -Smolensko, there was no want of hospitals; fifteen large brick -buildings, saved from the flames, had been set apart for this purpose, -and there was plenty of wine, brandy, and medicines, but there was a -dearth of dressings for the appalling number of wounds. The surgeons had -already used all that could be procured—had torn up their own linen, and -at length were obliged to substitute the paper found in the city -archives. One hospital, containing a hundred wounded men, was forgotten, -in the stress of difficulties, for the space of three whole days. The -state of its wretched inmates when it was accidentally discovered by -Rapp, none of the chroniclers of these events have ever attempted to -describe, and the imagination recoils with horror from the attempt to -realise it. Napoleon sent them his own stock of wine, and many pecuniary -gratuities. The alarming decrease of numbers noticed at Witepsk was -still more perceptible now. The army at Smolensko might be computed at -about one hundred and fifty-seven thousand men, part of the deficiency -being caused by the occupation of additional territory; the rest by -desertion, wounds, sickness, or death. With such a force, however, -Napoleon had no reason for apprehension, if he could bring his enemies -to a battle; but it was evident that Barclay had discovered and -resolutely pursued a more efficient plan. It seems certain, therefore, -that Napoleon did entertain thoughts of establishing winter-quarters at -Smolensko; of intrenching himself strongly, bringing up his -reinforcements and supplies, and in this central point commanding the -roads to both the capitals of Russia; waiting proposals of peace, or -preparing for a fresh campaign in the spring. The danger of so long an -absence from France; the difficulty of holding together an army composed -of many different nations; the news of fresh successes achieved by his -various leaders in different directions; above all, the impetuosity of -his own temperament, decided the point. The only doubt which long -existed was on which of the two capitals to advance. By the 24th of -August, all was decided, and the French army was in full march towards -Moscow. - -Sixteen thousand recruits, and a vast multitude of peasants, joined the -ranks of Kutusoff. On the 4th of September, the French left Gjatz. The -heads of their columns were now more than ever annoyed by troops of -Cossacks, and the frequent necessity of making his cavalry deploy -against so temporary and random an obstacle, provoked Murat to such a -degree that he once clapped spurs to his horse, and dashing alone to the -front of their line, halted within a few paces, and waving his sabre -with the most indignant and menacing authority, signified his command -for them to withdraw. The sudden apparition of this splendid figure in -front of their ranks, with the air of one who possessed the power of -annihilating them with a blow, so took these barbarians by surprise that -they instantly withdrew in vague astonishment. They shortly, however, -returned, and received the charge of the Italian chasseurs. Platoff has -since related that in this affair, a Russian officer, who had brought a -sorcerer with him, was wounded; whereupon he ordered the sorcerer to be -soundly drubbed, as he had expressly directed him to turn aside all the -balls by his conjurations. - -Napoleon now surveyed the whole country from an eminence, and displayed -marvellous sagacity in the conclusions he drew as to the positions and -intentions of the enemy. Vast numbers of troops were posted in front of -their left, and he concluded that this must be the point where their -ground was most accessible, and that they had there constructed a -formidable redoubt. It was, therefore, necessary to carry this. The -attack was general, and the Russian rear-guards were driven back upon -Borodino. This curtain being removed, the first Russian redoubt was -discovered. The division of Compans attacked it, and the 61st regiment -took it at the point of the bayonet. Bagration sent reinforcements, and -it was retaken. It was again taken by the 61st, and this occurred three -times, till finally, with the loss of half the regiment, it remained in -possession of the French. But a neighboring wood was swarming with -Russian riflemen, and it required the efforts of Morand, Poniatowski, -and Murat, to complete the conquest. Firing, nevertheless, continued -till nightfall. - -Not a single prisoner had been taken. When Napoleon heard this, he asked -many questions impatiently. Were the Russians determined to conquer or -die? He was answered, that their priests and chiefs had wrought them up -to a state of fanaticism in their love for their country and their -abhorrence of their invaders. The Emperor at this fell into meditation, -and concluded that a battle of artillery would be the only efficient -mode to adopt. On that night, a thin, cold rain, began to fall, and -autumn proclaimed its approach by violent gusts of wind. The French -slept without fires. - -On the morning of the 6th of September, the two armies were again -visible to each other, in the same position as the preceding day had -left them. This excited a general joy among the French. At last, this -desultory, vagrant, and irritating war, in which so many brave men had -perished, to so little advantage, seemed about to come to a satisfactory -issue. The Emperor rode forth at the earliest dawn, and surveyed the -whole front of the enemy’s army, by passing along a succession of -eminences that rose between the two antagonist powers. - -The Russians were in possession of all the heights, on a semi-circle of -two leagues extent from the Mosqua to the old Moscow road. Their centre, -commanded by Barclay, formed the salient part of their line; it was -protected by the Kalogha, by a ravine, and by two strong redoubts at its -extremities. Their right and left receded. Their right rested on the -precipitous and rocky bank of the Kalogha, and was defended by deep and -muddy ravines. A strong redoubt also crowned the height, which was lined -with eighty pieces of cannon. Bagration commanded the left; it was -stationed on a less elevated crest than the centre, and having lost the -protection of its great redoubt was the most accessible point of their -army. Two small hills crowned with redoubts protected its front. It was -flanked by a wood, beyond which, on the extreme left, was a corps -commanded by Tutchkoff, but stationed at so great a distance as to -permit the possibility of manœuvring on the intervening ground -without previously overwhelming this detached corps. - -Having concluded his observation, Napoleon made his plan. “Eugene,” he -said, “should be the pivot; the battle must be begun by the right. As -soon as the right, advancing under the protection of the wood, shall -have carried the redoubts of the Russian left wing, it must turn to the -left, march on the Russian flank, overthrowing and driving back their -whole army upon their right wing, and into the Kalogha.” Napoleon was -still on the heights, taking a last view of the ground, and considering -the details of the grand plan he had formed, when Davoust hastily -approached him. The marshal had a proposal of his own to make, by which -he expected to turn the enemy’s left in the night, and by surprise. The -Emperor listened to him with great attention, but after silently -considering the proposition for a few minutes, rejected it, and -persisted in his rejection, notwithstanding the confidence with which it -was urged by Davoust. He then re-entered his tent, when Murat -pertinaciously strove to persuade him that the Russians would again -retreat before he commenced his attack. The Emperor in some agitation -returned to the heights of Borodino, where, however, every indication of -an intention to remain and fight was observable among the Russians. He -had taken very few attendants, to avoid being recognized by the enemy’s -batteries; but at the moment he was pointing out the signs he had -observed to Murat, the discharge of one of their cannon broke the -silence of the day;—“for it is frequently the case,” observes Segur, -“that nothing is so calm as the day which precedes a great battle.” - -The Emperor now returned to his tent to dictate the order of battle. The -two armies were nearly equal,—about a hundred and twenty thousand men, -and six hundred pieces of cannon on each side. The Russians had the best -position, and the additional advantages of speaking the same language, -wearing the same uniform, and fighting for a common cause; and of being -near, their resources, and in their own country; but they had too many -raw recruits in their ranks. The army of Napoleon had just completed a -long and harassing march; was made up of many nations, and in the midst -of a hostile people; but it was entirely composed of tried soldiers, who -had fought their way through many a desperate battle, and held their -ranks through every hardship. The proclamation issued by Napoleon was -suited to the men and the circumstances. It was grave, simple, and -energetic. “Soldiers,” said he, “you have now before you the battle -which you have so long desired. From this moment, the victory depends -upon yourselves. It is necessary for us; it will bring us abundance, -good winter quarters, and a speedy return to our country.” It happened -that the Emperor had that day received the portrait of his son from -Paris. He himself exhibited the picture in front of his tent. - -Kutusoff, on his part, had worked upon the feelings of the Russians by -means suited to their condition. He had induced the chief priests or -popes of the Greek church, dressed in their richest robes, to walk in -splendid procession before his army. They carried the symbols of their -religion, and foremost of all a sacred image of the Virgin, withdrawn -from Smolensko by a miracle. He then addressed the soldiers on the -subject of heaven, “the only country which slaves have left to -them,”—and incited the serfs to defend their master’s property in the -name of the Great Teacher of universal brotherhood. The whole ceremony -worked the effect which he intended, and roused his hearers to the -highest pitch of courage and fanaticism. - -During the night, the whole French army was stationed in order of -battle, and three batteries, of sixty pieces each, were opposed to the -Russian redoubts. Poniatowski commanded the right wing, which was -destined to commence the attack on the Russian left. The whole of the -artillery were to support his attack. Davoust and Ney, supported by -Junot, with the Westphalians, and Murat with the cavalry, were in the -centre, and ready to precipitate themselves upon the Russians after the -opening of the battle by Poniatowski. Prince Eugene, with the army of -Italy, and the Bavarian cavalry, formed the left. The Emperor held his -guard in reserve. He appeared very unwell, depressed in spirits, and -unable to sleep. He was oppressed with fever and excessive thirst, -probably the result of over fatigue and anxiety. The news of the defeat -of his troops at Salamanca, had just been brought to him by Fabvier, an -aid-de-camp of Marmont; but he received the account with great firmness -and temper. Present events only seemed to weigh on his mind. He -repeatedly called to ascertain the hour, and to inquire whether any -sounds indicative of a retreat had been heard in the opposite army. On -one occasion his aid-de-camp found him resting his head on his hands, -and the few words he said indicated that his thoughts were dwelling on -the vanity of human glory. He asked Rapp, whether he thought they should -gain the victory? “Undoubtedly,” answered Rapp, “but it will be a bloody -one!” On which Napoleon replied, “I know it; but I have eighty thousand -men. I shall lose twenty thousand of them, and with sixty thousand shall -enter Moscow. The stragglers will there rejoin us, and afterwards the -battalions of recruits now on their march, and we shall be stronger than -before the battle.” He seemed neither to comprehend the guard nor the -cavalry in this calculation. Before daybreak, one of Ney’s officers -announced the Russians still in view, and asked leave to begin the -attack. These words restored the Emperor. He rose; summoned his -officers; and leaving his tent exclaimed, “At last we have them! -March!—We will to-day open for ourselves the gates of Moscow!” - -It was half-past five in the morning, when Napoleon took his station -near the great redoubt which had been taken on the 5th. As the sun rose, -he pointed to the east, saying, “There is the sun of Austerlitz!” The -artillery were employed in pushing forward the batteries which had been -placed too far back. The Russians made no opposition; they seemed -fearful of being the first to break the awful silence. While waiting for -the sound of Poniatowski’s fire on the right, Napoleon ordered Eugene to -take the Tillage of Borodino, on the left. The 106th regiment -accordingly opened the attack; gained the village; rushed across the -bridge, in the ardor of success, and would have been cut off had not the -92d come up to their relief. During this action, sounds on the right -announced that Poniatowski had commenced his attack, and Napoleon -immediately gave the signal of battle. “Then, suddenly,” says Segur, -“from the previously peaceful plain and silent hills, burst forth -flashes of fire and clouds of smoke, which were instantly followed by a -multitude of explosions and the whizzing of innumerable bullets which -rent the air on every side. In the midst of this thunder, Davoust, with -the divisions of Compans and Desaix, and thirty cannon, advanced rapidly -upon the first redoubt of the enemy.” The fusillade of the Russians now -commenced, and was answered by the French cannon. The French infantry -advanced at a quick pace, without firing; but General Compans, who -headed the column, fell wounded with the foremost of his men, and the -rest halted under the storm of balls. Rapp instantly took the post of -Compans, and urged the troops forward at a running pace with charged -bayonets, when he also fell. It was the twenty-second wound that he had -received. He was conveyed to the Emperor, who exclaimed, “What! Rapp! -always wounded! but how are they going on above there?” The aid-de-camp -replied, that the guard was wanted to finish the business. “No,” said -Napoleon, “I will take good care of that; I will not have that -destroyed. I will gain the battle without it.” A third general, who -succeeded Rapp, likewise fell; and Davoust himself was struck. At this -moment, Ney, with his three divisions of ten thousand men, threw himself -into the plain to support Davoust, and the Russian fire was thus -diverted. Ney rushed on; Davoust’s columns continued their advance with -renewed confidence; and almost at the same time both of the French -divisions scaled the heights; overthrew or killed their defenders, and -obtained possession of both the redoubts of the Russian left. Napoleon -then ordered Murat to charge and complete the victory. The king was on -the heights in an instant; but the Russians, reinforced by their second -line, now advanced with rapidity to regain their redoubts. The French -were taken by surprise in the first disorder of their success, and -retreated. Murat, endeavoring in vain to rally the troops, found himself -nearly surrounded, and alone amidst the enemy’s cavalry. They were even -stretching out their arms to take him prisoner, when he escaped by -throwing himself into one of the redoubts. There he found only a few -soldiers in utter disorder. They were running backwards and forwards -upon the parapet in consternation; but he seized the first weapon he -could find, and fought with one hand, while he waved his plumed hat in -the air with the other. His presence and his rallying calls to duty soon -restored the courage of the men. Ney quickly reformed his divisions; his -fire threw the Russians into disorder; Murat was extricated; and the -heights reconquered. Murat was no sooner freed from this danger than he -furiously and repeatedly charged the enemy at the head of the French -cavalry, and in another hour the Russian left wing was entirely -defeated. - -In the meantime, a dreadful conflict had raged unceasingly on the French -left. After Eugene had taken the village of Borodino, he had passed the -Kalogha, in front of the great Russian redoubt, which was lined with -eighty pieces of cannon, and protected by a ravine. General Bonnamy, at -the head of eighteen hundred men of the 30th regiment, carried this -strong position by one sudden charge, at six o’clock in the morning. But -the Russians recovered from their first panic; and, rallying before -their assailants could be supported, they were headed by Kutusoff and -Yermdof in person, and made an attack in their turn. Bonnamy’s regiment -was surrounded, overwhelmed, and driven from the redoubt, with the loss -of its commander and one-third of its numbers. Eugene, however, -maintained his station on the sloping sides of the heights for four -hours, under a terrific fire, and, until he was relieved by the turn of -the battle, when Kutusoff was obliged to defend the left of his centre, -now exposed in consequence of the defeat of his left wing by the -divisions of Ney, Davoust, and Murat as already detailed. The defence of -Kutusoff was then carried on at two points. He poured a tremendous fire, -with devastating effect, upon the troops of Ney and Murat, from the -heights of the ruined village of Semenowska. It became necessary to -carry that position. Maubourg swept the front of it with his cavalry; -Friand and Dufour, with their infantry, mounted the acclivity, dislodged -the Russians, and secured the position. The Russians had now lost every -one off their intrenchments except the great redoubt, on which Prince -Eugene was preparing for a decisive attack. He had already sent to -Napoleon for assistance, but received the reply, that “he could give him -no relief; it depended on him alone to conquer; that the battle was -concentrated on that point.” Murat and Ney, exhausted with their -efforts, also sent for reinforcements; but Napoleon concluded that the -presence of Friand and Maubourg on the heights would maintain them, and -he saw that the battle was not yet won. Amidst all the excitement of -these repeated and most urgent messages, he steadily refused to -compromise his reserve. - -The Russians now rallied _en masse_. Kutusoff commanded all his -reserves, and even the Russian guard, to the assistance of his uncovered -left. Infantry, artillery, and cavalry, all advanced for one grand and -mighty effort. Ney and Murat, with intrepidity and firmness, sustained -the rushing tempest. It was no time for them to think of following up -their previous successes; all their strength was required to maintain -their position. Friand’s soldiers, ranged in front of the armed heights -of Semenowska, were swept off in whole ranks by a storm of grape-shot. -The survivors were dismayed, and one of their brave commanders ordered a -retreat; when Murat suddenly rode up to him, and catching hold of his -collar, exclaimed,—“What are you doing?” The colonel, pointing to the -ground on which half of his men lay dead or wounded, replied—“You see we -can stay here no longer!” Murat hastily rejoined—“I can stay here very -well myself!” The colonel looked steadily at him, and calmly replied—“It -is right. Soldiers! let us advance to be slain!” - -Murat had again sent to Napoleon for assistance, and he now gave it -promptly and efficiently. The artillery of the guard were ordered to -advance. Eighty pieces of cannon quickly crowned the heights, and -discharged their contents at once. The Russian cavalry first charged -against this tremendous barrier, but retired in confusion to escape -destruction. The infantry exhibited a spectacle of stolid indifference -to death, or devotion to their country and their leaders, perhaps -unparalleled in the history of war,—affording a picture of the inherent -powers of human nature, worthy of study, while most horrible to -contemplate in their present misapplication. “The infantry,” says Segur, -“advanced in thick masses, in which our balls from the first made wide -and deep openings; yet they constantly came on nearer and nearer, when -the French batteries redoubling the rapidity of their fire, absolutely -mowed them down with grape-shot. Whole platoons fell at once. Their -soldiers struggled to preserve their compactness under this terrible -fire; and, divided every instant by death, they still closed their ranks -over it, trampling it with defiance under their feet. At last they -halted, not daring to advance any farther, and yet resolved not to go -back; whether they were appalled, and as it were petrified with horror -in this tremendous gulph of destruction; or whether it was owing to -Bagration being at that time mortally wounded; or whether it might be -that a first arrangement being attended with failure, their generals -felt incompetent to change it,—not possessing, like Napoleon, the art of -moving such vast bodies at once, with unity, harmony, and order. In -short, these heavy and stationary masses stood to be crushed and -destroyed in detail for two entire hours, _without any other movement -than that of the falling of the men_. It was in truth a deplorable and -frightful massacre; and the intelligent valor of the French artillerymen -admired the firm, resigned, but infatuated courage of their enemies.” -Scott describes the scene to the same effect. “Regiments of peasants, -who till that day had never seen war, and who still had no other uniform -than their grey jackets, formed with the steadiness of veterans, crossed -their brows, and having uttered their national exclamation ‘_Gospodee -pomiloui nas!_’ (God have mercy upon us,) rushed into the thickest of -the battle, where the survivors, without feeling fear or astonishment, -closed their ranks over their comrades as they fell.” - -The problem, of whether that mass of men would have stood to be utterly -destroyed to the last individual, was never worked out; for a fresh -movement in the French army, bringing upon them a new form of peril, at -last restored them to a sense of their human conditions, and put them to -flight. Ney extended his right, pushed it rapidly forward, and, seconded -by Davoust and Murat, turned the left of the Russian centre, and -dispersed them. The battle still raged on the Russian right,—where -Barclay, intrenched in the great redoubt, obstinately struggled with -Prince Eugene,—and on their extreme left, where Poniatowski had as yet -failed to make himself master of the great Moscow road. When another -pressing demand for the guard, to complete the destruction of the -Russian army, was brought to Napoleon from Ney and Murat, who burned to -follow up the retreat of the defeated infantry, he pointed in silence to -those two conflicting bodies. The Emperor’s words ought to be -satisfactory as to the cause of his refusal to send his reserve, which -has occasioned so many animadversions. “The case,” he said, “was not -sufficiently extricated and conclusive to induce him yet to part with -his reserves; and that he must see more clearly the state of his -chess-board.” When Count Daru, at the pressing solicitation of Berthier, -repeated the request, and said in a low tone “that on all sides the cry -now was that the moment for the guard to act was come,” Napoleon -replied, “And if there should be a second battle on the morrow, what -shall I have to carry it on with?” - -Kutusoff was still unconquered. He rallied for the third time, and -resting his right on the great redoubt, formed a fresh line in front of -Ney and Murat; but it was a last effort. General Caulaincourt, at the -head of the fifth French cuirassiers, made a desperate charge on the -rear of the redoubt, while Eugene maintained his ground in the front. -The last words of Caulaincourt, as he left Murat to open the attack, had -been, “You shall see me there immediately, dead or alive!” He charged at -the head of his regiment, overthrew all opposition, and was the first -man who penetrated into the redoubt, where, almost at the instant, he -fell mortally wounded; but that decisive charge determined the victory. -The troops of Prince Eugene were pressing onwards, and had nearly -reached the mouth of the battery, when suddenly its fire was -extinguished, its smoke dispersed, and above the now silent engines of -destruction appeared the moveable and polished brass which covered the -French cuirassiers. The Russians had been driven from their last -entrenchment. They returned with one more desperate effort to retake -this position, as if determined to die rather than endure defeat. Their -column advanced to the very mouths of the cannon, but at the terrible -discharge of thirty pieces of artillery, which were directed against -them, they appeared to be whirled round by the shock, and retired -without being able to deploy. Officers now came in from every part of -the field. Poniatowski, supported by Sebastiani, had conquered on the -left, after a desperate struggle. The sounds of firing became weaker and -less frequent. The Russians had retreated to a new position, where they -appeared to be intrenching themselves. The day was drawing to a close, -and the battle was ended. - -Napoleon had remained nearly on the same spot throughout the whole of -the battle, seated on the edge of a trench, or walking backwards and -forwards on an elevated platform. He now mounted his horse, and slowly -passed amidst the heaps of dead and wounded till he reached the heights -of Semenowska. He said little; but the few words he uttered implied that -he felt his victory had cost him too dear. He then repaired to his tent -to write the bulletin of the battle, and made a point of announcing to -France that neither himself nor his reserve had been subject to the -least danger,—thus manifesting the confidence he felt in the opinion -entertained of him by the French; and, at the same time, informing -Europe that notwithstanding his distance from France, and while -surrounded by enemies in a hostile country, he was still safe and -powerful. - -“It has been frequently asserted,” says Count Mathieu Dumas, intendant -general of the army, “that Napoleon did not display his customary -activity on this day. - -“His apparent indifference has excited astonishment; it has been -intimated that he labored under bodily exhaustion; that he was not able -to call into action all the resources of his genius; in short, that his -star began to grow dim, even in the midst of victory. Napoleon certainly -appeared to be indisposed; he had undergone excessive fatigue during the -two preceding nights, which he had employed in person in reconnoitering -the positions of the enemy, in placing the corps of the army, and in -determining the point of attack. Having formed his plans to compel the -enemy to abandon their strong position, he would not consent to make any -change in the arrangements which he had resolved upon after profound -consideration. He placed himself at a short distance from his right -wing, against which it was probable that the Russian general would -direct his principal effort, in order to take the attacking columns in -the rear, while they should be stopped by the fire of the redoubts. The -station which Napoleon had chosen, was, in fact, the best point of -observation. It commanded a view of the whole field of battle, and if -any manœuvre, any partial success of the enemy, had required new -measures, the vigilance of Napoleon would not have failed to meet the -urgency of the case. He would have gone to the spot in person, as he did -at the battle of Wagram. - -“About nine o’clock in the evening, Count Daru and myself were summoned -to the Emperor. His bivouac was in the middle of the square battalion of -his guard, a little behind the redoubt. His supper had just been served; -he was alone, and made us sit down on his right and left hand. After -having heard the account of the measures taken for the relief of the -wounded, &c., he spoke to us of the issue of the battle; a moment -afterwards he fell asleep for about twenty minutes; then, suddenly -waking, he continued thus: ‘People will be astonished that I did not -bring up my reserves to obtain more decisive results; but it was -necessary to keep them, in order to strike a decisive blow in the great -battle which the enemy will offer us before Moscow: the success of the -day was secured; I had to think of the success of the campaign, and it -is for that I keep my reserves.’” - -The Emperor was mistaken in supposing that there would be another great -battle before Moscow; but in all other particulars, his sagacity was -admirably displayed. Still, Borodino was far from decisive. Before -daybreak the next morning, there was an alarm among the French, which -penetrated even to the tent of the Emperor, and the old guard was called -to arms. This was mortifying after a victory, and carried with it an air -of insult. As soon as morning dawned, the losses of the armies were -ascertained by Napoleon. - -Ten thousand men had been killed, and the wounded amounted to no less -than twenty thousand. Forty-three generals had been killed or wounded. -Among the Russians, there had been fifteen thousand killed, including -the gallant Prince Bagration, and thirty thousand wounded. The French -carried their wounded two leagues in the rear, to the large monastery of -Kolotskoi. The chief surgeon, Larrey, had taken assistants from all the -other regiments, and the hospital wagons had arrived—but all that could -be done for the conveyance was insufficient. Larrey subsequently -complained that not sufficient troops had been left to enable him to -obtain the necessary articles from the surrounding villages. - -When the Emperor inspected the field of battle, every thing concurred to -increase its horrors. A gloomy sky, a cold rain, a violent wind, -habitations in ashes, a plain absolutely torn up and covered with -fragments and ruins, rendered the scene of carnage yet more appalling. -The dark and funereal verdure of the north was seen all round the -horizon. Soldiers were roaming like wild beasts among the bodies of -their dead comrades, and emptying their knapsacks to procure subsistence -for themselves. The wounds of the slain were of the most hideous -description, occasioned by the large bullets used by the Russians. The -bivouacs were mournful; no songs of triumph, no lively narrations,—all -dreary and silent. Around the eagles were the rest of the officers and -subalterns, and a few soldiers,—barely sufficient to guard the colours. -Their uniforms were torn by the violence of the conflict, blackened with -powder, and stained with blood; yet even amidst their rags, their -misery, and destitution, they displayed a lofty bearing, and on the -appearance of Napoleon welcomed him with acclamations. - -Many wounded men were found in the bottom of ravines, where the French -troops had been precipitated, or where they had dragged themselves for -shelter from the enemy or the storm. Some of the younger soldiers in -sighs and groans were calling upon the name of their country, or of -their mother; but most of the veterans awaited death either with an -impassive or a sardonic air, neither imploring or complaining. The -anguish of some of the wounded made them beg of their comrades, as a -mercy, to kill them instantly. Among the Russians, the enormous number -of wounded presented on every side a spectacle of moving horrors. Many -of these mutilated objects were seen dragging themselves with bloody -trails along the ground, towards places where they might find shelter -among a heap of dead bodies. Napoleon’s horse chancing to tread upon the -body of one apparently dead, a cry of anguish startled him, and excited -his compassion. Somebody remarked that “it was only a Russian;”—upon -which Napoleon angrily reproved the speaker, and observed that, “after a -battle, none were enemies,—but all were men.” The Emperor ordered the -prisoners that had been taken, to be again numbered, and a few -dismounted cannon to be collected. Between seven and eight hundred -prisoners, and a score of unserviceable cannon, were the sole trophies -of this most sanguinary and imperfect victory. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT MOSCOW. - - -The Russians themselves kindled Napoleon’s campfire at Moscow. They -lighted his bivouacs with the flames of their ancient capital, and thus -gave him an awful proof of their invincible opposition to the invader. - -After the battle of Borodino, Napoleon found the road to Moscow open, -and advanced rapidly towards the conquest he had so long desired. The -city of his hopes has been thus described: - -“Moscow was an immense and singular assemblage of two hundred and -ninety-five churches, and fifteen hundred splendid habitations, together -with their gardens and offices. These palaces, built of brick, with the -grounds attached to them, intermingled with handsome wooden houses, and -even with cottages, were scattered over several square leagues of -unequal surface, and were grouped around a lofty, triangular palace, -whose vast and double inclosure, comprising two divisions, and about -half a league in circumference, included—one of them—several palaces and -churches, and a quantity of uncultivated and stony ground; the other, a -vast bazaar—a city of merchants—exhibiting the opulence of the four -quarters of the world. These buildings, shops as well as palaces, were -all covered with polished and colored plates of iron. The churches, -which were each of them surmounted by a terrace, and by several steeples -terminating in gilded globes, the crescent, and finally the cross, -recalled to mind the history of the people. They represented Asia and -her religion, first triumphant, then subdued; and finally the crescent -of Mahomet under the dominion of the cross of Christ. A single sunbeam -made this superb city glitter with a thousand varied colors; and the -enchanted traveller halted in ecstacy at the sight. It recalled to his -mind the dazzling prodigies with which oriental poets had amused his -infancy.” - -Count Rostopchin had been appointed governor of Moscow. - -As the French army approached the capital, terror began to prevail among -the inhabitants; and, after the taking of Smolensko, many of the wealthy -classes removed their most valuable effects, and left the city. The -governor secretly encouraged this gradual emigration, though he -ostensibly maintained a complete confidence of success in the Russian -cause, and kept up the spirits of the people by false reports and loyal -declarations. Among other contrivances, he employed a number of females -in the construction of an immense balloon, out of which, as he made the -people believe, he would pour down a shower of fire upon the French -army. Under this pretence, he is said to have collected a quantity of -combustibles destined for a purpose widely different from this -aeronautic fiction. The panic at Moscow at length became general, and -not only the nobility and higher classes in general, but tradesmen, -mechanics, and even the poor, left it by thousands. The public archives -and treasures were removed; the magazines emptied, as far as time -permitted. The roads, especially those to the south, were covered with a -long train of carriages of every description, and with successive crowds -of fugitives on foot, the priests leading the way laden with the symbols -of their religion, and singing mournful hymns of lamentation. - -Kutusoff, with his retreating army, now appeared without the walls, and -intrenched himself strongly in the position of Fili. He had ninety -thousand men under his command, of whom six thousand were Cossacks, -large numbers of recruits having been added to his ranks since the great -battle; and it appears certain that he still entertained some intention -of defending the capital. This purpose, however, was speedily -relinquished. On the 14th of September, he broke up his camp, and his -army continued its retreat, passing through Moscow, which was to be -abandoned to its fate. The troops marched along the deserted streets -with furled banners and silent drums; and passed out at the Kalomna -gate. Some of the officers were observed to shed tears of rage and -shame. With an army of ninety thousand men, in their own country, and -with the constant power of retreating upon their resources, it is no -wonder that all the braver spirits among the Russians felt this -humiliating policy most deeply. - -The long columns of retreat were followed by the garrison and all the -remaining population, with the exception of one class, left there for a -special purpose. Before his own departure, Rostopchin opened the -prisons, and let loose their miserable and degraded inmates, to the -number of three or four hundred, having given them a secret task to -perform. The pumps of the city had all been removed or destroyed, and -torches and combustibles in great quantities collected. Rostopchin then -left the city. - -Napoleon subsequently made the calculation that a hundred thousand of -the inhabitants, thus abandoned and forced to fly from Moscow, perished -in the woods of the neighborhood for want of food and shelter. In the -midst of their despair at the very last, the multitude had been roused -to an excitement of hope and confidence by the sight of a vulture caught -in the chains which supported the cross of the principal church. This, -they hailed as an omen that God was about to deliver Napoleon into their -hands. “What,” says Hazlitt, “can subdue a nation who can be thus easily -deluded by the grossest appearances; and whose whole physical strength, -to inflict or to endure, can be wielded mechanically, and in mass, in -proportion to their want of understanding? Certainly, ignorance is -power.” - -On the same day that the Russian army retreated through Moscow, and even -before their rear-guard had cleared the city, Murat penetrated the -suburbs, and Eugene and Poniatowski opened an attack at the gates. -Napoleon himself with his guard gained the summit of the “Mount of -Salvation,” the last height which hid his long desired conquest from his -view, about two o’clock in the afternoon, and saw the immense city -glittering with a thousand colors in the sun,—a strange and magnificent -sight in the midst of the desert. The troops halted involuntarily, -struck with admiration, and loudly exclaimed,—“Moscow! Moscow!” in a -transport of joy. The marshals crowded with congratulations around the -Emperor. He, also, had suddenly paused, in evident exultation. His first -exclamation was,—“There at last, then, is that famous city!”—presently -adding,—“It was high time!” - -A flag of truce from Miloradowitch, who commanded the Russian -rear-guard, met the Emperor at this point. He came to announce that his -guard would set fire to Moscow if he were not allowed time to evacuate -it. An armistice of two hours were granted him immediately. Napoleon’s -eager eye was fixed on the city, as on a vision he was just about to -realise. He expected every moment to see a deputation issue from the -gates to lay its wealth, its population, its senate, and its nobility at -his feet. The troops of the two nations were intermingled for a few -minutes. Murat was soon surrounded by a crowd of Cossacks, extolling his -personal prowess by signs and gesticulations, and intoxicating him with -their admiration. He distributed the watches of his officers among these -barbarian warriors, one of whom denominated him his “Hetman.” It began -to look like an almost immediate peace; and Napoleon indulged in dreams -of success and glory for two hours. In the mean time, the day was -drawing to a close, and Moscow remained sad, silent, and death-like. -Napoleon became anxious; the soldiers almost uncontrollably impatient. A -few officers penetrated into the city, and a rumor began to spread that -“Moscow was deserted!” Napoleon repelled the intelligence with -irritation; he, however, descended the hill, and advanced towards the -Dorogomilow gate. Here he again halted, but in vain; all remained -motionless as before. Murat urged him to penetrate into the city; he -refused for some time, shrinking perhaps from having the truth forced -upon his conviction. At last he gave the order, “Enter then, since they -will have it so!”—recommending, at the same time, the strictest -discipline. Calling Daru to his side, he said aloud, “Moscow deserted! a -most unlikely event! We must enter it, and ascertain the fact. Go and -bring the _boyars_ (landed proprietors) before me.” Daru went, and -returned. Not a single Muscovite was to be found:—“No smoke,” says -Segur, “was seen ascending from the meanest hearth; nor was the -slightest noise to be heard throughout that populous and extensive city, -its three hundred thousand inhabitants seeming all dumb and motionless -as by enchantment. There was the silence of the desert.” - -After Daru, another officer, earnest to accomplish whatever the Emperor -desired, appeared, driving before him five or six of those miserable -beings who had been freed from prison, and left in Moscow for an -important purpose. Then it was that Napoleon ceased to doubt the truth. -Murat, with his long and close column of cavalry, had entered Moscow -upwards of an hour since. They found it as yet uninjured, but without -signs of life. Awed by the silence of this immense solitude, the troops -passed onwards without uttering a word, listening to the hollow sound of -their horses’ feet re-echoed from the walls of these deserted palaces. -They never appeared even to think of plundering. Suddenly the report of -small arms was heard. The column halted. The discharge had been made -from the walls of the Kremlin, the gates of which were closed. It was -defended by a squalid rout of men and women of most disgusting and -villanous aspect, who were in a state of bestial drunkenness, uttering -savage yells and the most horrible imprecations. As they would listen to -no terms, the gates were forced, and these ferocious miscreants were -immediately driven away. Five hundred recruits, who had been forgotten, -were left behind in the Kremlin, but they offered no resistance, and -dispersed at the first summons. Several thousand stragglers and -deserters also surrendered themselves voluntarily to the advanced guard. -Murat scarcely bestowed a minute’s delay on the Kremlin. After marching -over so many leagues, and fighting so many battles to reach Moscow, he -passed through that magnificent city without once halting to notice it; -and, ardent in his pursuit of the Russians, dashed forwards into the -road to Voladimir and Asia. Several thousand Cossacks were retreating in -that direction; and upon these Murat ordered a discharge of carbines. - -Napoleon did not enter Moscow before night. He appointed Mortier -governor of the city. “Above all,” said he, “no pillage.” During the -night, many reports were brought him of the intended burning of the -capital, but he would not credit the statements. He was, however, unable -to sleep, and continually called his attendants to repeat to him what -they had heard. About two o’clock in the morning he was apprised that -the flames had broken out at the merchants’ palace, or exchange, which -was in the centre of the city. He gave orders, and dispatched messages -with the greatest rapidity. At daylight, he hurried to Mortier, who -showed him houses covered with iron roofs, and closely shut up, from -which a black smoke was already issuing. They had not been broken into, -but were evidently fired from the inside. Napoleon entered the Kremlin -thoughtful and melancholy; yet when beholding this stupendous palace of -the ancestral sovereigns of Russia, his ambition was gratified by the -conquest, and he murmured after a pause—“I am at length then in -Moscow!—in the ancient City of the Czars!—in the Kremlin!” In this brief -moment of satisfaction, he wrote a pacific overture to the Emperor -Alexander, and dispatched it by a Russian officer who had been -discovered in the great hospital. - -The flames had been checked by the exertions of the Duke of Treviso. -Meantime, the incendiaries kept themselves so well concealed that their -existence was much doubted. Regulations were now issued; order -established; and officers and men proceeded to take possession of some -convenient house, or sumptuous palace, wherein to rest and recruit -themselves after so many hardships, dangers, and privations. Two -officers, however, having taken up their quarters in one of the -buildings of the Kremlin, were awoke about midnight by an overpowering -glare of light in the room. Starting up, they looked out and saw palaces -in flames. The wind was driving the flames directly towards the Kremlin. -Presently the wind changed, and the devouring element was carried in an -opposite direction. Observing this, the officers, rendered selfish by -long fatigue and privation, fell asleep again. But they were once more -aroused by a new burst of still fiercer light. They observed flames -rising in a totally different quarter, which the changed wind was now -urging directly towards the Kremlin. Three times the wind changed, and -three times did new flames burst out from different quarters of the -city, and blaze onwards towards the Kremlin. - -The Kremlin contained a magazine of powder, of which the French were not -aware, and the guards, overpowered by wine and fatigue, had left a whole -park of artillery under the Emperor’s windows. Soon the flames licked -the palace from all sides, and the air was filled with flakes of fire. -Mortier and his brother officers, exhausted by their efforts to subdue -the conflagration, returned to the Kremlin, and fell down in despair. -The real cause of the fire was soon placed beyond all doubt. The reports -agreed that a globe of fire had been lowered upon the palace of one of -the Russian princes, which had consumed it, on the first night of their -entrance, and that this was a signal to the incendiaries. - -Men of atrocious look and tattered garments, and frantic women, had been -seen roaming amidst the flames, and thus completing a hideous -resemblance of the infernal world. They were the malefactors whom -Rostopchin had let loose from the prisons, and commissioned to execute -this tremendous deed as the price of their liberation and pardon. Most -thoroughly did they fulfil their trust: and, becoming delirious with -intoxication, with excitement, and entire success, they no longer -concealed themselves, but ran to and fro with diabolical yells, like -furies, waving lighted brands round their heads. The French could not -make them drop their torches, except by slashing at their naked arms -with sabres. Orders were instantly given to shoot every incendiary on -the spot. The army was drawn out. The old guard, which had been -quartered in the Kremlin, took arms, and their horses and baggage -quickly filled the courts. Masters of Moscow, they were obliged to seek -their bivouac outside its gates. - -Napoleon was awoke by the blaze and uproar of the conflagration. It was -impossible for him any longer to fortify himself with incredulity and -scorn. On perceiving that the city was really on fire, in almost every -quarter, he gave way to his first feelings of rage, and a passionate -resolve to master the devouring element; but he presently recovered -himself, and silently yielded to what he saw was inevitable. His inward -agitation, however, was excessive. He seemed parched by the flames as he -gazed at their fury. He continually sat down, and then abruptly started -up, and traversed his apartments with rapidity. Again he seated himself, -and began to transact most urgent business; yet every now and then he -started up, and ran to the windows, uttering short and broken -exclamations as he traced the progress of the flames: “What a frightful -spectacle! To have done it themselves! Such a number of palaces! What -extraordinary resolution!” There is something extremely fine in this -power of standing apart from the scene, even while in the midst of such -an excitement and danger, and admiring the forces brought into action, -even though to his own utter destruction. - -A report was now circulated that the Kremlin was undermined. Several -Russian prisoners had affirmed this; certain writings attested it. Some -of the attendants lost their senses with terror; the military awaited -with firmness whatever Napoleon and their destiny should decide; but he -noticed the alarm only by a smile of incredulity. Meantime, the -conflagration raged with increasing violence, and they all began to -inhale the smoke and ashes. Still Napoleon would not depart. He walked -to and fro with convulsive energy. - -Night was again approaching. The glare of the flames became more -brilliant as the shades closed round, and he saw the devouring element -seizing upon all the bridges, and all the accesses to the fortress which -inclosed him, while the wind blew with redoubled violence. At this -crisis, Prince Eugene and Murat arrived in breathless haste, most -earnestly, and even on their knees, beseeching Napoleon to leave the -palace. All their efforts, however, were in vain. Suddenly, a cry was -heard,—“The Kremlin is on fire!” The words were echoed from every part -of the building. The Emperor left his apartment that he might himself -judge of the danger. A Russian soldier of police had been detected in -the act. He had received a signal, and given the watchword. The -exasperated grenadiers put an end to him with their bayonets. It was -evident that there had been an organized plan to burn even the Kremlin. -This incident decided Napoleon, and he rapidly descended the northern -staircase. - -A guide had been called to conduct Napoleon and his attendants through -the Kremlin and out of the city. Segur has given a terrific description -of the dangers which they had to encounter on their way. According to -him, they were besieged in the midst of an ocean of flames, which -enveloped all the gates of the citadel. - -But the description is simply a piece of imagination. Napoleon proceeded -slowly and calmly to the outer circuit of the city, and took up his -quarters in the imperial castle of Petrowsky, situated about a league on -the road to St. Petersburg. Count Dumas, who remained on duty within the -walls until nightfall, says that he and Daru “left Moscow under a real -rain of fire;” but he mentions nothing of such perils with regard to the -Emperor. - -On the following morning, September 17th, the Emperor directed his first -glances towards Moscow, hoping to find the fire subdued. It continued -with all the violence of the previous night. The whole city now seemed -to him “one vast fire-spout, ascending in awful whirls towards the sky.” -He was long absorbed in the contemplation of this scene of horror and -ruin. Moscow had been the very centre of all his projects—the object of -all his hopes in Russia. At length, he broke his melancholy silence -merely by observing, “This forbodes us no common calamities.” - -The fire raged throughout the 18th and 19th of September, when it -slackened for want of fuel. The greater part of the Kremlin, a few -palaces, and all the churches built of stone, remained standing. All -else was laid in ruins. The destruction of property was enormous. The -flight of the nobility had been so sudden, that the French officers on -their entrance found even the jewels of the ladies left behind. But -there are other consequences of the burning of Moscow which are too -horrible to dwell upon. Dumas states, that he found six thousand wounded -Russians in the hospitals, which he examined by order of Napoleon, when -the French army entered. Their fate cannot be doubtful. Napoleon -returned to the Kremlin on the 20th. He passed towards the city through -the camps of his army, which exhibited a very singular appearance. “They -were situated,” says Segur, “in the midst of fields, in a thick and cold -mire; and contained immense camp-fires, fed by rich mahogany furniture, -and gilded sashes and doors. Around these fires, with a litter of damp -straw, sheltered only by a few miserable planks fastened together, his -soldiers, with their officers, were to be seen, splashed with dirt, and -stained with smoke, seated upon superb arm-chairs, or reclining on sofas -covered with silk. At their feet, carelessly opened or thrown in heaps, -lay Cashmere shawls, the finest furs of Siberia, the gold stuffs of -Persia, and plates of solid silver, from which they had nothing to eat -but a black dough baked in ashes, and half-broiled and bloody steaks of -horse-flesh.” The ground between the camps and the city was covered with -marauders laden with booty. On his way through the ruined streets, -Napoleon had passed heaps of furniture piled up for removal, and stalls -where soldiers were exchanging showy and valuable commodities for common -necessaries; and the richest wines, liquors, and bales of costly -merchandise, for a loaf of bread. He had permitted this license at -first; but hearing that the excesses increased, and that the peasantry -who had formerly brought provisions were now prevented by fear, he -issued severe orders, and commanded his guard to keep close to their -quarters. He was obeyed at the first word. The plundering continued, but -was conducted regularly, and every effort made to protect the peasants; -nevertheless few appeared, and at length not one was to be seen. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - CAMP-FIRE AT MALO-YAROSLAVETZ. - - -Napoleon had left the ruins of Moscow, like a funeral pyre, smouldering, -behind him, and taken up the line of march for Kalouga. He had with him -a hundred thousand effective men—troops in whom he still could place the -deepest confidence. But the first snow had fallen! The ghostly terror of -a Russian winter hovered over the army, and vexed the dreams of the -Emperor. In a weaver’s hut, where he passed the night of the 24th of -October, he heard that Kutusoff had anticipated him, and had taken up a -position upon the road to Kalouga, which could not be assailed; that -Prince Eugene, with only eighteen thousand troops had fought a bloody -battle with fifty thousand Russians, and gained a dear but glorious -victory. In the early part of the night, when the faithful troops were -shivering round their fires, and the Emperor was seated in a comfortless -hovel, divided into two apartments by a tattered cloth, came the -intrepid Marshal Bessieres, with the terrible intelligence. The Emperor -looked pale and worn with anxiety. - -“Did you see rightly?” he exclaimed. “Are you sure? Will you vouch for -what you say?” - -“All that I have told you, sire, is truth,” replied the marshal, calmly. - -Napoleon crossed his arms upon his breast, his head fell, and for a few -moments he seemed lost in thought. Bessieres respectfully retired. The -Emperor seemed greatly agitated, but nothing except restless actions -betrayed his feverish state of mind. He lay down and arose incessantly, -called for his attendants, and when they came, had nothing to say to -them. About four o’clock in the morning, while the camp-fires were still -burning, the Prince D’Aremberg came into the hovel, and informed him -that a horde of Cossacks, under cover of the night, and the woods, were -gliding between him and the advanced posts. The Emperor, however, seemed -to pay no attention to the intelligence, and as soon as the sun was -above the horizon, mounted his horse and proceeded towards -Malo-Yaroslavetz. - -In crossing the plain, a confused clamor startled the imperial party, -and suddenly the Cossack Murat, Platoff, led his wild horsemen among the -baggage and fires of the army, and overturning every thing in their -course, they pressed onward with wild hourras. Rapp seized the Emperor’s -bridle, and exclaimed,— - -“It is they! turn back!” - -Napoleon’s pride would not stoop to a retreat. His hand moved to his -sword. Berthier and the grand equerry followed his example, and placing -themselves on the left of the wood, the little party awaited the -approach of the Cossacks. They came on rapidly, and were within forty -paces of the Emperor. Rapp was wounded by one of their spears. About -twenty horsemen and chasseurs then attacked the horde, and by their -desperate bravery saved the Emperor. The cavalry of the guard then came -up, and drove the Cossacks across the plain. The Emperor halted until -the plain was cleared, and then rode forward to Malo-Yaroslavetz, in the -neighborhood of which the main body of the army encamped. The Emperor -occupied the afternoon in reconnoitering the position of Kutusoff, and -as the shades of a sombre evening fell, returned to his head-quarters, -the wretched hovel of an artisan. There he was joined by Murat, -Berthier, Davoust, Bessieres, and the heroic Prince Eugene, who came to -give Napoleon an account of the action of the day before. A cheerful -fire was kindled on the hearth of the lowly hut, and an emperor, two -kings, and three marshals sat down to the rough table. Without, the -camp-fires of the soldiers were blazing; but the fierce wind was already -blowing the requiem of the army. The Emperor sat, with his head resting -in his hands, which concealed his features. Eugene was the first to -speak. - -“It is to be hoped that we shall not have many such conflicts as that of -yesterday, sire, or however glorious the results, we shall only have a -miserable remnant of the grand army to lead back to France.” - -“But it was a glorious battle, Prince; was it not? Tell me of it -yourself,” said the Emperor, without removing his hands from his face. - -“Sire, it was briefly thus,” replied Eugene. “On the night of the 23d, -Delzons and his division were in possession of this place. At four in -the morning, his bivouacs were surprised by Kutusoff. I heard the firing -at three leagues distance, and hastened to his relief. As I drew near, a -vast amphitheatre rose before me. The river Lonja marked its foot; from -the opposite height, a cloud of Russian sharp-shooters and their -artillery poured down their fire on Delzons. On the plain beyond, -Kutusoff’s whole army advanced rapidly by the Lectazowo road. A severe -and desperate conflict ensued. Delzons and his brother were killed. We -were enabled to maintain our ground by the wise manœuvres of -Guilleminot, who threw a hundred grenadiers into a churchyard, in the -walls of which they made holes for their muskets. Five times the -Russians attempted to pass, and five times they were thrown into -disorder and repulsed by a well-directed and murderous fire. The whole -day the struggle wavered, and many times, I thought our troops could not -be kept to the ground. But the fourteenth and fifteenth divisions held -the Russians at bay, and maintained the bridge which was our road to -retreat, against all assault. At length, being reduced to my last -reserve, I came into battle myself, and by exerting myself to the -utmost, rallied the troops and once more carried them up the heights. -The Russians, wearied out, fell back, and concentrated themselves on the -Kalouga road, between the woods and this place. We gained the victory, -but we have lost many brave men, whom, in our present situation, we -cannot with safety spare.” - -During this recital, Napoleon’s eyes kindled with enthusiasm, and when -Eugene had finished, he exclaimed,— - -“Then you, Prince, with eighteen thousand men, huddled together in the -bottom of a ravine, defeated fifty thousand Russians, posted above your -heads, and seconded by every advantage which a town built on a steep -acclivity could present! I have been over the ground, and know your -difficulties, and appreciate the nature of your triumphs. Prince, the -glory of this victory belongs entirely to you.” - -The Prince shook his head,— - -“Sire, the French troops are brave—courage alone won this field. But -leaving that affair, the question is, whether we shall march upon -Smolensk by way of Kalouga, Medyn or Mojaisk.” - -“That is easily settled,” said Murat, quickly. “The Russians are -nothing. Let us pursue the route to Kalouga, and cut our way through -them.” - -“Tut—tut! King of Naples, you speak rashly!” said Napoleon, quickly. -“The course you counsel is the violent impulse of your heart.” - -“Entirely unwise!” said Bessieres. “The King of Naples is governed by -his all-daring temper.” - -“With deference, Sire,” said the stern Davoust, “I would recommend that -we proceed to Medwysick. We can reach that point without loss; and -permit me to remark, sire, that our present circumstances, every man is -of almost indispensable value.” - -“But,” interrupted Murat, “it is certain that we shall have to lose men; -and it is better to lose them now, in beating the Russians, than to drop -them upon a march, without having effected any thing. Marshal Davoust is -ever recommending timid, half-way measures.” - -A quarrel between Murat and Davoust had occurred some time previous, and -it was only by the interposition of the Emperor himself, that bloodshed -had been prevented. They were always ready to renew the contest. - -“Timid and half-way measures!” exclaimed the harsh voice of Davoust. “I -recommend the measures of a general who cares for the safety of his -army, as well as victory. The King of Naples counsels like a mere -hot-headed, inexperienced conscript.” - -Here Napoleon, raising his head, extinguished all this fire by saying -that “we had exhibited temerity enough, already; that we had done but -too much for glory, and it was now high time to give up thinking of any -thing but how to save the rest of the army.” - -Bessieres, either because his pride revolted at the idea of being put -under the command of the King of Naples, or from a desire to preserve -uninjured the cavalry of the guard, which he had formed, and for which -he was answerable to Napoleon, and which he exclusively commanded, then -ventured to add, that “neither the army nor even the guard had -sufficient spirit left for such efforts. It was already said in both, -that, as the means of conveyance were wholly inadequate, henceforth the -victor, if overtaken, would fall a prey to the vanquished; that of -course every wound would be mortal. Murat would therefore be but feebly -seconded. And in what a position! its strength had just been but too -well demonstrated. Against what enemies! had they not remarked the field -of the previous day’s battle, and with what fury the Russian recruits, -only just armed and clothed, there fought and fell!” The marshal -concluded by giving his opinion in favor of retreat, which the Emperor -approved by his silence. - -The Prince of Eckmuhl then immediately said that, “as a retreat had been -decided upon, he proposed that it should be by Medyn and Smolensk.” But -Murat here interrupted him; and, whether from enmity, or from that -discouragement which usually succeeds the rejection of a rash measure, -he declared himself astonished “that any one should dare propose so -imprudent a step to the Emperor. Had Davoust sworn the destruction of -the army? Would he have so long and so heavy a column trail along in -utter uncertainty, without guides, and on an unknown track, within reach -of Kutusoff, presenting its flank to all the attacks of the enemy? Would -he, Davoust, defend it? When in our rear Borowsk and Vereria would lead -us without danger to Mojaisk, why reject that safe route? There -provisions must have been already collected, there everything was known -to us, and we could not be misled by any _traitor_.” - -At these words, Davoust, burning with a rage which he could scarcely -repress, replied that “he proposed a retreat through a fertile country, -by an untouched, plentiful, and well-supplied route, where the villages -were still standing, and by the shortest road, that the enemy might not -be able to cut us off, as on the route by Mojaisk to Smolensk, -recommended by Murat. And what a route! a desert of sand and ashes, -where convoys of wounded would increase our embarrassment, where we -should meet with nothing but ruins, traces of blood, skeletons, and -famine! - -“Moreover, though he deemed it his duty to give his opinion when it was -asked, he was ready to obey orders contrary to it, with the same zeal as -if they were consonant with his suggestions; but that the Emperor alone -had a right to impose silence on him, and not Murat, who was not his -sovereign, and never should be!” - -The quarrel growing warm, Bessieres and Berthier interposed. As for the -Emperor, still absorbed and in the same attitude, he appeared insensible -to what was passing. At length he broke up the council with the words, -“Well, gentlemen, I will decide.” - -“Enough, it is well, sirs. I will decide,” said Napoleon calmly, and the -King of Naples resumed his seat, biting his lips from the effects of -passion. “Sirs,” continued the Emperor, “I decide to retreat.” Here he -paused, as if such a decision was costing him a dreadful effort. “I -decide to retreat by way of Mojaisk. We cannot afford to fight, and that -is the road which will lead us most speedily from the enemy.” This -decision was extremely distasteful to Murat; but not more so than it was -to the Emperor, who, after he had announced it, looked as though he -wished that it had not been uttered. However, the resolution, fatal as -it proved, was taken, and nothing could induce the Emperor to revoke it. -Had he but known, that at the moment when this decision was made, -Kutusoff, stunned by the defeat at Malo-Yaroslavetz, was retiring with -his forces by the bridge over the Oka, offering a fair mark for the -French, he might have changed his design, and delivered such a crushing -blow to the enemy, as would have secured his retreat unmolested. But -this knowledge came not to the Emperor’s mind; and as he stretched -himself for repose amid his faithful generals, and by the side of the -blazing fire, he had nothing to relieve the prospect of a disastrous -retreat. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE IN THE SNOW. - - -The pen has no colors to depict the horrors of the grand army’s retreat -amid the fierce storms of a Russian winter. Though “horrors upon -horror’s head” accumulate, there is always lacking something which shall -picture to the heart the full truth of that disastrous march. - -The Emperor reached Wiazma in two days’ march from Gjatz. Here he halted -for the arrival of Prince Eugene and Davoust; and to reconnoitre the -road from Medyn and Juknof. Hearing no tidings of the Russians, he set -off after thirty-six hours’ stay, leaving Ney at Wiazma to relieve -Davoust, who was accused of dilatoriness; but he said that the artillery -and wagons were constantly precipitated into deep ravines which crossed -the road, and that it was nearly impossible to drag them up the opposite -icy slope, the horses’ shoes not having been turned. Nevertheless, both -he and the Viceroy arrived within two leagues of Wiazma on the 2d of -November, and might have passed through it; but neglecting to do so, the -Russian advanced-guard under Miloradowich (called the Russian Murat) -turned their bivouacs in the night, and posted themselves along the left -bank of the road, between the French generals and Wiazma. On the 3d of -November, Prince Eugene was preparing to take the road to that town, -when the first dawn of day showed him his situation, his rear-guard cut -off, and Ney, who was to have come to his assistance, fighting in his -own defence in the direction of Wiazma. He immediately took his -resolution. He stopped, faced about, formed in line along the main-road, -and kept the foremost of the enemy’s troops in check, till Ney marched -up one of his regiments, and attacking them in the rear, compelled them -to retire. At the same time, Compans, one of Davoust’s generals, joined -his division to the Italian guard; and while they fought together, -Davoust passed, and got between Wiazma and the Russians. The battle was -not over, but begun. The French amounted to thirty thousand, but were in -great disorder. The Russian artillery, superior in number, advanced at a -gallop, and mowed down their lines. Davoust and his generals were still -surrounded with many of their bravest men. Several of the officers who -had been wounded at the Mosqua were still seen, one with his arm in a -sling, another with his head covered with bandages, encouraging the -soldiers, keeping them together, throwing themselves upon the enemy’s -field-pieces and seizing them, and thus preventing the effects of bad -example by good. Miloradowich saw that his prey would escape him, and -sent the Englishman Wilson to summon Kutusoff to his aid; but the old -general laughed at him. The fight had already lasted seven hours; when -night approached, the French began to retire. This retrogade movement -encouraged the enemy; and had it not been for a signal effort of the -25th, 57th, and 85th regiments, Davoust’s corps would have been turned, -broken, and destroyed. Prince Eugene made good his retreat to Wiazma; -Davoust followed, but Morand’s division, which entered first, found a -number of Russians there before them, and had to cut their way through -them. Compans, who brought up the rear, put an end to the affair by -facing about, and making a furious assault upon Miloradowich. The -bivouacs were set up by the light of the burning of Wiazma, and amidst -repeated discharges of artillery. During the night the alarm continued. -Several times the troops thought they were attacked, and groped about -for their arms. On the following morning, when they returned to their -ranks, they were astonished at the smallness of their numbers. - -Nevertheless, the example of the chiefs and the hope of finding rest at -Smolensk kept up the men’s spirits. Besides, so far they had been -cheered by the sight of the sun; but on the 6th of November, the snow -came on, and every thing underwent a total change. The consequences were -most disastrous. The troops marched on without knowing where, and -without distinguishing any object; and while they strove to force their -way through the whirlwinds of sleet, the snow drifted in the cavities -where they fell, and the weakest rose no more. The wind drove in their -faces not only the falling snow, but that which it raised in furious -eddies from the earth. The Muscovite winter attacked them in every part, -penetrated through their thin dress and ragged shoes. Their wet clothes -froze upon them; this covering of ice chilled their bodies, and -stiffened all their limbs. A cutting and violent wind stopped their -breath or seized upon it as it was exhaled, and converted it into -icicles, which hung from their beards. The unhappy men crawled on with -trembling limbs and chattering teeth till the snow, collecting round -their feet in hard lumps, like stones, some scattered fragment, a branch -of a tree, or the body of one of their companions, made them stagger and -fall. Their cries and groans were vain; soon the snow covered them, and -small hillocks marked where they lay. Such was their sepulture. The road -was filled with these undulations, like a burying-place. A number of -them froze as they stood still, and looked like posts, covered with -snow. The most intrepid or obdurate were affected; they hurried past -with averted eyes. But before them, around them, all was snow; the -horizon seemed one vast winding-sheet, in which nature was enveloping -the whole army. The only objects which came out from the bleak expanse -were a few gloomy pines skirting the plain, and adding to the horror of -the scene with their funeral green and the motionless erectness of their -black trunks! Even the weapons of the soldiers were a weight almost -insupportable to their benumbed limbs. In their frequent falls they -slipped out of their hands and were broken or lost in the snow. Many -others had their fingers frozen on the musket they still grasped. Some -broke up into parties; others wandered on alone. If they dispersed -themselves in the fields, or by the cross-paths, in search of bread or a -shelter for the night, they met nothing but Cossacks and an armed -population, who surrounded, wounded, and stripped them, and left them -with ferocious laughter to expire naked upon the snow. Then came the -night of sixteen hours. But on this universal covering of snow, they -knew not where to stop, where to sit, where to lie, where to find a few -roots for food, or dry sticks to light their fires. At length fatigue, -darkness, and repeated orders induced a pause, and they tried to -establish themselves for the night; but the storm scattered the -preparations for the bivouacs, and the branches of the pines covered -with ice and snow only melted away, and resisted the attempts of the -soldiers to kindle them into a blaze. When at length the fire got the -better, officers and soldiers gathered round it, to cook their wretched -meal of horse-flesh, and a few spoonfuls of rye mixed with snow-water. -Next morning, circles of stiffened corpses marked the situation of the -bivouacs, and the carcasses of thousands of horses were strewed round -them. From this time disorder and distrust began to prevail. A few -resisted the strong contagion of insubordination and despondency. These -were the officers, the subalterns, and some of the soldiers, whom -nothing could detach from their duty. They kept up each other’s spirits -by repeating the name of Smolensk, which they were approaching, and -looked forward to as the end of their sufferings. - -At the lake of Semlewo, it was found necessary to sacrifice the spoils -of Moscow. Cannon, armor, the ornaments of the Kremlin, and the cross of -the Great Iwan, all sunk at once in the waters of the lake. On the 6th -of November, just as the snow was beginning to fall, Napoleon had -reached Mikalewska. There he took up his quarters in a palisaded house. -He had scarcely arrived, before news of Mallet’s conspiracy in Paris -reached him, and added new trouble to his already perturbed spirit. -Under all the gloomy circumstances of the time, when the fabric of his -power, which he had reared with so much skill, and maintained with such -vast energy, seemed to “totter to its fall,” the fortitude of the -Emperor was remarkable. He preserved a firm countenance, and strove to -induce those around him to believe that his star had not yet begun to -decline. - -As the Emperor sat in his cheerless hut, with the white storm howling -far around, he was aroused by the entrance of Dalbignac, one of Ney’s -aid-de-camps. - -From Wiazma that general had commenced protecting the retreat, which, -though fatal to so many others, conferred immortal renown upon him. As -far as Dorogobouje, he had been molested only by some bands of Cossacks, -troublesome insects, attracted by the dying, and the forsaken carriages, -flying away the moment a hand was lifted against them, but still -annoying from their continual return. - -It was not these that were the subject of Ney’s message. On approaching -Dorogobouje, he was shocked at the traces of disorder left behind them -by the corps which had preceded him, and which it was not in his power -to efface. He had made up his mind to leave the baggage to the enemy; -but he blushed with shame at the sight of the first pieces of cannon -abandoned before Dorogobouje. - -The marshal had halted there. After a dreadful night, during which snow, -wind, and famine had driven most of his men from the fires, the dawn, -which is always waited for with so much impatience in a bivouac, brought -with it at once a tempest, the enemy, and the spectacle of an almost -general defection. In vain he fought in person at the head of what men -and officers he had left; he had been obliged to retreat precipitately -behind the Dnieper; and of this he now sent to apprise the Emperor. - -He wished him to know the worst. His aid-de-camp, Colonel Dalbignac, was -instructed to say that “the first movement of retreat from -Malo-Yaroslawetz, for soldiers who had never yet fallen back, had -greatly dispirited the army; that the affair at Wiazma had shaken its -firmness; that the deluge of snow, and the increased cold which it had -brought with it, had completed its disorganization; and that a multitude -of officers, having lost everything, their platoons, battalions, -regiments, and even divisions, had joined the roving masses; so that -generals, colonels, and officers of all ranks were seen mingled with the -privates, and marching at random, sometimes with one column, sometimes -with another; that, as order could not exist in the midst of disorder, -this example was seducing even the veteran regiments, which had served -through all the wars of the revolution; and that, accordingly, the best -soldiers were heard asking one another why they alone were required to -fight to secure the escape of the rest; and how it could be expected -that they should keep up their courage, when they heard the cries of -despair issuing from the neighboring woods, in which the large convoys -of them wounded, who had been dragged to no purpose all the way from -Moscow, had just been abandoned? Such, no doubt, was the fate which -awaited themselves; what had they, then, to gain by remaining with their -colors? Incessant toils and combats by day, and famine at night, with -shelterless bivouacs, still more destructive than battle; hunger and -cold effectually drove sleep from their eyes; or if, perchance, fatigue -got the better of these for a moment, the repose which should refresh -them put a period to their lives. In short, the eagles had ceased to -protect them—they only destroyed. Why, then, remain around them to -perish by battalions, by masses? It would be better to disperse; and, -since there was no other course than flight, to try who could run the -fastest. It would not then be the bravest and best that would fall; the -poltroons behind them would no longer have a chance to eat up the relics -of the high road.” Lastly, the aid-de-camp was commissioned to explain -to the Emperor all the horrors of the marshal’s situation, the -responsibility of which that commander absolutely refused to assume. - -But Napoleon saw enough around himself to judge of the rest. The -fugitives were that moment passing by him; he was sensible that nothing -could now be done but to sacrifice the army successively, part by part, -beginning at the extremities, in order to save the head. When, -therefore, the aid-de-camp was beginning to state farther particulars, -he sharply interrupted him with these words: “Colonel, I do not ask you -for these details.” The colonel said no more; aware that, in the midst -of these terrible disasters, now irremediable, and in which every one -had occasion for all his energies, the Emperor was afraid of complaints, -which could have no other effect than to discourage as well those who -indulged in them as those who listened to them. - -He remarked the attitude of Napoleon, the same as he retained throughout -the whole of this dismal retreat. It was grave, silent, and resigned; -suffering much less in body than others, but far more in mind, and -brooding with speechless agony over his misfortunes. At that moment -General Carpentier sent him from Smolensk a convoy of provisions. -Bessieres wished to take possession of them; but the Emperor instantly -ordered them to be forwarded to the Prince of Moskwa, saying that “those -who were fighting ought to eat before the rest.” At the same time, he -sent word to Ney to “defend himself long enough to allow him some stay -at Smolensk, where the army should eat, rest, and be reorganized.” - -But if this hope kept some still to their duty, many others abandoned -every thing to hasten towards that promised goal of their sufferings. As -for Ney, he saw that a sacrifice was required, and that he was marked -out as the victim; he nobly resigned himself, therefore, prepared to -meet the whole of a danger great as his courage; and thenceforward he -neither attached his honor to baggage, nor to cannon, which the winter -alone wrested from him. An elbow of the Borysthenes stopped and kept -back part of his guns at the foot of its icy slopes: he sacrificed them -without hesitation, passed that obstacle, faced about, and made the -hostile river, which crossed his route, serve him as the means of -defence. - -The Russians, however, advanced under favor of a wood and of the -forsaken carriages, whence they kept up a fire of musketry on Ney’s -troops. Half of the latter, whose icy arms froze their stiffened -fingers, became discouraged; they gave way, excusing themselves by their -want of firmness on the preceding day; and fleeing because they had -before fled, which, but for this, they would have considered as -impossible. But Ney, rushing in among them, seized one of their muskets, -and led them back to action, which he was himself the first to renew; -exposing his life like a private soldier, with a firelock in his hand, -the same as though he had been neither possessed of wealth, nor power, -nor consideration; in short, as if he had still every thing to gain, -when in fact he had every thing to lose. But, though he had again turned -soldier, he ceased not to be general: he took advantage of the ground, -supported himself against a height, and covered his approach by -occupying a palisaded house. His generals and colonels, among whom he -particularly remarked Fezenzac, strenuously seconded him; and the enemy, -who had expected to pursue, was obliged to retreat. - -By this action Ney afforded the army a respite of twenty-four hours; and -it profited by it to proceed towards Smolensk. The next day, and every -succeeding day, he displayed the same heroism. Between Wiazma and -Smolensk he fought ten whole days. - -On the 13th of November, Ney was approaching that city, which he was not -to enter till the ensuing day, and had faced about to beat off the -enemy, when all at once the hills upon which he intended to support his -left were seen covered with a multitude of fugitives. In their terror, -these unfortunate wretches fell, and rolled down to where he was, upon -the frozen snow, which they stained with their blood. A band of -Cossacks, which was soon perceived in the midst of them, sufficiently -accounted for this disorder. The astonished marshal, having caused this -horde of enemies to be dispersed, discovered behind it the army of -Italy, returning completely stripped, without baggage and without -cannon. - -Platoff had kept it besieged, as it were, all the way from Dorogobouje. -Near that town Prince Eugene had quitted the high road, and, in order to -proceed towards Witepsk, had taken that which, two months before, had -brought him from Smolensk; but the Wop, which, when he had crossed it -before, was a mere brook and had scarcely been noticed, he now found -swollen into a river. It ran over a muddy bed, and was bounded by two -steep banks. It was found necessary to cut a passage in these -precipitous and frozen banks, and to give orders for the demolition of -the neighboring houses during the night, for the purpose of building a -bridge with the materials. But those who had taken shelter in them -opposed their being destroyed; and, as the viceroy was more beloved than -feared, his instructions were not obeyed. The _pontonniers_ became -disheartened, and when daylight, with the Cossacks, appeared, the -bridge, after being twice broken down, was at last abandoned. - -Five or six thousand soldiers still in order, twice the number of -disbanded men, the sick and wounded, upward of a hundred pieces of -cannon, ammunition wagons, and a multitude of vehicles of every kind, -lined the bank and covered a league of ground. An attempt was made to -ford the river, through the floating ice which was carried along by its -current. The first guns that were attempted to be got over reached the -opposite bank; but the water kept rising every moment, while at the same -time the bed of the stream at the place of passage was continually -deepened by the wheels and by the efforts of the horses, and at length -the stoppage became general. - -Meanwhile the day was advancing; the men were exhausting themselves in -vain efforts; hunger, cold, and the Cossacks became pressing, and the -viceroy finally found himself compelled to order his artillery and all -his baggage to be left behind. A distressing spectacle ensued. The -owners were allowed scarcely a moment to part from their effects; while -they were selecting from them such articles as they most needed, and -loading their horses with them, a multitude of soldiers came rushing up; -they fell in preference upon the vehicles of luxury; these they broke in -pieces and rummaged every part, avenging their poverty on the wealth, -and their privations on the superfluities they here found, and snatching -them from the Cossacks, who were in the meantime looking on at a -distance. - -But it was provisions of which most of them were in quest. They threw -aside embroidered clothes, pictures, ornaments of every kind, and gilt -bronzes for a few handfuls of flour. In the evening it was a strange -sight to behold the mingled riches of Paris and of Moscow, the luxuries -of two of the largest cities in the world, lying scattered and despised -on the snow of the desert. - -At the same time, most of the artillerymen spiked their guns in despair, -and scattered their powder about. Others laid a train with it as far as -some ammunition wagons, which had been left at a considerable distance -behind the baggage. They waited till the most eager of the Cossacks had -come up to them, and when a great number, greedy of plunder, had -collected about them, they threw a brand from a bivouac upon the train. -The fire ran, and in a moment reached its destination; the wagons were -blown up, the shells exploded, and such of the Cossacks as were not -killed on the spot, dispersed in dismay. - -A few hundred men, who were still called the 14th division, were opposed -to these hordes, and sufficed to keep them at a respectful distance till -the next day. All the rest, soldiers, sutlers, women, and children, sick -and wounded, driven by the enemy’s balls, crowded the bank of the river. -But at the sight of its swollen current, of the sharp and massive -fragments of ice floating down its stream, and the necessity of -aggravating their already intolerable sufferings from cold by plunging -into its chilling waves, they all started back. - -Colonel Delfanti, an Italian, was obliged to set the example and cross -first. The soldiers then moved, and the crowd followed. The weakest, the -least resolute, and the most avaricious, stayed behind. Such as could -not make up their minds to part from their booty, and to forsake fortune -which was forsaking them, were surprised in the midst of their -hesitation. The next day, amid all this wealth, the savage Cossacks were -seen still covetous of the squalid and tattered garments of the -unfortunate creatures who had become their prisoners: they stripped -them, and then, collecting them in troops, drove them along over the -snow, hurrying their steps by hard blows with the shafts of their -lances. - -The army of Italy, thus completely dismantled, soaked in the waters of -the Wop, without food, without shelter, passed the night on the snow -near a village where its officers expected to have found lodgings for -themselves. Their soldiers, however, beset its wooden houses. They -rushed like madmen, and in swarms, on every habitation, profiting by the -darkness, which prevented them from recognising their officers or being -known by them. They tore down every thing, doors, windows, and even the -woodwork of the roofs, feeling but little compunction in compelling -others, be they who they might, to bivouac like themselves. - -Their generals attempted in vain to drive them off: they took their -blows without a murmur or the least opposition, but without -desisting—even the men of the royal and imperial guards; for, throughout -the whole army, such were the scenes that occurred every night. The -unfortunate fellows kept silently but actively at work on the wooden -walls, which they pulled in pieces on every side at once, and which, -after vain efforts, their officers were obliged to relinquish to them, -for fear they would fall upon their own heads. It was an extraordinary -mixture of perseverance in their design and of respect for the anger of -their superiors. - -Having kindled good fires, they spent the night in drying themselves, -amid the shouts, imprecations, and groans of those who were still -crossing the torrent, or who, slipping from its banks, were precipitated -into it, and drowned. - -It is a fact by no means creditable to the enemy, that during this -disaster, and in sight of so rich a booty, a few hundred men, left at -the distance of half a league from the viceroy, on the other side of the -Wop, were sufficient to curb for twenty hours not only the courage, but -even the cupidity of Platoff’s Cossacks. - -It is possible, indeed, that the hetman made sure of destroying the -viceroy on the following day. In fact, all his measures were so well -planned, that at the moment when the army of Italy, after an unquiet and -disorderly march, came in sight of Dukhowtchina, a town yet uninjured, -and was joyfully hastening forward to shelter itself there, several -thousand Cossacks sallied forth from it with cannon, and suddenly -stopped its progress; while at the same time Platoff, with all his -hordes, came up and attacked its rear guard and both flanks. - -Several eye-witnesses assert that a complete tumult and confusion then -ensued; that the disbanded men, the women, and the attendants ran -headlong over each other, and broke quite through the ranks; that, in -short, there was a moment when this unfortunate army was but a shapeless -mass, a mere rabble rout hurrying to and fro. All seemed to be lost; but -the coolness of the prince and the efforts of his officers, saved all. -The best men disengaged themselves, and the ranks were again formed. -They advanced, and, firing a few volleys, the enemy, who had every thing -on his side excepting courage, the only advantage yet left the French, -opened and retired, confining himself to a useless demonstration. - -The army occupied his quarters still warm in that town, while he went -beyond to bivouac, and to prepare for similar surprises to the very -gates of Smolensk. For this disaster at the Wop had made the viceroy -give up the idea of separating from the Emperor, near to whom these -hordes became still bolder; they surrounded the 11th division. When -Prince Eugene would have gone to its relief, his men and officers, -stiffened with a cold of twenty degrees, which the wind rendered most -piercing, remained stretched on the warm ashes of the fires. To no -purpose did he point out to them their comrades surrounded, the enemy -approaching, the bullets and balls which were already reaching them; -they refused to rise, protesting that they would rather perish where -they were than any longer endure such cruel hardships. The videttes -themselves had abandoned their posts. Prince Eugene nevertheless -contrived to save his rear guard. - -It was in returning with it towards Smolensk that his stragglers had -been driven back on Ney’s troops, to whom they communicated their panic; -all hurried confusedly towards the Dnieper, where they crowded together -at the entrance of the bridge, without thinking of defending themselves, -when a charge made by the 4th regiment stopped the advance of the enemy. - -Its colonel, young Fezenzac, contrived to infuse fresh life into these -men, who were half perished with cold. There, as in every thing that can -be called action, was manifested the triumph of the sentiments of the -soul over the sensations of the body; for every physical feeling tended -to encourage despondency and flight; Nature advised it with her hundred -most urgent voices; and yet a few words of honor alone were sufficient -to produce the most heroic devotedness. The soldiers of the 4th regiment -rushed like furies upon the enemy, against the mountains of snow and ice -of which he had taken possession, and in the teeth of the northern -hurricane, for they had every thing against them. Ney himself was -obliged to moderate their impetuosity. - -Such fighting could only be the work of heroes, who were determined to -triumph or perish. Ney proved himself worthy to command the rear guard, -upon which the safety of the army depended. He was equal to a host, and -around his stalwart form the troops rallied, as they would around a rock -of salvation. He seemed even determined to conquer the Russian storm. - -At length the army once more came in sight of Smolensk: it had reached -the goal so often announced to it of all its sufferings. The soldiers -exultingly pointed it out to each other. _There_ was that land of -promise where their hunger was to find abundance, their fatigue rest; -where bivouacs in a cold of nineteen degrees would be forgotten in -houses warmed by good fires. _There_ they would enjoy refreshing sleep; -there they might repair their apparel; there they would be furnished -with new shoes, and clothing adapted to the climate. - -But Smolensk was a heap of blackened ruins, and the commissary found -there, was compelled to own that he had not enough provisions to supply -half the army for the required time, fifteen days. If any thing was -wanted to increase the wretchedness of this doomed army it was this -disastrous disappointment. Napoleon himself displayed a consciousness of -the terrors by which he was surrounded, and seemed to apprehend the -destruction of his entire army. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON AT KRASNOE. Page 389.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT KRASNOE. - - -Upon the retreat from Smolensk, the grand army, reduced to thirty-six -thousand effective men, had been divided into four columns, commanded by -Napoleon, Eugene, Davoust and Ney. These were separated by the march of -a few days from each other. The Emperor reached the town of Krasnoe -without difficulty; but the second division, under Prince Eugene, was -compelled to fight against forces immensely superior in numbers. - -It was the night of the 16th of November. The weather was bitter cold; -and though Krasnoe fairly blazed with camp-fires, the soldiers of the -guard shivered in spite of the sternest efforts of their wills. - -The Emperor had waited for the viceroy during the whole of the preceding -day. The noise of an engagement had agitated him. An effort to break -through the enemy, in order to join him, had been ineffectually -attempted; and when night came on without his making his appearance, the -uneasiness of Napoleon was at its height. “Eugene and the army of Italy, -and this long day of baffled expectation, had they then terminated -together?” Only one hope remained, and that was, that the viceroy, -driven back towards Smolensk, had there joined Davoust and Ney, and that -on the following day they would, with united forces, attempt a decisive -effort. - -In his anxiety, the Emperor assembled the marshals who were with him. -These were Berthier, Bessieres, Mortier and Lefebvre; they were safe; -they had cleared the obstacles; they had only to continue their retreat -through Lithuania, which was open to them; but would they abandon their -companions in the midst of the Russian army? No, certainly; and they -determined once more to enter Russia, either to deliver or to perish -with them. - -No sooner was this resolution taken, than Napoleon coolly made his -arrangements to carry it into effect. He was not at all shaken by the -great movements which the enemy was evidently making around him. He saw -that Kutusoff was advancing in order to surround and take him prisoner -in Krasnoe. The very night before he had learned that Ojarowski, with a -vanguard of Russian infantry, had got beyond him, and taken a position -at Maliewo, a village on his left. Irritated instead of being depressed -by misfortune, he called his aid-de-camp Rapp, and told him “that he -must set out immediately, and during the darkness attack that body of -the enemy with the bayonet; this was the first time of his exhibiting so -much audacity, and that he was determined to make him repent it, in such -a way that he should never again dare approach so near to his -head-quarters.” Then instantly recalling him, he exclaimed, “But no: let -Roguet and his division go alone. As for you, remain where you are; I -don’t wish you killed here; I shall have occasion for you at Dantzic.” - -Rapp, as he was carrying this order to Roguet, could not help feeling -astonished that his chief, surrounded by eighty thousand of the enemy, -whom he was going to attack the next day with nine thousand, should have -so little doubt about his safety as to be thinking of what he should -have to do at Dantzic, a city from which he was separated by the winter, -two hostile armies, famine, and a hundred and eighty leagues of -distance. - -The nocturnal attack on Ojarowski at Chirkowa and Maliewo proved -successful. Roguet formed his idea of the enemy’s position by the -direction of their fires: they occupied two villages, connected by a -causeway, defended by a ravine. He disposed his troops into three -columns of attack: those on the right and left were to advance silently, -as close as possible to the Russians; then, at the signal to charge, -which he himself would give them from the centre, they were to rush into -the midst of the hostile corps without firing a shot, and make use only -of their bayonets. - -Immediately the two wings of the young guard commenced the action. While -the Russians, taken by surprise, and not knowing on which side to defend -themselves, were wavering from their right to their left, Roguet, with -his column, rushed suddenly upon their centre, and into the midst of -their camp, which he entered pell-mell along with them. Thus divided, -and in utter confusion, they had barely time to throw the best part of -their cannon and small arms into a neighboring lake, and to set fire to -their tents, the flames of which, instead of saving them, only gave -light to their destruction. - -This check stopped the movements of the Russian army for four-and-twenty -hours, put it in the Emperor’s power to remain at Krasnoe, and enabled -Eugene to rejoin him during the following night. He was received by -Napoleon with the greatest joy; whose uneasiness, however, respecting -Davoust and Ney, now became proportionably greater. - -Around the French, the camp of the Russians presented a spectacle -similar to what it had done at Vinkowo, Malo-Yaroslawetz, and Wiazma. -Every evening, close to the general’s tent, the relics of the Russian -saints, surrounded by an immense number of wax tapers, were exposed to -the adoration of the soldiers. While these, according to their custom, -were giving proofs of their devotion by endless crossings and -genuflexions, the priests were employed in exciting their fanaticism -with exhortations that would have been deemed barbarous and absurd by a -civilized nation. - -It is asserted that a spy had represented to Kutusoff, Krasnoe as being -filled with an immense number of the imperial guard, and that the old -marshal was afraid of hazarding his reputation by attacking it. But the -sight of the distress emboldened Bennigsen; this officer, who was chief -of the staff, prevailed upon Strogonoff, Gallitzin, and Miloradowitch, -with a force of more than fifty thousand Russians, and one hundred -pieces of cannon, to venture to attack at daylight, in spite of -Kutusoff, fourteen thousand famished, enfeebled, and half-frozen French -and Italians. - -This was a danger, the imminence of which Napoleon fully comprehended. -He might have escaped from it, for the day had not yet appeared. He was -still at liberty to avoid this fatal engagement; by rapid marches along -with Eugene and his guard, he might have gained Orcha and Borizoff; -there he could have rallied his forces, and strengthened himself with -thirty thousand French, under Victor and Oudinot, with the corps of -Dombrowski, Regnier, and Schwartzenberg, been within reach of all his -depots, and, by the following year, have made himself as formidable as -ever. - -On the 17th, before daylight, he issued his orders, armed himself, and -going out on foot at the head of his Old Guard, began his march. But it -was not towards Poland, his ally, that he directed it, nor towards -France, where he would still be received as the head of a new dynasty, -and the Emperor of the West. His words on grasping his sword on this -occasion were, “I have sufficiently acted the emperor; it is time I -should become the general.” He turned back upon eighty thousand of the -enemy, plunging into the thickest of them, in order to draw all their -efforts against himself, to make a diversion in favor of Davoust and -Ney, and to rescue them from a country, the gates of which were closed -against them. - -Daylight at last appeared, exhibiting on the one part the Russian -battalions and batteries, which on three sides, in front, on the right, -and in the rear, bounded the horizon, and on the other Napoleon, with -his six thousand guards, advancing with a firm step, and proceeding to -take his place in the centre of that terrible circle. At the same time, -Mortier, a few yards in front of the Emperor, deployed, in the face of -the whole Russian army, with the five thousand men still remaining to -him. - -Every moment strengthened the enemy and weakened Napoleon. The noise of -artillery, as well as Claparede, apprized him that in the rear of -Krasnoe and his army, Bennigsen was proceeding to take possession of the -road to Liady, and entirely cut off his retreat. The east, the west, and -the south were flashing with the enemy’s fires; one side alone remained -open, that of the north and the Dnieper, towards an eminence, at the -foot of which were the high road and the Emperor. The French fancied -they saw the enemy already covering this eminence with their cannon. In -that situation they would have been just over Napoleon’s head, and might -have crushed him at a few yards’ distance. He was apprized of his -danger, cast his eyes for an instant towards the height, and uttered -merely these words, “Very well, let a battalion of my chasseurs take -possession of it!” Immediately afterward, without giving farther heed to -it, his whole attention was directed to the perilous situation of -Mortier. - -Then, at last, Davoust made his appearance, forcing his way through a -swarm of Cossacks, whom he dispersed by a precipitate movement. At the -sight of Krasnoe this marshal’s troops disbanded themselves, running -across the fields to get beyond the right of the enemy’s line, in the -rear of which they had come up; and Davoust and his generals could only -rally them at that place. - -The first corps was thus preserved; but it was learned at the same time -that the rear guard could no longer defend itself at Krasnoe; that Ney -was probably still at Smolensk, and that they must give up waiting for -him any longer. Napoleon, however, still hesitated: he could not -determine on making this great sacrifice. - -But at last, as all were likely to perish, his resolution was taken. He -called Mortier, and pressing his hand sorrowfully, told him “that he had -not a moment to lose; that the enemy were overwhelming him in all -directions; that Kutusoff might already reach Liady, perhaps Orcha, and -the last elbow of the Borysthenes before him; and that he would -therefore proceed thither rapidly, with his Old Guard, in order to -occupy that passage. Davoust would relieve him, Mortier, but both of -them must endeavor to hold out in Krasnoe until night, after which they -must advance and rejoin him.” Then, with his heart full of Ney’s -misfortune, and of despair at abandoning him, he withdrew slowly from -the field of battle, traversed Krasnoe, where he again halted, and -thence cleared his way to Liady. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT BORYSTHENES. - - -Ney, “the bravest of the brave,” the commander of the rearguard of the -grand army, had been given up as lost by most of his heroic brethren in -arms. But Napoleon could not believe it. He knew that the chances were -those of desperation, but he expected all things from the lion-hearted -marshal. The Emperor had reached Orcha, on the Borysthenes, with ten -thousand men. He found there abundance of provisions and his troops -encamped by ample fires. But his anxiety for the fate of Ney rendered -him very much dejected. He could not bring his mind to the idea of -quitting the Borysthenes. - -It appeared to him that this would be like a second abandonment of the -unfortunate Ney, and a final casting off of his intrepid companion in -arms. There, as at Liady and Dombrowna, he was calling every hour of the -day and night, and sending to inquire if no tidings had been received of -that marshal. But nothing was heard of him through the intervening -Russian army; and four days this fatal silence had lasted, and yet the -Emperor still continued to hope. - -Being at length, on the 20th of November, compelled to quit Orcha, he -left there Eugene, Mortier, and Davoust, and halted after a march of two -leagues from that place, still inquiring for Ney, and still expecting -him. The same feeling of grief pervaded the portion of the army -remaining at Orcha. As soon as the most pressing wants allowed a -moment’s rest, the thoughts and looks of every one were directed towards -the Russian bank. They listened for any warlike sounds which might -announce the arrival of Ney, or, rather, his last desperate struggle -with the foe; but nothing was to be seen but parties of the enemy, who -were already menacing the bridges of the Borysthenes. One of the three -marshals now proposed to destroy them, but the others would not consent, -as this would be separating themselves still more widely from their -companion in arms, and acknowledging that they despaired of saving him, -an idea which, from their unhappiness at the thought, they could not -bear to entertain. - -But with the fourth day all hope had vanished, and night only brought -with it an agitated repose. They blamed themselves for Ney’s misfortune, -forgetting that it was utterly impossible to have waited longer for him -in the plains of Krasnoe, there to fight for another twenty-four hours, -when they had scarcely strength and ammunition left for one. - -Already, as is always the case in such painful losses, they began to -seek for some soothing recollections. Davoust was the last who had -quitted the unfortunate marshal, and Mortier and the viceroy were -inquiring of him what were his last words. At the first reports of the -cannonade of the enemy on the 15th, it would seem that Ney was anxious -to evacuate Smolensk immediately, in the suite of the viceroy; but -Davoust refused, pleading the orders of the emperor, and their -obligation to destroy the ramparts of the town. The two chiefs became -warm; and Davoust insisting to remain until the following day, Ney, who -had been appointed to bring up the rear, was compelled to wait for him. - -It is true that on the 16th, Davoust sent to warn him of his danger; but -Ney, either from change of opinion, or from feelings of resentment -against Davoust, returned for answer “that all the Cossacks in the -universe should not prevent him from executing his instructions.” - -After exhausting these recollections and all their conjectures, they had -relapsed into a gloomy silence, when suddenly they heard the steps of -horses, and then the joyful cry, “Marshal Ney is safe! here are some -Polish cavalry come to announce his approach!” One of his officers now -galloped in, and informed them that the marshal was advancing on the -right bank of the Borysthenes, and had sent him to ask for assistance. - -Night had just set in; and Davoust, Eugene, and Mortier were allowed -only its short duration to revive and animate the soldiers, who had -hitherto constantly bivouacked. For the first time since they left -Moscow, these poor fellows had received a sufficient supply of -provisions; and they were about to prepare them and to take their rest, -warm and under cover. How was it possible, then to make them resume -their arms, and turn them from their comfortable asylums during that -night of rest, whose inexpressible sweets they had just begun to taste! -Who could persuade them to interrupt it, to trace back their steps, and -once more, in the midst of darkness, return into the frozen deserts of -Russia? - -Eugene and Mortier disputed the honor of making this effort, and the -first carried it only in right of his superior rank. Shelter and the -distribution of provisions had effected that which threats would have -failed to do. The stragglers were rallied, and the viceroy again found -himself at the head of four thousand men; all were ready to march at the -idea of Ney’s danger; but it was their last effort. - -They proceeded in the darkness, by unknown roads, and had marched two -leagues at random, halting every few minutes to listen. Their anxiety -instantly increased. Had they lost their way? Were they too late? Had -their unfortunate comrades fallen? Was it the victorious Russian army -they were about to meet? In this uncertainty Prince Eugene directed some -cannon-shot to be fired. Immediately after, they fancied they heard -signals of distress on that sea of snow: they were not mistaken; they -proceeded from the third corps, which having lost all its artillery, -could answer the cannon of the fourth only by some volleys of platoon -firing. - -The two corps were thus directed towards their meeting. Ney and Eugene -were the first to recognise each other: they ran up, Eugene the most -eagerly, and threw themselves into each other’s arms. Eugene wept, but -Ney only let fall some angry words. The first was delighted, melted, and -elevated at the sight of the chivalrous hero whom he had just had the -happiness to save. The latter still heated from the combat, irritated at -the dangers which the honor of the army had run in his person, and -blaming Davoust, whom he wrongfully accused of having deserted him. - -Some hours afterwards, when the latter sought to justify himself, he -could draw nothing from Ney but a severe look and these words, “Monsieur -le Marechal, I have no reproaches to make you: God is our witness and -your judge!” - -As soon as the two corps had fairly recognised each other, they could no -longer be kept in their ranks. Soldiers, officers, generals, all rushed -forward together. The soldiers of Eugene, eagerly grasping the hands of -those of Ney, held them with a joyful mixture of astonishment and -curiosity, and embraced them with the tenderest sympathy. They lavished -upon them the refreshments which they had just received, and overwhelmed -them with questions. Then they proceeded in company towards Orcha, all -burning with impatience, Eugene’s soldiers to hear, and Ney’s to relate, -their story. There they were soon gathered around the cheerful -camp-fire, and resting from their toils. - -The officers of Ney stated that on the 17th of November they had quitted -Smolensk with twelve cannon, six thousand infantry, and three hundred -cavalry, leaving there five thousand sick to the mercy of the enemy; and -that, had it not been for the noise of Platoff’s artillery and the -explosion of the mines, their marshal would never have been able to draw -from the ruins of that city seven thousand unarmed stragglers who had -taken shelter among them. They dwelt upon the attentions which their -leader had shown to the wounded, and to the women and their children, -proving upon this occasion that the bravest are also the most humane. - -Ney’s officers continued to speak in the most enthusiastic terms of -their marshal; for even his equals could not feel the slightest jealousy -of him. He had, indeed, been too much regretted, and his preservation -had excited emotions far too grateful to allow of any feelings of envy; -besides, Ney had placed himself completely beyond its reach. As for -himself, he had in all this heroism gone so little beyond his natural -character, that, had it not been for the eclat of his glory in the eyes, -the gestures, and the acclamations of every one, he would never have -imagined that he had performed an extraordinary action. - -And this was not an enthusiasm of surprise, for each of the few last -days had had its remarkable men: that of the 16th, for instance, had -Eugene, and that of the 17th, Mortier; but from this time forward Ney -was universally proclaimed the hero of the retreat. - -When Napoleon, who was two leagues farther on, heard that Ney had again -made his appearance, he leaped and shouted for joy, exclaiming, “Then I -have saved my eagles! I would have given three hundred millions from my -exchequer sooner than have lost such a man.” - -Such a man! Where else in history shall we find such a man? Davoust, -Mortier, Junot, Murat, and other celebrated officers of that army were -brave—wonderful men, indeed—but Ney towered above them all, in a courage -which was full of sublimity—a courage which found resource when others -saw nothing left for them but a resignation to death. - -That night the marshal slept beside the camp-fire of his beloved -Emperor—the sweet sleep which grows from the consciousness of duty -performed. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE LAST CAMP-FIRES IN RUSSIA. - - -At Malodeczno, Napoleon suddenly determined to leave the wretched -remnant of his army, and, accompanied by a few faithful officers, to -return to France. Murat was left to command the army, and the greatest -hopes of speedy relief and fresh triumph were excited by the Emperor -before he departed. He journeyed very rapidly, and reached Paris on the -19th of December, two days after his memorable twenty-ninth bulletin had -told France the disasters of the campaign. But the remains of the grand -army—what was their fate? - -On the 6th of December, the very day after Napoleon’s departure, the sky -exhibited a more dreadful appearance. Icy particles were seen floating -in the air, and the birds fell stiff and frozen to the earth. The -atmosphere was motionless and silent; it seemed as if every thing in -nature which possessed life and movement, even the wind itself, had been -seized, chained, and, as it were, congealed by a universal death. Not a -word or a murmur was then heard; there was nothing but the gloomy -silence of despair, and the tears which proclaimed it. - -“We flitted along,” says Segur, “in the midst of this empire of death -like doomed spirits. The dull and monotonous sound of our steps, the -crackling of the frost and the feeble groans of the dying, were the only -interruptions to this doleful and universal silence. Anger and -imprecations there were none, nor any thing which indicated a remnant of -warmth; scarcely was strength enough left to utter a prayer; and most of -them even fell without complaining, either from weakness or resignation, -or because people complain only when they look for kindness, and fancy -they are pitied. - -“Such of our soldiers as had hitherto been the most persevering here -lost heart entirely. Some times the snow sunk beneath their feet, but -more frequently, its glassy surface refusing them support, they slipped -at every step, and tottered along from one fall to another. It seemed as -though this hostile soil were leagued against them; that it -treacherously escaped from under their efforts; that it was constantly -leading them into snares, as if to embarrass and retard their march, and -to deliver them up to the Russians in pursuit of them, or to their -terrible climate.” - -And, in truth, whenever, for a moment, they halted from exhaustion, the -winter, laying his icy hand upon them, was ready to seize his victims. -In vain did these unhappy creatures, feeling themselves benumbed, raise -themselves up, and, already deprived of the power of speech, and plunged -into a stupor, proceed a few steps like automatons; their blood froze in -their veins, like water in the current of rivulets, congealing the -heart, and then flying back to the head; and these dying men staggered -as if they had been intoxicated. From their eyes, reddened and inflamed -by the constant glare of the snow, by the want of sleep, and the smoke -of the bivouacs, there flowed real tears of blood; their bosoms heaved -with deep and heavy sighs; they looked towards heaven and on the earth, -with an eye dismayed, fixed, and wild, as expressive of their farewell, -and, it might be, of their reproaches against the barbarous nature which -was tormenting them. It was not long before they fell upon their knees, -and then upon their hands; their heads still slowly moved for a few -minutes alternately to the right and left, and from their open mouth -some sounds of agony escaped; at last, in its turn, it fell upon the -snow, which it reddened with livid blood, and their sufferings were at -an end. - -Their comrades passed by them without moving a step out of their way, -that they might not, by the slightest curve, prolong their journey, and -without even turning their heads; for their beards and hair were so -stiffened with ice that every movement was painful. Nor did they even -pity them; for, in fact, what had they lost by dying? who had they left -behind them? They suffered so much, they were still so far from France, -so much divested of all feelings of country by the surrounding prospect -and by misery, that every dear illusion was broken, and hope almost -destroyed. The greater number, therefore, had become careless of dying, -from necessity, from the habit of seeing death constantly around them, -and from fashion, sometimes even treating it with contempt; but more -frequently, on seeing these unfortunates stretched upon the snow, and -instantly stiffened, contenting themselves with the thought that they -had no more wants, that they were at rest, that their sufferings were -over. And, indeed, death, in a situation quiet, certain, and uniform, -may be felt as a strange event, a frightful contrast, a terrible change; -but in this tumult, this violent and ceaseless movement of a life of -action, danger, and suffering, it appeared nothing more than a -transition, a slight alteration, an additional removal, which excited -little alarm. - -Such were the last days of the grand army: its last nights were still -more frightful. Those whom they surprised marching together, far from -every habitation, halted on the borders of the woods: there they lighted -their fires, before which they remained the whole night, erect and -motionless, like spectres. They seemed as if they could not possibly -have enough of the heat; they kept so close to it as to burn their -clothes, as well as the frozen parts of their body, which the fire -decomposed. The most dreadful pain then compelled them to stretch -themselves on the ground, and the next day they attempted in vain to -rise. - -In the meantime, such as the winter had almost wholly spared, and who -still retained some portion of courage, prepared their melancholy meal. -It had consisted, ever since they left Smolensk, of some slices of -horseflesh broiled, and a little rye meal made into a sort of gruel with -snow water, or kneaded into paste, which they seasoned, for want of -salt, with the powder of their cartridges. - -The sight of these fires was constantly attracting fresh spectres, who -were driven back by the first comers. Many of them, destitute of the -means and the strength necessary to cut down the lofty fir trees, made -vain attempts to set fire to them as they were standing; but death -speedily surprised them, and they might be seen in every sort of -attitude, stiff and lifeless about their trunks. - -Under the vast pent-houses erected by the sides of the high road in some -parts of the way, scenes of still greater horror were witnessed. -Officers and soldiers all rushed precipitately into them, and crowded -together in heaps. There, like so many cattle, they pressed upon each -other around the fires, and as the living could not remove the dead from -the circle, they laid themselves down upon them, there to expire in -their turn, and serve as a bed of death to some fresh victims. In a -short time additional crowds of stragglers presented themselves, and, -being unable to penetrate into these asylums of suffering, they -completely besieged them. - -It frequently happened that they demolished their walls, which were -formed of dry wood, in order to feed their fires; at other times, -repulsed and disheartened, they were contented to use them as shelters -to their bivouacs, the flames of which very soon communicated to the -buildings, and the soldiers who were within them, already half dead with -the cold, perished in the conflagration. - -At Youpranoui, the same village where the Emperor only missed by an hour -being taken by the Russian partisan Seslawin, the soldiers burned the -houses as they stood, merely to warm themselves for a few minutes. The -light of these fires attracted some of those miserable wretches, whom -the excessive severity of the cold and their sufferings had rendered -delirious; they ran to them like madmen, they threw themselves into -these furnaces, where they perished in horrible convulsions. Their -famished companions looked on unmoved; and there were some who drew out -these bodies, blackened and broiled by the flames, and, shocking to -relate, they ventured to pollute their mouths with this dreadful food! - -This was the same army which had been formed from the most civilized -nation of Europe; that army, formerly so brilliant, which was victorious -over men to its last moment, and whose name still reigned in so many -conquered capitals. Its strongest and bravest warriors, who had recently -been proudly traversing so many scenes of their victories, had lost -their noble bearing; covered with rags, their feet naked and torn, and -supporting themselves with branches of fir, they dragged themselves -painfully along; and the strength and perseverance which they had -hitherto put forth in order to conquer, they now made use of only to -flee. - -In this state of physical and moral distress, the remnant of the grand -army reached the city of Wilna, the Mecca of their hopes. There food and -shelter were obtained; but the Russians soon came up and told, in the -thunder of their artillery, that Wilna was not a place of rest for the -French. They were driven from the town, and Ney, with a handful of men, -could scarcely protect their flight. Who can ever do sufficient honor to -the lion-hearted marshal? This was the order of retreat which he -adopted: - -Every day, at five o’clock in the evening, he took his position, stopped -the Russians, allowed his soldiers to eat and take some rest, and -resumed his march at ten o’clock. During the whole of the night, he -pushed the mass of the stragglers before him, by dint of cries, of -entreaties, and of blows. At daybreak, which was about seven o’clock, he -halted, again took position, and rested under arms and on guard until -ten o’clock; the enemy then usually made his appearance, and he was -compelled to fight until the evening, gaining as much ground in the rear -as possible. This depended at first on the general order of march, and -at a later period upon circumstances. - -For a long time this rear guard did not consist of more than two -thousand, then of one thousand, afterward of about five hundred, and -finally it was reduced to sixty men; and yet Berthier, either -designedly, or from mere routine, made no change in his instructions. -These were always addressed to the commander of a corps of thirty-five -thousand men; in them he coolly detailed all the different positions -which were to be taken up and guarded until the next day, by divisions -and regiments which no longer existed. And every night, when pressed by -Ney’s urgent warnings, he was obliged to go and awake the King of -Naples, and compel him to resume his march, he testified the same -astonishment. - -In this manner did Ney support the retreat from Wiazma to Eve, and a few -wersts beyond it. He attempted in vain to rally a few of them; and he -who had hitherto been almost the only one whose commands had been -obeyed, was now compelled to follow it. - -He arrived along with it at Kowno, which was the last town of the -Prussian empire. Finally, on the 13th of December, after marching -forty-six days under the most terrible sufferings, they once more came -in sight of a friendly country. Instantly, without halting or looking -behind them, the greater part plunged into, and dispersed themselves in, -the forests of Prussian Poland. Some there were, however, who, on their -arrival on the friendly bank of the Niemen, turned round, and there, -when they cast a last look on that land of horrors from which they were -escaping, and found themselves on the same spot whence, five months -before, their countless legions had taken their victorious flight, tears -gushed from their eyes, and they broke out into exclamations of the most -poignant sorrow. - -Two kings, one prince, eight marshals, followed by a few officers, -generals on foot, dispersed, and without attendants; finally, a few -hundred men of the old guard, still armed—these were its remains—these -alone represented the grand army. - -The camp-fires of the invaders in Russia were at an end. From Moscow to -the Niemen they could be traced in circles of death. Every bivouac had -its throng of victims, conquered more by the climate than the troops of -Russia. Like a vast stream, which gradually disappears in the ground as -it flows, the grand army of four hundred thousand men had vanished amid -the snows of Russia. Upon the banks of the Niemen, it lived only in -Marshal Ney. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT LUTZEN. - - -We have seen Napoleon, with the wreck of an army, a fugitive amid the -frozen plains of Russia. A few months have scarcely elapsed. It is -April, 1813; and the Emperor of the French has taken the field at the -head of three hundred and fifty thousand men, to beat back the enemies -who have arisen against him in the hour of his adversity. Once more, in -spite of the retreat from Moscow, Europe trembles at his name. - -The allies have posted themselves between Leipsic and Dresden. Napoleon, -with a hundred and fifteen thousand men under his immediate command, -advances to the attack with his customary confidence and decision. -Skirmishes took place at Weissenfels and Posen on the 29th of April, and -the first of May. On the last day, the French approached the town of -Lutzen, where Gustavus Adolphus had gained his final victory. The -foremost column came upon the advanced guard of the allies, posted on -the heights of Posen, and commanding a defile through which it was -necessary to pass. Marshal Bessieres, the commander of the Old Guard—the -companion of Napoleon in so much glory—dashed forward to reconnoitre the -enemy’s position, when a cannon ball struck one of his aids, and killed -him upon the spot. The marshal reined in his fiery charger. - -“Inter that brave man,” said he, coolly; but scarcely had the words -passed his lips, when he was struck by a spent cannon ball, and he fell -from his horse, a corpse. A white sheet was thrown over him to conceal -his features from the soldiers whom he had so often led to glory. The -body was conveyed to a neighboring house, and there it lay during the -battle of the next day, when the Guard looked in vain for the manly form -of their commander. Napoleon deeply regretted Bessieres. He ordered the -body to be embalmed and sent to the Hotel des Invalides, whence he -designed to have it interred with great honors; but his fall prevented -the execution of his intention. - -On the night of the first of May, the army under Napoleon encamped in -order of battle, within sight of the camp-fires of the allies, near -Lutzen. The centre was at a village called Kaya, under the command of -Ney. It consisted of the young conscripts, supported by the Imperial -Guard, with its new parks of artillery drawn up before the well known -town of Lutzen. Marmont commanded the right. The left reached from Kaya -to the Elster. The silence of night settled down upon the camp of the -French. But the allies, encouraged by the presence of the Czar and the -King of Prussia, had determined to take the offensive—a very unusual -course for any enemy in the face of Napoleon. While the French were -reposing around their camp-fires, the Prussian general, Blucher, crossed -the Elster. At daybreak, before Napoleon was stirring in his quarters, -the French, in the centre, were startled by the furious assault of the -enemy, who pushed their way through all obstacles, and were on the point -of gaining possession of Kaya. The crisis was imminent. Napoleon, roused -from slumber by intelligence of the attack, hurried in person to bring -up the Guard to sustain the centre, while he moved forward the two -wings, commanded by Macdonald and Bertrand, and supported by the -tremendous batteries, so as to outflank and surround the main body of -the allies. Thus began the battle of Lutzen. The struggle was fierce, -and it endured for several hours. The village of Kaya was taken and -retaken a number of times, but at length it remained in the hands of -General Gerard. The students who were in the ranks of the allies, fought -with desperate courage, and fell in great numbers. Schavnhort, a noted -Prussian general, was killed, and Blucher was wounded. The artillery of -the French carried immense destruction into the ranks of the enemy, and, -at length, fearing from Napoleon’s manœuvres, that they would be -taken in flank, they beat a retreat, which they effected safely, but -with much difficulty. They left twenty thousand dead upon the field. The -loss of the French was not more than ten or twelve thousand men. The -victory was not decisive, but it was glorious, and once more Napoleon’s -star shone with brilliant lustre, free from the shadow of defeat. - -The French army was ordered to encamp on the field of battle in squares, -by divisions, in order to provide against any sudden return of the -enemy. Couriers were immediately sent off with the news of the victory -to every friendly court in Europe. That night there was rejoicing around -the camp-fires of the French. Napoleon once more received the -congratulations of his generals upon a victory, and he began to dream of -a peaceful occupation of his imperial throne. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT BAUTZEN. - - -After the victory of Lutzen, Napoleon proposed a cessation of -hostilities. But those allies who continually accused him of being -always for war, rejected his conciliatory proposals, and resolved to try -the sword again. They entrenched their camps at Bautzen, and far from -attempting the offensive, which they had found so perilous, they -anxiously awaited reinforcements. In the meantime, Napoleon had entered -Dresden in triumph. There he remained a week. Finding that all attempts -at conciliation were fruitless, he then determined to prosecute the -campaign vigorously. On the 18th of May, he commenced the march upon -Bautzen, and on the 21st, he reached the position of the allies. They -were posted in the rear of Bautzen, with the river Spree in front; a -chain of wooded hills and various fortified eminences to the right and -left were occupied. - -The action at this place commenced by the movement of a column of -Italians, who were intended to turn the Prussian flank. This body, -however, was attacked and dispersed before Marshal Ney could support -them. The remainder of the day was spent by the French in passing the -Spree, which was effected without molestation. The Emperor bivouacked in -the town of Bautzen for the night. While the camp-fires of the French -and their adversaries blazed near each other beyond the Spree, Napoleon -called a council of his principal marshals, and after much deliberation, -it was resolved to turn the camp of the enemy, instead of storming it. -Day had just peeped in the east, and the fires had died out, when the -dauntless Ney made a wide circuit to the right of the Russians, while -Oudinot engaged their left, and Soult and the Emperor attacked the -centre. The battle was fiercely fought. The Prussians, under the lead of -the bold and pertinacious Blucher, kept their ground for four hours -against the repeated charges of Soult. The slaughter was dreadful on -both sides. At length, the Prussians were driven back, and the French -were left in undisputed possession of the heights. Ney had now gained -the rear of the allies, and he poured in murderous volleys of shot on -their dispirited ranks. Panic stricken at this furious assault, they -commenced their retreat, with such celerity as to gain time to rally on -the roads leading to Bohemia. As night descended, the French shouted -lustily for another victory. And there was revelry around the camp-fires -of Napoleon’s army. But the Emperor’s heart was sorely touched. - -General Bruyeres, a gallant officer, had been stricken down in the -joyous moment of victory, at the head of the Imperial Guard. But it was -not for him that the Emperor wept. About seven in the evening, the grand -marshal of the palace—the devoted Duroc—he who was dearer to Napoleon -than even Lannes or Bessieres—was mortally wounded. He was standing on a -slight eminence, and at a considerable distance from the firing, -conversing with Marshal Mortier and General Kirgener, all three on foot, -when a cannon ball, aimed at the group, ploughed up the ground near -Mortier, ripped open Duroc’s abdomen, and killed General Kirgener. The -grand marshal was conveyed to a lowly house as the victors encamped for -the night. Napoleon was deeply affected when informed of the mournful -event. He hastened to Duroc, who still breathed, and exhibited wonderful -self-possession. Duroc seized the Emperor’s hand and pressed it to his -lips. “All my life,” he said, “has been devoted to your service, and I -only regret its loss for the use which it might still have been to you.” - -“Duroc,” replied the Emperor, “there is another life. It is there that -you will await me, and that we will one day meet.” - -“Yes, sire; but that will be in thirty years, when you shall have -triumphed over your enemies, and realized the hopes of our country. I -have lived an honest man; and have nothing to reproach myself with. I -leave a daughter; your majesty will be a father to her.” - -Napoleon was deeply affected. He felt that the time was coming when he -should need friends like Duroc. He took the right hand of the grand -marshal in his own, and remained for a quarter of an hour with his head -resting on the left hand of his old comrade, without being able to -proffer a word. - -Duroc was the first to break the silence. He did so, in order to spare -Napoleon any further laceration of mind. “Ah, sire,” said he, “go hence! -This spectacle pains you!” - -Napoleon paused a moment, and then rose and said: - -“Adieu, then, my friend!” and he required to support himself on Marshal -Soult and Caulaincourt, in order to regain his tent, where he would -receive no person the whole night. He was again victorious. But he had -lost his most faithful friends. His enemies were every day increasing in -numbers, while he was only growing weaker by the gradual diminution of -his forces; but some of the generals, upon whom he was most accustomed -to rely, were of doubtful fidelity. Victorious or not, he saw that the -struggle was to be continued against fearful odds, and a cloud -approached his star. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: NAPOLEON AT MONTEREAU. Page 421.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT MONTEREAU. - - -A distinguished historian, (Alison,) expresses the opinion that the -greatest displays of Napoleon’s genius were made during his first -campaign in Italy, and the next to the last in his career, in France. In -spite of his triumphs at Lutzen, Bautzen and Leipsic, he was compelled -to retreat upon France, into which he was followed by the overwhelming -forces of the allies. His throne was threatened on all sides. His army -was but a handful compared with that of his enemies. Yet by his -lightning movements, masterly combinations and indomitable resolution, -he gained a succession of dazzling victories, and for a time seemed -likely to drive his foes from France. We can only show this astonishing -man during one portion of this unparalleled campaign. - -It was the 16th of February, 1814. Having conquered the Russians at -Montmirail, Napoleon had left the Duke of Ragusa—the Judas of the -Emperor—in command of that portion of the army, and flown to the army of -the Seine, commanded by the Dukes of Belluno and Reggio. He proceeded to -Guignes by way of Crecy and Fontenay. - -The inhabitants lined the road with carts, by the help of which the -soldiers doubled their distances; and the firing of cannon being heard, -the artillery drove on at full speed. An engagement had been obstinately -maintained since noon by the Dukes of Belluno and Reggio, in the hope to -keep possession of the road by which Napoleon was expected; an hour -later the junction of the forces would have been difficult. The arrival -of the Emperor restored full confidence to the army of the Seine. That -evening he contented himself with checking the allies before Guignes; -and the next morning the troops were seasonably reinforced by General -Treilhard’s dragoons, who had been detached from the army in Spain. -Couriers dispatched to Paris entered the suburbs escorted by crowds of -people who had anxiously assembled at Charenton. On the 17th the troops -quitted Guignes and marched forward. The allies instantly knew that -Napoleon was returned. General Gerard’s infantry, General Drouet’s -artillery, and the cavalry of the army of Spain did wonders. The enemy’s -columns were driven back in every direction, and left the road between -Mormars and Provins covered with the slain. The Duke of Belluno had -orders to carry the bridge of Montereau that same evening; and the -imperial guard lit their camp-fires round Nangis, the Emperor sleeping -at the castle. - -In the course of the evening, one of those lures by which he was too -often inveigled arrived in the shape of a demand for a suspension of -hostilities, brought by Count Parr from the Austrians. He availed -himself of this opportunity of transmitting a letter from the Empress to -her father, and of writing one himself. Napoleon at the same time, -however, had spirit to write to Caulaincourt to revoke his _carte -blanche_, saying it was to save the capital, but the capital was now -saved; that it was to avoid a battle, but that the battle had been -fought, and that the negotiations must return to the ordinary course. -The allies had the assurance to reproach Buonaparte with this, as a -receding from his word according to circumstances, when they themselves -encroached upon him with every new advantage and every hour, as fast as -the drawing aside the veil of hypocrisy would let them. - -In the meantime, the Duke of Belluno was encamped at the bridge of -Montereau. Early on the morning of the 18th, Napoleon was vexed to hear -that the bridge was not yet captured; but that the camp-fires of the -duke were burning amidst troops at rest, when great efforts were -demanded of them. The Emperor hurried to that point. But the Wurtemberg -troops had established themselves there during the night. - -Napoleon ordered forward the Bretagne national guard and General Pajol’s -cavalry. General Gerard came up in time to support the attack, and -Napoleon himself arrived to decide the victory. The troops took -possession of the heights of Surville, which command the confluence of -the Seine and the Yonne; and batteries were mounted which dealt -destruction on the Wurtemberg force in Montereau. Napoleon himself -pointed the guns. The enemy’s balls hissed like the wind over the -heights of Surville. The troops were fearful lest Napoleon, giving way -to the habits of his early life, should expose himself to danger; but he -only said, “Come on, my brave fellows, fear nothing; the ball that is to -kill me is not yet cast.” The firing redoubled; and under its shelter -the Bretagne guards established themselves in the suburbs, while General -Pajol carried the bridge by so vigorous a charge of cavalry, that there -was not time to blow up a single arch. The Wurtemberg troops, inclosed -and cut to pieces in Montereau, vainly summoned the Austrians to their -aid. This engagement was one of the most brilliant of the campaign. -Their success encouraged the troops, roused the country people, and -stimulated the ardor of the young officers; but nothing could revive the -spirits of the veteran chiefs. Hope does not return twice to the human -breast. Several of the most distinguished officers were deeply -depressed. - -Napoleon could no longer repress his dissatisfaction. He reproached -General Guyot in the presence of the troops, with having suffered the -enemy to surprise some pieces of artillery the preceding evening. He -ordered General Digeon to be tried by a council of war for a failure of -ammunition on the batteries: but afterwards tore the order. He sent the -Duke of Belluno, who had suffered the Wurtembergers to surprise the -bridge of Montereau before him, permission to retire; and gave the -command of his corps to General Gerard, who had greatly exerted himself -during the campaign. The Duke repaired to Surville to appeal against -this decision; but Napoleon overwhelmed him with reproaches for neglect -and reluctance in the discharge of his duties. The conduct of the -Duchess was also made a subject of complaint; she was Lady of the -Palace, and yet had withdrawn herself from the Empress, who, indeed, -seemed to be quite forsaken by the new court. The Duke could not for -some time obtain a hearing; the recollections of Italy were appealed to -in vain; but, mentioning the fatal wound which his son-in-law had -received in consequence of his delay, the Emperor was deeply affected at -hearing the name of General Chateau, and sympathized sincerely in the -grief of the marshal. The Duke of Belluno resuming confidence, again -protested that he would never quit the army. “I can shoulder a musket,” -said he: “I have not forgotten the business of a soldier. Victor will -range himself in the ranks of the Guard.” These last words completely -subdued Napoleon. “Well, Victor,” he said, stretching out his hand to -him, “remain with me. I cannot restore the command of your corps, -because I have appointed General Gerard to succeed you; but I give you -the command of two divisions of the Guard; and now let every thing be -forgotten between us.” - -The Emperor was victorious. But victory only served to fill him with -false hopes. He triumphed again and again. But it was of no avail. The -forces of the enemy were overwhelming; and at the moment when it seemed -most likely that he could save France, the disgusting treachery of -Marmont and Augereau, two men whom he had raised from the dust, as it -were, brought about his ruin. He found, like many other great characters -of history, in their hour of adversity, that the men who were most -indebted to him were the men upon whom it were most unsafe to rely. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT ARCIS. - - -While the allies held anxious councils, and were filled with -apprehensions at almost every movement of Napoleon in his mighty -struggle for his throne, he continued to strike vigorous blows at his -thronging enemies. He triumphed at Craonne, and took possession of -Rheims. The Austrians, under Schwartzenberg, were compelled to retreat. -On the 17th of March, Napoleon broke up his head-quarters at Rheims, and -advanced by Epernay to attack the rear of the Austrian army. On the -20th, his advanced guard encountered an Austrian division at -Arcis-sur-Aube. The conflict became fierce. The Austrians brought up -fresh battalions, supported by cannon; and Napoleon found that instead -of attacking a rear guard in retreat, he was in front of the whole of -the grand army in its advance on Paris. - -This was unfortunate for the Emperor’s calculations. He conceived -himself to be acting upon the retreat of the allies, and expected only -to find a rear guard at Arcis; he was even talking jocularly of making -his father-in-law prisoner during his retreat. If, contrary to his -expectation, he should find the enemy, or any considerable part of them, -still upon the Aube, it was, from all he had heard, to be supposed his -appearance would precipitate their retreat towards the frontier. It has -also been asserted, that he expected Marshal Macdonald to make a -corresponding advance from the banks of the Seine to those of the Aube; -but the orders had been received too late to admit of the necessary -space being traversed so as to arrive on the morning of the day of -battle. - -Napoleon easily drove before him such bodies of light cavalry, and -sharp-shooters, as had been left by the allies, rather for the purpose -of reconnoitring than of making any serious opposition. He crossed the -Aube at Plancey, and moved upwards, along the left bank of the river, -with Ney’s corps, and his whole cavalry, while the infantry of the guard -advanced upon the right; his army being thus, according to the French -military phrase, _a-cheval_, upon the Aube. The town of Arcis had been -evacuated by the allies upon his approach, and was occupied by the -French on the morning of the 20th March. That town forms the outlet of a -sort of defile, where a succession of narrow bridges cross a number of -drains, brooks, and streamlets, the feeders of the river Aube, and a -bridge in the town crosses the river itself. On the other side of Arcis -is a plain, in which some few squadrons of cavalry, resembling a -reconnoitring party, were observed manœuvring. - -Behind these horses, at a place called Clermont, the Prince Royal of -Wurtemberg, whose name has been so often honorably mentioned, was posted -with his division, while the elite of the allied army was drawn up on a -chain of heights still farther in the rear, called Mesnil la Comptesse. -But these corps were not apparent to the vanguard of Napoleon’s army. -The French cavalry had orders to attack the light troops of the allies; -but these were instantly supported by whole regiments, and by cannon, so -that the attack was unsuccessful; and the squadrons of the French were -repulsed and driven back on Arcis at a moment, when, from the -impediments in the town and its environs, the infantry could with -difficulty debouch from the town to support them. Napoleon showed, as he -always did in extremity, the same heroic courage which he had exhibited -at Lodi and Brienne. He drew his sword, threw himself among the broken -cavalry, called on them to remember their former victories, and checked -the enemy by an impetuous charge, in which he and his staff officers -fought hand to hand with their opponents, so that he was in personal -danger from the lance of a Cossack, the thrust of which was averted by -his aid-de-camp, Girardin. His Mameluke, Rustan, fought stoutly by his -side, and received a gratuity for his bravery. These desperate exertions -afforded time for the infantry to debouch from the town. The Imperial -Guards came up, and the combat waxed very warm. The superior numbers of -the allies rendered them the assailants on all points. A strongly -situated village in front, and somewhat to the left of Arcis, called -Grand Torcy, had been occupied by the French. This place was repeatedly -and desperately attacked by the allies, but the French made good their -position. Arcis itself was set on fire by the shells of the assailants; -and night alone separated the combatants by inducing the allies to -desist from the attack. - -The French remained masters of the field, which they had maintained -against nearly treble their number. They had not gained a victory, but -they had fought one of their most glorious battles, and Napoleon had -displayed not only the full blaze of his genius, but had shown the -allies that he was still the valorous hero of Arcola. Many of the houses -of Arcis were blazing when the wearied heroes kindled their camp-fires -along the Aube. Upon the distant heights of Mesnil la Comptesse, the -watch-fires of the enemy were to be seen, and the sky was redly -illumined as far as the eye could penetrate. Napoleon had retired to his -head-quarters, to rest his weary body, but not to sleep. He had but -twenty-seven thousand men, and he was before a strong position, occupied -by eighty thousand troops. He was busy in examining his maps, when an -aid, Girardin, entered and announced the arrival of Marshals Macdonald -and Oudinot, and General Gerard, with their detachments. A few moments -afterwards, those brave commanders entered. Napoleon received them with -much apparent gratification. Others of his generals also arrived, and a -council was held to determine upon the course to be pursued. Macdonald -was the most influential of the Emperor’s advisers at this time. His -great good sense, cool, steady courage, and honest heart, had won upon -Napoleon’s favor, and he listened to his counsel with much attention and -consideration. In a former part of his career, he had treated Macdonald -very unjustly. In his darker hours, he found the marshal’s great worth, -and ever afterwards spoke of him in the highest terms. - -The character of Macdonald could be read in his broad, Scotch -countenance. His expression was honest, penetrating and determined. He -was above all meanness. He lacked enthusiasm; but he had a mind that -could calmly work in the midst of the most terrible excitement. He never -appeared to be ruffled. The tone of his voice was always dry, even, and -steady, as if it was out of the power of the ordinary human emotions to -gain an influence over him. Napoleon eagerly asked the advice of the -renowned marshal, and received a prompt reply—that retreat was -necessary; and it would be well if it could be effected in the face of -an overwhelming enemy. Oudinot and Gerard concurred in Macdonald’s -opinion; indeed, there seemed to be a prevailing idea, that immediate -retreat was necessary, and Napoleon acquiesced. But the manner of it was -not so easy to determine. The army was in a difficult position. The line -of retreat on either side of the Aube was rendered dangerous by the -numerous defiles, where an enemy might attack with advantage. Finally, -it was decided to retreat on both sides of the Aube, as a method of -presenting a smaller mark to an enemy in pursuit, and of hurrying -through the dangerous defiles. The council then dissolved into a -conversational party, but the spirits of the generals seemed under the -shadow of a cloud. There was scarcely one of them who did not apprehend -a speedy termination of the fearful struggle in which they were engaged. -To all Napoleon’s expressions of his grand designs, for which he had no -means, they gave the reply of a shake of the head, or indicated the -obstacles. Napoleon could see that their enthusiasm and confidence had -been dissipated by the disasters which their glorious efforts had been -unable to avert from the French arms. The demeanor of the Emperor was -calm and dignified. He was Emperor of France and at the head of an army -still. He was even victorious. But there was no lightness in his look or -speech. - -At daybreak the camp-fires of the army were extinguished, and the order -of retreat given. It was a masterly exploit. With his small army, the -Emperor retreated through the difficult defiles, in the face of a whole -Austrian army; and though pursued and annoyed, sustained but little -loss. - -But what availed these miracles of generalship? The struggle was quickly -decided, by irresistible numbers and sickening treachery. - -Paris was surrendered by Marmont, while still capable of defence, and -the enemy gained possession of Lyons by the same means. All hope was -lost, and the Emperor was advised by Macdonald and others of his most -faithful friends, to comply with the terms of the allies and abdicate -his throne. He resisted as long as there was a shadow of hope, and then -obeyed stern necessity. The enemies of France were supreme. The -sovereign of her choice was consigned to the little island of Elba, and -the detested Bourbons were restored in the person of Louis XVIII. - -We will not dwell upon the leave-taking of the Emperor—how he kissed the -eagles, and embraced the veterans of Fontainebleau. It is not within our -scope. It is enough to know, that such victories as Montereau, Arcis and -Montmirail, won in the last hours of his imperial power, sustained the -glory of Napoleon’s genius, and proved that no treason, “coming like a -blight over the councils of the brave,” could annihilate his title to -immortal remembrance. - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE CAMP-FIRE AT WATERLOO. - - -Napoleon had returned to France. He had landed at Cannes with but a few -soldiers as a guard; but he had been swept up to the imperial throne of -Paris upon a mighty wave of popular enthusiasm. All Europe had arisen in -arms against the choice of the nation. The campaign of the Hundred Days -had commenced. At the head of a hundred and twenty thousand men, the -Emperor had advanced to attack Wellington and Blucher, with two hundred -and fifty thousand. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: BATTLE OF WATERLOO. Page 434.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -In order to escape from the danger which might result from too great an -inferiority of numbers, Napoleon strove, from the commencement of the -campaign, to separate the English from the Prussians, and manœuvred -actively to throw himself between them. His plan was strikingly -successful on the 16th at the battle of Ligny; Blucher, being attacked -alone, was completely beaten, and left twenty-five thousand men on the -field of battle. But this enormous loss did not materially enfeeble an -army which had such masses of soldiers in line, and behind, still more -numerous reserves. In the position in which the Emperor found himself, -he required a more decisive advantage, a victory which should annihilate -the army of Blucher, and allow him to fall upon Wellington next, in -order to crush him in his turn. This successive defeat of the English -and Prussians had been most skilfully prepared by the orders and -instructions he dispatched on all sides. But, we cannot too often repeat -it, his destiny was accomplished; and fatal misunderstandings deceived -the calculations of his genius. Moreover, he had himself a presentiment -that some unforeseen incident would disarrange his combinations, and -that fortune had more disasters in store for him. “It is certain that in -these circumstances,” he said to his suite, “I had no longer in myself -that definitive feeling; there was nothing of former confidence.” His -presentiments were too soon realized. - -At daybreak on the 17th, Grouchy, at the head of thirty-four thousand -men, was dispatched in pursuit of the enemy, who had fled in two columns -by way of Tilly and Gembloux, with orders to proceed to Wavres. About -seven in the morning, the Emperor galloped forward with Count Lobau’s -cavalry towards Quatre-Bras, which place he expected to find in -possession of Ney; the latter, however, had not been able to retrieve -his error of the 16th, and remained facing the position of the British, -although now occupied only by their rear-guard, which made off as soon -as its commander perceived the approach of Lobau’s horsemen. Pursuit was -immediately given, Napoleon hoping that he might yet be able to overtake -and defeat the English. In consequence of the state of the roads, from -the heavy rains, it was near four o’clock before the retreating column -reached the plain of Waterloo, and nearly seven before the troops were -in position on the rising ground in front of Mount St. Jean. - -That night the English bivouacked on the field they were to maintain in -the battle of the morrow. Between six and seven, Napoleon reached -Planchenois; and perceiving the enemy established in position, fixed his -head-quarters at the farm of Cailloux, and posted his followers on the -heights around La Belle Alliance. The reinforcements received by the -Duke of Wellington during the 16th and 17th, had raised his army to -seventy-five thousand men, who were supported by two hundred and fifty -pieces of cannon. Napoleon’s forces have been estimated at seventy -thousand men, and about two hundred and forty pieces of cannon; it must, -however, be borne in mind, that the Duke could not depend on the -Belgian, Nassau, and Hanoverian troops. - -“Never,” says Alison, “was a more melancholy night passed by soldiers -than that which followed the halt of the two armies in their respective -positions on the night of the 17th of June, 1815. - -“The whole of that day had been wet and cloudy; but towards evening the -rain fell in torrents, insomuch that, in traversing the road from -Quartre-Bras to Waterloo, the soldiers were often ankle deep in water. -When the troops arrived at their ground, the passage of the artillery, -horse, and wagons over the drenched surface had so completely cut it up, -that it was almost every where reduced to a state of mud, interspersed -in every hollow with large pools of water. Cheerless and dripping as was -the condition of the soldiers, who had to lie down for the night in such -a situation, it was preferable to that of those battalions who were -stationed in the rye-fields, where the grain was for the most part three -or four feet high, and soaking wet from top to bottom. The ground -occupied by the French soldiers was not less drenched and uncomfortable. -But how melancholy soever may have been their physical situation, not -one feeling of despondency pervaded the breasts either of the British or -French soldiers. Such was the interest of the moment, the magnitude of -the stake at issue, and the intensity of the feelings in either army, -that the soldiers were almost insensible to physical suffering. Every -man in both armies was aware that the retreat was stopped, and that a -decisive battle would be fought on the following day. The great contest -of two-and-twenty years’ duration was now to be brought to a final -issue: retreat after disaster would be difficult, if not impossible, to -the British army, through the narrow defile of the forest of Soignies: -overthrow was ruin to the French. The two great commanders, who had -severally overthrown every antagonist, were now for the first time to be -brought into collision; the conqueror of Europe was to measure swords -with the deliverer of Spain. Nor were sanguine hopes and the grounds of -well-founded confidence wanting to the troops of either army. The French -relied with reason on the extraordinary military talents of their chief, -on his long and glorious career, and on the unbroken series of triumphs -which had carried their standards to every capital in Europe. Nor had -recent disasters weakened this undoubting trust, for the men who now -stood side by side were almost all veterans tried in a hundred combats: -the English prisons had restored the conquerors of Continental Europe to -his standard, and for the first time since the Russian retreat, the -soldiers of Austerlitz and Wagram were again assembled round his eagles. -The British soldiers had not all the same mutual dependence from tried -experience, for a large part of them had never seen a shot fired in -battle. But they were not on that account the less confident. They -relied on the talent and firmness of their chief, who they knew, had -never been conquered, and whose resources the veterans in their ranks -told them would prove equal to any emergency. They looked back with -animated pride to the unbroken career of victory which had attended the -British arms since they first landed in Portugal, and anticipated the -keystone to their arch of fame from the approaching conflict with -Napoleon in person. They were sanguine as to the result; but, come what -may, they were resolute not to be conquered. Never were two armies of -such fame, under leaders of such renown, and animated by such heroic -feelings, brought into contact in modern Europe, and never were -interests so momentous at issue in the strife.” - -The field of Waterloo, rendered immortal by the battle which was fought -on the following day, extends about two miles in length from the old -chateau, walled garden, and inclosures of Hougoumont on the right, to -the extremity of the hedge of La Haye Sainte on the left. The great -_chaussee_ from Brussels to Charleroi runs through the centre of the -position, which is situated somewhat less than three quarters of a mile -to the south of the village of Waterloo, and three hundred yards in -front of the farm-house of Mount St. Jean. This road, after passing -through the centre of the British line, goes through La Belle Alliance -and the hamlet of Rossomme, where Napoleon spent the night. The position -occupied by the British army, followed very nearly the crest of a range -of gentle eminences, cutting the high road at right angles, two hundred -yards behind the farm-house of La Haye Sainte, which adjoins the -highway, and formed the centre of the position. An unpaved country road -ran along this great summit, forming nearly the line occupied by the -British troops, and which proved of great use in the course of the -battle. Their position had this great advantage, that the infantry could -rest on the reverse of the crest of the ridge, in a situation in great -measure screened from the fire of the French artillery; while their own -guns on the crest swept the whole slope, or natural glacis, which -descended to the valley in their front. The French army occupied a -corresponding line of ridges, nearly parallel, on the opposite side of -the valley, stretching on either side of the hamlet of La Belle -Alliance. The summit of these ridges afforded a splendid position for -the French artillery to fire upon the English guns; but their attacking -columns, in descending the one hill and mounting the other, would of -necessity he exposed to a very severe cannonade from the opposite -batteries. The French army had an open country to retreat over in case -of disaster; while the British, if defeated, would in all probability -lose their whole artillery in the defiles of the forest of Soignies, -although the intricacies of that wood afforded an admirable defensive -position for a broken array of foot soldiers. The French right rested on -the village of Planchenois, which is of considerable extent, and -afforded a very strong defensive position to resist the Prussians, in -case they should so far recover from the disaster of the preceding day -as to be able to assume offensive operations and menace the extreme -French right. - -This is an admirable picture of the position and condition of the -respective armies which were to decide the fate of Europe. It could not -be improved. - -The farm-house of Cailloux, in which the Emperor was busy with his maps -and plans, and surrounded by his celebrated marshals, was surrounded -with the meagre fires which the guard had kindled; but the rain -frequently extinguished them and drove many of the veterans to seek the -shelter of sheds. - -Napoleon displayed all his usual activity and dispatch. He dictated -orders to be conveyed to the different commanders of columns with the -rapidity of lightning. Every body near him was kept in a state of -feverish excitement, except the calm and steady Soult, whom it seemed -impossible to move. There, too, was the stalwart Ney, whom the storms of -battle could not even scar—ready for any duty, no matter how hopeless -the performance. There also was the brave but reckless Jerome, who was -destined to earn a high fame on the morrow. Berthier, who had so long -been a fixture by the side of Napoleon, was not there, he had deserted -the man from whose glory he had borrowed beams. But there was Maret, -Bertrand, the steady Drouot, of the Old Guard, Gorgaud and Labedoyere—a -galaxy of bravery and talent—such as was wont to surround the Emperor. -All were busy noting down instructions, and replying to the swift -questions of the tireless man whom they obeyed. Without, the rain was -heard dripping incessantly. Drouot let fall an expression of opinion -that, in consequence of the deluge, the ground would be impracticable -for artillery. - -“We shall see, it is not yet morning,” replied the Emperor. Then he -leaned his head upon his hand, and thought—perhaps in the way of -presentiment of disaster—but no expression of apprehension escaped his -lips. Grouchy would keep Blucher in check, and Wellington would be -crushed. Fortune might yet be favorable. But the heavens had quenched -the last camp-fire of Napoleon. - -About ten o’clock at night, Napoleon sent a dispatch to Grouchy, to -announce that the Anglo-Belgian army had taken post in advance of the -forest of Soignes, with its left resting on the hamlets of La Haye and -Ohain, where Wellington seemed determined on the next day to give -battle; Grouchy was, therefore, required to detach from his corps, about -two hours before daybreak, a division of seven thousand men, and sixteen -pieces of artillery, with orders to proceed to St. Lambert; and, after -putting themselves in communication with the right of the grand army, to -operate on the left of the British. - -Meanwhile, the Duke of Wellington being in communication with Blucher, -was promised by him that the Prussian army should advance to support the -British on the morning of the 18th. - -The rain, which had not ceased during the night, cleared off about five -o’clock in the morning; and at eight it was reported by the officers who -had been sent to inspect the field, that the ground was practicable for -artillery. The Emperor instantly mounted his horse, and rode forward -towards La Haye Sainte, to reconnoitre the British fine. - -By half-past ten o’clock the two armies were arrayed, and impatient for -orders to commence the battle. The Emperor proceeded to the heights of -Rosomme, where he dismounted to obtain a clear view of the whole field; -and there stationed his guard, as a reserve, to act where emergency -might require. Meanwhile, the English remained silent and steady, -waiting the commands of their chief; who, with telescope in hand, stood -beneath a tree, near the cross-road, in front of his position, watching -the movements of his opponents. - -The village clock of Nivelles was striking eleven when the first gun was -fired from the French centre. Then followed a tremendous rattle of -musketry, as the brave Jerome led the column on the left to the attack -on Hougomont, and drove the Nassau troops before him. The chateau and -gardens, however, were bravely defended by a division of English guards, -who were not to be dislodged. The fight, raged here more or less during -the day, till at length the chateau was set on fire by the shells of the -French, and it was found necessary to abandon it. - -Napoleon, who was anxiously watching the first movement of his troops, -was interrupted by an aid-de-camp, sent by Ney, who had been charged to -attack the enemy’s centre, arriving at full gallop to announce that -every thing was in readiness, and the marshal only waiting the signal to -attack. For a moment the Emperor glanced round the field, and perceived -in the direction of St. Lambert, a moving cloud advancing on the left of -the English: pointing it out to Soult, he asked whether he conceived it -to be Grouchy or Blucher? The marshal being in doubt, Generals Domont -and Subervie were dispatched with their divisions of light cavalry, with -orders to clear the way in the event of its being Grouchy, and if -Blucher, to keep him in check. - -Ney was then ordered to march to the attack of La Haye Sainte; after -taking that post with the bayonet, and leaving a division of infantry, -he was to proceed to the farms of Papelotte and La Haye, and place his -troops between those of Wellington and Bulow. With his usual -promptitude, the Prince of the Moskowa had in a few moments opened a -battery of eighty cannon upon the left centre of the English line. The -havoc occasioned by this deadly fire was so immense, that Wellington was -obliged to draw back his men to the reverse slope of the hill on which -they had stood, in order to screen them from its effects. The Count -d’Erlon, under cover of the fire, advanced along the Genappe road; but -as they ascended the position of La Haye Sainte, the Duke of Wellington -directed against them a charge of cavalry, which speedily drove one -column back into the hollow. - -The English guards were in turn repulsed by a brigade of Milhaud’s -cuirassiers, and galloping onwards, attacked the infantry; the horsemen -not being able to make an impression on the squares formed for their -reception, while they were themselves exposed to an incessant fire of -musketry. One of D’Erlon’s unbroken columns pushed forward, meanwhile, -beyond La Haye Sainte, upon which it made no attack, and charging one -Belgian and three Dutch regiments, drove them from their posts in -disorder, and took possession of the heights. Sir Thomas Picton was now -sent to dislodge the enemy, and being supported by a brigade of heavy -cavalry, the French, after firing a volley, paused, wheeled, and fled in -confusion. Many were cut down by the guards; while seven guns, two -eagles, and about two thousand prisoners were taken. The British, -however, pursued their success too far; and becoming involved among the -infantry, were attacked by a body of cuirassiers, in their turn broken, -and forced to retire with great loss. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Page 444.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -Although for the time, Ney was deprived of his artillery, he continued -to advance upon La Haye Sainte. For three hours, this important -position, and the part of the field which it commanded, was hotly -contested by both parties, the hill being now held by the English, and -now by the French. The contest, which shortly extended itself along the -whole front of the British line, became of the most desperate character. -Whole battalions fell as they stood in line; and the cries and groans of -the wounded and dying were heard even above the incessant roll of the -musketry, and the thunder of the artillery. - -Napoleon, who had returned to the rising ground to watch the progress of -the battle, fancying he beheld indications of the enemy’s retreat, -ordered Kellerman to advance with all his cuirassiers immediately, to -support the cavalry between Mount St. Jean and La Haye Sainte. The -dragoons galloping forward, drove the English from their guns, and -furiously charged the squares of infantry behind. Notwithstanding the -deadly shower which thinned their ranks, the cuirassiers appeared -determined to succeed in their purpose; and returned again and again, -riding round the squares, and penetrating even to the second British -line; the infantry, however, was immovable: and after sustaining -frightful carnage, the cuirassiers were compelled to retire. The -conflict now rather abated, until near six o’clock, and the chiefs of -each army were anxiously expecting reinforcements. Domont, Lobau, and -Subervic had effectually checked Bulow on the French right; but there -was no sign of Grouchy making his appearance, and it was soon discovered -that Blucher had come up with the main body of his army, and that the -French opposed to him could not long maintain their ground. News was -received from Grouchy, that instead of leaving Gembloux at day-break, -according to his previously stated intentions, he had delayed there till -half-past nine, and then pursued the road to Wavres, being unacquainted -with the Emperor’s engagement at Waterloo. The crisis of the battle now -approached, and Napoleon saw that nothing but the most consummate skill -and desperate valor could save his army from ruin. His preparations -were, therefore, commenced for the final struggle. A series of -movements, changing the whole front of his army, so as to face both -Prussians and English, was the result of his first orders. Napoleon next -formed the infantry of the Imperial Guard, which had not yet been -brought into action, at the foot of the position of La Belle Alliance, -into two columns, and led them forward in person, to a ravine which -crossed the Genappe road, in front of the British lines. Here he -relinquished the command to Ney, at the entreaty of his officers; the -Marshal, who had had five horses shot under him during the day, advanced -on foot. A heavy discharge of artillery announced that they were in -motion; the British guns soon commenced a most destructive firing on the -troops, which committed dreadful havoc. Although their numbers were -thinned at every step, the guards continued to advance, and soon gained -the rising ground of Mount St. Jean, where the English awaited their -assault. The French hands played the Imperial march, and the troops -rushed on with loud shouts of “_Vive l’Empereur!_” The Belgian, Dutch, -and Brunswick troops gave way instantly, and the Duke of Wellington was -compelled to rally them in person. Before the Imperial Guard could -deploy, he gave the word for the British infantry to advance; the men, -who had been lying prostrate on the hill, or resting on their arms on -the slope, sprang forward, and closing around Ney, and his gallant -followers, poured into their ranks a continuous stream of bullets. The -guard attempting to deploy, were thrown into confusion, and rushed in a -crowd to the hollow road in front of La Haye Sainte, whence they were -speedily driven. In this desperate charge, Ney’s uniform and hat were -riddled with balls. In the meantime, Blucher had pressed forward, and -driven the few French from the hamlet of La Haye; and his advanced guard -already communicated with the British left. Bulow, who had been repulsed -from Planchenois, but was now reinforced, was again advancing. -Wellington, having assumed the offensive, was advancing at the head of -his whole army. It already grew dusk; the French had every where given -way: the guard, never before vanquished, had been routed by the stern -troops of Britain; and night brought with it terror and despair. It -having been reported that the Old Guard had yielded, a panic suddenly -spread throughout the French lines, and the fatal cry of “_Sauve qui -peut!_” was raised, and becoming universal discipline and courage were -forgotten, and a wild flight ensued. The cavalry and artillery of the -English and Prussians now scattered death on all sides. The vengeance of -the latter was unsatiated, and these scoured the field, making fearful -carnage, and giving no quarter. The Old Guard was yet unbroken, and -Napoleon lingered on the ground. Prince Jerome, who had fought bravely -throughout the day, urged him to an act of desperation. “Here, brother,” -said he, “all who bear the name of Bonaparte should fall!” Napoleon, who -was on foot, mounted his horse, but his soldiers would not listen to any -proposal involving his death: and at length, an aid-de-camp seizing his -bridle, led him at a gallop from the field. He arrived at Genappe -shortly before ten o’clock at night, where he again attempted to rally; -but the confusion was so great as to be utterly irremediable. - -The pursuit of the French was continued far into the night by the -Prussians. Nine times, the wearied fugitives halted, kindled fires and -prepared to bivouac. Nine times they were startled by the dreadful sound -of the Prussian trumpet, and obliged to continue their flight. The star -that had arisen at Toulon, and shone resplendent over Lodi, Marengo, -Jena, Wagram, Borodino, and a throng of other sanguinary fields—had sunk -forever. It is painful to trace the career of fallen greatness. We will -not follow the Emperor, shorn of his purple, to his prison at St. -Helena, where a deadly climate did the work that the leaden storms of a -hundred fights had refused to perform. We will not go to that bed of -death, from which, while the elements were at terrible war, that stormy -spirit was carried away. Leave Hannibal at Zama, and Napoleon at -Waterloo. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: DEATH OF NAPOLEON. Page 448.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Transcriber’s Note - -Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and -are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original. - -Places names may appear variously, due probably to local pronunciations, -such as ‘Malo-Yaroslavetz’ and ‘Malo-Yaroslawetz’. - -On p. 80, the Tyrol capital of Innsbruck is referred to as ‘Innspruck’, -which is the local pronunciation. This may or may not be an error, and -has been retained. On p. 187 and p. 193, the place name ‘Naumburg’ is -spelled ‘Naumberg’. These have been corrected for the sake of -consistency. - -There is a single footnote (renamed ‘A’) on p. 117. It has been -repositioned to directly follow the paragraph where it is referenced. - -In the table of illustrations, the page reference for “NAPOLEON AT JENA” -is incorrectly printed as ‘136’. The correct position is p. 186. - -On p. 287, the quoted passage from ‘Travels in Moravia’ has no closing -quotation mark, and no reasonable assumption can be made. - - - 21.2 to which these war-worn veterans were Removed. - unacc[c]ustomed. - - 31.18 “Colli is then effectually crippled,” said Added. - Bonaparte[.] - - 56.25 supported by a regiment of ca[l]valry Removed. - - 75.2 leaving the watch-fire to smou[dl/ld]er Transposed. - - 80.8 advanced his head-quarter to [Innspruck]. _sic_ - - 83.23 ‘Soldiers of the Rhine![”/’] exclaimed Replaced. - Bernadotte, - - 83.28 sat next to Bessieres.[” Our/ “Our] soldiers Replaced. - - 84.3 like a flock of sheep.[”] Added. - - 97.16 the humble submission of the [Shieks] _sic_ - - 106.11 I designed to attemp[t] the surprise, Added. - - 113.2 left Alexandria on the 6th Thermidor, (July Added. - 24th.[)] - - 114.1 He ordered General Des[s]taing, with some Redundant. - battalions - - 136.1 [v]alley of the Sesia Replaced. - - 145.30 said he, to his aid-de[-]camp Inserted. - - 150.12 You, and Rapp, are faithful aids.[”] Added. - - 153.23 [H/N]egotiations for a capitulation were Replaced. - commenced - - 155.3 he wrote a rema[r]kable letter Added. - - 181.5 Prince John of Li[t]chtenstein Removed. - - 187.8 along the bottom of the Mu[lh/hl]thal Transposed. - - 187.20 to Naumb[e/u]rg Replaced. - - 187.30 the appellation of the _Schneeke_ (snail.) _sic_: - Schnecke - - 193.15 to guard strictly the bridge of Naumb[e/u]rg Replaced. - - 202.12 gain possession of the village of Inserted. - Vierz[e]hn-Heiligen - - 202.31 the village of Vierz[he/eh]n-Heiligen Transposed. - - 207.30 while ru[u/n]ning through the streets Inverted. - - 216.3 they m[o/a]nœuvred with the utmost order Replaced. - - 243.11 his right to Konigsb[u/e]rg Replaced. - - 250.3 Napoleon had his dispositions writt[t]en down Removed. - - 341.9 another pressing demand for [“]the guard Removed. - - 354.2 There was the silence of the desert.[”] Added. - - 364.18 and then rode forward to Ma[h/l]o-Yaroslavetz Replaced. - - 371.1 THE CAMP-FIRE IN TH[H/E] SNOW. Replaced - - 375.9 and the motionless erectness[s] of their black Removed. - trunks! - - 385.22 amid the shouts, impre[c]ations, and groans Restored. - - 447.4 and the troops ru[c/s]hed on with loud shouts Replaced. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Camp-fires of Napoleon, by Henry C. Watson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMP-FIRES OF NAPOLEON *** - -***** This file should be named 55131-0.txt or 55131-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/1/3/55131/ - -Produced by KD Weeks, Brian Coe and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. 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: 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/old/55131-0.zip b/old/55131-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index cda3768..0000000 --- a/old/55131-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h.zip b/old/55131-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1d63e7d..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/55131-h.htm b/old/55131-h/55131-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index bbda038..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/55131-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,15229 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> - <title>The Campfires of Napoleon, by Henry C. Watson</title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - body { margin-left: 8%; margin-right: 10%; } - h1 { text-align: center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.4em; } - h2 { text-align: center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.2em; } - .pageno { right: 1%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; color: silver; - text-indent: 0em; text-align: right; position: absolute; - border: thin solid silver; padding: .1em .2em; font-style: normal; - font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; } - p { text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: justify; } - sup { vertical-align: top; font-size: 0.6em; } - .sc { font-variant: small-caps; } - .large { font-size: large; } - .xlarge { font-size: x-large; } - .small { font-size: small; } - .lg-container-b { text-align: center; } - @media handheld { .lg-container-b { clear: both; } } - .linegroup { display: inline-block; text-align: left; } - @media handheld { .linegroup { display: block; margin-left: 1.5em; } } - .linegroup .group { margin: 1em auto; } - .linegroup .line { text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em; } - div.linegroup > :first-child { margin-top: 0; } - em.gesperrt { font-style: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; margin-right: -0.2em; } - @media handheld { em.gesperrt { font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0; - margin-right: 0;} } - div.footnote > :first-child { margin-top: 1em; } - div.footnote p { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: 0.0em; margin-bottom: 0.0em; } - div.pbb { page-break-before: always; } - hr.pb { border: none; border-bottom: thin solid; margin-bottom: 1em; } - @media handheld { hr.pb { display: none; } } - .chapter { clear: both; page-break-before: always; } - .figcenter { clear: both; max-width: 100%; margin: 2em auto; text-align: center; } - .figleft { clear: left; float: left; max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em 1em 1em 0; - text-align: left; } - div.figcenter p { text-align: center; text-indent: 0; } - @media handheld { .figleft { float: left; } } - .figcenter img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } - .figleft img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } - .id001 { width:60%; } - .id002 { width:550px; } - .id003 { width:361px; } - .id004 { width:500px; } - .id005 { width:450px; } - .id006 { width:300px; } - .id007 { width:200px; } - .id008 { width:500px; } - .id009 { width:175px; } - .id010 { width:338px; } - .id011 { width:350px; } - .id012 { width:200px; } - .id013 { width:450px; } - .id014 { width:300px; } - .id015 { width:150px; } - .id016 { width:395px; } - .id017 { width:200px; } - .id018 { width:250px; } - .id019 { width:250px; } - .id020 { width:200px; } - .id021 { width:384px; } - .id022 { width:437px; } - .id023 { width:294px; } - .id024 { width:259px; } - .id025 { width:348px; } - .id026 { width:433px; } - .id027 { width:400px; } - .id028 { width:244px; } - .id029 { width:250px; } - .id030 { width:208px; } - .id031 { width:300px; } - .id032 { width:334px; } - .id033 { width:413px; } - .id034 { width:400px; } - .id035 { width:377px; } - .id036 { width:375px; } - .id037 { width:175px; } - .id038 { width:450px; } - .id039 { width:250px; } - .id040 { width:225px; } - .id041 { width:430px; } - .id042 { width:175px; } - .id043 { width:500%; } - .id044 { width:300px; } - .id045 { width:417px; } - @media handheld { .id001 { margin-left:20%; width:60%; } } - @media handheld { .id002 { margin-left:0%; width:100%; } } - @media handheld { .id003 { margin-left:17%; width:65%; } } - @media handheld { .id004 { margin-left:5%; width:90%; } } - @media handheld { .id005 { margin-left:5%; width:90%; } } - @media handheld { .id006 { margin-left:20%; width:60%; } } - @media handheld { .id007 { margin-left:35%; width:30%; } } - @media handheld { .id008 { margin-left:10%; width:80%; } } - @media handheld { .id009 { margin-left:35%; width:30%; } } - @media handheld { .id010 { margin-left:16%; width:67%; } } - @media handheld { .id011 { margin-left:20%; width:60%; } } - @media handheld { .id012 { width:25%; } } - @media handheld { .id013 { margin-left:10%; width:80%; } } - @media handheld { .id014 { width:33%; } } - @media handheld { .id015 { width:20%; } } - @media handheld { .id016 { margin-left:16%; width:67%; } } - @media handheld { .id017 { width:33%; } } - @media handheld { .id018 { margin-left:30%; width:40%; } } - @media handheld { .id019 { width:33%; } } - @media handheld { .id020 { width:30%; } } - @media handheld { .id021 { margin-left:12%; width:75%; } } - @media handheld { .id022 { margin-left:12%; width:75%; } } - @media handheld { .id023 { margin-left:20%; width:60%; } } - @media handheld { .id024 { width:25%; } } - @media handheld { .id025 { margin-left:16%; width:67%; } } - @media handheld { .id026 { margin-left:10%; width:80%; } } - @media handheld { .id027 { margin-left:12%; width:75%; } } - @media handheld { .id028 { margin-left:35%; width:30%; } } - @media handheld { .id029 { margin-left:25%; width:50%; } } - @media handheld { .id030 { margin-left:30%; width:40%; } } - @media handheld { .id031 { width:40%; } } - @media handheld { .id032 { margin-left:20%; width:60%; } } - @media handheld { .id033 { margin-left:10%; width:80%; } } - @media handheld { .id034 { margin-left:10%; width:80%; } } - @media handheld { .id035 { margin-left:16%; width:67%; } } - @media handheld { .id036 { margin-left:20%; width:60%; } } - @media handheld { .id037 { width:20%; } } - @media handheld { .id038 { margin-left:7%; width:85%; } } - @media handheld { .id039 { width:40%; } } - @media handheld { .id040 { width:33%; } } - @media handheld { .id041 { margin-left:5%; width:90%; } } - @media handheld { .id042 { width:25%; } } - @media handheld { .id043 { margin-left:5%; width:90%; } } - @media handheld { .id044 { margin-left:5%; width:90%; } } - @media handheld { .id045 { margin-left:15%; width:70%; } } - .ic002 { width:100%; } - .ic010 { width:120%; margin-left:-10%; margin-right:-10%; } - .ig001 { width:100%; } - .table0 { margin: auto; margin-top: 2em; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; - width: 100%; } - .table1 { margin: auto; margin-top: 2em; width: 90%; } - .nf-center { text-align: center; } - .nf-center-c0 { text-align: left; margin: 0.5em 0; } - img.drop-capi { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; position: relative; z-index: 1; } - p.drop-capi0_7 { text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0.0em; margin-bottom: 0.0em; } - p.drop-capi0_8 { text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0.0em; margin-bottom: 0.0em; } - p.drop-capi1_1 { text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0.0em; margin-bottom: 0.0em; } - p.drop-capi1_3 { text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0.0em; margin-bottom: 0.0em; } - p.drop-capi0_7:first-letter { color: transparent; visibility: hidden; - margin-left: -0.7em; } - p.drop-capi0_8:first-letter { color: transparent; visibility: hidden; - margin-left: -0.8em; } - p.drop-capi1_1:first-letter { color: transparent; visibility: hidden; - margin-left: -1.1em; } - p.drop-capi1_3:first-letter { color: transparent; visibility: hidden; - margin-left: -1.3em; } - @media handheld { - img.drop-capi { display: none; visibility: hidden; } - p.drop-capi0_7:first-letter { color: inherit; visibility: visible; - margin-left: 0em; } - p.drop-capi0_8:first-letter { color: inherit; visibility: visible; - margin-left: 0em; } - p.drop-capi1_1:first-letter { color: inherit; visibility: visible; - margin-left: 0em; } - p.drop-capi1_3:first-letter { color: inherit; visibility: visible; - margin-left: 0em; } - } - .c000 { margin-top: 1em; } - .c001 { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: 0.0em; margin-bottom: 0.0em; } - .c002 { page-break-before: always; margin-top: 1em; } - .c003 { margin-top: 2em; } - .c004 { border: none; border-bottom: thin solid; margin-top: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 5%; width: 90%; margin-right: 5%; } - .c005 { page-break-before:auto; margin-top: 4em; } - .c006 { margin-top: 2em; text-indent: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.0em; } - .c007 { margin-top: 4em; } - .c008 { vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding-right: 1em; } - .c009 { vertical-align: top; text-align: right; } - .c010 { vertical-align: top; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1em; - padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; } - .c011 { margin-top: 1em; font-size: 95%; } - .c012 { margin-top: 1em; text-indent: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.0em; } - .c013 { page-break-before:auto; margin-top: 2em; } - .c014 { text-decoration: none; } - .c015 { border: none; border-bottom: thin solid; width: 10%; margin-left: 0; - margin-top: 1em; text-align: left; } - .c016 { margin-right: 5.56%; text-align: right; } - .c017 { vertical-align: top; text-align: left; } - h2 { font-family: "Castellar Regular", sans-serif; } - a:link { text-decoration: none; } - div.tnotes { padding-left:1em; padding-right:1em;background-color:#E3E4FA; - border:1px solid silver; margin:1em 5% 0 5%; text-align: justify; } - .blackletter { font-family: "Old English Text MT", Gothic, serif; } - .epubonly {visibility: hidden; display: none; } - @media handheld { .epubonly { visibility: visible; display: inline; } } - .htmlonly {visibility: visible; display: inline; } - @media handheld { .htmlonly { visibility: hidden; display: none; } } - .column-container { margin: auto; clear: both; } - .left { display: inline-block; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; - width:49%; } - .right { display: inline-block; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; width:49%; - } - .sigleft { display: inline-block; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; - width:34%; } - .sigright { display: inline-block; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; - width:64%; } - ins.correction { text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray; } - .quote { font-size: 95%; margin-top: 1.0em; margin-bottom: 1.0em; } - .linegroup .group { margin: 0em auto; } - </style> - </head> - <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Camp-fires of Napoleon, by Henry C. Watson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Camp-fires of Napoleon - Comprising The Most Brilliant Achievemnents of the Emperor - and His Marshals - -Author: Henry C. Watson - -Release Date: July 17, 2017 [EBook #55131] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMP-FIRES OF NAPOLEON *** - - - - -Produced by KD Weeks, Brian Coe and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='tnotes'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Transcriber’s Note:</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>Footnotes have been collected at the end of each chapter, and are -linked for ease of reference.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Not all illustrations are mentioned in the table of ‘Embellishments’. -Most chapters include both a illustration above the chapter head, and -a trailing caption at the end. With a few exceptions the heading -illustrations have no captions.</p> - -<div class='htmlonly'> - -<p class='c001'>Illustrations which refer in their captions to a facing page have -been positioned to precede that page. These were not included in the -pagination. Others, also mentioned in the table, have been moved -slightly to fall on paragraph breaks. While these were included in -the pagination, no page numbers were printed, and -are skipped here as well.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Any corrections are indicated using an <ins class='correction' title='original'>underline</ins> -highlight. Placing the cursor over the correction will produce the -original text in a small popup.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='epubonly'> - -<p class='c001'>Illustrations which refer in their captions to a facing page have -been positioned to precede that page. These were not included in the -pagination. Others, also mentioned in the table, have been moved -slightly to fall on paragraph breaks.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Each chapter included a smaller 'drop-cap' illustration incorporating -the first few letters of the text. These are not presented here.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please -see the transcriber’s <a href='#endnote'>note</a> at the end of this text -for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered -during its preparation.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Any corrections are indicated as hyperlinks, which will navigate the -reader to the corresponding entry in the corrections tale in the -note at the end of the text.</p> - -</div> - -</div> - -<div id='frontis' class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/frontispiece.jpg' alt='NAPOLEON CROSSING THE ALPS' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON CROSSING THE ALPS.<br />Frontispiece.</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id='title' class='figcenter id003'> -<img src='images/frontispiece_2.jpg' alt='CAMP FIRES OF NAPOLEON' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h1 class='c002'><span class='small'>THE</span> <br /> <span class='large'>CAMP-FIRES</span> <br /><span class='small'>OF</span><br /><span class='xlarge'><em class='gesperrt'>NAPOLEON</em></span>:<br /><span class='small'>COMPRISING</span><br /> THE MOST BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS<br /><span class='small'>OF THE</span><br /> EMPEROR AND HIS MARSHALS.</h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div>BY HENRY C. WATSON.</div> - <div class='c003'>PHILADELPHIA:</div> - <div>H. C. PECK & THEO. BLISS.</div> - <div>1867.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c004' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='sc'>Entered</span> According to the Act of Congress, in the year 1854,</div> - <div class='c000'><span class='large'>BY H. C. PECK & THEO. BLISS,</span></div> - <div class='c000'>In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of</div> - <div>Pennsylvania.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='c004' /> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_v'>v</span> -<img src='images/i_a_v.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>PREFACE.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_a_v_preface.jpg' width='175' height='171' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -The vivid pictures of war, however -ensanguined, have a wonderful attraction -for the mass of men. They -stir the heart like a trumpet. No -narratives are so generally perused -with avidity as those of “feats of -broils and battles;” for in them, in -spite of many disgusting features, -there is always something to excite a pleasing thrill. We -love excitement, and it seems that it is to war, and the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_vi'>vi</span>descriptions of its varied scenes of danger, during which the -faculties of the combatants are roused to extraordinary -strength, that most look for the gratification of their natural -desires. We have heard of many persons who, in the abstract, -condemn all wars as brutal and degrading to humanity, -peruse, with unwearied attention, narratives of the campaigns -of great generals, and dwell upon their details with -evident manifestations of delight. The passion is irresistible.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In this work, the author has endeavored to present to the -mental eye, more vividly than the so-termed dignity of ordinary -history permits, the most striking scenes and remarkable -personages of Napoleon’s astonishing career of glory—to -show the greatest warrior of any age in the field, and at the -nightly bivouacs—upon the fertile plains of Piedmont—in -the shadow of the Egyptian pyramids—amid the forests -of Germany, and on the frozen plains of Russia—surrounded -by his galaxy of splendid generals, his military family—to -illustrate a passage in the history of Europe, which, for -stirring scenes and powerful characters, has, perhaps, no -parallel. From the camp-fire at Toulon, where the young -lieutenant of artillery gave the first impression of his wonderful -genius, till the terrible night of darkness and death following -the battle of Waterloo, the career of Napoleon is -traced by his bivouacs; and around each watch-fire is grouped -the incidents of the conflicts which there occurred. The -salient points in the life of the great warrior are, therefore, -illumined, so as to fix them in the memory.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Who can know the incidents of that career of glory without -astonishment? We find a genius, under the smile of fortune, -rising from the ranks of the people to the summit of despotic -power—surpassing the generalship of Hannibal—the statesmanship -of Cæsar, and performing exploits, which, before -his time, were placed among the impossible. There is imperishable -interest attached to every event in the life of such -<span class='pageno' id='Page_vii'>vii</span>a character; and, therefore, no work which honestly aims to -illustrate them can be considered superfluous.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It is hoped that the numerous engravings will add to the -attractions of the book, and render its word-pictures clearer -and more perfect to the mind. Their value is so well established, -that the time is approaching when few historical -works will be published without such illustrations.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id005'> -<img src='images/i_a_vii.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='figcenter id006'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_ix'>ix</span> -<img src='images/i_a_ix.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>CONTENTS.</h2> -</div> - -<table class='table0' summary=''> -<colgroup> -<col width='84%' /> -<col width='15%' /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF TOULON,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i013'>13</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF MONTE-NOTTE,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i019'>19</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF MONDOVI,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i026'>26</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF THE BRIDGE OF LODI,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i037'>37</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF CASTIGLIONE,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i046'>46</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF ARCOLA,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i058'>58</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF RIVOLI,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i069'>69</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF THE ALPS,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i079'>79</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF THE NILE,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i089'>89</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF MOUNT TABOR,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i098'>98</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF ABOUKIR,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i110'>110</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF THE VALLEY OF AOSTA,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i121'>121</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF MARENGO,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i139'>139</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF ULM,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i156'>156</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF AUSTERLITZ,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i163'>163</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_x'>x</span>CAMP-FIRE OF PALENY,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i180'>180</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF JENA,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i186'>186</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF THE NAREW,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i210'>210</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF EYLAU,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i218'>218</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF FRIEDLAND,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i239'>239</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF MADRID,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i260'>260</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF RATISBON,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i266'>266</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRES OF ASPERN AND ESSLING,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i275'>275</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF WAGRAM,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i282'>282</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF NIEMEN,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i291'>291</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF WITEPSK,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i298'>298</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF SMOLENSKO,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i305'>305</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF WIASMA,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i317'>317</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF BORODINO,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i326'>326</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF MOSCOW,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i348'>348</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF MALO-YAROSLAVETZ,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i362'>362</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE IN THE SNOW,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i371'>371</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE AT KRASNOE,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i389'>389</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF BORYSTHENES,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i397'>397</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>THE LAST CAMP-FIRES IN RUSSIA,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i404'>404</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF LUTZEN,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i413'>413</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF BAUTZEN,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i417'>417</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF MONTEREAU,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i421'>421</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF ARCIS,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i427'>427</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'>CAMP-FIRE OF WATERLOO.</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i434'>434</a></td> - </tr> -</table> -<div class='figcenter id007'> -<img src='images/i_a_x.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='figcenter id008'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xi'>xi</span> -<img src='images/i_a_xi.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>LIST OF PRINCIPAL EMBELLISHMENTS.</h2> -</div> - -<table class='table0' summary=''> -<colgroup> -<col width='78%' /> -<col width='21%' /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON CROSSING THE ALPS,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#frontis'><span class='sc'>Frontispiece</span></a>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT EYLAU,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#title'><span class='sc'>Title</span></a>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>BATTERY OF THE MEN WITHOUT FEAR,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i013fp'>13</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>BATTLE OF MONTE-NOTTE,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i019fp'>19</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>MARSHAL MURAT,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i033'>33</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON INFORMED OF HIS ELECTION AS CORPORAL,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i043'>42</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON AT THE BRIDGE OF ARCOLA,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i058fp'>58</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON’S ARRIVAL IN EGYPT,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i089fp'>89</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON AT THE PYRAMIDS,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i092'>93</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i094fp'>94</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON ENTERING CAIRO,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i097fp'>97</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON AT MOUNT TABOR,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i098fp'>98</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>MARSHAL JUNOT,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i101'>101</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON AT ACRE,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i106fp'>105</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>BONAPARTE AS FIRST CONSUL,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i133'>133</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xii'>xii</span>THE CAMP-FIRE AT ULM,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i159fp'>159</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON AT JENA,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i186fp'>186</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>CAMP SCENE ON THE EVENING BEFORE THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i171fp'>171</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i177fp'>177</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE NAREW,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i214fp'>214</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT FRIEDLAND,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i258fp'>258</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>MARSHAL LANNES,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i269'>269</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>BATTLE OF ESSLING,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i275fp'>275</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON AT WIASMA,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i317fp'>317</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON AT KRASNOE,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i389fp'>389</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>NAPOLEON AT MONTEREAU,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i421fp'>421</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>BATTLE OF WATERLOO,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i434fp'>434</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON,</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i444fp'>444</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c010'>DEATH OF NAPOLEON.</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#i448fp'>448</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<div class='figcenter id009'> -<img src='images/i_a_xii.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i013fp' class='figcenter id010'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xiv'>xiv</span> -<img src='images/i_b_013fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic010'> -<p>BATTERY OF THE MEN WITHOUT FEAR. Page 13.</p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i013' class='figcenter id011'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span> -<img src='images/i_b_013.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT TOULON.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='figleft id012'> -<img src='images/i_b_013_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_013_2.jpg' width='50' height='88' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_7'> -It was the night of the -19th of December, -1793. A sky of -darkness, unbroken -by the twinkling of -a single star, arched over -the town and harbor of -Toulon. But on the rugged -heights of Balagrier and -L’Equillette, where the English -had vainly constructed their “Little Gibraltar,” -the watch-fires of the French beseigers were redly -<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>burning; sending up showers of sparks, which looked -like rising stars against the intense blackness of the -heavens. It was the 19th of December, and the fate -of Toulon, which for four months had lingered in the -balance, was decided. Britons, Spaniards, Neapolitans -and French—a garrison of the enemies of the republic—had -fought in vain. The “Little Gibraltar,” which -commanded the town and harbor was in the hands of -the French; their troops were even forcing their way -into the town, and consternation had seized those who -dared to oppose the decrees of the Committee of Safety, -as well as those who had so promptly tendered them -aid. The evacuation of Toulon had been hurriedly resolved; -and now, as the red gleam of the watch-fires -and the blaze of the thundering artillery shone upon -the dark waters of the bay, crowds of trembling people -could be seen embarking in vessels of all kinds, glad -to avail themselves of the protection of the English -fleet, to escape the bloody revenge of the triumphant -republicans.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The batteries of the “Little Gibraltar,” were already -sending a shower of death upon the hostile fleet in the -roadstead. On a rock, by a small blazing fire, and just -above a battery, a form could be dimly seen through -the smoke of the guns, which was destined to rise as a -terrible image before the eyes of Europe, as it stood -now, the conqueror of the foes of France, at Toulon. It -was a slender form, on which the costume of a commandant -of artillery hung loosely. But the inexorable -resolution of the pale face, and the keen, quick flashes -of the eagle eyes, caused those who gazed to forget all -<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>but awe and wonder before this genius of war. Occasionally, -between the reports of the heavy guns, could -be heard the shrill voice of command, which none refused -to obey—it would be obeyed. Those eyes had -seen where to strike, and that voice had commanded, -the blow which brought Toulon to the feet of the republic. -The commander was Napoleon Bonaparte, the -young Corsican—the pet of Paoli—the child cradled -amid the civil wars of his native island—who had made -the cannon his toy—and who had been educated to war -at the military school of Brienne. A subordinate, he -had compelled his superior officers to bow before the -oracles of his genius. One after another they had -yielded, till the last, General Dugommier, a brave old -warrior, acknowledged his artillery officer as the conqueror -of Toulon.</p> - -<p class='c001'>That was a proud moment for the young Napoleon. -He knew that the triumph was secured, and that to him, -alone, it was due; for his plan had prevailed against -the ignorant and imbecile schemes of the republic’s -generals, and his devices for rousing an irresistible enthusiasm -in the troops,—such as naming a battery -in a desperate position, the battery “<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>des hommes sans -peur</em></span>” had rendered the execution of that plan complete. -And now the enemy were preparing for flight—precipitate -flight.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“A cooler aim—cut down a flag, brave Junot!” -commands the shrill voice, amid the thunder of the -guns, and the dusky, slovenly looking artillery man on -the right of the battery, fronting Napoleon, steadily -watches for a moment when the red glare shall show -<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>him a portion of the fleet in the roadstead. A glimpse -of the cross of St. George! Loud thunders the gun, -and at the next vivid glare, the flag falls; and amid the -roar of the storm of death rises the cheer of the artillery -men.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Well done, Junot!” exclaimed the shrill voice. The -slovenly man who brought down the cross of St. George -was Andoche Junot, afterwards Marshal of France and -Duke d’Abrantes, whose cool courage had more than -once won the commendation of the commandant during -this memorable siege.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But now occurred a scene which caused the fire of -the “Little Gibraltar,” to slacken. Even as Napoleon -spoke to Junot, he discovered a spreading flame in the -harbor, and in a few moments, great tongues of fire -licked the air in front of the town, and fit up the scene -for miles around with a terrible brilliancy. The English -and Spaniards, under the direction of Sir Sydney -Smith, had set fire to the arsenal, the stores, and the -French ships which they could not remove. The rising -flames, growing redder and redder, seemed at length -like the glowing crater of a volcano, amid which could -be seen the masts and yards of the burning vessels, and -the advance of the republican troops who were attempting -to force their way into the town. The waters -of the bay resembled streams of lava flowing from the -mountains and hills around the town, which, themselves -glowed like living coals. The Jacobins in the town -now arose to take revenge upon the flying royalists. -Horrid screams and yells, cries and entreaties rang upon -the air like sounds from the infernal regions, while in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>the midst of all could be heard the swelling chorus of -the Marseillais. The guns of Malbosquet were turned -upon the town, and their thunder increased the uproar -of this terrible scene. Suddenly, a tremendous explosion, -as if a mountain had been shattered to its base by -a bolt from heaven, shocked the air, and even caused -the stern men under the eye of Napoleon to tremble. -Hundreds of barrels of powder had exploded, and high -above the harbor, the air was filled with the blazing -fragments, which descended even among the batteries -of the “Little Gibraltar,” causing the men to spring -about to save themselves from the fire. Again that -awful shock was given, a second magazine had exploded, -and again the air seemed fairly alive with soaring fires, -which threatened destruction when they fell. Fragments -fell at the very feet of Napoleon, but he stood -still, as a statue of resolution, a man without fear. His -eyes were fixed upon the British fleet, which, by the -red glare of earth and sky, could be seen slowly making -sail, the decks of the vessels being crowded with fugitives. -Once more he commanded the artillery to fire; -and before the fleet got beyond the range of the guns, -it received a shower of balls. The triumph was now -complete.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Wearied officers and men now threw themselves upon -the ground to rest, beside the fire. But to most of -them, sleep could not come, with such a scene of terror, -conflagration and tears before them. Napoleon, however, -surveyed the harbor and town, for a few moments, -and then, stretching himself upon the ground, commanded -himself to slumber,—a faculty which he possessed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>through life—an evidence of his astonishing force -of will.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The day dawned with a pale, ashen light. The roll -of the drums, resounding among the hills, roused the -triumphant soldiers of the republic; and as they gazed -upon the smouldering ruins of the arsenal, and the bay -strewn with the black fragments of the ships destroyed, -they would have cursed their enemy; but they remembered -their conquest, and pitied the destructive spite. -Cheer after cheer rent the air. The artillery men -crowded round their young chief, and with clamorous -congratulations, gave him the first evidence of that enthusiastic -affection, which, years afterwards, caused them -to yearn to die in his service—to pave with their bodies -his path to victory. What thoughts—what feelings -burned within that young conqueror’s breast none could -know; for his stern, bronze countenance expressed nothing -but his concentred strength of resolution. The -same day, General Dugommier sent intelligence of the -capture of Toulon to the Committee of Public Safety, -and in the despatch he particularly recommended Napoleon -for promotion, in these remarkable words,—“Promote -him, or he will promote himself.”</p> - -<div class='figcenter id013'> -<img src='images/i_b_018.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i019fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_019fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>BATTLE OF MONTENOTTE. Page 19.</p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i019' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span> -<img src='images/i_b_019.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT MONTE NOTTE.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id014'> -<img src='images/i_b_019_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_019_1.jpg' width='300' height='240' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The pure, bright -moon shone with -serene majesty -in the soft, dark -blue of the Italian -sky, dimming -the light of -the silver stars, -in her own calm -glory. The rugged -heights of Monte Notte, with here and there a -tower and wall, or a row of trees upon its broken ascent, -and the two small villages at its base, surrounded with -groves and vineyards, were revealed with scarce the -variation of a shadow. They would have seemed to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>sleep beneath the soothing influence of the night, but -for the numerous red fires, which burned here and there -along the mountain side, and at intervals for the distance -of half a mile from its base; and the occasional booming -of a gun, with its grumbling echoes. At a considerable -distance in front could be seen the lights of the redoubts -upon the heights of Monte Legino, which throughout -the day, under the command of the indomitable Colonel -Rampon, had withstood the furious assaults of the Austrians -under d’Argenteau, the commander preferring to -perish rather than capitulate. His resolution had saved -the plans of Bonaparte from receiving a check, and now -the young general of the French felt sure of his game.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Around the watch-fires to which we have alluded -were gathered the half-fed, half-clothed, but enthusiastic -troops of the divisions commanded by La Harpe and -Cervoni, who had united and marched to this strong -position in the rear of Monte Legino, in accordance with -the plans of Bonaparte. The general-in-chief was with -them, for near this place he anticipated the triumph of -his wonderful combinations, and the defeat of the Austrians. -Most of the principal officers were quartered -in the villages, resting from the fatigues of a rapid march. -But the time was too critical for Bonaparte to think of -sleep. He was abroad among those camp-fires, accompanied -by the brave and active Swiss, La Harpe, that -faithful and untiring friend, Michael Duroc, then aid-de-camp -to the young general, and several other officers -of distinction. As he walked among them, he looked -like a mere boy attending a throng of rough and hardy -soldiers. To each group gathered round a fire, he had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>a pleasant and encouraging word to say, a condescension -to which these war-worn veterans were <a id='corr21.2'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='unacccustomed'>unaccustomed</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_21.2'><ins class='correction' title='unacccustomed'>unaccustomed</ins></a></span>. -As he turned away from them he might have -heard expressions which showed that the troops believed -in his invincibility, and at all events, were prepared to -suffer any hardships in his service. The wretched -clothing of many of them was observed by the general, -and he occasionally reminded them, that they had now -an opportunity of winning not only glory, which every -true soldier should seek first, but wealth and abundance, -amid the fertile plains of Italy. Such words, uttered -by a commander among the camp-fires of an army are -calculated to have more effect in arousing its enthusiasm -than the most eloquent of regular and formal addresses. -At length, arriving at a fire much larger than -any of the others upon the side of the mountain, Bonaparte -threw himself upon the ground, and, motioning -his officers to follow his example, he took out the plan -of operations, which he had drawn up, and began with -his usual precision, to explain how far it had been carried -out, and what would be the movements of the next day. -In the meantime the soldiers, grim, moustached veterans, -withdrew and set about kindling another fire at a respectful -distance.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Augereau will reach this point early in the morning, -and render efficient support to the troops already in -position. Marching by this road on the other side of -the Appenines, Massena will show himself, nearly at -the same time, in d’Argenteau’s rear, and then the Austrians -cannot escape us. They will be surrounded on -all sides by a superior force.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>“Thus far it has been successful,” said La Harpe. -“But if Rampon had not fought so desperately at Monte -Legino, the plan would have been defeated, or at least, -checked for a time.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Rampon fought bravely; but when such a plan depends -upon the maintenance of a post, a good officer -should prefer to die rather than yield it to the enemy,” -replied Bonaparte.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Rampon fought like a hero because he knew the -importance of his position,” said Duroc.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I trust Massena will be as active as the occasion -demands. He has courage, perseverance, and skill; but -it requires the most imminent danger to awaken his -activity,” said the young commander-in-chief.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“A singular man, truly,” remarked Duroc.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“However,” continued Bonaparte, following the train -of his own reflections, “never had a commander-in-chief -more reason to be proud of his general officers than -myself. They are all men born to lead. With them, I -have nothing to fear from the delinquency of our half-fed -troops.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Yet, general, the soldiers are in a condition calculated -to depress their spirits,” said La Harpe. “We -officers, who chiefly fight for glory, and for the honor -of our country, never murmur, although very badly -treated by our government. But the majority of the -soldiers in the ranks have a constant eye to their pay.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But to make soldiers worthy of France, we must -alter that;” replied Bonaparte, “one and all must be -taught to fight for glory, and then our arms will be -irresistible.”</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>La Harpe shook his head. But the enthusiastic Duroc, -catching the noble fire of his illustrious friend, exclaimed.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Yes, the love of glory makes the true soldier! This -will cause the troops to forget their toilsome, bare-foot -marches, and their long days of hunger! And never -have I seen the French soldiers more eager for conflict -in defence of their country’s honor, than they have been -since our young general took command of the army of -Italy. That first proclamation gave them a new spirit, -which has been growing stronger every day. There -are splendid triumphs before us, I am sure.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The face of Bonaparte expressed nothing of the emotions -which must have heaved in his soul at these words. -But he grasped the hand of Duroc and shook it warmly.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“My friends,” said he, “it is all clear enough to me. -To-morrow will be a great day for France. Old Beaulieu -will begin to know his enemy. The plain before -us shall be the scene of more Austrian astonishment and -dismay than has been known in Italy for many years. -Beaulieu supposes that I intended to file off along the -coast to Genoa; whereas, here I am, ready to overwhelm -his centre. Following up this victory, it will -be easy to cut him off from communication with the -Piedmontese.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The officers gazed with wonder and admiration upon -the stripling who was thus summarily disposing of the -fate of armies and countries, and while they listened to -his words of conscious power, an awe crept over them, -they felt themselves in the presence of a superior being; -and yet among them were several men of splendid qualities,—born -to command.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>By this time the groups around the fires had stretched -themselves upon the hard earth to repose, and the -pacing of the sentinels alone disturbed the stillness of -the scene, where thousands of brave warriors submitted -to the conqueror, sleep. Bonaparte and his -officers returned to a house in the little village of -Monte Notte, which had been selected as the quarters -for the night. And the army slumbered on, beneath -the sweet vigil of the moon, and beside the cheerful -warmth of the camp-fires until the cold, white light in -the east told that the most glorious king of day, who -has arisen and set upon so many fields of conflict, was -about to ascend the heavens.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Far off his coming shone,”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c012'>and the stars soared out of sight, and the moon slowly -faded to vapor, as the white light turned to a golden -glow.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Then was heard the roll of the reveillé. With astonishing -rapidity, the French were under arms and in -motion. Bonaparte and his staff rode to an elevated -knoll, commanding the whole plain, and then were ordered -the movements which gave to the young commander-in-chief -the victory of Monte Notte. D’Argenteau, -the Austrian commander, found himself attacked -upon one side by the divisions of La Harpe, Cervoni -and Augereau, and upon the other by Massena. Then -boomed the cannon, and the rattled musketry over the -plain. The Austrian infantry sustained the conflict -with admirable courage. But they were surrounded by -superior forces and after several charges had been made -<span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>by the French, in the full confidence of victory, the -discomfited d’Argenteau was compelled to retreat towards -Dego. In fact, the retreat was a disorderly flight. -The French made two thousand prisoners, and several -hundred Austrians were left dead on the field. The -centre of the Austrian army had been completely overwhelmed. -Bonaparte was the victor of Monte Notte. -In after years, when the imperial crown adorned his -brow, the conqueror showed his contempt for ancestral -distinctions by saying that he dated his title to rule from -this battle.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_025.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i026' class='figcenter id005'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span> -<img src='images/i_b_026.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT MONDOVI.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='figleft id015'> -<img src='images/i_b_026_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_026_2.jpg' width='78' height='88' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -When the conflict -is at an end, and -the awful silence -of night descends -upon the field where stark -and stiff lie the mangled -dead, among the broken -weapons and spoils of the -fight, the scene is fearfully -impressive. There lie the -cold forms of those, who in life were furious foes; but -in death, side by side, united in their doom of darkness, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>they are all clay together. The bugle and the drum, -which were sounded to signal the contest, are broken -beside the mutilated and bloody bodies of those who -played them at the head of the marching regiments. The -captain, whose gallant “forward!” roused the spirits of -his men, lies where he perished, in the van. The -standard-bearer still clasps a portion of that dear symbol -of his country, which numbers cut from his hands, and -seems to have yielded his breath, while hugging that -remnant to his heart. The grim veteran of a hundred -fights, to whom death has been a jeer and a mockery, -and the youth, with blooming cheek and eager eye, who -left his mother’s cottage high in the hope of a glorious -renown, are found cold and stiff together; the one with -a smile of scorn curling his lip, the other with the keen -agony, kindled by the rushing remembrance of the dear -home lost forever, pictured in his countenance. The -meek moon and the sentinel stars shining on this field -of death, with a pallid light, add to its horrors, increasing -the ghastly hue in the faces of the slain.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Such a scene was presented on the night of the 22nd -of April, 1796, after the desperate battle of Mondovi. -Near the town of that name, the dispirited army of -Colli had been overtaken by two divisions of Bonaparte’s -army, commanded by Serrurier and Massena. Serrurier -had been repulsed, but the onset of Massena was irresistible, -and the enemy were attacked on both flanks at -once. The cavalry of the Piedmontese over powered -and drove back that of the French, but the wonderful -valor of Murat, the most glorious of cavalry officers, renewed -the fortune of the day, and, shortly afterwards, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>Colli’s army was put to flight. During the retreat, the -Piedmontese suffered dreadfully, losing the best of their -troops, their cannons, baggage and appointments.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Wearied with the desperate conflict, the greater portion -of the victorious army encamped in and about the -town of Mondovi, a body of cavalry, alone pursuing -and harassing the enemy. The description of the field -of battle given above, will apply to this one, with the -addition of a view of the towers and spires of Mondovi, -and of numerous blazing fires in the vicinity, around -which the exhausted troops had sunk to repose. Bonaparte -had arrived; and, now, having gathered his -principal officers at a ruined building, just outside of -the town, which seemed to have been an old chapel, -talked over with them the achievements of the day, and -what was contemplated for the morrow. The ruin consisted -of four broken walls, and was entirely roofless. -It was several yards square, and the floor was strewn -with fragments of sculpture which had once adorned -the edifice. In the centre of the floor a fire was kindled, -and camp-stools were ranged around it. At some distance -from the ruin, guards were placed, with orders to -keep the inquisitive beyond ear-shot. This place had -evidently been selected by Bonaparte, in preference to -the best mansion of Mondovi, to be secure from the -treachery of Italians, who might have overheard and -communicated to the enemy important information.</p> - -<p class='c001'>As usual, Bonaparte had the paper containing the lines -of his movements before him, and with pencil and compasses -in hand, he devised and marked alterations even -while he talked. Among the officers gathered around -<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>the fire, were Massena, Berthier, Serrurier, Murat and -Duroc.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Next to the commander-in-chief himself, Massena had -the most remarkable personal appearance of any of the -group. His massive features had a somewhat Jewish -cast and their general expression was extremely heavy, -or rather drowsy. The eyes were half-closed, and they did -not sparkle like those of the rest, when Bonaparte spoke. -Yet it was well known that, when excited by the storm -of battle, their flash was terrible. The expression of -the mouth, was always that of an inexorable will. The -whole aspect of Andrew Massena was that of a man of -great powers, difficult to rouse. Napoleon himself remarked -that it was only in danger that appalled most -men, that Massena acquired clearness and force of -thought. His want of activity was his great defect as -a commander.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Serrurier was a large man, with rough, prominent features, -in which strong passions and dogged determinations -were plainly expressed. His dress was torn and -dusty; for although repulsed by the Piedmontese, he -had fought like a lion on that desperate day.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The face of Duroc was manly and prepossessing. -The slightly receding forehead, prominent nose, clear, -bright eyes, and firm mouth, were illumined by a bland, -but determined expression, indicative of the truly heroic -spirit of this faithful friend of Napoleon. By the side -of Michael Duroc, could be seen the stalwart form and -noble countenance of Joachim Murat, the great leader -of the cavalry, whose desperate charge had decided the -battle in favor of the French. His gaudy costume was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>arranged with scrupulous nicety, and it bore no traces -of the conflict. He sat toying with his long, dark curls -during the conference.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“To-morrow, we will occupy Cherasco, which is -within ten leagues of the Piedmontese capital,” said Bonaparte. -“It has been a month of glory. Within that -time, we have gained complete possession of the mountain -passes and thus opened the road for our armies into -Italy. We have gained three battles over forces far -superior to our own; inflicted upon the enemy a loss -of about twenty-five thousand men in killed, wounded, -and prisoners, taken eighty pieces of cannon and twenty-one -stand of colors; and almost annihilated the army -of Sardinia. We can dictate a treaty at Turin.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The fight to-day was desperate enough, however,” -said Murat, ever vain of his services. “The cavalry was -beaten back by the Piedmontese, and General Stengel -was among the slain.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“A brave man lost to France,” interrupted Bonaparte.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But I soon taught them that the French cavalry -was not so easily beaten,” continued Murat. “That -charge decided the day.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I am told,” said Bonaparte, “that the charge was -indeed brilliant. But we expect such from Murat, and -we hope that, hereafter, he may have the best opportunities -of displaying his valor and horsemanship at the -head of the cavalry of France. You have won a high -promotion. General Serrurier, you were repulsed; but -you afterwards bravely sustained your reputation, and -contributed much to the victory. As for you, General -Massena, high as were my expectations from your valor -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>and skill, you have astonished me. France will yet -regard you as a child of victory.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Massena opened his eyes somewhat wider and nodded -his thanks. “The troops,” he remarked, “are -sadly worn with their rapid marches, and four days’ -fighting. Besides, since they have been so severely -treated for seizing upon what food and clothes they -found along the line of march, they have suffered -much for want of the common necessaries of life.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I know—I know,” replied Bonaparte; “I pity -them, and hope that their wants may soon be relieved. -But they must not become Goths and Vandals. What -did you say was the loss of the enemy, to-day, -Berthier?”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“It is estimated at about three thousand men,” -replied the officer addressed—an elegant looking -soldier, with a frank, intelligent countenance.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Colli is then effectually crippled,” said <a id='corr31.18'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Bonaparte'>Bonaparte.</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_31.18'><ins class='correction' title='Bonaparte'>Bonaparte.</ins></a></span> -“He will not dare to make a stand between us and -Turin. I learn that Cherasco is an ill-defended place, -but it has an important position at the confluence of -the Stura and the Tanaro, and with the artillery taken -from the enemy, we can soon render it defensible, -should that be necessary. But at present, the prospect -is that we shall in a few days conclude a peace -with the king of Sardinia, and then we must pursue -the Austrians, whom we shall drive beyond the Alps. -But in the meantime, you, Murat, shall take some of -our trophies to Paris, and proclaim the triumphs of -France. A more fitting messenger of victory could -not be found.” At this intelligence Murat’s eyes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>sparkled, and a smile lit up his dark features; for next -to the storm of battle, this proud soldier loved to boast -of victory. Next to being a lion upon the field of -battle, he desired to be a lion in the saloons of Paris.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“General,” said Duroc, “you may remember that -when we stood upon the heights of Monte Lemoto, and -beheld that glorious picture of the plains of Piedmont -and Italy, you exclaimed, ‘Hannibal crossed the Alps; -as for us, we have gone round them!’ It seems to me, -with deference, that if reinforcements are not speedily -sent to our aid, you will find yourself in a position -more nearly resembling that of Hannibal, when, although -victorious in Italy, he was deserted by Carthage. The -chief difference will be, however, that Hannibal, by -fortunate circumstances, was enabled to maintain his -army against all the forces of Rome. But we should -soon be overwhelmed by superior numbers.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The government of France has neglected its duty,” -replied Bonaparte, “but I cannot believe that it will -desert us altogether. If so, however, I have no doubt, -that we can provide for ourselves.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“For myself,” said Serrurier, “I love France, but -despise the present government. But for the bravery -of the army, whose triumphs they have taken to themselves, -the members of that government would not now -hold their places.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>At these words, Bonaparte raised his head, and gave -a steady, piercing glance at the frank, out-spoken -soldier’s countenance, probably with the design of -ascertaining the full depth of his meaning. But Serrurier -returned glance for glance, and Bonaparte returned -<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>to the contemplation of his map. There was -more in that young conqueror’s look than, perhaps, any -of that martial group, suspected.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i033' class='figcenter id016'> -<img src='images/i_b_033.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>The chief incidents of the fight of the day having -been communicated to Bonaparte by the various officers -engaged in its terrible scenes, he proceeded to -award commendation where it was due; and then gave -the generals orders in regard to the movements of the -next day. Despatches, hurriedly written, were -sent to the generals of the divisions not engaged at -Mondovi, and then the conference terminated. Most -of the officers retired to their respective commands; -but, accompanied by Duroc and Murat, the sleepless -commander-in-chief rode over the field, to gain a more -accurate knowledge of the terrible character of the -battle—to observe where the fight had been thickest, -what corps had suffered the greatest loss, and what had -the been advantages and disadvantages of the ground. -In many places, it was difficult for the horses to proceed -without trampling upon the groups of ghastly dead; -and the reckless Murat occasionally rode directly over -the corpses, while talking to the commander-in-chief. -A considerable number of women, from Mondovi, were -seen among the bodies, collecting many little articles -of value attached to the clothing of the dead warriors. -At the approach of Bonaparte and his officers they -scampered away, like so many frightened vultures, -upon which Murat would give chase for a short distance -to increase their alarm. After a complete survey -of the field, Bonaparte and his aids returned to Mondavi. -The only remark the young commander-in-chief -<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>was heard to make, was, “It was a hard-won victory—Mondovi -ought to be decisive.” And it was decisive. -At Cherasco, Sardinia submitted to the victor’s terms; -and thus one of the bravest of the foes of France was -crushed after a campaign of very brief duration, -the glories of which are thus touched upon by Bonaparte -in an eloquent and powerful proclamation to his -soldiers.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Soldiers! in a fortnight you have gained six victories, -taken twenty-one pair of colors, fifty-live pieces -of cannon, several fortresses, and conquered the richest -part of Piedmont; you have made fifteen thousand -prisoners, and killed or wounded more than ten thousand -men; you had hitherto been fighting for barren -rocks, rendered famous by your courage, but of no service -to the country; you this day compete by your -services with the army of Holland and of the Rhine. -Destitute of every thing, you have supplied all your -wants. You have gained battles without cannon, crossed -rivers without bridges, made forced marches without -shoes, bivouacked without brandy, and often without -bread. Republican phalanxes, the soldiers of liberty -alone, could have endured what you have endured. -Thanks be to you for it, soldiers!”</p> - -<div class='figcenter id013'> -<img src='images/i_b_036.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i037' class='figcenter id013'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span> -<img src='images/i_b_037.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT THE BRIDGES OF LODI.</h2> -</div> -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_037_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_037_2.jpg' width='68' height='88' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -Beaulieu, the veteran -general of the -Austrians, had been -beaten and compelled -to retreat before -the French commander of twenty-six. -The Po being crossed -and the Tesino turned, Bonaparte -beheld the road to Milan -open before him. But he prepared to make the effort -to cut off Beaulieu’s retreat, and compel the Austrian -army to surrender. Like Nelson, upon the sea, he -thought no triumph complete unless the enemy was -entirely prostrated. But to cut off the retreat of -Beaulieu, it was necessary to anticipate him at the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>passage of the rivers. A great number of these flow -from the Alps, and cross Lombardy on their way to the -Po and the Adriatic. After the Po and the Tesino, -come the Adda, the Oglio, the Mincio, the Adige and -numerous others.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Adda was now before Bonaparte. It is a large -and deep river, although fordable in some places. The -passage was to be made at the town of Lodi, an old -place containing about twelve thousand inhabitants. -It has old Gothic walls, but its chief defence consists -in the river, which flows through it, and which is -crossed by a wooden bridge, about five hundred feet in -length. Having crossed the river, Beaulieu drew up -twelve thousand infantry and four thousand horse on -the opposite bank, posted twenty pieces of artillery so -as to sweep the bridge, and lined the bank with sharpshooters. -It was against all military practice to attempt -the passage of a river in the face of such difficulties. -But it was the military mission of Bonaparte to astonish -the routine generals.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, coming up on the 10th of May, easily -drove the rear-guard of the Austrian army before him -into the town, but found his further progress threatened -by the tremendous fire of the pieces of cannon, stationed -at the opposite end of the bridge, so as to sweep -it most completely. The whole body of the enemy’s -infantry drawn up in a dense line, supported this -appalling disposition of the artillery.</p> - -<p class='c001'>An answering battery was instantly constructed on -the French side, Napoleon exposing himself in the -thickest of the fire to point two of the guns with his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>own hands. This he effected in such a manner as to -prevent the possibility of any approach on the part -of the enemy to undermine or blow up the bridge. -Observing, meanwhile, that Beaulieu had removed his -infantry to a considerable distance backwards, to keep -them out of the range of the French battery, he -instantly detached his cavalry, with orders to gallop -out of sight, and then ford the river, and coming suddenly -upon the enemy, attack them in flank.</p> - -<p class='c001'>He now drew up a body of six thousand grenadiers -in close column, under the shelter of the houses, and -bade them prepare for the desperate attempt of forcing -a passage across the narrow bridge, in the face of the -enemy’s thickly-planted artillery.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The cavalry of Napoleon had a difficult task to perform -in passing the river, and he waited with anxiety -for their appearance on the opposite bank. But a sudden -movement in the ranks of the enemy showed him -that his cavalry had arrived and charged, and he -instantly gave the word. The head of the column -of grenadiers wheeled to the left, and was at once upon -the bridge. The whole body rushed forward with -impetuosity, shouting, <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">“Vive la Republique!”</span> A hundred -bodies rolled dead, and the advancing column -faltered under the redoubled roar of the guns, and the -tempest of the grape shot. At this critical moment, -Lannes, Napoleon, Berthier, and L’Allemand, hurried -to the front, and dashing onwards were followed by the -whole column in the very mouth of the artillery. -They gained the opposite side: Lannes reached the -guns first, and Napoleon second. The artillerymen -<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>were killed; their guns seized; and the Austrian -infantry, which had been removed too far back, not -having time to come up to support the artillery, the -whole army was put to flight.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The French cavalry pursued in the blazing enthusiasm -of almost unprecedented victory. About two -thousand Austrians were either killed or wounded, and -the same number made prisoners, while twenty pieces -of cannon remained in the hands of the French.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The victorious army encamped on the banks of the -Adda, in the position which had been occupied by the -defeated Austrians. Before night fell, Bonaparte was -informed that he had failed to get between Beaulieu, -and the other divisions of the Austrian army; but, -aware of the terror which his daring exploit would -strike into the enemy, he scarcely regretted his trifling -failure of movement. The line of the Adda was carried; -tremendous difficulties had been vanquished with -a loss of only two hundred men, and the courage and -devotion of the soldiers had been raised to the highest -pitch.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The encampment upon the Adda presented a remarkable -aspect. Most of the officers had the accommodation -of tents, but the troops were destitute of that -luxury, and their only resource for rest was to throw -themselves upon the ground around their fires. These -gallant men, although fatigued with the efforts of the -glorious day, were too much excited by their victory -to rest without some demonstration. It was a clear, -beautiful moonlight night. Although filled in some -places with the dead, the Adda danced merrily onward, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>the ripples sparkling in the moonbeams. All was quiet -above; but in camp and town, there was the bustle of -men to whom sleep would not come. Bonaparte had -retired to his tent to partake of some refreshment, and -having soon satisfied his abstemious appetite, he was -about to traverse the camp, alone, to observe the spirit -of his troops, as well as to ascertain the character and -rank of the prisoners. In front of his tent, he was -astonished to meet a small deputation of grim-visaged -grenadiers, who saluted him with the title of the -“Little Corporal.” One of their number then stepped -forward, and respectfully communicated the intelligence -that they had elected him a corporal, in consideration -of his gallant service in the ranks that day, and hoped -that they might one day confer still higher honors upon -him. Three hearty cheers were then given by the -veterans, who appeared to enjoy the joke amazingly; -and after they had retired, the young general was -saluted in various parts of the camp as the “Little -Corporal.” This gaiety was characteristic of the French -soldiers. Bonaparte was rather pleased with the singular -mode of showing affection for his person, and -admiration of his intrepidity.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The general approached a group of Hungarian prisoners -without being recognised by them. They were -standing near a fire, conversing, and evidently much -irritated at the misfortunes of their position. He went -among them and mingled in the conversation. An old -officer, who spoke to him, appeared to be extremely -moody. Bonaparte could not but smile at his language. -“Things are going on as ill and irregular as possible,” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>said this veteran of routine. “The French have got a -young general who knows nothing of the regular rules -of war; he is sometimes on our front, sometimes on our -flank, sometimes on the rear. There is no supporting -such a gross violation of rules.” He evidently preferred -to be whipped in a regular way. But it is agreed that -the object of war is victory, and if rules do not secure -that victory, they are of no value. Bonaparte’s system -appeared very extraordinary to the Austrian commanders. -It was something beyond what they had -learned at their German military schools.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i043' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_043.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON INFORMED OF HIS ELECTION AS CORPORAL.</p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>After traversing the camp, and receiving many testimonials -of the warm devotion of the troops to his person, -Bonaparte returned to his tent, where he was soon -joined by Berthier, Massena, Augereau, Bessieres, -Duroc, Serrurier, Lannes, and others. To each and all -he gave a word of compliment; but he was especially -fluent in his praise of the indomitable young General -Lannes, whose daring courage had attracted his attention -in previous engagements as well as at the tremendous -charge across the bridge of Lodi. They were, -indeed, as gallant a group of officers, as ever a general -had at his command—men who could as calmly reason -and determine upon manœuvres in the hottest storm of -battle, as during the quiet hours of this moonlight -night—quick in devising, irresistible in the execution; -and yet it was only yonder stripling, with the Roman -features and the piercing eyes, who could give a glorious -harmony to their action, bring their peculiar faculties -into play, and secure their triumph. Great as they undoubtedly -were, they failed to achieve great triumphs -<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>when beyond the reach of the “Little Corporal’s” controlling -mind. The conference was long, for there were -difficulties in the arrangement of the plan for moving -upon Milan, and some of the officers, particularly Massena, -had objections to urge. However, Bonaparte determined -according to his own views. The officers observed -that there was a remarkable change in his -bearing towards them. He had hitherto admitted them -to complete familiarity; but they now felt constrained -by his lofty manner to keep at a respectful distance. -When they retired that night, some of them exchanged -glances of significance; they were evidently displeased -at the haughty bearing of the young commander-in-chief; -yet few of them, perhaps, comprehended the -change.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The fact was that the victory of Lodi had a great -influence upon Napoleon’s mind. He afterwards acknowledged, -that neither the quelling of the sections at -Paris, nor the victory of Monte Notte made him regard -himself as any thing superior, but that after Lodi, for -the first time, the idea dawned upon him, that he should -one day be “a decisive actor,” on the stage of the political -world. It was Lodi which gave birth to the 18th -Brumaire.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id018'> -<img src='images/i_b_045.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i046' class='figcenter id013'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span> -<img src='images/i_b_046.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT CASTIGLIONE.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id019'> -<img src='images/i_b_046_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_046_1.jpg' width='250' height='204' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_7'> -It was at Castiglione and in -its vicinity that the wonderful -spirit and rapidity -of Napoleon’s movements -were more fully displayed -than at any other of his -scenes of victory in Italy. -The aged Beaulieu had -been superseded in the command of the Austrian army, -by General Wurmser, a commander of high reputation. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>His army was greatly superior in numbers to that of -Bonaparte. It descended from the Tyrol during the -last days of July, in three divisions, commanded by -Davidowich, Quasdanowitch, and Wurmser himself.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Wurmser, confident in his numbers, and calculating -upon the absorption of the energies of the French army, -by its endeavors to subdue Mantua, disposed his forces -in the most admirable way to improve a victory; never -reflecting that he might happen to be defeated. Untaught -by all the previous disasters of Beaulieu, he -committed the error of dividing his army, in order to -cover an extent of country. His right wing was detached, -with orders to occupy Brescia, and cut off the -retreat of the French in the direction of Milan: his left -wing was to descend the Adige, and manœuvre on -Verona; while the centre, under his own command, -advanced to raise the siege of Mantua. During the two -first days of his approach, the French generals, after -resisting to the utmost, yielded up successively, Rivoli, -Brescia, and Salo; but these two days were sufficient -to make Napoleon master of the plan on which Wurmser -proposed to carry on the campaign, and he instantly -disconcerted the whole of it, by a movement so unlike -that of any ordinary general, as to defy all calculation.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In one night, (31st July,) he raised the siege of -Mantua; sacrificing the whole of his artillery. The -men were employed to destroy as much as the time -would allow. They spiked the guns, burnt the carriages, -threw the powder into the lake, and buried the -balls. Augereau and Massena were stationed to defend -the line of the Mincio as long as possible. Before -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>morning the whole French army had disappeared from -Mantua, and Napoleon was hurrying forward to attack -the right wing of the Austrian army, before it could -effect a junction with the central body of Wurmser.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Austrian right wing was advancing in three divisions. -Napoleon defeated one division at Salo, and -another at Lonato. At the same time, Augereau and -Massena, leaving a sufficient number of men at their -posts to maintain a defence, or at least to impede the -enemy, marched upon the third division at Brescia; -but it had already fled in disorder towards the Tyrol. -The French generals instantly countermarched to the -support of their rear-guards, which had been forced by -the Austrians.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Wurmser reached Mantua and was astonished to find -what he believed to be a precipitate flight. He entered -the city in triumph—but he was completely deceived. -(August 2nd.)</p> - -<p class='c001'>Bonaparte did not halt for a moment. His troops -had been constantly on the march, he had himself been -all the time on horseback; he resolved to make them -fight the very next morning. He had before him Bayalitsch -at Lonato, and Liptai at Castiglione, presenting -to both of them a front of twenty-five thousand men. -He had to attack them before Wurmser should return -from Mantua. Sauret had for the second time abandoned -Salo; Bonaparte sent Guyeux again thither to -recover the position, and to keep back Quasdanowitch. -After these precautions on his left and on his rear, he -resolved to march forward to Lonato with Massena, and -to throw Augereau upon the heights of Castiglione, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>which had been abandoned on the preceding day by -General Vallette. He broke that general at the head -of his army, in order to make his lieutenants do their -duty without flinching. On the following day, the 16th -(August 3rd,) the whole army was in motion; Guyeux -re-entered Salo, and this rendered any communication -between Quasandowitch and the Austrian army still -more impracticable. Bonaparte advanced upon Lonato; -but his advanced guard was beaten back, some pieces -of cannon were taken, and General Pigeon was made -prisoner. Bayalitsch, proud of this success advanced -with confidence, and extended his wings around the -French division. He had two objects in performing -this manœuvre; in the first place, to surround Bonaparte, -and in the second, to extend himself on the right -for the purpose of entering into communication with -Quasandowitch, whose cannon he heard at Salo. Bonaparte, -not alarming himself about his rear, suffered himself -to be surrounded with imperturbable coolness; he -placed some sharp-shooters on his exposed wings, and -next took the 18th and 32d demi-brigades of infantry, -ranged them in close column, gave them a regiment of -dragoons to support them, and rushed headlong upon -the enemy’s centre, which was weakened by its extension. -With this brave body of infantry he overthrew -all before him, and thus broke the line of the Austrians. -The latter, divided into two bodies, immediately lost -their courage: one part of the division of Bayalitsch fell -back in all haste towards the Mincio; but the other, -which had extended itself in order to communicate with -Quasandowitch, was driven towards Salo, where Guyeux -<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>was at that moment. Bonaparte caused it to be pursued -without intermission, that he might place it between -two fires. He let loose Junot in pursuit of it, -with a regiment of cavalry. Junot dashed off at a -gallop, killed six horsemen with his own hand, and fell, -having received several sabre wounds. The fugitive -division, entrapped between the corps at Salo and that -which was pursuing it from Lonato, was routed, and lost -at every step thousands of prisoners. During this successful -pursuit, Bonaparte proceeded on his right to -Castiglione, where Augereau had been fighting ever since -the morning with admirable bravery. The heights on -which Liptai’s division had placed itself had now to be -carried. After an obstinate combat, several times renewed, -he had at length accomplished his object, and -Bonaparte on his arrival found the enemy retreating on -all sides. Such was the battle called the battle of -Lonato, fought on the 16th (August 3rd.)</p> - -<p class='c001'>This battle produced considerable results. The -French had taken twenty pieces of cannon and three -thousand prisoners from the division cut off and driven -back upon Salo, and they were still pursuing its scattered -remnant in the mountains. They had made a -thousand or fifteen hundred prisoners at Castiglione, and -killed or wounded three thousand men; they had -alarmed Quasandowitch, who finding the French army -at Salo, and hearing it in the distance at Lonato, thought -that it was every where. They had thus nearly disorganized -the divisions of Bayalitsch and Liptai, which -fell back upon Wurmser. That general at this moment -came up with fifteen thousand men to rally the two -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>beaten divisions, and began to draw out his lines in the -plains of Castiglione.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Bonaparte now determined upon fighting a decisive -battle upon the ground which the Austrian general had -chosen, but as it was necessary to collect all his disposable -force at Castiglione, he deferred the action until -the 5th.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was the night of the 4th of August. The weather -had been excessively warm for several days, and the -troops were almost exhausted by their rapid marches -under a burning sun. The hostile armies were encamped -close in front of each other, vertically from the line of -the heights on which both supported one wing, Bonaparte -having his left thereon, and Wurmser his right. -A series of heights formed by the last range of the Alps -extends from Chiessa to the Mincio, by Lonato, Castiglione -and Solferino. At the foot of these heights was -the plains on which the great battle was to be fought. -Bonaparte had at most twenty-two thousand men, Serrurier’s -division not having come up yet; and, indeed, -it had been ordered to make an effort to gain the rear -of the Austrians. Wurmser had thirty thousand men -under his command, and the wing of his army which -was on the plain was supported by a redoubt placed -upon the elevation of Medolano. It was a clear, warm -night. The stars were thickly sprinkled in the arching -heaven, but there was no moon, and the position of -each army could only be clearly distinguished by the -light of the lines of watch-fires, stretching away from -the foot of the heights. In the rear of the Austrians, -the low wall, and tower of the old town of Castiglione -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>could be distinguished, forming a looming and shadowy -background to a striking and imposing picture.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Around one of the fires in the vicinity of the tent of -the commander-in-chief, was sitting a group of officers, -among whom Bessieres, Duroc, and Augereau were the -only men of renown. All ears were opened listening -to Bessieres, who was giving an account of Bonaparte’s -wonderful exploit that day, in escaping from a surprise -at Lonato. He told the story as follows:</p> - -<p class='c001'>“You know that this morning, our commander-in-chief -set off for Lonato at full gallop, to personally hasten -the movements of the troops. He was accompanied -only by his staff and the Guides under my command. -We arrived at Lonato about noon. We found that the -orders of the general were already carried out; part of the -troops were marching upon Castiglione, and the rest -were proceeding towards Salo and Gavardo. About a -thousand men remained at Lonato. Scarcely had the -general entered the place, when an Austrian flag of -truce presented itself, and the bearer summoned him to -surrender. The general started at the summons. He -could not understand how it was possible that the Austrians -could be so close upon him. But the case was -soon explained. The division separated in the battle -of Lonato, and driven back upon Salo, had been partly -captured; but a body of about four thousand five hundred -men had been wandering all night in the mountains; -and seeing the town almost abandoned, wanted to enter -the place, in order to open for itself an outlet upon the -Mincio. General Bonaparte had no time to fight a -battle, or perhaps he would have done it, even with his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>force of one thousand men. His plan was formed with -his usual quickness and decision. He ordered all the -officers about him to mount their horses, and then, the -bearer of the flag to be brought before him, with his -eyes uncovered; for, as usual on such occasions, the -officer was blindfolded. You should have seen the Austrian’s -astonishment when he found himself in the -presence of our general and his staff. ‘Unhappy man!’ -said General Bonaparte, ‘you know not then that you -are in the presence of the commander-in-chief, and that -he is here with his whole army. Go tell those who sent -you, that I give them five minutes to surrender, or I -will put them to the sword to punish the insult which -they have dared to offer me.’ The astonished bearer -of the flag returned with this message to his general. -In the meantime, General Bonaparte prepared his small -force for action. The Austrian then asked him to propose -terms of capitulation. But our general, knowing -the importance of immediate action, replied—‘No, you -must become at once prisoners of war.’ The Austrian -hesitated, but when General Bonaparte ordered his artillery -and grenadiers to advance to the attack, the -enemy surrendered; and thus, without striking a blow, -four thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry surrendered -themselves prisoners of war to about one -thousand Frenchmen. We gained, besides, two pieces -of artillery.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>A general laugh followed this narrative. All agreed -that it was an admirable exploit, and quite worthy of -the genius of Bonaparte. At this moment, the young -commander-in-chief appeared at the door of his tent. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>His horse was standing near, and he was quickly -mounted. “Come, Bessieres and Duroc,” said he in a -sharp voice, “we will go over the field.” So saying, he -rode away, leaving the officers addressed to follow him -as soon as they could. They immediately left the -group, which was now joined, however, by Lannes and -Berthier, who, wearied out, sought the vacant seats to -obtain a short rest.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Who ever saw the like?” said young Lannes,—he -of the tall, stout form, stern countenance, and long, fair -hair, parted in the centre. “Such incessant activity! -That slender ‘little Corporal’ would tire a host of us. -In a few days he has killed five horses with fatigue. He -will not entrust any of us with the execution of his important -orders. He must see every thing with his own -eyes, inquire into every thing, and set every body in -a fever of motion by his presence. Such tremendous -energy I never knew any other person to possess. I -do not believe he sleeps at all. There he goes again, to -make his final arrangements for the battle.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“He will wear himself out too soon, I am afraid,” -said Augereau.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But he will accomplish more in one month than -many men could achieve in years. His immortality is -already established, and he is but twenty-six,” replied -Berthier.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“He will have a glorious opportunity to achieve a -decisive victory to-morrow,” said Lannes; “but I doubt -whether the battle will be as long and as desperate as -that of yesterday.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Yesterday was indeed a day of hard fighting, for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>my division here, at least,” said Augereau. “My troops -were completely exhausted, when Liptai’s division was -driven from the heights. But how did Junot get cut -up in such a way?”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I’ll tell you,” replied Berthier. “When the Austrian -line was broken by the charge of our infantry, one division -was driven towards Salo, where Guyeux was -posted. General Bonaparte caused it to be pursued, in -order to place it between two fires, and General Junot -was let loose, with a regiment of cavalry. Junot set off -at full speed. He encountered Colonel Bender with a -party of his regiment of hussars, whom he charged, -with his wonted bravery. But not wishing to waste -his time by attacking the rear, Junot made a detour to -the right, charged the regiment in front, wounded Colonel -Bender and attempted to take him prisoner, when -he suddenly found himself surrounded. Of course, he -fought like a hero, as he is, and it is said that he killed -six of the enemy with his own hand, before he was cut -down, and thrown into a ditch. I suppose he will be -disabled for some time, which is a real misfortune to -the army, as Junot is one of the bravest and most active -officers now under General Bonaparte’s command.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Yes,” said the generous Lannes, “we shall miss him. -He was promoted from the ranks on account of his cool -bravery, and he certainly has done honor to the judgment -of our general, who first noticed his merit at the -siege of Toulon.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Still,” said Augereau, “brave men are not scarce -in the army of Italy. We shall conquer without Junot, -I have no doubt.”</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>Thus the group continued to converse, until General -Bonaparte came up, with Massena and others, and invited -them to his tent to receive their final instructions. -The quick movements, and rapid, concise speech of the -young conqueror indicated the unwearied activity of his -mind. He had undergone tremendous exertion, but no -trace of it appeared in his bearing. The restless fire -of his eye was undimmed; his mind labored as vigorously -and with as much precision as if he had been enjoying -repose for several days; and the commander of -the Guides reported that the general slept but an hour -that night.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At the first peep of day, the two armies were in motion. -Wurmser, impatient to attack, moved his right -along the heights; Bonaparte, to favor this movement, -drew back his left, formed by Massena’s division; he -kept his centre immovable in the plain. He soon heard -Serrurier’s fire. Then, while he continued to draw back -his left, and Wurmser to draw out his right, he ordered -the redoubt of Medolano to be attacked. At first, he -directed twenty pieces of light artillery upon that redoubt, -and after briskly cannonading it, he detached -General Verdier, with three battalions, to storm it. -That brave general advanced, supported by a regiment -of <a id='corr56.25'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='calvalry'>cavalry</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_56.25'><ins class='correction' title='calvalry'>cavalry</ins></a></span>, and took the redoubt. The left flank of the -Austrians was thus exposed at the very moment when -Serrurier, arriving at Cauriana, excited alarm upon -their rear. Wurmser immediately moved part of his -second line upon his right, now deprived of support, -and placed it <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>en potence</em></span> to front the French, who were -debouching from Medolano. He took the remainder of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>his second line to the rear, to protect Cauriana, and -thus continued to make head against the enemy. But -Bonaparte, seizing the opportunity with his accustomed -promptness, immediately ceased to avoid engaging his -left and his centre, and gave Massena and Augereau -the signal which they were impatiently awaiting. Massena -with the left, Augereau with the centre, rushed -upon the weakened line of the Austrians, and charged -it with impetuosity. Attacked so briskly on its entire -front, and threatened on its left and its rear, it began -to give ground. The ardour of the French increased. -Wurmser seeing his army jeopardized then gave the -signal for retreat. He was pursued, and some prisoners -were taken. To put him completely to the rout, it -would have been necessary to make much more haste, -and to push him while in disorder upon the Mincio. -But for six days the troops had been constantly marching -and fighting; they were unable to advance further, -and slept on the field of battle. Wurmser had on that day -lost no more than two thousand men, but he had nevertheless -lost Italy.</p> - -<p class='c001'>That night, the first time for five days, Bonaparte -enjoyed the sweets of repose. The anxiety was at an -end—Italy was his own.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id006'> -<img src='images/i_b_057.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i058' class='figcenter id005'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span> -<img src='images/i_b_058.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT ARCOLA.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id019'> -<img src='images/i_b_058_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_058_1.jpg' width='250' height='173' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The indomitable Bonaparte -had nearly destroyed -the army of -Wurmser. The laurels -of Roveredo, Bassano, -and Saint George, -adorned his young -brow, beside those of -Monte Notte, Lodi and Castiglione. Within ten days, -he had carried positions, the natural difficulties of which -seemed to defy human assault, killed or captured about -twenty thousand men, and taken artillery and stores -<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>which were almost an encumbrance to his gallant little -army. His brave officers, Massena, Augereau, Bessieres, -Murat, Berthier, Lannes, and the rest, had heaped -up their titles to immortal renown. To use the language -of Thiers, “France was lost in admiration of the commander-in-chief -of the army of Italy.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i058fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_058fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON AT THE BRIDGE OF ARCOLA. <span class='small'>Page 58.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>Still, Bonaparte’s situation was rapidly becoming one -of startling peril. Austria redoubled her efforts to recover -Lombardy. A fine army was prepared from the -wrecks of Wurmser, the troops from Poland and Turkey, -the detachments from the Rhine, and fresh recruits. -Marshal Alvinzi was appointed to the command. Bonaparte’s -army at this time numbered about thirty thousand -men, but they were badly provided, while Alvinzi -could bring sixty thousand men into the field. On the 1st -of November, 1796, the Austrian commander advanced -upon the Brenta. At first, the French fell back, but -Bonaparte resolved to strike a blow at the onset of this -new series of movements, which would break the spirit -of the enemy. The action took place on the 5th, between -Carmignano and Bassano, and after a hot and bloody -conflict, the French were victorious. Other contests -followed; but in spite of the advantages gained by Bonaparte, -he found that unless a great decisive battle was -fought, Italy would be lost. The troops began to murmur -at the neglect with which their government treated -them, and the general complained to the Directory that -the majority of his best officers were either killed or -disabled by wounds. But in the meantime, Bonaparte -conceived a daring plan of action, which, considering -the circumstances, stands unparalleled in the annals of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>war. He resolved to give battle, unexpectedly, amid -the marshes of the Adige, where the difference in -numbers would be neutralized. Then followed the -tremendous battle of Arcola, which lasted seventy-two -hours, and ended in the complete triumph of the French.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was the night of the 17th of November. The sun -had set upon a third day of slaughter amid the marshes -and upon the plain at Arcola. But with the quiet -shadows of evening, came victory to gladden the hearts -of the French and their glorious general. Exhausted -by the terrible conflict, both armies were to pass the -night upon the plain. But the Austrians took care to be -beyond the reach of the conquerors and far towards -Vicenza. The French kindled their camp-fires upon -the field of their triumph. It was a gloomy night. -Neither moon nor star smiled in the sky; and the line -of the encampments could only be traced by the fires, -blazing even among the heaps of the dead, while far -away over the plain the long line of Austrian fires could -be distinguished. Having partaken of some slight refreshment, -the French soldiers were stretched upon the -ground around the fires. The majority slept. But to -some, wearied as they were in body, sleep would not -come, so excited were their minds by the vivid and -terrible images of the conflict through which they had -passed. The Guides, who had kindled their fires around -a little cottage in which Bonaparte had taken quarters -for the night, were among the wakeful ones. They had -secured for themselves, at the order of the commander-in-chief, -abundant refreshments, and now, sitting upon -their camp-stools to rest their weary limbs, they discussed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>both the provision and the glorious achievements -of the army of Italy. Their number had been considerably -thinned by the great battle through which they -had just passed, for they, as well as their general, had -been in the thickest of the fire. But there were still -Bessieres, the commander, young Lemarois, Duroc, and -others of distinction; while among them was, Augereau, -who, having been reared in the democratic faubourg -St. Antoine, never had any scruples upon the subject -of rank, outside of actual military operations. He associated -with general and private upon equal terms. The -others doubtless considered themselves as honoring the -company with their presence; but they could not have -formed a part of a more gallant group. Not an officer -among them but bore marks of the terrible conflict -through which they had passed. Their costume was -bespattered with mud, their faces blackened with powder, -and some of them had sabre wounds, which, for the -time, disfigured their countenances.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The officers of the army have suffered dreadfully, -during these three days of fighting,” said Augereau. -“I thought that before the battle we were crippled -enough in that way; but only look now. Here’s General -Lannes, who was wounded before he went into -the conflict, and he now lies low with three more wounds. -Verne, Bon, Verdier, and several others are also wounded, -while General Robert and the brave Colonel Muiron, -who saved General Bonaparte’s life at Toulon, and -covered him here again, are killed.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“This battle will long be deemed a glorious monument -of the genius of Bonaparte,” said Bessieres, “I say it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>with deference, that heroic as are his principal officers, -they might have striven in vain against the superior -numbers of the enemy, but for the daring and profound -combinations of the general-in-chief, while much is also -due to his efforts of resolute valor during the struggle.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“No one will venture to deny that,” said the frank -and generous Augereau. Massena merely nodded his -head, but left the meaning of the nod unexplained.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“For,” continued Bessieres, “consider the position -of the army before the battle. Our army was greatly -inferior in numbers to that of Alvinzi, as, in spite of -the immense loss of the Austrians, it remains. Our -hospitals were full of sick and wounded. The troops -were dispirited, because of the shameful neglect with -which their government treated them. A large number -of our best officers were entirely disabled. Yet an address -from General Bonaparte restored confidence to the -army, and when, on the night of the 15th, orders were -given to the troops to fall back, they obeyed with alacrity, -although they believed they were retreating—a -movement to which they are unaccustomed, for they -supposed that some daring plan had been formed for -their glory. When they had recrossed the Adige by -the bridge of boats here at Ronco, they found that their -confidence in their general had not been misplaced.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“See then,” said Duroc, “how General Bonaparte -availed himself of the advantages of the ground. What -other general of this age would have thought of fighting -among the marshes. Alvinzi was encamped on the -road from Verona to the Brenta. Consequently when -General Bonaparte reached Ronco, he found himself -<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>brought back on the flanks and nearly on the rear of -the Austrians. The army was then amidst extensive -marshes, traversed by two causeways, which we were -ordered to occupy.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Now mark the result of his calculations; amidst -these marshes numerical advantage was neutralized; -there was no deploying but upon the causeways, and -on the causeways the courage of the advanced guards -of the columns would decide the event. By the causeway -on the left, which communicated with the road between -Verona and Caldiero, he could fall upon the Austrians -if they attempted to scale Verona. By the -causeway on the right, which crossed the Alpon at the -bridge of Arcola, and terminated at Villa Nova, he might -debouch upon the rear of Alvinzi, take his artillery and -baggage, and cut off his retreat. He was therefore -impregnable at Ronco, and he stretched his two arms -around the enemy. He had caused the gates at -Verona to be shut, and had left Kilmaine there, with -fifteen hundred men, to stand a first assault. This -combination, so daring and so profound, struck the -army, and inspired them with confidence.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“It was a grand stroke of genius,” said Massena. -“I was stationed on the <em>dike</em> at the left, so as to go up -to Gombione and Porcil, and take the enemy in the -rear, if he should march to Verona.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“And I,” observed Augereau, “was despatched to -the right, to debouch upon Villa Nova. But before I -could advance along the right hand dike, I had to cross -the Alpon by the bridge of Arcola. Some battalions -of Croats were stationed along the river, and had their -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>cannon pointed at the bridge. They received my -advance guard with a rattling fire of musketry, and at -first the men fell back. I rode up and did all in my -power to push them on, but the fire compelled them to -halt. Soon after that, I saw a party of Hungarian -cavalry come to inquire into the reason of the firing -among the marshes. The Austrian marshal could not -understand it. He did not for a moment suppose that -General Bonaparte would choose such a field of battle, -at least I judge so, from his orders.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Ha! ha!” shouted Massena, “you should have seen -Rivera leading his division close along the left dike -where I was posted. I permitted them to get too far -on the dike to retreat, and then dashed upon them at a -run. How we tumbled them into the marsh! Ha! -ha! The troops shot them by scores, as they floundered -in the mud and water. Ha! ha!” It was a grim laugh.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I did the same for Mitrowski’s division,” said Augereau. -“I then pursued, and attempted to pass the -bridge, the soldiers gallantly crowding around the flag -I held to cheer them on. But they could not stand -that tremendous fire. Lannes, Bon, Verne, and Verdier -were wounded. In spite of my utmost efforts, the -column fell back, and the soldiers descended to the side -of the dike, to shelter themselves from the fire.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Then came the heroism of the ‘Little Corporal,’” -exclaimed Duroc, his eyes glowing with enthusiasm. -“He saw from Ronco, that Alvinzi had become sensible -of his danger, and was striving to prevent you, brave -Guyeux, from taking him in the rear at Villa Nova. -He saw that it was of the utmost importance to cross -<span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>the river at Arcola immediately, if he would gain -Alvinzi’s rear, and thus secure great results. Did you -see that glorious commander? He set off at full -gallop, came near the bridge, threw himself from his -horse, went to the soldiers who were crouching down by -the borders of the dike, asked them if they were still -the conquerors of Lodi, revived their courage by his -words, and seizing a flag cried, ‘Follow your general!’ -Hearing his voice, a number of soldiers went up to the -causeway and followed him; unfortunately, the movement -could not be communicated to the whole of the -column, the rest of which remained behind the dike. -Bonaparte advanced, carrying the flag in his hand, amidst -a shower of balls and grape-shot. We all surrounded -him. Lannes, who had already received two wounds -from musket-shots during the battle, was struck by a -third. Muiron, the general’s aid-de-camp, striving to -cover him with his body, fell dead at his feet. The -column was nevertheless on the point of clearing the -bridge, when a last discharge arrested it, and threw it -back. The rear abandoned the advance. The soldiers -who still remained with the general, then laid hold of -him, carried him away amidst the fire and smoke, and -insisted on his remounting his horse. An Austrian -column debouching upon them, threw them in disorder -into the marsh. Bonaparte fell in, and sunk up to the -waist. As soon as the soldiers perceived his danger, -‘Forward,’ cried they, ‘to save the general.’ They ran -after Belliard and Vignolles to extricate him. They -pulled him out of the mud, set him upon his horse again, -pressed forward and Arcola was taken.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>“Was there ever a more glorious man?” And as -the enthusiastic Duroc concluded his animated description -of the splendid exploit, his eyes gleamed in admiration -of his great friend and patron.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Yes,” said Guyeux, “Arcola was taken. But I -could not get across the river in time to attack Alvinzi’s -rear, and thus the Austrian was enabled to deploy into -the plain. The general had striven gloriously, but he -had not attained his object. In my humble opinion, -he might have avoided the obstacle of Arcola by throwing -his bridge over the Adige a little below Ronco.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Aye,” said Massena, “but then he would have debouched -into the plain, which it was of great importance -to avoid. The general had the best reasons for doing -what he did, and although the success was imperfect, -important results had been obtained. Alvinzi had -quitted the formidable position of Caldiero; he had descended -again into the plain, he no longer threatened -Verona; and he had lost a great number of men in the -marshes. The two dikes had become the only field of -battle between the two armies, which gave the superiority -to bravery. Besides, so glorious had been the -conflict, that our soldiers had completely recovered their -confidence, a result of immense importance, as all may -perceive.” This defence of Bonaparte’s course did honor -to the intelligence of Massena.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But it must be admitted,” said Bessieres, “that the -battle of to-day surpassed all the rest in the display of -strategic genius. Yesterday was glorious for us, for -the bravery and perseverance of the whole army was -exerted in beating the enemy from the dikes, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>tumbling them into the marsh, and we destroyed an -immense number of them. But to-day proved most conclusively -that in strategy our general is at least the rival -of the Carthagenian Hannibal. Our general saw that -the long conflict had disheartened the enemy, and considerably -reduced their superior numbers. He then -dared to encounter them on the plain. You, General -Massena, marching at the head of your column, with -your hat upon the point of your sword, showed them -the way to victory, and the Austrians were once more -crowded into the marsh. But General Robert was repulsed -at the bridge of Ronco. Yet mark the resources -of the general-in-chief! Sensible of the danger, he placed -the 32d in a wood of willows, which borders the right -hand dike. While the enemy’s column, victorious over -Robert, was advancing, the 32d sallied from its ambuscade, -and, of the three thousand Croates who composed -it, the greater part were slain or captured. Crossing -the Alpon, Bonaparte brought the whole army into the -plain, in front of the Austrians. An ordinary general -would now have ordered a simple charge. But the -‘Little Corporal’ determined upon a stratagem. A -marsh, overgrown with reeds, covered the left wing of -the Austrians. Hercule, <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>chef de battallion</em></span>, was ordered -to take twenty-five guards, to march in single line -through the reeds, and to make a sudden charge, with -a great blast of trumpets.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“And Hercule was the very man for such a desperate -service,” observed Duroc.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Precisely,” said Bessieres. “Then the great charge -was made by you generals, Massena and Augereau; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>but the Austrians stood their ground until they heard -the great blast of trumpets, when, thinking they were -going to be charged by a whole division of cavalry, -they fled, and the battle was decided in favor of France. -Italy is our own.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Not yet,” said Massena. “Austria is stubborn. -In spite of her many defeats, she will make at least -one more effort to recover possession of this fair land. -We have much fighting yet to do, I am sure.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“We have lost many brave men in these three -fighting days,” said young Lemarois. “But the enemy -have suffered a loss of at least twelve thousand killed, -and six thousand made prisoners, while we have taken -eighteen pieces of cannon and four stand of colors.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Trophies enough,” said Augereau. “It seems to -me, that whether this battle has decided the fate of -Italy or not, we shall soon have a short respite from -our toils, which will give us time to recruit.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The conversation continued thus till most of the -officers, being overcome with fatigue, retired to -their quarters. The Guides slept around their fires, in -close proximity to numbers of the gallant dead, whose -slumber was destined to be broken only by the archangel’s -trump.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the meantime, the young conqueror had sought -his couch for much needed repose, and so soundly did -he sleep that even the glories of Arcola were forgotten -for the time.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i069' class='figcenter id005'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span> -<img src='images/i_b_069.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT RIVOLI.</h2> -</div> -<div class='figleft id020'> -<img src='images/i_b_069_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_069_2.jpg' width='84' height='88' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The chain of Monte -Baldo divides the -lake of Garda from -the Adige. The high -road winds between the Adige -and the foot of the mountains, -to the extent of some leagues. -At Incanale the river washes -the very base of the mountains, -leaves no room whatever for proceeding along its bank. -The road then leaves the banks of the river, rises by a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>zig-zag direction round the sides of the mountain, and -debouches upon an extensive elevated plain, which is -that of Rivoli. It overlooks the Adige on one side, and -is encompassed on the other side by the amphitheatre -of Monte Baldo. An army in position of this <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>plateau</em></span> -commands the winding road by which the ascent to it is -made, and sweeps by its fire both banks of the Adige to -a great distance. It is very difficult to storm this <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>plateau</em></span> -in front, since you must climb up the narrow zig-zag -road before you can reach it. Therefore no one -would attempt to attack it by that single way. Before -arriving at Incanale, other roads lead to Monte Baldo, -and ascending its long and sloping acclivities terminate -at the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>plateau</em></span> of Rivoli. They are not passable either -for cavalry or for artillery, but they afford easy access -to foot soldiers, and may be made available for carrying -a considerable force in infantry upon the flanks and rear -of the body defending the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>plateau</em></span>.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Here the star of Napoleon was destined to shine with -new glory. Alvinzi commanded the principal attack on -the Tyrolese side, at the head of fifty thousand men, -and advanced his head-quarters from Bassano to Roveredo. -General Provera took the command of the -army on the lower Adige, which was twenty thousand -strong: its head-quarters were at Padua. A great many -troops appeared on different points, and some spirited -actions also took place in the course of the 12th and -13th; but the enemy had not fully unmasked his plans, -so that the moment for adopting a decisive course had -not yet arrived. On the 13th it rained very heavily, -and Napoleon had not yet resolved in what direction to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>march, whether up or down the Adige. At ten in the -evening, the accounts from Joubert, at La Corona, determined -him. It was plain that the Austrians were operating -with two independent corps, the principal attack -being intended against Monte Baldo, the minor one on -the Lower Adige. Augereau’s division appeared sufficient -to dispute the passage of the river with Provera; -but on the Monte Baldo side the danger was imminent. -There was not a moment to lose; for the enemy was -about to effect a junction with his artillery and cavalry, -by taking possession of the level of Rivoli; and if he -could be attacked before he could gain that important -point, he would be obliged to fight without artillery or -cavalry. All the troops were therefore put in motion -from the head-quarters at Verona, to reach Rivoli before -day-break; the general-in-chief proceeded to the same -point, and arrived there at two in the morning.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The weather had been rainy for several days. But -now the sky was without a cloud. The moon and stars -shone with a brilliancy peculiar to their light in this region. -The air was keen and bitter cold. The French -general, accompanied by his aids and the faithful Guides, -proceeded to a projecting rock on the heights of Monte -Maggone, to gain a complete view of the enemy, previous -to fixing the plan of battle. And now behold the group, -dismounted, and collected near the fire, Bonaparte being -in advance, with glass in hand, surveying the positions -of the enemy. Duroc, Lemarois, Murat, Berthier and -Bessieres stood together just behind him. The whole -horizon was in a blaze with the Austrian fires, and the -red glare contrasted strangely with the pure white light -<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>of the moon. Bonaparte observed and talked with his -customary precision and rapidity.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Alvinzi has at least forty-five thousand men under -his command. We have but twenty-two thousand; -while the brave Joubert, who has so nobly maintained -his position at Rivoli, has but ten thousand. The enemy -has divided his force into three columns, although I -see no less than five camps. The principal column, -will proceed along the high road between the river and -Monte Baldo, and will debouch by the winding road of -Incanale. Three divisions of infantry have climbed the -steep mountains, and will get to the field by descending -the steps of the amphitheatre formed by this chain of -heights. Another division will wind round the side of -the mountains and attempt to gain our rear.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But yonder seems to be another camp on the other -side of the Adige,” said Murat, pointing to a line of -fires.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“True,” said Bonaparte, “but that can do no damage. -It can only fire a few balls across the river. It is clear, -we must keep the plateau at all events. Posted there -we prevent the junction of the different divisions of the -enemy. We may play our artillery upon the infantry -which is deprived of its cannon, and drive back the -cavalry and artillery which must be crowded together -in a narrow, winding road. The other divisions will not -trouble us much.” Thus, with lightning-like rapidity, -did this matchless general conceive the plan which was -to give him a glorious victory.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I suppose we are to begin the battle at daybreak,” -said Duroc.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>“At daybreak! Now! now is the time!” replied the -French general, sharply. “Duroc! Joubert’s troops -have been fighting forty-eight hours, and they are now -taking a little repose. They must be aroused immediately. -Tell them for me, that they must not let Massena’s -division surpass them in endurance, and his troops -have marched by night and fought by day. Order General -Joubert to attack the advanced post of the Austrian -infantry, drive them back, and extend his force -more widely upon the plateau.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Duroc immediately spurred away to communicate the -order to Joubert.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Joubert has done well; but he should not have -abandoned yonder St. Mark’s Chapel. At all events, -I do not believe the enemy have occupied it. Duroc is -rapid in movement. The battle of Rivoli will soon -commence,” said the French general.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I wish Massena was nearer the field,” observed -Murat.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“He will be up in time, never fear. He is indomitable. -Besides, if the battle should assume a critical -aspect, I will go myself to hurry up his division. Ha! -Joubert is up like a roused lion, and in movement. -Who leads the column? Vial—a brave officer,” continued -Bonaparte. At this moment, a rattling fire of -musketry rang on the air, and from the height where -Bonaparte stood, could be seen the rapid advance of -Joubert’s troops, as well as the long line of D’Ocksky’s -column of Croats against whom the attack was directed. -Then the thunder of the artillery was heard, and clouds -of smoke curled up from the plateau.”</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>“St. Mark’s Chapel is recovered,” said Bessieres.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The Austrian infantry cannot stand against the artillery, -and they are falling back in a semicircle, with -the heights at their rear,” remarked Bonaparte.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At this moment, Liptai’s division which kept the extremity -of the enemy’s semicircle, fell upon Joubert’s -left, composed of the 89th and 25th demi-brigades, surprised -them, broke their lines and compelled them to -retire in disorder. The 14th coming immediately after -these demi-brigades formed <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>en crochet</em></span> to cover the rest -of the line, and bravely stood their ground. The Austrians -now put forth all their strength and almost overwhelmed -this little band of heroes. They made desperate -efforts to capture the artillery, the horses of which -had all been killed. They had even reached the pieces, -when a brave officer rushed forward, and exhorted the -grenadiers not to allow their guns to be taken. Fifty -men immediately rushed forward, repulsed the enemy, -harnessed themselves to the pieces, and drew them -back.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the midst of this terrible struggle, the day began -to dawn upon the field of Rivoli. Bonaparte who had -watched the progress of the fight with the keenest interest, -repeatedly making exclamations of surprise or -admiration, now perceived the critical position of affairs. -Turning to Berthier, he said quickly,</p> - -<p class='c001'>“General Berthier, I leave you in charge of my troops -at the point where they are threatened. I know you -and General Joubert can hold that position, no matter -what the number of the enemy may be. I am going -with all speed after Massena. Come, aids—Bessieres, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>mount and forward!” The whole party was quickly in -the saddle, and away, leaving the watch-fire to <a id='corr75.2'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='smoudler'>smoulder</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_75.2'><ins class='correction' title='smoudler'>smoulder</ins></a></span> -and die, as the lurid blaze of battle arose upon the -plain.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Massena’s first troops had scarcely come up, after -marching all night. Bonaparte took the 32d, already -distinguished by its exploits during the campaign, and -brought it to bear upon the left, so as to rally the two -demi-brigades, which had given way. The intrepid -Massena advanced at its head, rallied behind him the -broken troops, and overthrew all before him. He repulsed -the Austrians, and placed himself by the side of -the 14th, which had not ceased to perform prodigies of -valor. The fight was thus kept up on this point, and -the army occupied the semicircle of the plateau. But -the momentary check of the left wing had obliged Joubert -to fall back with the right; he gave ground, and -already the Austrian infantry was a second time nearing -that point which Bonaparte had such an object in compelling -him to abandon; in fact, the Austrian infantry -was about getting up to the outlet by which the winding -road of Incanale led to the plateau. At this moment, -the column composed of artillery and cavalry, and preceded -by several battalions of grenadiers, ascended -the winding road, and with incredible efforts of bravery, -repulsed the 29th. Wukassovich, from the other bank -of the Adige, sent a shower of cannon balls to protect -this kind of escalade. Already had the grenadiers -climbed the summit of the defile, and the cavalry was -debouching in their train upon the plateau. This was -not all. Lusignan’s column, whose fires had been seen -<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>at a distance, and who had been perceived on the left, -getting to the rear of the position of the French, were -now coming up to their rear, in order to cut them off -from the road to Verona, and to stop Rey, who was -coming from Castel-Novo with the division of reserve. -Lusignan’s soldiers finding themselves on the rear of -the French army, already clapped their hands, and considered -it as taken. Thus, on this plateau, closely -pressed in front by a semicircle of infantry, pressed on -the rear, on the left by a strong column, sealed on the -right by the main body of the Austrian army, and -galled by the cannon balls which came from the opposite -bank of the Adige in the direction of this plateau, Bonaparte -was alone with Joubert’s and Massena’s divisions, -in the midst of a cloud of enemies. In fact, he was -with sixteen thousand men, surrounded by forty thousand -at least.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At this anxious moment, Bonaparte was not shaken; -he retained all the fire of inspiration. On seeing Lusignan’s -Austrians, he said, “<em>Those are ours!</em>” and he -allowed them to engage without giving himself any concern -about their movement. The soldiers, conjecturing -what their general meant, experienced the same confidence, -and also repeated to one another, “<em>They are -ours!</em>” Bonaparte did not concern himself with more -than what was passing before him. His left was protected -by the heroism of the 14th and the 32d. His -right was threatened at once by the infantry which had -resumed the offensive, and by the column that was -scaling the plateau. He immediately directed decisive -movements to be effected.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>A battery of light artillery and two squadrons, under -two brave officers, Leclerc and Laselle, were ordered -to the outlet of which the enemy had taken possession. -Joubert, who, with the extreme right, had this outlet -at his back, suddenly faced about with a corps of light -infantry. All charged at once. The artillery first -poured a discharge upon all that had debouched; the -cavalry and light infantry then charged with vigor. -Joubert’s horse was killed under him; he got up nowise -daunted, and rushed upon the enemy with a musket in -his hand. All that had debouched, grenadiers, cavalry, -artillery, all were hurled pell-mell headlong down the -winding road of Incanale. The confusion was awful; -some pieces of cannon firing down into the defile, augmented -the terror and confusion. At every step, the -French killed and made prisoners.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Having cleared the plateau of the assailants who had -scaled it, Bonaparte again returned to his attacks -against the infantry which was ranged in semicircle before -him, and set Joubert upon it with the light infantry, -and Laselle with two hundred hussars. On this new -attack, consternation seized that infantry, now deprived -of all hope of effecting a junction with the main body; -it fled in confusion. The French semicircular line then -moved from right to left, drove back the Austrians -against the amphitheatre of Monte Baldo, and pursued -them as far as possible into the mountains. Bonaparte -then returned, and proceeded to realize his prediction -upon Lusignan’s division. That body, on witnessing -the disasters of the Austrian army, soon perceived what -would be its own fate. Bonaparte, after firing upon it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>with grape-shot, ordered the 18th and the 75th demi-brigades -to charge. These brave demi-brigades moved -onwards, singing the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>chant du départ</em></span>, and drove Lusignan -back by the road which Rey was coming up with the -reserve. The Austrian corps at first made a stand, -then retreated, and came full butt upon the advanced -guard of Rey’s division. Terrified at this sight, it sought -the clemency of the conqueror, and laid down its arms, -to the number of four thousand men. Two thousand -had been taken in the defile of the Adige.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was five o’clock. The Austrian army was almost -annihilated. Lusignan was taken. The infantry which -had advanced from the mountains, was flying over the -rugged declivities. The principal column was pent up -on the bank of the river, while the subordinate division -of Wukassovich was an idle spectator of the disaster, -separated by the Adige from the field of battle. The -French general had had several horses killed under him, -and had received several slight wounds, but in spite of -his constant activity and exposure, he was still ready -to follow up his victory immediately. The battle of -La Favorita ensued, in which the army of Provera was -annihilated. In three days, twenty-three thousand men -were captured. Massena’s troops had marched and -fought four days and nights, without any considerable -intermission. The intrepid general himself, afterwards -received the title of Duke of Rivoli. Mantua was at -the feet of Bonaparte, and Italy was won.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id006'> -<img src='images/i_b_078.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i079' class='figcenter id021'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span> -<img src='images/i_b_079.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>BONAPARTE CROSSING THE ALPS AT TARWIS.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE ALPS.</h2> -</div> -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_079_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_079_1.jpg' width='200' height='207' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Although Bonaparte had performed -amazing, and, in some -respects, unparalleled, exploits -in Italy, there was a general -disposition among both Frenchmen -and foreigners to set up -inferior commanders as his -rivals. Now it was Moreau, -then Massena; then Hoche, and then the young Archduke -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>Charles, of Austria. The last mentioned had attained -a high reputation by a campaign in which he -triumphed over Generals Moreau and Jourdan, but his -valor and skill, although great, were overrated, as Bonaparte -and Massena soon rendered evident.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Archduke took command of the Austrian army -of Italy, and on the 6th of February, 1797, advanced -his head-quarter to <a id='corr80.8'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='sic: Innsbruck'>Innspruck</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_80.8'><ins class='correction' title='sic: Innsbruck'>Innspruck</ins></a></span>. During that month, his -engineers visited the passes of the Julien and Noric -Alps, which it had been designed to fortify. Napoleon, -having about fifty-three thousand troops under his command, -resolved to astonish his enemy by a rapid and -daring march upon the passes of the Alps before they -could be fortified. He formed the plan of a campaign, -the great object of which was the Austrian capital, Vienna, -and the execution was as prompt as the conception -was bold. The Tagliamento was passed, and the -enemy completely defeated; the passes of the Alps -were carried, after a tremendous struggle. Joubert -beat the Austrians in the Tyrol, the Archduke’s reputation -was reduced to its proper dimensions, and Vienna -trembled, having no means of resisting the all-conquering -Bonaparte. Tarwis is the loftiest pass of the Noric -Alps. It is above the clouds and is generally covered -with snow and ice, which give it a desolate and terrible -aspect. It overlooks Germany and Dalmatia. At this -point the roads leading to Italy and Trieste separate; -the road to Italy running west, and that leading to -Trieste running south. At this place, Bonaparte fixed -his head-quarters, shortly after the pass had been captured -by the indomitable Massena. It was the last -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>day of March. The weather was intensely cold, and -and the body of troops accompanying the French general -suffered severely. Bonaparte and his aids were -snugly quartered in the rude chalets, which are the only -habitations upon the height of Tarwis. The soldiers -were grouped amid a cordon of fires, the fuel for which -they had brought from a great distance below, with a -vast amount of labor and difficulty. Yet they shivered -beside the crackling blaze. It was a wild and startling -scene. The night was cloudy—the wind, keen and furious. -The red glare of the fires was reflected by walls -of ice and blood-stained snow. As the soldiers wrapped -themselves in their blankets, crept as close to the fires -as they could get, and conversed with a French attempt -at gaiety, they were surprised to see their beloved general, -accompanied by Berthier and Duroc, come out -of a chalet, to examine their condition, and speak a -word of cheer.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“A freezing time, men; but it will be hot enough -soon,” he remarked to a group of veterans.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The cold is more terrible than the Austrians, general,” -said one of them, with an attempt at a laugh.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But it cannot conquer the conquerors of Italy,” replied -Bonaparte. Thus he went among the brave men -who followed his standard, and thus he communicated -his own spirit to all with whom he came in contact. -After traversing the whole ground occupied by the -troops, the French general returned to his quarters to -repose.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Beneath a kind of shed in the rear of the chalet, several -of the Guides were seated round a cheerful fire, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>smoking pipes and conversing of the recent actions and -their thrilling incidents. Among them were Bessieres -and Lemarois. The wall of the chalet, which formed -the rear of the shed, served to keep off the fury of the -wind, so that this place was comfortable, compared with -the position of the soldiers. Besides, the hearts of -these veterans had been gladdened with abundance of -good eating at the chalet, and satisfaction was evident -in their faces. The manly face of Bessieres, wore that -expression of calm circumspection, which it never lost -in the thickest of battle.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The passage of the Tagliamento,” said this brave -leader, “will take rank with any similar exploit, recorded -in history.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“It must be acknowledged that the archduke had -posted his forces in an admirable style,” said young -Lemarois. “His artillery covered the level shingle of -the river, and his fine cavalry, deployed on the wings, -so as to be brought rapidly into service, was an admirable -disposition.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Yes,” said Bessieres, “but as usual, the character -of the manœuvres which defeated the Austrians throws -all their dispositions into insignificance. Was there -ever a general so fertile of stratagem as Bonaparte? -See how quickly he determined upon a plan to diminish -the vigilance of the enemy! An immense number of -men might have been lost if he had attempted the passage -of the river as soon as he reached its banks. But -he valued the lives of his soldiers too much, to throw -them away, when a simple stratagem could save them. -The Austrians naturally supposed that after marching -<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>all night, he wanted rest, and when the general ordered -us to halt and begin to partake of our soup, they were -completely deceived. How the archduke must have -opened his eyes, when he saw us get suddenly in motion -at noon!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The disposition of our forces was so admirable that -it made some of our own skilful officers open their eyes,” -said Lemarois. “Look at it! Guyeux’s division on -the left, and Bernadotte’s on the right, by which arrangement -the troops of Italy and the soldiers of the Rhine -were brought into a noble rivalry. Then battalions of -grenadiers were formed. At the head of each division -was placed the light infantry, ready to disperse as -sharp-shooters, then the grenadiers who were to charge, -and the dragoons who were to support them. Each -demi-brigade had its first battalions, deployed in line, -and the two others arranged in close column on the -wings of the first. The cavalry hovered on the wings. -A finer disposition could not have been made.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Crossing the river was a glorious scene!” said Bessieres. -“The light infantry covered the bank with a -cloud of sharp-shooters. Then the grenadiers entered -the water. ‘Soldiers of the <a id='corr83.23'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Rhine!”'>Rhine!’</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_83.23'><ins class='correction' title='Rhine!”'>Rhine!’</ins></a></span> exclaimed Bernadotte, -‘the army of Italy has its eyes upon you.’ Each -division displayed the utmost bravery in the charge; we -can make no distinction between them.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“No, indeed,” observed a grim-visaged Guide, who -sat next to <a id='corr83.28'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Bessieres.” Our'>Bessieres. “Our</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_83.28'><ins class='correction' title='Bessieres.” Our'>Bessieres. “Our</ins></a></span> soldiers called the troops -of the Rhine <em>the contingent</em>, and treated them with the -greatest contempt before the battle. A number of sabre -cuts were exchanged on account of this raillery. But -<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>the contingent proved themselves worthy of any army -at Tagliamento. They drove the Austrians before them -like a flock of <a id='corr84.3'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='sheep.'>sheep.”</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_84.3'><ins class='correction' title='sheep.'>sheep.”</ins></a></span></p> - -<p class='c001'>“All acted in a manner worthy of France,” said Lemarois. -“The archduke was routed and the line of the -Tagliamento cleared in a remarkably short time.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“What is the name of that general of cavalry who -was captured?” inquired one of the Guides—a burly -fellow, with a good-humored cast of countenance.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I forget his name,” replied Bessieres; “but I cannot -forget that he is a brave man, and that he fought -with a courage and resolution which put most of his -countrymen to shame.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“To be just, however,” observed Lemarois, “there -are many gallant officers in the Austrian army. It is -not their fault if they have not a Bonaparte to bring -victory to their standard. They have a large number -of hearts following their flag, as intrepid as old Wurmser. -But strange to say, they have never had a first class -general.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“That’s about the truth of the matter,” commented -the burly Guide.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“By the way, Jacques,” said Bessieres, “it seems to -be getting colder as the night advances. Put on a -little more of that wood. Its bad enough fuel, though, -for it smokes abominably.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Jacques was the burly Guide previously alluded to. -He obeyed the order of his commander.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The men outside ought to have plenty of provision -to console them amid their sufferings on such a night. -They will scarcely dare to sleep,” said Lemarois.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>“I saw our general out among them a short time -ago,” replied Bessieres. “A few sympathetic words -from him will do more than any amount of provision.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“That’s a fact,” said the grim veteran who sat next -to the commander of the Guides. “They know that -he feels for them, and that he would help them if he -could. See there at St. George, an outpost of Mantua, -where there was a necessity for constant vigilance, -to prevent Provera from surprising us, and relieving -Wurmser. The general visiting one of the outposts -at night, found a sentinel lying at the foot of a tree, -where he had fallen fast asleep from exhaustion. He -took the soldier’s musket and walked backwards and -forwards on sentry for more than half an hour. Suddenly -the soldier started up, and was terrified at seeing -General Bonaparte on duty; he expected nothing less -than death. But the general spoke kindly to him, told -him that after his great fatigues, he wanted sleep; but -cautioned him against chosing such a time. That is the -way for a general to make heroes out of soldiers. That -sentinel would have risked his life at any time to give -victory to General Bonaparte.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Bonaparte is every inch of a general, a soldier and -a man,” said Bessieres.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Some miserable judges wish to set up this young -Archduke Charles as a rival to our general,” said -Lemarois. “Why, this battle of Tarwis, in which he -had every thing in his favor, proves that he is not by -a great deal, up to the measure of Massena.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Have you heard the full particulars of the struggle -at this pass?” inquired Bessieres. “Battles come so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>rapidly, that it is difficult to gain a complete knowledge -of them.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I was present when an officer of Massena’s division -who participated in the fight communicated the intelligence,” -replied Lemarois. “While we were advancing -to Gradisca, General Massena pressed forward, reached -this pass, and made himself master of it without much -difficulty. The division of Bayalitsch, proceeding across -the sources of the Izonzo to anticipate Massena at the -pass, would therefore find the outlet closed. The -Archduke Charles, foreseeing this result, left the rest -of his army on the Friule and Carniola road, with -orders to come and rejoin him behind the Alps at Klagenfurt; -he then himself made the utmost haste to -Villach, where numerous detachments were coming up -from the Rhine, to make a fresh attack on the pass, to -drive Massena from it, and to re-open the road for -Bayalitsch’s division. Bonaparte, on his side, left -Bernadotte’s division to pursue the divisions that were -retreating into Carniola, and with Guyeux’s and Serrurier’s -divisions, proceeded to harass the Bayalitsch -division in its rear, in its passage through the valley of -the Izonzo. Prince Charles, after rallying behind the -Alps the wrecks of Lusignan and Orksay, who had -lost the pass, reinforced them with six thousand grenadiers, -the finest and bravest soldiers in the imperial -service, and again attacked the pass, where Massena -had left scarcely a detachment. He succeeded in -recovering it, and posted himself here with the regiments -of Lusignan and Orksay, and the six thousand -grenadiers. Massena collected his whole division, in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>order to carry it again. Both generals were sensible of -the importance of this point. Tarwis retaken, the French -army would be masters of the Alps, and would make -prisoners of the whole of Bayalitsch’s division. Massena -rushed on headlong with his brave infantry, and -suffered as usual in person. Prince Charles was not -less chary of himself than the republican general, and -several times ran the risk of being taken by the French -riflemen. Whole lines of cavalry were thrown down -and broken on this frightful field of battle. At length, -after having brought forward his last battalion, the -Archduke Charles abandoned Tarwis to his pertinacious -adversary, and found himself compelled to sacrifice -Bayalitsch’s division. Massena, left master of Tarwis, -fell down upon that division which now came up, -attacked it in front, while it was pressed in the rear by -the divisions of Guyeux and Serrurier. That division -had no other resource than to be made prisoners; and -our army captured all the baggage, artillery and ammunition -of the enemy that had followed this route. For -my part, I think that a good general could have maintained -this pass against a greatly superior force.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“It is a strong position, and it does not appear -to me that it could be turned,” observed Bessieres. -“However,” continued he, rising, “the pass is ours; -Joubert has beaten the enemy and will soon join us; -the archduke is completely beaten, and there is scarcely -an obstacle in the way of a march to Vienna. These -are the results of a march as daring and skilful as any -ever conceived by a general. So much glory for General -Bonaparte, and renown to the arms of France. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>Come, Lemarois, we will enter the chalet, and strive to -gain some repose. Keep up your spirits, men, and -above all keep up the fire. Good night!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>And keen and swiftly blew the Alpine wind, and -redly blazed the fires of Tarwis till the light of day -arose from the ashes of the night. Then the French -general pursued his march. He united his forces; -Vienna was threatened, and the treaty of Campo Formio -was extorted from Austria.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_088.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i089fp' class='figcenter id022'> -<img src='images/i_b_089fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON’S ARRIVAL IN EGYPT <span class='small'>p. 89</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i089' class='figcenter id005'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span> -<img src='images/i_b_089.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c013'>THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE NILE.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_089_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_089_1.jpg' width='200' height='185' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The evening of the 21st of -July, 1798, had cast its -shadows on the Nile. Although -the day had been -excessively warm, the air -was now cool and pleasant. -The full moon was gradually -deepening the placid -splendor of her light, and -giving a silvery sheen to the winding waters of the river. -On an elevated terrace, in the distance, could be distinguished -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>the bold and gorgeous minarets and gilded -domes of Cairo. The villages of Bulak and Shoubra -were nestled on the river banks, overlooking a vast -extent of cultivated plain, rich in vineyards and grain. -The great obelisk of Heliopolis stood out against the -eastern sky; and the vast Lybian desert stretched -away in desolation to the west. In the midst of this -sea of sand, could be faintly distinguished the awful -forms of the great pyramids of Ghizeh, from which -that day, “forty centuries had looked down,” upon the -victory achieved by Bonaparte over the Mameluke -tyrants of Egypt.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The French were encamped upon the banks of the -Nile; and the light of their watch-fires could be seen -for a great distance along the river. The victorious -general was at Ghizeh, having fixed his quarters in the -country-seat of Murad Bey. But although the watch-fires -were burning, the soldiers of the conquering army -were not gathered around them. No; the spoils of -victory would not let them rest. They had suffered -much in the dreary march towards Cairo, and fought -bravely in overcoming the gallant cavalry of the -Egyptian army, and now very naturally sought to -repay themselves for their hardships and toils. The -field of battle was covered with the troops, who were -engaged in stripping the valuable articles from the -bodies of the slain Mamelukes. Among the spoils -thus obtained were splendid shawls, weapons of fine -workmanship, purses, some of which contained as many -as two and three hundred pieces of gold; for the -Mamelukes carried all their ready money on their -<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>persons. More than a thousand of these Egyptian -warriors had been drowned in the Nile; and even now, -by the light of the moon, the French troops were -engaged in dragging for the bodies, to swell the amount -of their booty. A more indefatigable set of spoil-seekers -never won a victory.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_091.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>TURKISH ENCAMPMENT.</p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i092' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_092.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON AT THE PYRAMIDS. <span class='small'>Page 93.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>The Mamelukes had sixty vessels on the Nile, containing -the bulk of their riches. In consequence of -the unexpected result of the battle, they lost all hope -of saving them, and set them on fire. The great blaze -suddenly rising to the sky, caused the French troops to -pause in the midst of their search for valuables. They -knew the contents of those vessels, and they beheld -the gradual destruction of those vast treasures with -feelings of disappointment not easily delineated. During -the whole night, through the volumes of smoke and -flame, the French could perceive the forms of the -minarets and buildings of Cairo and the City of the -Dead; and the red glare was even gloriously reflected by -the Pyramids. To increase the terrors of the scene, the -wild and treacherous populace of Cairo, learning the -disasters of their countrymen, set fire to the splendid -palaces of the Beys, and these great edifices blazed -and crackled up against the sky throughout the night.</p> - -<p class='c001'>About nine, in the evening, Bonaparte, accompanied -by Berthier, Desaix, Lannes, Regnier, and nearly all -his principal officers, and even a number of the privates, -entered the country-house of Murad Bey, at Ghizeh. -This residence presented a magnificent appearance at -a distance, and a close inspection disclosed many -additional beauties. But it was a point of some difficulty -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>at first to make it serve for a lodging, or to comprehend -the distribution of the apartments. But what -chiefly struck the officers with surprise, was the great -quantity of cushions and divans covered with the finest -damasks and Lyons silks, and ornamented with gold -fringe. For the first time, they found the luxury and -arts of Europe in Egypt—the cradle of luxury and -arts. Bonaparte and his staff explored this singular -structure in every direction. The gardens were full of -magnificent trees, but without avenues, and not unlike -the gardens in some of the nunneries of Italy. The -soldiers were much elated at the discovery of large -arbors of vines, burdened with the finest grapes in the -world. The rapid vintage excited the laughter of the -French generals, who, themselves, joined in the scramble -for the delicious fruit.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the meantime, the two divisions of Bon and -Menou, which had remained behind in an entrenched -camp, were equally well supplied. Among the baggage -taken, had been found a great number of canteens -full of preserves, both of confectionary and sweetmeats, -besides carpets, porcelain, vases of perfume, and a multitude -of little elegancies used by the Mamelukes. All -these luxuries had been purchased by the oppression -of the mass of the Egyptians, and it was but a stroke -of justice which took them from the oppressor.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i094fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_094fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS. <span class='small'>Page 94.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id023'> -<img src='images/i_b_095.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>COSTUMES OF CAIRO.</p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<p class='c001'>The French troops, who had murmured much while -traversing the hot sands of the desert, now fell in -love with Egypt, and began to hope for a career of -easy conquest and rare enjoyment. Their general -was pleased at their change of tone, and permitted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>them to revel amidst the fruits of their labor and -endurance.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Bonaparte and his officers spent the greater part of -the night in exploring the residence of Murad Bey. -Towards morning they reclined upon its luxurious -couches, and while the conflagration raged without, and -the soldiers were revelling among the spoil, these -veteran officers indulged in repose. A short time previous -these gallant men had shared Bonaparte’s doubt -and anxiety as he stood upon the deck of a vessel, in -the harbor of Alexandria, viewing the shores of the -land of the Pharoahs. Now they could sleep in the -confidence of continued victory.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the 20th of July, the young conqueror of the -Pyramids, entered Grand Cairo, receiving the humble -submission of the <a id='corr97.16'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Shieks'>sic</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_97.16'><ins class='correction' title='Shieks'>sic</ins></a></span> and the shouts of the thronging -populace. The capital of Egypt was in the power -of the French.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id013'> -<img src='images/i_b_097.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i097fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_097fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON ENTERING CAIRO. <span class='small'>Page 97.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i098' class='figcenter id013'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span> -<img src='images/i_b_098.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT MOUNT TABOR.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='figleft id024'> -<img src='images/i_b_098_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_098_2.jpg' width='50' height='86' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -In Lower Galilee, to the -north-east of the great -plain of Esdraelon, rises -an eminence rendered -intensely interesting by memories -sacred and profane. It -is Mount Tabor. Although -surrounded by chains of -mountains on nearly all sides, -it is the only one that stands -entirely aloof from its neighbors. The figure of the -mount approaches that of a semi-sphere, and presents a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>regular appearance. Its ground figure is usually described -as round; and, indeed, seems to be perfectly so to those -coming from the midst of the great plain, or from the -sea of Galilee. But, in reality, it is really somewhat -longer from east to west than broad, so that its true -figure is oval. The height of this mountain has never -been subjected to actual measurement. It appears, however, -that it occupies three hours to travel round the -base of the mountain; that an hour is generally required -to reach the summit by a circuitous path, and that the -plain upon the top of the eminence is seldom traversed -in less time than half an hour.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i098fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_098fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON AT MOUNT TABOR. <span class='small'>Page 98.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>The mountain is inaccessible except on the north, -where the ascent offers so little difficulty that there are -few parts which suggest to the traveler the prudence or -necessity of dismounting from his horse. This remarkable -mountain offers so rare a combination of the bold -and beautiful, that pilgrims of all ages have expatiated -upon its glories with untiring wonder and delight. The -trees of various species, and the bushes always green, -with which it is invested, and the small groves with -which it is crowned, contribute no less than its figure -to its perfect beauty. Ounces, wild boars, gazelles, and -hares, are among the animals which find shelter in its -more wooded parts; while the trees are tenanted by -“birds of every wing,” whose warblings and motions -beguile the fatigues of the ascent. “The path,” says Mr. -Stephens, “wound around the mountain, and gave us a -view from all its different sides, every step presenting -something new, and more and more beautiful, until all -was completely forgotten and lost in the exceeding loveliness -<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>of the view from the summit. Stripped of every -association, and considered merely as an elevation commanding -a view of unknown valleys and mountains, I -never saw a mountain which, for beauty of scene, better -repaid the toil of ascending it.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The view it commands is magnificent. To the north, -in successive ranges, are the mountains of Galilee, backed -by the mighty Lebanon; and Safet, as always, stands -out in prominent relief. To the north-east is the Mount -of Beatitudes, with its peculiar outline and interesting -associations; behind which rise Great Hermon, and the -whole chain of Anti-Lebanon. To the east are the hills -of the Haouran, and the country of the Gadarenes, below -which the eye catches a glimpse of the Lake of Tiberius, -while to the south-east it crosses the valley of the -Jordan, and rests on the high land of Bashan. Due -south rise the mountains of Gilboa, and behind them -those of Samaria, stretching far to the west. On the -south-south-west the villages of Endor and Nain are seen -on the Little Hermon. Mount Carmel and the Bay of -Acre appear on the north-west; and towards them flows, -through the fertile plains of Esdraelon, “that great -river, the River Kishon,” now dwindled into a little -stream. Each feature in this prospect is beautiful: the -eye and mind are delighted; and, by a combination of -objects and associations, unusual to fallen man, earthly -scenes, which more than satisfy the external sense, -elevate the soul to heavenly contemplations.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i101' class='figcenter id025'> -<img src='images/i_b_101.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>JUNOT.</p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>The beautiful upper plain is inclosed by a wall,—probably -the same which was built by Josephus, when -Governor of Galilee,—and contains some ruins, which -<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>are probably those of the two monasteries, which, according -to William of Tyre, were built here by Godfrey -of Bouillon, in the place of others of earlier date which -the Moslems had destroyed. The plain has at different -times been under cultivation; but when, from oppression -or fear, abandoned by the cultivator, it becomes a -table of rich grass and wild flowers, which send forth a -most refreshing and luxurious odor. In summer the -dews fall copiously on Tabor, and a strong wind blows -over it all day.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Tabor is chiefly interesting to the Christian, however, -as the supposed scene of the Transfiguration, -when Christ appeared in glory, with Moses, and Elias. -To the reader of profane history and the student of -the career of Napoleon Bonaparte, it is also rendered -interesting as the scene of a decisive victory gained -by the French general over some of the bravest forces -of the East.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was the night of the 16th of April. The victorious -French had encamped at the foot of Mount Tabor. -The evening had set in calmly and beautifully, above -a plain heaped with the dead of the annihilated army, -but the deep shadows of night had scarcely descended, -before the French general-in-chief ordered all the villages -of the Naplousians to be set on fire; and although -they were distant, their red light was so glaring, that -it illumined the field of battle and the camp of the -victors, and rendered evident many ghastly features -of the scene.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At the tent of General Kleber were assembled that -gallant officer, Junot, Murat and Bon. Bonaparte was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>in his tent, surrounded by his faithful Guides. Just -outside of the line of tents the watch-fires were -brightly burning, and the sentinels paced up and down -with solemn tread. Kleber, and his brothers in glory, -were seated on camp-stools around a table, on which -were several bottles of wine. After Napoleon himself, -Kleber was the most remarkable man of the army of -Egypt. See him there, with his large and powerful -frame—his great head of shaggy hair, his quick, -piercing eyes, prominent features, and slovenly costume. -Great-souled Jean Baptiste Kleber! The revolution -found him a peaceful architect. He entered the -ranks as a grenadier, and rose to be esteemed a military -genius indispensable to France, and a commander as -humane and generous as he was brave and skilful. -Always peevish, he yet was guilty of no bitterness of -action—mean conduct was with him an impossibility. -Opposite Kleber sat Andoche Junot. His mild, pleasant, -handsome features expressed nothing of the indomitable -spirit which he ever displayed in action; but his eyes -were quick and intelligent. His costume was much -cut and soiled by the desperate service he had performed -during the last two days. Murat was as usual -finely dressed. He seemed weary, and drank deeply -to revive his spirits. Most terrible had been the -slaughter of his sabres that day on the banks of the -Jordan. General Bon had nothing remarkable in his -appearance. The expression of his sun-burned countenance -was that of firmness, united with intelligence -and promptitude.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i106fp' class='figcenter id026'> -<img src='images/i_b_105fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON AT ACRE. <span class='small'>Page 105.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>“I wonder how things go on at Acre,” said Junot.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>“Bad as usual,” replied Kleber. “The place cannot -be taken, that is evident. It was clear to me long ago, -that Sidney Smith, and the engineer Philippeaux have -stimulated the troops to extraordinary exertions. They -repulse every assault; and as we have no siege trains, -where is our chance for taking the town. Nowhere, -nowhere—and so I told General Bonaparte—the stubborn -specimen of lean genius. We shall waste our -army before the walls of that place, and gain nothing; -whereas, if the siege were raised, we might yet do much -for Egypt.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Then here must end our general’s grand project -for striking a blow at the English dominion in Asia,” -observed Bon.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Aye,” said Kleber, “and it was folly to entertain -such projects after the destruction of our fleet at Aboukir, -by that confounded Englishman, Nelson. The most -we could hope to do after that was to consolidate our -empire in Egypt, and that would have been no ordinary -task. But this ‘Little Corporal,’ will not listen to any -one.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The march to El Arisch, across that burning desert -was bad enough; but I’m afraid that we shall have the -same thing to do again, under worse circumstances,” -said Murat.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But this battle has won us glories enough to atone -for many hardships,” remarked Junot. “At first the -prospect was desperate enough.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“You, Junot, have certainly increased your reputation,” -said Bon. “The advanced guard which you -commanded consisted of, at most, but five hundred men. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>Yet with that force you dared to encounter the enemy -on the 8th, and not only covered the field with their -dead, but took five stand of colors, and came off with -but little loss.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Very well, but that is scarcely worthy of mention -when we consider the long and successful defence -made by Kleber’s whole division on the ground.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“If I had not arrived too late last night, I might -have surprised the Turkish army, and then that long -defence would have been unnecessary. I designed to -<a id='corr106.11'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='attemp'>attempt</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_106.11'><ins class='correction' title='attemp'>attempt</ins></a></span> the surprise,” said Kleber.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The number of the enemy surprised me this morning, -when they were drawn up in battle array,” said Junot. -“Fifteen thousand infantry occupied the village of -Fouli, and more than twelve thousand horse were drawn -up in the plain, while we had scarcely three thousand -infantry in square.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“They made an imposing show, but they were met -with such steady bravery, and such a blaze of fire, that -their ranks seemed to melt away like mist before the -sun,” said Kleber. “However, it was well that General -Bonaparte came up. The furious charges of the -Turkish cavalry had begun to make an impression on -my ranks, and it is probable enough they might have -been broken in the course of the afternoon, if the -general-in-chief had not brought up your division, Bon, -and made those admirable dispositions, which placed -the enemy between two fires, and soon put them to the -rout. A tremendous fire discharged from three points -of the triangle, sent the Mamelukes away in heaps. -We took the village of Fouli—yes, Fouli, you call it—and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>then finished the enemy by putting them -to soak in the waters of the Jordan. It has been a -glorious day.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Six thousand French have destroyed an army which -the Naplousians stated could no more be numbered -than the stars in the heavens and the sands on the seashore,” -observed Junot. “Well, we may fail in the -conquest of the East, but this victory cannot be forgotten.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Besides glory,” said Kleber, “it may be as well -to mention that the booty taken is worth considerable. -The Turkish camp was well supplied with both necessaries -and luxuries. We have taken four hundred -camels, and the other booty is sufficient to satisfy our -soldiers.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“And see,” said Bon, “the Naplousians will have -reason to remember us,” and he pulled aside the canvass -of the tent and pointed to the red light of the -burning villages.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At this moment, General Bonaparte appeared at the -door of the tent, in company with Bessieres. The -young general looked much worn and fatigued. His -figure was stouter than it had been during the campaign -of Italy; but his stern countenance still showed -the hollow cheeks and sunken eyes, caused by the constant -and powerful workings of his genius. His costume -was much soiled, and its appearance indicated his -want of attention to such matters during the press of -the business of life and death. He held some papers -in his hand.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Generals, I hope I do not interrupt your conversation. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>But business like ours admits of no delay. I -set off at day-break for Acre, where I am determined -to press the siege with renewed vigor. I have reason -to dread that a large Turkish army will soon be landed -near the mouth of the Nile, and if Acre is to be taken -at all, we must accomplish the feat very speedily; and -it must be taken,” said Bonaparte, in his emphatic -way.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Must be taken,” said Kleber, always outspoken. -“My opinion is that the siege will cost us many valuable -lives, and yet not be successful. Every day -increases the difficulties of our safe return to Cairo.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Yes, yes,” said Bonaparte, impatiently, “but it will -not do to let this Englishman, Sidney Smith, and his -Turks, baffle the conquerors of Italy and Egypt. -General Kleber, you will lead your division back to -Acre; and you, General Bon, will follow. We have -annihilated our foes in this quarter, and have nothing -more to fear from them. Hasten your march to Acre, -and, doubtless, with a few more determined efforts, that -town will be in our hands.” So saying, he bowed, and -hurried out of the tent.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“A man destined to do great things; but destined -to be mistaken in his present enterprise,” observed -Kleber.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Murat now proposed a ride over the field of battle, -before retiring to repose. The others agreed, and all -were soon mounted, and cantering away along the line -of the camp-fires, and among the heaps of the dead. -A large number of the French soldiers were engaged -in searching for valuables among the bodies of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>Mamelukes, and to the inquiries of the generals, they -responded that they were reaping a full harvest. -Around the line occupied by the troops of Kleber’s -division, was seen the wall of carcasses which had -served as a protection to those gallant men, when they -had become extremely fatigued by the struggle against -the overwhelming numbers of the enemy. The light -of the burning villages, and the watch-fires, was quite -sufficient to enable them to pursue their spoil-seeking -occupation. After riding over the whole field, the -generals separated, and each sought his tent to stretch -himself for repose, and to dream of the glorious incidents -of the victory of Mount Tabor.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id027'> -<img src='images/i_b_109.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i110' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span> -<img src='images/i_b_110.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT ABOUKIR.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_110_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_110_1.jpg' width='200' height='162' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_7'> -The battle of Aboukir, was, -perhaps, the only instance -in the history of war, in -which a hostile army was -utterly annihilated by an -inferior force. The victory, -therefore, was one of the -most splendid which Bonaparte -ever achieved. The Turkish army, conveyed by -the squadron of Sir Sidney Smith, anchored in Aboukir -Bay on the 11th of July, 1799.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>The place fixed upon by the English for their landing, -was the peninsula which defends this road, and which -bears the same name. This narrow peninsula runs out -between the sea and Lake Madieh, and has a fort at its -extremity. Bonaparte had ordered Marmont, who commanded -at Alexandria, to improve the defences of the -fort, and to destroy the village of Aboukir, situated -around it. But, instead of destroying the village, he -thought it better to keep the place in order to lodge -the soldiers there; and it had merely been surrounded -by a redoubt to protect it on the land side. But the -redoubt not joining on both sides the sea, did not present -the appearance of a close work, and put the fort -on the same footing as a simple field-work. The Turks, -in fact, landed with great boldness, attacked the intrenchments -sword in hand, carried them, and made -themselves masters of the village of Aboukir, putting -the garrison to the sword. The village being taken, the -fort could no longer hold out, and it was obliged to -surrender. Marmont, who commanded at Alexandria, -had issued forth, at the head of twelve hundred men, to -hasten to the assistance of the troops at Aboukir. But -learning that the Turks had landed in considerable -numbers, he durst not attempt to drive them into the -sea by a bold attack. He returned to Alexandria, and -left them to quietly take up their position on the peninsula -of Aboukir.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Turks amounted to nearly eighteen thousand -infantry. These were not the miserable Fellahs who -had composed the infantry of the Mamelukes; but -brave janizaries, carrying a musket without bayonet, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>slinging it at their back after firing, and rushing -pistol and sword in hand upon the enemy. They -had a numerous and well-served artillery, and were -under the direction of English officers. They had no -cavalry, for they had not brought more than three -hundred horses; but they expected Murad Bey, who -was to leave Upper Egypt, proceed along the desert, -cross the oasis, and throw himself into Aboukir with -two or three thousand Mamelukes.</p> - -<p class='c001'>When Bonaparte was informed of the particulars of -the landing, he left Cairo instantly, and made from that -city to Alexandria one of those extraordinary marches -of which he had given so many instances in Italy. He -took with him the divisions of Lannes, Bon, and Murat. -He had ordered Desaix to evacuate Upper Egypt, and -Kleber and Regnier, who were in the Delta, to bring -themselves nearer Aboukir. He had chosen the point -of Birket, midway between Alexandria and Aboukir, -in order to concentrate his forces thither, and to manœuvre -according to circumstances. He was very -fearful lest an English army had landed with the -Turks.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Murad Bey, according to the plan settled with Mustapha -Pacha, had tried a descent into Lower Egypt; -but being met and beaten by Murat, he had been -obliged to regain the desert. There was now nothing -left but the Turkish army to fight, destitute as it was -of cavalry, but yet encamped behind intrenchments, -and disposed to stand its ground there with its usual -pertinacity. Bonaparte, after inspecting Alexandria -and the admirable works executed by Colonel Cretin, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>and after reprimanding Marmont, his lieutenant, who -had not dared to attack the Turks at the moment of -landing, left Alexandria on the 6th Thermidor, <a id='corr113.2'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='(July 24th.'>(July 24th.)</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_113.2'><ins class='correction' title='(July 24th.'>(July 24th.)</ins></a></span> Next day, the 7th, he was at the entrance of -the peninsula. His plan was to inclose the Turkish -army by intrenchments, and to await the arrival of all -his divisions, for all he had with him were no more than -the divisions of Lannes, Bon, and Murat, about six -thousand men. But on observing the arrangements -made by the Turks, he altered his intentions, and resolved -to attack them immediately, hoping to inclose -them in the village of Aboukir, and to overwhelm them -with bombs and howitzers.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Turks occupied the furthest end of the peninsula, -which is very narrow. They were covered by two lines -of intrenchments. Half a league in advance of the village -of Aboukir, where their camp was, they had occupied -two round sand-hills, supported the one on the sea, -the other on Lake Madieh, and thus forming their right -and left. In the centre of these two hillocks was a -village, which they had likewise kept. They had one -thousand men on the hillock to the right, two thousand -on the hillock to the left, and three or four thousand -men in the village. Such was their first line. The -second was at the village of Aboukir itself. It consisted -of the redoubt constructed by the French, and was connected -with the sea by two trenches. It was there -that they had stationed their principal camp and the -bulk of their forces.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Bonaparte made his arrangements with his usual -promptitude and decision. He ordered General <a id='corr114.1'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Desstaing'>Destaing</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_114.1'><ins class='correction' title='Desstaing'>Destaing</ins></a></span>, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>with some battalions, to march to the hill on the -left, where one thousand Turks were posted; Lannes -to march to that on the right, where the two thousand -others were; and Murat, who was at the centre, to make -the cavalry file on the rear of the two hillocks. These -arrangements were executed with great precision. Destaing -marched to the hillock on the left, and boldly -climbed it; Murat contrived to get at its rear with a -troop of cavalry. The Turks, when they saw this, abandoned -their post, fell in with the cavalry, which cut -them in pieces, and drove them into the sea, into which -they chose rather to throw themselves than to surrender. -The same operation was executed on the right. -Lannes attacked the two thousand Mamelukes, Murat -got at their rear; and they were in like manner cut to -pieces and driven into the sea. Destaing and Lannes -then moved towards the centre, formed by a village, and -attacked it in front. The Turks there defended themselves -bravely, relying upon assistance from the second -line. A column in fact was detached from the camp of -Aboukir; but Murat, who had already filed upon the -rear of the village, cut this column in pieces, and drove -it back into Aboukir. Destaing’s infantry and that of -Lannes entered the village at the charge step, driving -the Turks out of it, who were dispersed in all directions, -and who obstinately refusing to surrender, had no other -retreat than the sea, wherein they were drowned.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Already four or five thousand had perished in this -manner. The first line was carried; Bonaparte’s object -was accomplished, and now, inclosing the Turks in -Aboukir, he could bombard them while waiting for the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>arrival of Kleber and Regnier. But he desired to make -the most of his success, and to complete his victory that -very moment. After giving his troops a little breathing -time, he marched upon the second line. The division -under Lanusse, which had been left as a reserve, supported -Lannes and Destaing. The redoubt which covered -Aboukir was difficult to carry; it had within it -nine or ten thousand Turks. On the right, a trench -joined it to the sea; on the left, another trench brought -it further out; but was not continued quite to Lake -Madieh. The open space was occupied by the enemy, -and swept by the fire of numerous gun-boats. Bonaparte, -having accustomed his soldiers to defy the most -formidable obstacles, sent them upon the enemy’s position. -His divisions of infantry marched upon the front -and the right of the redoubt. The cavalry, concealed -in a wood of palm-trees, had to make the attack on the -left, and then to cross, under the fire of the gun-boats, -the open space between the redoubt and Lake Madieh. -The charge was made; Lannes and Destaing urged forward -their brave infantry. The 32d marched with -their pieces on their arms towards the intrenchments, -and the 18th got at the rear of the intrenchments on -the extreme right. The enemy, without waiting for -them, advanced to meet them. They fought hand to -hand. The Turkish soldiers, having fired their pieces -and their two pistols, drew their flashing sabres. They -endeavored to grasp the bayonets, but received them in -their flanks before they could lay hold of them. Thus -a great slaughter took place in the intrenchments. The -18th was on the point of getting into the redoubt, when -<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>a tremendous fire of artillery repulsed it, and sent it -back to the foot of the works. The gallant Leturcq fell -gloriously, by desiring to be the last to retire; Fugieres -lost an arm. Murat on his part had advanced with his -cavalry, with a view to clear the space between the fire -of the redoubt and Lake Madieh. Several times he had -dashed forward, and had turned back the enemy; but -taken between the two fires of the redoubt, and that of -the gun-boats, he had been obliged to fall back on the -rear. Some of his horse-soldiers had advanced to the -ditches of the redoubt. The efforts of so many brave -fellows appeared likely to be entirely unavailable. Bonaparte -looked coolly on this carnage, waiting for a favorable -moment to return to the charge. Fortunately the -Turks, as they usually did, quitted the intrenchments -for the purpose of cutting off the heads of the slain. -Bonaparte seized this opportunity, launched forth two -battalions, one of the 22d, the other of the 69th, which -marched upon the intrenchments and carried them. On -the right, the 18th also took advantage of this opportunity, -and entered the redoubt. Murat, on his side, -ordered a fresh charge. One of his divisions of cavalry -traversed that most exposed space between the intrenchments -and the lake, and made his way into the village -of Aboukir. The Turks, affrighted, fled on all sides, -and a horrible slaughter of them ensued. They were -pressed by the point of the bayonet and driven into the -sea. Murat, at the head of his heroes, penetrated into -the camp of Mustapha Pacha. The latter, in a fit of -despair, snatched up a pistol and fired it at Murat, whom -he wounded slightly. Murat struck off two of his fingers -<span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>and sent him prisoner to Bonaparte. Such of the Turks -as were not killed or drowned retired into the fort of -Aboukir.<a id='rA' /><a href='#fA' class='c014'><sup>[A]</sup></a></p> - -<hr class='c015' /> -<div class='footnote' id='fA'> -<p class='c001'><a href='#rA'>A</a>. Thiers.</p> -</div> -<hr class='c015' /> - -<p class='c001'>The proud army of the Turks was thus completely -overwhelmed, as if it had been entirely buried by an -avalanche. No wonder that the enthusiastic Kleber, -after witnessing the manœuvres that gained this splendid -victory, clasped Bonaparte in his arms, and exclaimed, -“General, you are as great as the world -itself.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was the second night after the battle. The army -was encamped upon the field. Bonaparte was alone in -his tent. That day he had contrived to obtain from -Sir Sidney Smith a file of papers from Europe, from -which he eagerly sought information as to the condition -and prospects of France. He had dismissed all his -officers, and now, as they were either carousing in their -tents, or wandering among the camp-fires of the troops, -he sat in his tent to obtain that information which was -destined to lead to such great and decisive plans. See -him, as he sits there, with his eyes keenly fixed upon -the papers, and an occasional smile lighting up his features -of bronze! He learns the calamities which have -visited the armies of France, and then the smile is -turned to a terrible frown, and he exclaims, passionately,</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The imbeciles! the imbeciles! Why was I not -there?”</p> - -<p class='c001'>He perused the accounts of the overthrow of the -French armies in Italy and Germany; he saw that all -<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>that he had gained for France, had been lost; he knew -that these disasters would not have occurred if he had -retained a European command; and he felt more -strongly than ever that he was destined to retrieve the -condition of affairs, to bind victory once more to the -tri-color standard. Perhaps, also, his mind perceived -the opportunity for gratifying the aspirations of a -selfish ambition, and that this perception caused the -frown to melt once more into a smile—a smile of triumph. -He saw that the disasters attending the French -arms had rendered the Directory unpopular, and that -power was within the reach of any bold, decisive man, -who would dare to attempt the overthrow of that -government; and he had faith enough in himself to -decide that he was the very man for the crisis. Long -he read, and long he pondered. Cæsar deliberated -upon the banks of the Rubicon. At length he started -up. The die was cast. He would return to France -and strike for the supreme authority. Having once -decided upon his movements, no man could have taken -his measures with more promptitude. He resolved to -sail secretly for Europe. He wrote a dispatch to -Admiral Gantheaume, directing him to get the Muiron -and Carrere frigates ready for sea. He determined -that as Kleber was very popular with the army, that -general should be left in command. There could be no -doubt of Klebers vigor, activity and skill. Bonaparte -then sat down, and, with astonishing rapidity and precision, -drew up a long list of instructions for the new -commander-in-chief. He then sent word to Berthier, -Lannes, Murat, Andreossy, Marmont, Berthollet, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>Monge, that he wished to see them in his tent. It was -late. But they came, without exception, at his summons. -Kleber and Menou were then at Cairo, or they, -also, would have been invited to this important conference. -In a few words, Bonaparte communicated his -sudden resolution to those officers he had assembled -around him. They were surprised, but when he told -them that he wished them to go with him, they were -glad; for in spite of the glory achieved in Egypt, they -were anxious to return to France. Berthier had been -suffering for some time from depression of spirits, -owing to a long standing matrimonial engagement; and -he fairly leaped from his seat when he heard of the -intention of the general-in-chief. Monge, that circumspect -votary of science, hinted that there was the -greatest danger of the whole party being captured by -the English cruisers, which were exceedingly vigilant -in the Mediterranean. The only reply was the brief -and emphatic “I must incur the risk.” The officers -cast significant glances at each other, but it was -extremely doubtful if they fathomed his designs.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I have received ill news from Europe, my friends,” -said Bonaparte, toning over his papers, and seemingly -attending to several matters at once. “The Austrians -and Muscovites have gained the superiority. That -which we won with so much toil has been lost, and -France is threatened with the invasion of her territory. -We are wanted in Europe, and in spite of winds, waves, -and English cruisers, we must go thither.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Soon afterwards the conference was broken up, and -the general-in-chief was again alone in his tent—nay, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>not alone, for the images of ambition were fast crowding -around him, and they were companions whom he valued -more than the ordinary human realities of the camp. -And there this all-daring, all-achieving soldier sat till -the peep of day, perfecting his plans, the ultimate -reach of which was a throne above thrones; for it was -his habit of mind never to form a design which did not -extend to the farthest point. In war, it was the conquest -of a world at which he aimed; in politics, consul -nor king could satisfy the cravings of his soul—he -would be an emperor. Doubtless, his Rubicon was at -Aboukir, and there the die was cast which determined -him to be master of France.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id013'> -<img src='images/i_b_120.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i121' class='figcenter id013'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span> -<img src='images/i_b_121.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>CAMP-FIRE IN THE VALLEY OF AOSTA.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id019'> -<img src='images/i_b_121_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_121_1.jpg' width='250' height='199' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_3'> -We are now to behold Bonaparte -as First Consul -of France—as the successful -rival of the Carthagenian -Hannibal in -the prodigious exploit -of leading an army -over the lofty and wintry -Alps—and as the -conqueror of his old enemies the Austrians.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The time was May, 1800. At Paris, Bonaparte had -formed the plan of the most astonishing of his campaigns, -with a precision so wonderful that it pointed to -the very spot on which the decisive battle should be -fought. While the intrepid Massena defended Genoa -<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>with unwearied energy, and Moreau engaged the attention -of the Austrians on the line of the Danube, the -First Consul had created a third army, caused the -passes of the Alps to be explored, determined to take -that of the Great St. Bernard, and achieved the passage -as far as the vale of Aosta, where an unexpected -obstacle was found in the fortress of Bard.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The valley of Aosta is traversed by a river which -receives all the waters of the St. Bernard, and carries -them into the Po, under the name of Dora-Baltea. As -it approaches Bard, the valley narrows; the road lying -between the base of the mountains and the bed of the -river becomes gradually more contracted, until at length, -a rock, which seems to have fallen from the neighboring -crags into the middle of the valley, almost entirely -blocks it. The river then runs on one side of the rock, -and the road proceeds on the other. This road lined -with houses composes all the town of Bard. On the -top of the rock stands a fort, impregnable by its position, -though ill-constructed, which sweeps with its fire, -on the right, the whole course of the Dora-Baltea, and -on the left, the long street forming the little town of -Bard. Drawbridges close the entrance and the outlet -of this single street. A garrison, small in number, but -well commanded, occupied this fort.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The brave and persevering Lannes commanded the -advanced division of the French. He was not a man -to be easily stopped. He immediately put forward a -few companies of grenadiers, who broke down the drawbridge, -and, in the face of a sweeping fire, entered Bard. -The commandant of the fort then poured a storm of shot -<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>and shell upon the town, but was soon induced to cease, -by a feeling of compassion for the inhabitants. Lannes -stationed his division out of the town and under cover; -but it was impossible to pass the materiel of the army -under the fire of the fort. He then reported to General -Berthier, who, coming up, was dismayed at the -unexpected obstacle. General Marescot, the skilful -engineer of the army, was then brought forward.</p> - -<p class='c001'>He examined the fort, and declared it nearly impregnable, -not on account of its construction, which was -indifferent, but from its position, which was entirely isolated. -The escarpment of the rock did not admit escalading, -and the walls, though not covered by an embankment, -could not be battered in breach, as there was no -possibility of establishing a battery in a position suitable -for breaching them. Nevertheless, it was possible, -by strength of arm, to hoist a few guns of small calibre -to the top of the neighboring heights. Berthier gave -orders to this end. The soldiers, who were used to the -most difficult undertakings, went to work eagerly to -hoist up two four-pounders, and even two eight-pounders. -These they in fact succeeded in elevating to the -mountain of Albaredo, which overlooks the rock and -fort of Bard; and a plunging fire, suddenly opened, -greatly surprised the garrison, which, nevertheless, did -not lose courage, but replied, and soon dismounted one -of the guns, which were of too feeble a calibre to be -useful.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Marescot declared that there was no hope of taking -the fort, and that some other means must be devised -for overcoming this obstruction. Berthier, in great -<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>alarm, instantly counter-ordered all the columns as they -successively came up; suspended the march of the men -and the artillery all along the line, in order to prevent -them from involving themselves further, should it be -necessary, after all, to retreat. An instant panic circulated -to the rear, and all the men thought themselves -arrested in this glorious enterprise. Berthier sent courier -after courier to the First Consul, to inform him of -this unexpected disappointment.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The latter tarried still at Martigny, not meaning to -pass over the St. Bernard, until he had seen, with his -own eyes, the last of the artillery sent forward. But -this announcement of an obstacle, considered insurmountable -at first, made a terrible impression on him; -but he recovered quickly, and refused positively to admit -the possibility of a retreat. Nothing in the world -should reduce him to such an extremity. He thought -that, if one of the loftiest mountains in the world had -failed to arrest his progress, a secondary rock could not -be capable of vanquishing his courage and his genius. -The fort, said he to himself, might be taken by bold -courage; if it could not be taken, it still could be turned. -Besides, if the infantry and the cavalry could pass by -it, with but a few four-pounders, they could then proceed -to Ivrea at the mouth of the gorge, and wait until -their heavy guns could follow them. And if the heavy -guns could not pass by the obstacle which had arisen; -and if, in order to get any, that of the enemy must be -taken, the French infantry were brave and numerous -enough to assail the Austrians and take their cannon. -Moreover, he studied his maps again and again, questioned -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>a number of Italian officers; and learning from -these that many other roads led from Aosta to the -neighboring valleys, he wrote letter after letter to Berthier, -forbidding him to stop the progress of the army, -and pointing out to him, with wonderful precision, what -reconnoissances should be made around the fort of Bard. -He would not allow himself to see any serious danger, -except from the arrival of a hostile corps, shutting up -the debouch of Ivrea; he instructed Berthier to send -Lannes as far as Ivrea, by the path of Albaredo, -and make him take a stronger position there, which -should be safe from the Austrian artillery and cavalry. -When Lannes guards the entrance of the valley, added -the First Consul, whatever may happen, it is of little -consequence, the only result may be a loss of time. We -have enough provisions to subsist ourselves awhile, and -one way or other we shall succeed in avoiding or overcoming -the obstacles which now delay us.</p> - -<p class='c001'>These instructions having been sent to Berthier, he -addressed his last orders to General Moncey, who should -debouch by the St. Gothard; to General Chabran, who -should come down by the Little St. Bernard, directly -in front of the fort of Bard; and then, at last, resolved -to cross the Alps in person. Before he set forth, he -received news from the Var, informing him that on the -14th of May—the 24th of Floreal—the Baron de Melas -was still at Nice. As it was now the 20th of May, it -could not reasonably be supposed, that the Austrian -general, in the space of six days, could have marched -from Nice to Ivrea. It was then on the 20th of May, -before daylight, that he set out to pass the defile. His -<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>aid-de-camp Duroc, and his secretary Bourrienne, accompanied -him.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Behold him now ascending the rugged and difficult -St. Bernard, the rocks and precipices around him, and -above, the towering summits of perpetual snow! He -is mounted on a mule, conducted by a young, hardy -mountaineer. The grey great coat, which he always -wore during his campaigns of sleepless activity, is buttoned -closely around him. His cheeks are fuller than -when we saw him in Egypt; but he has the same pale, -olive complexion, the same firm-set mouth, the same -steady, piercing eyes, and the same air of constant -thought. Occasionally he turns to address a remark -to Duroc or Bourrienne; and he has many questions to -ask of those officers he meets upon the road. But, -strange to say, he converses the longest with that -simple-hearted mountaineer who leads his mule. The -young guide unrolls his little catalogue of troubles, to -which the First Consul listens as he would to a pastoral -romance. The great man learns that the mountaineer -is much grieved, because, for want of a little -money, he is unable to marry one of the maidens of -the valley who has won his heart. Thus proceeding, -the party at length arrived at the monastery of St. -Bernard, where the benevolent monks displayed much -pleasure at seeing the illustrious general. He alighted; -but before he partook of any refreshment, he wrote a -brief note, which he handed to his guide, and told him -to give it without delay to the administrator of the -army, who had remained on the other side of the St. -Bernard. In the evening, when the young mountaineer -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>reached St. Pierre, he learned how great a person he -had conducted, and also that the First Consul had -given him a house and a field, as the means of marrying -the girl of his heart. A delightful pastoral episode -in the great warrior’s stormy career.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Bonaparte halted a short time with the monks, -thanked them for the care shown to his troops, made -them a noble gift, and then pursued his route. The -descent of St. Bernard was made very rapidly, the -First Consul descending on a sledge, which glided down -the glacier with almost fearful swiftness. The party -arrived the same evening at Etroubles. The following -morning, having spent some time in examining the -park of artillery and the provisions, he started for -Aosta and Bard.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The night of the 23d of May was clear, bright and -cold, in the valley of Aosta. Just beyond the town -of Bard—a long, narrow line of old, picturesque -houses—were encamped the troops of Lannes’s division, -the line of the encampment being indicated by the -watch-fires. In front of the large tent which had been -erected as the quarters of the First Consul, stood -Bonaparte, Berthier, Marescot, Lannes, Duroc, and -Bourrienne. Marescot stood next to the illustrious -commander-in-chief, who was examining the fort and -its surroundings with a glass.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The report was perfectly correct; that is a serious -obstacle,” said the First Consul. “But I have no -doubt that we, who surmounted the difficulties of the -St. Bernard, will conquer this rocky position, either by -taking or turning it.”</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>“The only hope of capturing the fort, is by an escalade, -on the outer ramparts, as you will perceive,” -remarked Marescot.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“True, we can place a battery on the heights of -Albaredo; but that will produce but little effect,” replied -Bonaparte.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The fire of the fort sweeps the whole course of -the river, and that long street of the town,” observed -Berthier.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“We have made reconnoissances to the left, along -the sinuous flanks of the Albaredo mountain, and found -a path, which through vast dangers, more terrible than -those of the St. Bernard, rejoins the great road below -the fort at St. Donaz,” said Marescot.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Can it be made practicable for infantry, cavalry, -and a few light guns?” quickly inquired Bonaparte.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I think it can. With about fifteen hundred workmen, -it could soon be greatly altered,” replied Marescot.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Enough; you shall have the workmen, and the -infantry, cavalry, and four-pounders shall be sent by -that road,” said the First Consul, decisively.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The artillery horses may be sent by the same road, -and the only remaining difficulty will be to get the -heavy guns along beyond this fort,” remarked Duroc.</p> - -<p class='c001'>A short time previous, the officers of the advanced -division had been appalled by an unexpected obstruction. -But difficulties of all kinds seemed to vanish -before the First Consul’s burning faith in possibility. -No thought of retreat was now entertained.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Come in, Marescot, and Bourrienne. Generals, you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>shall hear from me either in the course of the night, -or at dawn,” said Bonaparte, and he entered his tent, -followed by Marescot and Bourrienne. Lannes and -Duroc followed General Berthier to his tent, where -they were soon seated and engaged in conversation.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Come, Lannes, as this is the first time we have -met since we were at Dijon, let us know the particulars -of your march over Mount St. Bernard,” said -Duroc.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Lannes was much better fitted for doing a great -thing than giving an account of it, and it required a -short period of hard thinking to bring his ideas to the -proper point. However, he commenced.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The march was no exploit of which an officer should -boast. You saw that I had under my command six -regiments of excellent troops—there are none better in -the army. To them belongs all the glory; for they -were heavily laden with provisions and ammunition, -and their task was one of great difficulty and hardship. -We started from St. Pierre, about midnight, in order to -get over the mountain before the period of danger from -tumbling avalanches. We calculated it would require -eight hours to reach the summit of the pass, and two -hours to descend to St. Remy. The troops went to -their work in high spirits. Burdened as they were, -they scaled the craggy paths, singing among the precipices, -and talking gaily, as if they were certain they -were marching to new victories in Italy. The labor of -the foot soldiers was not near so great as that of the -cavalry. The horsemen marched on foot, leading their -animals. In this, there was no danger while ascending; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>but when they came to the descent, the narrowness of -the paths obliged each man to walk before his horse, so -that each was exposed at each tumble of his animal to -be dragged headlong down a precipice.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Did any of the men perish in that way?” inquired -Duroc.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Yes, several,” replied Lannes, “and about a dozen -horses. The horse is not a sure-footed animal. Near -daybreak, we arrived at the hospital, where the First -Consul had ordered the monks to provide an agreeable -surprise for the troops, in the shape of refreshment. -Every soldier received a ration of bread, cheese, and -wine. We did not stop longer than was required to -dispatch this breakfast, and pursuing our march, we -reached St. Remy, without any other accidents than -those I have mentioned. While the other divisions of -the army were advancing, I received orders from the -First Consul to push forward to Aosta, then to Ivrea, -and by taking that town, secure the entrance to the -plains of Piedmont. On the 16th and 17th, I marched -upon Aosta. There I found some Croatians, whom I -drove down the valley. I reached Chatillon on the -18th, and routed a battalion of the enemy found there, -capturing a goodly number of them. I then marched -on down the valley, thinking that I would soon be upon -the fertile plains of Italy, when this confounded fort -suddenly appeared, and checked my march.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“We have had a difficult task upon the other side -of the mountain,” said Duroc. “You know that it was -arranged that each day one division of the army should -pass over. The materiel had to be transported with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>each division. The provisions and the ammunition -were easily sent forward, for they could be divided into -small packages. But the heavier articles which could -not be divided and reduced, caused us a vast amount -of trouble. In spite of the liberal expenditure of money, -a sufficient number of mules could not be obtained. -The transportation of the artillery was the most difficult -task of all.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The gun-carriages and caissons had been dismounted, -and loaded on the backs of mules. The cannon themselves -yet remained. For the twelve pounders and -howitzers, the difficulty was much greater than was at -first supposed. The sledges with rollers, which had -been constructed in the arsenals, were wholly useless. -Another mode was suggested, and immediately adopted; -and it proved successful. This was to split pine trunks -into two parts, hollow them out, secure a gun between -them, and drag the pieces thus protected along the slippery -ravines. Thanks to wise precautions, no shock -could occur to injure them. Mules were attached to -these strange loads, and succeeded in bringing a few -pieces to the top of the defile. But the descent was -more difficult: it was only to be achieved by manual -exertion, and by incurring imminent risk; as the pieces -had to be restrained and checked from rolling down the -precipices. Unfortunately, at this juncture, the mules -began to fail; the muleteers, too, who were now required -in great numbers, became exhausted, and in consequence -fresh means must be resorted to. A price as -high as a thousand francs was offered to the neighboring -peasants, for dragging a gun from St. Pierre to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>St. Remy. One hundred men were required for one -cannon, one day to bring it up, and one day to let it -down. Several hundred peasants presented themselves, -and, under the direction of artillerists, transported a -few pieces.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But not even the allurement of such gain could -induce them to maintain this effort. All disappeared ere -long, and although officers were sent out to seek them, -lavishing money, so as to bring them back, it was in -vain; and it became necessary to call on the soldiers of -the several divisions to drag their own artillery themselves. -It seemed that nothing could be asked, too arduous, -of these devoted soldiers. The money which -the exhausted peasants would no longer earn, was offered -as a stimulus; but they refused it to a man, exclaiming -that it was a point of honor for all troops to save -their cannon; and they took charge of the abandoned -pieces. Parties, each of a hundred men, leaving the -ranks successively, dragged them, each in their turn. -Their bands struck up lively tunes in the more difficult -defiles, and animated them to surmount these novel obstacles. -Arrived at the mountain top, they found refreshments -prepared for them by the monks, and took -some brief repose, as a preparation for greater and more -perilous efforts to be exerted in descending. Thus the -divisions of Chambarlhac and Monnier were seen toiling -at their own artillery; and as the advanced hour of the -day did not permit them to descend, they preferred -bivouacking in the snow, to abandoning their cannon. -Fortunately the sky was clear; nor had they to endure -bad weather, in addition to the hard toils of the way.”</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i133' class='figcenter id028'> -<img src='images/i_b_133.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>BONAPARTE AS FIRST CONSUL.</p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>“I am aware of much that you have been telling -us,” said Berthier, “having been unceasingly employed -in receiving the stores, and superintending the artillery -mounted again. The troops have fully communicated -their toils and sufferings, but they have borne up under -them with astonishing courage and fortitude. Their -faithful performance of duty has enabled the First Consul -to execute a grand campaign, which places him above -all the generals of antiquity.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The campaign is not yet decided. We must fight -at least one great battle, and the prospect is not favorable -to our getting near the Austrians in time to take -them by surprise,” said Lannes.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I think not,” replied Duroc. “The First Consul -will either take or turn this fort within a few days at -the farthest. I have no doubt of it—and the Austrians -will be as much astonished as if we had dropped from -the clouds. The campaign will cover us with glory.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Here Bourrienne entered the tent, and communicated -to the generals the plan which the First Consul had -formed, which was as follows:</p> - -<p class='c001'>He resolved to make his infantry, cavalry, and the -four-pounders, proceed by the path of Albaredo, which -would be possible, after repairs. All the troops should -be sent to take possession of the outlets of the mountains -before Ivrea; and the First Consul, meanwhile, -would attempt an attack on the fort, or find some means -of avoiding its obstruction, by sending his artillery -through one of the neighboring defiles. He ordered -General Lecchi, commanding the Italians, to proceed on -the left, advancing by the road to Grassoney in the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span><a id='corr136.1'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='alley'>valley</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_136.1'><ins class='correction' title='alley'>valley</ins></a></span> of the Sesia, which extended to the Simplon and -the Lago Maggiore. This movement was intended to -clear the road of the Simplon, to form a junction with -the detachment which was coming down it, and lastly -to examine all the paths practicable to wheeled carriages.</p> - -<p class='c001'>After some further conversation, the generals separated -for the night.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The next day, it was apparent that the conqueror of -Italy was present, and among the French. All was -activity and resolution. The First Consul directed his -mind to the fort of Bard.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The single street, which composed this town, was in -possession of the French, but only passable, if passable -at all, under such a storm of fire as would make it -impossible to move artillery that way, even if the distance -had been only five or six hundred yards. The -commandant was summoned; but replied, with the -firmness of a man who appreciated fully the importance -of the post intrusted to his courage. Force, therefore, -alone, could make them masters of the passage. The -artillery, which had been placed in battery on the -heights of Albaredo, produced no great effect; an escalade -was attempted on the outer ramparts of the fort; -but some brave grenadiers and an excellent officer, -Dufour, were killed or wounded to no purpose. At this -time the troops were defiling by the path of Albaredo; -for fifteen hundred workmen had wrought the necessary -repairs on it. Places that were too narrow they had -enlarged by mounds of the earth; declivities too sudden -they had eased, by cutting steps for the feet; -trunks of trees they had thrown across other places, to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>form bridges over ravines, which were too broad to be -leaped.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The army defiled man by man in succession, the cavaliers -leading their horses by the bridles. The Austrian -officer commanding in the fort of Bard, seeing the -columns thus march past, was in despair that he could -not stop their progress; he, therefore, sent a message -to M. de Melas, informing him that he had seen the -passage of a whole army of infantry and cavalry, without -having any means to prevent it; but pledged his -head that they should arrive without a single piece of -cannon. During this time, the artillerymen made one -of the boldest of attempts. This was, under the cloud -of night, to carry a piece of cannon under the very fire -of the fort. Unfortunately, the enemy, aroused by the -noise, threw down fire-pots, which made the whole road -light as day, enabling him by that means to sweep it -with a hail-storm of deadly missiles. Out of thirteen -gunners who had run the risk of taking this piece forward, -seven were killed or wounded. There was in -that enough to discourage hardy spirits; yet it was not -long ere another way, ingenious, but still very perilous, -was devised. The street was strewn with straw and -litter; tow was fastened around all the cannon, to prevent -the slightest resonance of those huge metallic masses -on their carriages; the horses were taken out, and the -bold artillerists, dragging them with their own hands, -were so daring as to carry them under the batteries of -the fort, along the street of Bard. These means succeeded -to perfection. The enemy, who occasionally -fired as a precaution, wounded a few of the gunners; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>but soon, in spite of this fire, all the heavy artillery -was transported through the defile; and this formidable -obstruction, which had given the First Consul more -anxiety than the St. Bernard itself, was now entirely -overcome.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Alps were passed, and victory already hovered -over the banner of Bonaparte.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id005'> -<img src='images/i_b_138.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i139' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span> -<img src='images/i_b_139.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT MARENGO.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id019'> -<img src='images/i_b_139_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_139_1.jpg' width='250' height='260' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The victory of Marengo was -the crowning glory of a -campaign unsurpassed in -the annals of war, as regards -the display of daring -genius and profound combination. -It was a stroke -which changed the face -of affairs in Europe, and -raised the conqueror to -the imperial height of his ambition.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The immense plain of Marengo extends between the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>Scrivia and the Bormida. In this place, the Po retreats -from the Appenine, and leaves a vast space, across -which the Bormida and the Tanaro roll their waters, -now become less rapid, till meeting near Alessandria, -they flow on together into the bed of the Po. The road, -leading along the foot of the Appenines to Tortona, -departs from it abreast of this place, turns to the right, -passes the Scrivia, and opens into a vast plain. The -stream it crosses at a first village, called San Giuliano, -runs forward to a second, named Marengo, and at length -crosses the Bormida, and terminates at the celebrated -fortress of Alessandria.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the 13th of June, 1800, that army which had -surmounted the crags and snows of the Alps, debouched -into the plain. Here Bonaparte expected to find the -Austrians; but his cavalry scoured the plain without -finding a single corps, and the First Consul then concluded -that Melas had escaped. He then ordered the -wise and valiant Desaix, who had joined him a few -days previous, to march upon Rivolta and Novi with a -single division, that of Boudet, in order to check Melas, -if he had gone from Alessandria to Genoa. But the -division of Monnier, which was Desaix’s second, he -retained at head-quarters. Victor was left at the town -of Marengo, with two divisions; Lannes, the indomitable -Lannes, fresh from the glorious field of Montebello, -was left with one division on the plain, and Murat, with -his cavalry, was retained at the side of the general-in-chief, -with the splendid Consular Guard.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But the First Consul had been deceived. Melas had -not escaped; he expected to fight at Marengo, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>had adopted measures to advance upon the French -army.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The French, marching from Placentia and the Scrivia, -would first come upon San Giuliano, and afterward, at -three quarters of a league farther, upon Marengo, which -almost touches the Bormida, and forms the principal -outlet which the Austrian army had to conquer, in order -to issue from Alessandria. Between San Giuliano and -Marengo extends, in a right line, the road which was -to be disputed; and on each side, wide spreads the plain -covered with fields of wheat and vineyards. Below -Marengo, to the right of the French, and left of the -Austrians, lay Castel-Ceriolo, a large borough, through -which General Ott intended to pass, in order to turn -the corps of General Victor, stationed in Marengo. It -was, therefore, upon Marengo that the principal attack -of the Austrians would be directed, as this village -commanded the entrance of the plain.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At day-break, the Austrian army passed the two -bridges of the Bormida. But its movement was slow, -because it had but one bridge-head, from which to -debouch. O’Reilly passed first, and encountered the -division of Gardanne, which General Victor, after having -occupied Marengo, had led forward. This division was -formed only of the 101st and 44th demi-brigades. -O’Reilly, supported by a numerous artillery, and with -double the force of his opponent, compelled him to fall -back, and shut himself up in Marengo. Fortunately, -he did not throw himself into the place after him, but -waited till the centre, under General Haddick, should -come to his support. The slowness of their march -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>across the defile formed by the bridges, cost the Austrians -two or three hours. At length Generals Haddick -and Kaim deployed their forces in the rear of O’Reilly, -and General Ott passed the same bridges on his way to -Castel-Ceriolo.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Thus commenced the great battle of Marengo. The -advance, under Gardanne, was obliged to fall back upon -Victor. Victor held his position during two hours -against the enormous force opposed to him. He was -obliged to vacate Marengo, but retook it; and this -occurred twice or thrice. Napoleon now ordered Lannes -to advance to the support of Victor; but after a -long and obstinate contest, the cavalry of Elsnitz suddenly -appeared upon the right of Lannes, and both -lines were compelled to retreat. The Austrians had -fought the battle admirably. The infantry had opened -an attack on every point of the French line, while the -cavalry debouched across the bridge which the French -had failed to destroy, and assailed the right of their -army with such fury and rapidity, that it was thrown -into complete disorder. The attack was successful -every where; the centre of the French was penetrated, -the left routed, and another desperate charge of the -cavalry would have terminated the battle. The order -for this, however, was not given; but the retreating -French were still in the utmost peril. Napoleon had -been collecting reserves between Garafolo and Marengo, -and now sent orders for his army to retreat -towards these reserves, and rally round his guard, -which he stationed in the rear of the village of Marengo, -and placed himself at their head. The soldiers -<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>could all see the First Consul, with his staff, surrounded -by the two hundred grenadiers of the guard, in the -midst of the immense plain. The sight revived their -hopes. The right wing, under Lannes, quickly rallied; -the centre, reinforced by the scattered troops of the -left, recovered its strength; the left wing no longer -existed; its scattered remains fled in disorder, pursued -by the Austrians. The battle continued to rage, and -was obstinately disputed; but the main body of the -French army, which still remained in order of battle, -was continually, though very slowly, retreating, The -First Consul had now dispatched his aid-de-camp, -Bruyere, to Desaix, with an urgent message to hasten -to the field of battle. Desaix, on his part, had been -arrested in his march upon Novi, by the repeated discharges -of distant artillery: he had in consequence -made a halt, and dispatched Savary, then his aid-de-camp, -with a body of fifty horse, to gallop with all -possible haste to Novi, and ascertain the state of affairs -there, according to the orders of the First Consul, while -he kept his division fresh and ready for action. Savary -found all quiet at Novi; and returning to Desaix, after -the lapse of about two hours, with this intelligence, -was next sent to the First Consul. He spurred his -horse across the country, in the direction of the fire -and smoke, and fortunately met Bruyere, who was -taking the same short cut to find Desaix. Giving him -the necessary directions, Savary hastened to the First -Consul. He found him in the midst of his guard, who -stood their ground, on the field of battle; forming a -solid body in the face of the enemy’s fire, the dismounted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>grenadiers stationed in front, and the place of -each man who fell being instantly supplied from the -ranks behind. Maps were spread open before Napoleon: -he was planning the movement which decided the -action. Savary made his report, and told him of -Desaix’s position. “At what hour did you leave him?” -said the First Consul, pulling out his watch. Having -been informed, he continued, “Well, he cannot be far -off; go, and tell him to form in that direction (pointing -with his hand to a particular spot:) let him quit the -main road, and make way for all those wounded men, -who would only embarrass him, and perhaps draw his -own soldiers after them.” It was now three o’clock in -the afternoon.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The aged Melas, believing the victory his own, had -retired from the field, and left General Zach in command. -At this critical moment, the division of Desaix appeared -upon the plain. Outstripping the troops, this glorious -lieutenant galloped up to the First Consul. He said the -battle was lost, but there was yet time to gain another. -Bonaparte immediately set about availing himself of the -resources brought up by his beloved general.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Desaix’s three demi-brigades were formed in front of -San-Giuliano, a little way to the right of the main road. -The 30th deployed in line, the 9th and 59th in close -column, on the wings of the former. A slight undulation -of ground concealed them from the enemy. On -the right, rallying and somewhat recovered, were the -shattered relics of Chambarlhac’s and Gardanne’s divisions -under General Victor. To their right, in the -plain, Lannes, whose retreat had been stopped; next to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>him the Consular Guard, and next again to that, Carra -Saint-Cyr, who had maintained himself as near as -possible to Castel-Ceriolo. In this position the army -formed a long oblique line, from San-Giuliano to Castel-Ceriolo. -In an interval between Desaix and Lannes, -but somewhat more in the rear, was stationed Kellerman, -with his cavalry. A battery of twelve pieces, the -sole remains of the whole artillery of the army, was -spread out in front of Desaix’s line.</p> - -<p class='c001'>These dispositions made, the First Consul passed on -horseback along the lines of his soldiers, speaking to -several corps. “My friends,” said he to them, “you -have retreated far enough; recollect that I am in the -habit of sleeping on the field of battle.” After having -re-animated his troops, who were re-assured by the -arrival of their reserves, and burning to avenge the -events of the morning, he gave the signal. The charge -was beaten along the whole length of the lines.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Austrians, who were rather in order of march -than of battle, kept the high road. The column directed -by M. de Zach came first; a little behind it came the -centre, half deployed on the plain and facing Lannes. -General Marmont suddenly unmasked his twelve pieces -of cannon. A heavy discharge of grape-shot fell upon -the head of the column, which was completely taken by -surprise, and suspecting nothing less than further resistance, -for they thought the French decidedly on their -retreat. They had not yet recovered from their surprise, -when Desaix put the 9th light infantry in movement. -“Go and inform the First Consul,” said he, to his <a id='corr145.30'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='aid-de camp'>aid-de-camp</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_145.30'><ins class='correction' title='aid-de camp'>aid-de-camp</ins></a></span>, -Savary, “that I am charging, and that I must -<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>be supported by the cavalry.” Desaix, on horseback, -charged in person at the head of his demi-brigade. He -led it over the slight inequality of ground which -concealed him from the view of the Austrians, and -made them aware of his presence by a discharge of -musketry at point blank distance. The Austrians -poured in an answering volley; and Desaix fell on -the instant, pierced by a bullet in the breast. “Conceal -my death,” said he to General Boudet, who was his -chief of division, for it might, he thought, produce a -panic among his men. Useless precaution of the young -hero. He was seen to fall, and his soldiers, like those -of Turenne, clamorously demanded to be led forward to -avenge the death of their leader. The 9th light infantry, -which on that day gained for itself the title of “<em>The -Incomparable</em>,” a distinction which it bore to the conclusion -of the war; the 9th light infantry, after pouring -its fire upon the enemy, formed in column, and fell upon -the deep mass of the Austrians. At the sight, the two -first regiments that led the march, surprised and -confounded, fell back in disorder upon the second line, -and disappeared amidst its ranks. Lattermann’s column -of grenadiers were now at the head, and received the -shock as chosen troops might be expected to receive it. -They were firm. The struggle extended to the two -sides of the main road. The 9th light infantry was -supported to the right by Victor’s troops, which had -rallied; to the left, by the 30th and 59th demi-brigades -of Boudet’s division, which followed the movement. -Lattermann’s grenadiers were defending themselves -stoutly, though hard pressed, when suddenly a storm -<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>burst on their heads. General Kellermann, who, at the -instance of Desaix, had received orders to charge, set -off at full gallop, and passing between Lannes and -Desaix, placed part of his squadron <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>en potence</em></span> to make -head against the Austrian cavalry, whom he saw before -him, and then, with the remainder, threw himself on the -flank of the column of grenadiers, already assailed in -front by Boudet’s infantry. By this charge, which was -executed with extraordinary vigor, the column was -cut in two. Kellermann’s dragoons sabred it to the right -and left, till, pressed on every side, the unfortunate -grenadiers threw down their arms. Two thousand of -them surrendered themselves prisoners. At their head, -General Zach himself was compelled to give up his -sword, and in this manner the Austrians were deprived -of any leader until the battle ended. But Kellermann -did not stop here; he dashed on the dragoons of Lichtenstein -and broke them! These recoiled in disorder -on the centre of the Austrians, as it was forming in the -plain, in front of Lannes, and there caused some -confusion. At this moment Lannes advanced, pressed -vigorously on the Austrians’ centre, which was shaken, -while the grenadiers of the Consular Guard and of Carra -Saint-Cyr again bore down upon Castel-Ceriolo, from -which they were not far distant. Along the whole line -from San-Giuliano to Castel-Ceriolo, the French had now -resumed the offensive; they marched forward, drunk -with joy and enthusiasm, at seeing the victory again -returning to their hands. Surprise and discouragement -had passed to the side of the Austrians.</p> - -<p class='c001'>From the Giuliano to Castel-Ceriolo, the oblique line -<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>of the French advancing at charging pace, pushed the -enemy back, and compelled them to strive to escape by -way of the bridges over the Bormida.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The slaughter of the Austrians was dreadful. Their -army was thus thrown into the utmost confusion in a -moment; and the victory, which had seemed quite -secure to them at three o’clock, was completely won by -the French at six. The pursuit continued far into the -night, the mixed deaths and mangling upon the dark -bridges being one confused and crowded horror; while -the whole of the Austrians who had remained on the -left bank were taken prisoners, or driven with headlong -devastation into the Bormida. The waters ran a deep -red with the blood of horses and of men, and presented -in some parts a clotted surface of their mangled remains. -Several entire battalions surrendered at discretion, and -General Zach and all his staff were made prisoners.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The greater part of the French army encamped on -the field of battle.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was now about seven o’clock in the evening. The -storm of conflict was hushed; but the ghastly burden -of the field was revealed in all its horror by the glare -of the watch-fires, and the light of the moon. The -mangled dead were lying in heaps where the struggle -had been most desperate; and the Bormida was a river -of blood. Near the village of San Giuliano, a single -officer could be seen walking among the bodies of the -slain, leading his horse. For some time it seemed as -if his search would be vain. Many of the bodies had -been completely stripped by the enemy, and their -features were mangled so that it was almost impossible -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>to recognise them. Suddenly, however, Savary halted. -In the midst of a circle of bodies, was stretched the -manly form of Desaix, which the aid-de-camp recognised -by the long, flowing hair which fell upon the neck, and -the noble expression of the countenance, which had not -altered in the agonies of death. The young man knelt -down and wept over that form, like a child; for he had -learned to look up to the heroic general as a father. -He loved Desaix with that noble devotion which only -the highest qualities can excite, and which is so admirable -as to make us proud of our human nature. Savary -gave free vent to his grief, and then, wrapping his cloak -around the body, he lifted it upon his horse, and slowly -returned with it to head-quarters. As he passed the -watch-fires, the troops, who were in the highest spirits -in consequence of the unexpected victory, recognised -the body of Desaix, ceased their talk, and respectfully -uncovered. At length, Savary brought his melancholy -burden to the head-quarters of General Bonaparte, at -Torre-di-Garofolo. Leaving the body in charge of some -soldiers, he entered the old mansion, which had been -selected for head-quarters, and was ushered into the -presence of the First Consul. Bonaparte was seated -amidst his principal officers, talking over the thrilling -incidents of the day, and complimenting those who had -particularly distinguished themselves, and there was -scarcely one who did not bear sanguine marks of the -fight.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Your business, sir?” said Bonaparte, as Savary -appeared.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Your excellency, I have found the body of General -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>Desaix, and brought it here to await your -orders.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Ah! Desaix!” interrupted Bonaparte in a tone -full of sad feeling. He then appeared to indulge in -mournful reflection, and there was a silence of a few -minutes. He then continued, “This victory would -have been, indeed, glorious, could I this evening embrace -Desaix. I was going to make him a minister of -war. I would have made him a prince, had I been -able. As mild and modest in manners as he was firm -and heroic in battle, he deserves a monument from -France. You, and Rapp, are faithful <a id='corr150.12'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='aids.'>aids.”</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_150.12'><ins class='correction' title='aids.'>aids.”</ins></a></span></p> - -<p class='c001'>“General Desaix was our father,” said Savary.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I will take you both for my aids.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>This Savary was afterwards Duke of Rovigo. He -was faithful to Napoleon to the end, and General Rapp -deserves the same praise.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The First Consul now gave directions to Savary as -to the immediate disposal of the body of Desaix. He -designed that it should be embalmed as soon as possible, -and placed in a fitting sarcophagus. Having -received full and accurate directions, Savary retired.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Most of you will recollect the critical position of -affairs when Desaix arrived on the field,” said the -First Consul. “His coming was a happy thought. You -all know the worth of his opinion. You drew around -him and informed him of the events of the day. Yet -most of you advised a retreat. I demurred, and asked -the counsel of General Desaix. He cast his eye over -the field, and then, taking out his watch and looking at -the hour, replied, ‘Yes, the battle is completely lost; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>but it is only three o’clock. There is yet time to gain -another.’ These words encouraged me, and I immediately -ordered those movements which gave us the -victory. What is the loss of the enemy, according to -your estimate, M. de Bourrienne?”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“In my opinion, they have lost about one-third of -their army, which, before the battle, consisted of about -twenty-eight thousand men. Besides that, General -Haddick is killed, and a large number of their best -generals are disabled by severe wounds. General Zach -is a prisoner,” replied the secretary.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Aye; then they have paid a portion of their debt,” -said Bonaparte.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But,” said Victor, “our staff has suffered also; -Generals Mainomy, Rivaud, Mahler, and Champeaux -are wounded, and it is believed that Champeaux has -received his mortal stroke.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“We have lost about one-fourth of the army, estimating -it at twenty-eight thousand men,” observed -Bourrienne.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But we have gained a great victory, and the -Austrians are completely prostrated,” said Bonaparte, -quickly. “Let us now talk of our triumph. Little -Kellermann made a fine charge—he did it just at the -right time—we owe him much; see what trifles decide -these affairs!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Just then, General Kellermann, a young-looking man, -of short stature and rather thin, but possessing a -manly countenance, entered the room. Strange to say, -the First Consul immediately changed his tone. As -the gallant young general, whose charge had decided -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>the day, approached the table at which Bonaparte was -writing, he said, coldly, “You made a pretty good -charge,” and as a set off to this coldness, he turned to -Bessieres, who commanded the horse grenadiers of the -guard, and said to him audibly, “Bessieres, the guard -has covered itself with glory.” Kellermann bit his lips, -and his eyes flashed; but in spite of reports to the -contrary, he said nothing, and soon after retired from -the room. The reason of the treatment extended to -him by the First Consul has never been developed. It -certainly does no credit to the general-in-chief. Kellermann -had charged with about five hundred heavy -cavalry. It was this handful of brave men who had -cut in two the Austrian column. The guard made no -charge till night-fall. Yet Kellermann was never raised -to the rank of marshal.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Turning to Lannes, who seemed suffering from -fatigue, the First Consul said,</p> - -<p class='c001'>“You ought to be fatigued, General Lannes. Never -were witnessed efforts of bravery beyond those you -have shown this day. I saw you, with your four demi-brigades. -The enemy poured a storm of grape from -eighty pieces of artillery upon your troops; yet you -protracted your retreating fight three-quarters of a -league for two whole hours. Every battle adds to the -glory of the hero of Montebello.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Lannes was pleased at receiving praise from Bonaparte, -who was the god of his idolatry. Yet it was -nothing more than his due. A short time previous, he -had defeated the Austrians at Montebello, in a long, -bloody, hand-to-hand struggle, against greatly superior -<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>numbers, and yet he had almost surpassed the achievements -of that desperate fight, when, to use his own -terrific expression, “the bones were cracking in his -division like hail upon a sky-light,” by his unparalleled -retreat at Marengo.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I knew that so long as I maintained the right,” -said Lannes, “the army preserved a sure line of retreat -by Sale towards the banks of the Po. I compelled -the Austrians to fight, and lose a man for every inch -of ground. I blew up the caissons I could not bring -off.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was late when the generals retired to their respective -quarters, to sleep upon the laurels of Marengo. -Even then the cavalry which had pursued the enemy -had not all returned. The vanquished were allowed no -repose. The First Consul slept but little that night. -He knew that he should hear from the enemy, the next -morning, and sat up, with his secretary Bourrienne, to -fix upon the precise terms he should grant. He was -not mistaken. The watch-fires of the victorious French -had not been long extinguished, before Prince Lichtenstein, -bearing a flag of truce, reached head-quarters. -<a id='corr153.23'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Hegotiations'>Negotiations</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_153.23'><ins class='correction' title='Hegotiations'>Negotiations</ins></a></span> for a capitulation were commenced, and -the convention of Alessandria was signed on the 15th -of June.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was agreed, in the first place, that there should be -a suspension of arms in Italy, until such time as an -answer should be received from Vienna. Should the -convention be accepted, the Austrians were free to -retire, with the honors of war, beyond the line of the -Mincio. They bound themselves, in withdrawing, to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>restore to the French all the strongholds which they -occupied. The castles of Tortona, Alessandria, Milan, -Arona, and Placentia, were to be surrendered between -the 16th and 20th of June—27th Prairial, and 1st of -Messidor—the castles of Ceva and Savona, the strongholds -of Coni and Genoa, between the 16th and the -24th, and the fort of Urbia, on the 26th of June. The -Austrian army was to be divided into three columns, -which were to withdraw one after the other, and proportionally -to the delivery of the strongholds. The -immense military stores accumulated by M. de Melas, -in Italy, were to be divided into two parts; the artillery -of the Italian foundries was granted to the French army; -the artillery of the Austrian foundries to the imperial -army. The Imperialists, after having evacuated Lombardy -as far as the Mincio, were to fall back behind the -following line:—the Mincio, La Fossa, Maestra, the left -bank of the Po, from Borgo-Forte to the mouth of that -river, on the Adriatic. Peschiera and Mantua were to -remain in possession of the Austrian army. It was -stated, without explanation, that the detachment of this -army, then actually in Tuscany, should continue to -occupy that province. There could be no allusion made, -in this capitulation, to the States of the Pope, or those -of the King of Naples, because these potentates were -strangers to the affairs of upper Italy. Should this -convention not receive the emperor’s ratification, ten -days’ notice was to be given of the resumption of hostilities. -In the meantime, no detachment on the one -side or the other, should be sent into Germany.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It is said that the First Consul was strongly affected -<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>at the sight of the field of Marengo, on which so many -brave men had fallen. Under the influence of these -feelings he wrote a <a id='corr155.3'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='remakable'>remarkable</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_155.3'><ins class='correction' title='remakable'>remarkable</ins></a></span> letter to the Emperor of -Austria.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“It is on the field of battle,” said he to him, “amid -the sufferings of a multitude of wounded, and surrounded -by fifteen thousand corpses, that I beseech -your majesty to listen to the voice of humanity, and -not to suffer two brave nations to cut each other’s -throats for interests not their own. It is my part to -press this on your majesty, being upon the very theatre -of war. Your majesty’s heart cannot feel it so keenly -as does mine.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>He then argued with peculiar eloquence for the -cause of peace, and fortunately the conqueror of Marengo -could contend with much grace for the restoration -of tranquillity. He conquered the peace, and -returned to Paris, to receive the homage of an admiring -populace, who were now willing to concede to him the -imperial crown.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id029'> -<img src='images/i_b_155.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i156' class='figcenter id030'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span> -<img src='images/i_b_156.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT ULM.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id031'> -<img src='images/i_b_156_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_156_1.jpg' width='300' height='229' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Five years of peace, following -the battle -of Marengo, had -enabled Napoleon -Bonaparte to do -much for France, -and more for his -own elevation. -Under his wise -and vigorous administration, -the country made wonderful progress. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>But the price she paid was first the Consulship for -Life, and finally the imperial crown. Napoleon now -appears as Emperor of France. His old brothers-in-arms, -are Marshals. His beloved Josephine is an Empress. -Besides, he has cherished designs of placing his brothers -upon the thrones of Europe. Yet the man who has -achieved all this greatness, is only thirty-eight years -of age.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But now, (1805) the peace of Europe is again disturbed. -The treaty of Amiens is alleged by both parties -to have been violated, and once more vast armies -traverse the fertile fields seeking for conflict. A coalition -against Napoleon has been formed by Great -Britain, Austria, and Russia. Napoleon has formed -the plan of a campaign on a gigantic scale, and has -executed a part of the proposed scheme with a rapidity -and precision that has astonished the enemy. By a -brilliant series of manœuvres, he has completely surrounded -the Austrian army, commanded by General -Mack, in the city of Ulm, (October 13.) In several -great actions, the French had already captured twenty -thousand Austrian troops, and Napoleon now has the -satisfaction of knowing that thirty thousand more are -within his reach.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the 13th, Napoleon (who expected that Mack -would rouse himself with one last effort to avoid a surrender) -made an exciting address to the troops, on the -bridge of the Lech, amid the most intense cold, the -ground being covered with snow, and the troops sunk -to their knees in mud. He warned them to expect a -great battle, and explained to them the desperate condition -<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>of the enemy. He was answered with acclamations, -and repeated shouts of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">“Vive l’Empereur.”</span> -In listening to his exciting words, the soldiers forgot -their fatigues and privations, and were impatient to -rush into the fight. -אליה -Bernadotte entered Munich on the 14th of October, -taking eight hundred prisoners. On the same day, -Marshal Ney forced the strong position of Elchingen, -taking three thousand prisoners and many pieces of -cannon; and the Emperor’s head-quarters were fixed -there, in the evening. The French soldiers were in a -state of great excitement from these rapid successes, -and were with difficulty restrained.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i159fp' class='figcenter id032'> -<img src='images/i_b_159fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>THE CAMP-FIRE AT ULM. <span class='small'>Page 159.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>From the height of the Abbey of Elchingen, Napoleon -now beheld the city of Ulm at his feet, commanded -on every side by his cannon; his victorious -troops ready for the assault, and the great Austrian -army cooped up within the walls. He expected a -desperate sally, and prepared the soldiers for a general -engagement; but four days passed without any movement -whatever. Meanwhile, his own troops clamored -for the assault, but he chose to wait in vigilant patience -for the result. A scene of horrible carnage and the -probable destruction of a fine city would have been -the consequences of his acting differently; being what he -would have called “unnecessary evils,” and therefore -criminal in his eyes. The weather continued dreadful; -the rain fell incessantly, and the soldiers were often up -to their knees in mud. The Emperor only kept his -feet out of the water in his bivouac, by means of a -plank. He was in this situation when Prince Maurice -<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>Lichtenstein was brought before him, with a flag of -truce from General Mack. The looks of the prince -evidently showed that he did not expect to have found -the Emperor there in person; otherwise it is probable -he would not have brought such a proposition as that -which he delivered. He came commissioned to treat -for the evacuation of Ulm, with permission for the Austrian -army to return to Vienna. The Emperor could -not help smiling as he listened to him. “I have not -forgotten Marengo,” he replied; “I suffered M. de -Melas to go, and in two months Moreau had to fight -his troops, in spite of the most solemn promises to conclude -peace. You will be forced to surrender, for want -of provisions, in eight days. The Russians have scarcely -reached Bohemia. There is the capitulation of your -general at Memingen, his whole garrison becoming -prisoners of war: carry it to General Mack; I will accept -no other conditions.” The same evening General -Mack sent his surrender to the Emperor, and on the -following morning the capitulation was signed.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the 20th of October, the French army was drawn -up on the heights, overlooking the fine city of Ulm, to -receive the surrender, according to the conditions. -The rain had ceased, and the sky was bright and clear. -The dress and accoutrements of the French troops, and -especially those of the cavalry, shone resplendent in -the sun. The Emperor was posted on a slight eminence -in front of the centre of his army. He had caused a -large fire to be kindled there, for the air was intensely -cold. A short distance in the rear, that faithful Mameluke -who always accompanied Napoleon after the Egyptian -<span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>campaign, held the bridle of a restless horse. His -gaudy, Asiatic costume, was in singular contrast with -that of the French soldiers. The French marshals and -generals were grouped in the vicinity of the fire. Among -them were the commanding forms of Ney, Lannes, -Murat, Davoust, Duroc, Bernadotte, Bessiere, Soult and -Dupont—a brotherhood of daring valor. The calm, -immovable countenance of Marshal Soult was in strange -contrast with the more vivacious faces near him, and -bespoke the cool, steady mind of that skilful general. -The Emperor stood, as usual, with his hands behind -him, and his head slightly bent. His figure had grown -stout, and had a decided tendency to corpulency. The -countenance was stern, but the eyes were unquiet, and -his mind was evidently very busy, as usual. In every -lineament could be traced that keen, daring genius, -which had raised the lieutenant of artillery to an imperial -throne.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was a glorious day for the French. Their drums -beat, and their bands poured forth the swelling strains -of triumph. The gates of Ulm were opened; and then -the long line of white uniforms marked the egress of the -Austrians. They advanced in silence, becoming the -dejection of the vanquished, filed off slowly, and went, -corps by corps, to lay down their arms upon the plain -between them and the heights on which the French -army appeared. The ceremony lasted the whole day. -In the morning, General Mack and his principal officers, -to the number of sixteen, advanced to meet the conqueror -at the fire near which he stood. He received the conquered -generals with respect, and addressed many -<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>remarks to them; but the officers were too deeply -humiliated to reply. To General Mack, he said—</p> - -<p class='c001'>“I must complain of the iniquitous proceeding of -your government, in coming without any declaration -of war to <em>seize me by the throat</em>. The Aulic Council -would have done better, if, instead of mixing up -Asiatic hordes in European quarrels, it had joined with -me to repel Russian encroachment.” Mack bowed, but -made no reply.</p> - -<p class='c001'>During the interview, a general officer, more remarkable -for his petulance than his wit, repeated aloud an -expression as coming from one of the soldiers, throwing -ridicule upon the vanquished. Napoleon, whose ear -was quick to catch the words, immediately sent Savary -to tell the officer to retire, saying then to those near -him, “He must have little respect for himself, who -insults men in misfortune!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>All the officers were allowed to return home, on giving -their word of honor not to serve against France until a -general exchange of prisoners should take place. The -men were to be marched into France, to be distributed -throughout the agricultural districts of the country, -where their work in the field might supply the place of -that of the conscripts required for the army. The -unfortunate Mack was immediately consigned to a dungeon -on the charge of treachery, upon his return to -Vienna.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The capitulation of Ulm gave Napoleon the remainder -of the Austrian army, which had numbered fifty thousand -men. The campaign was, perhaps, unexampled -in the annals of war. Of the French army, scarcely -<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>fifteen hundred men were killed and wounded; while -the enemy had lost an immense number of men in battle, -fifty thousand excellent troops by capitulation, two hundred -cannon, ninety flags, and a large number of horses. -Such were the glorious results of Napoleon’s skilful -manœuvres and rapid movements.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Emperor slept that night at Elchingen. Joy -pervaded the French camp. The troops were now more -strongly convinced than ever, that their Emperor was -invincible.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_162.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i163' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span> -<img src='images/i_b_163.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT AUSTERLITZ.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id019'> -<img src='images/i_b_163_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_163_1.jpg' width='250' height='226' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The victory of Austerlitz is -considered by many competent -judges as the most -splendid triumph ever -gained by Napoleon; and -the “sun of Austerlitz,” -is a watchword with the -French soldiery to the -present day. The scene -of this great battle is in the vicinity of the small seignoral -<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>town of Austerlitz, situated on the Littawa, in -Moravia.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, with that military tact which he had -received from nature, and which he had so greatly -improved by experience, had adopted, among other -positions which he might have taken about Brunn, one -which could not fail to insure to him the most important -results, under the supposition that he should be -attacked—a supposition which had become a certainty.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The mountains of Moravia, which connect the mountains -of Bohemia with those of Hungary, subside -successively towards the Danube, so completely that -near that river Moravia presents but one wide plain. -In the environs of Brunn, the capital of the province, -they are not of greater altitude than high hills, and are -covered with dark firs. Their waters, retained for -want of drains, form numerous ponds, and throw themselves -by various streams into the Morawa, or March, -and by the Morawa and the Danube.</p> - -<p class='c001'>All these characters are found together in the position -between Brunn and Austerlitz, which Napoleon has -rendered forever celebrated. The high road of Moravia, -running from Vienna to Brunn, rises in a direct line to -the northward, then, in passing from Brunn to Olmutz, -descends abruptly to the right, that is to the east, thus -forming a right angle with its first direction. In the -angle is situated the position in question. It commences -on the left towards the Olmutz road, with heights studded -with firs; it then runs to the right in an oblique direction -towards the Vienna road, and after subsiding -gradually, terminates in ponds full of deep water in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>winter. Along this position, and in front of it, runs a -rivulet, which has no name known in geography, but -which, in part of its course, is called Goldbach by the -people of the country. It runs through the little -villages of Girzikowitz, Puntowitz, Kobelnitz, Sokolnitz, -and Telnitz, and, sometimes forming marshes, sometimes -confined in channels, terminates in the ponds above -mentioned, which are called the ponds of Satschau and -Menitz.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Concentrated with all his forces on this ground, defended -on the one hand upon the wooded hills of Moravia, -and particularly upon a rounded knoll to which the -soldiers of Egypt gave the name of the Centon, defended -on the other, upon the ponds of Satschau and Menitz—thus -covering by his left the Olmutz road, by his right -the Vienna road—Napoleon was in a condition to accept -with advantage a decisive battle. He meant not, however, -to confine his operations to self-defence, for he was -accustomed to reckon upon greater results; he had divined, -as though he had read them, the plans framed at -great length by General Weirother. The Austro-Russians, -having no chance of wresting from him the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>point -d’appui</em></span> which he found for his left in the high wooded -hills, would be tempted to turn his right, which was -not close to the ponds, and to take the Vienna road -from him. There was sufficient inducement for this -step; for Napoleon, if he lost that road, would have -no other resource but to retire into Bohemia. The -rest of his forces, hazarded towards Vienna, would be -obliged to ascend separately the valley of the Danube. -The French army, thus divided, would find itself -<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>doomed to a retreat, eccentric, perilous, nay, even disastrous, -if it should fall in with the Prussians by the -way.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon was perfectly aware that such must be the -plan of the enemy. Accordingly, after concentrating -his army towards his left and the heights, he left -towards his right, that is towards Sokolnitz, Telnitz, -and the ponds, a space almost unguarded. He thus -invited the Russians to persevere in their plans. But -it was not precisely there that he prepared the mortal -stroke for them. The ground facing him presented a -feature from which he hoped to derive a decisive -result.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Beyond the stream that ran in front of the position, -the ground spread at first, opposite to the left, into a -slightly undulated plain, through which passed the -Olmutz road; then, opposite to the centre, it rose successively, -and at last formed facing the right a plateau, -called the plateau of Pratzen, after the name of a village -situated half-way up, in the hollow of a ravine. -This plateau terminated on the right in rapid declivities -towards the ponds, and at the back in a gentle slope -towards Austerlitz, the chateau of which appeared at -some distance.</p> - -<p class='c001'>There were to be seen considerable forces; there a -multitude of fires blazed at night, and a great movement -of men and horses was observable by day. On -these appearances, Napoleon had no longer any doubt -of the designs of the Austro-Russians. They intended -evidently to descend from the position which they -occupied, and, crossing the Goldbach rivulet, between -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>the ponds and the French right, to cut them off from the -Vienna road. But, for this reason, it was resolved to take -the offensive in turn, to cross the rivulet at the villages -of Girzikowitz and Puntowitz, to ascend to the plateau -of Pratzen while the Russians were leaving it, and to -take possession of it. In case of success, the enemy’s -army would be cut in two; one part would be -thrown to the left into the plain crossed by the Olmutz -road; the other to the right into the ponds. -Thenceforward the battle could not fail to be disastrous -for the Austro-Russians. But, for this effect, it was -requisite that they should not blunder by halves. The -prudent, nay even timid attitude of Napoleon, exciting -their silly confidence, would induce them to commit the -entire blunder.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Agreeably to these ideas, Napoleon made his dispositions. -Expecting for two days past to be attacked, he -had ordered Bernadotte to quit Iglau on the frontier of -Bohemia, to leave there the Bavarian division which he -had brought with him, and to hasten by forced marches -to Brunn. He had ordered Marshal Davoust to march -Friant’s and if possible Gudin’s division towards the -abbey of Gross Raigern, situated on the road from -Vienna to Brunn, opposite to the ponds. In consequence -of these orders, Bernadotte marched, and had -arrived on the 1st of December. General Friant, being -alone apprised in time, because General Gudin was at a -greater distance towards Presburg, had set out immediately, -and travelled in forty-eight hours the thirty-six -leagues which separate Vienna from Gross Raigern. -The soldiers sometimes dropped on the road, exhausted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>with fatigue; but at the least sound, imagining that -they heard the cannon, they rose with ardor to hasten -to the assistance of their comrades, engaged, they said, -in a bloody battle. On the night of the 1st of December, -which was extremely cold, they bivouacked at -Gross Raigern, a league and a half from the field of -battle. Never did troops on foot perform so astonishing -a march; for it is a march of eighteen leagues a day for -two successive days.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the 1st of December, Napoleon, reinforced by -Bernadotte’s corps and Friant’s division, could number -sixty-five or seventy thousand men, present under arms, -against ninety thousand men, Russians and Austrians, -likewise present under arms.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At his left he placed Lannes, in whose corps Caffarelli’s -division supplied the place of Gazan’s. Lannes, -with the two divisions of Suchet and Caffarelli, was to -occupy the Olmutz road, and to fight in the undulated -plain outspread on either side of that road. Napoleon -gave him, moreover, Murat’s cavalry, comprising the -cuirassiers of Generals d’Hautpoul and Nansouty, the -dragoons of General Walther and Beaumont, and the -chasseurs of Generals Milhaud and Kellermann. The -level surface of the ground led him to expect a prodigious -engagement of cavalry on this spot. On the -knoll of the Centon, which commands this part of the -ground, and is topped by a chapel called the chapel of -Bosenitz, he placed the 17th light artillery, commanded -by General Claparede, with eighteen pieces of -cannon, and made him take an oath to defend this position -to the death.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>At the centre, behind the Goldbach rivulet, he ranged -Vandamme’s and St. Hilaire’s divisions, which belong -to the corps of Marshal Soult. He destined them to -cross that stream at the villages of Girzikowitz and -Puntowitz, and to gain possession of the plateau of -Pratzen, when the proper moment should arrive. A -little further behind the marsh of Kobelnitz and the -chateau of Kobelnitz, he placed Marshal Soult’s third -division, that of General Legrand. He reinforced it -with two battalions of tirailleurs, known by the names -of chasseurs of the Po and Corsican chasseurs, and by -a detachment of light cavalry, under General Margaron. -This division was to have only the third of the line and -the Corsican chasseurs at Telnitz, the nearest point to -the ponds, and to which Napoleon was desirous of -drawing the Russians. Far in rear, at the distance of -a league and a half, was posted Friant’s division at -Gross Raigern.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Having ten divisions of infantry, Napoleon, therefore, -presented but six of them in line. Behind Marshals -Lannes and Soult, he kept in reserve Oudinot’s -grenadiers, separated on this occasion from Lannes’s -corps, the corps of Bernadotte, composed of Drouet’s -and Rivaud’s divisions, and, lastly, the imperial guard. -He thus kept at hand a mass of twenty-five thousand -men, to move to any point where they might be needed, -and particularly to the heights of Pratzen, in order to -take those heights at any cost, if the Russians should -not have cleared them sufficiently.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Such were the skilful dispositions of the Emperor, -and having completed what may be called the foundation -<span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>of victory, he issued a confident proclamation to his -soldiers, as follows:</p> - -<div class='quote'> - -<p class='c001'>“Soldiers—The Russian army appears before you -to avenge the Austrian army of Ulm. They are the -same battalions that you beat at Hollabrunn, and that -you have since been constantly pursuing to this spot.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The positions which we occupy are formidable; -and while they are marching to turn my right, they -will present their flank to me.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Soldiers, I shall myself direct your battalions. I -shall keep out of the fire, if, with your usual bravery, -you throw disorder and confusion into the enemy’s -ranks. But, if the victory should be for a moment -uncertain, you will see your Emperor the foremost to -expose himself to danger. For victory must not hang -doubtful on this day, most particularly, when the honor -of the French infantry, which so deeply concerns the -honor of the whole nation, is at stake.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Let not the ranks be thinned upon pretence of carrying -away the wounded, and let every one be thoroughly -impressed with this thought, that it behoves us to conquer -these hirelings of England, who are animated with -such bitter hatred against our nation.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“This victory will put an end to the campaign, and -we shall then be able to return to our winter-quarters, -where we shall be joined by the new armies which are -forming in France, and then the peace which I shall -make will be worthy of my people, of you, and of -myself.</p> - -<div class='c016'><span class='sc'>Napoleon.</span>”</div> - -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i171fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span> -<img src='images/i_b_171fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>CAMP SCENE ON THE EVENING BEFORE THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ. <span class='small'>Page 171.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon had passed the whole day on horseback, -and had himself placed every division in position, -inspecting every position. All his marshals dined with -him, and received his careful and precise orders for the -operations of the next day. He then once more glanced -at the position of the Russian and Austrian armies, -and a smile illumined his features as he said to his -marshals,</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Before to-morrow night that army will be in my -power. Since the Czar refuses to negotiate for a peace, -we must drub him into it.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>He then entered a rude hut, which his soldiers had -constructed for him, and stretched himself upon some -straw to repose. A hard couch for an emperor! Yet -there Napoleon fell into so deep a sleep that his aid-de-camp, -Savary, was obliged to shake him, in order to -wake him up, to listen to a report which he had ordered -to be brought to him. Rousing himself, he left the hut, -accompanied by his aid, and proceeded to visit the -bivouacs of the army. The night was cold and dark; -and the Emperor had reason to believe that he could -go among the soldiers without being noticed. But he -had only proceeded a few steps before he was discovered, -and in a few moments, the whole line was illuminated -with torches of straw, while the air was filled with -acclamations of “Vive l’Empereur!” It was a glorious -sight, and the glare of the torches must have astonished -the enemy. That tremendous shout must have told -Kutusoff, the Prussian general, that he would be compelled -to fight an enemy, full of spirit and confidence.</p> - -<p class='c001'>As Napoleon passed along, one of the old grenadiers, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>a veteran of Italy, stepped forward, and accosted him -with an air of republican familiarity and kindly -patronage.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Sire,” said this old soldier, “you will have no need -to expose yourself to danger; I promise you, in the -name of the grenadiers of the army, that you will only -have to fight with your eyes, and that we will bring -you all the flags and cannon of the Russian army, to -celebrate the anniversary of your coronation.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Emperor was delighted at the spirit displayed -by the troops, and, in accordance with their general -request, he promised to keep beyond the reach of the -enemy’s guns.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Sir Walter Scott finely remarks upon this: “Napoleon,” -says he, “promises that he will keep his person -out of the reach of the fire: thus showing the full -confidence that the assurance of his personal safety -would be considered as great an encouragement to the -troops as the usual protestations of sovereigns and -leaders, that they will be in the front, and share the -dangers of the day. This is, perhaps, the strongest -proof possible of the complete and confidential understanding -which subsisted between Napoleon and his -soldiers. Yet there have not been wanting those who -have thrown the imputation of cowardice on the victor -of a hundred battles, and whose reputation was so well -established amongst those troops, who must have been -the best judges, that his attention to the safety of -his person was requested by them, and granted by him, -as a favor to his army.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Emperor was on the field by one o’clock in the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>morning, to get an army under arms in silence. A thick -fog, through which the light of the torches could not -penetrate to the distance of ten paces, enveloped all -the bivouacs; but he knew the ground as well as the -environs of Paris. His army, amounting in all to about -seventy thousand men, was arranged as follows. The -two divisions of Marshal Soult, placed on a vast plateau, -formed the right; the division of united grenadiers, -drawn up in line behind, constituting the reserve -of the right. The two divisions of Marshal Bernadotte, -in line with the united grenadiers, formed the -centre of the army. The left wing was composed of -the two divisions of Marshal Lannes; the infantry of -the guard forming the reserve of the left. In advance -of the centre, and between the right and left wings, was -posted the whole of the cavalry, under the command -of Murat. The divisions of hussars and chasseurs were -entrusted to Kellermann; the dragoons, to Valther and -Beaumont. The cuirassiers and eighty pieces of light -artillery formed the reserve of the cavalry. The right -of the army rested on some long and narrow defiles -formed by ponds; the left, on the strongly fortified -position of the Centon. The two divisions of Marshal -Davoust were posted on the extreme right, beyond the -ponds, to face the left wing of the Russians, which had -been extended, as we have said, to a dangerous distance -from their centre, and intended, as the Emperor -perceived, to commence the battle with an attempt to -turn his right. The Emperor himself, with Berthier, -Junot, and the whole of his staff, occupied a commanding -position, as the reserve of the army, with ten battalions -<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>of the imperial guard, and ten battalions of -grenadiers, commanded by Oudinot and Duroc. This -reserve was ranged in two lines, in columns, by battalions, -having in their intervals forty pieces of cannon -served by the artillery of the guard. With this reserve, -equal to turning the fate of almost any battle, he held -himself ready to act wherever occasion should require.</p> - -<p class='c001'>As the day dawned, the mist which had overhung all -the dreadful show, began slowly to ascend, like a vast -curtain, from the broad plain below. The sun rose in -unclouded and majestic brilliancy; and dissipating all -remains of the vapors, disclosed to view the great Russian -army, commanded by Field-Marshal Kutusoff, to -the number of eighty thousand men, ranged in six -divisions, on the opposite heights of Pratzen. The -magnificence of the sunrise of this eventful morning, -enhanced at the time by the previous dense mist, and -by the national memories ever since, has caused the -“sun of Austerlitz” to become proverbial with the -people of France. The two emperors of Russia and -Austria were witnesses of the fierce contest; being -stationed on horseback on the heights of Austerlitz. As -the first rays of the sun were flung from the horizon, -the Emperor Napoleon appeared in front of his army, -surrounded by his marshals, and formed every division, -both of infantry and cavalry, into columns. A brisk -fire had just commenced on the extreme right, where -Davoust was already at his post; and the Russians -began to put themselves in motion to descend from the -heights upon the plain. The marshals who surrounded -the Emperor importuned him to begin. “How long -<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>will it take you,” said he to Soult, “to crown those -opposite heights which the Russians are now abandoning?” -“One hour,” answered the marshal. “In that -case, we will wait yet a quarter of an hour,” replied -the Emperor. The cannonade increased, denoting that -the attack had become serious. The extreme of the -Russian left had commenced its movement to turn the -right flank of the French army, but had encountered -the formidable resistance of Davoust’s two divisions, -with whom they were just engaged. Napoleon now -dismissed all the marshals to their posts, and ordered -them to begin.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The whole of the right and left wings at once moved -forward, in columns, to the foot of the Russian position. -They marched as if to exercise, halting at times -to rectify their distances and directions; while the -words of command of the individual officers were distinctly -heard. The two divisions of Marshal Soult -came first within reach of the enemy’s fire. The -division commanded by General Vandamme overthrew -the opposing column, and was master of its position -and artillery in an instant; the other, commanded by -General St Hilaire, had to sustain a tremendous fire, -which lasted for two hours, and brought every one of -its battalions into action. The Emperor now dispatched -the united grenadiers, and one of Marshal Bernadotte’s -division, to support those of Soult, while Lannes had -engaged the right of the Russians, and effectually prevented -them from moving to the assistance of their -left, which was wholly engaged by the tremendous -attack we have described, and entirely cut off from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>their centre. The extreme left of the Russians, which -had begun the battle, perceiving the fatal mistake which -had been made, attempted to re-ascend the Pratzer, but -were so desperately pressed by Davoust, that they were -compelled to fight where they stood, without daring -either to advance or retire.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Marshal Soult now ordered his division, under Vandamme, -supported by one of Bernadotte’s divisions, to -make a change of direction by the right flank, for the -purpose of turning all the Russian troops which still -resisted St. Hilaire’s division. The movement was -completely successful; and Soult’s two divisions crowned -the heights to which the Emperor had pointed before -the battle began.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The right wing of the Russian army was meanwhile -sustaining the tremendous onset of Lannes with both -his divisions. The fight raged in that quarter throughout -the whole of the operations we have detailed; but -at this point, Bernadotte’s division being no longer -required to support those of Soult, the Emperor ordered -the centre of the army to support the left. The Russian -right was now entirely broken; the French cavalry -by desperate and repeated charges completed the rout, -and pursued the fugitives, who took the road to Austerlitz, -till nightfall. Bernadotte, after pursuing the Russian -infantry a full league, returned to his former position; -nobody knew why. Had he, on the contrary, continued -marching another half hour, he would have entirely intercepted -the retreat, and taken or destroyed the whole -of the Russian right. As it was, their flight was disastrous -in the extreme: they were forced into a hollow, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>where numbers attempted to escape across a frozen lake; -but the ice proving too weak for them, gave way, and -the horrible scene which ensued—the crashing of the -broken fragments, the thundering of the artillery, and -the groans and shrieks of wounded and drowning men—baffles -the imagination.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i177fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_177fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ. <span class='small'>Page 177.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<p class='c001'>Marshal Soult, now changing his position again by -the right flank, descended the heights, having traversed -a complete semi-circle, and took the Russian extreme -left in the rear. The Emperor of Russia, who perceived -the imminent danger of his whole army, dispatched his -fine regiment of Russian guards, supported by a strong -force of artillery, to attack Soult. Their desperate -charge broke one of the French regiments. It was at -this crisis that Napoleon brought his reserve into action. -Bessieres, at the head of the imperial guard, rushed -with irresistible fury into the fight. The Russians were -entirely broken; their army, surprised in a flank movement, -had been cut into as many separate masses as -there were columns brought up to attack it. They fled -in disorder, and the victory of Austerlitz was decided.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was with the utmost difficulty that the two emperors -of Russia and Austria effected their personal escape. -The Emperor Alexander lost all his artillery, baggage, -and standards; twenty thousand prisoners, and upwards -of twenty thousand killed and wounded. In the precipitate -flight, the wounded were abandoned to their fate. -Kutusoff, however, with laudable humanity, left placards -in the French language, on the doors of the churches -and the barns towards which they had crept, inscribed -with these words:—“I recommend these unfortunate -<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>men to the generosity of the Emperor Napoleon, and the -humanity of his brave soldiers.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>In attempting to escape across some frozen ponds, -the Russians broke through, and a large number of -them were drowned. An eye-witness, General Langeron, -says, “I have previously seen some lost battles, -but I had no conception of such a defeat.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, who had participated in the pursuit, returned -about night-fall. He was received with shouts -by his triumphant troops, and they could scarcely be -prevented from taking him in their arms. He soon -commanded silence, and set about relieving the wounded, -who actually covered the field. He administered brandy -with his own hand to some suffering Russians, who -could only repay him with a blessing, and gave orders -that all the wounded should be attended to as speedily -as possible. The troops had already given a name to -the battle, that of the “Three Emperors.” But Napoleon -himself gave this great conflict the name of the -village near which it was fought. He issued the following -proclamation, immediately after victory had -been achieved.</p> - -<div class='quote'> - -<p class='c001'>“Soldiers—I am satisfied with you: in the battle of -Austerlitz you have justified all that I expected from -your intrepidity. You have decorated your eagles with -immortal glory. An army of one hundred thousand -men, commanded by the Emperors of Russia and -Austria, has been in less than four hours either cut in -pieces or dispersed. Those who escaped your weapons -are drowned in the lakes.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>“Forty colors, the standards of the imperial guard -of Russia, one hundred and twenty pieces of cannon, -more than thirty thousand prisoners, are the result of -this ever-celebrated battle. That infantry, so highly -vaunted and superior in number, could not withstand -your shocks, and thenceforward you have no rivals to -fear. Thus, in two months, this third coalition has -been vanquished and dissolved. Peace cannot now be -far distant, but, as I promised my people, before I -passed the Rhine, I will make only such a peace as -gives us guarantees and insures rewards to our allies.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Soldiers, when all that is necessary to secure the -welfare and the prosperity of our country is accomplished, -I will lead you back to France: there you will -be the object of my tenderest concern. My people will -see you again with joy, and it will be sufficient to say, -I was at the battle of Austerlitz, for them to reply, -there is a brave man.</p> - -<div class='c016'>“<span class='sc'>Napoleon.</span>”</div> - -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_179.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i180' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span> -<img src='images/i_b_180.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT PALENY.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id019'> -<img src='images/i_b_180_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_180_1.jpg' width='250' height='247' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The disaster at Austerlitz -affected the Emperors -Francis and Alexander -very differently, -Alexander was deeply -dejected; but Francis -was tranquil. Under -the common misfortune, -he had at least -the consolation, that -the Russians could no -longer allege that the cowardice of the Austrians constituted -all the glory of Napoleon. The two emperors -<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>retreated precipitately over the plain of Moravia, amidst -profound darkness, separated from their household, and -liable to be insulted through the barbarity of their own -soldiers. Francis took it upon himself to send their -gallant Prince John of <a id='corr181.5'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Litchtenstein'>Lichtenstein</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_181.5'><ins class='correction' title='Litchtenstein'>Lichtenstein</ins></a></span> to Napoleon, to -solicit an armistice, with a promise to sign a peace in a -few days. He commissioned him, also, to express to -Napoleon, his wish to have an interview with him at -the advanced posts of the army. The French Emperor, -having returned to his head-quarters at Posoritz, there -received Prince John. He treated him as a conqueror -full of courtesy, and agreed to an interview with the -Emperor of Austria. But an armistice was not to be -granted until the Emperors had met and explained -themselves.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon hastened to recall his columns to Nasiedlowitz -and Goding. Marshal Davoust, reinforced by -the junction of Friant’s whole division, and by the -arrival in line of Gudin’s division, had lost no time, -thanks to his nearer position to the Hungary road. He -set out in pursuit of the Russians, and pressed them -closely. He intended to overtake them before the -passage of the Morava, and to cut off perhaps a part of -their army. After marching on the 3d, he was, on the -morning of the 4th, in sight of Goding and nearly up -with them. The greatest confusion prevailed in Goding. -Beyond that place there was a mansion belonging to the -Emperor of Germany, that of Holitsch, where the two -allied sovereigns had taken refuge. The perturbation -there was as great as at Goding. The Russian officers -continued to hold the most unbecoming language respecting -<span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>the Austrians. They laid the blame of the -common defeat on them, as if they ought not to have -attributed it to their own presumption, to the incapacity -of their generals, and to the levity of their government. -The Austrians, moreover, had behaved quite as well as -the Russians on the field of battle.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The two vanquished monarchs were very cool towards -each other. The Emperor Francis wished to confer -with the Emperor Alexander, before he went to the -interview agreed upon with Napoleon. Both thought -that they ought to solicit an armistice and peace, for it -was impossible to continue the struggle. Alexander -was desirous, though he did not acknowledge it, that -himself and his army should be saved as soon as possible -from the consequences of an impetuous pursuit, such -as might be apprehended from Napoleon. As for the -conditions, he left his ally to settle them as he pleased. -The Emperor Francis alone having to defray the expenses -of the war, the conditions on which peace should -be signed concerned him exclusively. Some time before, -the Emperor Alexander, setting himself up for the -arbiter of Europe, would have insisted that those conditions -concerned him also. His pride was less exigent -since the battle of the 2d of December.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Emperor Francis accordingly set out for Nasiedlowitz, -a village and there, near the mill of Paleny, between -Nasiedlowitz and Urschitz, amidst the French and the -Austrian advanced posts, he found Napoleon waiting -for him, before a bivouac fire kindled by his soldiers. -Napoleon had had the politeness to arrive first. He -went to meet the Emperor Francis, received him as he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>alighted from his carriage and embraced him. The -Austrian monarch, encouraged by the welcome of his -all-powerful foe, had a long conversation with him. -The principal officers of the two armies, standing aside, -beheld with great curiosity the extraordinary spectacle -of the successor of the Cæsars vanquished and soliciting -peace of the crowned soldier, whom the French Revolution -had raised to the pinnacle of human greatness.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Francis wore the brilliant costume of an Austrian -field-marshal, and was a monarch of dignified aspect.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon apologized to the Emperor Francis for -receiving him in such a place. “Such are the palaces,” -said he, “which your majesty has obliged me to inhabit -for these three months.”—“The abode in them,” replied -the Austrian monarch, “makes you so thriving, that -you have no right to be angry with me for it.” The -conversation then turned upon the general state of -affairs, Napoleon insisting that he had been forced into -the war against his will at a moment when he least expected -it, and when he was exclusively engaged with -England; the Emperor of Austria affirming that he had -been urged to take arms solely by the designs of France -in regard to Italy. Napoleon declared that, on the -conditions already specified to M. de Giulay, and which -he had no need to repeat, he was ready to sign a peace. -The Emperor Francis, without explaining himself on this -subject, wished to know how Napoleon was disposed in -regard to the Russian army. Napoleon first required -that the Emperor Francis should separate his cause -from that of the Emperor Alexander, and that the -Russian army should retire by regulated marches from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>the Austrian territories, and promised to grant him an -armistice on this condition. As for peace with Russia, -he added, that would be settled afterwards, for this -peace concerned him alone. “Take my advice,” said -Napoleon to the Emperor Francis, “do not mix up -your cause with that of the Emperor Alexander. Russia -alone can now wage only a <em>fancy war</em> in Europe. Vanquished, -she retires to her deserts, and you, you pay -with your provinces the costs of the war.” The forcible -language of Napoleon expressed but too well the state -of things in Europe between that great empire and the -rest of the continent. The Emperor Francis pledged -his word as a man and a sovereign not to renew the -war, and above all to listen no more to the suggestions -of powers which had nothing to lose in the struggle. -He agreed to an armistice for himself—and for the Emperor -Alexander, an armistice, the condition of which -was that the Russians should retire by regulated marches—and -that the Austrian cabinet should immediately -send negotiators empowered to sign a separate peace -with France.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The two emperors parted with reiterated demonstrations -of cordiality. Napoleon handed into his carriage -that monarch whom he had just called his brother, and -remounted his horse to return to Austerlitz.</p> - -<p class='c001'>General Savary was sent to suspend the march of -Davoust’s corps. He first proceeded to Holitsch, with -the suite of the Emperor Francis, to learn whether the -Emperor Alexander acceded to the proposed conditions. -He saw the latter, around whom every thing was much -changed since the mission on which he was sent to him -<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>a few days before. “Your master,” said Alexander to -him, “has shown himself very great. I acknowledge -all the power of his genius, and, as for myself, I shall -retire, since my ally is satisfied.” General Savary conversed -for some time with the young czar on the late -battle, explained to him how the French army, inferior -in number to the Russian army, had nevertheless -appeared superior on all points, owing to the art of -manœuvring which Napoleon possessed in so eminent a -degree. He courteously added that with experience -Alexander, in his turn, would become a warrior, but that -so difficult an art was not to be learned in a day. After -these flatteries to the vanquished monarch, he set out -for Goding to stop Marshal Davoust, who had rejected -all the proposals for a suspension of arms, and was -ready to attack the relics of the Russian army. To -no purpose he had been assured in the name of the Emperor -of Russia himself that an armistice was negotiating -between Napoleon and the Emperor of Austria. He -would not on any account abandon his prey. But General -Savary stopped him with a formal order from Napoleon. -These were the last musket-shots fired during -that unexampled campaign. The troops of the several -nations separated to go into winter-quarters, awaiting -what should be decided by the negotiators of the belligerent -powers.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i186' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span> -<img src='images/i_b_186.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT JENA.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_186_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_186_1.jpg' width='200' height='205' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Jena was one of Napoleon’s most -decisive fields. There, in -the conflict of a day, Prussia, -who had dared to defy -a power which had brought -Austria and Russia to the -dust, was completely annihilated. -There the descendants -of the great Frederick -reaped the bitter consequences of his weak presumption. -At Jena, the valley of the Saale begins to widen. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>The right bank is low, damp and covered with meadows. -The left bank presents steep heights, whose peaked -tops overlook the town of Jena, and are ascended -by narrow, winding ravines, overhung with wood. On -the left of Jena, a gorge more open, less abrupt, called -the Muhlthal, has become the passage through which -the high road from Jena to Weimar has been carried. -This road first keeps along the bottom of the <a id='corr187.8'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Mulhthal'>Muhlthal</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_187.8'><ins class='correction' title='Mulhthal'>Muhlthal</ins></a></span>, -then rises in form of a spiral staircase, and opens upon -the plateaux in rear. It would have required a fierce -assault to force this pass.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i186fp' class='figcenter id033'> -<img src='images/i_b_186fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON AT JENA. <span class='small'>Page 186.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>The principal of the heights that overlook the town -of Jena is called Landgrafenberg, and, since the memorable -events of which it has been the theatre, it has -received from the inhabitants the name of Napoleonsberg. -It is the highest in these parts. Napoleon and -Lannes, surveying from that height the surrounding -country, with their backs turned to Jena, beheld on -their right the Saale running in a deep, winding, wooded -gorge, to <a id='corr187.20'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Naumberg'>Naumburg</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_187.20'><ins class='correction' title='Naumberg'>Naumburg</ins></a></span>, which is six or seven leagues from -Jena. Before them they saw undulated plateaux, -extending to a distance, and subsiding by a gentle slope -to the little valley of the Ilm, at the extremity of -which is situated the town of Weimar. They perceived -on their left the high road from Jena to Weimar, rising -by a series of slopes from the gorge of the Muhlthal to -these plateaux, and running in a straight line to Weimar. -These slopes, somewhat resembling a sort of snail’s shell, -have thence received in German the appellation of the -<span lang="de" xml:lang="de"><em><a id='corr187.30'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='sic: Schnecke'>Schneeke</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_187.30'><ins class='correction' title='sic: Schnecke'>Schneeke</ins></a></span></em></span> (snail.)</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was in September, 1806, that Napoleon, having -<span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>set all his divisions in motion, left Paris and put himself -at the head of his grand army. The Prussians were -superior in numbers, well disciplined, and full of spirit. -They numbered between one hundred and thirty thousand -and one hundred and forty thousand men. The -cavalry especially, bore a high reputation, which, however, -as we shall see, it could not sustain. The French -Emperor had an army of one hundred and seventy -thousand men in the field, with a power of concentrating -one hundred thousand of them within a few hours.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On learning that the Prussian army was changing its -position and advancing from Erfurt upon Weimar, with -a view to approach the banks of the Saale, Napoleon -manœuvred to meet the changes of the enemy.</p> - -<p class='c001'>They might be coming thither with one of the two following -intentions: either to occupy the bridge over the -Saale at Naumburg, over which passes the great central -road of Germany, in order to retire upon the Elbe, while -covering Leipzig and Dresden; or to approach the -course of the Saale, for the purpose of defending its -banks against the French. To meet this double contingency, -Napoleon took a first precaution, which was to -dispatch Marshal Davoust immediately to Naumburg, -with orders to bar the passage of the bridge there with -the twenty-six thousand men of the third corps. He -sent Murat, with the cavalry, along the banks of the -Saale, to watch its course, and to push reconnoisances -as far as Leipzig. He directed Marshal Bernadette -upon Naumburg, with instructions to support Marshal -Davoust in case of need. He sent Marshals Lannes -and Augereau to Jena itself. His object was to make -<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>himself master immediately of the two principal passages -of the Saale, those at Naumburg and Jena, either to stop -the Prussian army there, if it should design to cross and -to retire to the Elbe, or to go and seek it on the heights -bordering that river, if it purposed to remain there on -the defensive. As for himself, he continued with Marshals -Ney and Soult, within reach of Naumburg and -Jena, ready to march for either point according to circumstances.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the morning of the 13th, he learned by more circumstantial -accounts that the enemy was definitively -approaching the Saale, with the yet uncertain resolution -of fighting a defensive battle on its banks, or of crossing -and pushing on to the Elbe. It was in the direction -from Weimar to Jena that the largest assemblage -appeared. Without losing a moment, Napoleon mounted -his horse to proceed to Jena. He gave himself his instructions -to Marshals Soult and Ney, and enjoined -them to be at Jena in the evening, or at latest in the -night. He directed Murat to bring his cavalry towards -Jena, and Marshal Bernadotte to take at Dornburg an -intermediate position between Jena and Naumburg. He -set out immediately, sending officers to stop all troops -on march to Gera, and to make them turn back for Jena.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the evening of the preceding day, Marshal Davoust -had entered Naumburg, occupied the bridge of the -Saale, and taken considerable magazines, with a fine -bridge equipage. Marshal Bernadotte had joined him. -Murat had sent his light cavalry as far as Leipzig, and -surprised the gates of that great commercial city. -Lannes had proceeded towards Jena, a small university -<span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span>town, seated on the very banks of the Saale, and had -driven back pell-mell the enemy’s troops left beyond the -river, as well as the baggage, which encumbered the -road. He had taken possession of Jena, and immediately -pushed his advanced posts upon the heights -which command it. From these heights he had perceived -the army of the Prince of Hohenlohe, which, -after recrossing the Saale, encamped between Jena and -Weimar, and he had reason to suspect that a great -assemblage was collecting in that place.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon had arrived at Jena on the afternoon of the -13th of October. Marshal Lannes, who had outstripped -him, was waiting for him with impatience, like that of -a war-horse, snuffing the battle. Both mounted their -horses to reconnoitre the localities. We have described -the ground upon which the battle was fought. The -Prussians were posted on the heights which overlook -the town of Jena. The French were coming up on the -low ground on the opposite side of the river. The chief -difficulty was to reach the Prussians. There was but -one method that appeared practicable. The bold tirailleurs -of Lannes, entering the ravines which are met with -on going out of Jena, had succeeded in ascending the -principal eminence, and all at once perceived the Prussian -army encamped on the plateaux of the left bank. -Followed presently by some detachments of Suchet’s -division, they had made room for themselves by driving -in General Tauenzien’s advanced posts. Thus by force -of daring, the heights which commanded the left bank -of the Saale were gained; but by a route which was -scarcely practicable to artillery. Thither, Lannes conducted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>the emperor, amidst an incessant fire of tirailleurs -which rendered reconnoisance extremely dangerous.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, having before him a mass of troops, the -force of which could scarcely be estimated, supposed -that the Prussian army had chosen this ground for a -field of battle, and immediately made his dispositions, -so as to debouch with his army on the Landgrafenberg, -before the enemy should hasten up, <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>en masse</em></span>, to hurl -him into the precipices of the Saale. He was obliged -to make the best use of his time, and to take advantage -of the space gained by the tirailleurs to establish himself -on the height. He had, it is true, no more of it than -the summit, for, only a few paces off, there was the -corps of General Tauenzien, separated from the French -only by a slight ridge of ground. This corps was stationed -near two villages, one on the right, that of Closewitz, -surrounded by a small wood, the other on the left, -that of Cospoda, likewise surrounded by a wood of -some extent. Napoleon purposed to leave the Prussians -quiet in this position till the next day, and meanwhile -to lead part of his army up the Landgrafenberg. -The space which it occupied was capable of containing -the corps of Lannes and the guard. He ordered them -to be led up immediately through the steep ravines -which serve to ascend from Jena to the Landgrafenberg. -On the left, he placed Gazan’s division. On the right, -Suchet’s division; in the centre, and a little in rear, the -foot-guard. He made the latter encamp in a square of -four thousand men, and in the centre of this square he -established his own bivouac.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But it was not enough to bring infantry upon the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>Landgrafenberg—it was necessary to mount artillery -too upon it. Napoleon, riding about in all directions, -discovered a passage less steep than the others, and by -which the artillery might be dragged up with great exertion. -Unluckily, the way was too narrow. Napoleon -sent forthwith for a detachment of the engineers, and -had it widened by cutting the rock; he himself, in his -impatience, directed the works, torch in hand. He did -not retire till the night was far advanced, when he had -seen the first pieces of cannon rolled up. It required -twelve horses to drag each gun-carriage to the top of -the Landgrafenberg. Napoleon purposed to attack -General Tauenzien at day-break, and, by pushing him -briskly, to conquer the space necessary for deploying -his army. Fearful, however, of debouching by a single -outlet, wishing also to divide the attention of the enemy, -he directed Augereau towards the left, to enter the -gorge of the Muhlthal, to march one of his two divisions -upon the Weimar road, and to gain with the other -the back of the Landgrafenberg, in order to fall upon -the rear of General Tauenzien. On the right, he ordered -Marshal Soult, whose corps, breaking up from Gera, was -to arrive in the night, to ascend the other ravines, which, -running from Lobstedt and Dornburg, debouch upon -Closewitz, likewise for the purpose of falling upon the -rear of General Tauenzien. With this double diversion, -on the right and on the left, Napoleon had no doubt of -forcing the Prussians in their position, and gaining for -himself the space needed by his army for deploying. -Marshals Ney and Murat were to ascend the Landgrafenberg -by the route Lannes and the guard had followed.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>The day of the 13th had closed; profound darkness -enveloped the field of battle. Napoleon had placed his -tent in the centre of the square formed by his guard, -and had suffered only a few fires to be lighted; but all -those of the Prussian army were kindled. The fires of -the Prince of Hohenlohe were to be seen over the whole -extent of the plateaux, and at the horizon on the right, -topped by the old castle of Eckartsberg, those of the -army of the Duke of Brunswick, which had all at once -become visible for Napoleon. He conceived that, so -far from retiring, the whole of the Prussian forces had -come to take part in the battle. He sent immediately -fresh orders to Marshals Davoust and Bernadotte. He -enjoined Marshal Davoust to guard strictly the bridge -of <a id='corr193.15'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Naumberg'>Naumburg</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_193.15'><ins class='correction' title='Naumberg'>Naumburg</ins></a></span>, even to cross it, if possible, and to fall -upon the rear of the Prussians, while they were engaged -in front. He ordered Marshal Bernadotte, placed immediately, -to concur in the projected movement, either -by joining Marshal Davoust, if he was near the latter, -or by throwing himself directly on the flank of the -Prussians, if he had already taken at Dornburg a position -nearer to Jena. Lastly, he desired Murat to arrive -as speedily as possible with his cavalry.</p> - -<p class='c001'>While Napoleon was making these dispositions, the -Prince of Hohenlohe was in complete ignorance of the -lot which awaited him. Still persuaded that the bulk -of the French army, instead of halting before Jena, was -hurrying to Leipzig and Dresden, he supposed that he -should at most have to deal with the corps of Marshals -Lannes and Augereau, which, having passed the Saale, -would, he imagined, make their appearance between -<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>Jena and Weimar, as if they had descended from the -heights of the forest of Thuringia. Under this idea, -not thinking of making front towards Jena, he had on -that side opposed only the corps of General Tauenzien, -and ranged his army along the road from Jena to Weimar. -His left, composed of Saxons, guarded the summit -of the Schnecke; his right extended to Weimar, -and connected itself with General Ruchel’s corps. However, -a fire of tirailleurs, which was heard on the Landgrafenberg, -having excited a sort of alarm, and General -Tauenzien applying for succor, the Prince of Hohenlohe -ordered the Saxon brigade of Cerini, the Prussian -brigade of Sanitz, and several squadrons of cavalry, to -get under arms, and dispatched these forces to the -Landgrafenberg, to dislodge from it the French, whom -he conceived to be scarcely established on that point. -At the moment when he was about to execute this -resolution, Colonel de Massenbach brought him from the -Duke of Brunswick a reiterated order not to involve -himself in any serious action, to guard well the passages -of the Saale, and particularly that of Dornburg, which -excited uneasiness because some light troops had been -perceived there. The Prince of Hohenlohe, who had -become one of the most obedient of lieutenants when -he ought not to have been so, desisted at once, in compliance -with these injunctions from the head-quarters. -It was singular, nevertheless, that in obeying the order -not to fight, he should abandon the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>debouche</em></span> by which, -on the morrow, a disastrous battle was to be forced -upon him. Be this as it may, relinquishing the idea of -retaking the Landgrafenberg, he contented himself with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>sending the Saxon brigade of Cerini to General Tauenzien, -and with placing at Nerkwitz, facing Dornburg, -the Prussian brigade of Schemmelpfennig, lastly several -detachments of cavalry and artillery, under the command -of General Holzendorf. He sent some light horse -to Dornburg itself, to learn what was passing there. -The Prince of Hohenlohe confined himself to these dispositions: -he returned to his head-quarters at Capellendorf.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, stirring before daylight, gave his last instructions -to his lieutenants, and orders for his soldiers -to get under arms. The night was cold, the country -covered to a distance with a thick fog, like that which -for some hours enveloped the field of Austerlitz. Escorted -by men carrying torches, Napoleon went along -the front of the troops, talking to the officers and soldiers. -He explained the position of the two armies, -demonstrated to them that the Prussians were as deeply -compromised as the Austrians in the preceding year; -that, if vanquished in that engagement, they would be -cut off from the Elbe and the Oder, separated from the -Russians, and forced to abandon to the French the -whole Prussian monarchy; that, in such a situation, -the French corps which should suffer itself to be beaten -would frustrate the grandest designs, and disgrace itself -for ever. He exhorted them to keep on their guard -against the Prussian cavalry, and to receive it in square -with their usual firmness. His words everywhere drew -forth shouts of “Forward! <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>vive l’Empereur!</em></span>” Though -the fog was thick, yet through its veil the enemy’s advanced -posts perceived the glare of the torches, heard -<span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>the acclamations of the French, and went to give the -alarm to General Tauenzien. At that moment, the -corps of Lannes set itself in motion, on a signal from -Napoleon. Suchet’s division, formed into three brigades, -advanced first. Claparede’s brigade, composed of the -17th light infantry, and a battalion of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>elite</em></span>, marched at -the head, deployed in a single line. On the wings of -this line, and to preserve it from attacks of cavalry, the -34th and 40th regiments, forming the second brigade, -were disposed in close column, Vedel’s brigade, -deployed, closed this sort of square. On the left of -Suchet’s division, but a little in rear, came Gazan’s division, -ranged in two lines and preceded by its artillery. -Thus they advanced, groping their way through the -fog. Suchet’s division directed its course towards the -village of Closewitz, which was on the right, Gazan’s -division towards the village of Cospoda, which was on -the left. The Saxon battalions of Frederick Augustus -and Rechten, and the Prussian battalion of Zweifel, -perceiving through the fog a mass in motion, fired all -together. The 17th light infantry sustained that fire, -and immediately returned it. This fire of musketry -was kept up for a few minutes, the parties seeing the -flash and hearing the report, but not discerning one -another. The French, on approaching, at length discovered -the little wood which surrounded the village of -Closewitz. General Claparede briskly threw himself -into it, and, after a fight hand to hand, had soon carried -it, as well as the village of Closewitz itself. Having -deprived General Tauenzien’s line of this support, the -French continued their march amidst the balls that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>issued from that thick fog. Gazan’s division, on its -part, took the village of Cospoda, and established itself -there. Between these two villages, but a little farther -off, was a small hamlet, that of Lutzenrode, occupied -by Erichsen’s fusiliers. Gazan’s division carried that -also, and was then able to deploy more at its ease.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At this moment the two divisions of Lannes were -assailed by fresh discharges of artillery and musketry. -These were from the Saxon grenadiers of the Cerini -brigade, who, after taking up the advanced posts of -General Tauenzien, continued to move forward, firing -battalion volleys with as much precision as if they had -been at a review. The 17th light infantry, which -formed the head of Suchet’s division, having exhausted -its cartridges, was sent to the rear. The 34th took its -place, kept up the fire for some time, then encountered -the Saxon grenadiers with the bayonet, and broke -them. The route having soon extended to the whole -corps of General Tauenzien. Gazan’s and Suchet’s divisions -picked up about twenty pieces of cannon and many -fugitives. From the Landgrafenberg, the undulated -plateaux, on which the French had just deployed, -gradually subsided to the little valley of the Ilm. Hence -they marched rapidly upon sloping ground, to the heels -of a fleeing enemy. In this quick movement they encountered -two battalions of Cerini, and also Pelet’s -fusiliers, which had been left in the environs of Closewitz. -These troops were flung back for the rest of the -day towards General Holzendorf, commissioned on the -preceding day to guard the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>debouche</em></span> of Dornburg.</p> - -<p class='c001'>This action had not lasted two hours. It was nine -<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>o’clock, and Napoleon had thus early realized the first -part of his plan, which consisted in gaining the space -necessary for deploying his army. At the same moment -his instructions were executed at all points with remarkable -punctuality. Towards the left, Marshal Augereau, -having sent off Heudelet’s division, and likewise his -artillery and cavalry, to the extremity of the Muhlthal, -on the high road from Weimar, was climbing with Desjardin’s -divisions, the back of the Landgrafenberg, and -coming to form on the plateaux to the left of Gazan’s division. -Marshal Soult, only one of whose divisions, -that of General St. Hilaire, had arrived, was ascending -from Lobstedt, in the rear of Closewitz, facing the positions -of Nerkwitz and Alten-Krone, occupied by the -relics of Tauenzien’s corps and by the detachment of -General Holzendorf. Marshal Ney, impatient to share -in the battle, had detached from his corps a battalion of -voltigeurs, a battalion of grenadiers, the 25th light -infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and had gone on -before with this body of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>elite</em></span>. He entered Jena at the -very hour when the first act of the engagement was -over. Lastly, Murat, returning at a gallop, with the -dragoons and cuirassiers, from reconnoisances executed -on the Lower Saale, was mounting in breathless haste -towards Jena. Napoleon resolved, therefore, to halt -for a few moments on the conquered ground, to afford -his troops time to get into line.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Meanwhile, the fugitives belonging to General Tauenzien’s -force had given the alarm to the whole camp of -the Prussians. At the sound of the cannon, the Prince -of Hohenlohe had hastened to the Weimar road, where -<span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>the Prussian infantry was encamped, not yet believing -the action to be general, and complaining that the troops -were harassed by being obliged needlessly to get under -arms. Being soon undeceived, he took his measures -for giving battle. Knowing that the French had passed -the Saale at Saalfeld, he had expected to see them make -their appearance between Jena and Weimar, and had -drawn up his army along the road running from one to -the other of these towns. As this conjuncture was not -realized, he was obliged to change his dispositions, and -he did it with promptness and resolution. He sent the -bulk of the Prussian infantry, under the command of -General Grawert, to occupy the positions abandoned by -General Tauenzien. Towards the Schnecke, which -was to form his right, he left the Niesemuchel division, -composed of the two Saxon brigades of Burgsdorf and -Nehroff, of the Prussian Boguslawski battalion, and of a -numerous artillery, with orders to defend to the last -extremity the winding slopes by which the Weimar -road rises to the plateaux. To aid them, he gave them -the Cerini brigade, rallied and reinforced by four Saxon -battalions. In rear of his centre, he placed a reserve -of five battalions under General Dyherrn, to support -General Grawert. He had the wrecks of Tauenzien’s -corps rallied at some distance from the field of battle, -and supplied with ammunition. As for his left, he -directed General Holzendorf to push forward, if he -could, and to fall upon the right of the French, while he -would himself endeavor to stop them in front. He -sent General Ruchel information of what was passing, -and begged him to hasten his march. Lastly, he hurried -<span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>off himself with the Prussian cavalry and the artillery -horses, to meet the French, for the purpose of keeping -them in check and covering the formation of General -Grawert’s infantry.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was about ten o’clock, and the action of the morning, -interrupted for an hour, was about to begin again -with greater violence, while, on the right, Marshal Soult, -debouching from Lobstedt, was climbing the heights with -St. Hilaire’s division; while in the centre Marshal -Lannes, with Suchet’s and Gazan’s divisions, was deploying -on the plateaux won in the morning; and while, on -the left, Marshal Augereau, ascending from the bottom -of the Muhlthal, had reached the village of Iserstedt, -Marshal Ney, in his ardour for fighting, had advanced -with his three thousand men of the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>elite</em></span>, concealed by -the fog, and had placed himself between Lannes and -Augereau, facing the village of Vierzehn-Heiligen, -which occupied the centre of the field of battle. He -arrived at the very moment when the Prince of Hohenlohe -was hastening up at the head of the Prussian -cavalry. Finding himself all at once facing the enemy, -he engaged before the Emperor had given orders for -renewing the action. The horse artillery of the Prince -of Hohenlohe having already placed itself in battery, -Ney pushed the 10th chasseurs upon this artillery. -This regiment, taking advantage of a clump of trees to -form, dashed forward on the gallop, ascended by its -right upon the flank of the Russian artillery, cut down -the gunners, and took seven pieces of cannon, under the -fire of the whole line of the enemy. But a mass of -Prussian cuirassiers rushed upon it, and he was obliged -<span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>to retire with precipitation. Ney then dispatched the -3d hussars. This regiment, manœuvring as the 10th -chasseurs had done, took advantage of the clump of -trees to form, ascended upon the flank of the cuirassiers, -then fell upon them suddenly, threw them into disorder, -and forced them to retire. Two regiments of light -cavalry, however, were not enough to make head against -thirty squadrons of dragoons and cuirassiers. The -chasseurs and hussars were soon obliged to seek shelter -behind the infantry. Marshal Ney then sent forward -the battalion of grenadiers and the battalion of voltigeurs -which he had brought, formed two squares, then -placing himself in one of them, opposed the charges of -the Prussian cavalry. He allowed the enemy’s cuirassiers -to approach within twenty paces of his bayonets, -and terrified them by the aspect of a motionless infantry -which had reserved its fire. At his signal, a discharge -within point-blank range strewed the ground with dead -and wounded. Though several times assailed, these -two squares remained unbroken.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, on the top of the Landgrafenberg, had -been highly astonished to hear the firing recommence -without his order. He learned with still more astonishment -that Marshal Ney, whom he had supposed to -be in the rear, was engaged with the Prussians. He -hastened up greatly displeased, and on approaching Vierzehn-Heiligen, -perceived from the height Marshal Ney -defending himself, in the middle of two weak squares, -against the whole of the Prussian cavalry. This heroic -demonstration was enough to dispel all displeasure. Napoleon -sent General Bertrand with two regiments of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>light cavalry, all that he had at hand, in the absence of -Murat, to assist in extricating Ney, and ordered Lannes -to advance with his infantry. During the time that -elapsed before relief arrived, the intrepid Ney was not -disconcerted. While, with four regiments of horse, he -renewed his charges of cavalry, he moved the 25th -infantry to his left, in order to station himself on the -wood of Iserstedt, which Augereau, on his part, was -striving to reach; he made the battalion of grenadiers -advance as far as the little wood which had protected -his chasseurs, and dispatched the battalion of voltigeurs -to gain possession of the village of <a id='corr202.12'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Vierzhn-Heiligen'>Vierzehn-Heiligen</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_202.12'><ins class='correction' title='Vierzhn-Heiligen'>Vierzehn-Heiligen</ins></a></span>. -But, at the same instant, Lannes, coming to his assistance, -threw the 21st regiment of light infantry into -the village of Vierzehn-Heiligen, and, putting himself at -the head of the 100th, 103d, 34th, 64th, and 88th of -the line, debouched in the face of the Prussian infantry -of General Grawert. The latter deployed before the -village of Vierzehn-Heiligen, with a regularity of movement -due to long exercises. It drew up in order of -battle, and opened a regular and terrible fire of small -arms. Ney’s three little detachments suffered severely; -but Lannes, ascending on the right of General Grawert’s -infantry, endeavored to turn it in spite of repeated -charges of the Prince of Hohenlohe’s cavalry, which -came to attack him in his march.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Prince of Hohenlohe bravely supported his troops -amidst the danger. The regiment of Sanitz was completely -broken; he formed it anew under the fire. He -then purposed that the Zastrow regiment should retake -the village of <a id='corr202.31'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Vierzhen-Heiligen'>Vierzehn-Heiligen</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_202.31'><ins class='correction' title='Vierzhen-Heiligen'>Vierzehn-Heiligen</ins></a></span> at the point of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>bayonet, hoping thereby to decide the victory. Meanwhile -he was informed that more hostile columns began -to appear; that General Holzendorf, engaged with superior -forces, was incapable of seconding him; that -General Ruchel, however, was on the point of joining -him with his corps. He then judged it expedient to -wait for this powerful succor, and poured a shower of -shells into the village of Vierzehn-Heiligen, resolved to -try the effect of flames before he attacked it with his -bayonets. He sent at the same time officers to General -Ruchel, to urge him to hasten up, and to promise him -the victory if he arrived in time; for, according to him, -the French were on the point of giving way. At that -very hour fortune was deciding otherwise. Augereau -debouching at last from the wood of Iserstedt with Desjardin’s -division, disengaged Ney’s left, and began to -exchange a fire of musketry with the Saxons who were -defending the Schnecke, while General Heudelet attacked -them in column on the high road from Jena to -Weimar. On the other side of the field of battle, the -corps of Marshal Soult, after driving the remains of the -Cerini brigade, as well as the Pelet fusiliers, out of the -wood of Closewitz, and flinging back Holzendorf’s detachment -to a distance, opened its guns on the flank -of the Prussians. Napoleon, seeing the progress of his -two wings, and learning the arrival of the troops which -had been left in rear, was no longer afraid to bring into -action all the forces present on the ground, the guard -included, and gave orders for advancing. An irresistible -impulse was communicated to the whole line. The -Prussians were driven back, broken, and hurled down -<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>the sloping ground which descends from Landgrafenberg -to the valley of the Ilm. The regiments of Hohenlohe -and the Hahn grenadiers, of Grawert’s division, were -almost entirely destroyed by the fire or by the bayonet. -The Cerini brigade, assailed with grape, fell back upon -the Dyherrn reserve, which in vain opposed its five -battalions to the movement of the French. That reserve, -being soon left uncovered, found itself attacked, surrounded -on all sides, and forced to disperse. Tauenzien’s -corps, rallied for a moment, and brought back into the -fire by the Prince of Hohenlohe, was hurried away, like -the others, in the general rout. The Prussian cavalry, -taking advantage of the absence of the heavy French -cavalry, made charges to cover its broken infantry; but -the chasseurs and hussars kept it in check; and though -driven back several times, returned incessantly to the -charge. A terrible carnage followed this disorderly retreat. -At every step prisoners were made; artillery -was taken by whole batteries.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In this great danger, General Ruchel at length made -his appearance, but too late. He marched in two fines -of infantry, having on the left the cavalry belonging to -his corps, and on the right the Saxon cavalry, commanded -by the brave General Zeschwitz, who had come of his -own accord and taken that position. He ascended at a -foot-pace those plateaux, sloping from the Landgrafenberg -to the Ilm. While mounting, Prussian and French -poured down around him like a torrent, the one pursued -by the other. He was thus met by a sort of tempest, -at the moment of his appearance on the field of battle. -While he was advancing, his heart rent with grief at -<span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>this disaster, the French rushed upon him with the impetuosity -of victory. The cavalry which covered his left -flank was first dispersed. That unfortunate general, an -unwise but ardent friend of his country, was the first -to oppose the shock in person. A ball entered his chest, -and he was borne off dying in the arms of his soldiers. -His infantry, deprived of the cavalry which covered it, -found itself attacked in flank by the troops of Marshal -Soult, and threatened in front by those of Marshals -Lannes and Ney. The battalions placed at the left extremity -of the line, seized with terror, dispersed, and -hurried along the rest of the corps in their flight. To -aggravate the disaster, the French dragoons and cuirassiers -came up at a gallop, under the conduct of Murat, -impatient to take a share in the battle. They surrounded -those hapless and dispersed battalions, cut in pieces all -who attempted to resist, and pursued the others to the -banks of the Ilm, where they made a great number of -prisoners.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the field of battle were left only the two Saxon -brigades of Burgsdorf and Nehroff, which, after honorably -defending the Schnecke against Heudelet’s and Desjardin’s -division of Augereau’s corps, had been forced -in their position by the address of the French tirailleurs, -and effected their retreat, formed into two squares. -These squares presented three sides of infantry and one -of artillery, the latter being the rear side. The two -Saxon brigades retired, halting alternately, firing their -guns, and then resuming their march. Augereau’s artillery -followed, sending balls after them; a swarm of -French tirailleurs ran after them, harassing them with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>their small arms. Murat, who had just overthrown the -relics of Ruchel’s corps, fell upon the two Saxon brigades, -and ordered them to be charged to the utmost -extremity by his dragoons and cuirassiers. The dragoons -attacked first without forcing an entrance; but -they returned to the charge, penetrated and broke the -square. General d’Hatpoul, with the cuirassiers, attacked -the second, broke it, and made that havoc which a -victorious cavalry inflicts on a broken infantry. Those -unfortunate men had no other resource but to surrender. -The Prussian battalion of Boguslawski was forced in its -turn, and treated like the others. The brave General -Zeschwitz, who had hastened with the Saxon cavalry -to the assistance of its infantry, made vain efforts to -support it, and was driven back, and forced to give way -to the general rout.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Murat rallied his squadrons, and hastened to Weimar, -to collect fresh trophies. At some distance from that -town were crowded together, pell-mell, detachments of -infantry, cavalry, artillery, at the top of a long and -steep slope, formed by the high road leading down to -the bottom of the valley of the Ilm. These troops, -confusedly huddled together, were supported upon a -small wood, called the wood of Webicht. All at once, -the bright helmets of the French cavalry made their -appearance. A few musket-shots were instinctively -fired by this affrighted crowd. At this signal, the -mass, seized with terror, rushed down the hill, at the -foot of which Weimar is situated: foot, horse, artillerymen, -all tumbled over one another into this gulf—a -new and tremendous disaster. Murat now sent -<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>after them a part of his dragoons, who goaded on this -mob with the points of their swords, and pursued it -into the streets of Weimar. With the others he made -a circuit to the other side of Weimar, and cut off the -retreat of the fugitives, who surrendered by thousands.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Out of the seventy thousand Prussians who had -appeared on the field of battle, not a single corps -remained entire, not one retreated in order. Out of -one hundred thousand French troops, composed of the -corps of Marshals Soult, Lannes, Augereau, Ney, Murat, -and the guard, not more than fifty thousand had fought, -and they had been sufficient to overthrow the Prussian -army. The greater part of that army, seized with a -sort of vertigo, throwing away its arms, ceasing to know -either its colors or its officers, covered all the roads of -Thuringin. About twelve thousand Prussians and -Saxons, killed and wounded, about four thousand French -killed and wounded also, strewed the ground from Jena -to Weimar. On the ground were seen stretched a great -number—a greater number, indeed, than usual—of -Prussian officers, who had nobly paid for their silly -passions with their lives; Fifteen thousand prisoners, -two hundred pieces of cannon, were in the hands of the -French, intoxicated with joy. The shells of the Prussians -had set fire to the town of Jena, and from the -plateaux where the battle was fought, columns of flame -were seen bursting from the dark bosom of night. -French shells ploughed up the city of Weimar, and -threatened it with a similar fate. The shrieks of fugitives -while <a id='corr207.30'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='ruuning'>running</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_207.30'><ins class='correction' title='ruuning'>running</ins></a></span> through the streets, the tramp of -Murat’s cavalry, dashing through them at a gallop, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>slaughtering without mercy all who were not quick -enough in flinging down them arms, had filled with horror -that charming city—the noble asylum of letters.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At Weimar, as at Jena, part of the inhabitants had -fled. The conquerors, disposing like masters of their -almost deserted towns, established their magazines and -their hospitals in the churches and public buildings. -Napoleon, on returning from Jena, directed his attention, -according to his custom, to the collecting of the wounded, -and heard shouts of <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>Vive l’Empereur!</em></span> mingled with the -moans of the dying.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But Napoleon knew not yet the full measure of his -victory. In the course of the day, he had heard the -distant thundering of the cannon in the direction of -Naumberg, where he had posted Marshal Davoust. -He had the greatest confidence in the wisdom, valor, -and inflexible resolution of that great general, but he -did not know of the immensely superior forces the -Marshal had to fight, to maintain his position. The facts -were soon learned. Marshal Davoust, with only twenty-six -thousand men, had not only sustained his position -for many hours against the impetuous attack of seventy -thousand Prussians, commanded by the Duke of Brunswick, -and cheered by the presence of Frederick William -himself, but had routed his enemy, and thus achieved -the victory of Auerstadt. Never had there been a -grander display of heroic firmness by general and soldiers. -The Prussians had lost three thousand prisoners, -nine or ten thousand men, killed or wounded, besides -the Duke of Brunswick, Marshal Mollendorf and General -Schwettan mortally wounded, together with a prodigious -<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>number of their gallant officers. Davoust had -suffered a loss of seven thousand men, killed or wounded, -and half the generals of brigade and colonels were placed -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>hors de combat</em></span>. The king was denied the consolation -of his army retreating in good order. Nearly every -corps was broken and disbanded, being seized with a -panic. The roads were crowded with fear-stricken -fugitives.</p> - -<p class='c001'>During the terrible night, which followed the bloody -day of Jena and Auerstadt, the victors suffered not less -than the vanquished. The night was intensely cold, -and they were obliged to bivouac on the ground, having -scarcely any thing to eat. Many of them wounded, more -or less severely, were stretched on the cold earth beside -wounded enemies, mingling their groans. Napoleon -made every effort in his power to relieve their sufferings, -and many a poor soldier, almost fainting from loss of -blood, exerted his feeble strength to shout “<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>Vive l’Empereur!</em></span>”</p> - -<p class='c001'>But the Prussian army was annihilated. The road -to Berlin was open, and thither the French Emperor -hastened, in following up his decisive victory. A few -small actions were fought and the French made thousands -of prisoners almost every day. Frederick William solicited -an armistice, but the Emperor refused to grant it -for wise military reasons. He was destined to enter -the Prussian capital in triumph. Never did Europe -dread the name of Napoleon so notably as when that -Prussian army, upon which the last hope was founded, -vanished before his resistless arms.</p> - -<div id='i210' class='figcenter id034'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span> -<img src='images/i_b_210.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE NAREW.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id019'> -<img src='images/i_b_210_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_210_1.jpg' width='250' height='279' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Napoleon, having vanquished -the Prussians, once -more turned his arms -against the Russians, -who, under the command -of Kamenski -and Bennigsen, numbered -about one hundred -and fifteen thousand -men. They were -posted upon the Vistula; -but as Napoleon -easily passed that great river, they retired behind the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>Narew. The passage of this stream was one of the remarkable -achievements of the French, during this portion -of the Emperor’s splendid career.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Having arrived in the night, between the 18th and -19th of December, 1806, Napoleon reconnoitred the position -of Marshal Davoust on the Narew, but a thick -fog prevented him from attaining much accurate intelligence. -He made his dispositions for attacking the -enemy on the 22d or 23d of December. It is high -time, he wrote to Marshal Davoust, to take our winter -quarters; but this cannot be done till we have driven -back the Russians.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The four divisions of General Bennigsen first presented -themselves. Count Tolstoy’s division, posted at -Czarnowo, occupied the apex of the angle formed by the -junction of the Ukra and the Narew. That of General -Sacken, also placed in rear towards Lopaczym, guarded -the banks of the Ukra. The division of Prince Gallitzin -was in reserve at Pultusk. The four divisions of -General Buxhovden were at a great distance from those -of General Bennigsen, and not calculated to render -support to him.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It is easy to perceive that the distribution of the -Russian corps was not judiciously combined in the angle -of the Ukra and the Narew, and that they had not sufficiently -concentrated their forces. If, instead of having -a single division at the point of the angle, and one on -each side at too great a distance from the first, lastly, -five out of reach, they had distributed themselves with -intelligence over ground so favourable for the defensive; -if they had strongly occupied, first the conflux, then -<span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>the two rivers, the Narew from Czarnowo to Pultusk, -the Ukra from Pomichowo to Kolozomb; if they had -placed in reserve in a central position, at Nasielsk, for -example, a principal mass, ready to run to any threatened -point, they might have disputed the ground with -advantage. But Generals Bennigsen and Buxhovden -were on bad terms; they disliked to be near each other; -and old Kamenski, who had arrived only on the preceding -day, had neither the necessary intelligence nor -spirit for prescribing other dispositions than they had -adopted in following each of them his whim.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, who saw the position of the Russians from -without only, certainly concluded that they were intrenched -behind the Narew and the Ukra, for the purpose -of guarding the banks, but without knowing how they -were established and distributed there. He thought -that it would be advisable to take, in the first place, the -conflux, where it was probable, they would defend -themselves with energy, and having carried that point, -to proceed to the execution of his plan, which consisted -in throwing the Russians, by a wheel from right to left, -into the marshy and woody country in the interior of -Poland. In consequence, having repeated the order to -Marshals Ney, Bernadotte and Bessieres, forming his -left, to proceed rapidly from Thorn to Biezun on the -upper course of the Ukra; to Marshals Soult and Augereau, -forming in his centre, to set out from Plock and -Modlin, and form a junction at Plonsk on the Ukra; he -put himself at the head of his right, composed of Davoust’s -corps, Lannes’s corps, of the guard, and the -reserves, resolved to force immediately the position of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>the Russians at the conflux of the Ukra and the Narew. -He left in the works of Praga the Poles of the new -levy, with a division of dragoons, a force sufficient to -ward off all accidents, as the army was not to remove -far from Warsaw.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Having arrived on the morning of the 23d of December -at Okunin on the Narew, in wet weather, by muddy -and almost impassable roads, Napoleon alighted, to -superintend in person the dispositions of attack. This -general, who, according to some critics, while directing -armies of three hundred thousand men, knew not how -to lead a brigade into fire, went himself to reconnoitre -the enemy’s positions, and to place his forces on the -ground, down to the very companies of the voltigeurs.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Narew had been already crossed at Okunin, -below the conflux of the Ukra and the Narew. To -penetrate into the angle formed by those two rivers, it -was necessary to pass either the Narew or the Ukra -above their point of junction. The Ukra, being the -narrower of the two, was deemed preferable for attempting -a passage. Advantage had been taken of an island -which divided it into two arms, near its mouth, in order -to diminish the difficulty. On this island the French -had established themselves, and they had yet to pass -the second arm to reach the point of land occupied by -the Russians between the Ukra and the Narew. This -point of land, covered with woods, coppices, marshes, -&c., looked like one very dense thicket. Further off, -the ground became somewhat clearer, then rose and -formed a steep declivity, which extended from the -Narew to the Ukra. To the right of this natural intrenchment -<span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>appeared the village of Czarnowo on the -Narew, to the left of the village of Pomichowo on the -Ukra. The Russians had advanced guards of tirailleurs -in the thicket, several battalions and a numerous artillery -on the elevated part of the ground, two battalions in -reserve, and all their cavalry in the rear. Napoleon -repaired to the island, mounted the roof of a barn by -means of a ladder, studied the position of the Russians -with a telescope, and immediately made the following -dispositions. He scattered a great quantity of tirailleurs -all along the Ukra, and to a considerable distance above -the point of passage. He ordered them to keep up a -brisk firing, and to kindle large fires with damp straw, -so as to cover the bed of the river with a cloud of smoke, -and to cause the Russians to apprehend an attack above -the conflux, towards Pomichowo. He even directed to -that quarter Gauthier’s brigade, belonging to Davoust’s -corps, in order the more effectually to draw the enemy’s -attention thither. During the execution of these orders, -he collected at dusk all the companies of voltigeurs of -Morand’s division, on the intended point of passage, and -ordered them to fire from one bank to the other, through -the clumps of wood, to drive off the enemy’s posts, while -the seamen of the guard were equipping the craft collected -on the Narew. The 17th of the line and the 13th -light infantry were in column, ready to embark by detachments, -and the rest of Morand’s division was assembled -in the rear, in order to pass as soon as the bridge was -established. The other divisions of Davoust’s corps -were at the bridge of Okunin, awaiting the moment for -acting. Lannes was advancing from Warsaw to Okunin.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i214fp' class='figcenter id035'> -<img src='images/i_b_214fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE NAREW. <span class='small'>Page 214.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>The seamen of the guard soon brought some boats, by -means of which several detachments of voltigeurs were -conveyed from one bank to the other. These penetrated -into the thicket, while the officers of the pontoniers and -the seamen of the guard were occupied in forming a -bridge of boats with the utmost expedition. At seven in -the evening, the bridge being passable, Morand’s division -crossed in close column, and marched forward, preceded -by the 17th of the line and the 13th light infantry, and -by a swarm of tirailleurs. They advanced under cover -of the darkness and the wood. The sappers of the regiment -cleared a passage through the thicket for the infantry. -No sooner had they overcome these first obstacles, -than they found themselves unsheltered, opposite to the -elevated plateau which runs from the Narew to the -Ukra, and which was defended either by abattis or by -a numerous artillery. The Russians, amidst the darkness -of the night, opened upon the French columns a -continuous fire of grape and musketry, which did some -mischief. While the voltigeurs of Morand’s division and -the 13th light infantry approached as tirailleurs, Colonel -Lanusse, at the head of the 17th of the line, formed in -column of attack on the right, to storm the Russian -batteries. He had already carried one of them, when the -Russians advancing in mass upon his left flank, obliged -him to fall back. The rest of Morand’s division came up -to the support of the two first regiments. The 13th light, -infantry having exhausted its cartridges, was replaced -by the 30th, and again they marched by the right to -attack the village of Czarnowo, while on the left, General -Petit proceeded with four hundred picked men to the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>attack of the Russian intrenchments facing the Ukra, -opposite to Pomichowo. In spite of the darkness, they -<a id='corr216.3'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='monœuvred'>manœuvred</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_216.3'><ins class='correction' title='monœuvred'>manœuvred</ins></a></span> with the utmost order. Two battalions of -the 30th and one of the 17th attacked Czarnowo, one -by going along the bank of the Narew, the two others -by directly climbing the plateau on which the village is -seated. These three battalions carried Czarnowo, and, -followed by the 51st and the 61st regiments, debouched -on the plateau, driving back the Russians into the plain -beyond it. At the same moment General Petit had assaulted -the extremity of the enemy’s intrenchments towards -the Ukra, and, seconded by the fire of artillery, -kept up by Gauthier’s brigade from the other side of -the river, had carried them. At midnight, the assailants -were masters of the position of the Russians from the -Narew to the Ukra, but, from the tardiness of their retreat, -which could be discerned in the dark, it was to -be inferred that they would return to the charge, and, -for this reason, Marshal Davoust sent the second brigade -of General Gudin’s division to the assistance of General -Petit who was most exposed. During the night, the -Russians, as it had been foreseen, returned three times -to the charge, with the intention of retaking the position -which they had lost, and hurling down the French from -the plateau towards that point of woody and marshy -ground on which they had landed. Thrice were they -suffered to approach within thirty paces, and each time -the French replying to their attack by a point-blank fire, -brought them to a dead stand, and then, meeting them -with the bayonet, repulsed them. At length, the night -being far advanced, they betook themselves in full retreat, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>towards Nasielsk. Never was night action fought -with greater order, precision, and hardihood. The Russians -left, killed, wounded and prisoners, about eighteen -hundred men, and a great quantity of artillery. The -French had six hundred wounded, and about one -hundred killed.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, at his evening camp-fire on the Narew, congratulated -General Morand and Marshal Davoust upon -their gallant conduct, and hastened to reap the benefits -of the victory. Then followed a series of actions in terrible -weather, and in a country now hardened with frost, -and then slushed with rain. In all these, the lieutenants -of the Emperor, and especially the indomitable Lannes, -gained unfading glory.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_217.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i218' class='figcenter id034'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span> -<img src='images/i_b_218.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>CAMP-FIRE AT EYLAU.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id019'> -<img src='images/i_b_218_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_218_1.jpg' width='250' height='290' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The Russians, under General -Bennigsen, were pursued and -harassed by the French -Marshals after the passage -of the Narew, until the evening -of the 7th of February, -1807, when they halted beyond -the village of Eylau, -and evinced a determination -to give battle on the following -day. The French army was worn with fatigue, -reduced in number by rapid marches and rear-guard -<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>actions, pinched with hunger and suffering from cold. -But they were now to fight a great battle against a -superior number of brave and disciplined troops.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, losing no time, dispatched the same evening -several officers to Marshals Davoust and Ney, to -bring them back, the one to his right, the other to his -left. Marshal Davoust had continued to follow the -Alle to Bartenstein, and he was not more than three or -four leagues off. He replied that he should arrive at -daybreak upon the right of Eylau (the right of the -French army) ready to fall upon the flank of the Russians. -Marshal Ney, who had been directed upon the -left, so as to keep the Prussians at a distance, and to be -able to rush upon Konigsberg, in case the Russians -should throw themselves behind the Pregel—Marshal -Ney was marching for Krentzburg. Messengers were -dispatched after him, though it was not so sure that he -could be brought back in time to the field of battle, as -it was that Marshal Davoust would make his appearance -there.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Deprived of Ney’s corps, the French army amounted -at most to fifty and some thousand men. If Marshal -Ney were to arrive in time, it would be possible to -oppose sixty-three thousand men to the enemy, all present -under fire. No expectation could be entertained -of the arrival of Bernadotte’s corps, which was thirty -leagues off.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, who slept that night but three or four -hours in a chair in the house of the postmaster, placed -the corps of Marshal Soult at Eylau itself, partly within -the town, partly on the right and left of it, Augereau’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span>corps and the imperial guard a little in rear, and all the -cavalry upon the wings, till daylight should enable him -to make his dispositions.</p> - -<p class='c001'>General Bennigsen had at last determined to give -battle. He was on level ground, or nearly so, excellent -ground for his infantry, not much versed in manœuvres, -but solid, and for his cavalry, which was numerous. -His heavy artillery, which he had directed to make a -circuit, that it might not cramp his movements, had just -rejoined him.</p> - -<p class='c001'>His army, amounting to seventy-eight or eighty -thousand men, and to ninety thousand with the Prussians, -had sustained considerable losses in the late battles, -but scarcely any in marches, for an army in -retreat, without being in disorder, is rallied by the enemy -that pursues it, whereas the pursuing army, not having -the same motives for keeping close together, always -leaves part of its effective force behind. Deducting the -losses sustained at Mohrungen, Bergfried, Waltersdorf, -Hoff, Heilsberg, and at Eylau itself, one may say that -General Bennigsen’s army was reduced to about eighty -thousand men, seventy-two thousand of whom were -Russians, and eight thousand Prussians. Thus, in case -General Lestocq and Marshal Ney should not arrive, -fifty-four thousand French would have to fight seventy-two -thousand Russians. The Russians had, moreover, -a formidable artillery, computed at four or five hundred -pieces. That of the French amounted to two hundred -at most, including the guard. It is true that it was -superior to all the artilleries of Europe, even to that of -the Austrians. General Bennigsen, therefore, determined -<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>to attack at daybreak. The character of his -soldiers was energetic, like that of the French soldiers, -but governed by other motives. The Russians had -neither that confidence of success nor that love of glory -which the French exhibited, but a certain fanaticism of -obedience, which induced them to brave death blindly.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Since debouching upon Eylau, the country appeared -level and open. The little town of Eylau, situated on -a slight eminence, and topped by a Gothic spire, was -the only conspicuous point. The ground gently sloping, -on the right of the church, presented a cemetery. In -front it rose perceptibly, and on this rise, marked by -some hillocks, appeared the Russians in a deep mass. -Several lakes, full of water in spring, frozen in winter, -at this time covered with snow, were not distinguishable -in any way from the rest of the plain. Scarcely -did a few barns united into hamlets, and lines of barriers -for folding cattle, form a <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>point d’appui</em></span>, or an obstacle on -this dreary field of battle. A gray sky, dissolving at -times into thick snow, added its dreariness to that of -the country, a dreariness which seized upon both the -eye and heart.</p> - -<p class='c001'>During the greater part of the night Napoleon was -employed in learning the force and position of the enemy, -and drawing a plan of the battle, as he reclined on the -snow by his dreary camp-fire. The four hours of sleep -in a chair was quite sufficient to refresh his energies, -and prepare him for the great struggle of the next day. -The troops who bivouacked in the vicinity of Eylau, -suffered severely from the cold. They had but few -fires, as fuel was scarce. Most of these gallant soldiers, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>who had been marching and fighting for several -days, dared not trust themselves to slumber on the -ground for fear of freezing to death.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At break of the day, the position of the Russians -was discovered. They were drawn up in two lines, -very near to each other, their front being covered by -three hundred pieces of cannon, planted on the salient -points of the ground. In the rear, two close columns, -appuying, like two flying buttresses, this double fine of -battle seemed designed to support it, and to prevent its -breaking under the shock of a charge from the impetuous -French. A strong reserve of artillery was placed -at some distance. The cavalry was partly in the rear, -and partly on the wings. The Cossacks kept with the -body of the army.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, on horseback, at daybreak, stationed himself -in the cemetery to the right of Eylau, where, -scarcely protected by a few trees from the cannonade -which the Russians had already commenced, he surveyed -the positions of the enemy. He could foresee that victory -would cost him dearly, from the solid and obstinate -mass which the Russian general had formed.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Owing to the position of Eylau, which stretched itself -out facing the Russians, Napoleon could give the less -depth to his line of battle, and consequently the less -scope to the balls of the artillery. Two of Marshal -Soult’s divisions were placed at Eylau, Legrand’s division -in advance and a little to the left, Leval’s division, -partly on the left of the town, upon an eminence topped -by a mill, partly on the right, at the cemetery itself. The -third division of Marshal Soult’s, St. Hilaire’s division, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>was established still further to the right, at a considerable -distance from the cemetery, in the village of Rothenen, -which formed the prolongation of the position of -Eylau. In the interval between the village of Rothenen, -and the town of Eylau, an interval left vacant for the -purpose of making the rest of the army debouch there, -was posted a little in rear, Augereau’s corps, drawn up -in two lines, and formed of Desjardins’s and Heudelet’s -divisions. Augereau, tormented with fever, his eyes -red and swollen, but forgetting his complaints at the -sound of the cannon, had mounted his horse to put himself -at the head of his troops. Further in rear of that -same <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>debouche</em></span> came the infantry and cavalry of the -imperial guard, the divisions of cuirassiers and dragoons, -both ready to present themselves to the enemy by the -same outlet, and meanwhile somewhat sheltered from -the cannon by a hollow of the ground. Lastly, at the -extreme right of this field of battle, beyond and in -advance of Rothenen, at the hamlet of Serpallen, the -corps of Marshal Davoust was to enter into action in -such a manner as to fall upon the flank of the Russians.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Thus Napoleon was in open order, and his line having -the advantage of being covered on the left by the buildings -of Eylau, on the right by those of Rothenen, the -combat of artillery, by which he designed to demolish -the kind of wall opposed to him by the Russians, would -be much less formidable for him than for them. He -had caused all the cannon of the army to be removed -from the corps, and placed in order of battle. To these -he had ordered the forty pieces belonging to the guard, -and he was thus about to reply to the formidable artillery -<span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>of the Russians by an artillery far inferior in -number, but much superior in skill.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Russians had commenced the firing. The French -had answered it immediately by a violent cannonade at -half cannon-shot. The earth shook under the tremendous -detonation. The French artillerymen, not only -more expert, but firing at a living mass, which served -them for a butt, made dreadful havoc. The balls swept -down whole files. Those of the Russians, on the contrary, -directed with less precision, and striking against -buildings, inflicted less mischief. The town of Eylau -and the village of Rothenen were soon set on fire. -The glare of the conflagration added its terrors to the -horrors of the carnage. Though there fell far fewer -French than Russians, still there fell a great many, -especially in the ranks of the imperial guard, motionless -in the cemetery. The projectiles, passing over the -head of Napoleon, and sometimes very close to him, -penetrated the walls of the church, or broke branches -from the trees at the foot of which he had placed himself -to direct the battle.</p> - -<p class='c001'>This cannonade lasted for a long time, and both armies -bore it with heroic tranquillity, never stirring, and -merely closing their ranks as fast as the cannon made -breaches in them. The Russians seemed first to feel a -sort of impatience. Desirous of accelerating the result -by the taking of Eylau, they moved off to carry the -position of the mill, situated on the left of the town.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Part of their right formed in column, and came to the -attack. Leval’s division gallantly repulsed it, and by -their firmness left the Russians no hope of success.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>As for Napoleon, he attempted nothing decisive, for -he would not endanger, by sending it forward, the corps -of Marshal Soult, which had done so well to keep Eylau -under such a tremendous cannonade. He waited for -acting till the presence of Marshal Davoust’s corps, -which was coming on the right, should begin to be felt -on the flank of the Russians.</p> - -<p class='c001'>This lieutenant, punctual as he was intrepid, had -actually arrived at the village of Serpallen. Friant’s -division marched at the head. It debouched the first, -encountered the Cossacks, whom it had soon driven -back, and occupied the village of Serpallen with some -companies of fight infantry. No sooner was it established -in the village and in the grounds on the right, -than one of the masses of cavalry posted on the wings -of the Russian army detached itself, and advanced towards. -General Friant, availing himself with intelligence -and coolness of the advantages afforded by the -accidents of the locality, drew up the three regiments -of which his division was then composed behind the -long and solid wooden barrier, which served for folding -cattle. Sheltered behind this natural intrenchment, he -kept up a fire within point-blank range upon the Russian -squadrons, and forced them to retire. They fell -back, but soon returned, accompanied by a column of -nine or ten thousand infantry. It was one of the two -close columns, which served for flying buttresses to the -Russian fine of battle, and which now bore to the left -of that fine, to retake Serpallen. General Friant had -but five hundred men to oppose to it. Still, sheltered -behind the wooden barrier with which he had covered -<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>himself, and able to deploy without apprehension of -being charged by the cavalry, he saluted the Russians -with a fire so continuous and so well directed, as to -occasion them considerable loss. Their squadrons having -shown an intention to turn him, he formed the 33d -into square on his right, and stopped them by the imperturbable -bearing of his foot-soldiers. As he could -not make use of his cavalry, which consisted of some -horse chasseurs, he made amends for it by a swarm of -tirailleurs, who kept up such a fire upon the flanks of -the Russians, as to oblige them to retire towards the -heights in rear of Serpallen, between Serpallen and -Klein-Sausgarten. On retiring to these heights, the -Russians covered themselves by a numerous artillery, -the downward fire of which was very destructive. -Morand’s division had arrived in its turn on the field of -battle. Marshal Davoust, taking the first brigade, that -of General Ricard, went and placed it beyond and on -the left of Serpallen; he then posted the second, composed -of the 51st and the 61st, on the right of the -villages, so as to support either Ricard’s brigade or -Friant’s division. The latter had proceeded to the right -of Serpallen, towards Klein-Sausgarten. At this very -moment, Gudin’s division was accelerating its speed to -get into line. Thus the Russians had been obliged by -the movement of the French right to draw back their -left from Serpallen towards Klein-Sausgarten.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The expected effect on the flank of the enemy’s -army was therefore produced. Napoleon, from the position -which he occupied, had distinctly seen the Russian -reserves directed towards the corps of Marshal Davoust. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>The hour for acting had arrived; for, unless he interfered, -the Russians might fall in mass upon Marshal -Davoust and crush him. Napoleon immediately gave -his orders. He directed St. Hilaire’s division, which -was at Rothenen, to push forward and to give a hand -to Morand’s division about Serpallen. He commanded -the two divisions of Augereau’s corps, to debouch by the -interval between Rothenen and Eylau, to connect themselves -with St. Hilaire’s division, and to form all together -an oblong line from the cemetery of Eylau to Serpallen. -The result expected from this movement was to overturn -the Russians, by throwing their right upon their -centre, and thus break down, beginning at its extremity, -the long wall which he had before him.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was ten in the morning. General St. Hilaire -moved off, left Rothenen, and deployed obliquely in the -plain, under a terrible fire of artillery, his right at Serpallen, -his left towards the cemetery. Augereau moved -nearly at the same time, not without a melancholy foreboding -of the fate reserved for his <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>corps d’armee</em></span>, which -he saw exposed to the danger of being dashed to pieces -against the centre of the Russians, solidly appuyed upon -several hillocks. While General Corbineau was delivering -the orders of the Emperor to him, a ball pierced the -side of that gallant officer. Marshal Augereau marched -immediately. The two divisions of Desjardins and -Heudelet debouched between Rothenen and the cemetery, -in close columns; then, having cleared the defile, -formed in order of battle, the first brigade of each division -deployed, the second in square. While they were -advancing, a squall of wind and snow, beating all at -<span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>once into the faces of the soldiers, prevented them from -seeing the field of battle. The two divisions, enveloped -in this kind of cloud, mistook their direction, and bore -a little to the left, leaving on their right a considerable -space between them and St. Hilaire’s division. The -Russians, but little incommoded by the snow, which -they had at their backs, seeing Augereau’s two divisions -advancing towards the hillocks on which they appuyed -their centre, suddenly unmasked a battery of seventy-two -pieces, which they kept in reserve. So thick was -the grape poured forth by this formidable battery, that -in a quarter of an hour half of Augereau’s corps was -swept down. General Desjardins, commanding the -first division, was killed; General Heudelet, commanding -the second, received a wound that was nearly mortal. -The staff of the two divisions was soon <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>hors de combat</em></span>. -While they were sustaining this tremendous fire, being -obliged to re-form while marching, so much were their -ranks thinned, the Russian cavalry, throwing itself into -the space which separated it from Morand’s division, -rushed upon them <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>en masse</em></span>. Those brave divisions, -however, resisted—but they were obliged to fall back -towards the cemetery of Eylau, giving ground without -breaking, under the repeated assaults of numerous -squadrons. The snow having suddenly ceased, they -could then perceive the melancholy spectacle. Out of -six or seven thousand combatants, about four thousand -killed or wounded strewed the ground. Augereau, -wounded, himself, but more affected by the disaster of -his <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>corps d’armee</em></span> than by his personal danger, was carried -into the cemetery of Eylau to the feet of Napoleon, to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>whom he complained, not without bitterness, of not having -been timely succored. Silent grief pervaded every -face in the imperial staff. Napoleon, calm and firm, -imposing on others the impassibility which he imposed -on himself, addressed a few soothing words to Augereau, -then sent him to the rear, and took his measures for -repairing the mischief. Dispatching, in the first place, -the chasseurs of his guard and some squadrons of dragoons -which were at hand, to drive back the enemy’s -cavalry, he sent for Murat, and ordered him to make a -decisive effort on the line of infantry which formed the -centre of the Russian army, and which, taking advantage -of Augereau’s disaster, began to press forward. -At the first summons, Murat came up at a gallop. -“Well,” said Napoleon, “<em>are you going to let those fellows -eat us up</em>?” He then ordered that heroic chief of -his cavalry to collect the chasseurs, the dragoons, the -cuirassiers, and to fall upon the Russians with eighty -squadrons, to try what effect the shock of such a mass -of horse, charging furiously, would have on an infantry -reported not to be shaken. The cavalry of the guard -was brought forward, ready to add its shock to the cavalry -of the army. The moment was critical, for, if the -Russian infantry were not stopped, it would go and -attack the cemetery, the centre of the position, and -Napoleon had only six foot battalions of the imperial -guard to defend it.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Murat galloped off, collected his squadrons, made -them pass between the cemetery and Rothenen, through -the same debouch by which Augereau’s corps had -already marched to almost certain destruction. General -<span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>Grouchy’s dragoons charged first, to sweep the ground, -and clear it of the enemy’s cavalry. That brave officer, -whose horse fell with him, put himself, on rising, at the -head of a second brigade, and effected his purpose of -dispersing the groups of cavalry which preceded the -Russian infantry. But, for overturning the latter, nothing -short of the heavy iron-clad squadrons of General -d’Hautpoul was required. That officer, who distinguished -himself by consummate skill in the art of -managing a numerous cavalry, came forward with twenty-four -squadrons of cuirassiers, followed by the whole -mass of dragoons. These cuirassiers, ranged in several -lines, started off and threw themselves upon the Russian -bayonets. The first lines, arrested by the fire, could -not penetrate, and falling back to right and left, went -to form afresh behind those who followed them, in order -to charge anew. At length, one of them, rushing on -with more violence, broke the enemy’s infantry at one -point, and opened a breach, through which cuirassiers -and dragoons strove which should penetrate first. As -a river, which has begun to break down a dike, soon -carries it away entirely, so the masses of the squadrons, -having once penetrated the infantry of the Russians, -finished in a few moments the overthrow of their first -line. The horse then dispersed to slaughter. A most -horrible fray ensued between them and the Russian -foot soldiers. They went, and came, and struck on all -sides those obstinate antagonists. While the first line -of infantry was thus overturned and cut in pieces, the -second fell back to a wood that bounded the field of -battle. A last reserve of artillery had been left there. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>The Russians placed it in battery, and fired confusedly -at their own soldiers and at the French, not caring -whether they slaughtered friends or foes, if they only -got rid of the formidable horse. General d’Hautpoul -was mortally wounded by a rifle ball. While the cavalry -was thus engaged with the second line of the -Russian infantry, some parties of the first rallied and -renewed their fire. At this sight the horse grenadiers -of the guard, headed by General Lepic, one of the heroes -of the army, came forward in their turn to second Murat’s -efforts. Dashing off at a gallop, they charged the -groups of infantry which they perceived to be still on -their legs, and crossing the ground in all directions, -completed the destruction of the centre of the Russian -army, the wrecks of which at last fled for refuge to the -patches of wood which had served them for an asylum.</p> - -<p class='c001'>During this scene of confusion, a fragment of that -vast line of infantry had advanced to that same cemetery. -Three or four thousand Russian grenadiers, -marching straight forward with the blind courage of -braver and more intelligent troops, came to throw themselves -on the church of Eylau, and threatened the -cemetery occupied by the imperial staff. The foot -guard, motionless till then, had endured the cannonade -without firing a piece. With joy it beheld an occasion -for fighting arrive. A battalion was called for; two -disputed the honor of marching. The first in order, -led by General Dorsenne, obtained the advantage of -measuring its strength with the Russian grenadiers, -went up to them without firing a shot, attacked them -with the bayonet, and threw one upon another, while -<span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>Murat dispatched against them two battalions of chasseurs -under General Bruyere. The Russian grenadiers, -hemmed in between the bayonets of the grenadiers of -the guard and the swords of the chasseurs, were -almost all taken or killed, before the face of Napoleon, -and only a few paces from him.</p> - -<p class='c001'>This cavalry action, the most extraordinary perhaps -of any in the great wars, had for its result to overthrow -the centre of the Russians, and to drive it back to a -considerable distance. It would have been requisite to -have at hand a reserve of infantry, in order to complete -the defeat of troops which, after being laid on -the ground, rose again to fire. But Napoleon durst -not venture to dispose of Marshal Soult’s corps, reduced -to half of its effective, and necessary for keeping Eylau. -Augereau’s corps was almost destroyed.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, in the cemetery, in which were heaped the -bodies of a great number of his officers among the time-browned -tombstones, was graver than usual; but his -countenance was inflexible as ever, and no thought of -retreat crossed his resolute soul. Crowds of his bravest -veterans were lying mangled around him; and the prospect -of the field must have been gloomy, indeed. But -his iron will did not bend; he had confidence that the -star of his fortune had not yet begun to descend.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Marshal Davoust and General St. Hilaire justified -the confidence of their chief, and not only maintained -their own position against the enemy, but had even -pushed detachments upon their rear. But the event -which Napoleon dreaded had occurred.</p> - -<p class='c001'>General Lestocq, perseveringly pursued by Marshal -<span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>Ney, appeared on that field of carnage, with seven or -eight thousand Prussians, eager to revenge themselves -for the disdain of the Russians. General Lestocq, only -an hour or two ahead of Marshal Ney’s corps, had -merely time to strike one blow before he was struck -himself. He debouched upon the field of battle at -Schmoditten, passed behind the double line of the -Russians, now broken by the fire of the artillery, by -the swords of the horse, and presented himself at Kuschitten, -in front of Friant’s division, which, passing beyond -Klein-Sausgarten; had already driven back the -left of the enemy upon its centre. The village of Kuschitten -was occupied by four companies of the 108th, -and by the 51st, which had been detached from Morand’s -division for the support of Friant’s division. -The Prussians, rallying the Russians around them, -dashed impetuously on the 51st, and on the four companies -of the 108th, without being able to break them, -though they obliged them to fall back to a considerable -distance, in rear of Kuschitten. The Prussians, after -this first advantage, pushed on beyond Kuschitten, in -order to recover the positions of the morning. They -marched, deployed in two lines. The Russian reserves, -being rallied, formed two close columns on their wings. -A numerous artillery preceded them. In this manner -they advanced across the rear of the field of battle, to -regain the lost ground, and to beat back Marshal Davoust -upon Klein-Sausgarten, and from Klein-Sausgarten -to Serpallen. But Generals Friant and Gudin, -having Marshal Davoust at their head, hastened up. -Friant’s entire division, and the 12th, 21st and 25th -<span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>regiments, belonging to Gudin’s division, placed themselves -foremost, covered by the whole of the artillery -of the third corps. To no purpose did the Russians -and Prussians exert themselves to overcome the formidable -obstacle; they were unsuccessful. The French, -appuyed on woods, marshes and hillocks, here deployed -in line, there dispersed as tirailleurs, opposed an invincible -obstinacy to this last effort of the allies. Marshal -Davoust, passing through the ranks till dark, kept up -the firmness of his soldiers, saying, “Cowards will be -sent to die in Siberia; the brave will die here like men -of honor.” The Prussians and the raided Russians desisted -from the attack. Marshal Davoust remained firm -in that position of Klein-Sausgarten, where he threatened -the rear of the enemy.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The two armies were exhausted. That day, so -sombre, was every moment becoming more sombre -still, and about to terminate in a tremendous night. -More than thirty thousand Russians, struck by the -balls and the swords of the French, strewed the ground, -some dead, others wounded more or less severely. -Many of the soldiers began to abandon their colors. -General Bennigsen, surrounded by his lieutenants, was -deliberating whether to resume the offensive, and try -the effect of one more effort. But, out of an army of -eighty thousand men, not more than forty thousand -were left in a state to fight, the Prussians included. If -he were worsted in this desperate engagement, he would -not have wherewithal to cover his retreat. However, -he was still hesitating, when intelligence was brought -him of a last and important incident. Marshal Ney, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>who had closely followed the Prussians, arriving in the -evening on the left, as Marshal Davoust had arrived in -the morning on the right, debouched at length near -Althof.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Thus Napoleons combinations, retarded by time, -had, nevertheless, brought upon the two flanks of the -Russian army the forces that were to decide the victory. -The order for retreat could no longer be deferred; for -Marshal Davoust, having maintained himself at Klein-Sausgarten, -would not have much to do to meet Marshal -Ney, who had advanced to Schmoditten; and the junction -of these two Marshals would have exposed the -Russians to the risk of being enveloped. The order -for retreating was instantly given by General Bennigsen; -but, to insure the retreat, he purposed to curb Marshal -Ney, by attempting to take from him the village of -Schmoditten. The Russians marched upon that village, -under favor of the night, and in profound silence, in -hopes of surprising the troops of Marshal Ney, who -had arrived late on the field of battle, when it was difficult -to recognise one another. But the latter were on -their guard. General Marchand, with the 6th light -infantry, and the 39th of the line, allowing the Russians -to approach, then receiving them with a point-blank -fire, stopped them short. He then rushed upon them -with the bayonet, and obliged them to renounce all -serious attack. From that moment they definitely -commenced their retreat.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon knew that he was master of the field of -battle. He occupied the slightly rising plain beyond -Eylau, having his cavalry and his guard before him and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>at the centre, and his other corps in possession of the -positions which the Russians had occupied in the -morning.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Certain of being victorious, but grieved to the bottom -of his heart, the Emperor had remained amidst his -troops, and ordered them to kindle fires, and not leave -the ranks, even to go in quest of provisions. A small -quantity of bread and brandy was distributed among the -soldiers, and, though there was not enough for all, yet -no complaints were heard. Less joyous than at Austerlitz -and at Jena, they were full of confidence, proud of -themselves, ready to renew that dreadful struggle, if -the Russians had the courage and the strength to do so. -Whoever had given them, at this moment, bread and -brandy, which they were in want of, would have found -them in as high spirits as usual. Two artillerymen of -Marshal Davoust’s corps having been absent from their -company during this engagement, and arrived too late -to be present at the battle, their comrades assembled -in the evening at the bivouac, tried them, and not liking -their reasons, inflicted upon them, on that frozen and -blood-stained ground, the burlesque punishment which -the soldiers call the <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>savate</em></span>.</p> - -<p class='c001'>There was no great abundance of any thing but ammunition. -The service of the artillery, performed with -extraordinary activity, had already replaced the ammunition -consumed. With not less zeal was the service -of the medical and surgical department performed. A -great number of wounded had been picked up; to the -others relief was administered on the spot, till they -could be removed in their turn. Napoleon, overwhelmed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>with fatigue, was still afoot, and superintending the -attentions that were paid to his soldiers.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the rear of the army, so firm a countenance was -not every where presented. Many stragglers, excluded -from the effective in the morning, in consequence of the -marches, had heard the din of that tremendous battle, -had caught some hourras of the Cossacks, and fallen -back, circulating bad news along the roads. The brave -collected to range themselves beside their comrades, the -others dispersed in the various routes which the army -had traversed.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Daybreak next morning threw a light upon that -frightful field of battle, and Napoleon himself was -moved to such a degree as to betray his feelings in the -bulletin which he published. On that icy plain, thousands -of dead and dying, cruelly mangled, thousands of -prostrate horses, an infinite quantity of dismounted -cannon, broken carriages, scattered projectiles, burning -hamlets, <em>all this standing out from a ground of snow</em>, -exhibited a thrilling and terrible spectacle. “This -spectacle,” exclaimed Napoleon, “is fit to excite in -princes a love of peace and a horror of war!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>This singularity struck all eyes. From a propensity -for returning to the things of past times, and also from -economy, an attempt had been made to introduce the -white uniform again into the army. The experiment -had been made with some regiments, but the sight of -blood on the white dress decided the question. Napoleon, -filled with disgust and horror, declared that he -would have none but blue uniforms, whatever might be -the cost.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>The Russians had left upon the field, about seven -thousand dead, and five thousand wounded, and they -took with them fifteen thousand more wounded. They -had consequently twenty-seven thousand men placed -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>hors de combat</em></span>. Besides this loss, four thousand prisoners -were made by the French, who also captured twenty-four -pieces of cannon and sixteen colors. The loss of -the French was about three thousand killed and four -thousand wounded. Several eagles had been carried -away by Bennigsen. It was a terrible, but indecisive -battle. The victor was too much grieved to listen to -the pæans of triumph, although his valor and skill had -been nobly displayed in defeating a superior enemy.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id006'> -<img src='images/i_b_238.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i239' class='figcenter id013'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span> -<img src='images/i_b_239.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT FRIEDLAND.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_239_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_239_1.jpg' width='200' height='203' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -After the bloody struggle of Eylau, in -which thirty thousand men were -placed <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>hors de combat</em></span>, the Russians -seemed desirous of avoiding -a conflict until they had -received large reinforcements. -In the mean time, Napoleon -collected about two hundred -thousand men between the Vistula, and the Memel, -besieged and captured Dantzic, and was again in a condition -to strike a tremendous blow at the inferior forces -of the enemy. Early in June, 1807, the Russian -<span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>general, Bennigsen, made the first offensive movement. -The division of Marshal Ney, stationed at Gustadt, -was attacked by a superior force, and that intrepid -officer retreated, fighting, as far as Deppen. But on -the 8th of June, Napoleon moved forward to extricate -his lieutenant, and the Russians then fell back upon -Heilsberg. There a desperate action occurred, in -which both armies suffered terribly. The Russians -were compelled to retreat, but they retired unmolested. -On the 13th, Bennigsen approached the town of Friedland, -situated on the west bank of the Alle, communicating -with the eastern bank by long wooden bridges. -Here the decisive battle of the next day was fought.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The course of the Alle, near the spot where the two -armies were about to meet, exhibits numerous windings. -The French came up by the woody hills, beyond which -the ground gradually sinks to the banks of the Alle. -The ground at this season was covered with rye of -great height. To the right of the French, the river -was seen pursuing its way through the plain, then turning -round Friedland, coming to the left, thus forming -an elbow. At daybreak on the morning of the 14th, -Lannes, who commanded the advanced division of the -French army, reached Posthenen, whence he could see -the Russians marching across the bridges to deploy into -the plain, and drawing up in a line of battle facing the -heights. A rivulet, called the Mill Stream, there formed -a small pond, after dividing the plain into two unequal -halves. Bennigsen imagined that he had to contend -with but one division of the French army, and, for the -time, he had this advantage. But the whole force under -<span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span>Napoleon’s immediate command was coming up to support -the gallant Lannes, and by crossing the bridges, the -Russian general fairly placed himself in the power of -the Emperor. For this Napoleon had manœuvred -several days, and he now saw that the victory would -be one of that complete, decisive kind he loved.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Marshal Lannes, in his haste to march, had brought -with him only Oudinot’s voltigeurs and grenadiers, the -9th hussars, Grouchy’s dragoons, and two regiments of -Saxon cavalry. He could not oppose more than ten -thousand men to the enemy’s advanced guard, which, -successively reinforced, was treble that number, and -was soon to be followed by the whole Russian army. -Fortunately for the French, the soil afforded numerous -resources to the skill and courage of their illustrious -marshal. In the centre of the position which it was -necessary to occupy, in order to bar the way against -the Russians, was a village, that of Posthenen, through -which ran the Mill Stream to pursue its course to -Friedland. Somewhat in rear rose a plateau, from -which the plain of the Alle might be battered. Lannes -placed his artillery there, and several battalions of -grenadiers to protect it. On the right, a thick wood, -that of Sortlack, protruded in a salient, and divided -into two the space comprised between the village of -Posthenen and the banks of the Alle. There Lannes -posted two battalions of voltigeurs, which, dispersed as -tirailleurs, would be able to stop for a long time troops -not numerous and not very resolute. The 9th hussars, -Grouchy’s dragoons, the Saxon cavalry, amounted to -three thousand horse, ready to fall upon any column -<span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span>which should attempt to penetrate that curtain of tirailleurs. -On the left of Posthenen, the line of woody -heights extended, gradually lowering in the village of -Heinrichsdorf, through which ran the high road from -Friedland to Konigsberg. This point was of great importance, -for the Russians, desirous to reach Konigsberg, -would, of course, obstinately dispute the road -thither. Besides, this part of the field of battle being -more open, was naturally more difficult to defend. -Lannes, who had not yet troops sufficient to establish -himself there, had placed on his left, taking advantage -of the woods and heights, the rest of his battalions, -thus approaching the houses of Heinrichsdorf without -being able to occupy them.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The fire, commenced at three in the morning, became -all at once extremely brisk. The artillery, placed on -the plateau of Posthenen, under the protection of Oudinot’s -grenadiers, kept the Russians at a distance, and -made considerable havoc among them. On the right, -the voltigeurs, scattered on the skirt of the wood of -Sortlack, stopped their infantry by an incessant tirailleur -fire, and the Saxon horse, directed by General Grouchy, -had made several unsuccessful charges against their -cavalry. The Russians having become threatening -towards Heinrichsdorf, General Grouchy, moving from -the right to the left, galloped thither, to dispute with -them the Konigsberg road, the important point for the -possession of which torrents of blood were about to be -spilt.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Though, in these first moments, Marshal Lannes had -but ten thousand men to oppose twenty-five or thirty -<span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>thousand, he maintained his ground, thanks to great -skill and energy, and also to the able concurrence of -General Oudinot, commanding the grenadiers, and of -General Grouchy, commanding the cavalry. But the -enemy reinforced himself from hour to hour, and General -Bennigsen, on arriving at Friedland, had suddenly -formed the resolution to give battle—a very rash resolution, -for it would have been much wiser for him to -have continued to descend the Alle to the junction of -that river with the Pregel, and to take a position -behind the latter, with his left to Wehlau, his right to -<a id='corr243.11'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Konigsburg'>Konigsberg</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_243.11'><ins class='correction' title='Konigsburg'>Konigsberg</ins></a></span>. It would have taken him, it is true, -another day to reach Konigsberg; but he would not -have risked a battle against an army superior in number, -in quality, better officered, and in a very unfavorable -situation for him, since he had a river at his back, -and he was very likely to be pushed into the elbow of -the Alle, with all that vigor of impulsion of which the -French army was capable.</p> - -<p class='c001'>He lost no time in having three bridges thrown over -the Alle, one above and two below Friedland, in order -to accelerate the passage of his troops, and also to -furnish them with means of retreat. He lined with -artillery the right bank, by which he arrived, and -which commanded the left bank. Then, nearly his -whole army having debouched, he disposed it in the -following manner:—In the plain around Heinrichsdorf, -on the right for him, on the left for the French, he -placed four divisions of infantry, under Lieutenant-General -Gortschakoff, and the better part of the cavalry -under General Ouwarroff. The infantry was formed in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>two lines. In the first were two battalions of each regiment -deployed, and a third drawn up in close column -behind the two others, closing the interval which -separated them. In the second, the field of battle gradually -narrowing the further it extended into the angle -of the Alle, a single battalion was deployed and two -were formed in close column. The cavalry, ranged on -the side and a little in advance, flanked the infantry. -On the left (the right of the French,) two Russian divisions, -of which the imperial guard formed part, increased -by all the detachments of chasseurs, occupied the portion -of the ground comprised between the Mill Stream -and the Alle. They were drawn up in two lines, but -very near each other, on account of the want of room. -Prince Bagration commanded them. The cavalry of -the guard was there, under General Kollogribow. Four -flying bridges had been thrown across the Mill Stream, -that it might interrupt the communications between -the two wings as little as possible. The fourth Russian -division had been left on the other side of the -Alle, on the ground commanding the left bank, to collect -the army in case of disaster or to come and decide -the victory, if it obtained any commencement of success. -The Russians had more than two hundred pieces -of cannon upon their front, besides those which were -either in reserve or in battery on the right bank. -Their army, reduced to eighty or eighty-two thousand -men after Heilsberg, separated at this time from -Kamenski’s corps and from some detachments sent to -Wehlau to guard the bridges of the Alle, still amounted -to seventy-two or seventy-five thousand men. General -<span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>Bennigsen caused the mass of the Russian army to be -moved forward in the order just described, so that, on -getting out of the elbow of the Alle, it might deploy, -extend its fires, and avail itself of the advantages of -number which it possessed at the beginning of the -battle.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The situation of Lannes was perilous, for he had the -whole Russian army upon his hands. Fortunately, the -time which had elapsed had procured him some reinforcements. -General Nansouty’s division of heavy -cavalry, composed of three thousand five hundred cuirassiers -and carbineers, Dupas’s division, which was -the first of Mortier’s corps, and numbered six thousand -foot soldiers, lastly, Verdier’s division, which contained -seven thousand, and was the second of Lannes’s corps, -marched off successively, had come with all possible -expedition. It was a force of twenty-six or twenty-seven -thousand men, to fight seventy-five thousand. -It was seven in the morning, and the Russians, preceded -by a swarm of Cossacks, advanced towards Heinrichsdorf, -where they already had infantry and cannon. -Lannes, appreciating the importance of that post, sent -thither the brigade of Albert’s grenadiers, and ordered -General Grouchy to secure possession of it at any cost. -General Grouchy, who had been reinforced by the cuirassiers, -proceeded immediately to the village. Without -stopping to consider the difficulty, he dispatched -the brigade of Milet’s dragoons to attack Heinrichsdorf, -while Carrie’s brigade turned the village, and the cuirassiers -marched to support this movement. Milet’s -brigade passed through Heinrichsdorf at a gallop, drove -<span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>out the Russian foot-soldiers at the point of the sword, -while Carrie’s brigade, going round it, took or dispersed -those who had saved themselves by flight. Four pieces -of cannon were taken. At this moment, the enemy’s -cavalry, coming to the assistance of the infantry, expelled -from Heinrichsdorf, rushed upon the dragoons and -drove them back. But Nansouty’s cuirassiers charged -it in their turn, and threw it upon the Russian infantry, -which in this fray was obliged to withhold its fire.</p> - -<p class='c001'>During these occurrences, Dupas’s division entered -into line. Marshal Mortier, whose horse was killed by -a cannon-ball, the moment he appeared on the field of -battle, placed that division between Heinrichsdorf and -Posthenen, and opened on the Russians a fire of artillery -which, poured upon deep masses, made prodigious -havoc in their ranks. The arrival of Dupas’s division -rendered disposable those battalions of grenadiers -which had at first been drawn up to the left of Posthenen. -Lannes drew them nearer to him, and could oppose -their closer ranks to the attacks of the Russians, either -before Posthenen or before the wood of Sortlack. General -Oudinot, who commanded them, taking advantage of -all the accidents of ground, sometimes from clumps of -wood scattered here and there, sometimes from pools -of water, produced by the rains of the preceding days, -sometimes from above the corn, disputed the ground -with equal skill and energy. By turns he hid or exhibited -his soldiers, dispersed them as tirailleurs, or -exposed them in a mass, bristling with bayonets, to all -the efforts of the Russians. Those brave grenadiers, -notwithstanding their inferiority in number, kept up the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>fight, supported by their general, when, luckily for them, -Verdier’s division arrived. Marshal Lannes divided it -into two movable columns, to be sent alternately to the -right, to the centre, to the left, wherever the danger -was most pressing. It was the skirt of the wood of -Sortlack and the village of the same name, situated on -the Alle, that were the most furiously disputed. In -the end, the French remained masters of the village, -the Russians of the skirts of the wood.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Lannes was enabled to prolong till noon this conflict -of twenty-six thousand men against seventy-five thousand. -But it was high time for Napoleon to arrive -with the rest of his army. Lannes, anxious to apprize -him of what was passing, had sent to him almost all -his aides-de-camp, one after another, ordering them to -get back to him without loss of time, if they killed -their horses. They found him coming at a gallop to -Friedland, and full of a joy that was expressed in his -countenance. “This is the 14th of June,” he repeated -to those whom he met; “it is the anniversary of -Marengo; it is a lucky day for us!” Napoleon, outstripping -his troops through the speed of his horse, -had successively passed the long files of the guard, of -Ney’s corps, of Bernadotte’s corps, all marching for -Posthenen. He had saluted in passing, Dupont’s fine -division, which from Ulm to Braunsberg, had never -ceased to distinguish itself, though never in his presence, -and he had declared that it would give him great -pleasure to see it fight for once.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The presence of Napoleon at Posthenen fired his -soldiers and his generals with fresh ardor. Lannes, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>Mortier, Oudinot, who had been there since morning, -and Ney, who had just arrived, surrounded him with -the most lively joy. The brave Oudinot hastening up -with his coat perforated by balls, and his horse covered -with blood, exclaimed to the Emperor: “Make haste, -Sire, my grenadiers are knocked up; but, give me a -reinforcement, and I will drive all the Russians into the -water.” Napoleon, surveying with his glass the plain, -where the Russians, backed in the elbow of the Alle, -were endeavoring in vain to deploy, soon appreciated -their perilous situation and the unique occasion offered -him by Fortune, swayed, it must be confessed, by his -genius; for the fault which the Russian army were -committing had been inspired, as it were, by him, when -he pushed them from the other side of the Alle, and -thus forced them to pass in before him, in going to the -relief of Konigsberg. The day was far advanced, and -it would take several hours to collect all the French -troops. Some of Napoleon’s lieutenants were, therefore, -of opinion that they ought to defer fighting a -decisive battle till the morrow. “No, no,” replied Napoleon, -“one does not catch an enemy twice in such a -scrape.” He immediately made his dispositions for the -attack. They were worthy of his marvellous perspicacity.</p> - -<p class='c001'>To drive the Russians into the Alle was the aim -which every individual, down to the meanest soldier, -assigned to the battle. But how to set about it, how -to ensure that result, and how to render it as great as -possible, was the question. At the farthest extremity -of the elbow of the Alle, in which the Russian army -<span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span>was engulphed, there was a decisive point to occupy, -namely, the little point of Friedland itself, situated on -the right, between the Mill Stream and the Alle. There -were the four bridges, the sole retreat of the Russian -army, and Napoleon purposed to direct his utmost -efforts against that point. He destined for Ney’s corps -the difficult and glorious task of plunging into that -gulf, of carrying Friedland at any cost, in spite of the -desperate resistance which it would not fail to make, of -wresting the bridges from them, and thus barring against -them the only way of safety. But at the same time -he resolved, while acting vigorously on his right, to -suspend all efforts on his left, to amuse the Russian -army on that side with a feigned fight, and not to push -it briskly on the left till, the bridges being taken on the -right, he should be sure, by pushing it, to fling it into a -receptacle without an outlet.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Surrounded by his lieutenants, he explained to them, -with that energy and that precision of language which -were usual with him, the part which each of them had -to act in that battle. Grasping the arm of Marshal -Ney, and pointing to Friedland, the bridges, the Russians -crowded together in front, “Yonder is the goal,” -said he; “march to it without looking about you: -break into that thick mass whatever it costs you; enter -Friedland, take the bridges, and give yourself no concern -about what may happen on your right, on your -left, or on your rear. The army and I shall be there -to attend to that.” Ney, boiling with ardor, proud of -the formidable task assigned to him, set out at a gallop -to arrange his troops before the wood of Sortlack. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>Struck with his martial attitude, Napoleon, addressing -Marshal Mortier, said, “That man is a lion!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the same ground, Napoleon had his dispositions -<a id='corr250.3'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='writtten'>written</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_250.3'><ins class='correction' title='writtten'>written</ins></a></span> down from his dictation, that each of his -generals might have them bodily present to his mind, -and not be liable to deviate from them. He ranged, -then, Marshal Ney’s corps on the right, so that Lannes, -bringing back Verdier’s division upon Posthenen, could -present two strong lines with that and the grenadiers. -He placed Bernadotte’s corps (temporarily Victor’s) -between Ney and Lannes, a little in advance of Posthenen, -and partly hidden by the inequalities of the -ground. Dupont’s fine division formed the head of -this corps. On the plateau, behind Posthenen, Napoleon -established the imperial guard, the infantry in -three close columns, the cavalry in two lines. Between -Posthenen and Henrichsdorf was the corps of Marshal -Mortier, posted as in the morning, but more concentrated -and augmented by the young fusiliers of the -imperial guard. A battalion of the 4th light infantry, -and the regiment of the municipal guard of Paris, had -taken the place of the grenadiers of the Albert brigade -in Heinrichsdorf. Dumbrowski’s Polish division -had joined Dupas’s division, and guarded the artillery. -Napoleon left to General Grouchy the duty of which -he had already so ably acquitted himself, that of defending -the plain of Heinrichsdorf. To the dragoons and -the cuirassiers commanded by that general he added -the light cavalry of Generals Beaumont and Colbert, to -assist him to rid himself of the Cossacks. Lastly, -having two more divisions of dragoons to dispose of, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>he placed that of General Latour Maubourg, reinforced -by the Dutch cuirassiers, behind the corps of Marshal -Ney, and that of General La Houssaye, reinforced by -the Saxon cuirassiers, behind Victor’s corps. The -French in this imposing order amounted to no fewer -than eighty thousand men. The order was repeated to -the left not to advance, but merely to keep back the -Russians till the success of the right was decided. Napoleon -required that before the troops recommenced -firing, they should wait for the signal from a battery of -twenty pieces of cannon placed above Posthenen.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Russian general, struck by this deployment, discovered -the mistake which he had committed in supposing -that he had to do with but the single corps of -Marshal Lannes; he was surprised, and naturally hesitated. -His hesitation had produced a sort of slackening -in the action. Scarcely did occasional discharges of -artillery indicate the continuance of the battle. Napoleon, -who desired that all his troops should have got -into line, rested for at least an hour, and being abundantly -supplied with ammunition, was in no hurry to -begin, and resisted the impatience of his generals, well -knowing that, at this season, in this country, it was light -till ten in the evening, he should have time to subject -the Russian army to the disaster that he was preparing -for it. At length, the fit moment appeared to him to -have arrived, he gave the signal. The twenty pieces -of cannon of the battery of Posthenen fired at once; -the artillery of the army answered them along the -whole line; and at this impatiently awaited signal, -Marshal Ney moved off his <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>corps d’armee</em></span>.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>From the wood of Sortlack issued Marchand’s -division, advancing the first to the right, Bisson’s -division the second to the left. Both were preceded by -a storm of tirailleurs, who, as they approached the -enemy, fell back and returned into the ranks. These -troops marched resolutely up to the Russians, and took -from them the village of Sortlack, so long disputed. -Their cavalry, in order to stop the offensive movement, -made a charge on Marchand’s division. But Latour -Maubourg’s dragoons and the Dutch cuirassiers, passing -through the intervals of the battalions, charged that -cavalry in their turn, drove it back upon its infantry, -and, pushing the Russians against the Alle, precipitated -a great number into the deeply embanked bed of that -river. Some saved themselves by swimming; many -were drowned. His right once appuyed on the Alle, -Marshal Ney slackened his march, and pushed forward -his left, formed by Bisson’s division, in such a manner -as to thrust back the Russians into the narrow space -comprised between the Mill Stream and the Alle. -When arrived at this point, the fire of the enemy’s -artillery redoubled. The French had to sustain not -only the fire of the batteries in front, but also the fire -of those on the right bank of the Alle; and it was -impossible to get rid of the latter by taking them, as -they were separated from them by the deep bed of the -river. The columns, battered at once in front and -flank by the balls, endured with admirable coolness -this terrible convergence of fires. Marshal Ney, galloping -from one end of the line to the other, kept up -the courage of his soldiers by his heroic bearing. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>Meanwhile, whole files were swept away, and the fire -became so severe that the very bravest of the troops -could no longer endure it. At this sight, the cavalry -of the Russian guard, commanded by General Kollogribow, -dashed off at a gallop, to try to throw into disorder -the infantry of Bisson’s division, which appeared -to waver. Staggered for the first time, that valiant -infantry gave ground, and two or three battalions threw -themselves in rear. General Bisson, who, from his -stature, overlooked the lines of his soldiers, strove in -vain to detain them. They retired, grouping themselves -around their officers. The situation soon became -most critical. Luckily, General Dupont, placed at some -distance on the left of Ney’s corps, perceived this commencement -of disorder, and without waiting for directions -to march, moved off his division, passing in front -of it, reminding it of Ulm, Dirnstein and Halle, and -taking it to encounter the Russians. It advanced, -in the finest attitude, under the fire of that tremendous -artillery, while Latour Maubourg’s dragoons, returning -to the charge, fell upon the Russian cavalry, -which had scattered in pursuit of the foot soldiers, and -succeeded in the attempt to drive it back. Dupont’s -division, continuing its movement on that open ground, -and, supporting its left on the Mill Stream, brought -the Russian infantry at a stand. By its presence it -filled Ney’s soldiers with confidence and joy. Bisson’s -battalions formed anew, and the whole line, re-invigorated, -began to march forward again. It was necessary to -reply to the formidable artillery of the enemy, and -Ney’s artillery was so very inferior in number, that it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span>could scarcely stand in battery before that of the Russians. -Napoleon ordered General Victor to collect all -the guns of his division, and to range them in mass on -the front of Ney. The skilful and intrepid General -Senarmont commanded that artillery. He moved it off -at full trot, joined it to that of Marshal Ney, took it -some hundred paces ahead of the infantry, and, daringly -placing himself in front of the Russians, opened upon -them a fire, terrible from the number of the pieces and -the accuracy of aim. Directing one of his batteries -against the right bank, he soon silenced those which the -enemy had on that side. Then, pushing forward his -line of artillery, he gradually approached to within -grape-shot range, and, firing upon the deep masses, -crowding together as they fell back into the elbow of -the Alle, he made frightful havoc among them. The -line of infantry followed this movement, and advanced -under the protection of General Senarmont’s numerous -guns. The Russians, thrust further and further back -into this gulf, felt a sort of despair, and made an effort -to extricate themselves. Their imperial guard, placed -upon the Mill Stream, issued from that retreat, and -marched, with bayonet fixed, upon Dupont’s division, -also placed along the rivulet. The latter, without -waiting for the imperial guard, went to meet it, repulsed -it with the bayonet, and forced it back to the ravine. -Thus driven, some of the Russians threw themselves -beyond the ravine, the others upon the suburbs of Friedland. -General Dupont, with part of his division, crossed -the Mill Stream, drove before him all that he met, found -himself on the rear of the right wing of the Russians -<span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span>engaged with the left in the plain of Heinrichsdorf, -turned Friedland, and attacked it by the Konigsberg -road; while Ney, continuing to march straight forward, -entered by the Eylau road. A terrible conflict ensued -at the gates of the town. The assailants pressed the -Russians in all quarters; they forced their way into the -street in pursuit of them; they drove them upon the -bridges of the Alle, which General Senarmont’s artillery, -left outside, enfiladed with its shot. The Russians -crowded upon the bridges to seek refuge in the ranks of -the fourteenth division, left, in reserve, on the other -side of the Alle, by General Bennigsen. That unfortunate -general, full of grief, had hurried to this division, -with the intention of taking it to the bank of the river -to the assistance of his endangered army. Scarcely -had some wrecks of his left wing passed the bridges, -when those bridges were destroyed—set on fire by the -French, and, by the Russians themselves, in their anxiety -to stop pursuit. Ney and Dupont, having performed -their task, met in the heart of Friedland in -flames, and congratulated one another on this glorious -success.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, placed in the centre of the divisions which -he kept in reserve, had never ceased to watch this -grand sight. While he was contemplating it attentively, -a ball passed at the height of the bayonets, and a soldier, -from an instinctive movement, stooped his head. “If -that ball was intended for you,” said Napoleon, smiling, -“though you were to burrow a hundred feet under -ground, it would be sure to find you there.” Thus he -wished to give currency to that useful belief that Fate -<span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>strikes the brave and the coward without distinction, -and that the coward who seeks a hiding-place disgraces -himself to no purpose.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On seeing that Friedland was occupied and the bridges -of the Alle destroyed, Napoleon at length pushed forward -his left upon the right wing of the Russian army, -deprived of all means of retreat, and having behind it -a river without bridges. General Gortschakoff, who -commanded that wing, perceived the danger with which -he was threatened, and, thinking to dispel the storm, -made an attack on the French line, extending from -Posthenen to Heinrichsdorf, formed by the corps of -Marshal Lannes, by that of Mortier, and by General -Grouchy’s cavalry. But Lannes, with his grenadiers, -made head against the Russians. Marshal Mortier, -with the 15th and the fusiliers of the guard, opposed -to them an iron barrier. Mortier’s artillery, in particular, -directed by Colonel Balbois and an excellent -Dutch officer, M. Vanbriennen, made incalculable havoc -among them. At length, Napoleon, anxious to take -advantage of the rest of the day, carried forward his -whole line. Infantry, cavalry, artillery, started all at -once. General Gortschakoff, while he found himself -thus pressed, was informed that Friedland was in -the possession of the French. In hopes of retaking -it, he dispatched a column of infantry to the gates of -the town. That column penetrated into it, and for a -moment drove back Dupont’s and Ney’s soldiers; but -these repulsed in their turn the Russian column. A -new fight took place in that unfortunate town, and the -possession of it was disputed by the light of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>flames that were consuming it. The French finally -remained masters, and drove Gortschakoff’s corps into -that plain without thoroughfare which had served it for -field of battle. Gortschakoff’s infantry defended itself -with intrepidity, and threw itself into the Alle rather -than surrender. Part of the Russian soldiers were -fortunate enough to find fordable passages, and contrived -to escape. Another drowned itself in the river. -The whole of the artillery was captured. A column, -the furthest on the right (right of the Russians) fled and -descended the Alle, under General Lambert, with a -portion of the cavalry. The darkness of the night and -the disorder of victory facilitated its retreat, and enabled -it to escape.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was half-past ten at night. The victory was complete -on the right and on the left. Napoleon, in his -vast career, had not gained a more splendid one. He -had for trophies eighty pieces of cannon, few prisoners, -it is true, for the Russians chose rather to drown themselves, -than to surrender, but twenty-five thousand men, -killed, wounded, or drowned, covered with their bodies -both banks of the Alle. The right bank, to which -great numbers of them had dragged themselves, exhibited -almost as frightful a scene of carnage as the left -bank. Several columns of fire, rising from Friedland -and the neighboring villages, threw a sinister light -over that place, a theatre of anguish for some, of joy -for others. The French had to regret upwards of -eight thousand men, killed or wounded. The Russian -army, deprived of twenty-five thousand combatants, -weakened, moreover, by a great number of men who had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>lost their way, was thenceforward incapable of keeping -the field.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The French Emperor slept near the camp-fire, -surrounded by his soldiers, who continued to shout -“<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>Vive l’Empereur!</em></span>” They had eaten nothing but a -ration of bread, which they had carried in their knapsacks, -during their hurried march. But their souls had -drunk deeply of the intoxicating nectar of glory, and -they felt not the pang of hunger. The night was -clear and beautiful. The Russians were not pursued. -If Napoleon had had his entire cavalry, with Murat at -their head, he could have captured the whole force -which, under command of General Lambert, descended -the Alle. But only half the cavalry were with the -army, and the Russians were left to escape as speedily -as possible.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i258fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_258fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>THE CAMP-FIRE AT FRIEDLAND. <span class='small'>Page 258.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>Friedland was a decisive field. Konigsberg surrendered -soon afterwards; and the Russians were pursued -till they took refuge beyond the Niemen. Here -ended that daring march of the French Emperor—the -new Alexander—from Boulogne to the Niemen, to -crush the only power which could offer any effectual -resistance to his arms. In the transport of triumph, -the Emperor issued the following noble proclamation to -his soldiers:</p> - -<div class='quote'> - -<p class='c001'>Soldiers—On the 5th of June we were attacked in -our cantonments by the Russian army. The enemy -had mistaken the causes of our inactivity. He perceived -too late that our repose was that of the lion: he -repents of having disturbed it.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>“In the battles of Guttstadt and Heilsberg, and in -that ever memorable one of Friedland, in a campaign of -ten days; in short, we have taken one hundred and -twenty pieces of cannon, seven colors, killed, wounded, -or made prisoners, sixty thousand Russians, taken from -the enemy’s army all its magazines, its hospitals, its -<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>ambulances</em></span>, the fortress of Konigsberg, the three hundred -vessels which were in that port, laden with all kinds of -military stores, one hundred and sixty thousand muskets -which England was sending to arm our enemies.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“From the banks of the Vistula, we have come with -the speed of the eagle to those of the Niemen. You -celebrated at Austerlitz the anniversary of the coronation; -this year you have worthily celebrated that of -the battle of Marengo, which put an end to the war of -the second coalition.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Frenchmen, you have been worthy of yourselves -and of me. You will return to France covered with -laurels, and, after obtaining a glorious peace, which carries -with it the guarantee of its duration. It is high -time for our country to live in quiet, screened from the -malignant influence of England. My bounties shall -prove to you my gratitude, and the full extent of the -love I feel for you.”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='c001'>Then followed the interview of Napoleon and Alexander -upon the Niemen, and the treaty of Tilsit, by -which the two emperors parcelled out Europe as if it -were their own. The star of Napoleon had reached its -zenith, and truly its lustre dazzled the eyes of the -world.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i260' class='figcenter id005'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span> -<img src='images/i_b_260.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT MADRID.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_260_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_260_1.jpg' width='200' height='253' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The war of the Peninsula and -the invasion of Russia were -the great sources of Napoleon’s -overthrow. Having summarily -dethroned Ferdinand VII. -of Spain, he placed the crown -of that kingdom upon the head -of his elder brother Joseph. -But the Spaniards resisted -this transfer from Bourbon to -Bonaparte, and having taken the field, with enthusiasm, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>they defeated and captured a French army, commanded -by General Dupont, and drove King Joseph -beyond the Ebro. Napoleon then left Paris, (October, -1808,) and placed himself at the head of two hundred -thousand men, to crush all opposition in Spain.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the meantime, the Spaniards had vested the management -of their affairs in a central or supreme junta, -stationed at their recovered capital of Madrid. The -determined spirit of opposition to French interference -continued as strong as ever; but the power to act in -concert, or maintain well directed efforts in a common -cause, already appeared doubtful. The Supreme Junta -found it difficult, sometimes impossible, to enforce obedience -on their generals; and the provincial juntas -were too apt to act independently, and assert their own -right to separate command. The English government, -at the same time, though promising aid, and making -large preparations to afford it, yet continually procrastinated; -and when Napoleon invaded the country, the -native forces alone were in the field. Three armies had -been formed, all intended to co-operate, and amounting -to about one hundred thousand men, but, unfortunately, -all under independent generals. Blake commanded -the army on the western frontier, which extended from -Burgos to Bilbao. General Romana, who commanded -one of the auxiliary divisions of Spanish soldiers in -the French service, had dexterously contrived to escape -from the Island of Funen, and had been landed in -Spain, with ten thousand men, by British ships. His -corps was attached to that of General Blake. The -head-quarters of the central army under Castanos, were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>at Soria; those on the eastern side, under Palafox, -extended between Saragossa and Sanguesa. The Spanish -armies were therefore arranged in the form of a -long and weak crescent, the horns of which advanced -towards France. The fortresses in the north of Spain -were all in the possession of the French, and strongly -garrisoned.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon was at Bayonne on the 3d of November, -and by the 8th, he had directed the movements of the -last columns of his advancing army across the frontier: -on the same evening, he arrived at Vittoria, -where Joseph held his court. The civil and military -authorities met him at the gates, and prepared to conduct -him with pomp to the house prepared for his -reception; but he leaped off his horse, entered the first -inn he observed, and called for maps and detailed -reports of the position of the armies. In two hours, he -had arranged the plan of the campaign; and by daybreak -on the 9th, Soult took the command of Bessieres’s -corps, and began to push forward his columns -upon the plains of Burgos, against an auxiliary corps, -under the Count de Belvidere, designed to support the -right flank of Blake’s army. Belvidere was completely -defeated at Gomenal; one of his battalions, composed -entirely of students from Salamanca and Leon, refused -to fly, and fell in their ranks. Blake was then routed -at Espinosa, by General Victor, and again at Reynosa, -by Soult, whence the wreck of his army fled in disorder, -and took refuge in Santander. Nearly the whole -of Romana’s corps perished in the cliffs of Espinosa, -after the battle. Palafox and Castanos had, mean -<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>time, united their forces, and waited the attack of the -French under Lannes, at Tudela, on the 22d of November. -The Spaniards were on this occasion, also, -utterly defeated, with the loss of four thousand killed, -and three thousand prisoners. Castanos fled, after the -action, in the direction of Calatayud; and Palafox once -more threw himself and the remains of his troops into -Saragossa, where he was immediately invested closely -by Lannes.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The road to Madrid was now open to Napoleon. He -advanced at the head of his guards and the first division -of the army, and reached the strong pass of the Somosierra -Chain, about ten miles distant from the city, on -the 30th of November. The way lies through a very -steep and narrow defile, and twelve thousand men, -with sixteen pieces of cannon, which completely swept -the road, were strongly posted to dispute his passage. -On the 1st of December, the French began the attack -at daybreak, with an attempt to turn the flanks of the -Spaniards. Napoleon rode into the mouth of the pass, -and surveyed the scene. His infantry were straggling -along the sides of the defiles, and making no efficient -progress; but the smoke of the sharp skirmishing -fire, mingling with the morning fog, was curling up the -rocks, and almost hid the combatants from view. Under -this veil, he ordered the Polish lancers of the guard to -charge up the road in face of the artillery. They -obeyed with impetuous courage. The Spanish infantry, -panic struck, fired, threw down their arms, and fled: -the Poles dashing onward, seized the cannon in an -instant. The whole of the Spanish force fled.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span>On the 2d of December, the French soldiers celebrated -the anniversary of the coronation of King Joseph -under the walls of Madrid. The city had been prepared -for defence. A strong, but irregular force were -in array within the gates. The pavement had been taken -up to form barricades; the houses on the out-skirts loop-holed; -and a spirit of desperate resolution, similar to -that which had immortalized the people of Saragossa, -was displayed. The French officer sent to summon -the town, narrowly escaped being torn to pieces by the -mob. The Emperor then made his dispositions for -attack, and long after the camp-fires of his troops had -encircled Madrid with flame, and scared the darkness -of the night, the work of investure proceeded. The -French were in high spirits. Their invincible Emperor -was with them, and they had the greatest contempt for -the Spaniards. About midnight, Napoleon again summoned -the city to surrender; but an answer of defiance -was returned; and then, dispositions were made for -storming. There was but little sleep that night among -besieged or besiegers. The clangor of arms, “the dreadful -note of preparation,” resounded on the air until the -dawn, when the Emperor was on horseback to direct -operations. The Retiro and the palace of the Duke of -Medina Celi were stormed, and as terror began to fill -the breasts of the citizens, Napoleon again summoned -the authorities to surrender. The governor came out -to the French, and said he desired a suspension of arms, -but was afraid of openly talking of surrender. Napoleon, -wishing to avert the horrors of assault, gave a -little longer time to the distracted city, whence there -<span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>issued, throughout the night, “a sound,” says Napier, -with vivid force, “as if some mighty beast was struggling -and howling in the toils.” At eight or nine in the -morning of the 4th of December, the gates were opened -to the conqueror, and the French took possession of -Madrid.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Joseph was now restored to his authority in the capital. -Corunna followed, and the English were driven -out of Spain. Napoleon then returned to Paris. But -the subjection of the Spaniards was not complete, and -was destined never to be completed by his arms. His -ablest lieutenants, although successful for a time, were -at length overthrown by the British and Spaniards, -under Wellington, and the contest proved but an exhausting -struggle, in which were developed the influences -which brought the imperial throne to the dust.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id034'> -<img src='images/i_b_265.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i266' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span> -<img src='images/i_b_266.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT RATISBON.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_266_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_266_1.jpg' width='200' height='179' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Napoleon could never trust his -allies. Completely beaten, -they submitted to the conqueror; -and yet they hated as -deeply as they feared him, and -therefore took advantage of -every opportunity to rupture -the peace of Europe, and attack -his power. No wonder that he lost patience, and -treated their representations, when humbled, with contempt. -These old legitimates proved themselves as -false as they were imbecile, and they deserved the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>contempt of a man who was an Emperor by nature. -After the peace of Tilset, Napoleon turned his attention -to Spanish affairs, and placed his brother Joseph -upon the throne of Spain. The Spaniards immediately -took up arms to restore Ferdinand VII. to the crown -of his ancestors, although they had long suffered from -the misrule of the Bourbons. They resisted the armies -of France, and being aided by the English, threatened -the invaders with a terrible overthrow. This spectacle -caused the faithless house of Austria to break all its -engagements. Once more the Austrian Emperor resolved -to make an effort to destroy the dominion of -Napoleon. He collected an army of one hundred and -fifty thousand men, which was placed under the command -of the brave and skilful Archduke Charles.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon collected an army much inferior in number -to that of the enemy, and with his usual rapidity -advanced to the attack. The Empress Josephine accompanied -him as far as Strasburg, and there watched -the event of the campaign, although its termination -was destined to be so melancholy for herself.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Archduke Charles’s plan was to act upon the -offensive. His talents were undoubted, his army greatly -superior in numbers to the French, and favorably -disposed, whether for attack or defence; yet, by a series -of combinations, the most beautiful and striking, perhaps, -which occur in the life of one so famed for his -power of forming such, Buonaparte was enabled, in the -short space of five days, totally to defeat the formidable -masses which were opposed to him. Napoleon found -his own force unfavorably disposed, on a long line, extending -<span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>between the towns of Augsburg and Ratisbon, -and presenting, through the incapacity, it is said, of -Berthier, an alarming vacancy in the centre, by operating -on which the enemy might have separated the -French army into two parts, and exposed each to a -flank attack. Sensible of the full, and perhaps fatal -consequences, which might attend this error, Napoleon -determined on the daring attempt to concentrate his -army by a lateral march, to be accomplished by the two -wings simultaneously. With this view he posted himself -in the centre, where the danger was principally -apprehended, commanding Massena to advance by a -flank movement from Augsburg to Pfaffenhoffen, and -Davoust to approach the centre by a similar manœuvre -from Ratisbon to Neustadt. These marches must necessarily -be forced, that of Davoust, being eight, that of -Massena between twelve and thirteen leagues. The -order for this daring operation was sent to Massena on -the night of the 17th, and concluded with an earnest -recommendation of speed and intelligence. When the -time for executing these movements had been allowed, -Bonaparte, at the head of the centre of his forces, -made a sudden and desperate assault upon two Austrian -divisions, commanded by the Archduke Louis -and General Hiller. So judiciously was this timed, -that the appearance of Davoust on the one flank -kept in check those other Austrian corps <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>d’armee</em></span>, by -whom the divisions attacked ought to have been supported; -while the yet more formidable operations of -Massena, in the rear of the Archduke Louis, achieved -the defeat of the enemy. The victory, gained at Abensberg, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span>upon the 20th of April, broke the line of the -Austrians, and exposed them to farther misfortunes. -The Emperor attacked the fugitives the next day at -Landshut, where the Austrians lost thirty pieces of -cannon, nine thousand prisoners, and much ammunition -and baggage.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i269' class='figcenter id036'> -<img src='images/i_b_269.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>MARSHAL LANNES.</p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>On the 22d of April, Napoleon manœuvred so as to -bring his entire force, by different routes upon Eckmuhl, -where the Archduke had collected full one hundred -thousand men. Here, perhaps, was one of the most -splendid triumphs of military combination ever displayed. -The Austrians were attacked on all sides -about two o’clock in the afternoon. They fought with -stubborn courage, and the Archduke displayed great -bravery. But nothing could avail against the overwhelming -attack of a scientific adversary, and about -dusk the Austrians were completely defeated. All the -Austrian wounded, a great part of their artillery, and -twenty thousand prisoners, remained in the hands of -the French, and many more prisoners were taken during -the pursuit. Davoust, whose services were conspicuous -on this occasion, was created Prince of Eckmuhl.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the 23d, the Austrians made an attempt to cover -the retreat of their army, by defending Ratisbon. Six -regiments occupied the town, and seemed determined -upon a vigorous defence. The Emperor himself came -up to order the attack. Ratisbon is situated on the -Upper Danube, across which it communicates with its -suburb Stadt-an-Hop, by a bridge a thousand German -feet in length. It is one of the oldest towns in Germany, -and has an antique aspect. Its streets are narrow -<span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>and irregular, and its houses, although lofty, are old -fashioned and inconvenient. Many have tall battlemented -towers, loop-holed for musketry, etc. Among -the most striking public buildings are the cathedral, -an old Roman tower, and the bishop’s palace. The -ramparts are dilapidated, and scarcely useful for defence.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The French soon effected a breach in the ancient -walls, but again and again were they repulsed by a -tremendous fire of musketry. At length there was difficulty -to find volunteers to renew the attack. Such -a storm of death appalled even brave men. But nothing -could daunt the impetuous Lannes. His courage was -of the kind that rose with the danger. He rushed to -the front, seized a ladder, and fixed it against the wall. -“I will show you!” he shouted, “that your general is -still a grenadier!” In spite of the tremendous fire, the -troops followed the example of their glorious leader, -for whom there were never laurels enough—scaled the -walls, and continued the fight in the streets of the town, -which was set on fire.</p> - -<p class='c001'>A detachment of French, rushing to charge a body -of Austrians, which still occupied one end of a burning -street, were interrupted by some wagons belonging to -the enemy’s train. “They are tumbrils of powder,” -cried the Austrian commanding, to the French. “If -the flames reach them, both sides perish.” The combat -ceased, and the two parties joined in averting a calamity -which must have been fatal to both, and finally, saved -the ammunition from the flames. At length the Austrians -were driven out of Ratisbon, leaving much cannon, -baggage, and prisoners, in the hands of the French.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>In the middle of this last <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>melee</em></span>, Bonaparte, who was -speaking with his adjutant, Duroc, observing the affair -at some distance, was struck on the foot by a spent -musket-ball, which occasioned a severe contusion. -“That must have been a Tyrolese,” said the Emperor, -coolly, “who has aimed at me from such a distance. -These fellows fire with wonderful precision.” Those -around remonstrated with him for exposing his person; -to which he answered, “What can I do? I must needs -see how matters go on.” The soldiers crowded about -him in alarm at the report of his wound; but he would -hardly allow it to be dressed, so eager was he to get -on horseback, and show himself publicly among the -troops.</p> - -<p class='c001'>That night the Emperor fixed his quarters in Ratisbon, -and the watch-fires of his victorious troops -illumined the air for miles around. There was much -revelry that night. A glorious, decisive campaign of -five days had prostrated the foes of the Emperor, and -why should not the soldiers rejoice? The following -proclamation was issued by the Emperor:</p> - -<div class='quote'> - -<p class='c001'>“Soldiers—You have justified my expectations; you -have made up for numbers by your courage; you have -gloriously marked the difference which exists between -the soldiers of Cæsar and the armies of Xerxes.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“In a few days, we have triumphed in the three -battles of Tann, Abensberg and Eckmuhl, and the -affairs of Peissing, Landshut and Ratisbon. One hundred -pieces of cannon, fifty thousand prisoners, three -equipages, three thousand baggage wagons, all the funds -<span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span>of the regiments, are the result of the rapidity of your -your courage.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The enemy intoxicated by a perjured cabinet, -appeared to have lost all recollection of us; they have -been promptly awakened; you have appeared to them -more terrible than ever. But lately, they had crossed -the Inn, and invaded the territory of our allies; but -lately they had promised themselves to carry the war -into the bosom of our country. Now, defeated, dismayed -they fly in disorder; already my advance-guard has -passed the Inn; before a month we shall be at Vienna.”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='c001'>As Sir Walter Scott says: “It was no wonder that -others, nay, that he himself, should have annexed to his -person the degree of superstitious influence claimed for -the chosen instruments of Destiny, whose path must -not be crossed, and whose arms cannot be arrested.” -When before had Europe witnessed such a campaign? -So much glory was enough to intoxicate even Napoleon, -and we have yet to see that his deep draught of the -nectar was fatal.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id018'> -<img src='images/i_b_274.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i275fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_275fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>BATTLE OF ESSLING. <span class='small'>Page 275.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i275' class='figcenter id027'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span> -<img src='images/i_b_275.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>CAMP-FIRES AT ASPERN AND ESSLING.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id037'> -<img src='images/i_b_275_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_275_1.jpg' width='175' height='290' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -After the taking of Ratisbon, Napoleon -advanced upon Vienna, which -offered but a feeble resistance, and -was easily occupied. But the Austrian -army, in abandoning the -capital of the empire, had not -given up the struggle.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Sheltered by the Danube, the -bridges over which they had destroyed -at Vienna, and the surrounding -places, they awaited a -favorable opportunity of taking -the offensive. The bridge of Lintz was the first object -<span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>of their attacks; but Vandamme opposed to them a -vigorous resistance, and Bernadotte, arriving, completely -routed them. On his side, Napoleon was also impatient -to force the passage of the river, in order to finish this -glorious campaign. The reconstruction of the bridge, -was, therefore, his first care. Massena had thrown -several over the arms of the Danube, which bathe the -island of Lobau; Napoleon resolved to make use of it -for the passage of the whole army. In three days, the -corps of Lannes, Bessieres, and Massena had taken up -a position on the island. The communication with the -right bank, was by a bridge of boats, five hundred yards -in length, and extending over three arms of the river. -Another bridge, which was not more than sixty-one -yards in length, connected the island with the left -bank. It was here, that on the 21st of May, thirty-five -thousand men crossed without opposition, to give battle -between Aspern and Essling.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The reports brought to the French during the night -were contradictory. Many lights were seen on the -heights of Bisamberg; but nearer to the French and in -their front, the horizon exhibited a pale streak of about -a league in length, the reflected light of numerous -watch-fires, which a rising ground between prevented -from being themselves visible. From such indications -as could be collected, Lannes was of opinion that they -were in presence of the whole Austrian army. Napoleon -was on horseback by break of day on the 21st, to -judge for himself; but clouds of light troops prevented -his getting near enough to reconnoitre accurately. Presently -the skirmishers were withdrawn, and the Austrians -<span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>were seen advancing with their whole force, -double in number to the French, and with two hundred -and twenty pieces of artillery. Yet with this vast disproportion -of odds, they were strangely astonished at -the stand which they made on this occasion, as the -French were mortified and reproached with having suffered -a repulse or made only a drawn battle of it instead -of a complete victory. The conflict commenced about -four in the afternoon with a furious attack on the village -of Aspern, which was taken and retaken several times, -and at the close of the day remained (except the church -and church-yard) in the possession of Massena, though -on fire with the bombs and choked up with the slain. -Essling was the object of three general attacks, against -all which the French stood their ground. Lannes was -at one time on the point of being overpowered, had not -Napoleon by a sudden charge of cavalry come to his -relief. Night separated the combatants.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The hundred thousand Austrians of the Archduke -had not been able to gain an inch of ground from the -thirty-five thousand French of Massena, Lannes and -Bessieres. After the camp-fires were kindled among -the dead of Aspern and Essling, both armies received -reinforcements. The grenadiers of Oudinot, the division -of St. Hilaire, two brigades of light cavalry, and -the train of artillery passed the bridges, and took up a -position on the line of battle. Napoleon confidently -expected to achieve a decisive victory on the following -day.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At four o’clock in the morning, the signal for battle -was again given by the enemy against the village of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>Aspern; but Massena was there to defend it. This -illustrious warrior, whose intrepidity, coolness and military -talents, never appeared to better advantage than -in difficult positions, did not content himself with repulsing -the Austrians each time they attacked; he soon -took upon himself the defensive, and completely overthrew -the columns which were opposed to him. At the -same moment, Lannes and the young guard fell impetuously -on the centre of the Austrian army, in order to -cut off the communication with the two wings. Every -thing gave way before the heroic marshal, and the victory -became certain and decisive, when, about seven -o’clock in the morning, it was announced to the Emperor, -that a sudden increase of the Danube, which had carried -away trees, vessels and even houses, had also borne -away the great bridge which joined the island of Lobau -with the right bank, and which formed the only method -of communication between the troops engaged on the -left bank, and the rest of the French army. At this -news, Napoleon, who had scarcely fifty thousand men -with him, to make head against a hundred thousand, -suspended the movement in advance, and ordered his -marshals merely to retain their position, in order, afterwards -to effect their retreat in good order to the island -of Lobau. This order was executed. Generals and -soldiers valorously upheld the honor of the French flag. -The enemy informed of the destruction of the bridges, -which had kept back the park of reserve of the French -army, and which thus deprived the cannon and -infantry of cartridges, became so emboldened as to -resume the offensive on all points. They attacked Aspern -<span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span>and Essling, three times at the same moment, and -were three times repulsed. General Mouton distinguished -himself at the head of the fusileers of the guard. -Marshal Lannes, whom the Emperor had charged to -maintain the field of battle, valiantly fulfilled his task; -he powerfully contributed to save this fine portion of -the French army, the existence of which a stroke of fate -had nearly compromised. But this striking service was -the last which this illustrious soldier was to render to -his country and to the great captain who was rather his -friend than his master. A bullet struck him in the -thigh towards the close of the day. Amputation was -immediately performed, and with such success as -caused hopes to be conceived which were not to be -realized.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Lannes was borne on a litter before the Emperor, who -wept at the sight of the companion of all his victories -mortally wounded.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Was it requisite,” said he in a tone of anguish, “that -my heart on this day should have been struck so severe -a blow, to force me to give way to other cares than those -of my army!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Lannes was conveyed to the island of Lobau. He -had fainted. But he recovered his senses in the presence -of Napoleon, the god of his idolatry: he clung -around his neck, and said—</p> - -<p class='c001'>“In an hour you will have lost him who dies with -the glory and conviction of having been your best -friend!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>But Lannes lingered in agony for ten days. He did -not want to die. He had not drank deep enough of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>glory. He said the man who could not cure a Marshal -and a Duke of Montebello ought to be hanged!</p> - -<p class='c001'>“It is at the moment of quitting life,” said Napoleon, -later, “that one clings to it with all one’s strength. -Lannes, the bravest of all men, Lannes, deprived of both -legs, wished not to die. Every moment, the unfortunate -man asked for the Emperor; he clung to me for the rest -of his life; he wished but for me, thought of me only. -A species of instinct! Assuredly he loved his wife and -children better than me; and yet he spoke not of them; -it was because he expected nought from them; it was -he who protected them, whilst, on the contrary, I was -his protector. I was for him something vague, superior; -I was his providence; he prayed to me! It was impossible,” -added Napoleon, “impossible to be more brave -than Lannes and Murat. Murat remained brave only. -The mind of Lannes would have increased with his -courage; he would have become a giant. If he had -lived in these times, I do not think it would have been -possible to have seen him fail either in honor or duty. -He was of that class of men who change the face of -affairs by their own weight and influence.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The illustrious marshal expired at Viluna on the 31st -of May. He was lamented as the Roland of the army, -and one of the greatest generals France had produced. -General St. Hilaire, also, an excellent officer, was mortally -wounded in this bloody struggle. He was highly -esteemed by the Emperor, and if he had lived would -doubtless have risen to the rank of marshal.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon was now cooped up in the island of Lobau. -He had fought two indecisive battles. But that they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>were indecisive, when he contended with an army double -his own in number, was a triumph, of which any other -commander would not have ceased to boast. However, -the Emperor prepared himself to strike a blow as decisive -as was Friedland after Eylau.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the meantime, Napoleon ordered the funeral obsequies -of the illustrious Lannes to be celebrated in a -style which astonished all Europe, and showed how a -man should be honored who had risen from the ranks -by force of talent, to be a marshal and a Duke of Montebello. -It was a funeral procession of an army of thirty -thousand men, detailed for this service, who escorted -the remains of the illustrious warrior from Germany to -France. They remind us of Alexander honoring the -remains of his friend Hœphestion. Paris had never -witnessed a grander procession than that which conveyed -the remains of Lannes from the Invalides to the -Pantheon. It was not a cortege; it was a whole army -marching in mourning for a hero, with arms lowered and -flags bound with crape, and bearing a magnificent cenotaph. -The funeral march was composed by the greatest -composer of Germany, the peerless Beethoven, and it -was performed by a band, the like of which had never -been heard in Paris. Occasionally, the mournful strains -were interrupted by the solemn roll of three hundred -drums, and the firing of many guns reminded those -who listened, of those tremendous storms of battle, in -which the lion-hearted Lannes had so often bled for -France. The whole funeral ceremony was eminently -worthy of the Emperor and his illustrious friend.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i282' class='figcenter id038'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span> -<img src='images/i_b_282.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT WAGRAM.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id019'> -<img src='images/i_b_282_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_282_1.jpg' width='250' height='301' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -After the bloody conflicts of Essling -and Aspern, Napoleon -remained stationary -for a considerable time. -The Archduke, uneasy at -the movements of Marshal -Davoust before Presburg, -dared not assume -the offensive, and employed -himself in fortifying -his position between -Aspern and Ebersdorf. -Napoleon labored at the reconstruction of the bridges, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>and the communication between the island and the right -bank was re-established. Soon afterwards, the Emperor -learned that the army of Italy, under the command of -Prince Eugene, had defeated the Austrians, and that -the victors had effected a junction with the army of -Germany, on the heights of Simmering. On the 14th -of June, the Prince gained another victory over the -Austrians at Raab. Marmont, after some successes in -Dalmatia, came to re-unite himself with the Grand -Army, and to place himself within the circle of the Emperor’s -operations. Napoleon’s eagle eye saw that the -moment for a decisive stroke had arrived, and he immediately -began the advance movement, which led to the -famous battle of Wagram.</p> - -<p class='c001'>About ten o’clock at night, on the 4th of July, the -French began to cross the Danube. Gunboats, prepared -for the purpose, silenced some of the Austrian batteries. -Others were avoided by passing the river out of reach -of their fire, which the French were enabled to do by -their new bridges. At daybreak, on the morning of the -5th, the Archduke Charles was astonished to see the -whole French army on the left bank of the Danube, -and so posted as to render the fortifications which he -had constructed with so much labor utterly useless for -defence.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Greatly frightened at the progress of the French -army, and at the great results obtained by it, almost -without effort, the Archduke ordered all the troops to -march, and at six o’clock in the evening, occupied the -following position:—the right, from Stradelau to Gerasdorf; -the centre, from Gerasdorf to Wagram, and the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>left, from Wagram to Neusiedel. The French army -had their left at Gros-Aspern, their centre at Rachsdorf, -and their right at Glinzendorf. In this position, the -day had almost closed, and a great battle was expected -on the morrow; but this would be avoided, and the -position of the enemy destroyed, by preventing them -from conceiving any system, if, in the night, possession -were taken of Wagram; then their line, already immense, -taken by surprise and exposed to the chances of battle, -would allow the different bodies of the army to err without -order or directions, and they would thus become an -easy prey without any serious engagement. The attack -on Wagram took place; the French carried this place; -but a column of Saxons and another of French mistook -each other in the obscurity for hostile troops, and so -the operation failed.</p> - -<p class='c001'>When the bloody and indecisive struggle was relinquished -for the night, only one house was left standing -of the village of Wagram, which had been taken and -retaken, and at length destroyed by the furious cannonade.</p> - -<p class='c001'>As the movement designed by the Emperor had -failed, it remained to prepare for the struggle of the -next day. It appeared that the dispositions of the -French and Austrian generals was reversed. The -Emperor passed the whole night in strengthening his -centre, where he was in person within cannon-shot of -Wagram. To effect this, the lion-hearted Massena -marched to the left of Aderklau, leaving a single division -at Aspern, which had orders to fall back if hard pressed, -upon the island of Lobau. The intrepid and inexorable -<span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>Davoust received orders to leave the village of Grosshoffen -to approach the centre. The Austrian general, -on the contrary, committed the time-condemned error -of weakening his centre in order to strengthen his wings. -All night could be seen the far-extending lines of the -blazing fires, which seemed to join each other in the -distance; and all night could be heard the heavy tread -of the troops, marching to take up positions under the -vigilant eye of the Emperor. Brave, confident hearts, -how many of them were destined to be swept to earth -by the storm of the Austrian artillery!</p> - -<p class='c001'>At length, the day of the 6th dawned upon the plain -of Wagram, and exhibited the two vast bodies of men, -whose accoutrements glittered in the light, who were -about to be hurled together in deadly conflict. At the -first peep of day, Bernadotte occupied the left, leaving -Massena in the second line. Prince Eugene, with the -laurels of Raab freshly enwreathing his brow, connected -him with the centre, where the corps of Oudinot, Marmont, -those of the imperial guard, and the divisions of -the cuirassiers, formed eight lines of battle-scarred veterans, -eager for the fray. Davoust marched from the -right in order to reach the centre.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The enemy, on the contrary, ordered the corps of -Bellegarde to march upon Stradelau. The corps of -Colowrath, Lichtenstein, and Hiller, connected this right -with the position of Wagram, where the Prince of Hohenzollern -was, and to the extremity of the left, at Neusiedel, -to which extended the corps of Rosemberg, in -order to fall upon Davoust. The corps of Rosemberg -and that of Davoust, making an inverse movement, met -<span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>with the first rays of the sun, and gave the signal for -battle. The Emperor made immediately for this point, -reinforced Davoust with the divisions of cuirassiers, and -took the corps of Rosemberg in flank with a battery of -twelve pieces of General Count Nansouty. In less -than three quarters of an hour, the fine corps of Davoust -had defeated Rosemberg’s troop, and driven it -beyond Neusiedel, with great loss.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the meantime the cannonade commenced throughout -the line, and the dispositions of the enemy became -developed every moment; the whole of their left was -studded with artillery; one would have said that the -Austrian general was not fighting for the victory, but -that the only object he had in view, was how to profit -by it. This disposition of the enemy appeared so -absurd, that some snare was dreaded, and the Emperor -hesitated some time before ordering the easy dispositions -which he had to make, in order to annul those of the -enemy, and render them fatal to him. He ordered -Massena to make an attack on a village occupied by the -foe, and which somewhat pressed the extremity of the -centre of the army. He ordered Davoust to turn the -position of Neusiedel, and to push from thence upon Wagram; -and bade Massena and General Macdonald form -in column, in order to carry Wagram the moment Davoust -should march upon it.</p> - -<p class='c001'>While this was going forward, word was brought that -the enemy was furiously attacking the village which -Massena had carried; that the left had advanced about -three thousand yards; that a heavy cannonade was -already heard at Gross-Aspern, and that the interval -<span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>from Gros-Aspern to Wagram appeared covered by an -immense line of artillery. It could no longer be doubted: -the enemy had committed an enormous fault, and it only -remained to profit by it. The Emperor immediately -ordered General Macdonald to dispose the divisions of -Broussier and Lamarque in attacking columns; they -were supported by the division of General Nansouty, -by the horse guards, and by a battery of sixty pieces -of the guard and forty pieces of different corps. General -Count de Lauriston, at the head of this battery of a -hundred pieces of artillery, galloped towards the enemy, -advanced without firing to within half cannon-shot, and -then commenced a prodigious cannonade which soon -silenced that of the enemy, and carried death into their -ranks. General Macdonald marched forward to the -charge. And such a charge had never before been -witnessed upon the field of battle. Macdonald advanced, -as it were, in the face of a volcano pouring forth -a red tide of death. Whole squadrons were swept to -the earth, but, led by a man without fear, the guards -never even faltered; but on, on—still on—they advanced, -like a decree of fate, which nothing could check. -To sustain them, Bessieres charged with the cavalry -of the old guard, but was hurled from his horse by a -cannon-shot, which damped the enthusiasm of his troops, -and rendered their onset weak. Napoleon, who, riding -on a splendid white charger, was a conspicuous mark -for the balls of the enemy, seeing his faithful Bessieres -fall, turned away, saying, “Let us avoid another scene!” -alluding to the incidents attending the death of the illustrious -Lannes. But Macdonald continued his rapid -<span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span>advance, attacked and broke the centre of the Austrians, -and captured their guns. But here he was compelled -to halt; the column which he had led to the charge -had been reduced to between two and three thousand -effective men. Its path was piled with the slain. But -the centre of the enemy was broken. Their right, -seized with a panic, fell back in haste, and Massena -then attacked in front, while Davoust, who had carried -Neusiedel and Wagram, attacked and penetrated the -left. It was but ten o’clock, and yet the victory already -clung to the eagles of the French. From that time -until noon, the Archduke only fought for a safe retreat. -The French continued to gain ground; until, when the -sun had reached the meridian, the dispirited Austrian -general gave the order for retreat. The French pursued. -But Murat, to Napoleon’s regret, was not at the -head of the cavalry, and many of the advantages of -such a glorious victory were lost. Long before night’s -shadows descended, the Austrians were out of sight, and -the French encamped upon the field of their victory, -although the cavalry had posts advanced as far as Soukirchen.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At dark, the Emperor could sum up the results of -this terrible battle, in which between three and four -hundred thousand men, with from twelve to fifteen hundred -pieces of artillery, did the work of death. Ten -flags, forty pieces of cannon, twenty thousand prisoners, -of whom three or four hundred were officers, were the -trophies. Besides these, the Austrians left upon the -field about nine thousand men wounded, and an immense -number of slain. The Archduke himself was wounded -<span class='pageno' id='Page_289'>289</span>in this bloody struggle. The French had suffered a -severe loss. Besides a great number of brave men who -had been swept into the sea of death by the storm of -the Austrian artillery, there were six thousand wounded, -among whom were Marshal Bessieres, and the Generals -Sahuc, Seras, Defranc, Grenier, Vignoble and Frere.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was a fitting time to do honor to the unrivalled -commanders of the army. Macdonald had been in a -kind of disgrace. But the Emperor now forgot all but -his unequalled charge. He advanced to that intrepid -general, and said, “Shake hands, Macdonald; no more -animosity between us: let us henceforth be friends!” -That night, by the camp-fire of Wagram, three new -marshals of the empire were created, viz.:—Macdonald, -Oudinot and Marmont.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The troops were excessively fatigued, and were glad -when they received orders from the Emperor to cease -the pursuit, and bivouac on the plain of Wagram. The -Emperor then entered his tent to seek repose. But he -had not tasted its sweets more than half an hour, when -an aid-de-camp came in hurriedly, crying, “Up! up! -to arms!” This cry was caught up and repeated throughout -the whole army, startling the quiet night. “In -five minutes,” says the author of Travels in Moravia, -“the troops were in position and ready for action, and -the Emperor was on horseback, with all his generals -around him. This rapid and regular movement was -unparalleled. And certainly it was an astonishing display -of perfect discipline and promptitude. The cause -of this alarm was the approach of an Austrian corps, -numbering three thousand men, under the Archduke -<span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span>John. But that body, having failed in an attempt at -surprise, retreated, and the French returned to their -bivouacs, much amused with the incident of the night. -In a short time, all was silent again upon the bloody -plain of Wagram.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Then followed the treaty of Schœnbrunn, which -once more prostrated the coalition, and secured Maria -Louisa, a daughter of the proud house of Hapsburg-Lorraine, -in the place of the beloved Josephine, as Empress -of France. Thus the child of the people had -conquered an alliance with the daughter of emperors.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id027'> -<img src='images/i_b_290.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i291' class='figcenter id006'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_291'>291</span> -<img src='images/i_b_291.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>MURAT.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE ON THE NIEMEN.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id039'> -<img src='images/i_b_291_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_291_1.jpg' width='250' height='264' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The oppressive continental policy -of Napoleon caused the -rupture of the peace of Tilsit, -and led to the grand, but -disastrous invasion of Russia. -Alexander gave the -first offence by not fulfilling -the condition of his treaty -with Napoleon. The French -Emperor then began to see -the error of that treaty. It should have secured the -independence of Poland. The czar pressed Napoleon -for a declaration that Poland should never be -<span class='pageno' id='Page_292'>292</span>re-established, but the Emperor refused to make this -concession. Both rulers then prepared for a struggle on -a gigantic scale. Napoleon determined to invade, and -Alexander was resolved to make a resolute defence.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon determined to concentrate an army of four -hundred thousand men upon the banks of the Niemen. -He was thoroughly informed of the vast resources of -France and of the condition of the country through -which he would be compelled to march. As far as human -calculation could reach, his views were clear and -accurate.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was from the bosom of that France, of which he -had made a “citadel,” which appeared impregnable, and -across that Germany whose sovereigns were at his feet, -that Napoleon wended his way towards the frontier of -the Russian empire, in order to place himself at the -head of the most formidable army which the genius of -conquest had ever led. Fouche, Cardinal Fesch, and -other noted councillors strove to dissuade Napoleon from -the impending war; but the Emperor was confident, -and seems to have entertained no doubt of his success. -“The war,” he said, “is a wise measure, called for by -the true interests of France and the general welfare. -The great power I have already attained, compels me -to assume an universal dictatorship. My views are not -ambitious. I desire to obtain no further acquisition; -and reserve to myself only the glory of doing good, -and the blessings of posterity. There must be but one -European code; one court of appeal; one system of -money, weights and measures; equal justice and uniform -laws throughout the continent. Europe must constitute -<span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span>but one great nation, and Paris must be the capital of -the world.” Grand but premature conception!</p> - -<p class='c001'>The signal for the advance of the Grand Army was -now sounded. It moved forward in thirteen divisions, -besides the Imperial Guard, and certain chosen troops. -The first division was headed by the stern and intrepid -Davoust; the second, by Oudinot; the third, by the -indomitable Ney; the fourth, by the skilful Prince Eugene; -the fifth, by the devoted Poniatowski; the sixth, -by that cool and skilful general, Gouvion St. Cyr; the -seventh, by the veteran Regnier; the eighth, by the -brave but reckless Jerome Bonaparte; the ninth, by -the resolute Victor; the tenth, by the hero of Wagram, -Macdonald; the eleventh, by the old veteran of Italy, -Augereau; the twelfth, by the bold and brilliant Murat; -and the thirteenth by Prince Schwartzenberg. The -Old Guard—that solid and impenetrable phalanx—was -commanded by Bessieres, Le Febre and Mortier.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Long before daybreak, on the 23d of June, the -French army approached the Niemen. It was only -two o’clock in the morning, when the Emperor, accompanied -only by General Hays, rode forward to reconnoitre. -He wore a Polish dress and bonnet, and thus -escaped observation. After a close scrutiny, he discovered -a spot near the village of Poineven, above -Kowno, favorable to the passage of the troops, and gave -orders for three bridges to be thrown across, at nightfall. -The whole day was occupied in preparing facilities -for the passage of the river, the line which separated -them from the Russian soil.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The first who crossed the river were a few sappers -<span class='pageno' id='Page_294'>294</span>in a boat. The day had been very warm, and the night -was welcomed by the weary soldiers, who knew they -had yet a difficult task to perform. Napoleon, who -had been somewhat depressed all day, now seemed to -regain his cheerful spirits. He posted himself upon a -slight eminence, where he could superintend operations. -The sappers found all silent on the Russian soil, and no -enemy appeared to oppose them, with the exception of -a single Cossack officer on patrole, who asked, with an -air of surprise, who they were, and what they wanted. -The sappers quickly replied, “Frenchmen!” and one of -them briskly added, “Come to make war upon you; to -take Wilna, and deliver Poland.” The Cossack fled -into the wood, and three French soldiers discharged -their pieces at him without effect. These three shots -were the signals for the opening of this ever-memorable -campaign. Their echoes roused Napoleon from the -lethargy into which he had fallen, and he immediately -planned the most active measures.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Three hundred voltigeurs were sent across to protect -the erection of the bridges. At the same time, the dark -masses of the French columns began to issue from the -valleys and forests, and to approach the river, in order -to cross it at dawn of day.</p> - -<p class='c001'>All fires were forbidden, and perfect silence was enjoined. -The men slept with their arms in their hands, -on the green corn, heavily moistened with dew, which -served them for beds, and their horses for provender. -Those on watch, passed the hours in reading over the -Emperor’s proclamation, and speculating on the prospect -which the daylight would disclose. The night was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_295'>295</span>keen, and pitch dark. The silence maintained amidst -such a prodigious mass of life—felt to be there, whilst -nothing could be seen—rendered the hours unspeakably -solemn.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Before dawn, the whole array was under arms; but -the first beams of the sun shewed no opposing enemy; -nothing but dry and desert sand, and dark silent forests. -On their own side of the river, men and horses, and -glittering arms, covered every spot of ground within the -range of the eye, and the Emperor’s tent in the midst -of them stood on an elevation. At a given signal, the -immense mass began to defile in three columns towards -the bridges. Two divisions of the advanced guard, in -their ardor for the precedence, nearly came to blows. -Napoleon crossed among the first, and stationed himself -near the bridges to encourage the men by his presence. -They saluted him with their usual acclamations. He -seemed depressed, for a time, partly owing to his previous -exertions and want of rest, partly from the -excessive heat of the day, but no doubt still more from -the passive desolation which met his forces, when he -had expected a mortal enemy to contend with him in -arms. This latter feeling was presently manifested in -its reaction, and with a fierce impatience he set spurs -to his horse, dashed into the country, and penetrated -the forest which bordered the river; “as if,” says Segur, -“he were on fire to come in contact with the enemy -alone.” He rode more than a league in the same direction, -surrounded throughout by the same solitude. He -then returned to the vicinity of the bridges, and led the -army into the country, while a menacing sky hung -<span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span>black and heavy over the moving host. The distant -thunder began to roar and swell, and the storm soon -descended. The lightning flamed across the whole expanse -above their heads; they were drenched with torrents -of rain; the roads were all inundated; and the -recently oppressive heat of the atmosphere was suddenly -changed to a bitter chilliness. Some thousands -of horses perished on the march, and in the bivouacs -which followed: many equipages were abandoned on the -sands; and many men fell sick and died.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Emperor found shelter in a convent, from the -first fury of the tempest, but shortly departed for -Kowno, where the greatest disorder prevailed. The -passage of Oudinot had been impeded by the bridge -across the Vilia having been broken down by the Cossacks. -Napoleon treated this circumstance with contempt, -and ordered a squadron of the Polish guard to -spur into the flood, and swim across. This fine picked -troop instantly obeyed. They proceeded at first in good -order, and soon reached the centre of the river; but -here the current was too strong, and their ranks were -broken. They redoubled their exertions, but the -horses became frightened and unmanageable. Both -men and horses were soon exhausted. They no longer -swam, but floated about in scattered groups, rising and -sinking, while some among them went down. At -length, the men, finding destruction inevitable, ceased -their struggles, but as they were sinking, they turned -their faces towards Napoleon, and cried out, “Vive -l’Empereur!” Three of these noble-spirited patriots -uttered this cry, while only a part of their faces were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_297'>297</span>above the waters. The army was struck with a mixture -of horror and admiration. Napoleon watched the -scene apparently unmoved, but gave every order he -could devise for the purpose of saving as many of them -as possible, though with little effect. It is probable -that his strongest feeling, even at the time, was a presentiment -that this disastrous event was but the beginning -of others, at once tremendous and extensive.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Marshal Oudinot with the second corps crossed the -Vilia, by a bridge at Keydani. Meanwhile the rest of -the army was still crossing the Niemen, in which operation -three entire days were consumed.</p> - -<p class='c001'>After the first night of the arrival upon the Niemen, -camp-fires were permitted, and their vast line illumined -the sky to a great distance. The troops suffered severely -from the sudden changes of the weather—from oppressive -heat to piercing cold. But when we learn their -sufferings in the rest of the campaign, we forget this -first taste of misery. Before the army had entirely -crossed the Niemen, Napoleon reached the plain of -Wilna, which he found the Russians had deserted. -However, he was received by the inhabitants of Wilna -as a deliverer, and the restorer of the nationality of Poland. -Still the steady movement of retreat, laying -waste the country—the plan which the Russian generals -had adopted—caused the Emperor to be gloomy, and it -seemed as if the cloud of adversity had already begun -to obscure his star.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i298' class='figcenter id011'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_298'>298</span> -<img src='images/i_b_298.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>MASSENA.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT WITESPSK.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id040'> -<img src='images/i_b_298_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_298_1.jpg' width='225' height='296' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The first combat of importance -during the Russian campaign -was fought at Ostrowna. -On the 18th of -July, Napoleon reached -Klubokoe. There he was -informed that the Russian -general, Barclay de Tolly, -had abandoned the camp -at Drissa, and was marching -towards Witepsk. He -immediately ordered all -his corps upon Beszenkowici; -and so admirable and precise were his combinations, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_299'>299</span>that the whole of his immense mass of armies -reached the place in one day. Segur has graphically -described the apparent chaos of confusion which seemed -to result from that very regularity itself. The columns -of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, presenting themselves -on every side; the rush, the crossing, the jostling; the -contention for quarters, and for forage and provisions; -the aides-de-camp bearing important orders vainly -struggling to open a passage. At length, before mid -night, order had taken the place of this apparent -anarchy. The vast collection of troops had flowed off -towards Ostrowno, or been quartered in the town, and -profound silence succeeded the tumult. The Russian -army had got the start of Napoleon, and now occupied -Witepsk.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The first combat of Ostrowno took place on the 25th -of July. The Russian infantry, protected by a wood, -fiercely contested the ground, but were beaten back at -every point by the repeated charges of Murat, seconded -by the eighth regiment of infantry, and the divisions of -Bruyeres and St. Germains; and at length the division of -Delzons coming up completed the victory of the French. -On the 26th, the Russians who had been reinforced, -and had occupied a very strong position, seemed disposed -to renew the struggle. Barclay had thrown forward -this portion of his force to retard the French advance, -while he daily looked for the junction of Bagration. -The French van had also been reinforced; -Prince Eugene with the Italian division having joined -in the night. The numbers and strong position of the -Russians gave them an immense superiority in the beginning -<span class='pageno' id='Page_300'>300</span>of the day. They attacked with fury, issuing in -large masses out of their woods with deafening war -cries. The French regiments opposed to this onset -were mowed down, beaten back, and in danger of an -irretrievable rout. At this critical moment, Murat -placed himself at the head of a regiment of Polish lancers, -and with word and gesture incited them to an -unanimous and energetic rush. Roused by his address, -and inspired with rage at the sight of their oppressors, -they obeyed with impetuosity. His object had been to -launch them against the enemy, not to mingle personally -in the torrent of the fight, which must disqualify -him for the command; but their lances were in their -rests, and closely filed behind him; they occupied the -whole width of the ground; they hurried him forwards -at the full speed of their horses, and he was absolutely -compelled to charge at their head, which he did, as the -eye-witnesses affirm, “with an admirable grace,” his -plumed hat and splendid uniform giving him on this -occasion, and numberless others in which he displayed -a most joyous and reckless courage, the air of some -knight of romance. This impetuous onset was seconded -by the other French leaders. Eugene, General Girardin, -and General Pire attacked at the head of their columns, -and finally the wood was gained. The Russians retreated, -and disappeared from view in a forest two -leagues in depth, into the recesses of which even the -impetuosity of Murat hesitated to follow. The forest -was the last obstacle which hid Witepsk from their -view. At this moment of uncertainty, Napoleon appeared -with the main body of the army, and all difficulties -<span class='pageno' id='Page_301'>301</span>and uncertainties soon vanished. After hearing -the report of the two princes, he went without delay to -the highest point of ground he could reach. There he -observed long and carefully the nature of the position, -and calculated the movements of his enemies; he then -ordered an immediate advance. The whole army -rapidly traversed the forest, and began to debouch upon -the plain of Witepsk before night-fall. The approaching -darkness, the multitude of Russian watch-fires -which covered the open ground, and the time requisite -to complete the extrication of his several divisions from -the defiles of the forest, obliged Napoleon to halt at this -point. He believed himself to be in presence of the -main Russian army, and on the eve of the great battle -he so ardently desired. He left his tent, and repaired -to his advanced posts before daybreak on the 27th, and -the first rays of the sun shewed him the whole of Barclay’s -forces encamped on an elevated position, commanding -all the avenues of Witepsk. The deep channel -of the river Lucszissa marked the foot of this position, -and ten thousand cavalry and a body of infantry -were stationed in advance of the river to dispute its -approaches; the main body of the Russian infantry -was in the centre on the high road; its left, on woody -eminences; its right, supported by cavalry, resting on -the Dwina.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon took his station on an insulated hill in view -of both armies. Here, surrounded by a circle of chasseurs -of his guard, he directed the movements of his -troops as they successively advanced to form in line of -battle. Two hundred Parisian voltigeurs of the ninth -<span class='pageno' id='Page_302'>302</span>regiment of the line, were the first who debouched, and -were ranged on the left in front of the Russian cavalry, -and resting, like it, on the Dwina; they were followed -by the sixteenth chasseurs and some artillery. The -Russians looked on with coolness, offering no opposition. -This favorable state of inaction was suddenly interrupted -by Murat. Intoxicated at the brilliant and imposing -assemblage of so many thousands of spectators, -he precipitated the French chasseurs upon the whole -Russian cavalry. They were met by an overwhelming -opposition; broken, put to flight, and the foremost cut -to pieces. The King of Naples, stung to the quick at -this result, threw himself into the thickest of the rout -and confusion, sword in hand. His life had nearly been -forfeited to his headstrong valor. A furious and well-directed -blow was just descending on his head, aimed -from behind by a Russian trooper, and it was only -averted by a sudden slash from the sabre of the orderly -who attended Murat, which cut off the trooper’s arm. -The consequences of these rash proceedings did not stop -here. The successful resistance of the Russian cavalry -impelled them to advance nearly as far as the hill on -which Napoleon was posted, and his guard with great -difficulty drove them back by repeated discharges of -their carbines. The two hundred Parisian voltigeurs, -left in an isolated position by the disorder into which -the chasseurs had been thrown, were next placed in -imminent peril. The Russian cavalry in returning to -the main body, attacked and surrounded the voltigeurs. -Both armies, spectators of this sudden and unequal -conflict, regarded that small band of men as utterly -<span class='pageno' id='Page_303'>303</span>lost. To the amazement of both French and Russians, -however, this handful of apparent victims was presently -seen to emerge unhurt from the dense cloud of assailants, -who continued their original movement upon their -own position. The voltigeurs had rapidly thrown -themselves into square on a woody and broken space of -ground, close to the river. Here the Russian cavalry -could not act, while the steady fire of the voltigeurs -made such havoc that their assailants were glad to leave -them as they found them. Napoleon sent the cross of -the Legion of Honor to every one of them on the spot.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The remainder of the day was spent by Napoleon in -stationing his army; in waiting for the successive -arrivals of different corps,—to be brief, in preparing for -a decisive battle on the morrow. The more ardent of -his generals wished that he had not waited till “the -morrow,” and when he took leave of Murat with the -words, “To-morrow you will see the sun of Austerlitz,” -the King of Naples incredulously shook his head, saying, -that “Barclay only assumed that posture of defiance, -the better to ensure his retreat;” and then, with a temerity, -verging on the ludicrous, gave vent to his impatient -irritation by ordering his tent to be pitched on the -banks of the Lucszissa, nearly in the midst of the enemy, -that he might be the first to catch the sounds of their -retreat.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Murat was right. The Russians retreated while the -Emperor was preparing to make Witepsk the scene of -a decisive battle. At daybreak, Murat came to inform -the Emperor that he was going in pursuit of the Russians -who were no longer in sight. Napoleon would -<span class='pageno' id='Page_304'>304</span>not at first credit the report, but their empty camp soon -convinced him of the truth. There was not even a -trace to indicate the route Barclay had taken. The -army then entered Witepsk, and found it deserted. -They then followed in pursuit for six leagues, through -a deep and burning sand, and during the march the soldiers -suffered dreadfully from thirst. At last, night -put an end to their progress at Agliaponorchtchina. -While the troops were busy in procuring some muddy -water to drink, Napoleon held a council, the result of -which was, that it was useless to pursue the Russian -army any further at present, and that it was advisable -to halt where they were, on the borders of Old Russia. -As soon as the Emperor had formed this resolution, he -returned to Witepsk with his guards. On entering his -head-quarters in that city on the 28th, he took off his -sword, and laid it down on the maps which covered his -table. “Here!” said he, “I halt. I want to reconnoitre, -to rally, to rest my army, and to organize Poland. -The campaign of 1812 is over; that of 1813 will do the -rest.” Ah! well for him would it have been, had he -been content with the laurels that were heaped upon -his head, and fallen back then to devote himself to the -restoration of Poland. But his faith in his star had not -yet been weakened, and on, on—he would press, till -checked by obstacles which no human power could -overcome.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i305' class='figcenter id011'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_305'>305</span> -<img src='images/i_b_305.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT SMOLENSKO.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id012'> -<img src='images/i_b_305_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_305_1.jpg' width='200' height='203' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Napoleon halted two weeks at -Witepsk. He felt that if he could -not find the Russian army, it was -necessary to make a conquest that -would end the campaign with substantial -glory. Now, more than -ever the idea of capturing the -ancient Moscow entered his head, and he quickly decided -to advance. Already full of the plan, which was -to crown him with success, he ran to his maps. There -he saw nothing but Smolensko and Moscow.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_306'>306</span>“At the sight of them,” says Hazlitt, “he appeared -inflamed by the genius of war. His voice became -harsh; his glance fiery, and his whole air stern and -fierce. His attendants retired from his presence, -through fear as well as respect; but at length his mind -was fixed, his determination taken, and his line of -march traced out. Immediately after, the tempest was -calmed, and having given consistency and utterance to -his great conceptions, his features resumed their wonted -character of placidity and cheerfulness.” He did all in -his power to gain over his officers to his purposes, and -redoubled his attentions to his soldiers. The latter -soon displayed a spirit of heroic devotion to his person.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The column of advance consisted of one hundred and -eighty-five thousand men; not one half of the complement -of the vast army which had entered Russia on -the 23d of June.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It must be remembered that the great tract of country -already passed was now occupied by his army, and -necessarily expended a force, amounting perhaps to -nearly eighty thousand men; but it is computed that in -addition to this diminution of his army engaged in actual -service, he had lost one-third of his original numbers -by desertion, wounds, or death, either from fatigue or -disease, or in the field of battle. Numbers of his hospital -wagons, pontoons, and provision wagons, also, were -far in the rear. Still, all these considerations gave way -before his ardent desire to hurry the war to a termination, -and the exertions he made at Witepsk were all -with a view to an advance. Several actions, occurred -between his generals and the different divisions of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_307'>307</span>Russian army during the period in which he held his -head-quarters at Witepsk. Schwartzenberg conquered -Tormazoff at Gorodeczna; Barclay retreated before -Ney at Krasnoi; and Oudinot defeated Witgenstein -near Polotsk, in a second combat,—the first in which -they encountered was indecisive. It was at this moment -that Napoleon received news of the conclusion of -peace between Russia and Turkey, an event which much -more than counterbalanced these successes.</p> - -<p class='c001'>During the first week of August, intelligence reached -Witepsk, that the advanced guard, led by Prince -Eugene, had obtained some advantages near Suraij; -but that, in the centre, at Tukowo, near the Dnieper, -Sebastiani had been surprised, and conquered by -superior numbers. This information, together with the -march of Barclay upon Rudnia, decided Napoleon. He -conjectured that the whole Russian army was united -between the Dwina and the Dnieper, and was marching -against his cantonments. His conjecture proved to be -perfectly correct. The Russian commander-in-chief -conceiving that the French army at Witepsk lay considerably -more dispersed than his own, had resolved to -attempt a surprise. The utmost activity now pervaded -head-quarters. On the 10th of August, Napoleon was -observed to write eight letters to Davoust, and nearly -as many to each of his commanders. “If the enemy -defends Smolensko,” he said, in one of his letters to -Davoust, “as I am tempted to believe he will, we shall -have a decisive engagement there, and we cannot have -too large a force. Orcha will become the central point -of the army. Every thing induces me to believe that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_308'>308</span>there will be a great battle at Smolensko.” Barclay -having laid a plan for the surprise of Napoleon, the -latter by a daring manœuvre avoided it, and almost -succeeded in an attempt to turn the very same plan of -surprise upon his enemy. Allowing the skirmishing to -continue on the advanced posts, he changed his line of -operations, and turning the left of the Russians instead -of their right, which was expected by Barclay, he -gained the rear of their army, and endeavored to -occupy Smolensko, and act upon their lines of communication -with Moscow. To effect this, he had withdrawn -his forces from Witepsk and the line of the -Dwina, with equal skill and rapidity, and throwing -four bridges across the Dnieper, made a passage for -Ney, Eugene Beauharnais, and Davoust, with Murat -at the head of two large bodies of cavalry. They -were supported by Poniatowski and Junot, who advanced -in different routes. The attack was led by -Ney and Murat, who bore down all opposition till they -reached Krasnoi, where a battle was fought on the 14th -of August. He had thus suddenly changed his line -of operations from the Dwina to the Dnieper, and the -manœuvre has been the subject of much admiration -and criticism among French and Russian tacticians.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Russian general, Newerowskoi, who commanded -at Krasnoi, finding himself attacked by a body of infantry -stronger than his own, and two large bodies of -cavalry besides, retreated upon the road to Smolensko. -This road being favorable for the action of cavalry, he -was hotly pressed by Murat, who led the pursuit in full -splendor of attire, and with all the reckless valor which -<span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span>characterised him. He also dispatched some of his light -squadrons to alarm if not attack the front of the retreating -corps, while he made furious onsets upon their flank -and rear. Newerowskoi, however, effected a skilful and -gallantly-conducted retreat, availing himself of a double -row of trees on the high road to Smolensko, by which -he evaded the charges of the cavalry, and was enabled -to pour in a heavy fire. He made good his retreat into -Smolensko, with the loss of four hundred men.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The day on which the combat at Krasnoi was fought, -happened to be the Emperor’s birth-day. There was no -intention of keeping it in these immense solitudes, and -under the present circumstances of peril and anxiety. -There could be no heartfelt festival without a complete -victory. Murat and Ney, however, on giving in the -report of their recent success, could not refrain from -complimenting the Emperor on the anniversary of his -nativity. A salute from a hundred pieces of artillery -was now heard, fired according to their orders. Napoleon, -with a look of displeasure, observed, that in Russia -it was important to be economical of French powder. -But he was informed in reply, that it was Russian -powder, and had been taken the night before. The -idea of having his birth-day celebrated at the expense -of the Russians made Napoleon smile. Prince Eugene -also paid his compliments to the Emperor on this occasion; -but was cut short by Napoleon saying, “Every -thing is preparing for a battle. I will gain that, and -then we will see Moscow.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>While Newerowskoi was intrenched in Smolensko, -the generals, Barclay and Bagration, who were stationed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_310'>310</span>towards Inkowo, between the Dnieper and Lake Kasplia, -hesitated whether to attack the French army, -which they believed to be still in their front. But -when they heard of the situation of Newerowskoi, the -question of forcing the French lines was superseded by -the necessity of hurrying to the rescue of Smolensko. -Murat had already commenced an attack on the city. -Ney had attempted to carry the citadel by a <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>coup de -main</em></span>, but was repulsed with the loss of two or three -hundred men, and was himself slightly wounded. He -withdrew to an eminence on the river’s bank, to examine -the various positions, when on the other side of the -Dnieper he thought he could discern some large masses -of troops in motion. He hastened to inform the Emperor. -Napoleon was presently on the spot, and distinguished, -amidst clouds of dust, long dark columns which -seemed electric with the intermittent glancing of innumerable -arms. These masses were advancing with -rapidity. It was Barclay and Bagration at the head of -a hundred and twenty thousand men. At this sight, -Napoleon clapped his hands for joy, exclaiming,—“At -last I have them!” The moment that was to decide -the fate of Russia or the French army, had apparently -arrived.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon passed along the line, and assigned to each -commander his station, leaving an extensive plain unoccupied -in front, between himself and the Dnieper. This -he offered to the enemy as a field of battle. The French -army in this position was backed by defiles and precipices; -but Napoleon had no anxiety about retreat, so -certain felt he of victory.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_311'>311</span>Instead, however, of accepting the challenge to a -decisive battle, Barclay and Bagration were seen next -morning in full retreat towards Elnia; a movement -which was so bitterly disappointing to Napoleon that -he for some time refused to credit the fact. Various -plans were contemplated by the Emperor for partially -cutting off their retreat, but could not be brought into -operation. He instantly ordered the storming of Smolensko, -inferring that it should be considered as a mere -passage through which he would force his way to Moscow. -It appears that Murat was very anxious to -dissuade him from this attempt, but finding his efforts -in vain, the King of Naples was so exasperated that -he rode in front of the most formidable of the Russian -batteries while it was in full play upon the French; -and having dismounted, remained standing immoveable, -while the balls were cutting down men on all sides. -The storming proceeded with success, except in the -attack made by Ney upon the citadel, which repulsed -him with loss. One battalion happening to present itself -in flank before the Russian batteries, lost the entire row -of a company by a single ball, which thus killed twenty-two -men at the same instant. In the mean time, the -main army, on an amphitheatre of hills, surveyed in -anxiety the struggles of their comrades in arms, and -occasionally applauded them with loud clapping hands -as in a theatre, while they made good any fresh onset, -dashing through a maze of balls and grape-shot which -shadowed the air.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The troops were drawn off as night came on, and -Napoleon retired to his tent. Count Lobau, having -<span class='pageno' id='Page_312'>312</span>obtained possession of the ditch, ordered some shells to -be thrown into the city, to dislodge the enemy. Almost -immediately were seen rising thick and black -columns of smoke, with occasional gleams of light; -then sparks and burning flakes; and at length pyramids -of flame, which ascended from every part. These distinct -and distant fires soon became united in one vast -conflagration, which rose in whirling and destructive -grandeur,—hung over nearly the whole of Smolensko, -and consumed it amidst ominous and awful crashes. -This disaster, which Count Lobau very naturally -attributed to his shells, though it was the work of the -Russians, threw him into great consternation. Napoleon, -seated in front of his tent, viewed the terrific spectacle -in silence. Neither the cause nor the result could -as yet be ascertained, and the night was passed under -arms. About three in the morning, a subaltern officer, -belonging to Davoust, had ventured to the foot of the -wall, and scaled it, without giving the least alarm. Emboldened -by the silence which reigned around him, he -made his way into the city, when suddenly hearing a -number of voices speaking with the Sclavonian accent, -he gave himself up for lost. But at this instant, the -level rays of the sun discovered these supposed enemies -to be the Poles of Poniatowski. They had been the -first to penetrate the city, which Barclay had just -abandoned to the flames. Smolensko having been -reconnoitred, the army entered within its walls. The -remarks of Segur on this occasion are very fine:—“They -passed over the smoking and bloody ruins in -martial order, and with all the pomp of military music -<span class='pageno' id='Page_313'>313</span>and displayed banners; triumphant over deserted -ruins, and the solitary witness of their own glory. A -spectacle without spectators; a victory scarcely better -than fruitless; a glory steeped in blood; and of which -the smoke that surrounded them, and that seemed -indeed to be the only conquest, was the best and most -characteristic emblem.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Here Napoleon found, as at the Niemen, at Wilna, -and at Witepsk, that phantom of victory which had -decoyed him onward, had again eluded his grasp; and -with mute and gloomy rage he walked along the city -over heaps of smoking ruins and the naked bodies of -the slain. He sat down in front of the citadel, on a -mat at the door of a cottage, and here he held forth for -an hour on the cowardice of Barclay, while bullets from -the citadel walls were whizzing about his head. He -dwelt upon the fine field for action he had offered him, -the disgrace it was to have delivered up the keys of -Old Russia without a struggle; the advantages he had -given him in a strong city to support his efforts or to -receive him in case of need. Without taking the -slightest notice of the bullets from the Russian riflemen -in the citadel, he thus continued to sit and vent his passionate -disappointment, uttering the most bitter sarcasms -upon the Russian general and army. “He was not yet -in the secret,” laconically observes Hazlitt, “of the new -Scythian tactics of defending a country by burning its -capitals.” At length, he remounted his horse. One -of his marshals remarked, as soon as he was out of -hearing, that “if Barclay had been so very wrong in -refusing battle, the Emperor would not have taken so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_314'>314</span>much time to convince us of it.” The truth was, he -had no patience with the Russians for not staying—to -be beaten.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Russians still retained the suburbs of Smolensko, -on the right bank of the Dnieper. During the night, -Napoleon caused the bridges to be repaired, and a heavy -cannonade to be kept up; and by the morning, the -suburb had been deserted after being first set on fire. -Ney and Junot immediately pressed forward through -the burning labyrinth, and halted on the spot at which -the roads to Petersburg and Moscow diverge, uncertain -in which direction to continue the pursuit. At length, -the French scouts brought information that Barclay had -retreated in the direction of Moscow, taking at first a -circuitous route through marshy and woody defiles. -Ney came up with the rear guard at Stubna, where he -dislodged them from a strong position, without difficulty; -and next at Valoutina, where a desperate conflict took -place, in which thirty thousand men were successively -engaged on either side. Encumbered as he was by a -long line of artillery and baggage, and hard pressed by -Ney, Barclay was in extreme danger of losing his whole -army, but he was saved by the unaccountable remissness -of Junot, who had absolutely got into his rear, yet -suspended his attack. Junot was a favorite with Napoleon, -but he lost his command for this indecision. It -was transferred to Rapp, who had just joined the army. -The action had been sanguinary, and among other severe -losses, the French general Gudin was mortally wounded. -Napoleon visited the field of battle, which would probably -have been a decisive one had he been present to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_315'>315</span>direct the manœuvres. The soldiers were ranged round -the dead bodies of French and Russians which covered -the ground; the ghastly nature of their wounds, and -the wrenched and twisted bayonets scattered about, -bearing witness to the violence of the conflict. Napoleon -felt that the time was come when his men required -the support both of praise and rewards. Accordingly, -he suppressed his chagrin at the indecisive result of the -victory. His looks were never more impressive and -affectionate. He declared this battle was the most -brilliant exploit in their military history. In his -rewards, he was munificent. The division of Gudin -alone received eighty-seven decorations and promotions. -He watched over and secured the care of the wounded, -and left the field amidst the enthusiastic acclamations -of his soldiers. He then returned to Smolensko. His -carriage jolted over the grisly ruins of the fight, and -his eyes were met on every side by all that is odious -and horrible in fields of battle. Long lines of wounded -were dragging themselves, or being borne along, and -retarded his progress; when he entered the ruined -city, carts were conveying out of sight the streaming -heap of amputated limbs. Smolensko seemed one vast -hospital, and its groans of anguish prevailed over and -obliterated the glories and acclamations of Valoutina.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The situation of the French army had now become -grave and critical. There could no longer be a doubt -of the plan which Barclay was pursuing, and disastrous -apprehensions crowded upon Napoleon’s mind. -The burning of Smolensko was evidently one result of a -deep laid design; it could not be attributed to accident.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_316'>316</span>What must have been his reflections on the evening -of this disastrous day, when, with a burning city for a -camp-fire, he at length discovered the settled policy of -his enemy—the policy, namely, by which Robert Bruce, -in his last will, directed his countrymen how to conquer -the ever-invading English—the policy by which -Francis the First baffled his great rival, Charles the -Fifth, in his attempt to conquer France—the policy -of laying waste the country, burning the cities, retreating -without a pitched battle and leaving famine, cold -and disease to destroy the invading force?</p> - -<p class='c001'>Whatever misfortune awaited him, the Emperor was -resolved to meet it without delay. He really dared -fate to do its worst.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id013'> -<img src='images/i_b_316.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i317fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_317fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON AT WIAZMA. <span class='small'>Page 317.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i317' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_317'>317</span> -<img src='images/i_b_317.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT WIAZMA.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id012'> -<img src='images/i_b_317_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_317_1.jpg' width='200' height='208' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Even after quitting Smolensko, -Napoleon did not penetrate -the designs of the Russian -general, Barclay de Tolly. He -called the retreat, flight; their -circumspection, pusillanimity.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Barclay had retreated to -Dorogobouje, without attempting -any resistance; but here -he renewed his junction with Bagration, and Murat -wishing to reconnoitre a small wood, met with a vigorous -resistance, and pressing forwards found himself in -front of the whole Russian army. He immediately -<span class='pageno' id='Page_318'>318</span>sent word to Napoleon, who was in the rear. Davoust -also, who disapproved of Murat’s dispositions, wrote to -hasten the Emperor’s advance, “if he did not wish -Murat to engage without him.” Napoleon received the -news with transport, and pressed on with his guard -twelve leagues without stopping; but on the evening -before he arrived, the enemy had disappeared. Barclay -persevered in his retreat amidst imputations of treachery -from Bagration, and discord and impatience throughout -his camp. Rage at the continual falling back before the -invaders had produced so many complaints, that Alexander -had at last resolved to supersede Barclay by Kutusoff, -who was shortly expected. Meantime, the -French army advanced, marching three columns abreast; -the Emperor, Murat, Davoust, and Ney, in the middle, -along the great road to Moscow; Poniatowski on the -right, and the army of Italy on the left.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was not likely that the centre column could obtain -any supplies on a road where the advanced guard had -found nothing to subsist upon but the leavings of the, -Russians. They could not in so rapid a march find -time to deviate from the direct route; besides which, -the right and left columns were collecting and devouring -all they could find on each side of the road. It -seemed that a second army would have been required -to follow them with the requisite necessaries; but as it -was, they were obliged to carry everything with them. -The existence of the army was a prodigy. With the -French and Polish corps, the difficulties were not so -great, owing to their excellent arrangements in packing -their knapsacks, and by every regiment having attached -<span class='pageno' id='Page_319'>319</span>to it a number of dwarf-horses, carts, and a drove of -oxen. Their baggage was conducted by soldiers as -drivers. But with the other chiefs in command, the -case was very different. They had none of these excellent -arrangements among them, and only existed by -sending out marauding detachments on every side, who -devoured their fill, and then returned to their respective -bodies with the remainder—if any remained. Napoleon -had not paid sufficient attention to these distinctions, -in the arrangements of the various divisions, and -the consequences were highly injurious. Very great distress, -and very disorderly conduct incessantly occurred -in the course of the march, particularly at Slawokowo. -But Napoleon seemed only possessed by the idea of -Moscow, and victory. He evidently took a great pleasure -in frequently dating decrees and dispatches from -the middle of Old Russia, which he knew would find -their way even into the smallest hamlets throughout -France, and make him appear present every where in -full power.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Murat and Davoust had frequent misunderstandings -at this period, which on one occasion came to an open -quarrel. Davoust had been placed under the orders of -the King of Naples, but the latter having brought the -troops into the greatest peril by his headstrong valor -and love of personal display and prowess, Davoust -showed an unwillingness to support him. This presently -led to a violent altercation in presence of the Emperor. -Murat upbraided Davoust with slow and dilatory circumspection, -and with a personal hostility towards himself -ever since they were in Egypt. He became more -<span class='pageno' id='Page_320'>320</span>vehement as he proceeded, and finally challenged the -Prince of Eckmuhl. At this last provocation, the deliberate -Davoust gave way to his feelings, and began a -long history of the extraordinary pranks played by the -King of Naples in pursuing the Russians. He said it -was high time that the Emperor should be made acquainted -with what passed every day in the management -of his advanced guard. He showed that Murat -wasted lives by useless attacks upon the Russians, for -the sake of gaining a few acres of ground, although it -invariably happened that the enemy left the ground of -their own accord, whenever a sufficient force came up -with them; that Murat was in the constant habit of -losing men by slaughterous follies in the front to no -purpose, after which he began to think of the propriety -of reconnoitering; that he kept the whole of the advanced -guard in a state of restless activity during sixteen -hours of the twenty-four, with no cause, and finally -chose the worst quarters for the night; so that the soldiers, -instead of taking their food and rest, were groping -about for provisions and forage, and calling to each -other in the dark, in order to find their way back to the -bivouacs: and that the king did nothing else but storm -and rage through the ranks, and then ride close to the -enemy’s lines in all directions.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon listened to the whole of this in silence, -pushing a Russian bullet backwards and forwards under -the sole of his foot. When they were both quite out of -breath, he mildly told them that under present circumstances -he preferred impetuosity to methodical caution; -that each had his merits; it was impossible for one man -<span class='pageno' id='Page_321'>321</span>to combine all descriptions of merit; and enjoining them -to be friends for the future, dismissed them to their -tents.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the 28th of August, the army traversed the great -plains of Wiazma. They passed hastily onwards, -several regiments abreast, over the fields. The high -road was given up to the train of artillery, and the hospital -wagons. The Emperor appeared among them in -all directions. He was occupied in calculating, as he -went forward, how many thousands of cannon-balls -would be required to destroy the Russian army. He -ordered all private carriages to be broken up, as they -might tend to impede their progress, and be in the way -when a battle occurred. The carriage of his aid-de-camp, -General Narbonne, was the first that was -demolished. The baggage of all the corps was collected -in the rear, comprised of a long train of bat-horses, and -of carriages called <em>kibics</em>, drawn by rope-traces. These -were loaded with provisions, plunder, military stores, -sick soldiers, and the arms of these soldiers, and of -those who acted as drivers and guards. In this heterogeneous -column were seen tall cuirassiers, who had lost -their horses, and were mounted on horses not much -larger than asses. Among such a confused and disorderly -multitude, the Cossacks might have made most -harassing attacks; but Barclay seemed cautious to -avoid disheartening the French too much. His object -was to impede and delay the progress of the invaders, -by contests with the advanced guard only, and without -inducing them to abandon their design.</p> - -<p class='c001'>This protracted state of affairs, the fatigued condition -<span class='pageno' id='Page_322'>322</span>of the army, the quarrels among the chiefs, and -the approach of yet more dangerous circumstances, -filled the mind of Napoleon with distrust and apprehension. -He had for some time hoped and expected that -Alexander would open some negotiation with him, or at -least send him a letter. At length, he gave the opportunity -himself, by causing Berthier to write to Barclay; -and the letter concluded with these words:—“The Emperor -commands me to entreat you to present his compliments -to the Emperor Alexander, and to say to him -that neither the vicissitudes of war, nor any other circumstances, -can ever impair the friendship which he -feels for him.” Napoleon’s sincerity in this profession -was probably of the same value as the previous good -faith of Alexander. No answer was returned. On the -very day the letter was sent, the advanced guard of -the French drove the Russians into Wiazma. The -army was so exhausted by fatigue, heat, and thirst, -that the soldiers fought among themselves for precedence -in obtaining water from some muddy pools. -Napoleon himself was very glad to obtain a little of this -thick puddle to allay his thirst. In the course of the -night, the Russians destroyed the bridges of the -Wiazma; and, after pillaging the town, set fire to it, -and decamped. Murat and Davoust, after some opposition, -succeeded in making an entrance and extinguishing -the flames. Various reports now made to the -Emperor left him no longer in the least doubt as to -who were the incendiaries, and he clearly perceived -the regular plan on which the Russians were acting. -Entering Wiazma, he found a few resources had been -<span class='pageno' id='Page_323'>323</span>left in the town, but that his soldiers had wasted them -all by pillage. This so exasperated him that he rode -in among them, and threw several of them down. Seeing -a suttler who had been very busy in this wasteful -disorder, he ordered him to be shot. But it is well -known of Napoleon, that his fits of passion were of -short duration, and always followed by a disposition to -clemency. Those, therefore, who heard this order, -placed the suttler a few minutes afterwards, in a place -which the Emperor would have to pass; and making -the man kneel, they got a woman and several children -to kneel at his side, who were to appear as his wife -and family. Napoleon inquired what they wanted, and -granted the offender his pardon.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Belliard, at this time the head of Murat’s staff, now -rode up to him in a very excited state. He reported -that the enemy had shown himself in full force, in an -advantageous position, beyond the Wiazma, and ready -to engage; that the cavalry on both sides had immediately -come to action; and that the infantry becoming -necessary, the King of Naples had placed himself at -the head of one of Davoust’s divisions, and ordered -the advance—when Davoust hastened to the spot and -commanded them to halt, as he did not approve of the -intended manœuvre, and told the king that it was -absurd and ruinous. Murat had therefore sent to the -Emperor, declaring that he would no longer hold a disputed -command. Napoleon was enraged at this renewal -of the quarrel at such a moment, and sent off Berthier -to place under the command of Murat that division -which he had intended to lead. Meantime, the contest -<span class='pageno' id='Page_324'>324</span>was over, and Murat, now reverting to the conduct of -Davoust, was boiling with indignation. He asked of -what use was his royal rank? It could not obtain him -obedience, or even protect him from insult. But as his -sword had made him a king, to that alone would he -appeal. It was with the greatest difficulty that he was -restrained from going to attack Davoust. He then -cursed his crown, and shed a torrent of tears. Davoust -did not attempt to excuse the insubordination of his -conduct, but persisted that Murat had been misled by -his own temerity, and that the Emperor had been misinformed -as to the whole affair with the Russians.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon re-entered Wiazma, and here intelligence -was brought him from the interior of Russia, that the -government deliberately appropriated all his successes -to themselves, and that <span lang="la" xml:lang="la"><em>Te Deum</em></span> had been repeatedly -celebrated at Petersburg for the Russian “victories” -of Witepsk and Smolensko! “<span lang="la" xml:lang="la"><em>Te Deum!</em></span>” ejaculated -Napoleon, in amazement—“then they dare to tell lies, -not only to man but to God!” He also learned, that -while their towns were in flames there was nothing -but ringing of bells in Petersburg, hymns of gratitude, -and publications of the triumph of the Russian arms.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Yet he did not perceive the plan of the Russian -general. For a time, at least, his usual penetration -seemed to have been dulled. He remained among the -smoking ruins of Wiazma, which might have conveyed -to his mind an ominous lesson of the result of a system -of tactics to which he was unaccustomed. But now -this system, having accomplished its purpose, was to -be abandoned. Barclay had persisted in carrying out -<span class='pageno' id='Page_325'>325</span>his plan against all the clamor and imputations of the -Russians. He was now superseded by Kutusoff, a -general of the school of Suwarrow; but the skilful De -Tolly willingly served under that general. This alteration -of plan, and change of commanders, Napoleon -learned while at Wiazma. He could now expect a -battle, and he prepared to render it decisive. He -advanced to the bloody field of Borodino.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id041'> -<img src='images/i_b_325.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i326' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_326'>326</span> -<img src='images/i_b_326.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE OF BORODINO.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id037'> -<img src='images/i_b_326_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_326_1.jpg' width='175' height='204' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Napoleon esteemed the battle of -Borodino, or Moskwa, his “greatest -feat of arms.” But his conduct -during the conflict has been -the subject of much animadversion, -and many critics agree with -Segur that he did not display upon -that field his usual splendor and -power of genius.—But to the incidents of Borodino.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Russian army halted at Borodino, and intelligence -was brought to the Emperor of the French that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_327'>327</span>they were breaking up the whole plain and forming -intrenchments in every part. Napoleon then announced -to his troops the approaching battle, and allowed them -two days rest to prepare their arms and collect their -provision.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon was leading his army onwards farther and -farther, through pathless deserts, or over ruined fields, -or towns laid in ashes; fatigue, famine, and war, were -reducing his numbers, and he was at every step increasing -his distance from his resources, while his enemies -were in the heart of their own country. Even at -Wilna, a deficiency had been discovered in the hospital -department; the evil increased at Witepsk. At Smolensko, -there was no want of hospitals; fifteen large -brick buildings, saved from the flames, had been set -apart for this purpose, and there was plenty of wine, -brandy, and medicines, but there was a dearth of dressings -for the appalling number of wounds. The surgeons -had already used all that could be procured—had torn -up their own linen, and at length were obliged to substitute -the paper found in the city archives. One hospital, -containing a hundred wounded men, was forgotten, -in the stress of difficulties, for the space of three -whole days. The state of its wretched inmates when -it was accidentally discovered by Rapp, none of the -chroniclers of these events have ever attempted to -describe, and the imagination recoils with horror from -the attempt to realise it. Napoleon sent them his own -stock of wine, and many pecuniary gratuities. The -alarming decrease of numbers noticed at Witepsk was -still more perceptible now. The army at Smolensko -<span class='pageno' id='Page_328'>328</span>might be computed at about one hundred and fifty-seven -thousand men, part of the deficiency being caused -by the occupation of additional territory; the rest by -desertion, wounds, sickness, or death. With such a -force, however, Napoleon had no reason for apprehension, -if he could bring his enemies to a battle; but it -was evident that Barclay had discovered and resolutely -pursued a more efficient plan. It seems certain, therefore, -that Napoleon did entertain thoughts of establishing -winter-quarters at Smolensko; of intrenching -himself strongly, bringing up his reinforcements and -supplies, and in this central point commanding the -roads to both the capitals of Russia; waiting proposals -of peace, or preparing for a fresh campaign in the -spring. The danger of so long an absence from France; -the difficulty of holding together an army composed of -many different nations; the news of fresh successes -achieved by his various leaders in different directions; -above all, the impetuosity of his own temperament, -decided the point. The only doubt which long existed -was on which of the two capitals to advance. By the -24th of August, all was decided, and the French army -was in full march towards Moscow.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Sixteen thousand recruits, and a vast multitude of -peasants, joined the ranks of Kutusoff. On the 4th of -September, the French left Gjatz. The heads of their -columns were now more than ever annoyed by troops -of Cossacks, and the frequent necessity of making his -cavalry deploy against so temporary and random an -obstacle, provoked Murat to such a degree that he -once clapped spurs to his horse, and dashing alone to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_329'>329</span>the front of their line, halted within a few paces, and -waving his sabre with the most indignant and menacing -authority, signified his command for them to withdraw. -The sudden apparition of this splendid figure in front -of their ranks, with the air of one who possessed the -power of annihilating them with a blow, so took these -barbarians by surprise that they instantly withdrew in -vague astonishment. They shortly, however, returned, -and received the charge of the Italian chasseurs. -Platoff has since related that in this affair, a Russian -officer, who had brought a sorcerer with him, was -wounded; whereupon he ordered the sorcerer to be -soundly drubbed, as he had expressly directed him -to turn aside all the balls by his conjurations.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon now surveyed the whole country from an -eminence, and displayed marvellous sagacity in the conclusions -he drew as to the positions and intentions of -the enemy. Vast numbers of troops were posted in -front of their left, and he concluded that this must be -the point where their ground was most accessible, and -that they had there constructed a formidable redoubt. -It was, therefore, necessary to carry this. The attack -was general, and the Russian rear-guards were driven -back upon Borodino. This curtain being removed, the -first Russian redoubt was discovered. The division of -Compans attacked it, and the 61st regiment took it at -the point of the bayonet. Bagration sent reinforcements, -and it was retaken. It was again taken by the -61st, and this occurred three times, till finally, with the -loss of half the regiment, it remained in possession of -the French. But a neighboring wood was swarming -<span class='pageno' id='Page_330'>330</span>with Russian riflemen, and it required the efforts of -Morand, Poniatowski, and Murat, to complete the conquest. -Firing, nevertheless, continued till nightfall.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Not a single prisoner had been taken. When Napoleon -heard this, he asked many questions impatiently. -Were the Russians determined to conquer or die? He -was answered, that their priests and chiefs had wrought -them up to a state of fanaticism in their love for their -country and their abhorrence of their invaders. The -Emperor at this fell into meditation, and concluded that -a battle of artillery would be the only efficient mode to -adopt. On that night, a thin, cold rain, began to fall, -and autumn proclaimed its approach by violent gusts -of wind. The French slept without fires.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the morning of the 6th of September, the two -armies were again visible to each other, in the same -position as the preceding day had left them. This -excited a general joy among the French. At last, this -desultory, vagrant, and irritating war, in which so many -brave men had perished, to so little advantage, seemed -about to come to a satisfactory issue. The Emperor -rode forth at the earliest dawn, and surveyed the whole -front of the enemy’s army, by passing along a succession -of eminences that rose between the two antagonist -powers.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Russians were in possession of all the heights, -on a semi-circle of two leagues extent from the Mosqua -to the old Moscow road. Their centre, commanded by -Barclay, formed the salient part of their line; it was -protected by the Kalogha, by a ravine, and by two -strong redoubts at its extremities. Their right and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_331'>331</span>left receded. Their right rested on the precipitous and -rocky bank of the Kalogha, and was defended by deep -and muddy ravines. A strong redoubt also crowned -the height, which was lined with eighty pieces of cannon. -Bagration commanded the left; it was stationed -on a less elevated crest than the centre, and having lost -the protection of its great redoubt was the most accessible -point of their army. Two small hills crowned -with redoubts protected its front. It was flanked by a -wood, beyond which, on the extreme left, was a corps -commanded by Tutchkoff, but stationed at so great a -distance as to permit the possibility of manœuvring on -the intervening ground without previously overwhelming -this detached corps.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Having concluded his observation, Napoleon made -his plan. “Eugene,” he said, “should be the pivot; -the battle must be begun by the right. As soon as the -right, advancing under the protection of the wood, shall -have carried the redoubts of the Russian left wing, it -must turn to the left, march on the Russian flank, overthrowing -and driving back their whole army upon their -right wing, and into the Kalogha.” Napoleon was still -on the heights, taking a last view of the ground, and -considering the details of the grand plan he had formed, -when Davoust hastily approached him. The marshal -had a proposal of his own to make, by which he -expected to turn the enemy’s left in the night, and by -surprise. The Emperor listened to him with great -attention, but after silently considering the proposition -for a few minutes, rejected it, and persisted in his rejection, -notwithstanding the confidence with which it was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_332'>332</span>urged by Davoust. He then re-entered his tent, when -Murat pertinaciously strove to persuade him that the -Russians would again retreat before he commenced his -attack. The Emperor in some agitation returned to the -heights of Borodino, where, however, every indication -of an intention to remain and fight was observable -among the Russians. He had taken very few attendants, -to avoid being recognized by the enemy’s batteries; -but at the moment he was pointing out the signs he had -observed to Murat, the discharge of one of their cannon -broke the silence of the day;—“for it is frequently -the case,” observes Segur, “that nothing is so calm as -the day which precedes a great battle.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Emperor now returned to his tent to dictate the -order of battle. The two armies were nearly equal,—about -a hundred and twenty thousand men, and six -hundred pieces of cannon on each side. The Russians -had the best position, and the additional advantages of -speaking the same language, wearing the same uniform, -and fighting for a common cause; and of being near, -their resources, and in their own country; but they had -too many raw recruits in their ranks. The army of -Napoleon had just completed a long and harassing -march; was made up of many nations, and in the midst -of a hostile people; but it was entirely composed of -tried soldiers, who had fought their way through many -a desperate battle, and held their ranks through every -hardship. The proclamation issued by Napoleon was -suited to the men and the circumstances. It was grave, -simple, and energetic. “Soldiers,” said he, “you have -now before you the battle which you have so long -<span class='pageno' id='Page_333'>333</span>desired. From this moment, the victory depends upon -yourselves. It is necessary for us; it will bring us -abundance, good winter quarters, and a speedy return -to our country.” It happened that the Emperor had -that day received the portrait of his son from Paris. He -himself exhibited the picture in front of his tent.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Kutusoff, on his part, had worked upon the feelings -of the Russians by means suited to their condition. He -had induced the chief priests or popes of the Greek -church, dressed in their richest robes, to walk in splendid -procession before his army. They carried the symbols -of their religion, and foremost of all a sacred image of -the Virgin, withdrawn from Smolensko by a miracle. -He then addressed the soldiers on the subject of heaven, -“the only country which slaves have left to them,”—and -incited the serfs to defend their master’s property -in the name of the Great Teacher of universal brotherhood. -The whole ceremony worked the effect which -he intended, and roused his hearers to the highest pitch -of courage and fanaticism.</p> - -<p class='c001'>During the night, the whole French army was stationed -in order of battle, and three batteries, of sixty -pieces each, were opposed to the Russian redoubts. -Poniatowski commanded the right wing, which was -destined to commence the attack on the Russian left. -The whole of the artillery were to support his attack. -Davoust and Ney, supported by Junot, with the Westphalians, -and Murat with the cavalry, were in the -centre, and ready to precipitate themselves upon the -Russians after the opening of the battle by Poniatowski. -Prince Eugene, with the army of Italy, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_334'>334</span>the Bavarian cavalry, formed the left. The Emperor -held his guard in reserve. He appeared very unwell, -depressed in spirits, and unable to sleep. He was -oppressed with fever and excessive thirst, probably the -result of over fatigue and anxiety. The news of the -defeat of his troops at Salamanca, had just been -brought to him by Fabvier, an aid-de-camp of Marmont; -but he received the account with great firmness -and temper. Present events only seemed to weigh -on his mind. He repeatedly called to ascertain the -hour, and to inquire whether any sounds indicative of a -retreat had been heard in the opposite army. On one -occasion his aid-de-camp found him resting his head on -his hands, and the few words he said indicated that his -thoughts were dwelling on the vanity of human glory. -He asked Rapp, whether he thought they should gain -the victory? “Undoubtedly,” answered Rapp, “but -it will be a bloody one!” On which Napoleon replied, -“I know it; but I have eighty thousand men. I shall -lose twenty thousand of them, and with sixty thousand -shall enter Moscow. The stragglers will there rejoin -us, and afterwards the battalions of recruits now on -their march, and we shall be stronger than before -the battle.” He seemed neither to comprehend the -guard nor the cavalry in this calculation. Before daybreak, -one of Ney’s officers announced the Russians -still in view, and asked leave to begin the attack. These -words restored the Emperor. He rose; summoned his -officers; and leaving his tent exclaimed, “At last we -have them! March!—We will to-day open for ourselves -the gates of Moscow!”</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_335'>335</span>It was half-past five in the morning, when Napoleon -took his station near the great redoubt which had been -taken on the 5th. As the sun rose, he pointed to the -east, saying, “There is the sun of Austerlitz!” The -artillery were employed in pushing forward the batteries -which had been placed too far back. The Russians -made no opposition; they seemed fearful of being -the first to break the awful silence. While waiting for -the sound of Poniatowski’s fire on the right, Napoleon -ordered Eugene to take the Tillage of Borodino, on the -left. The 106th regiment accordingly opened the -attack; gained the village; rushed across the bridge, -in the ardor of success, and would have been cut off -had not the 92d come up to their relief. During this -action, sounds on the right announced that Poniatowski -had commenced his attack, and Napoleon immediately -gave the signal of battle. “Then, suddenly,” says -Segur, “from the previously peaceful plain and silent -hills, burst forth flashes of fire and clouds of smoke, -which were instantly followed by a multitude of explosions -and the whizzing of innumerable bullets which -rent the air on every side. In the midst of this thunder, -Davoust, with the divisions of Compans and -Desaix, and thirty cannon, advanced rapidly upon the -first redoubt of the enemy.” The fusillade of the -Russians now commenced, and was answered by the -French cannon. The French infantry advanced at -a quick pace, without firing; but General Compans, -who headed the column, fell wounded with the foremost -of his men, and the rest halted under the storm -of balls. Rapp instantly took the post of Compans, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_336'>336</span>and urged the troops forward at a running pace with -charged bayonets, when he also fell. It was the -twenty-second wound that he had received. He was -conveyed to the Emperor, who exclaimed, “What! -Rapp! always wounded! but how are they going on -above there?” The aid-de-camp replied, that the guard -was wanted to finish the business. “No,” said Napoleon, -“I will take good care of that; I will not have -that destroyed. I will gain the battle without it.” -A third general, who succeeded Rapp, likewise fell; -and Davoust himself was struck. At this moment, -Ney, with his three divisions of ten thousand men, -threw himself into the plain to support Davoust, and -the Russian fire was thus diverted. Ney rushed -on; Davoust’s columns continued their advance with -renewed confidence; and almost at the same time both -of the French divisions scaled the heights; overthrew -or killed their defenders, and obtained possession of -both the redoubts of the Russian left. Napoleon then -ordered Murat to charge and complete the victory. -The king was on the heights in an instant; but the -Russians, reinforced by their second line, now advanced -with rapidity to regain their redoubts. The French -were taken by surprise in the first disorder of their -success, and retreated. Murat, endeavoring in vain -to rally the troops, found himself nearly surrounded, -and alone amidst the enemy’s cavalry. They were -even stretching out their arms to take him prisoner, -when he escaped by throwing himself into one of the -redoubts. There he found only a few soldiers in utter -disorder. They were running backwards and forwards -<span class='pageno' id='Page_337'>337</span>upon the parapet in consternation; but he seized the -first weapon he could find, and fought with one hand, -while he waved his plumed hat in the air with the -other. His presence and his rallying calls to duty soon -restored the courage of the men. Ney quickly reformed -his divisions; his fire threw the Russians into -disorder; Murat was extricated; and the heights reconquered. -Murat was no sooner freed from this danger -than he furiously and repeatedly charged the enemy at -the head of the French cavalry, and in another hour -the Russian left wing was entirely defeated.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the meantime, a dreadful conflict had raged unceasingly -on the French left. After Eugene had taken -the village of Borodino, he had passed the Kalogha, in -front of the great Russian redoubt, which was lined -with eighty pieces of cannon, and protected by a ravine. -General Bonnamy, at the head of eighteen hundred -men of the 30th regiment, carried this strong position -by one sudden charge, at six o’clock in the morning. -But the Russians recovered from their first panic; and, -rallying before their assailants could be supported, they -were headed by Kutusoff and Yermdof in person, and -made an attack in their turn. Bonnamy’s regiment -was surrounded, overwhelmed, and driven from the -redoubt, with the loss of its commander and one-third -of its numbers. Eugene, however, maintained his -station on the sloping sides of the heights for four -hours, under a terrific fire, and, until he was relieved by -the turn of the battle, when Kutusoff was obliged to -defend the left of his centre, now exposed in consequence -of the defeat of his left wing by the divisions of Ney, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_338'>338</span>Davoust, and Murat as already detailed. The defence -of Kutusoff was then carried on at two points. He -poured a tremendous fire, with devastating effect, upon -the troops of Ney and Murat, from the heights of the -ruined village of Semenowska. It became necessary to -carry that position. Maubourg swept the front of it -with his cavalry; Friand and Dufour, with their infantry, -mounted the acclivity, dislodged the Russians, and -secured the position. The Russians had now lost every -one off their intrenchments except the great redoubt, -on which Prince Eugene was preparing for a decisive -attack. He had already sent to Napoleon for assistance, -but received the reply, that “he could give him no -relief; it depended on him alone to conquer; that the -battle was concentrated on that point.” Murat and -Ney, exhausted with their efforts, also sent for reinforcements; -but Napoleon concluded that the presence of -Friand and Maubourg on the heights would maintain -them, and he saw that the battle was not yet won. -Amidst all the excitement of these repeated and most -urgent messages, he steadily refused to compromise his -reserve.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Russians now rallied <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>en masse</em></span>. Kutusoff commanded -all his reserves, and even the Russian guard, -to the assistance of his uncovered left. Infantry, artillery, -and cavalry, all advanced for one grand and mighty -effort. Ney and Murat, with intrepidity and firmness, -sustained the rushing tempest. It was no time for -them to think of following up their previous successes; -all their strength was required to maintain their position. -Friand’s soldiers, ranged in front of the armed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_339'>339</span>heights of Semenowska, were swept off in whole ranks -by a storm of grape-shot. The survivors were dismayed, -and one of their brave commanders ordered a retreat; -when Murat suddenly rode up to him, and catching -hold of his collar, exclaimed,—“What are you doing?” -The colonel, pointing to the ground on which half of -his men lay dead or wounded, replied—“You see we -can stay here no longer!” Murat hastily rejoined—“I -can stay here very well myself!” The colonel looked -steadily at him, and calmly replied—“It is right. Soldiers! -let us advance to be slain!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Murat had again sent to Napoleon for assistance, and -he now gave it promptly and efficiently. The artillery -of the guard were ordered to advance. Eighty pieces -of cannon quickly crowned the heights, and discharged -their contents at once. The Russian cavalry first -charged against this tremendous barrier, but retired in -confusion to escape destruction. The infantry exhibited -a spectacle of stolid indifference to death, or devotion -to their country and their leaders, perhaps unparalleled -in the history of war,—affording a picture of the inherent -powers of human nature, worthy of study, while most -horrible to contemplate in their present misapplication. -“The infantry,” says Segur, “advanced in thick masses, -in which our balls from the first made wide and deep -openings; yet they constantly came on nearer and -nearer, when the French batteries redoubling the rapidity -of their fire, absolutely mowed them down with grape-shot. -Whole platoons fell at once. Their soldiers -struggled to preserve their compactness under this terrible -fire; and, divided every instant by death, they still -<span class='pageno' id='Page_340'>340</span>closed their ranks over it, trampling it with defiance -under their feet. At last they halted, not daring to -advance any farther, and yet resolved not to go back; -whether they were appalled, and as it were petrified -with horror in this tremendous gulph of destruction; -or whether it was owing to Bagration being at that time -mortally wounded; or whether it might be that a first -arrangement being attended with failure, their generals -felt incompetent to change it,—not possessing, like -Napoleon, the art of moving such vast bodies at once, -with unity, harmony, and order. In short, these heavy -and stationary masses stood to be crushed and destroyed -in detail for two entire hours, <em>without any other movement -than that of the falling of the men</em>. It was in truth -a deplorable and frightful massacre; and the intelligent -valor of the French artillerymen admired the firm, -resigned, but infatuated courage of their enemies.” -Scott describes the scene to the same effect. “Regiments -of peasants, who till that day had never seen -war, and who still had no other uniform than their -grey jackets, formed with the steadiness of veterans, -crossed their brows, and having uttered their national -exclamation ‘<em>Gospodee pomiloui nas!</em>’ (God have mercy -upon us,) rushed into the thickest of the battle, where -the survivors, without feeling fear or astonishment, -closed their ranks over their comrades as they fell.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The problem, of whether that mass of men would -have stood to be utterly destroyed to the last individual, -was never worked out; for a fresh movement in the -French army, bringing upon them a new form of peril, -at last restored them to a sense of their human conditions, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_341'>341</span>and put them to flight. Ney extended his right, -pushed it rapidly forward, and, seconded by Davoust -and Murat, turned the left of the Russian centre, and -dispersed them. The battle still raged on the Russian -right,—where Barclay, intrenched in the great redoubt, -obstinately struggled with Prince Eugene,—and on their -extreme left, where Poniatowski had as yet failed to -make himself master of the great Moscow road. When -another pressing demand for <a id='corr341.9'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='“the'>the</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_341.9'><ins class='correction' title='“the'>the</ins></a></span> guard, to complete -the destruction of the Russian army, was brought to -Napoleon from Ney and Murat, who burned to follow -up the retreat of the defeated infantry, he pointed in -silence to those two conflicting bodies. The Emperor’s -words ought to be satisfactory as to the cause of his -refusal to send his reserve, which has occasioned so -many animadversions. “The case,” he said, “was not -sufficiently extricated and conclusive to induce him -yet to part with his reserves; and that he must see -more clearly the state of his chess-board.” When -Count Daru, at the pressing solicitation of Berthier, -repeated the request, and said in a low tone “that on -all sides the cry now was that the moment for the guard -to act was come,” Napoleon replied, “And if there -should be a second battle on the morrow, what shall I -have to carry it on with?”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Kutusoff was still unconquered. He rallied for the -third time, and resting his right on the great redoubt, -formed a fresh line in front of Ney and Murat; but it -was a last effort. General Caulaincourt, at the head of -the fifth French cuirassiers, made a desperate charge -on the rear of the redoubt, while Eugene maintained -<span class='pageno' id='Page_342'>342</span>his ground in the front. The last words of Caulaincourt, -as he left Murat to open the attack, had been, -“You shall see me there immediately, dead or alive!” -He charged at the head of his regiment, overthrew all -opposition, and was the first man who penetrated into -the redoubt, where, almost at the instant, he fell mortally -wounded; but that decisive charge determined -the victory. The troops of Prince Eugene were pressing -onwards, and had nearly reached the mouth of the -battery, when suddenly its fire was extinguished, its -smoke dispersed, and above the now silent engines of -destruction appeared the moveable and polished brass -which covered the French cuirassiers. The Russians -had been driven from their last entrenchment. They -returned with one more desperate effort to retake this -position, as if determined to die rather than endure -defeat. Their column advanced to the very mouths of -the cannon, but at the terrible discharge of thirty pieces -of artillery, which were directed against them, they -appeared to be whirled round by the shock, and retired -without being able to deploy. Officers now came in -from every part of the field. Poniatowski, supported -by Sebastiani, had conquered on the left, after a -desperate struggle. The sounds of firing became weaker -and less frequent. The Russians had retreated to a -new position, where they appeared to be intrenching -themselves. The day was drawing to a close, and the -battle was ended.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon had remained nearly on the same spot -throughout the whole of the battle, seated on the edge -of a trench, or walking backwards and forwards on an -<span class='pageno' id='Page_343'>343</span>elevated platform. He now mounted his horse, and -slowly passed amidst the heaps of dead and wounded -till he reached the heights of Semenowska. He said -little; but the few words he uttered implied that he -felt his victory had cost him too dear. He then repaired -to his tent to write the bulletin of the battle, and made -a point of announcing to France that neither himself -nor his reserve had been subject to the least danger,—thus -manifesting the confidence he felt in the opinion -entertained of him by the French; and, at the same -time, informing Europe that notwithstanding his distance -from France, and while surrounded by enemies in -a hostile country, he was still safe and powerful.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“It has been frequently asserted,” says Count Mathieu -Dumas, intendant general of the army, “that -Napoleon did not display his customary activity on this -day.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“His apparent indifference has excited astonishment; -it has been intimated that he labored under bodily exhaustion; -that he was not able to call into action all -the resources of his genius; in short, that his star began -to grow dim, even in the midst of victory. Napoleon -certainly appeared to be indisposed; he had -undergone excessive fatigue during the two preceding -nights, which he had employed in person in reconnoitering -the positions of the enemy, in placing the corps of -the army, and in determining the point of attack. -Having formed his plans to compel the enemy to abandon -their strong position, he would not consent to make -any change in the arrangements which he had resolved -upon after profound consideration. He placed himself -<span class='pageno' id='Page_344'>344</span>at a short distance from his right wing, against which -it was probable that the Russian general would direct -his principal effort, in order to take the attacking -columns in the rear, while they should be stopped by -the fire of the redoubts. The station which Napoleon -had chosen, was, in fact, the best point of observation. -It commanded a view of the whole field of battle, and -if any manœuvre, any partial success of the enemy, -had required new measures, the vigilance of Napoleon -would not have failed to meet the urgency of the case. -He would have gone to the spot in person, as he did at -the battle of Wagram.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“About nine o’clock in the evening, Count Daru and -myself were summoned to the Emperor. His bivouac -was in the middle of the square battalion of his guard, -a little behind the redoubt. His supper had just been -served; he was alone, and made us sit down on his -right and left hand. After having heard the account of -the measures taken for the relief of the wounded, &c., -he spoke to us of the issue of the battle; a moment -afterwards he fell asleep for about twenty minutes; -then, suddenly waking, he continued thus: ‘People -will be astonished that I did not bring up my reserves -to obtain more decisive results; but it was necessary -to keep them, in order to strike a decisive blow in the -great battle which the enemy will offer us before Moscow: -the success of the day was secured; I had to -think of the success of the campaign, and it is for that -I keep my reserves.’”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Emperor was mistaken in supposing that there -would be another great battle before Moscow; but in all -<span class='pageno' id='Page_345'>345</span>other particulars, his sagacity was admirably displayed. -Still, Borodino was far from decisive. Before daybreak -the next morning, there was an alarm among -the French, which penetrated even to the tent of the -Emperor, and the old guard was called to arms. This -was mortifying after a victory, and carried with it an -air of insult. As soon as morning dawned, the losses of -the armies were ascertained by Napoleon.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Ten thousand men had been killed, and the wounded -amounted to no less than twenty thousand. Forty-three -generals had been killed or wounded. Among -the Russians, there had been fifteen thousand killed, -including the gallant Prince Bagration, and thirty thousand -wounded. The French carried their wounded two -leagues in the rear, to the large monastery of Kolotskoi. -The chief surgeon, Larrey, had taken assistants from all -the other regiments, and the hospital wagons had arrived—but -all that could be done for the conveyance was -insufficient. Larrey subsequently complained that not -sufficient troops had been left to enable him to obtain -the necessary articles from the surrounding villages.</p> - -<p class='c001'>When the Emperor inspected the field of battle, -every thing concurred to increase its horrors. A gloomy -sky, a cold rain, a violent wind, habitations in ashes, a -plain absolutely torn up and covered with fragments -and ruins, rendered the scene of carnage yet more -appalling. The dark and funereal verdure of the north -was seen all round the horizon. Soldiers were roaming -like wild beasts among the bodies of their dead comrades, -and emptying their knapsacks to procure subsistence -for themselves. The wounds of the slain were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_346'>346</span>of the most hideous description, occasioned by the -large bullets used by the Russians. The bivouacs were -mournful; no songs of triumph, no lively narrations,—all -dreary and silent. Around the eagles were the rest -of the officers and subalterns, and a few soldiers,—barely -sufficient to guard the colours. Their uniforms -were torn by the violence of the conflict, blackened -with powder, and stained with blood; yet even amidst -their rags, their misery, and destitution, they displayed -a lofty bearing, and on the appearance of Napoleon -welcomed him with acclamations.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Many wounded men were found in the bottom of -ravines, where the French troops had been precipitated, -or where they had dragged themselves for shelter from -the enemy or the storm. Some of the younger soldiers -in sighs and groans were calling upon the name of their -country, or of their mother; but most of the veterans -awaited death either with an impassive or a sardonic -air, neither imploring or complaining. The anguish of -some of the wounded made them beg of their comrades, -as a mercy, to kill them instantly. Among the Russians, -the enormous number of wounded presented on -every side a spectacle of moving horrors. Many of -these mutilated objects were seen dragging themselves -with bloody trails along the ground, towards places -where they might find shelter among a heap of dead -bodies. Napoleon’s horse chancing to tread upon the -body of one apparently dead, a cry of anguish startled -him, and excited his compassion. Somebody remarked -that “it was only a Russian;”—upon which Napoleon -angrily reproved the speaker, and observed that, “after -<span class='pageno' id='Page_347'>347</span>a battle, none were enemies,—but all were men.” The -Emperor ordered the prisoners that had been taken, to -be again numbered, and a few dismounted cannon to be -collected. Between seven and eight hundred prisoners, -and a score of unserviceable cannon, were the sole -trophies of this most sanguinary and imperfect victory.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id029'> -<img src='images/i_b_347.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i348' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_348'>348</span> -<img src='images/i_b_348.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT MOSCOW.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id012'> -<img src='images/i_b_348_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_348_1.jpg' width='200' height='131' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The Russians themselves -kindled Napoleon’s campfire -at Moscow. They -lighted his bivouacs with -the flames of their ancient -capital, and thus gave him -an awful proof of their invincible opposition to the -invader.</p> - -<p class='c001'>After the battle of Borodino, Napoleon found the road -to Moscow open, and advanced rapidly towards the -conquest he had so long desired. The city of his -hopes has been thus described:</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Moscow was an immense and singular assemblage -<span class='pageno' id='Page_349'>349</span>of two hundred and ninety-five churches, and fifteen -hundred splendid habitations, together with their gardens -and offices. These palaces, built of brick, with the -grounds attached to them, intermingled with handsome -wooden houses, and even with cottages, were scattered -over several square leagues of unequal surface, and -were grouped around a lofty, triangular palace, whose -vast and double inclosure, comprising two divisions, -and about half a league in circumference, included—one -of them—several palaces and churches, and a quantity -of uncultivated and stony ground; the other, a vast -bazaar—a city of merchants—exhibiting the opulence -of the four quarters of the world. These buildings, -shops as well as palaces, were all covered with polished -and colored plates of iron. The churches, which were -each of them surmounted by a terrace, and by several -steeples terminating in gilded globes, the crescent, and -finally the cross, recalled to mind the history of the -people. They represented Asia and her religion, first -triumphant, then subdued; and finally the crescent of -Mahomet under the dominion of the cross of Christ. -A single sunbeam made this superb city glitter with a -thousand varied colors; and the enchanted traveller -halted in ecstacy at the sight. It recalled to his mind -the dazzling prodigies with which oriental poets had -amused his infancy.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Count Rostopchin had been appointed governor of -Moscow.</p> - -<p class='c001'>As the French army approached the capital, terror -began to prevail among the inhabitants; and, after the -taking of Smolensko, many of the wealthy classes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_350'>350</span>removed their most valuable effects, and left the city. -The governor secretly encouraged this gradual emigration, -though he ostensibly maintained a complete confidence -of success in the Russian cause, and kept up the -spirits of the people by false reports and loyal declarations. -Among other contrivances, he employed a number -of females in the construction of an immense balloon, -out of which, as he made the people believe, he would -pour down a shower of fire upon the French army. -Under this pretence, he is said to have collected a -quantity of combustibles destined for a purpose widely -different from this aeronautic fiction. The panic at Moscow -at length became general, and not only the nobility -and higher classes in general, but tradesmen, mechanics, -and even the poor, left it by thousands. The public -archives and treasures were removed; the magazines -emptied, as far as time permitted. The roads, especially -those to the south, were covered with a long train of -carriages of every description, and with successive -crowds of fugitives on foot, the priests leading the way -laden with the symbols of their religion, and singing -mournful hymns of lamentation.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Kutusoff, with his retreating army, now appeared -without the walls, and intrenched himself strongly in -the position of Fili. He had ninety thousand men -under his command, of whom six thousand were Cossacks, -large numbers of recruits having been added to -his ranks since the great battle; and it appears certain -that he still entertained some intention of defending the -capital. This purpose, however, was speedily relinquished. -On the 14th of September, he broke up his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_351'>351</span>camp, and his army continued its retreat, passing -through Moscow, which was to be abandoned to its fate. -The troops marched along the deserted streets with -furled banners and silent drums; and passed out at the -Kalomna gate. Some of the officers were observed to -shed tears of rage and shame. With an army of ninety -thousand men, in their own country, and with the constant -power of retreating upon their resources, it is no -wonder that all the braver spirits among the Russians -felt this humiliating policy most deeply.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The long columns of retreat were followed by the -garrison and all the remaining population, with the -exception of one class, left there for a special purpose. -Before his own departure, Rostopchin opened the -prisons, and let loose their miserable and degraded -inmates, to the number of three or four hundred, having -given them a secret task to perform. The pumps of -the city had all been removed or destroyed, and torches -and combustibles in great quantities collected. Rostopchin -then left the city.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon subsequently made the calculation that a -hundred thousand of the inhabitants, thus abandoned -and forced to fly from Moscow, perished in the woods -of the neighborhood for want of food and shelter. In -the midst of their despair at the very last, the multitude -had been roused to an excitement of hope and -confidence by the sight of a vulture caught in the -chains which supported the cross of the principal -church. This, they hailed as an omen that God was -about to deliver Napoleon into their hands. “What,” -says Hazlitt, “can subdue a nation who can be thus -<span class='pageno' id='Page_352'>352</span>easily deluded by the grossest appearances; and whose -whole physical strength, to inflict or to endure, can be -wielded mechanically, and in mass, in proportion to -their want of understanding? Certainly, ignorance is -power.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the same day that the Russian army retreated -through Moscow, and even before their rear-guard had -cleared the city, Murat penetrated the suburbs, and -Eugene and Poniatowski opened an attack at the gates. -Napoleon himself with his guard gained the summit of -the “Mount of Salvation,” the last height which hid -his long desired conquest from his view, about two -o’clock in the afternoon, and saw the immense city glittering -with a thousand colors in the sun,—a strange -and magnificent sight in the midst of the desert. The -troops halted involuntarily, struck with admiration, and -loudly exclaimed,—“Moscow! Moscow!” in a transport -of joy. The marshals crowded with congratulations -around the Emperor. He, also, had suddenly paused, -in evident exultation. His first exclamation was,—“There -at last, then, is that famous city!”—presently -adding,—“It was high time!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>A flag of truce from Miloradowitch, who commanded -the Russian rear-guard, met the Emperor at this point. -He came to announce that his guard would set fire to -Moscow if he were not allowed time to evacuate it. An -armistice of two hours were granted him immediately. -Napoleon’s eager eye was fixed on the city, as on a -vision he was just about to realise. He expected every -moment to see a deputation issue from the gates to lay -its wealth, its population, its senate, and its nobility at -<span class='pageno' id='Page_353'>353</span>his feet. The troops of the two nations were intermingled -for a few minutes. Murat was soon surrounded -by a crowd of Cossacks, extolling his personal prowess -by signs and gesticulations, and intoxicating him with -their admiration. He distributed the watches of his -officers among these barbarian warriors, one of whom -denominated him his “Hetman.” It began to look like -an almost immediate peace; and Napoleon indulged in -dreams of success and glory for two hours. In the -mean time, the day was drawing to a close, and Moscow -remained sad, silent, and death-like. Napoleon became -anxious; the soldiers almost uncontrollably impatient. -A few officers penetrated into the city, and a rumor -began to spread that “Moscow was deserted!” Napoleon -repelled the intelligence with irritation; he, however, -descended the hill, and advanced towards the -Dorogomilow gate. Here he again halted, but in vain; -all remained motionless as before. Murat urged him to -penetrate into the city; he refused for some time, -shrinking perhaps from having the truth forced upon his -conviction. At last he gave the order, “Enter then, -since they will have it so!”—recommending, at the same -time, the strictest discipline. Calling Daru to his side, -he said aloud, “Moscow deserted! a most unlikely -event! We must enter it, and ascertain the fact. Go -and bring the <em>boyars</em> (landed proprietors) before me.” -Daru went, and returned. Not a single Muscovite was -to be found:—“No smoke,” says Segur, “was seen -ascending from the meanest hearth; nor was the slightest -noise to be heard throughout that populous and extensive -city, its three hundred thousand inhabitants seeming all -<span class='pageno' id='Page_354'>354</span>dumb and motionless as by enchantment. There was -the silence of the <a id='corr354.2'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='desert.'>desert.”</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_354.2'><ins class='correction' title='desert.'>desert.”</ins></a></span></p> - -<p class='c001'>After Daru, another officer, earnest to accomplish -whatever the Emperor desired, appeared, driving before -him five or six of those miserable beings who had been -freed from prison, and left in Moscow for an important -purpose. Then it was that Napoleon ceased to doubt -the truth. Murat, with his long and close column of -cavalry, had entered Moscow upwards of an hour since. -They found it as yet uninjured, but without signs of -life. Awed by the silence of this immense solitude, -the troops passed onwards without uttering a word, -listening to the hollow sound of their horses’ feet re-echoed -from the walls of these deserted palaces. They -never appeared even to think of plundering. Suddenly -the report of small arms was heard. The column halted. -The discharge had been made from the walls of the -Kremlin, the gates of which were closed. It was -defended by a squalid rout of men and women of most -disgusting and villanous aspect, who were in a state of -bestial drunkenness, uttering savage yells and the most -horrible imprecations. As they would listen to no -terms, the gates were forced, and these ferocious miscreants -were immediately driven away. Five hundred -recruits, who had been forgotten, were left behind in -the Kremlin, but they offered no resistance, and dispersed -at the first summons. Several thousand stragglers -and deserters also surrendered themselves voluntarily -to the advanced guard. Murat scarcely bestowed -a minute’s delay on the Kremlin. After marching over -so many leagues, and fighting so many battles to reach -<span class='pageno' id='Page_355'>355</span>Moscow, he passed through that magnificent city without -once halting to notice it; and, ardent in his pursuit -of the Russians, dashed forwards into the road to -Voladimir and Asia. Several thousand Cossacks were -retreating in that direction; and upon these Murat -ordered a discharge of carbines.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon did not enter Moscow before night. He -appointed Mortier governor of the city. “Above all,” -said he, “no pillage.” During the night, many reports -were brought him of the intended burning of the -capital, but he would not credit the statements. He -was, however, unable to sleep, and continually called -his attendants to repeat to him what they had heard. -About two o’clock in the morning he was apprised that -the flames had broken out at the merchants’ palace, or -exchange, which was in the centre of the city. He -gave orders, and dispatched messages with the greatest -rapidity. At daylight, he hurried to Mortier, who -showed him houses covered with iron roofs, and closely -shut up, from which a black smoke was already issuing. -They had not been broken into, but were evidently -fired from the inside. Napoleon entered the Kremlin -thoughtful and melancholy; yet when beholding this -stupendous palace of the ancestral sovereigns of Russia, -his ambition was gratified by the conquest, and he -murmured after a pause—“I am at length then in Moscow!—in -the ancient City of the Czars!—in the -Kremlin!” In this brief moment of satisfaction, he -wrote a pacific overture to the Emperor Alexander, and -dispatched it by a Russian officer who had been discovered -in the great hospital.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_356'>356</span>The flames had been checked by the exertions of the -Duke of Treviso. Meantime, the incendiaries kept -themselves so well concealed that their existence was -much doubted. Regulations were now issued; order -established; and officers and men proceeded to take -possession of some convenient house, or sumptuous -palace, wherein to rest and recruit themselves after so -many hardships, dangers, and privations. Two officers, -however, having taken up their quarters in one of the -buildings of the Kremlin, were awoke about midnight -by an overpowering glare of light in the room. Starting -up, they looked out and saw palaces in flames. The -wind was driving the flames directly towards the -Kremlin. Presently the wind changed, and the devouring -element was carried in an opposite direction. -Observing this, the officers, rendered selfish by long -fatigue and privation, fell asleep again. But they were -once more aroused by a new burst of still fiercer light. -They observed flames rising in a totally different -quarter, which the changed wind was now urging -directly towards the Kremlin. Three times the wind -changed, and three times did new flames burst out -from different quarters of the city, and blaze onwards -towards the Kremlin.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Kremlin contained a magazine of powder, of -which the French were not aware, and the guards, -overpowered by wine and fatigue, had left a whole -park of artillery under the Emperor’s windows. Soon -the flames licked the palace from all sides, and the air -was filled with flakes of fire. Mortier and his brother -officers, exhausted by their efforts to subdue the conflagration, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_357'>357</span>returned to the Kremlin, and fell down in -despair. The real cause of the fire was soon placed -beyond all doubt. The reports agreed that a globe of -fire had been lowered upon the palace of one of the -Russian princes, which had consumed it, on the first -night of their entrance, and that this was a signal to -the incendiaries.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Men of atrocious look and tattered garments, and -frantic women, had been seen roaming amidst the -flames, and thus completing a hideous resemblance of -the infernal world. They were the malefactors whom -Rostopchin had let loose from the prisons, and commissioned -to execute this tremendous deed as the price -of their liberation and pardon. Most thoroughly did -they fulfil their trust: and, becoming delirious with -intoxication, with excitement, and entire success, they -no longer concealed themselves, but ran to and fro with -diabolical yells, like furies, waving lighted brands round -their heads. The French could not make them drop -their torches, except by slashing at their naked arms -with sabres. Orders were instantly given to shoot -every incendiary on the spot. The army was drawn -out. The old guard, which had been quartered in the -Kremlin, took arms, and their horses and baggage -quickly filled the courts. Masters of Moscow, they -were obliged to seek their bivouac outside its gates.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon was awoke by the blaze and uproar of the -conflagration. It was impossible for him any longer to -fortify himself with incredulity and scorn. On perceiving -that the city was really on fire, in almost every -quarter, he gave way to his first feelings of rage, and a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_358'>358</span>passionate resolve to master the devouring element; -but he presently recovered himself, and silently yielded -to what he saw was inevitable. His inward agitation, -however, was excessive. He seemed parched by the -flames as he gazed at their fury. He continually sat -down, and then abruptly started up, and traversed his -apartments with rapidity. Again he seated himself, -and began to transact most urgent business; yet every -now and then he started up, and ran to the windows, -uttering short and broken exclamations as he traced the -progress of the flames: “What a frightful spectacle! -To have done it themselves! Such a number of palaces! -What extraordinary resolution!” There is something -extremely fine in this power of standing apart from the -scene, even while in the midst of such an excitement -and danger, and admiring the forces brought into action, -even though to his own utter destruction.</p> - -<p class='c001'>A report was now circulated that the Kremlin was -undermined. Several Russian prisoners had affirmed -this; certain writings attested it. Some of the attendants -lost their senses with terror; the military awaited -with firmness whatever Napoleon and their destiny -should decide; but he noticed the alarm only by a smile -of incredulity. Meantime, the conflagration raged with -increasing violence, and they all began to inhale the -smoke and ashes. Still Napoleon would not depart. -He walked to and fro with convulsive energy.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Night was again approaching. The glare of the -flames became more brilliant as the shades closed round, -and he saw the devouring element seizing upon all the -bridges, and all the accesses to the fortress which -<span class='pageno' id='Page_359'>359</span>inclosed him, while the wind blew with redoubled violence. -At this crisis, Prince Eugene and Murat arrived -in breathless haste, most earnestly, and even on their -knees, beseeching Napoleon to leave the palace. All -their efforts, however, were in vain. Suddenly, a cry -was heard,—“The Kremlin is on fire!” The words -were echoed from every part of the building. The Emperor -left his apartment that he might himself judge of -the danger. A Russian soldier of police had been -detected in the act. He had received a signal, and -given the watchword. The exasperated grenadiers put -an end to him with their bayonets. It was evident -that there had been an organized plan to burn even the -Kremlin. This incident decided Napoleon, and he -rapidly descended the northern staircase.</p> - -<p class='c001'>A guide had been called to conduct Napoleon and his -attendants through the Kremlin and out of the city. -Segur has given a terrific description of the dangers -which they had to encounter on their way. According -to him, they were besieged in the midst of an ocean of -flames, which enveloped all the gates of the citadel.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But the description is simply a piece of imagination. -Napoleon proceeded slowly and calmly to the outer -circuit of the city, and took up his quarters in the -imperial castle of Petrowsky, situated about a league -on the road to St. Petersburg. Count Dumas, who -remained on duty within the walls until nightfall, says -that he and Daru “left Moscow under a real rain of -fire;” but he mentions nothing of such perils with -regard to the Emperor.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the following morning, September 17th, the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_360'>360</span>Emperor directed his first glances towards Moscow, -hoping to find the fire subdued. It continued with all -the violence of the previous night. The whole city -now seemed to him “one vast fire-spout, ascending in -awful whirls towards the sky.” He was long absorbed -in the contemplation of this scene of horror and ruin. -Moscow had been the very centre of all his projects—the -object of all his hopes in Russia. At length, he -broke his melancholy silence merely by observing, -“This forbodes us no common calamities.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The fire raged throughout the 18th and 19th of September, -when it slackened for want of fuel. The -greater part of the Kremlin, a few palaces, and all the -churches built of stone, remained standing. All else -was laid in ruins. The destruction of property was -enormous. The flight of the nobility had been so sudden, -that the French officers on their entrance found -even the jewels of the ladies left behind. But there -are other consequences of the burning of Moscow -which are too horrible to dwell upon. Dumas states, -that he found six thousand wounded Russians in the -hospitals, which he examined by order of Napoleon, -when the French army entered. Their fate cannot be -doubtful. Napoleon returned to the Kremlin on the -20th. He passed towards the city through the camps -of his army, which exhibited a very singular appearance. -“They were situated,” says Segur, “in the midst -of fields, in a thick and cold mire; and contained immense -camp-fires, fed by rich mahogany furniture, and -gilded sashes and doors. Around these fires, with a -litter of damp straw, sheltered only by a few miserable -<span class='pageno' id='Page_361'>361</span>planks fastened together, his soldiers, with their officers, -were to be seen, splashed with dirt, and stained with -smoke, seated upon superb arm-chairs, or reclining on -sofas covered with silk. At their feet, carelessly opened -or thrown in heaps, lay Cashmere shawls, the finest furs -of Siberia, the gold stuffs of Persia, and plates of solid -silver, from which they had nothing to eat but a black -dough baked in ashes, and half-broiled and bloody -steaks of horse-flesh.” The ground between the camps -and the city was covered with marauders laden with -booty. On his way through the ruined streets, Napoleon -had passed heaps of furniture piled up for removal, -and stalls where soldiers were exchanging showy and -valuable commodities for common necessaries; and the -richest wines, liquors, and bales of costly merchandise, -for a loaf of bread. He had permitted this license at -first; but hearing that the excesses increased, and that -the peasantry who had formerly brought provisions -were now prevented by fear, he issued severe orders, -and commanded his guard to keep close to their quarters. -He was obeyed at the first word. The plundering -continued, but was conducted regularly, and every -effort made to protect the peasants; nevertheless few -appeared, and at length not one was to be seen.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i362' class='figcenter id013'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_362'>362</span> -<img src='images/i_b_362.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>CAMP-FIRE AT MALO-YAROSLAVETZ.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id015'> -<img src='images/i_b_362_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_362_1.jpg' width='150' height='260' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Napoleon had left the ruins of Moscow, -like a funeral pyre, smouldering, -behind him, and taken up the line of -march for Kalouga. He had with him -a hundred thousand effective men—troops -in whom he still could place the -deepest confidence. But the first snow -had fallen! The ghostly terror of a -Russian winter hovered over the army, -and vexed the dreams of the Emperor. -In a weaver’s hut, where he -passed the night of the 24th of October, he heard that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_363'>363</span>Kutusoff had anticipated him, and had taken up a -position upon the road to Kalouga, which could not be -assailed; that Prince Eugene, with only eighteen thousand -troops had fought a bloody battle with fifty thousand -Russians, and gained a dear but glorious victory. -In the early part of the night, when the faithful troops -were shivering round their fires, and the Emperor was -seated in a comfortless hovel, divided into two apartments -by a tattered cloth, came the intrepid Marshal -Bessieres, with the terrible intelligence. The Emperor -looked pale and worn with anxiety.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Did you see rightly?” he exclaimed. “Are you -sure? Will you vouch for what you say?”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“All that I have told you, sire, is truth,” replied -the marshal, calmly.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon crossed his arms upon his breast, his head -fell, and for a few moments he seemed lost in thought. -Bessieres respectfully retired. The Emperor seemed -greatly agitated, but nothing except restless actions -betrayed his feverish state of mind. He lay down and -arose incessantly, called for his attendants, and when -they came, had nothing to say to them. About four -o’clock in the morning, while the camp-fires were still -burning, the Prince D’Aremberg came into the hovel, -and informed him that a horde of Cossacks, under -cover of the night, and the woods, were gliding between -him and the advanced posts. The Emperor, however, -seemed to pay no attention to the intelligence, and as -soon as the sun was above the horizon, mounted his -horse and proceeded towards Malo-Yaroslavetz.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In crossing the plain, a confused clamor startled the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_364'>364</span>imperial party, and suddenly the Cossack Murat, Platoff, -led his wild horsemen among the baggage and fires of -the army, and overturning every thing in their course, -they pressed onward with wild hourras. Rapp seized -the Emperor’s bridle, and exclaimed,—</p> - -<p class='c001'>“It is they! turn back!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon’s pride would not stoop to a retreat. His -hand moved to his sword. Berthier and the grand -equerry followed his example, and placing themselves -on the left of the wood, the little party awaited the -approach of the Cossacks. They came on rapidly, and -were within forty paces of the Emperor. Rapp was -wounded by one of their spears. About twenty horsemen -and chasseurs then attacked the horde, and by -their desperate bravery saved the Emperor. The -cavalry of the guard then came up, and drove the Cossacks -across the plain. The Emperor halted until the -plain was cleared, and then rode forward to <a id='corr364.18'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Maho-Yaroslavetz'>Malo-Yaroslavetz</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_364.18'><ins class='correction' title='Maho-Yaroslavetz'>Malo-Yaroslavetz</ins></a></span>, -in the neighborhood of which the main body of -the army encamped. The Emperor occupied the afternoon -in reconnoitering the position of Kutusoff, and as -the shades of a sombre evening fell, returned to his -head-quarters, the wretched hovel of an artisan. There -he was joined by Murat, Berthier, Davoust, Bessieres, -and the heroic Prince Eugene, who came to give Napoleon -an account of the action of the day before. A -cheerful fire was kindled on the hearth of the lowly hut, -and an emperor, two kings, and three marshals sat down -to the rough table. Without, the camp-fires of the -soldiers were blazing; but the fierce wind was already -blowing the requiem of the army. The Emperor sat, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_365'>365</span>with his head resting in his hands, which concealed his -features. Eugene was the first to speak.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“It is to be hoped that we shall not have many such -conflicts as that of yesterday, sire, or however glorious -the results, we shall only have a miserable remnant of -the grand army to lead back to France.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But it was a glorious battle, Prince; was it not? -Tell me of it yourself,” said the Emperor, without -removing his hands from his face.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Sire, it was briefly thus,” replied Eugene. “On -the night of the 23d, Delzons and his division were in -possession of this place. At four in the morning, his -bivouacs were surprised by Kutusoff. I heard the -firing at three leagues distance, and hastened to his -relief. As I drew near, a vast amphitheatre rose before -me. The river Lonja marked its foot; from the opposite -height, a cloud of Russian sharp-shooters and their -artillery poured down their fire on Delzons. On the -plain beyond, Kutusoff’s whole army advanced rapidly -by the Lectazowo road. A severe and desperate conflict -ensued. Delzons and his brother were killed. -We were enabled to maintain our ground by the wise -manœuvres of Guilleminot, who threw a hundred -grenadiers into a churchyard, in the walls of which -they made holes for their muskets. Five times the -Russians attempted to pass, and five times they were -thrown into disorder and repulsed by a well-directed and -murderous fire. The whole day the struggle wavered, -and many times, I thought our troops could not be -kept to the ground. But the fourteenth and fifteenth -divisions held the Russians at bay, and maintained the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_366'>366</span>bridge which was our road to retreat, against all -assault. At length, being reduced to my last reserve, -I came into battle myself, and by exerting myself to -the utmost, rallied the troops and once more carried -them up the heights. The Russians, wearied out, fell -back, and concentrated themselves on the Kalouga -road, between the woods and this place. We gained -the victory, but we have lost many brave men, whom, -in our present situation, we cannot with safety spare.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>During this recital, Napoleon’s eyes kindled with -enthusiasm, and when Eugene had finished, he exclaimed,—</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Then you, Prince, with eighteen thousand men, -huddled together in the bottom of a ravine, defeated -fifty thousand Russians, posted above your heads, and -seconded by every advantage which a town built on a -steep acclivity could present! I have been over the -ground, and know your difficulties, and appreciate the -nature of your triumphs. Prince, the glory of this -victory belongs entirely to you.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Prince shook his head,—</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Sire, the French troops are brave—courage alone -won this field. But leaving that affair, the question is, -whether we shall march upon Smolensk by way of -Kalouga, Medyn or Mojaisk.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“That is easily settled,” said Murat, quickly. “The -Russians are nothing. Let us pursue the route to Kalouga, -and cut our way through them.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Tut—tut! King of Naples, you speak rashly!” -said Napoleon, quickly. “The course you counsel is -the violent impulse of your heart.”</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_367'>367</span>“Entirely unwise!” said Bessieres. “The King of -Naples is governed by his all-daring temper.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“With deference, Sire,” said the stern Davoust, “I -would recommend that we proceed to Medwysick. We -can reach that point without loss; and permit me to -remark, sire, that our present circumstances, every man -is of almost indispensable value.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“But,” interrupted Murat, “it is certain that we shall -have to lose men; and it is better to lose them now, in -beating the Russians, than to drop them upon a march, -without having effected any thing. Marshal Davoust -is ever recommending timid, half-way measures.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>A quarrel between Murat and Davoust had occurred -some time previous, and it was only by the interposition -of the Emperor himself, that bloodshed had been -prevented. They were always ready to renew the -contest.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Timid and half-way measures!” exclaimed the harsh -voice of Davoust. “I recommend the measures of a -general who cares for the safety of his army, as well as -victory. The King of Naples counsels like a mere hot-headed, -inexperienced conscript.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Here Napoleon, raising his head, extinguished all -this fire by saying that “we had exhibited temerity -enough, already; that we had done but too much for -glory, and it was now high time to give up thinking of -any thing but how to save the rest of the army.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Bessieres, either because his pride revolted at the -idea of being put under the command of the King of -Naples, or from a desire to preserve uninjured the -cavalry of the guard, which he had formed, and for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_368'>368</span>which he was answerable to Napoleon, and which he -exclusively commanded, then ventured to add, that -“neither the army nor even the guard had sufficient -spirit left for such efforts. It was already said in both, -that, as the means of conveyance were wholly inadequate, -henceforth the victor, if overtaken, would fall a -prey to the vanquished; that of course every wound -would be mortal. Murat would therefore be but feebly -seconded. And in what a position! its strength had -just been but too well demonstrated. Against what -enemies! had they not remarked the field of the previous -day’s battle, and with what fury the Russian -recruits, only just armed and clothed, there fought -and fell!” The marshal concluded by giving his opinion -in favor of retreat, which the Emperor approved by his -silence.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Prince of Eckmuhl then immediately said that, -“as a retreat had been decided upon, he proposed that -it should be by Medyn and Smolensk.” But Murat here -interrupted him; and, whether from enmity, or from -that discouragement which usually succeeds the rejection -of a rash measure, he declared himself astonished “that -any one should dare propose so imprudent a step to the -Emperor. Had Davoust sworn the destruction of the -army? Would he have so long and so heavy a column -trail along in utter uncertainty, without guides, and on -an unknown track, within reach of Kutusoff, presenting -its flank to all the attacks of the enemy? Would he, -Davoust, defend it? When in our rear Borowsk and -Vereria would lead us without danger to Mojaisk, why -reject that safe route? There provisions must have -<span class='pageno' id='Page_369'>369</span>been already collected, there everything was known to -us, and we could not be misled by any <em>traitor</em>.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>At these words, Davoust, burning with a rage which -he could scarcely repress, replied that “he proposed a -retreat through a fertile country, by an untouched, -plentiful, and well-supplied route, where the villages -were still standing, and by the shortest road, that the -enemy might not be able to cut us off, as on the route -by Mojaisk to Smolensk, recommended by Murat. -And what a route! a desert of sand and ashes, where -convoys of wounded would increase our embarrassment, -where we should meet with nothing but ruins, -traces of blood, skeletons, and famine!</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Moreover, though he deemed it his duty to give -his opinion when it was asked, he was ready to obey -orders contrary to it, with the same zeal as if they were -consonant with his suggestions; but that the Emperor -alone had a right to impose silence on him, and not -Murat, who was not his sovereign, and never should be!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The quarrel growing warm, Bessieres and Berthier -interposed. As for the Emperor, still absorbed and in -the same attitude, he appeared insensible to what was -passing. At length he broke up the council with the -words, “Well, gentlemen, I will decide.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Enough, it is well, sirs. I will decide,” said Napoleon -calmly, and the King of Naples resumed his seat, -biting his lips from the effects of passion. “Sirs,” -continued the Emperor, “I decide to retreat.” Here -he paused, as if such a decision was costing him a -dreadful effort. “I decide to retreat by way of Mojaisk. -We cannot afford to fight, and that is the road -<span class='pageno' id='Page_370'>370</span>which will lead us most speedily from the enemy.” -This decision was extremely distasteful to Murat; -but not more so than it was to the Emperor, who, after -he had announced it, looked as though he wished that -it had not been uttered. However, the resolution, fatal -as it proved, was taken, and nothing could induce the -Emperor to revoke it. Had he but known, that at the -moment when this decision was made, Kutusoff, stunned -by the defeat at Malo-Yaroslavetz, was retiring with his -forces by the bridge over the Oka, offering a fair mark -for the French, he might have changed his design, and -delivered such a crushing blow to the enemy, as would -have secured his retreat unmolested. But this knowledge -came not to the Emperor’s mind; and as he -stretched himself for repose amid his faithful generals, -and by the side of the blazing fire, he had nothing to -relieve the prospect of a disastrous retreat.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id013'> -<img src='images/i_b_370.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i371' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_371'>371</span> -<img src='images/i_b_371.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE IN <a id='corr371.1'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='THH'>THE</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_371.1'><ins class='correction' title='THH'>THE</ins></a></span> SNOW.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_371_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_371_1.jpg' width='200' height='133' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -The pen has no colors to depict -the horrors of the -grand army’s retreat -amid the -fierce storms of a -Russian winter. -Though “horrors -upon horror’s head” -accumulate, there is always lacking something which -<span class='pageno' id='Page_372'>372</span>shall picture to the heart the full truth of that disastrous -march.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Emperor reached Wiazma in two days’ march -from Gjatz. Here he halted for the arrival of Prince -Eugene and Davoust; and to reconnoitre the road from -Medyn and Juknof. Hearing no tidings of the Russians, -he set off after thirty-six hours’ stay, leaving Ney at -Wiazma to relieve Davoust, who was accused of dilatoriness; -but he said that the artillery and wagons were -constantly precipitated into deep ravines which crossed -the road, and that it was nearly impossible to drag them -up the opposite icy slope, the horses’ shoes not having -been turned. Nevertheless, both he and the Viceroy -arrived within two leagues of Wiazma on the 2d of -November, and might have passed through it; but -neglecting to do so, the Russian advanced-guard under -Miloradowich (called the Russian Murat) turned their -bivouacs in the night, and posted themselves along the -left bank of the road, between the French generals and -Wiazma. On the 3d of November, Prince Eugene was -preparing to take the road to that town, when the first -dawn of day showed him his situation, his rear-guard -cut off, and Ney, who was to have come to his assistance, -fighting in his own defence in the direction of -Wiazma. He immediately took his resolution. He -stopped, faced about, formed in line along the main-road, -and kept the foremost of the enemy’s troops in check, -till Ney marched up one of his regiments, and attacking -them in the rear, compelled them to retire. At the -same time, Compans, one of Davoust’s generals, joined -his division to the Italian guard; and while they fought -<span class='pageno' id='Page_373'>373</span>together, Davoust passed, and got between Wiazma and -the Russians. The battle was not over, but begun. -The French amounted to thirty thousand, but were in -great disorder. The Russian artillery, superior in -number, advanced at a gallop, and mowed down their -lines. Davoust and his generals were still surrounded -with many of their bravest men. Several of the officers -who had been wounded at the Mosqua were still seen, -one with his arm in a sling, another with his head covered -with bandages, encouraging the soldiers, keeping them -together, throwing themselves upon the enemy’s field-pieces -and seizing them, and thus preventing the effects -of bad example by good. Miloradowich saw that his -prey would escape him, and sent the Englishman -Wilson to summon Kutusoff to his aid; but the old -general laughed at him. The fight had already lasted -seven hours; when night approached, the French -began to retire. This retrogade movement encouraged -the enemy; and had it not been for a signal effort of -the 25th, 57th, and 85th regiments, Davoust’s corps -would have been turned, broken, and destroyed. Prince -Eugene made good his retreat to Wiazma; Davoust -followed, but Morand’s division, which entered first, -found a number of Russians there before them, and had -to cut their way through them. Compans, who brought -up the rear, put an end to the affair by facing about, -and making a furious assault upon Miloradowich. The -bivouacs were set up by the light of the burning of -Wiazma, and amidst repeated discharges of artillery. -During the night the alarm continued. Several times -the troops thought they were attacked, and groped -<span class='pageno' id='Page_374'>374</span>about for their arms. On the following morning, when -they returned to their ranks, they were astonished at -the smallness of their numbers.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Nevertheless, the example of the chiefs and the -hope of finding rest at Smolensk kept up the men’s -spirits. Besides, so far they had been cheered by the -sight of the sun; but on the 6th of November, the -snow came on, and every thing underwent a total -change. The consequences were most disastrous. The -troops marched on without knowing where, and without -distinguishing any object; and while they strove to -force their way through the whirlwinds of sleet, the -snow drifted in the cavities where they fell, and the -weakest rose no more. The wind drove in their faces -not only the falling snow, but that which it raised in -furious eddies from the earth. The Muscovite winter -attacked them in every part, penetrated through their -thin dress and ragged shoes. Their wet clothes froze -upon them; this covering of ice chilled their bodies, -and stiffened all their limbs. A cutting and violent -wind stopped their breath or seized upon it as it was -exhaled, and converted it into icicles, which hung from -their beards. The unhappy men crawled on with -trembling limbs and chattering teeth till the snow, collecting -round their feet in hard lumps, like stones, some -scattered fragment, a branch of a tree, or the body of -one of their companions, made them stagger and fall. -Their cries and groans were vain; soon the snow covered -them, and small hillocks marked where they lay. Such -was their sepulture. The road was filled with these -undulations, like a burying-place. A number of them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_375'>375</span>froze as they stood still, and looked like posts, covered -with snow. The most intrepid or obdurate were affected; -they hurried past with averted eyes. But before them, -around them, all was snow; the horizon seemed one -vast winding-sheet, in which nature was enveloping the -whole army. The only objects which came out from -the bleak expanse were a few gloomy pines skirting the -plain, and adding to the horror of the scene with their -funeral green and the motionless <a id='corr375.9'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='erectnesss'>erectness</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_375.9'><ins class='correction' title='erectnesss'>erectness</ins></a></span> of their -black trunks! Even the weapons of the soldiers were -a weight almost insupportable to their benumbed limbs. -In their frequent falls they slipped out of their hands -and were broken or lost in the snow. Many others had -their fingers frozen on the musket they still grasped. -Some broke up into parties; others wandered on alone. -If they dispersed themselves in the fields, or by the -cross-paths, in search of bread or a shelter for the -night, they met nothing but Cossacks and an armed -population, who surrounded, wounded, and stripped -them, and left them with ferocious laughter to expire -naked upon the snow. Then came the night of sixteen -hours. But on this universal covering of snow, they -knew not where to stop, where to sit, where to lie, -where to find a few roots for food, or dry sticks to light -their fires. At length fatigue, darkness, and repeated -orders induced a pause, and they tried to establish -themselves for the night; but the storm scattered the -preparations for the bivouacs, and the branches of the -pines covered with ice and snow only melted away, and -resisted the attempts of the soldiers to kindle them into -a blaze. When at length the fire got the better, officers -<span class='pageno' id='Page_376'>376</span>and soldiers gathered round it, to cook their wretched -meal of horse-flesh, and a few spoonfuls of rye mixed -with snow-water. Next morning, circles of stiffened -corpses marked the situation of the bivouacs, and the -carcasses of thousands of horses were strewed round -them. From this time disorder and distrust began to -prevail. A few resisted the strong contagion of insubordination -and despondency. These were the officers, -the subalterns, and some of the soldiers, whom nothing -could detach from their duty. They kept up each -other’s spirits by repeating the name of Smolensk, -which they were approaching, and looked forward to as -the end of their sufferings.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At the lake of Semlewo, it was found necessary to -sacrifice the spoils of Moscow. Cannon, armor, the -ornaments of the Kremlin, and the cross of the Great -Iwan, all sunk at once in the waters of the lake. On -the 6th of November, just as the snow was beginning -to fall, Napoleon had reached Mikalewska. There he -took up his quarters in a palisaded house. He had -scarcely arrived, before news of Mallet’s conspiracy in -Paris reached him, and added new trouble to his already -perturbed spirit. Under all the gloomy circumstances -of the time, when the fabric of his power, which he -had reared with so much skill, and maintained with -such vast energy, seemed to “totter to its fall,” the -fortitude of the Emperor was remarkable. He preserved -a firm countenance, and strove to induce those -around him to believe that his star had not yet begun -to decline.</p> - -<p class='c001'>As the Emperor sat in his cheerless hut, with the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_377'>377</span>white storm howling far around, he was aroused by the -entrance of Dalbignac, one of Ney’s aid-de-camps.</p> - -<p class='c001'>From Wiazma that general had commenced protecting -the retreat, which, though fatal to so many others, conferred -immortal renown upon him. As far as Dorogobouje, -he had been molested only by some bands of -Cossacks, troublesome insects, attracted by the dying, -and the forsaken carriages, flying away the moment a -hand was lifted against them, but still annoying from -their continual return.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was not these that were the subject of Ney’s message. -On approaching Dorogobouje, he was shocked at -the traces of disorder left behind them by the corps -which had preceded him, and which it was not in his -power to efface. He had made up his mind to leave -the baggage to the enemy; but he blushed with shame -at the sight of the first pieces of cannon abandoned -before Dorogobouje.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The marshal had halted there. After a dreadful -night, during which snow, wind, and famine had driven -most of his men from the fires, the dawn, which is -always waited for with so much impatience in a bivouac, -brought with it at once a tempest, the enemy, and the -spectacle of an almost general defection. In vain he -fought in person at the head of what men and officers -he had left; he had been obliged to retreat precipitately -behind the Dnieper; and of this he now sent to apprise -the Emperor.</p> - -<p class='c001'>He wished him to know the worst. His aid-de-camp, -Colonel Dalbignac, was instructed to say that “the first -movement of retreat from Malo-Yaroslawetz, for soldiers -<span class='pageno' id='Page_378'>378</span>who had never yet fallen back, had greatly dispirited -the army; that the affair at Wiazma had shaken its -firmness; that the deluge of snow, and the increased -cold which it had brought with it, had completed its disorganization; -and that a multitude of officers, having -lost everything, their platoons, battalions, regiments, -and even divisions, had joined the roving masses; so -that generals, colonels, and officers of all ranks were -seen mingled with the privates, and marching at random, -sometimes with one column, sometimes with -another; that, as order could not exist in the midst -of disorder, this example was seducing even the veteran -regiments, which had served through all the wars of -the revolution; and that, accordingly, the best soldiers -were heard asking one another why they alone were -required to fight to secure the escape of the rest; and -how it could be expected that they should keep up -their courage, when they heard the cries of despair -issuing from the neighboring woods, in which the large -convoys of them wounded, who had been dragged to no -purpose all the way from Moscow, had just been abandoned? -Such, no doubt, was the fate which awaited -themselves; what had they, then, to gain by remaining -with their colors? Incessant toils and combats by -day, and famine at night, with shelterless bivouacs, -still more destructive than battle; hunger and cold -effectually drove sleep from their eyes; or if, perchance, -fatigue got the better of these for a moment, the repose -which should refresh them put a period to their lives. -In short, the eagles had ceased to protect them—they -only destroyed. Why, then, remain around them to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_379'>379</span>perish by battalions, by masses? It would be better -to disperse; and, since there was no other course than -flight, to try who could run the fastest. It would not -then be the bravest and best that would fall; the poltroons -behind them would no longer have a chance to -eat up the relics of the high road.” Lastly, the aid-de-camp -was commissioned to explain to the Emperor all -the horrors of the marshal’s situation, the responsibility -of which that commander absolutely refused to assume.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But Napoleon saw enough around himself to judge of -the rest. The fugitives were that moment passing by -him; he was sensible that nothing could now be done -but to sacrifice the army successively, part by part, -beginning at the extremities, in order to save the head. -When, therefore, the aid-de-camp was beginning to state -farther particulars, he sharply interrupted him with -these words: “Colonel, I do not ask you for these -details.” The colonel said no more; aware that, in the -midst of these terrible disasters, now irremediable, and -in which every one had occasion for all his energies, the -Emperor was afraid of complaints, which could have no -other effect than to discourage as well those who -indulged in them as those who listened to them.</p> - -<p class='c001'>He remarked the attitude of Napoleon, the same as -he retained throughout the whole of this dismal retreat. -It was grave, silent, and resigned; suffering much less -in body than others, but far more in mind, and brooding -with speechless agony over his misfortunes. At that -moment General Carpentier sent him from Smolensk a -convoy of provisions. Bessieres wished to take possession -of them; but the Emperor instantly ordered -<span class='pageno' id='Page_380'>380</span>them to be forwarded to the Prince of Moskwa, saying -that “those who were fighting ought to eat before the -rest.” At the same time, he sent word to Ney to “defend -himself long enough to allow him some stay at -Smolensk, where the army should eat, rest, and be reorganized.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>But if this hope kept some still to their duty, many -others abandoned every thing to hasten towards that -promised goal of their sufferings. As for Ney, he saw -that a sacrifice was required, and that he was marked -out as the victim; he nobly resigned himself, therefore, -prepared to meet the whole of a danger great as his -courage; and thenceforward he neither attached his -honor to baggage, nor to cannon, which the winter alone -wrested from him. An elbow of the Borysthenes stopped -and kept back part of his guns at the foot of its icy -slopes: he sacrificed them without hesitation, passed -that obstacle, faced about, and made the hostile river, -which crossed his route, serve him as the means of -defence.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Russians, however, advanced under favor of a -wood and of the forsaken carriages, whence they kept -up a fire of musketry on Ney’s troops. Half of the -latter, whose icy arms froze their stiffened fingers, -became discouraged; they gave way, excusing themselves -by their want of firmness on the preceding day; -and fleeing because they had before fled, which, but for -this, they would have considered as impossible. But -Ney, rushing in among them, seized one of their muskets, -and led them back to action, which he was himself -the first to renew; exposing his life like a private -<span class='pageno' id='Page_381'>381</span>soldier, with a firelock in his hand, the same as though -he had been neither possessed of wealth, nor power, -nor consideration; in short, as if he had still every -thing to gain, when in fact he had every thing to lose. -But, though he had again turned soldier, he ceased not -to be general: he took advantage of the ground, supported -himself against a height, and covered his approach -by occupying a palisaded house. His generals -and colonels, among whom he particularly remarked -Fezenzac, strenuously seconded him; and the enemy, -who had expected to pursue, was obliged to retreat.</p> - -<p class='c001'>By this action Ney afforded the army a respite of -twenty-four hours; and it profited by it to proceed -towards Smolensk. The next day, and every succeeding -day, he displayed the same heroism. Between -Wiazma and Smolensk he fought ten whole days.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the 13th of November, Ney was approaching that -city, which he was not to enter till the ensuing day, -and had faced about to beat off the enemy, when all at -once the hills upon which he intended to support his -left were seen covered with a multitude of fugitives. -In their terror, these unfortunate wretches fell, and -rolled down to where he was, upon the frozen snow, -which they stained with their blood. A band of Cossacks, -which was soon perceived in the midst of them, sufficiently -accounted for this disorder. The astonished -marshal, having caused this horde of enemies to be dispersed, -discovered behind it the army of Italy, returning -completely stripped, without baggage and without -cannon.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Platoff had kept it besieged, as it were, all the way -<span class='pageno' id='Page_382'>382</span>from Dorogobouje. Near that town Prince Eugene -had quitted the high road, and, in order to proceed -towards Witepsk, had taken that which, two months -before, had brought him from Smolensk; but the Wop, -which, when he had crossed it before, was a mere brook -and had scarcely been noticed, he now found swollen -into a river. It ran over a muddy bed, and was bounded -by two steep banks. It was found necessary to cut -a passage in these precipitous and frozen banks, and to -give orders for the demolition of the neighboring -houses during the night, for the purpose of building -a bridge with the materials. But those who had taken -shelter in them opposed their being destroyed; and, as -the viceroy was more beloved than feared, his instructions -were not obeyed. The <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>pontonniers</em></span> became disheartened, -and when daylight, with the Cossacks, -appeared, the bridge, after being twice broken down, -was at last abandoned.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Five or six thousand soldiers still in order, twice the -number of disbanded men, the sick and wounded, -upward of a hundred pieces of cannon, ammunition -wagons, and a multitude of vehicles of every kind, -lined the bank and covered a league of ground. An -attempt was made to ford the river, through the floating -ice which was carried along by its current. The first -guns that were attempted to be got over reached the -opposite bank; but the water kept rising every moment, -while at the same time the bed of the stream at -the place of passage was continually deepened by the -wheels and by the efforts of the horses, and at length -the stoppage became general.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_383'>383</span>Meanwhile the day was advancing; the men were -exhausting themselves in vain efforts; hunger, cold, -and the Cossacks became pressing, and the viceroy -finally found himself compelled to order his artillery -and all his baggage to be left behind. A distressing -spectacle ensued. The owners were allowed scarcely -a moment to part from their effects; while they were -selecting from them such articles as they most needed, -and loading their horses with them, a multitude of soldiers -came rushing up; they fell in preference upon -the vehicles of luxury; these they broke in pieces and -rummaged every part, avenging their poverty on the -wealth, and their privations on the superfluities they -here found, and snatching them from the Cossacks, who -were in the meantime looking on at a distance.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But it was provisions of which most of them were in -quest. They threw aside embroidered clothes, pictures, -ornaments of every kind, and gilt bronzes for a few -handfuls of flour. In the evening it was a strange sight -to behold the mingled riches of Paris and of Moscow, -the luxuries of two of the largest cities in the world, -lying scattered and despised on the snow of the desert.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At the same time, most of the artillerymen spiked -their guns in despair, and scattered their powder about. -Others laid a train with it as far as some ammunition -wagons, which had been left at a considerable distance -behind the baggage. They waited till the most eager -of the Cossacks had come up to them, and when a great -number, greedy of plunder, had collected about them, -they threw a brand from a bivouac upon the train. The -fire ran, and in a moment reached its destination; the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_384'>384</span>wagons were blown up, the shells exploded, and such -of the Cossacks as were not killed on the spot, dispersed -in dismay.</p> - -<p class='c001'>A few hundred men, who were still called the 14th -division, were opposed to these hordes, and sufficed to -keep them at a respectful distance till the next day. -All the rest, soldiers, sutlers, women, and children, sick -and wounded, driven by the enemy’s balls, crowded the -bank of the river. But at the sight of its swollen current, -of the sharp and massive fragments of ice floating -down its stream, and the necessity of aggravating their -already intolerable sufferings from cold by plunging into -its chilling waves, they all started back.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Colonel Delfanti, an Italian, was obliged to set the -example and cross first. The soldiers then moved, and -the crowd followed. The weakest, the least resolute, -and the most avaricious, stayed behind. Such as could -not make up their minds to part from their booty, and -to forsake fortune which was forsaking them, were surprised -in the midst of their hesitation. The next day, -amid all this wealth, the savage Cossacks were seen -still covetous of the squalid and tattered garments -of the unfortunate creatures who had become their -prisoners: they stripped them, and then, collecting -them in troops, drove them along over the snow, -hurrying their steps by hard blows with the shafts of -their lances.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The army of Italy, thus completely dismantled, -soaked in the waters of the Wop, without food, without -shelter, passed the night on the snow near a village -where its officers expected to have found lodgings for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_385'>385</span>themselves. Their soldiers, however, beset its wooden -houses. They rushed like madmen, and in swarms, on -every habitation, profiting by the darkness, which prevented -them from recognising their officers or being -known by them. They tore down every thing, doors, -windows, and even the woodwork of the roofs, feeling -but little compunction in compelling others, be they -who they might, to bivouac like themselves.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Their generals attempted in vain to drive them off: -they took their blows without a murmur or the least -opposition, but without desisting—even the men of the -royal and imperial guards; for, throughout the whole -army, such were the scenes that occurred every night. -The unfortunate fellows kept silently but actively at -work on the wooden walls, which they pulled in pieces -on every side at once, and which, after vain efforts, -their officers were obliged to relinquish to them, for -fear they would fall upon their own heads. It was an -extraordinary mixture of perseverance in their design -and of respect for the anger of their superiors.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Having kindled good fires, they spent the night in -drying themselves, amid the shouts, <a id='corr385.22'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='impre ations'>imprecations</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_385.22'><ins class='correction' title='impre ations'>imprecations</ins></a></span>, and -groans of those who were still crossing the torrent, -or who, slipping from its banks, were precipitated into -it, and drowned.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It is a fact by no means creditable to the enemy, -that during this disaster, and in sight of so rich a booty, -a few hundred men, left at the distance of half a league -from the viceroy, on the other side of the Wop, were -sufficient to curb for twenty hours not only the courage, -but even the cupidity of Platoff’s Cossacks.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_386'>386</span>It is possible, indeed, that the hetman made sure of -destroying the viceroy on the following day. In fact, -all his measures were so well planned, that at the -moment when the army of Italy, after an unquiet and -disorderly march, came in sight of Dukhowtchina, a -town yet uninjured, and was joyfully hastening forward -to shelter itself there, several thousand Cossacks sallied -forth from it with cannon, and suddenly stopped its -progress; while at the same time Platoff, with all his -hordes, came up and attacked its rear guard and both -flanks.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Several eye-witnesses assert that a complete tumult -and confusion then ensued; that the disbanded men, -the women, and the attendants ran headlong over each -other, and broke quite through the ranks; that, in -short, there was a moment when this unfortunate army -was but a shapeless mass, a mere rabble rout hurrying -to and fro. All seemed to be lost; but the coolness of -the prince and the efforts of his officers, saved all. The -best men disengaged themselves, and the ranks were -again formed. They advanced, and, firing a few volleys, -the enemy, who had every thing on his side excepting -courage, the only advantage yet left the French, -opened and retired, confining himself to a useless demonstration.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The army occupied his quarters still warm in that -town, while he went beyond to bivouac, and to prepare -for similar surprises to the very gates of Smolensk. -For this disaster at the Wop had made the viceroy give -up the idea of separating from the Emperor, near to -whom these hordes became still bolder; they surrounded -<span class='pageno' id='Page_387'>387</span>the 11th division. When Prince Eugene -would have gone to its relief, his men and officers, -stiffened with a cold of twenty degrees, which the wind -rendered most piercing, remained stretched on the warm -ashes of the fires. To no purpose did he point out to -them their comrades surrounded, the enemy approaching, -the bullets and balls which were already reaching -them; they refused to rise, protesting that they would -rather perish where they were than any longer endure -such cruel hardships. The videttes themselves had -abandoned their posts. Prince Eugene nevertheless -contrived to save his rear guard.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was in returning with it towards Smolensk that -his stragglers had been driven back on Ney’s troops, to -whom they communicated their panic; all hurried -confusedly towards the Dnieper, where they crowded -together at the entrance of the bridge, without thinking -of defending themselves, when a charge made by the -4th regiment stopped the advance of the enemy.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Its colonel, young Fezenzac, contrived to infuse fresh -life into these men, who were half perished with cold. -There, as in every thing that can be called action, was -manifested the triumph of the sentiments of the soul -over the sensations of the body; for every physical -feeling tended to encourage despondency and flight; -Nature advised it with her hundred most urgent voices; -and yet a few words of honor alone were sufficient to -produce the most heroic devotedness. The soldiers of -the 4th regiment rushed like furies upon the enemy, -against the mountains of snow and ice of which he had -taken possession, and in the teeth of the northern hurricane, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_388'>388</span>for they had every thing against them. Ney himself -was obliged to moderate their impetuosity.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Such fighting could only be the work of heroes, who -were determined to triumph or perish. Ney proved -himself worthy to command the rear guard, upon which -the safety of the army depended. He was equal to a -host, and around his stalwart form the troops rallied, -as they would around a rock of salvation. He seemed -even determined to conquer the Russian storm.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At length the army once more came in sight of -Smolensk: it had reached the goal so often announced -to it of all its sufferings. The soldiers exultingly -pointed it out to each other. <em>There</em> was that land of -promise where their hunger was to find abundance, -their fatigue rest; where bivouacs in a cold of nineteen -degrees would be forgotten in houses warmed by good -fires. <em>There</em> they would enjoy refreshing sleep; there -they might repair their apparel; there they would be -furnished with new shoes, and clothing adapted to the -climate.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But Smolensk was a heap of blackened ruins, and -the commissary found there, was compelled to own that -he had not enough provisions to supply half the army -for the required time, fifteen days. If any thing was -wanted to increase the wretchedness of this doomed -army it was this disastrous disappointment. Napoleon -himself displayed a consciousness of the terrors by -which he was surrounded, and seemed to apprehend -the destruction of his entire army.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i389fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_389fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON AT KRASNOE. <span class='small'>Page 389.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i389' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_389'>389</span> -<img src='images/i_b_389.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT KRASNOE.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id042'> -<img src='images/i_b_389_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_389_1.jpg' width='175' height='175' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Upon the retreat from Smolensk, -the grand army, reduced -to thirty-six thousand -effective men, had been divided -into four columns, commanded -by Napoleon, Eugene, Davoust -and Ney. These were separated -by the march of a few -days from each other. The -Emperor reached the town of Krasnoe without difficulty; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_390'>390</span>but the second division, under Prince Eugene, -was compelled to fight against forces immensely superior -in numbers.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was the night of the 16th of November. The -weather was bitter cold; and though Krasnoe fairly -blazed with camp-fires, the soldiers of the guard shivered -in spite of the sternest efforts of their wills.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Emperor had waited for the viceroy during the -whole of the preceding day. The noise of an engagement -had agitated him. An effort to break through the -enemy, in order to join him, had been ineffectually -attempted; and when night came on without his making -his appearance, the uneasiness of Napoleon was at its -height. “Eugene and the army of Italy, and this -long day of baffled expectation, had they then terminated -together?” Only one hope remained, and that was, -that the viceroy, driven back towards Smolensk, had -there joined Davoust and Ney, and that on the following -day they would, with united forces, attempt a decisive -effort.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In his anxiety, the Emperor assembled the marshals -who were with him. These were Berthier, Bessieres, -Mortier and Lefebvre; they were safe; they had -cleared the obstacles; they had only to continue their -retreat through Lithuania, which was open to them; -but would they abandon their companions in the midst -of the Russian army? No, certainly; and they determined -once more to enter Russia, either to deliver or to -perish with them.</p> - -<p class='c001'>No sooner was this resolution taken, than Napoleon -coolly made his arrangements to carry it into effect. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_391'>391</span>He was not at all shaken by the great movements -which the enemy was evidently making around him. -He saw that Kutusoff was advancing in order to surround -and take him prisoner in Krasnoe. The very -night before he had learned that Ojarowski, with a -vanguard of Russian infantry, had got beyond him, and -taken a position at Maliewo, a village on his left. Irritated -instead of being depressed by misfortune, he -called his aid-de-camp Rapp, and told him “that he -must set out immediately, and during the darkness -attack that body of the enemy with the bayonet; this -was the first time of his exhibiting so much audacity, -and that he was determined to make him repent it, in -such a way that he should never again dare approach -so near to his head-quarters.” Then instantly recalling -him, he exclaimed, “But no: let Roguet and his -division go alone. As for you, remain where you are; -I don’t wish you killed here; I shall have occasion for -you at Dantzic.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Rapp, as he was carrying this order to Roguet, could -not help feeling astonished that his chief, surrounded -by eighty thousand of the enemy, whom he was going -to attack the next day with nine thousand, should have -so little doubt about his safety as to be thinking of -what he should have to do at Dantzic, a city from -which he was separated by the winter, two hostile -armies, famine, and a hundred and eighty leagues of -distance.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The nocturnal attack on Ojarowski at Chirkowa and -Maliewo proved successful. Roguet formed his idea -of the enemy’s position by the direction of their fires: -<span class='pageno' id='Page_392'>392</span>they occupied two villages, connected by a causeway, -defended by a ravine. He disposed his troops into three -columns of attack: those on the right and left were to -advance silently, as close as possible to the Russians; -then, at the signal to charge, which he himself would -give them from the centre, they were to rush into the -midst of the hostile corps without firing a shot, and -make use only of their bayonets.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Immediately the two wings of the young guard commenced -the action. While the Russians, taken by -surprise, and not knowing on which side to defend themselves, -were wavering from their right to their left, -Roguet, with his column, rushed suddenly upon their -centre, and into the midst of their camp, which he -entered pell-mell along with them. Thus divided, and -in utter confusion, they had barely time to throw the -best part of their cannon and small arms into a neighboring -lake, and to set fire to their tents, the flames of -which, instead of saving them, only gave light to their -destruction.</p> - -<p class='c001'>This check stopped the movements of the Russian -army for four-and-twenty hours, put it in the Emperor’s -power to remain at Krasnoe, and enabled Eugene to -rejoin him during the following night. He was received -by Napoleon with the greatest joy; whose uneasiness, -however, respecting Davoust and Ney, now became proportionably -greater.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Around the French, the camp of the Russians presented -a spectacle similar to what it had done at -Vinkowo, Malo-Yaroslawetz, and Wiazma. Every evening, -close to the general’s tent, the relics of the Russian -<span class='pageno' id='Page_393'>393</span>saints, surrounded by an immense number of wax tapers, -were exposed to the adoration of the soldiers. While -these, according to their custom, were giving proofs of -their devotion by endless crossings and genuflexions, -the priests were employed in exciting their fanaticism -with exhortations that would have been deemed barbarous -and absurd by a civilized nation.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It is asserted that a spy had represented to Kutusoff, -Krasnoe as being filled with an immense number of the -imperial guard, and that the old marshal was afraid of -hazarding his reputation by attacking it. But the sight -of the distress emboldened Bennigsen; this officer, who -was chief of the staff, prevailed upon Strogonoff, Gallitzin, -and Miloradowitch, with a force of more than fifty -thousand Russians, and one hundred pieces of cannon, -to venture to attack at daylight, in spite of Kutusoff, -fourteen thousand famished, enfeebled, and half-frozen -French and Italians.</p> - -<p class='c001'>This was a danger, the imminence of which Napoleon -fully comprehended. He might have escaped from it, -for the day had not yet appeared. He was still at -liberty to avoid this fatal engagement; by rapid -marches along with Eugene and his guard, he might -have gained Orcha and Borizoff; there he could have -rallied his forces, and strengthened himself with thirty -thousand French, under Victor and Oudinot, with the -corps of Dombrowski, Regnier, and Schwartzenberg, -been within reach of all his depots, and, by the following -year, have made himself as formidable as ever.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the 17th, before daylight, he issued his orders, -armed himself, and going out on foot at the head of his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_394'>394</span>Old Guard, began his march. But it was not towards -Poland, his ally, that he directed it, nor towards France, -where he would still be received as the head of a new -dynasty, and the Emperor of the West. His words -on grasping his sword on this occasion were, “I have -sufficiently acted the emperor; it is time I should -become the general.” He turned back upon eighty -thousand of the enemy, plunging into the thickest of -them, in order to draw all their efforts against himself, -to make a diversion in favor of Davoust and Ney, and -to rescue them from a country, the gates of which were -closed against them.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Daylight at last appeared, exhibiting on the one part -the Russian battalions and batteries, which on three -sides, in front, on the right, and in the rear, bounded -the horizon, and on the other Napoleon, with his six -thousand guards, advancing with a firm step, and proceeding -to take his place in the centre of that terrible -circle. At the same time, Mortier, a few yards in front -of the Emperor, deployed, in the face of the whole -Russian army, with the five thousand men still remaining -to him.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Every moment strengthened the enemy and weakened -Napoleon. The noise of artillery, as well as Claparede, -apprized him that in the rear of Krasnoe and his -army, Bennigsen was proceeding to take possession of -the road to Liady, and entirely cut off his retreat. The -east, the west, and the south were flashing with the -enemy’s fires; one side alone remained open, that of -the north and the Dnieper, towards an eminence, at the -foot of which were the high road and the Emperor. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_395'>395</span>The French fancied they saw the enemy already covering -this eminence with their cannon. In that situation -they would have been just over Napoleon’s head, and -might have crushed him at a few yards’ distance. He -was apprized of his danger, cast his eyes for an instant -towards the height, and uttered merely these words, -“Very well, let a battalion of my chasseurs take possession -of it!” Immediately afterward, without giving -farther heed to it, his whole attention was directed to -the perilous situation of Mortier.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Then, at last, Davoust made his appearance, forcing -his way through a swarm of Cossacks, whom he -dispersed by a precipitate movement. At the sight of -Krasnoe this marshal’s troops disbanded themselves, -running across the fields to get beyond the right of the -enemy’s line, in the rear of which they had come up; -and Davoust and his generals could only rally them at -that place.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The first corps was thus preserved; but it was learned -at the same time that the rear guard could no longer -defend itself at Krasnoe; that Ney was probably still -at Smolensk, and that they must give up waiting for -him any longer. Napoleon, however, still hesitated: -he could not determine on making this great sacrifice.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But at last, as all were likely to perish, his resolution -was taken. He called Mortier, and pressing his -hand sorrowfully, told him “that he had not a moment -to lose; that the enemy were overwhelming him in all -directions; that Kutusoff might already reach Liady, -perhaps Orcha, and the last elbow of the Borysthenes -before him; and that he would therefore proceed thither -<span class='pageno' id='Page_396'>396</span>rapidly, with his Old Guard, in order to occupy that passage. -Davoust would relieve him, Mortier, but both -of them must endeavor to hold out in Krasnoe until -night, after which they must advance and rejoin him.” -Then, with his heart full of Ney’s misfortune, and of -despair at abandoning him, he withdrew slowly from the -field of battle, traversed Krasnoe, where he again -halted, and thence cleared his way to Liady.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_396.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i397' class='figcenter id013'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_397'>397</span> -<img src='images/i_b_397.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT BORYSTHENES.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id012'> -<img src='images/i_b_397_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_397_1.jpg' width='200' height='203' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Ney, “the bravest of the brave,” -the commander of the rearguard -of the grand army, had -been given up as lost by most -of his heroic brethren in arms. -But Napoleon could not believe -it. He knew that the -chances were those of desperation, -but he expected all things from the lion-hearted -marshal. The Emperor had reached Orcha, on the -Borysthenes, with ten thousand men. He found there -<span class='pageno' id='Page_398'>398</span>abundance of provisions and his troops encamped by -ample fires. But his anxiety for the fate of Ney -rendered him very much dejected. He could not bring -his mind to the idea of quitting the Borysthenes.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It appeared to him that this would be like a second -abandonment of the unfortunate Ney, and a final casting -off of his intrepid companion in arms. There, as at -Liady and Dombrowna, he was calling every hour of -the day and night, and sending to inquire if no tidings -had been received of that marshal. But nothing was -heard of him through the intervening Russian army; -and four days this fatal silence had lasted, and yet the -Emperor still continued to hope.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Being at length, on the 20th of November, compelled -to quit Orcha, he left there Eugene, Mortier, and Davoust, -and halted after a march of two leagues from -that place, still inquiring for Ney, and still expecting -him. The same feeling of grief pervaded the portion -of the army remaining at Orcha. As soon as the most -pressing wants allowed a moment’s rest, the thoughts -and looks of every one were directed towards the -Russian bank. They listened for any warlike sounds -which might announce the arrival of Ney, or, rather, -his last desperate struggle with the foe; but nothing -was to be seen but parties of the enemy, who were -already menacing the bridges of the Borysthenes. -One of the three marshals now proposed to destroy -them, but the others would not consent, as this would -be separating themselves still more widely from their -companion in arms, and acknowledging that they -despaired of saving him, an idea which, from their -<span class='pageno' id='Page_399'>399</span>unhappiness at the thought, they could not bear to -entertain.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But with the fourth day all hope had vanished, and -night only brought with it an agitated repose. They -blamed themselves for Ney’s misfortune, forgetting -that it was utterly impossible to have waited longer for -him in the plains of Krasnoe, there to fight for another -twenty-four hours, when they had scarcely strength -and ammunition left for one.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Already, as is always the case in such painful losses, -they began to seek for some soothing recollections. -Davoust was the last who had quitted the unfortunate -marshal, and Mortier and the viceroy were inquiring -of him what were his last words. At the first reports -of the cannonade of the enemy on the 15th, it would -seem that Ney was anxious to evacuate Smolensk immediately, -in the suite of the viceroy; but Davoust -refused, pleading the orders of the emperor, and their -obligation to destroy the ramparts of the town. The -two chiefs became warm; and Davoust insisting to -remain until the following day, Ney, who had been -appointed to bring up the rear, was compelled to wait -for him.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It is true that on the 16th, Davoust sent to warn -him of his danger; but Ney, either from change of -opinion, or from feelings of resentment against Davoust, -returned for answer “that all the Cossacks in the universe -should not prevent him from executing his -instructions.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>After exhausting these recollections and all their -conjectures, they had relapsed into a gloomy silence, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_400'>400</span>when suddenly they heard the steps of horses, and then -the joyful cry, “Marshal Ney is safe! here are some -Polish cavalry come to announce his approach!” One -of his officers now galloped in, and informed them that -the marshal was advancing on the right bank of the -Borysthenes, and had sent him to ask for assistance.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Night had just set in; and Davoust, Eugene, and -Mortier were allowed only its short duration to revive -and animate the soldiers, who had hitherto constantly -bivouacked. For the first time since they left Moscow, -these poor fellows had received a sufficient supply of -provisions; and they were about to prepare them and -to take their rest, warm and under cover. How was it -possible, then to make them resume their arms, and -turn them from their comfortable asylums during that -night of rest, whose inexpressible sweets they had just -begun to taste! Who could persuade them to interrupt -it, to trace back their steps, and once more, in the -midst of darkness, return into the frozen deserts of -Russia?</p> - -<p class='c001'>Eugene and Mortier disputed the honor of making -this effort, and the first carried it only in right of his -superior rank. Shelter and the distribution of provisions -had effected that which threats would have -failed to do. The stragglers were rallied, and the -viceroy again found himself at the head of four thousand -men; all were ready to march at the idea of -Ney’s danger; but it was their last effort.</p> - -<p class='c001'>They proceeded in the darkness, by unknown roads, -and had marched two leagues at random, halting every -few minutes to listen. Their anxiety instantly increased. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_401'>401</span>Had they lost their way? Were they too -late? Had their unfortunate comrades fallen? Was -it the victorious Russian army they were about to -meet? In this uncertainty Prince Eugene directed -some cannon-shot to be fired. Immediately after, they -fancied they heard signals of distress on that sea of -snow: they were not mistaken; they proceeded from -the third corps, which having lost all its artillery, could -answer the cannon of the fourth only by some volleys -of platoon firing.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The two corps were thus directed towards their -meeting. Ney and Eugene were the first to recognise -each other: they ran up, Eugene the most eagerly, and -threw themselves into each other’s arms. Eugene -wept, but Ney only let fall some angry words. The -first was delighted, melted, and elevated at the sight of -the chivalrous hero whom he had just had the happiness -to save. The latter still heated from the combat, -irritated at the dangers which the honor of the army -had run in his person, and blaming Davoust, whom he -wrongfully accused of having deserted him.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Some hours afterwards, when the latter sought to -justify himself, he could draw nothing from Ney but a -severe look and these words, “Monsieur le Marechal, I -have no reproaches to make you: God is our witness -and your judge!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>As soon as the two corps had fairly recognised each -other, they could no longer be kept in their ranks. -Soldiers, officers, generals, all rushed forward together. -The soldiers of Eugene, eagerly grasping the hands of -those of Ney, held them with a joyful mixture of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_402'>402</span>astonishment and curiosity, and embraced them with -the tenderest sympathy. They lavished upon them -the refreshments which they had just received, and -overwhelmed them with questions. Then they proceeded -in company towards Orcha, all burning with -impatience, Eugene’s soldiers to hear, and Ney’s to -relate, their story. There they were soon gathered -around the cheerful camp-fire, and resting from their -toils.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The officers of Ney stated that on the 17th of -November they had quitted Smolensk with twelve cannon, -six thousand infantry, and three hundred cavalry, -leaving there five thousand sick to the mercy of the -enemy; and that, had it not been for the noise of Platoff’s -artillery and the explosion of the mines, their -marshal would never have been able to draw from the -ruins of that city seven thousand unarmed stragglers -who had taken shelter among them. They dwelt upon -the attentions which their leader had shown to the -wounded, and to the women and their children, proving -upon this occasion that the bravest are also the most -humane.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Ney’s officers continued to speak in the most enthusiastic -terms of their marshal; for even his equals could -not feel the slightest jealousy of him. He had, indeed, -been too much regretted, and his preservation had -excited emotions far too grateful to allow of any feelings -of envy; besides, Ney had placed himself completely -beyond its reach. As for himself, he had in all -this heroism gone so little beyond his natural character, -that, had it not been for the eclat of his glory in the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_403'>403</span>eyes, the gestures, and the acclamations of every one, -he would never have imagined that he had performed -an extraordinary action.</p> - -<p class='c001'>And this was not an enthusiasm of surprise, for each -of the few last days had had its remarkable men: that -of the 16th, for instance, had Eugene, and that of the -17th, Mortier; but from this time forward Ney was -universally proclaimed the hero of the retreat.</p> - -<p class='c001'>When Napoleon, who was two leagues farther on, -heard that Ney had again made his appearance, he -leaped and shouted for joy, exclaiming, “Then I have -saved my eagles! I would have given three hundred -millions from my exchequer sooner than have lost such -a man.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Such a man! Where else in history shall we find -such a man? Davoust, Mortier, Junot, Murat, and -other celebrated officers of that army were brave—wonderful -men, indeed—but Ney towered above them -all, in a courage which was full of sublimity—a courage -which found resource when others saw nothing left for -them but a resignation to death.</p> - -<p class='c001'>That night the marshal slept beside the camp-fire of -his beloved Emperor—the sweet sleep which grows -from the consciousness of duty performed.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i404' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_404'>404</span> -<img src='images/i_b_404.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE LAST CAMP-FIRES IN RUSSIA.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_404_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_404_1.jpg' width='200' height='181' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -At Malodeczno, Napoleon -suddenly determined to -leave the wretched remnant -of his army, and, -accompanied by a few -faithful officers, to return -to France. Murat was -left to command the army, -and the greatest hopes of -speedy relief and fresh triumph were excited by the -Emperor before he departed. He journeyed very -rapidly, and reached Paris on the 19th of December, -two days after his memorable twenty-ninth bulletin had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_405'>405</span>told France the disasters of the campaign. But the -remains of the grand army—what was their fate?</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the 6th of December, the very day after Napoleon’s -departure, the sky exhibited a more dreadful -appearance. Icy particles were seen floating in the -air, and the birds fell stiff and frozen to the earth. The -atmosphere was motionless and silent; it seemed as if -every thing in nature which possessed life and movement, -even the wind itself, had been seized, chained, -and, as it were, congealed by a universal death. Not a -word or a murmur was then heard; there was nothing -but the gloomy silence of despair, and the tears which -proclaimed it.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“We flitted along,” says Segur, “in the midst of -this empire of death like doomed spirits. The dull and -monotonous sound of our steps, the crackling of the -frost and the feeble groans of the dying, were the only -interruptions to this doleful and universal silence. -Anger and imprecations there were none, nor any thing -which indicated a remnant of warmth; scarcely was -strength enough left to utter a prayer; and most of -them even fell without complaining, either from weakness -or resignation, or because people complain only -when they look for kindness, and fancy they are pitied.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Such of our soldiers as had hitherto been the most -persevering here lost heart entirely. Some times the -snow sunk beneath their feet, but more frequently, its -glassy surface refusing them support, they slipped at -every step, and tottered along from one fall to another. -It seemed as though this hostile soil were leagued -against them; that it treacherously escaped from under -<span class='pageno' id='Page_406'>406</span>their efforts; that it was constantly leading them into -snares, as if to embarrass and retard their march, and -to deliver them up to the Russians in pursuit of them, -or to their terrible climate.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>And, in truth, whenever, for a moment, they halted -from exhaustion, the winter, laying his icy hand upon -them, was ready to seize his victims. In vain did -these unhappy creatures, feeling themselves benumbed, -raise themselves up, and, already deprived of the -power of speech, and plunged into a stupor, proceed a -few steps like automatons; their blood froze in their -veins, like water in the current of rivulets, congealing -the heart, and then flying back to the head; and these -dying men staggered as if they had been intoxicated. -From their eyes, reddened and inflamed by the constant -glare of the snow, by the want of sleep, and the smoke -of the bivouacs, there flowed real tears of blood; their -bosoms heaved with deep and heavy sighs; they -looked towards heaven and on the earth, with an eye -dismayed, fixed, and wild, as expressive of their farewell, -and, it might be, of their reproaches against the -barbarous nature which was tormenting them. It was -not long before they fell upon their knees, and then -upon their hands; their heads still slowly moved for a -few minutes alternately to the right and left, and from -their open mouth some sounds of agony escaped; at -last, in its turn, it fell upon the snow, which it reddened -with livid blood, and their sufferings were at an -end.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Their comrades passed by them without moving a -step out of their way, that they might not, by the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_407'>407</span>slightest curve, prolong their journey, and without -even turning their heads; for their beards and hair -were so stiffened with ice that every movement was -painful. Nor did they even pity them; for, in fact, -what had they lost by dying? who had they left behind -them? They suffered so much, they were still so -far from France, so much divested of all feelings of -country by the surrounding prospect and by misery, -that every dear illusion was broken, and hope almost -destroyed. The greater number, therefore, had become -careless of dying, from necessity, from the habit of -seeing death constantly around them, and from fashion, -sometimes even treating it with contempt; but more -frequently, on seeing these unfortunates stretched upon -the snow, and instantly stiffened, contenting themselves -with the thought that they had no more wants, -that they were at rest, that their sufferings were -over. And, indeed, death, in a situation quiet, certain, -and uniform, may be felt as a strange event, a frightful -contrast, a terrible change; but in this tumult, this -violent and ceaseless movement of a life of action, -danger, and suffering, it appeared nothing more than a -transition, a slight alteration, an additional removal, -which excited little alarm.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Such were the last days of the grand army: its last -nights were still more frightful. Those whom they -surprised marching together, far from every habitation, -halted on the borders of the woods: there they lighted -their fires, before which they remained the whole night, -erect and motionless, like spectres. They seemed as -if they could not possibly have enough of the heat; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_408'>408</span>they kept so close to it as to burn their clothes, as well -as the frozen parts of their body, which the fire -decomposed. The most dreadful pain then compelled -them to stretch themselves on the ground, and the next -day they attempted in vain to rise.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the meantime, such as the winter had almost -wholly spared, and who still retained some portion of -courage, prepared their melancholy meal. It had consisted, -ever since they left Smolensk, of some slices of -horseflesh broiled, and a little rye meal made into a sort -of gruel with snow water, or kneaded into paste, which -they seasoned, for want of salt, with the powder of -their cartridges.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The sight of these fires was constantly attracting -fresh spectres, who were driven back by the first comers. -Many of them, destitute of the means and the strength -necessary to cut down the lofty fir trees, made vain -attempts to set fire to them as they were standing; but -death speedily surprised them, and they might be seen -in every sort of attitude, stiff and lifeless about their -trunks.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Under the vast pent-houses erected by the sides of -the high road in some parts of the way, scenes of still -greater horror were witnessed. Officers and soldiers -all rushed precipitately into them, and crowded together -in heaps. There, like so many cattle, they pressed -upon each other around the fires, and as the living could -not remove the dead from the circle, they laid themselves -down upon them, there to expire in their turn, -and serve as a bed of death to some fresh victims. In -a short time additional crowds of stragglers presented -<span class='pageno' id='Page_409'>409</span>themselves, and, being unable to penetrate into these -asylums of suffering, they completely besieged them.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It frequently happened that they demolished their -walls, which were formed of dry wood, in order to feed -their fires; at other times, repulsed and disheartened, -they were contented to use them as shelters to their -bivouacs, the flames of which very soon communicated -to the buildings, and the soldiers who were within them, -already half dead with the cold, perished in the conflagration.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At Youpranoui, the same village where the Emperor -only missed by an hour being taken by the Russian -partisan Seslawin, the soldiers burned the houses as -they stood, merely to warm themselves for a few -minutes. The light of these fires attracted some of -those miserable wretches, whom the excessive severity -of the cold and their sufferings had rendered delirious; -they ran to them like madmen, they threw themselves -into these furnaces, where they perished in horrible -convulsions. Their famished companions looked on -unmoved; and there were some who drew out these -bodies, blackened and broiled by the flames, and, shocking -to relate, they ventured to pollute their mouths with -this dreadful food!</p> - -<p class='c001'>This was the same army which had been formed from -the most civilized nation of Europe; that army, formerly -so brilliant, which was victorious over men to its -last moment, and whose name still reigned in so many -conquered capitals. Its strongest and bravest warriors, -who had recently been proudly traversing so many -scenes of their victories, had lost their noble bearing; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_410'>410</span>covered with rags, their feet naked and torn, and supporting -themselves with branches of fir, they dragged -themselves painfully along; and the strength and perseverance -which they had hitherto put forth in order to -conquer, they now made use of only to flee.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In this state of physical and moral distress, the -remnant of the grand army reached the city of Wilna, -the Mecca of their hopes. There food and shelter were -obtained; but the Russians soon came up and told, in -the thunder of their artillery, that Wilna was not a -place of rest for the French. They were driven from -the town, and Ney, with a handful of men, could -scarcely protect their flight. Who can ever do sufficient -honor to the lion-hearted marshal? This was the -order of retreat which he adopted:</p> - -<p class='c001'>Every day, at five o’clock in the evening, he took his -position, stopped the Russians, allowed his soldiers to -eat and take some rest, and resumed his march at ten -o’clock. During the whole of the night, he pushed the -mass of the stragglers before him, by dint of cries, of -entreaties, and of blows. At daybreak, which was -about seven o’clock, he halted, again took position, and -rested under arms and on guard until ten o’clock; the -enemy then usually made his appearance, and he was -compelled to fight until the evening, gaining as much -ground in the rear as possible. This depended at first -on the general order of march, and at a later period -upon circumstances.</p> - -<p class='c001'>For a long time this rear guard did not consist of -more than two thousand, then of one thousand, afterward -of about five hundred, and finally it was reduced -<span class='pageno' id='Page_411'>411</span>to sixty men; and yet Berthier, either designedly, or -from mere routine, made no change in his instructions. -These were always addressed to the commander of a -corps of thirty-five thousand men; in them he coolly -detailed all the different positions which were to be -taken up and guarded until the next day, by divisions -and regiments which no longer existed. And every -night, when pressed by Ney’s urgent warnings, he was -obliged to go and awake the King of Naples, and compel -him to resume his march, he testified the same -astonishment.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In this manner did Ney support the retreat from -Wiazma to Eve, and a few wersts beyond it. He -attempted in vain to rally a few of them; and he who -had hitherto been almost the only one whose commands -had been obeyed, was now compelled to follow it.</p> - -<p class='c001'>He arrived along with it at Kowno, which was the -last town of the Prussian empire. Finally, on the -13th of December, after marching forty-six days under -the most terrible sufferings, they once more came in -sight of a friendly country. Instantly, without halting -or looking behind them, the greater part plunged into, -and dispersed themselves in, the forests of Prussian -Poland. Some there were, however, who, on their -arrival on the friendly bank of the Niemen, turned -round, and there, when they cast a last look on that -land of horrors from which they were escaping, and -found themselves on the same spot whence, five months -before, their countless legions had taken their victorious -flight, tears gushed from their eyes, and they broke out -into exclamations of the most poignant sorrow.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_412'>412</span>Two kings, one prince, eight marshals, followed by a -few officers, generals on foot, dispersed, and without -attendants; finally, a few hundred men of the old guard, -still armed—these were its remains—these alone represented -the grand army.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The camp-fires of the invaders in Russia were at an -end. From Moscow to the Niemen they could be -traced in circles of death. Every bivouac had its -throng of victims, conquered more by the climate than -the troops of Russia. Like a vast stream, which gradually -disappears in the ground as it flows, the grand -army of four hundred thousand men had vanished -amid the snows of Russia. Upon the banks of the -Niemen, it lived only in Marshal Ney.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id027'> -<img src='images/i_b_412.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i413' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_413'>413</span> -<img src='images/i_b_413.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT LUTZEN.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_413_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_413_1.jpg' width='200' height='210' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -We have seen Napoleon, -with the wreck of an -army, a fugitive amid -the frozen plains of -Russia. A few months -have scarcely elapsed. -It is April, 1813; and -the Emperor of the -French has taken the -field at the head of -three hundred and -fifty thousand men, to beat back the enemies who have -<span class='pageno' id='Page_414'>414</span>arisen against him in the hour of his adversity. Once -more, in spite of the retreat from Moscow, Europe -trembles at his name.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The allies have posted themselves between Leipsic -and Dresden. Napoleon, with a hundred and fifteen -thousand men under his immediate command, advances -to the attack with his customary confidence and decision. -Skirmishes took place at Weissenfels and Posen -on the 29th of April, and the first of May. On the -last day, the French approached the town of Lutzen, -where Gustavus Adolphus had gained his final victory. -The foremost column came upon the advanced guard of -the allies, posted on the heights of Posen, and commanding -a defile through which it was necessary to -pass. Marshal Bessieres, the commander of the Old -Guard—the companion of Napoleon in so much glory—dashed -forward to reconnoitre the enemy’s position, -when a cannon ball struck one of his aids, and killed -him upon the spot. The marshal reined in his fiery -charger.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Inter that brave man,” said he, coolly; but scarcely -had the words passed his lips, when he was struck by -a spent cannon ball, and he fell from his horse, a corpse. -A white sheet was thrown over him to conceal his features -from the soldiers whom he had so often led to -glory. The body was conveyed to a neighboring -house, and there it lay during the battle of the next -day, when the Guard looked in vain for the manly -form of their commander. Napoleon deeply regretted -Bessieres. He ordered the body to be embalmed and -sent to the Hotel des Invalides, whence he designed to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_415'>415</span>have it interred with great honors; but his fall prevented -the execution of his intention.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On the night of the first of May, the army under -Napoleon encamped in order of battle, within sight of -the camp-fires of the allies, near Lutzen. The centre -was at a village called Kaya, under the command of -Ney. It consisted of the young conscripts, supported -by the Imperial Guard, with its new parks of artillery -drawn up before the well known town of Lutzen. -Marmont commanded the right. The left reached -from Kaya to the Elster. The silence of night settled -down upon the camp of the French. But the allies, -encouraged by the presence of the Czar and the King -of Prussia, had determined to take the offensive—a -very unusual course for any enemy in the face of Napoleon. -While the French were reposing around their -camp-fires, the Prussian general, Blucher, crossed the -Elster. At daybreak, before Napoleon was stirring in -his quarters, the French, in the centre, were startled by -the furious assault of the enemy, who pushed their -way through all obstacles, and were on the point of -gaining possession of Kaya. The crisis was imminent. -Napoleon, roused from slumber by intelligence of the -attack, hurried in person to bring up the Guard to sustain -the centre, while he moved forward the two wings, -commanded by Macdonald and Bertrand, and supported -by the tremendous batteries, so as to outflank and surround -the main body of the allies. Thus began the -battle of Lutzen. The struggle was fierce, and it -endured for several hours. The village of Kaya was -taken and retaken a number of times, but at length it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_416'>416</span>remained in the hands of General Gerard. The students -who were in the ranks of the allies, fought with -desperate courage, and fell in great numbers. Schavnhort, -a noted Prussian general, was killed, and Blucher -was wounded. The artillery of the French carried -immense destruction into the ranks of the enemy, and, -at length, fearing from Napoleon’s manœuvres, that -they would be taken in flank, they beat a retreat, -which they effected safely, but with much difficulty. -They left twenty thousand dead upon the field. The -loss of the French was not more than ten or twelve -thousand men. The victory was not decisive, but it -was glorious, and once more Napoleon’s star shone with -brilliant lustre, free from the shadow of defeat.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The French army was ordered to encamp on the -field of battle in squares, by divisions, in order to provide -against any sudden return of the enemy. Couriers -were immediately sent off with the news of the victory -to every friendly court in Europe. That night there -was rejoicing around the camp-fires of the French. -Napoleon once more received the congratulations of his -generals upon a victory, and he began to dream of a -peaceful occupation of his imperial throne.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i417' class='figcenter id043'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_417'>417</span> -<img src='images/i_b_417.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT BAUTZEN.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id042'> -<img src='images/i_b_417_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_417_1.jpg' width='175' height='176' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -After the victory of Lutzen, -Napoleon proposed a cessation -of hostilities. But those allies -who continually accused him of -being always for war, rejected -his conciliatory proposals, and -resolved to try the sword again. -They entrenched their camps at -Bautzen, and far from attempting the offensive, which -<span class='pageno' id='Page_418'>418</span>they had found so perilous, they anxiously awaited -reinforcements. In the meantime, Napoleon had entered -Dresden in triumph. There he remained a week. -Finding that all attempts at conciliation were fruitless, -he then determined to prosecute the campaign vigorously. -On the 18th of May, he commenced the march -upon Bautzen, and on the 21st, he reached the position -of the allies. They were posted in the rear of Bautzen, -with the river Spree in front; a chain of wooded hills -and various fortified eminences to the right and left -were occupied.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The action at this place commenced by the movement -of a column of Italians, who were intended to turn the -Prussian flank. This body, however, was attacked and -dispersed before Marshal Ney could support them. The -remainder of the day was spent by the French in passing -the Spree, which was effected without molestation. The -Emperor bivouacked in the town of Bautzen for the -night. While the camp-fires of the French and their -adversaries blazed near each other beyond the Spree, -Napoleon called a council of his principal marshals, and -after much deliberation, it was resolved to turn the -camp of the enemy, instead of storming it. Day had -just peeped in the east, and the fires had died out, -when the dauntless Ney made a wide circuit to the right -of the Russians, while Oudinot engaged their left, and -Soult and the Emperor attacked the centre. The battle -was fiercely fought. The Prussians, under the lead of -the bold and pertinacious Blucher, kept their ground -for four hours against the repeated charges of Soult. -The slaughter was dreadful on both sides. At length, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_419'>419</span>the Prussians were driven back, and the French were -left in undisputed possession of the heights. Ney had -now gained the rear of the allies, and he poured in murderous -volleys of shot on their dispirited ranks. Panic -stricken at this furious assault, they commenced their -retreat, with such celerity as to gain time to rally on the -roads leading to Bohemia. As night descended, the -French shouted lustily for another victory. And there -was revelry around the camp-fires of Napoleon’s army. -But the Emperor’s heart was sorely touched.</p> - -<p class='c001'>General Bruyeres, a gallant officer, had been stricken -down in the joyous moment of victory, at the head of -the Imperial Guard. But it was not for him that the -Emperor wept. About seven in the evening, the grand -marshal of the palace—the devoted Duroc—he who -was dearer to Napoleon than even Lannes or Bessieres—was -mortally wounded. He was standing on a -slight eminence, and at a considerable distance from the -firing, conversing with Marshal Mortier and General -Kirgener, all three on foot, when a cannon ball, aimed -at the group, ploughed up the ground near Mortier, -ripped open Duroc’s abdomen, and killed General Kirgener. -The grand marshal was conveyed to a lowly -house as the victors encamped for the night. Napoleon -was deeply affected when informed of the mournful -event. He hastened to Duroc, who still breathed, and -exhibited wonderful self-possession. Duroc seized the -Emperor’s hand and pressed it to his lips. “All my -life,” he said, “has been devoted to your service, and I -only regret its loss for the use which it might still have -been to you.”</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_420'>420</span>“Duroc,” replied the Emperor, “there is another life. -It is there that you will await me, and that we will one -day meet.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Yes, sire; but that will be in thirty years, when -you shall have triumphed over your enemies, and realized -the hopes of our country. I have lived an honest -man; and have nothing to reproach myself with. I -leave a daughter; your majesty will be a father to her.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon was deeply affected. He felt that the time -was coming when he should need friends like Duroc. -He took the right hand of the grand marshal in his own, -and remained for a quarter of an hour with his head -resting on the left hand of his old comrade, without -being able to proffer a word.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Duroc was the first to break the silence. He did so, -in order to spare Napoleon any further laceration of -mind. “Ah, sire,” said he, “go hence! This spectacle -pains you!”</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon paused a moment, and then rose and said:</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Adieu, then, my friend!” and he required to support -himself on Marshal Soult and Caulaincourt, in order to -regain his tent, where he would receive no person the -whole night. He was again victorious. But he had -lost his most faithful friends. His enemies were every -day increasing in numbers, while he was only growing -weaker by the gradual diminution of his forces; but -some of the generals, upon whom he was most accustomed -to rely, were of doubtful fidelity. Victorious or -not, he saw that the struggle was to be continued against -fearful odds, and a cloud approached his star.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i421fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_421fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>NAPOLEON AT MONTEREAU. <span class='small'>Page 421.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i421' class='figcenter id038'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_421'>421</span> -<img src='images/i_b_421.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT MONTEREAU.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_421_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_421_1.jpg' width='200' height='224' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -A distinguished historian, -(Alison,) expresses -the opinion that the greatest -displays of Napoleon’s -genius were made during -his first campaign in Italy, -and the next to the last in -his career, in France. In -spite of his triumphs at -Lutzen, Bautzen and Leipsic, -he was compelled to retreat upon France, into -which he was followed by the overwhelming forces of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_422'>422</span>the allies. His throne was threatened on all sides. -His army was but a handful compared with that of his -enemies. Yet by his lightning movements, masterly -combinations and indomitable resolution, he gained a -succession of dazzling victories, and for a time seemed -likely to drive his foes from France. We can only -show this astonishing man during one portion of this -unparalleled campaign.</p> - -<p class='c001'>It was the 16th of February, 1814. Having conquered -the Russians at Montmirail, Napoleon had left -the Duke of Ragusa—the Judas of the Emperor—in -command of that portion of the army, and flown to the -army of the Seine, commanded by the Dukes of Belluno -and Reggio. He proceeded to Guignes by way -of Crecy and Fontenay.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The inhabitants lined the road with carts, by the help -of which the soldiers doubled their distances; and the -firing of cannon being heard, the artillery drove on at -full speed. An engagement had been obstinately maintained -since noon by the Dukes of Belluno and Reggio, -in the hope to keep possession of the road by which -Napoleon was expected; an hour later the junction of -the forces would have been difficult. The arrival of the -Emperor restored full confidence to the army of the -Seine. That evening he contented himself with checking -the allies before Guignes; and the next morning -the troops were seasonably reinforced by General Treilhard’s -dragoons, who had been detached from the army -in Spain. Couriers dispatched to Paris entered the -suburbs escorted by crowds of people who had anxiously -assembled at Charenton. On the 17th the troops -<span class='pageno' id='Page_423'>423</span>quitted Guignes and marched forward. The allies -instantly knew that Napoleon was returned. General -Gerard’s infantry, General Drouet’s artillery, and the -cavalry of the army of Spain did wonders. The enemy’s -columns were driven back in every direction, and left -the road between Mormars and Provins covered with -the slain. The Duke of Belluno had orders to carry -the bridge of Montereau that same evening; and the -imperial guard lit their camp-fires round Nangis, the -Emperor sleeping at the castle.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the course of the evening, one of those lures by -which he was too often inveigled arrived in the shape -of a demand for a suspension of hostilities, brought by -Count Parr from the Austrians. He availed himself of -this opportunity of transmitting a letter from the Empress -to her father, and of writing one himself. Napoleon -at the same time, however, had spirit to write to -Caulaincourt to revoke his <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>carte blanche</em></span>, saying it was -to save the capital, but the capital was now saved; that -it was to avoid a battle, but that the battle had been -fought, and that the negotiations must return to the -ordinary course. The allies had the assurance to -reproach Buonaparte with this, as a receding from his -word according to circumstances, when they themselves -encroached upon him with every new advantage and -every hour, as fast as the drawing aside the veil of -hypocrisy would let them.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the meantime, the Duke of Belluno was encamped -at the bridge of Montereau. Early on the morning of -the 18th, Napoleon was vexed to hear that the bridge -was not yet captured; but that the camp-fires of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_424'>424</span>duke were burning amidst troops at rest, when great -efforts were demanded of them. The Emperor hurried -to that point. But the Wurtemberg troops had established -themselves there during the night.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon ordered forward the Bretagne national -guard and General Pajol’s cavalry. General Gerard -came up in time to support the attack, and Napoleon -himself arrived to decide the victory. The troops took -possession of the heights of Surville, which command -the confluence of the Seine and the Yonne; and batteries -were mounted which dealt destruction on the Wurtemberg -force in Montereau. Napoleon himself pointed the -guns. The enemy’s balls hissed like the wind over the -heights of Surville. The troops were fearful lest Napoleon, -giving way to the habits of his early life, should -expose himself to danger; but he only said, “Come on, -my brave fellows, fear nothing; the ball that is to kill -me is not yet cast.” The firing redoubled; and under -its shelter the Bretagne guards established themselves -in the suburbs, while General Pajol carried the bridge -by so vigorous a charge of cavalry, that there was not -time to blow up a single arch. The Wurtemberg troops, -inclosed and cut to pieces in Montereau, vainly summoned -the Austrians to their aid. This engagement -was one of the most brilliant of the campaign. Their -success encouraged the troops, roused the country people, -and stimulated the ardor of the young officers; but -nothing could revive the spirits of the veteran chiefs. -Hope does not return twice to the human breast. -Several of the most distinguished officers were deeply -depressed.</p> - -<p class='c001'><span class='pageno' id='Page_425'>425</span>Napoleon could no longer repress his dissatisfaction. -He reproached General Guyot in the presence of the -troops, with having suffered the enemy to surprise some -pieces of artillery the preceding evening. He ordered -General Digeon to be tried by a council of war for a -failure of ammunition on the batteries: but afterwards -tore the order. He sent the Duke of Belluno, who had -suffered the Wurtembergers to surprise the bridge of -Montereau before him, permission to retire; and gave -the command of his corps to General Gerard, who had -greatly exerted himself during the campaign. The -Duke repaired to Surville to appeal against this decision; -but Napoleon overwhelmed him with reproaches for -neglect and reluctance in the discharge of his duties. -The conduct of the Duchess was also made a subject -of complaint; she was Lady of the Palace, and yet -had withdrawn herself from the Empress, who, indeed, -seemed to be quite forsaken by the new court. The -Duke could not for some time obtain a hearing; the -recollections of Italy were appealed to in vain; but, -mentioning the fatal wound which his son-in-law had -received in consequence of his delay, the Emperor was -deeply affected at hearing the name of General Chateau, -and sympathized sincerely in the grief of the marshal. -The Duke of Belluno resuming confidence, again protested -that he would never quit the army. “I can -shoulder a musket,” said he: “I have not forgotten the -business of a soldier. Victor will range himself in the -ranks of the Guard.” These last words completely -subdued Napoleon. “Well, Victor,” he said, stretching -out his hand to him, “remain with me. I cannot restore -<span class='pageno' id='Page_426'>426</span>the command of your corps, because I have appointed -General Gerard to succeed you; but I give you the -command of two divisions of the Guard; and now let -every thing be forgotten between us.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The Emperor was victorious. But victory only -served to fill him with false hopes. He triumphed -again and again. But it was of no avail. The forces -of the enemy were overwhelming; and at the moment -when it seemed most likely that he could save France, -the disgusting treachery of Marmont and Augereau, -two men whom he had raised from the dust, as it -were, brought about his ruin. He found, like many -other great characters of history, in their hour of adversity, -that the men who were most indebted to him -were the men upon whom it were most unsafe to rely.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id006'> -<img src='images/i_b_426.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i427' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_427'>427</span> -<img src='images/i_b_427.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT ARCIS.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_427_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_427_1.jpg' width='200' height='207' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -While the allies held anxious -councils, and were filled with -apprehensions at almost every -movement of Napoleon in -his mighty struggle for his -throne, he continued to strike -vigorous blows at his thronging -enemies. He triumphed -at Craonne, and took possession -of Rheims. The Austrians, under Schwartzenberg, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_428'>428</span>were compelled to retreat. On the 17th of March, -Napoleon broke up his head-quarters at Rheims, and -advanced by Epernay to attack the rear of the Austrian -army. On the 20th, his advanced guard encountered -an Austrian division at Arcis-sur-Aube. The conflict -became fierce. The Austrians brought up fresh battalions, -supported by cannon; and Napoleon found that -instead of attacking a rear guard in retreat, he was in -front of the whole of the grand army in its advance on -Paris.</p> - -<p class='c001'>This was unfortunate for the Emperor’s calculations. -He conceived himself to be acting upon the retreat -of the allies, and expected only to find a rear guard at -Arcis; he was even talking jocularly of making his -father-in-law prisoner during his retreat. If, contrary -to his expectation, he should find the enemy, or any -considerable part of them, still upon the Aube, it was, -from all he had heard, to be supposed his appearance -would precipitate their retreat towards the frontier. It -has also been asserted, that he expected Marshal -Macdonald to make a corresponding advance from the -banks of the Seine to those of the Aube; but the orders -had been received too late to admit of the necessary -space being traversed so as to arrive on the morning of -the day of battle.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon easily drove before him such bodies of light -cavalry, and sharp-shooters, as had been left by the -allies, rather for the purpose of reconnoitring than of -making any serious opposition. He crossed the Aube -at Plancey, and moved upwards, along the left bank of -the river, with Ney’s corps, and his whole cavalry, while -<span class='pageno' id='Page_429'>429</span>the infantry of the guard advanced upon the right; his -army being thus, according to the French military -phrase, <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>a-cheval</em></span>, upon the Aube. The town of Arcis -had been evacuated by the allies upon his approach, -and was occupied by the French on the morning of the -20th March. That town forms the outlet of a sort of -defile, where a succession of narrow bridges cross a -number of drains, brooks, and streamlets, the feeders of -the river Aube, and a bridge in the town crosses the -river itself. On the other side of Arcis is a plain, in -which some few squadrons of cavalry, resembling a -reconnoitring party, were observed manœuvring.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Behind these horses, at a place called Clermont, the -Prince Royal of Wurtemberg, whose name has been so -often honorably mentioned, was posted with his division, -while the elite of the allied army was drawn up on a -chain of heights still farther in the rear, called Mesnil -la Comptesse. But these corps were not apparent to -the vanguard of Napoleon’s army. The French cavalry -had orders to attack the light troops of the allies; but -these were instantly supported by whole regiments, and -by cannon, so that the attack was unsuccessful; and the -squadrons of the French were repulsed and driven back -on Arcis at a moment, when, from the impediments in -the town and its environs, the infantry could with difficulty -debouch from the town to support them. Napoleon -showed, as he always did in extremity, the same -heroic courage which he had exhibited at Lodi and -Brienne. He drew his sword, threw himself among the -broken cavalry, called on them to remember their former -victories, and checked the enemy by an impetuous -<span class='pageno' id='Page_430'>430</span>charge, in which he and his staff officers fought hand to -hand with their opponents, so that he was in personal -danger from the lance of a Cossack, the thrust of which -was averted by his aid-de-camp, Girardin. His Mameluke, -Rustan, fought stoutly by his side, and received a -gratuity for his bravery. These desperate exertions -afforded time for the infantry to debouch from the town. -The Imperial Guards came up, and the combat waxed -very warm. The superior numbers of the allies rendered -them the assailants on all points. A strongly -situated village in front, and somewhat to the left of -Arcis, called Grand Torcy, had been occupied by the -French. This place was repeatedly and desperately -attacked by the allies, but the French made good their -position. Arcis itself was set on fire by the shells of -the assailants; and night alone separated the combatants -by inducing the allies to desist from the attack.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The French remained masters of the field, which -they had maintained against nearly treble their number. -They had not gained a victory, but they had -fought one of their most glorious battles, and Napoleon -had displayed not only the full blaze of his genius, but -had shown the allies that he was still the valorous hero -of Arcola. Many of the houses of Arcis were blazing -when the wearied heroes kindled their camp-fires along -the Aube. Upon the distant heights of Mesnil la -Comptesse, the watch-fires of the enemy were to be -seen, and the sky was redly illumined as far as the -eye could penetrate. Napoleon had retired to his -head-quarters, to rest his weary body, but not to sleep. -He had but twenty-seven thousand men, and he was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_431'>431</span>before a strong position, occupied by eighty thousand -troops. He was busy in examining his maps, when an -aid, Girardin, entered and announced the arrival of -Marshals Macdonald and Oudinot, and General Gerard, -with their detachments. A few moments afterwards, -those brave commanders entered. Napoleon received -them with much apparent gratification. Others of his -generals also arrived, and a council was held to determine -upon the course to be pursued. Macdonald was -the most influential of the Emperor’s advisers at this -time. His great good sense, cool, steady courage, and -honest heart, had won upon Napoleon’s favor, and he -listened to his counsel with much attention and consideration. -In a former part of his career, he had -treated Macdonald very unjustly. In his darker hours, -he found the marshal’s great worth, and ever afterwards -spoke of him in the highest terms.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The character of Macdonald could be read in his broad, -Scotch countenance. His expression was honest, penetrating -and determined. He was above all meanness. -He lacked enthusiasm; but he had a mind that could -calmly work in the midst of the most terrible excitement. -He never appeared to be ruffled. The tone of -his voice was always dry, even, and steady, as if it was -out of the power of the ordinary human emotions to -gain an influence over him. Napoleon eagerly asked the -advice of the renowned marshal, and received a prompt -reply—that retreat was necessary; and it would be -well if it could be effected in the face of an overwhelming -enemy. Oudinot and Gerard concurred in Macdonald’s -opinion; indeed, there seemed to be a prevailing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_432'>432</span>idea, that immediate retreat was necessary, and Napoleon -acquiesced. But the manner of it was not so easy -to determine. The army was in a difficult position. -The line of retreat on either side of the Aube was rendered -dangerous by the numerous defiles, where an -enemy might attack with advantage. Finally, it was -decided to retreat on both sides of the Aube, as a method -of presenting a smaller mark to an enemy in pursuit, -and of hurrying through the dangerous defiles. The -council then dissolved into a conversational party, but -the spirits of the generals seemed under the shadow of -a cloud. There was scarcely one of them who did not -apprehend a speedy termination of the fearful struggle -in which they were engaged. To all Napoleon’s expressions -of his grand designs, for which he had no means, -they gave the reply of a shake of the head, or indicated -the obstacles. Napoleon could see that their enthusiasm -and confidence had been dissipated by the disasters -which their glorious efforts had been unable to avert -from the French arms. The demeanor of the Emperor -was calm and dignified. He was Emperor of France -and at the head of an army still. He was even victorious. -But there was no lightness in his look or -speech.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At daybreak the camp-fires of the army were extinguished, -and the order of retreat given. It was a masterly -exploit. With his small army, the Emperor -retreated through the difficult defiles, in the face of a -whole Austrian army; and though pursued and annoyed, -sustained but little loss.</p> - -<p class='c001'>But what availed these miracles of generalship? The -<span class='pageno' id='Page_433'>433</span>struggle was quickly decided, by irresistible numbers -and sickening treachery.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Paris was surrendered by Marmont, while still capable -of defence, and the enemy gained possession of Lyons by -the same means. All hope was lost, and the Emperor was -advised by Macdonald and others of his most faithful -friends, to comply with the terms of the allies and abdicate -his throne. He resisted as long as there was a -shadow of hope, and then obeyed stern necessity. The -enemies of France were supreme. The sovereign of -her choice was consigned to the little island of Elba, -and the detested Bourbons were restored in the person -of Louis XVIII.</p> - -<p class='c001'>We will not dwell upon the leave-taking of the -Emperor—how he kissed the eagles, and embraced the -veterans of Fontainebleau. It is not within our scope. -It is enough to know, that such victories as Montereau, -Arcis and Montmirail, won in the last hours of his -imperial power, sustained the glory of Napoleon’s -genius, and proved that no treason, “coming like a -blight over the councils of the brave,” could annihilate -his title to immortal remembrance.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id044'> -<img src='images/i_b_433.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div id='i434' class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_434'>434</span> -<img src='images/i_b_434.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CAMP-FIRE AT WATERLOO.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<div class='figleft id017'> -<img src='images/i_b_434_1.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='c006'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_b_434_1.jpg' width='200' height='201' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi0_8'> -Napoleon had returned -to France. He had landed -at Cannes with but a few -soldiers as a guard; but he -had been swept up to the -imperial throne of Paris -upon a mighty wave of -popular enthusiasm. All -Europe had arisen in arms -against the choice of the -nation. The campaign of the Hundred Days had -commenced. At the head of a hundred and twenty -<span class='pageno' id='Page_435'>435</span>thousand men, the Emperor had advanced to attack -Wellington and Blucher, with two hundred and fifty -thousand.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i434fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_434fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>BATTLE OF WATERLOO. <span class='small'>Page 434.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>In order to escape from the danger which might result -from too great an inferiority of numbers, Napoleon -strove, from the commencement of the campaign, to -separate the English from the Prussians, and manœuvred -actively to throw himself between them. His plan was -strikingly successful on the 16th at the battle of Ligny; -Blucher, being attacked alone, was completely beaten, -and left twenty-five thousand men on the field of battle. -But this enormous loss did not materially enfeeble an -army which had such masses of soldiers in line, and -behind, still more numerous reserves. In the position -in which the Emperor found himself, he required a more -decisive advantage, a victory which should annihilate -the army of Blucher, and allow him to fall upon Wellington -next, in order to crush him in his turn. This -successive defeat of the English and Prussians had been -most skilfully prepared by the orders and instructions -he dispatched on all sides. But, we cannot too often -repeat it, his destiny was accomplished; and fatal misunderstandings -deceived the calculations of his genius. -Moreover, he had himself a presentiment that some -unforeseen incident would disarrange his combinations, -and that fortune had more disasters in store for him. -“It is certain that in these circumstances,” he said to -his suite, “I had no longer in myself that definitive feeling; -there was nothing of former confidence.” His -presentiments were too soon realized.</p> - -<p class='c001'>At daybreak on the 17th, Grouchy, at the head of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_436'>436</span>thirty-four thousand men, was dispatched in pursuit of -the enemy, who had fled in two columns by way -of Tilly and Gembloux, with orders to proceed to -Wavres. About seven in the morning, the Emperor -galloped forward with Count Lobau’s cavalry towards -Quatre-Bras, which place he expected to find in possession -of Ney; the latter, however, had not been able to -retrieve his error of the 16th, and remained facing the -position of the British, although now occupied only by -their rear-guard, which made off as soon as its commander -perceived the approach of Lobau’s horsemen. -Pursuit was immediately given, Napoleon hoping that -he might yet be able to overtake and defeat the English. -In consequence of the state of the roads, from -the heavy rains, it was near four o’clock before the -retreating column reached the plain of Waterloo, and -nearly seven before the troops were in position on the -rising ground in front of Mount St. Jean.</p> - -<p class='c001'>That night the English bivouacked on the field they -were to maintain in the battle of the morrow. Between -six and seven, Napoleon reached Planchenois; and -perceiving the enemy established in position, fixed his -head-quarters at the farm of Cailloux, and posted his -followers on the heights around La Belle Alliance. -The reinforcements received by the Duke of Wellington -during the 16th and 17th, had raised his army to -seventy-five thousand men, who were supported by -two hundred and fifty pieces of cannon. Napoleon’s -forces have been estimated at seventy thousand men, -and about two hundred and forty pieces of cannon; it -must, however, be borne in mind, that the Duke could -<span class='pageno' id='Page_437'>437</span>not depend on the Belgian, Nassau, and Hanoverian -troops.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“Never,” says Alison, “was a more melancholy -night passed by soldiers than that which followed the -halt of the two armies in their respective positions on -the night of the 17th of June, 1815.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“The whole of that day had been wet and cloudy; -but towards evening the rain fell in torrents, insomuch -that, in traversing the road from Quartre-Bras to -Waterloo, the soldiers were often ankle deep in water. -When the troops arrived at their ground, the passage -of the artillery, horse, and wagons over the drenched -surface had so completely cut it up, that it was almost -every where reduced to a state of mud, interspersed in -every hollow with large pools of water. Cheerless and -dripping as was the condition of the soldiers, who had -to lie down for the night in such a situation, it was -preferable to that of those battalions who were stationed -in the rye-fields, where the grain was for the most part -three or four feet high, and soaking wet from top to -bottom. The ground occupied by the French soldiers -was not less drenched and uncomfortable. But how -melancholy soever may have been their physical situation, -not one feeling of despondency pervaded the -breasts either of the British or French soldiers. Such -was the interest of the moment, the magnitude of the -stake at issue, and the intensity of the feelings in -either army, that the soldiers were almost insensible to -physical suffering. Every man in both armies was -aware that the retreat was stopped, and that a decisive -battle would be fought on the following day. The great -<span class='pageno' id='Page_438'>438</span>contest of two-and-twenty years’ duration was now to -be brought to a final issue: retreat after disaster would -be difficult, if not impossible, to the British army, -through the narrow defile of the forest of Soignies: -overthrow was ruin to the French. The two great -commanders, who had severally overthrown every -antagonist, were now for the first time to be brought -into collision; the conqueror of Europe was to measure -swords with the deliverer of Spain. Nor were sanguine -hopes and the grounds of well-founded confidence -wanting to the troops of either army. The French -relied with reason on the extraordinary military talents -of their chief, on his long and glorious career, and on -the unbroken series of triumphs which had carried -their standards to every capital in Europe. Nor had -recent disasters weakened this undoubting trust, for the -men who now stood side by side were almost all veterans -tried in a hundred combats: the English prisons -had restored the conquerors of Continental Europe to -his standard, and for the first time since the Russian -retreat, the soldiers of Austerlitz and Wagram were -again assembled round his eagles. The British soldiers -had not all the same mutual dependence from tried -experience, for a large part of them had never seen a -shot fired in battle. But they were not on that account -the less confident. They relied on the talent and -firmness of their chief, who they knew, had never been -conquered, and whose resources the veterans in their -ranks told them would prove equal to any emergency. -They looked back with animated pride to the unbroken -career of victory which had attended the British arms -<span class='pageno' id='Page_439'>439</span>since they first landed in Portugal, and anticipated the -keystone to their arch of fame from the approaching -conflict with Napoleon in person. They were sanguine -as to the result; but, come what may, they were resolute -not to be conquered. Never were two armies of such -fame, under leaders of such renown, and animated by -such heroic feelings, brought into contact in modern -Europe, and never were interests so momentous at issue -in the strife.”</p> - -<p class='c001'>The field of Waterloo, rendered immortal by the battle -which was fought on the following day, extends about -two miles in length from the old chateau, walled garden, -and inclosures of Hougoumont on the right, to the -extremity of the hedge of La Haye Sainte on the left. -The great <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>chaussee</em></span> from Brussels to Charleroi runs -through the centre of the position, which is situated -somewhat less than three quarters of a mile to the south -of the village of Waterloo, and three hundred yards in -front of the farm-house of Mount St. Jean. This road, -after passing through the centre of the British line, goes -through La Belle Alliance and the hamlet of Rossomme, -where Napoleon spent the night. The position -occupied by the British army, followed very nearly the -crest of a range of gentle eminences, cutting the high -road at right angles, two hundred yards behind the -farm-house of La Haye Sainte, which adjoins the highway, -and formed the centre of the position. An unpaved -country road ran along this great summit, forming -nearly the line occupied by the British troops, and -which proved of great use in the course of the battle. -Their position had this great advantage, that the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_440'>440</span>infantry could rest on the reverse of the crest of the -ridge, in a situation in great measure screened from the -fire of the French artillery; while their own guns on -the crest swept the whole slope, or natural glacis, which -descended to the valley in their front. The French -army occupied a corresponding line of ridges, nearly -parallel, on the opposite side of the valley, stretching -on either side of the hamlet of La Belle Alliance. The -summit of these ridges afforded a splendid position for -the French artillery to fire upon the English guns; but -their attacking columns, in descending the one hill and -mounting the other, would of necessity he exposed to -a very severe cannonade from the opposite batteries. -The French army had an open country to retreat over -in case of disaster; while the British, if defeated, -would in all probability lose their whole artillery in the -defiles of the forest of Soignies, although the intricacies -of that wood afforded an admirable defensive position -for a broken array of foot soldiers. The French -right rested on the village of Planchenois, which is of -considerable extent, and afforded a very strong defensive -position to resist the Prussians, in case they should -so far recover from the disaster of the preceding day -as to be able to assume offensive operations and menace -the extreme French right.</p> - -<p class='c001'>This is an admirable picture of the position and condition -of the respective armies which were to decide -the fate of Europe. It could not be improved.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The farm-house of Cailloux, in which the Emperor -was busy with his maps and plans, and surrounded by -his celebrated marshals, was surrounded with the meagre -<span class='pageno' id='Page_441'>441</span>fires which the guard had kindled; but the rain frequently -extinguished them and drove many of the -veterans to seek the shelter of sheds.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon displayed all his usual activity and dispatch. -He dictated orders to be conveyed to the different -commanders of columns with the rapidity of -lightning. Every body near him was kept in a state of -feverish excitement, except the calm and steady Soult, -whom it seemed impossible to move. There, too, was -the stalwart Ney, whom the storms of battle could not -even scar—ready for any duty, no matter how hopeless -the performance. There also was the brave but reckless -Jerome, who was destined to earn a high fame on the -morrow. Berthier, who had so long been a fixture by -the side of Napoleon, was not there, he had deserted -the man from whose glory he had borrowed beams. -But there was Maret, Bertrand, the steady Drouot, of -the Old Guard, Gorgaud and Labedoyere—a galaxy of -bravery and talent—such as was wont to surround the -Emperor. All were busy noting down instructions, and -replying to the swift questions of the tireless man -whom they obeyed. Without, the rain was heard dripping -incessantly. Drouot let fall an expression of -opinion that, in consequence of the deluge, the ground -would be impracticable for artillery.</p> - -<p class='c001'>“We shall see, it is not yet morning,” replied the -Emperor. Then he leaned his head upon his hand, and -thought—perhaps in the way of presentiment of disaster—but -no expression of apprehension escaped his -lips. Grouchy would keep Blucher in check, and -Wellington would be crushed. Fortune might yet be -<span class='pageno' id='Page_442'>442</span>favorable. But the heavens had quenched the last -camp-fire of Napoleon.</p> - -<p class='c001'>About ten o’clock at night, Napoleon sent a dispatch -to Grouchy, to announce that the Anglo-Belgian army -had taken post in advance of the forest of Soignes, -with its left resting on the hamlets of La Haye and -Ohain, where Wellington seemed determined on the -next day to give battle; Grouchy was, therefore, -required to detach from his corps, about two hours -before daybreak, a division of seven thousand men, and -sixteen pieces of artillery, with orders to proceed to St. -Lambert; and, after putting themselves in communication -with the right of the grand army, to operate on the -left of the British.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Meanwhile, the Duke of Wellington being in communication -with Blucher, was promised by him that the -Prussian army should advance to support the British on -the morning of the 18th.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The rain, which had not ceased during the night, -cleared off about five o’clock in the morning; and at -eight it was reported by the officers who had been sent -to inspect the field, that the ground was practicable -for artillery. The Emperor instantly mounted his -horse, and rode forward towards La Haye Sainte, to -reconnoitre the British fine.</p> - -<p class='c001'>By half-past ten o’clock the two armies were arrayed, -and impatient for orders to commence the battle. The -Emperor proceeded to the heights of Rosomme, where -he dismounted to obtain a clear view of the whole field; -and there stationed his guard, as a reserve, to act where -emergency might require. Meanwhile, the English -<span class='pageno' id='Page_443'>443</span>remained silent and steady, waiting the commands of -their chief; who, with telescope in hand, stood beneath -a tree, near the cross-road, in front of his position, -watching the movements of his opponents.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The village clock of Nivelles was striking eleven -when the first gun was fired from the French centre. -Then followed a tremendous rattle of musketry, as the -brave Jerome led the column on the left to the attack -on Hougomont, and drove the Nassau troops before -him. The chateau and gardens, however, were bravely -defended by a division of English guards, who were not -to be dislodged. The fight, raged here more or less -during the day, till at length the chateau was set on -fire by the shells of the French, and it was found necessary -to abandon it.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, who was anxiously watching the first -movement of his troops, was interrupted by an aid-de-camp, -sent by Ney, who had been charged to attack the -enemy’s centre, arriving at full gallop to announce that -every thing was in readiness, and the marshal only waiting -the signal to attack. For a moment the Emperor -glanced round the field, and perceived in the direction -of St. Lambert, a moving cloud advancing on the left -of the English: pointing it out to Soult, he asked -whether he conceived it to be Grouchy or Blucher? -The marshal being in doubt, Generals Domont and -Subervie were dispatched with their divisions of light -cavalry, with orders to clear the way in the event of its -being Grouchy, and if Blucher, to keep him in check.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Ney was then ordered to march to the attack of La -Haye Sainte; after taking that post with the bayonet, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_444'>444</span>and leaving a division of infantry, he was to proceed to -the farms of Papelotte and La Haye, and place his -troops between those of Wellington and Bulow. With -his usual promptitude, the Prince of the Moskowa had -in a few moments opened a battery of eighty cannon -upon the left centre of the English line. The havoc -occasioned by this deadly fire was so immense, that -Wellington was obliged to draw back his men to the -reverse slope of the hill on which they had stood, in -order to screen them from its effects. The Count -d’Erlon, under cover of the fire, advanced along the -Genappe road; but as they ascended the position of -La Haye Sainte, the Duke of Wellington directed against -them a charge of cavalry, which speedily drove one -column back into the hollow.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The English guards were in turn repulsed by a brigade -of Milhaud’s cuirassiers, and galloping onwards, -attacked the infantry; the horsemen not being able to -make an impression on the squares formed for their -reception, while they were themselves exposed to an -incessant fire of musketry. One of D’Erlon’s unbroken -columns pushed forward, meanwhile, beyond La Haye -Sainte, upon which it made no attack, and charging one -Belgian and three Dutch regiments, drove them from -their posts in disorder, and took possession of the -heights. Sir Thomas Picton was now sent to dislodge -the enemy, and being supported by a brigade of heavy -cavalry, the French, after firing a volley, paused, -wheeled, and fled in confusion. Many were cut down -by the guards; while seven guns, two eagles, and about -two thousand prisoners were taken. The British, however, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_445'>445</span>pursued their success too far; and becoming -involved among the infantry, were attacked by a body -of cuirassiers, in their turn broken, and forced to retire -with great loss.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i444fp' class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_b_444fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. <span class='small'>Page 444.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>Although for the time, Ney was deprived of his artillery, -he continued to advance upon La Haye Sainte. -For three hours, this important position, and the part -of the field which it commanded, was hotly contested -by both parties, the hill being now held by the English, -and now by the French. The contest, which shortly -extended itself along the whole front of the British line, -became of the most desperate character. Whole battalions -fell as they stood in line; and the cries and -groans of the wounded and dying were heard even -above the incessant roll of the musketry, and the thunder -of the artillery.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Napoleon, who had returned to the rising ground to -watch the progress of the battle, fancying he beheld -indications of the enemy’s retreat, ordered Kellerman -to advance with all his cuirassiers immediately, to support -the cavalry between Mount St. Jean and La Haye Sainte. -The dragoons galloping forward, drove the -English from their guns, and furiously charged the -squares of infantry behind. Notwithstanding the deadly -shower which thinned their ranks, the cuirassiers appeared -determined to succeed in their purpose; and returned -again and again, riding round the squares, and -penetrating even to the second British line; the infantry, -however, was immovable: and after sustaining frightful -carnage, the cuirassiers were compelled to retire. The -conflict now rather abated, until near six o’clock, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_446'>446</span>the chiefs of each army were anxiously expecting reinforcements. -Domont, Lobau, and Subervic had effectually -checked Bulow on the French right; but there -was no sign of Grouchy making his appearance, and it -was soon discovered that Blucher had come up with -the main body of his army, and that the French opposed -to him could not long maintain their ground. News -was received from Grouchy, that instead of leaving -Gembloux at day-break, according to his previously -stated intentions, he had delayed there till half-past nine, -and then pursued the road to Wavres, being unacquainted -with the Emperor’s engagement at Waterloo. The -crisis of the battle now approached, and Napoleon saw -that nothing but the most consummate skill and desperate -valor could save his army from ruin. His preparations -were, therefore, commenced for the final struggle. A -series of movements, changing the whole front of his -army, so as to face both Prussians and English, was the -result of his first orders. Napoleon next formed the -infantry of the Imperial Guard, which had not yet been -brought into action, at the foot of the position of La -Belle Alliance, into two columns, and led them forward -in person, to a ravine which crossed the Genappe road, -in front of the British lines. Here he relinquished the -command to Ney, at the entreaty of his officers; the -Marshal, who had had five horses shot under him during -the day, advanced on foot. A heavy discharge of artillery -announced that they were in motion; the British -guns soon commenced a most destructive firing on the -troops, which committed dreadful havoc. Although -their numbers were thinned at every step, the guards -<span class='pageno' id='Page_447'>447</span>continued to advance, and soon gained the rising ground -of Mount St. Jean, where the English awaited their -assault. The French hands played the Imperial march, -and the troops <a id='corr447.4'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='ruched'>rushed</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_447.4'><ins class='correction' title='ruched'>rushed</ins></a></span> on with loud shouts of “<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>Vive l’Empereur!</em></span>” -The Belgian, Dutch, and Brunswick troops -gave way instantly, and the Duke of Wellington was -compelled to rally them in person. Before the Imperial -Guard could deploy, he gave the word for the British -infantry to advance; the men, who had been lying prostrate -on the hill, or resting on their arms on the slope, -sprang forward, and closing around Ney, and his gallant -followers, poured into their ranks a continuous stream -of bullets. The guard attempting to deploy, were thrown -into confusion, and rushed in a crowd to the hollow road -in front of La Haye Sainte, whence they were speedily -driven. In this desperate charge, Ney’s uniform and -hat were riddled with balls. In the meantime, Blucher -had pressed forward, and driven the few French from -the hamlet of La Haye; and his advanced guard already -communicated with the British left. Bulow, who had -been repulsed from Planchenois, but was now reinforced, -was again advancing. Wellington, having assumed the -offensive, was advancing at the head of his whole army. -It already grew dusk; the French had every where -given way: the guard, never before vanquished, had -been routed by the stern troops of Britain; and night -brought with it terror and despair. It having been reported -that the Old Guard had yielded, a panic suddenly -spread throughout the French lines, and the fatal cry -of “<span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><em>Sauve qui peut!</em></span>” was raised, and becoming universal -discipline and courage were forgotten, and a wild flight -<span class='pageno' id='Page_448'>448</span>ensued. The cavalry and artillery of the English and -Prussians now scattered death on all sides. The vengeance -of the latter was unsatiated, and these scoured -the field, making fearful carnage, and giving no quarter. -The Old Guard was yet unbroken, and Napoleon lingered -on the ground. Prince Jerome, who had fought bravely -throughout the day, urged him to an act of desperation. -“Here, brother,” said he, “all who bear the name of -Bonaparte should fall!” Napoleon, who was on foot, -mounted his horse, but his soldiers would not listen to -any proposal involving his death: and at length, an -aid-de-camp seizing his bridle, led him at a gallop from -the field. He arrived at Genappe shortly before ten -o’clock at night, where he again attempted to rally; but -the confusion was so great as to be utterly irremediable.</p> - -<p class='c001'>The pursuit of the French was continued far into the -night by the Prussians. Nine times, the wearied fugitives -halted, kindled fires and prepared to bivouac. Nine -times they were startled by the dreadful sound of the -Prussian trumpet, and obliged to continue their flight. -The star that had arisen at Toulon, and shone resplendent -over Lodi, Marengo, Jena, Wagram, Borodino, and -a throng of other sanguinary fields—had sunk forever. -It is painful to trace the career of fallen greatness. We -will not follow the Emperor, shorn of his purple, to his -prison at St. Helena, where a deadly climate did the -work that the leaden storms of a hundred fights had -refused to perform. We will not go to that bed of death, -from which, while the elements were at terrible war, -that stormy spirit was carried away. Leave Hannibal -at Zama, and Napoleon at Waterloo.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div id='i448fp' class='figcenter id045'> -<img src='images/i_b_448fp.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>DEATH OF NAPOLEON. <span class='small'>Page 448.</span></p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<p class='c001'><a id='endnote'></a></p> -<div class='tnotes'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>Transcriber’s Note</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and -are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original.</p> - -<p class='c001'>Places names may appear variously, due probably to local pronunciations, such as -‘Malo-Yaroslavetz’ and ‘Malo-Yaroslawetz’.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On p. 80, the Tyrol capital of Innsbruck is referred to as ‘Innspruck’, which -is the local pronunciation. This may or may not be an error, and has been -retained. On p. 187 and p. 193, the place name ‘Naumburg’ is spelled ‘Naumberg’. -These have been corrected for the sake of consistency.</p> - -<p class='c001'>There is a single footnote (renamed ‘A’) on p. 117. It has been repositioned to -directly follow the paragraph where it is referenced.</p> - -<p class='c001'>In the table of illustrations, the page reference for “NAPOLEON AT JENA” -is incorrectly printed as ‘136’. The correct position is p. 186.</p> - -<p class='c001'>On p. <a href='#Page_287'>287</a>, the quoted passage from ‘Travels in Moravia’ has no closing -quotation mark, and no reasonable assumption can be made.</p> - -<table class='table1' summary=''> -<colgroup> -<col width='12%' /> -<col width='69%' /> -<col width='18%' /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_21.2'></a><a href='#corr21.2'>21.2</a></td> - <td class='c008'>to which these war-worn veterans were unacc[c]ustomed.</td> - <td class='c017'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_31.18'></a><a href='#corr31.18'>31.18</a></td> - <td class='c008'>“Colli is then effectually crippled,” said Bonaparte[.]</td> - <td class='c017'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_56.25'></a><a href='#corr56.25'>56.25</a></td> - <td class='c008'>supported by a regiment of ca[l]valry</td> - <td class='c017'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_75.2'></a><a href='#corr75.2'>75.2</a></td> - <td class='c008'>leaving the watch-fire to smou[dl/ld]er</td> - <td class='c017'>Transposed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_80.8'></a><a href='#corr80.8'>80.8</a></td> - <td class='c008'>advanced his head-quarter to [Innspruck].</td> - <td class='c017'><em>sic</em></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_83.23'></a><a href='#corr83.23'>83.23</a></td> - <td class='c008'>‘Soldiers of the Rhine![”/’] exclaimed Bernadotte,</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_83.28'></a><a href='#corr83.28'>83.28</a></td> - <td class='c008'>sat next to Bessieres.[” Our/ “Our] soldiers</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_84.3'></a><a href='#corr84.3'>84.3</a></td> - <td class='c008'>like a flock of sheep.[”]</td> - <td class='c017'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_97.16'></a><a href='#corr97.16'>97.16</a></td> - <td class='c008'>the humble submission of the [Shieks]</td> - <td class='c017'><em>sic</em></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_106.11'></a><a href='#corr106.11'>106.11</a></td> - <td class='c008'>I designed to attemp[t] the surprise,</td> - <td class='c017'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_113.2'></a><a href='#corr113.2'>113.2</a></td> - <td class='c008'>left Alexandria on the 6th Thermidor, (July 24th.[)]</td> - <td class='c017'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_114.1'></a><a href='#corr114.1'>114.1</a></td> - <td class='c008'>He ordered General Des[s]taing, with some battalions</td> - <td class='c017'>Redundant.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_136.1'></a><a href='#corr136.1'>136.1</a></td> - <td class='c008'>[v]alley of the Sesia</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_145.30'></a><a href='#corr145.30'>145.30</a></td> - <td class='c008'>said he, to his aid-de[-]camp</td> - <td class='c017'>Inserted.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_150.12'></a><a href='#corr150.12'>150.12</a></td> - <td class='c008'>You, and Rapp, are faithful aids.[”]</td> - <td class='c017'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_153.23'></a><a href='#corr153.23'>153.23</a></td> - <td class='c008'>[H/N]egotiations for a capitulation were commenced</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_155.3'></a><a href='#corr155.3'>155.3</a></td> - <td class='c008'>he wrote a rema[r]kable letter</td> - <td class='c017'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_181.5'></a><a href='#corr181.5'>181.5</a></td> - <td class='c008'>Prince John of Li[t]chtenstein</td> - <td class='c017'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_187.8'></a><a href='#corr187.8'>187.8</a></td> - <td class='c008'>along the bottom of the Mu[lh/hl]thal</td> - <td class='c017'>Transposed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_187.20'></a><a href='#corr187.20'>187.20</a></td> - <td class='c008'>to Naumb[e/u]rg</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_187.30'></a><a href='#corr187.30'>187.30</a></td> - <td class='c008'>the appellation of the <em>Schneeke</em> (snail.)</td> - <td class='c017'><em>sic</em>: Schnecke</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_193.15'></a><a href='#corr193.15'>193.15</a></td> - <td class='c008'>to guard strictly the bridge of Naumb[e/u]rg</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_202.12'></a><a href='#corr202.12'>202.12</a></td> - <td class='c008'>gain possession of the village of Vierz[e]hn-Heiligen</td> - <td class='c017'>Inserted.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_202.31'></a><a href='#corr202.31'>202.31</a></td> - <td class='c008'>the village of Vierz[he/eh]n-Heiligen</td> - <td class='c017'>Transposed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_207.30'></a><a href='#corr207.30'>207.30</a></td> - <td class='c008'>while ru[u/n]ning through the streets</td> - <td class='c017'>Inverted.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_216.3'></a><a href='#corr216.3'>216.3</a></td> - <td class='c008'>they m[o/a]nœuvred with the utmost order</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_243.11'></a><a href='#corr243.11'>243.11</a></td> - <td class='c008'>his right to Konigsb[u/e]rg</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_250.3'></a><a href='#corr250.3'>250.3</a></td> - <td class='c008'>Napoleon had his dispositions writt[t]en down</td> - <td class='c017'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_341.9'></a><a href='#corr341.9'>341.9</a></td> - <td class='c008'>another pressing demand for [“]the guard</td> - <td class='c017'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_354.2'></a><a href='#corr354.2'>354.2</a></td> - <td class='c008'>There was the silence of the desert.[”]</td> - <td class='c017'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_364.18'></a><a href='#corr364.18'>364.18</a></td> - <td class='c008'>and then rode forward to Ma[h/l]o-Yaroslavetz</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_371.1'></a><a href='#corr371.1'>371.1</a></td> - <td class='c008'>THE CAMP-FIRE IN TH[H/E] SNOW.</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_375.9'></a><a href='#corr375.9'>375.9</a></td> - <td class='c008'>and the motionless erectness[s] of their black trunks!</td> - <td class='c017'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_385.22'></a><a href='#corr385.22'>385.22</a></td> - <td class='c008'>amid the shouts, impre[c]ations, and groans</td> - <td class='c017'>Restored.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><a id='c_447.4'></a><a href='#corr447.4'>447.4</a></td> - <td class='c008'>and the troops ru[c/s]hed on with loud shouts</td> - <td class='c017'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> -</table> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Camp-fires of Napoleon, by Henry C. Watson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMP-FIRES OF NAPOLEON *** - -***** This file should be named 55131-h.htm or 55131-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/1/3/55131/ - -Produced by KD Weeks, Brian Coe and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. 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: 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. - - - -</pre> - - </body> - <!-- created with ppgen.py 3.56n on 2017-07-16 14:00:00 GMT --> -</html> diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ccb3e78..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/frontispiece.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/frontispiece.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ccc46dc..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/frontispiece.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/frontispiece_2.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/frontispiece_2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index adecfed..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/frontispiece_2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_ix.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_a_ix.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5aff606..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_ix.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_v.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_a_v.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 89aa277..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_v.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_v_preface.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_a_v_preface.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ec64318..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_v_preface.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_vii.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_a_vii.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index bc7b04b..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_vii.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_x.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_a_x.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 22fce87..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_x.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_xi.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_a_xi.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 0efbf5e..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_xi.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_xii.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_a_xii.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f0903a3..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_a_xii.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4242686..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 0eb45ff..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013_2.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013_2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index dd10943..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013_2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8e46c9e..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_013fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_018.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_018.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1ca52b4..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_018.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_019.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_019.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fde03c7..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_019.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_019_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_019_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 058316f..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_019_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_019fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_019fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 36fbf60..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_019fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_025.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_025.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 30f27c3..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_025.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_026.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_026.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 072fd2b..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_026.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_026_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_026_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 57a3dd5..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_026_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_026_2.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_026_2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c168202..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_026_2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_033.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_033.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 6a4b8ca..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_033.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_036.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_036.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2337dd9..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_036.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_037.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_037.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b225263..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_037.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_037_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_037_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c85ecec..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_037_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_037_2.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_037_2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5ed0da2..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_037_2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_043.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_043.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b190baa..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_043.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_045.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_045.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1548fd6..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_045.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_046.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_046.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e7eb870..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_046.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_046_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_046_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e1a16a2..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_046_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_057.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_057.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e33287e..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_057.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_058.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_058.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index aecbb29..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_058.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_058_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_058_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2c0ce99..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_058_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_058fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_058fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a4687ae..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_058fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_069.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_069.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index cc9e164..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_069.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_069_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_069_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 80dad1d..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_069_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_069_2.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_069_2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4b378ca..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_069_2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_078.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_078.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 16e1ecd..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_078.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_079.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_079.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d08f7ac..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_079.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_079_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_079_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ee8e2eb..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_079_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_088.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_088.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3ef8e66..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_088.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_089.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_089.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4288d2a..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_089.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_089_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_089_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 591ebe0..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_089_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_089fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_089fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 319a138..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_089fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_091.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_091.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5274448..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_091.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_092.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_092.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 45ef6d0..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_092.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_094fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_094fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d30c22e..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_094fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_095.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_095.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d2902ff..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_095.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_097.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_097.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 9311950..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_097.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_097fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_097fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 6df720d..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_097fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 44f4a05..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f83c194..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098_2.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098_2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1ccdeee..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098_2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8f1e087..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_098fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_101.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_101.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 094d4bc..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_101.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_105fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_105fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b264cf2..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_105fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_109.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_109.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c6b7d0e..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_109.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_110.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_110.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f173bdb..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_110.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_110_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_110_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a585d36..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_110_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_120.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_120.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 189f403..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_120.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_121.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_121.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b8815f4..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_121.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_121_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_121_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 39d9b99..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_121_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_133.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_133.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4e02d30..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_133.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_138.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_138.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 10c61c1..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_138.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_139.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_139.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b6daeaf..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_139.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_139_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_139_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e890ca5..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_139_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_155.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_155.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7109525..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_155.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_156.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_156.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 760c55f..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_156.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_156_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_156_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 08e51ae..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_156_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_159fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_159fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index cfa5a54..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_159fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_162.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_162.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 64e3ae6..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_162.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_163.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_163.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3dea803..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_163.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_163_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_163_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 53f3622..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_163_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_171fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_171fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 85690c4..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_171fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_177fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_177fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 72cba31..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_177fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_179.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_179.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f659c55..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_179.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_180.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_180.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 218198c..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_180.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_180_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_180_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b709c7c..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_180_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_186.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_186.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index aa60ed1..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_186.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_186_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_186_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a10801c..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_186_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_186fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_186fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3ef78ea..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_186fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_210.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_210.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4ce3dd1..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_210.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_210_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_210_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7ad884a..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_210_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_214fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_214fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 66ba922..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_214fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_217.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_217.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index bd9f311..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_217.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_218.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_218.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 0acbbfb..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_218.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_218_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_218_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index afda071..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_218_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_238.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_238.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7df336c..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_238.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_239.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_239.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fcc82a3..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_239.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_239_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_239_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index eb2b833..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_239_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_258fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_258fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 9f2d70a..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_258fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_260.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_260.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 326aa38..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_260.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_260_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_260_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 6fd9579..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_260_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_265.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_265.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ab19d0c..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_265.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_266.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_266.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 977a8ea..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_266.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_266_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_266_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4ed615c..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_266_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_269.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_269.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a156848..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_269.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_274.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_274.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 505d69b..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_274.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_275.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_275.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 83105ef..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_275.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_275_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_275_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 447d749..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_275_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_275fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_275fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3bc67bd..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_275fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_282.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_282.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8f9370b..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_282.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_282_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_282_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 697341b..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_282_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_290.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_290.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7fc9b78..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_290.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_291.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_291.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 515aac5..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_291.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_291_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_291_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a16bca6..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_291_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_298.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_298.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index de4473a..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_298.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_298_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_298_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3d917cf..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_298_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_305.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_305.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 99c90b9..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_305.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_305_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_305_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 31cc281..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_305_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_316.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_316.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3bf0c3d..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_316.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_317.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_317.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a8b44b5..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_317.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_317_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_317_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index eeace72..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_317_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_317fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_317fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8d2dbe9..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_317fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_325.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_325.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fa19009..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_325.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_326.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_326.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4febb07..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_326.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_326_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_326_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 02360b8..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_326_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_347.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_347.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fa933ee..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_347.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_348.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_348.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3294641..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_348.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_348_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_348_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d32f41c..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_348_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_362.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_362.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 24b3028..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_362.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_362_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_362_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 584cbc2..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_362_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_370.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_370.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 47be9f3..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_370.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_371.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_371.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7af1f3c..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_371.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_371_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_371_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index bebbd38..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_371_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_389.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_389.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7a4dd41..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_389.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_389_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_389_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f38cd4b..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_389_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_389fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_389fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index dc08cfa..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_389fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_396.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_396.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index faa777d..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_396.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_397.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_397.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4dd1569..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_397.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_397_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_397_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7dc8746..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_397_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_404.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_404.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 0e0d5c4..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_404.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_404_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_404_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 76b806e..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_404_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_412.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_412.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 040eb85..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_412.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_413.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_413.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 964b366..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_413.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_413_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_413_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b5aa8a5..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_413_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_417.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_417.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 6afd20b..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_417.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_417_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_417_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 87fc1ca..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_417_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_421.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_421.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 9efa3c6..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_421.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_421_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_421_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5536e76..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_421_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_421fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_421fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 13fc16e..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_421fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_426.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_426.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 48c1848..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_426.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_427.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_427.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3d2c34f..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_427.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_427_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_427_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 190276e..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_427_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_433.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_433.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fcdcd2b..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_433.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_434.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_434.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5a58ba1..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_434.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_434_1.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_434_1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b21107f..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_434_1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_434fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_434fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e002ba6..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_434fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_444fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_444fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 04ae19b..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_444fp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_448fp.jpg b/old/55131-h/images/i_b_448fp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a17f03a..0000000 --- a/old/55131-h/images/i_b_448fp.jpg +++ /dev/null |
