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Swear to sacrifice +your lives in their defence; to maintain them by your courage ever in the +path of victory.”—<cite>On the Day of the Presentation on the Field of Mars.</cite></p> + +<p class="b0">“The soldier who loses his Eagle loses his Honour and his All!”</p> + +<p class="p0 right"> +<cite>Address to the 4th of the Line after Austerlitz.</cite> +</p> + +<p class="b0">“The loss of an Eagle is an affront to the reputation of its regiment for which +neither victory nor the glory acquired on a hundred fields can make amends.”</p> + +<p class="p0 right"> +<span style="margin-right: 2em;"><cite>55th Bulletin of the Grand Army</cite>: 1807.</span><br> +<span class="smcap">Napoleon.</span> +</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="p2 center">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS</p> + +<p class="p4 center large"> +LONDON<br> +JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.<br> +<span class="small">1912</span> +</p> +<div> </div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="p4 center wspace"> +<span class="smcap">All Rights Reserved</span> +</p> +<div> </div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFACE">PREFACE</h2> +</div> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">This</span> book breaks fresh ground in a field of +romantic and widespread interest; one that +should prove attractive, associated as it is with +the ever-fascinating subject of Napoleon. Incidentally, +indeed, it may also help to throw +a new sidelight on certain characteristics of +Napoleon as a soldier.</p> + +<p>I venture to hope at the same time that it +will arouse interest further as offering independent +testimony to the valour of our own soldiers, the +Old British Army which, under Wellington, defeated +on the battlefield the veterans of the +Eagles whose feats of heroism and hardihood +are described in the book. Magnificent as were +the acts of fine daring and heroic endurance of +the men whom Wellington led to victory, no +less stirring and deserving of admiration were +the deeds of chivalrous valour and stern fortitude +done for the honour of Napoleon’s Eagles by +the gallant soldiers who faced them and proved +indeed foemen worthy of their steel. All who +hold in regard cool, self-sacrificing bravery +and steadfast courage in adversity and peril<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">vi</span> +will find no lack of instances in the stories of +what the warriors of the Eagles dared and underwent +for the name and fame of the Great Captain.</p> + +<p>The record of Napoleon’s Eagles in war has +never before been set forth, and the centenary +year of Badajoz and Salamanca and the Moscow +Campaign seems to offer a befitting occasion +for its appearance.</p> + +<p>The world, indeed, is in the midst of a cycle +of Napoleonic centenaries. Our own centenary +memories of Talavera—the victory of which +Wellington said, in later years, that if his Allies +had done their part, “it would have been as +great a battle as Waterloo”—of Busaco ridge +and Torres Vedras, of heroic Barrosa and desperate +Albuhera,—these are only just behind us. +Immediately ahead lie the centenaries of yet +greater events. In less than a twelvemonth +hence England will mark the centenary of +Vittoria, Wellington’s decisive day in Spain, +the crowning triumph of the Peninsular War; +and yet more than that in its import and sequel +for Europe. It was the news of Vittoria that, +in July 1813, decided Napoleon’s father-in-law +to throw Austria’s sword into the balance against +the Man of Destiny, compelling Napoleon, with +what remained of the Grand Army, to stand at +bay for the “Battle of the Nations” on the +Marchfeldt before Leipsic. Within six months +from then, the world, in like manner, will recall +the Farewell of Fontainebleau, and Elba; and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">vii</span> +finally, in the year after that, the British Empire +will commemorate the epoch-making centenary +of the greatest of all British triumphs in arms +on <span class="locked">land—</span></p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indentq">“Of that fierce field where last the Eagles swooped,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Where our Great Master wielded Britain’s sword,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And the Dark Soul the world could not subdue,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Bowed to thy fortune, Prince of Waterloo!”</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="in0">—the triple-event, indeed, of Waterloo, the +<i>Bellerophon</i>, St. Helena.</p> + +<p>The stories told here exist indeed, even in +France, only in more or less fragmentary form, +scattered broadcast amongst the memoirs left +by the men of the Napoleonic time. They have +not before been brought together within the +covers of a book.</p> + +<p>I have utilised, in addition to the personal +memoirs of Napoleon’s officers, French regimental +records, bulletins, and despatches +(noted in my List of Authorities), other official +military documents, contemporary newspapers, +both British and foreign, and information kindly +placed at my disposal by the authorities of +Chelsea Royal Hospital and the Royal United +Service Institution, and by friends abroad.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Edward Fraser.</span> +</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">ix</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> +</div> + +<table id="toc"> +<tr> + <td class="tdr xsmall" colspan="2">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">List of Authorities</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><span class="allsmcap"><a href="#LIST_OF_AUTHORITIES">XV</a></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Napoleon adopts the Eagle of Caesar</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Day of the Presentation on the Field of Mars</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">16</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">In the First Campaign</span>:</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec"><span class="allsmcap">UNDER FIRE WITH MARSHAL NEY</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_60">60</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec"><span class="allsmcap">THE MIDNIGHT BATTLE BY THE DANUBE</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_80">80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">On the Field of Austerlitz</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">96</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">In the Second Campaign</span>:</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec"><span class="allsmcap">JENA AND THE TRIUMPH OF BERLIN</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_123">123</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec"><span class="allsmcap">THE TWELVE LOST EAGLES OF EYLAU</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_150">150</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">x</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Preparing for the Future</span>:</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec"><span class="allsmcap">THE “EAGLE-GUARD”</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_181">181</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Before the Enemy at Aspern and Wagram</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">197</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">“The Eagle with the Golden Wreath” in London</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">214</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Other Eagles in England from Battlefields Of Spain</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">240</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">In the Hour of Darkest Disaster</span>:</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec"><span class="allsmcap">AFTER MOSCOW: HOW THE EAGLES FACED THEIR FATE</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_263">263</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec"><span class="allsmcap">AT BAY IN NORTHERN GERMANY—1813</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_291">291</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">That Terrible Midnight at the Invalides</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">316</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">xi</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Eagles of the Last Army</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">345</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">At Waterloo</span>:</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec">“<span class="allsmcap">AVE CAESAR! MORITURI TE SALUTANT!</span>”</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_375">375</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec"><span class="allsmcap">HOW WELLINGTON’S TROPHIES WERE WON</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_388">388</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec"><span class="allsmcap">THE LAST ATTACK AND AFTER: THE EAGLES OF THE GUARD</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_405">405</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl insec"><span class="allsmcap">THE EAGLES ANNOUNCE VICTORY TO LONDON</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#toclink_424">424</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">After the Downfall</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">432</a></td> +</tr> +<tr class="p2"> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Index</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#INDEX">437</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiii">xiii</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="ILLUSTRATIONS_AND_MAPS">ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS</h2> +</div> + +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> + +<table id="loi"> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Porte-Aigle, Imperial Guard, and Grenadier Sergeant in Parade Uniform</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><i><a href="#i_1">Frontispiece</a></i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl sub">From St. Hilaire’s <cite lang="fr">Histoire de la Garde Impériale</cite></td> + <td></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr xsmall" colspan="2">FACING PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr class="notpad"> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Marshal Mortier</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_90">90</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Marshal Soult</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_104">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl sub">In the uniform of Colonel-in-Chief of the Chasseurs of the Guard</td> + <td></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Marshal Davout</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_134">134</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Marshal Ney with the Rearguard in the Retreat from Moscow</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_282">282</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl sub">From a picture by A. Ivon, at Versailles</td> + <td></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl sub">Photo by Alinari</td> + <td></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Napoleon and the “Sacred Squadron” on the way to the Beresina</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_288">288</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl sub">From the picture by H. Bellangé</td> + <td></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Napoleon’s Farewell to the Old Guard at Fontainebleau</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_312">312</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl sub">From a print after H. Vernet, kindly lent by Messrs. T. H. Parker, 45, Whitcomb Street</td> + <td></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fight for the Standard</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_396">396</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl sub">Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys taking the Eagle of the 45th at Waterloo</td> + <td></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl sub">From the picture by R. Andsell, A.R.A., at Royal Hospital, Chelsea<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv">xiv</span></td> + <td></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Square of the Old Guard at Bay after Waterloo</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_412">412</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl sub">From the picture by H. Bellangé</td> + <td></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">La Revue des Morts</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_434">434</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl sub">From a picture by R. Demoraine</td> + <td></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<h3>MAPS</h3> + +<table id="maps"> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Outline Map of Napoleon’s Concentration in rear of Ulm, September 27 to October 18, 1805</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_82">82</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Sketch Plan of the Positions of the Armies at the opening of the Battle of Austerlitz</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_98">98</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Sketch Plan of the Battlefield of Eylau</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_154">154</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">plan of the Battle of Barrosa</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_222">222</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Waterloo. The Charge of the Union Brigade</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_394">394</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Waterloo—the Final Phase. Sketch Plan to show the attack and the defeat of the columns of the Guard</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_410">410</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">General Map</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i_436">436</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv">xv</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LIST_OF_AUTHORITIES">LIST OF AUTHORITIES</h2> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot hang"> + +<p><span class="smcap">Alison</span>: History of Europe.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Avrillon</span>, <span class="smcap">Pion des Loches</span>, <span class="smcap">Pelet</span>, <span class="smcap">Combes</span>, <span class="smcap">Du Roure de +Paulin</span>, <span class="smcap">Vionnet</span>, <span class="smcap">Bertin</span>, <span class="smcap">Thirion</span>, <span class="smcap">Noel</span>, <span class="smcap">Dupuy</span>, + <span class="smcap">Blaze</span>, +<span class="smcap">St. Chamans</span>, <span class="smcap">Vigée-Lebrun</span>, <span class="allsmcap">ETC.</span>: Souvenirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Barboux, General</span>: War Services.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bardin</span>: Dictionnaire de l’Armée. +<span class="smcap">Bardin</span>: Memorial de l’Officier.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Beamish</span>: The King’s German Legion.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Beauvais</span>: Victoires des Français, 1792–1815.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Berthezéne, General</span>: Souvenirs Militaires.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bignon</span>: Memoirs of Napoleon’s Campaigns.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bouillé</span>: Les Drapeaux Français.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bourrienne</span>: Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bugeaud, Marshal</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Byrne, Miles</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p>Catalogue:—Heeres Museum—Wien.</p> + +<p>Catalogue:—Real Armeria—Madrid.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cathcart, Hon. Sir C.</span>: Commentaries—1812–13.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Caulaincourt</span>: Recollections.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chambray</span>: History of the Russian Expedition.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Champeaux</span>: Honneur et Patrie.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Charbouclière</span>: Dictionnaire de l’Armée.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Charras</span>: Campagne de 1815.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chichester</span> and <span class="smcap">Short</span>: Records and Badges of the British +Army.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Colborn</span>: United Service Journal (<i lang="la">passim</i>): Regimental Histories +(British and French), etc.</p> + +<p>Correspondance Militaire de Napoléon.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cotton</span>: A Voice from Waterloo.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dalton</span>: The Waterloo Roll Call.</p> + +<p>Das Zeughaus zu Berlin.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Davout, Marshal</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">De Gonneville</span>: Souvenirs Militaires.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Demmin</span>: Weapons of War.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvi">xvi</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Desjardins</span>: Recherches sur les Drapeaux.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">De Suzanne, General</span>: L’Infanterie Française.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">De Suzanne, General</span>: La Cavalerie Française.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ducasse</span>: Visite à l’Hôtel des Invalides.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ducor</span>: Aventures d’un Marin de la Garde.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dumas, M.</span>: Souvenirs Militaires.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dumas, M.</span>: Précis des Evènemens Militaires.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fantin des Odoards, General</span>: Journal.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fézensac</span>: Journal of the Russian Campaign—1812–13.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fézensac</span>: Souvenirs Militaires.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Foy, General</span>: History of the War in Spain.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Gardner, Darsey</span>: Quatre Bras, Ligny, Waterloo.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Gleig</span>: Narrative of the Battle of Leipsic.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Gourgaud</span>: Napoleon and the Grand Army in Russia.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Grose</span>: Military Antiquities.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Home</span>: Précis of Modern Tactics.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hooper</span>: Waterloo: The Downfall of the First Napoleon.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Houssaye</span>: Napoléon, Homme de Guerre.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Houssaye</span>: Waterloo.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jeanneney</span>: Le Glorieux Passé d’un Régiment.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jomini</span>: L’Art de Guerre.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jomini</span>: Life of Napoleon I.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Junot, Marshal</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jurien de la Gravière</span>: Guerres Maritimes.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Labaume</span>: History of the Campaign in Russia.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lacroix, D.</span>: Les Maréchaux de Napoléon.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lacroix, D.</span>: Histoire Anecdotique du Drapeau Français.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lallemand</span>: Les Drapeaux des Invalides—1814.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lamartine</span>: History of the Restoration.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lanfrey</span>: History of Napoleon I.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">La Valette</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lejeune</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lemonnier-Delafosse</span>: Campagnes de 1810–15.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lyden</span>: Nos 144 Régiments de Ligne.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Macdonald, Marshal</span>: Recollections.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">MacGeorge</span>: Flags and their History.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Marbot</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Marbot</span> et <span class="smcap">De Noirmont</span>: Costumes Militaires Françaises.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Marmont, Marshal</span>: The Spirit of Military Institutions.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Masson</span>: Cavaliers de Napoléon. +<span class="smcap">Masson</span>: Livre du Sacre de l’Empereur. +<span class="smcap">Masson</span>: Souvenirs et Recits des Soldats.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Maxwell, Sir H.</span>: Life of Wellington. +<span class="smcap">Maxwell, Sir H.</span>: Victories of the British Armies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvii">xvii</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Maxwell, W. H.</span>: Peninsular War Sketches.</p> + +<p>Memoirs of Sergeant Bourgogne.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Menéval</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p>Military Costumes of Europe—1812.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Milne</span>: Standards and Colours.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Morvan</span>: Le Soldat Impérial.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Napier</span>: History of the Peninsular War.</p> + +<p>Narrative of Captain Coignet.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ney, Marshal</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Niox, General</span>: Drapeaux et Trophées.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Odeleben</span>: Napoleon’s Campaign in Saxony, 1813.</p> + +<p>[Officially Published] Historiques des Régiments de l’Armée.</p> + +<p>[Officially Published] Publications de la Réunion des Officiers.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oudinot, Marshal</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Parquin</span>: Campagnes d’un Vieux Soldat.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pattison</span>: Napoleon’s Marshals.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Penguilly l’Haridon</span>: Catalogue Musée d’Artillerie.</p> + +<p>Potsdam und seine Umgebung.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Rapp, General</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Rey</span>: Histoire du Drapeau.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Robert, Colonel</span>: Catalogue, Musée d’Artillerie.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Rose</span>: Life of Napoleon I.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">St. Hilaire</span>: Histoire de la Garde Impériale. +<span class="smcap">St. Hilaire</span>: Histoire Populaire de Napoléon I.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Savary</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ségur</span>: Au Drapeau. +<span class="smcap">Ségur</span>: History of the Expedition to Russia. +<span class="smcap">Ségur</span>: Memoirs. +<span class="smcap">Ségur</span>: Procès Verbal de la Couronnement de Napoléon.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Seruzier</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Shaw Kennedy, Sir John</span>: Notes on Waterloo.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sherer, Moyle</span>: Tales of the Wars.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Shoberl</span>: Narrative of the Battle of Leipsic.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Siborne</span>: Campaign of Waterloo.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Siborne</span>: Waterloo Letters.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sloane</span>: Life of Napoleon I.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Soult, Marshal</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Southey</span>: History of the Peninsular War.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Stendhal</span>: Journal and Correspondence.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Stocqueler</span>: The British Soldier.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Taylor, Sir Herbert</span>: Waterloo.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thiébault, Baron</span>: Memoirs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thiers</span>: Consulate and Empire.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Wellington</span>: Despatches.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xviii">xviii</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Wilson, Sir R.</span>: Narrative of Events in Russia, 1812. +<span class="smcap">Wilson, Sir R.</span>: Private Journal of the Russian Campaign.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Wood, Sir Evelyn</span>: Cavalry in the Waterloo Campaign.</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>(<span class="smcap">Note.</span>—This list is approximately complete, representing +about 90 per cent. of the total of authorities consulted +and laid under contribution.)</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">1</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_WAR_DRAMA_OF"><span class="larger">THE WAR DRAMA OF +THE EAGLES</span></h2> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I<br> + +<span class="subhead">NAPOLEON ADOPTS THE EAGLE OF CAESAR</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">Napoleon Bonaparte</span> became Emperor, “by +Divine Will and the Constitution of the French +Republic”—Imperator and hereditary Caesar +of the Republic—on Friday, May 18, 1804. +Three weeks later it was publicly announced +in the <i>Moniteur</i> that the Eagle had been adopted +as the heraldic cognisance of the new <i lang="fr">régime</i> +in France.</p> + +<p>Its selection for the State armorial bearing +of the Empire was one of Napoleon’s first acts. +That the Roman lictor’s axe and fasces surmounted +by the red Phrygian cap, with its +traditions of revolution, which had supplanted +the Fleur-de-Lis of the Monarchy, and had +served as the official badge on the standards +of the Republic and the Consulate, should +continue under the Imperial <i lang="fr">régime</i>, was +obviously impossible. But what distinctive +emblem should be adopted in its stead?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">2</span></p> + +<p>Napoleon had the question debated in his +presence at the first <i lang="fr">séance</i> of the Imperial +Council of State. He had, it would seem, not +made up his mind in regard to it. At any +rate, a few days before the meeting of the +Council, he had directed a Committee to draw +up a statement and offer suggestions.</p> + +<p>The matter was brought forward at the first +meeting of the Imperial Council, held at the +Château of Saint-Cloud on Tuesday, June 12, +1804, after a preliminary discussion on the +arrangements for the Coronation, when and +where it should be held, and what was to be +the form of ceremonial. The Coronation, all +agreed at the outset, must take place in the +current year. Rheims, Aix-la-Chapelle, and +Paris, in turn, were suggested as suitable places +for the ceremony, Paris being finally decided +on; the scene of the event to be the Champ de +Mars. Napoleon himself proposed the Champs +de Mars, with a threefold ceremony there—the +taking of the constitutional oath, the actual +coronation, the presentation of the Emperor +to the assembled people. A brief discussion +followed on the form of the coronation ceremony, +whether it should be accompanied by +religious rites. It was put forward that, as +Charlemagne had received his authority from +the Pope, might not the Pope now be induced +to visit Paris and personally crown the Emperor? +Napoleon, intervening in the discussion,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">3</span> +made a strong point of the necessity of some +kind of religious service on the occasion. He +did not care much, he cynically remarked, what +religion was selected; only it must be in +accordance with the views of the majority of +the nation. It would be impossible to do +without some sort of religious observance. In +all nations, said he, Ceremonies of State were +accompanied by religious services. As to +asking the Pope to take part, from his point of +view, at the moment, the attendance of a Papal +legate would be preferable. If the Pope himself +came to Paris, his presence would assuredly +tend to relegate the Emperor to a secondary +position: “Tout le monde me laisserait pour +courir voir le Pape!” The matter, however, +as the discussion proceeded, seemed to present +so many difficulties, that the Council, after +declaring themselves generally against having +any religious ceremony at all, decided to leave +the question for further consideration.</p> + +<p>On that the Council turned to deal with the +selection of the heraldic insignia and official +badge of the Empire.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE GALLIC COCK PROPOSED</div> + +<p>Senator Crétet, on behalf of the special +Committee appointed by Napoleon to prepare +a statement for the Council, presented his +report. The Committee, he said, had decided +unanimously to recommend the Cock, the +historic national emblem of Ancient Gaul, +as the most fitting cognisance for Imperial<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">4</span> +France. Should that not find favour with the +Council, either the Eagle, the Lion, or the +Elephant, in the opinion of the Committee, +might well be adopted. Individual members +of the Committee, added Crétet, had further +suggested the Aegis of Minerva, or some flower +like the Fleur-de-Lis, an Oak-tree, or an Ear +of Corn.</p> + +<p>Miot, one of the members of the Council, +rose as Crétet sat down, and protested against +the re-introduction of the Fleur-de-Lis. That, +he said, was imbecility. He proposed a figure +of the Emperor seated on his throne as the +best possible badge for the French Empire.</p> + +<p>He was not seconded, however, and Napoleon +interposed abruptly to set aside the Committee’s +suggestion of reviving the Gallic Cock. +He dismissed that notion with a contemptuous +sneer. “Bah,” he exclaimed, “the Cock +belongs to the farmyard! It is far too feeble +a creature!” (“Le Coq est de basse cour. +C’est un animal trop faible!”) Napoleon spoke +rapidly and vivaciously. He had not yet, in +those early days, acquired the impressive Imperial +style that he afterwards affected. “His +language at these earlier Council meetings was +still impregnated with his original Jacobin +style; he spoke frequently, spontaneously, +familiarly; monologued at the top of his voice +(avec des éclats de voix); apostrophised frequently, +appearing at times as though overcome<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">5</span> +with nervousness, now almost in tears, now +breaking out in a frenzy of passion, unrestrainedly +emphasising his personal likes and +dislikes.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE LION—THE ELEPHANT—THE BEE</div> + +<p>Count Ségur, Imperial Grand Master of the +Ceremonies, suggested the Lion as the most +suitable emblem: “parcequ’il vaincra le +Léopard,” he explained.</p> + +<p>Councillor Laumond proposed the adoption +of the Elephant instead; with for a motto +“<i lang="fr">Mole et Mente</i>.” The Elephant had a great +vogue at that day among European heraldic +authorities as being pre-eminently a royal +beast. There was a widely prevalent belief, +on the authority of old writers on natural +history, that an Elephant could not be made +to bow its knees. Further, too, the elephant +typified resistless strength as well as magnanimity. +And had not Caesar himself once +placed the effigy of the Elephant on the Roman +coinage? Nobody else at the Council, however, +seemed to care for the Elephant.</p> + +<p>Councillor Simon objected to Ségur’s proposition, +on the score that the Lion was essentially +an aggressive beast.</p> + +<p>Cambacérès, ex-Consul and Arch-Chancellor +of the Empire, suggested a swarm of Bees +as the most suitable national emblem. It would +represent the actual situation of France, he +explained—a republic with a presiding chief.</p> + +<p>Councillor Lacuèe supported Cambacérès. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">6</span> +Bee, he added, was the more suitable, in that +it possessed a sting as well as being a maker of +honey.</p> + +<p>Cambacérès remarked that he favoured the +idea of the Bee as typifying peaceful industry +rather than offensive power.</p> + +<p>The other members took no interest in the +idea of the Bee, and after some discursive +talk the Council fell back on the Committee’s +original suggestion of the historic Gallic Cock. +The general voice favoured the adoption of +the Cock, and they unanimously voted for it.</p> + +<p>That, however, would not do for Napoleon. +He sharply refused once more to hear of the +Cock in any circumstances. He had for some +minutes sat silent, listening to the discussion +until the vote was taken. On that he rose +and banned the Cock absolutely and finally.</p> + +<p>“The Cock is quite too weak a creature,” +he exclaimed. “A thing like that cannot +possibly be the cognisance of an Empire such +as France. You must make your choice between +the Eagle, the Elephant, and the Lion!”</p> + +<p>The Eagle, however, did not commend itself +to the Council. That emblem, it was pointed +out by several members, had been already +adopted by other European nations. For +France, such being the case, the Eagle would +not be sufficiently distinctive. The German +Empire had the Eagle for its cognisance. So +had Austria. So had Prussia. So had Poland<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">7</span> +even—the White Eagle of the Jagellons. The +Council was plainly not attracted by the Eagle.</p> + +<p>Lebrun, the other ex-Consul, Arch-Treasurer +of the Empire, now put in a word again for +the Fleur-de-Lis. It had been, he said, the +national emblem of France under all the previous +dynasties. The Fleur-de-Lis, declared Lebrun, +was the real historic emblem of France, and +he proposed that it should be adopted for +the Empire.</p> + +<p>Nobody, though, supported him, one member, +Councillor Regnaud, condemning the idea of +the Fleur-de-Lis as utterly out of date. “The +nation,” added Regnaud, with a sneer, “will +neither go back to the cult of the Lilies nor to +the religion of Rome!”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“YOU MUST CHOOSE THE LION!”</div> + +<p>At that point Napoleon lost patience. Interposing +to close the discussion, he curtly bade +the Council to cease from wasting time. They +must decide on the Lion for the Imperial +Emblem. His preference was for the figure of +a Lion, lying over the map of France, with one +paw stretched out across the Rhine: “Il faut +prendre un Lion, s’étendu sur la carte de France, +la patte prête à dépasser le Rhin.” Napoleon +proposed in addition, by way of motto, beneath +the Lion-figure, these defiant words: “<i lang="fr">Malheur +à qui me cherche!</i>”</p> + +<p>No more was said on the subject after that. +The Council submitted forthwith to Napoleon’s +dictation, and, as it would appear, without<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">8</span> +taking any formal vote, passed to the remaining +business of the day: the inscription on the +new coinage and certain amendments to the +Criminal Code.</p> + +<p>But even then, as it befell, the decision as +to the national emblem was not conclusive. +Napoleon changed his mind about the Lion +shortly after the Council had broken up. The +Lion as the designated cognisance of the French +Empire did not last twenty-four hours. Napoleon +himself, on the report of the Council +meeting being presented for his signature, +definitely rejected the Lion. He cancelled his +own proposition with a stroke of his pen. With +his own hand the Emperor struck out the +words “Lion couchant,” with the reference +to the map of France and the Rhine, writing +over the erasure, “Un Aigle éploye”—an +Eagle with extended wings. So Napoleon independently +settled the matter.</p> + +<p>Napoleon, as it would appear, in making +his ultimate choice of the Eagle, had this in his +mind. Charlemagne was ever in his thoughts +at that time as his own destined exemplar. +The Eagle of Charlemagne, it was now borne +in upon his mind irresistibly, had a pre-eminent +claim to be recalled and become the national +heraldic badge for the new Frankish Empire +of the West, as having been the traditional +emblem of Imperial authority in the ancient +Frankish Empire, the prototype and historic<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">9</span> +predecessor of the Empire of which he was +head. Said Napoleon, indeed, in justifying his +final adoption of the Eagle: “Elle affirme la +dignité Impériale et rappelait Charlemagne.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WHERE THE ARTIST GOT HIS DESIGN</div> + +<p>A commission to design the new Imperial +Eagle “after that of Charlemagne” was forthwith +given to Isabey (the elder Isabey—Jean +Baptiste), “Peintre et Dessinateur du Cabinet +de l’Empereur,” whose reputation was at that +moment at its zenith. The artist, however, +had no Carlovingian model to draw from, +and nobody, it would appear, could give him +any advice. He had to depict “Un Aigle +éployé”—a Spread-Eagle. Discarding heraldic +conventionalism, he produced the Napoleonic +Eagle of history; an Eagle <i lang="fr">au naturel</i>, shown +in the act of taking wing. The idea of it Isabey +took from a sketch he himself had made nine +years before, in the Monastery of the Certosa +of Milan, of an eagle sculptured on one of the +tombs of the Visconti.</p> + +<p>Following on his adoption of the Eagle for +the cognisance of the Empire at large, Napoleon +announced that the Eagle would in future +be the battle-standard of the Army. He had, +though, as to that Eagle, yet another thought +in his mind. For his soldiers he desired the +French Eagle to represent the military standard +of Ancient Rome, the historic emblem of +Caesar’s legionaries, with its resplendent traditions +of world-wide victory. That intention,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">10</span> +furthermore, Napoleon went out of his way +to emphasise significantly through the place +and moment that he chose for the promulgation +of the Army Order appointing the Eagle of +the Caesars as the battle-standard of the French +Empire. The Imperial rescript was dated from +the Camp of the “Army of the Ocean” at +Boulogne; from amidst the vast array of +soldiers mustered there for the threatened invasion +of England.</p> + +<p>At the same time Isabey’s design for one +Eagle would suffice as a model for the other. +It sufficiently suggested the Roman type. Like +Charlemagne, had not Napoleon led his army +across the Alps? like Caesar, was he not about +to lead it across the Straits?</p> + +<p>“The Eagle with wings outspread, as on the +Imperial Seal, will be at the head of the standard-staves, +as was the practice in the Roman army—(<i lang="fr">placée +au sommet du bâton, telle que la portaient +les Romains</i>). The flag will be attached at the +same distance beneath the Eagle, as was the +Labarum.” So Napoleon wrote in his preliminary +instructions from Boulogne to Marshal +Berthier, Head of the Etat-Major of the “Army +of England,” at that moment on duty at the +War Office in Paris.</p> + +<p>The Eagle, Napoleon directed, was of itself +to constitute the standard: “<i lang="fr">Essentiellement +constituer l’étendard</i>,” were Napoleon’s words. +He set a secondary value on the flag which the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">11</span> +Eagle surmounted. The flag to Napoleon was +a subsidiary adjunct.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE FLAG OF MINOR ACCOUNT</div> + +<p>Flags, of course, would come and go. They +could be renewed, he wrote, as might be necessary, +at any time; every two years, or oftener. +The Eagle, on the other hand, was to be a +permanency. It was to be for all time the +standard of its corps: also, to add still further +to its sacrosanct nature and <i lang="fr">éclat</i>, every Eagle +would be received only from the hands of the +Emperor.<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">1</a></p> + +<p>Every Battalion of Foot and Squadron of +Horse was to have its Eagle, which, on parade +and before the enemy under fire, would be in +the special charge of the battalion or squadron +sergeant-major, with an escort of picked veteran +soldiers; “men who had distinguished themselves +on the battlefield in at least two combats.”</p> + +<p>Exceptional care, Napoleon laid down, was +to be taken by regimental commanders that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">12</span> +no harm should befall the Eagle. In the event +of accident happening to it, a special report +was to be made direct to the Emperor. Should +it unfortunately happen that the Eagle was +lost in battle, the regiment concerned would +have to prove to the Emperor’s satisfaction +that there had been no default. No new +Eagle would be granted in place of one lost +until the regiment in question had atoned for +the slur on its character by either achieving +“<i lang="fr">éclatante</i>” distinction in the field, by some +exceptionally brilliant feat of arms, or by +presenting the Emperor with an enemy’s standard +“taken by its own valour.”</p> + +<p>The silken tricolor flag, as has been said, was +in the eyes of Napoleon of subordinate account. +It was to be considered merely as a set-off to +the Eagle, as merely “<i lang="fr">l’ornement de l’Aigle</i>.” +The Eagle, and the Eagle only, must be the +object of the soldier’s devotion. Napoleon paid +little regard to the flag, beyond as being of use +for displaying the record of a regiment’s war +career. He would have liked indeed, as it +would seem, to substitute another flag altogether, +and went so far as to have designs for a green +regimental flag submitted to him.<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">2</a> Prudence, +however, forbade its introduction, and directions +were issued that the general pattern of tricolor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">13</span> +standard in use under the Consulate should be +retained, with minor alterations of detail in +the design rendered necessary in consequence +of the new constitution of the State.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE LEGEND ON THE FLAG</div> + +<p>The regimental flags would consist of a white +diamond-shaped centre, with the corners of +the flag alternately red and blue; according +to the pattern authorised two years previously +by Napoleon as First Consul. Thus the national +colours would continue to be represented. For +the Infantry, in the centre of each flag would +be, on one side, the words “Empire Français,” +with the legend, inscribed in letters of gold, +“L’Empereur des Français au —<sup>e</sup> Régiment +d’Infanterie de Ligne,” which would take the +place of the Republican inscription hitherto +borne there; the number of each corps being +inscribed in the blank space and in a laurel +chaplet embroidered at each corner of the flag. +For Cavalry the inscription ran: “L’Empereur +des Français au —<sup>e</sup> Cuirassiers,” or “au —<sup>e</sup> +Chasseurs”; and so on for other corps, +Artillery, Dragoons, and Hussars.</p> + +<p>On the reverse, for corps of all arms, with the +exception of the Guard, was emblazoned the +motto “Valeur et Discipline,” and beneath it +the number of the battalion or squadron in +each regiment.</p> + +<p>Below the numbers was added any Inscription +of Honour which had been granted to the +corps, such as, in the case of one regiment,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">14</span> +“Le 15<sup>e</sup> est couvert de la Gloire”; in the +case of another, “Le Terrible 57<sup>e</sup> qui rien +n’arrête”; with others, “Le Bon et Brave 28<sup>e</sup>”; +“Le 75<sup>e</sup> arrive et bât l’Ennemi”; “J’étais +tranquille, le brave 32<sup>e</sup> était là”; “Il n’est pas +possible d’être plus brave que le 63<sup>e</sup>”; +“Brave 18<sup>e</sup>, je vous connais. L’Ennemi ne +tiendra pas devant vous”; and so on. These +were mostly quotations from “mentions in despatches” +made by Napoleon in regard to regiments +in his famous “Army of Italy,” authorised by +him, at first of his own initiative, and later as +First Consul, to be recorded as Inscriptions of +Honour on the regimental colours. The flags +of other corps bore names of victories of note +in which the regiments had taken part; as, +for instance, “Rivoli,” “Lodi,” “Marengo.”<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">3</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">15</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">PROPOSED FOR CORONATION DAY</div> + +<p>Napoleon overlooked nothing that might add +to the prestige of his Eagles. Not only would +he himself personally present its Eagle to +each regiment, but, further, there would be at +the outset a general presentation of Eagles in +Paris to the whole Army, which would be made +a State event of significance, and form an integral +part of the ceremony of his Coronation. On +that Napoleon had insisted, in reply to a technical +legal objection raised at one of the meetings of +the Council of State. It was not to be a Parisian +popular show. He was ready, indeed, he said, +to transfer the ceremony to Boulogne. “Je +rassemblerais deux cent mille hommes au camp. +Là j’aurais une population couverte des blessures +dont je serais sûr!” He gave directions that +the Presentation of the Eagles should take +place on the Field of Mars in front of the +Military School, on the same day as the Coronation, +and should follow immediately after the +religious service and his actual crowning and +consecration by the Pope in Notre Dame.<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">4</a></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">16</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II<br> + +<span class="subhead">THE DAY OF THE PRESENTATION ON THE FIELD OF MARS</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="sidenote">THE DAY FINALLY FIXED</div> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">The</span> Coronation, Napoleon first proposed, should +take place in the Chapel of the Invalides, on the +historic day of the 18th Brumaire (November 9). +Directly after it he would proceed in Imperial +State, wearing his crown and robes, to the Field +of Mars—the Champ de Mars, in front of the +Military School, a stone’s-throw away—there +to administer the Military Oath of Allegiance +to the Army and distribute the Eagles at a +grand review to be attended by representative +deputations from every regiment of the Army +from all over the Empire, assembled in Paris for +the occasion. It was found preferable, however, +that the Coronation service should take place +in the Cathedral of Notre Dame instead of at +the Invalides; and at a later date. Still, however, +Napoleon held to his first idea of proceeding +direct from the Coronation ceremony to the +Field of Mars. He insisted that the presentation +of the Eagles should follow as a joint ceremony +immediately after his own consecration service. +But there was Josephine to be considered. She<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">17</span> +was to accompany Napoleon throughout. The +Empress, for her part, on hearing what was +intended, declared herself physically incapable +of bearing the strain of the double ceremony, +and, in the result, Napoleon changed his original +purpose at the eleventh hour. He consented +to put off the presentation of the Eagles until +the following morning. That plan, in turn, had +to be altered. On the very afternoon of the +Coronation, on his return to the Tuileries from +Notre Dame, Napoleon found himself compelled, +in consequence of the Empress’s state of nervous +prostration after the fatiguing Cathedral service, +again to defer the ceremony of the presentation +of the Eagles. The Emperor now fixed the +following Wednesday, December 5, for the +“<i lang="fr">Fête des Aigles</i>,” as the Army spoke of it—three +days from then. There was no further +putting off after that.</p> + +<p>The plans for the muster were drawn up on +a grandiose and elaborate scale. They provided +for an immense attendance under arms of, +according to one account, eighty thousand men; +to comprise the Imperial Guard, and the garrison +of Paris, together with special detachments +sent to Paris as representative deputations by +every regiment and corps of the Army, from all +over the Empire. Over a thousand Eagles +altogether were to be presented: two hundred +and eighty to cavalry regiments; six hundred +odd to infantry, artillery, and special corps;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">18</span> +between forty and fifty to the Navy (one for +the crew of every ship of the Line in commission); +besides a hundred and eight to the departmental +legions of the National Guard, the constitutional +militia of Revolutionary France, which +Napoleon, for reasons of policy, could not pass +over. Every infantry battalion and cavalry +squadron, and brigade (or battery) of artillery +was to have its Eagle.</p> + +<p>Each infantry deputation, from both the +Imperial Guard and the Line, would comprise +the colonel or regimental commander, four other +officers, and ten sous-officiers and men from each +of the three battalions that at that period made +up a French regiment of Foot. In all, in addition +to the regiments of the Imperial Guard, +one hundred and twelve regiments of the Line +were to be represented, together with thirty-one +of Light Infantry, twelve of Grenadiers, and +one of foreign infantry. A deputation of fifteen +officers and men was to represent each of the +hundred and odd cavalry regiments of the +Guard and Line; and smaller individual detachments +would represent the various other +arms and branches of the service appointed to +receive Eagles. They would all pass before the +Emperor and receive their Eagles from him +personally, on behalf of their absent comrades, +the six hundred thousand men who at that +moment constituted the active field army of +France. From every French ship of the Line in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">19</span> +commission there would in like manner attend +ten officers and men.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE WHOLE ARMY REPRESENTED</div> + +<p>From far and near the detachments of soldiers +and sailors converged on the capital, marching +some of them hundreds of miles from the most +distant frontier garrisons of the Empire, and +being several weeks on the road. The deputations +of the First Army Corps, for instance, part +of which was stationed in Hanover, set off early +in October; some of its soldiers, quartered +by the Elbe, and with from four to five hundred +miles of road before them, started in the last +week of September. The detachments from +Italy and the Venetian frontier, for another +instance, the deputations from the 1st of the +Line, the 10th, the 52nd, and 101st of the Verona +garrison, had over eight hundred miles to go, +and started early in September. Quite an army, +indeed, was on the move along the highways +of France during October and November; all +heading for Paris, marching by day and being +billeted in the towns and villages by night. +A huge series of detachments came from the +camp of the “Army of the Ocean” at Boulogne +assembled for the invasion of England. Marshal +Soult, the Commander-in-Chief at Boulogne, +with Marshals Davout and Ney, preceded them, +Admiral Bruix, in charge of the Boulogne +“Invasion Flotilla” of gunboats and transports, +accompanying Soult. The troops in Holland; +the garrisons of the Rhine fortresses, such as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">20</span> +Mayence and Strasburg, and of Metz; that of +Bayonne on the Spanish frontier; troops at every +place of arms and cantonment and regimental +dépôt all over France—all sent their deputations; +also every outlying camp, every naval +port along the coast, from the Texel and Antwerp, +Brest, Rochfort, and L’Orient round to Toulon, +in the south.</p> + +<p>Orders were given in every case that the +detachments were each to bring the existing regimental +colours, which, it was understood, were to +be given up on parade in exchange for the Eagles.</p> + +<p>A roomy expanse of level ground several acres +in extent, an oblong-shaped area nearly three-quarters +of a mile in length and six hundred +yards across, the Field of Mars offered an ideal +place for a showy military spectacle. Thousands +of people could look on comfortably at the display +from the turfed slopes of the twenty-feet-high +embankment which skirted the Field of +Mars on three sides, and had been fitted up by +the municipality with rows of seats in closely +set tiers. As many as three hundred thousand +spectators, indeed, could on occasion be accommodated +there. The fourth side of the +Champ de Mars was bounded by the <i lang="fr">façade</i> of +the Ecole Militaire—three great domed blocks +of buildings connected together and affording +a grand view of the scene for hundreds of privileged +guests. The entire frontage of the +Military School to the height of the first-floor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">21</span> +windows was taken up for the Day of the Eagles +parade by an immense grand-stand, constructed +to form a series of pavilions for the accommodation +of the great official personages invited; with, +in the centre, in front of the lofty colonnaded +portico, a magnificently decorated Imperial +Pavilion, whence Napoleon and Josephine seated +on their thrones would look on and receive +the homage of the Army.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE WEATHER ON THAT MORNING</div> + +<p>The only thing that was unpropitious was the +weather. It proved, as far as the weather went, +an unfortunate change of date. The day of the +Coronation, December 2—it was, by the way, +Advent Sunday—had been cold and trying, +with lowering clouds overhead, but dry. On the +Monday, Napoleon’s second choice, it was much +the same out of doors; and on the Tuesday +the weather kept fair. Then, however, it +changed. During Tuesday afternoon the glass +began to go down ominously and a chilly wind +from the south-east set in. Towards ten at +night rain and sleet in incessant showers began +to fall—typical Frimaire weather, in keeping +with the character of the “sleety month.” +“When it did not rain,” says somebody, “it +snowed, and between whiles it rained and snowed +at the same time.” That was what the weather +was like when Wednesday morning broke; but +in spite of it the Imperial programme was to +be carried out in its entirety, and hundreds of +thousands of intending spectators braved the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">22</span> +discomfort and started early to get a good place +for witnessing the historic display.</p> + +<p>All Paris turned out early, prepared to sit +out the day from eight in the morning until +probably after four in the afternoon, packed in +dense masses round the Champ de Mars.</p> + +<p>The heavy firing of salvos of artillery soon +after dawn, from a dozen points all over Paris, +ushered in the day’s doings. The whole city +was already, as has been said, astir and in the +streets, making its way to the Champ de Mars. +Everywhere dark columns of cloaked soldiers, +horse and foot, artillerymen without their guns, +were tramping along through the slush and mud +for their posts; some to take part on the route +of the procession, which was to start from the +Tuileries; most of them bound for the Field of +Mars. Along the streets to be passed by the +Imperial procession the houses were gaily decked +out with festoons and branches of evergreens, +or with coloured hangings and drapings. +Oriental rugs of gorgeous hues and patterns, +hired or borrowed for the Coronation week, +hung from most of the windows; they were the +favourite form of decoration. Here and there +flags were seen, but it was not the fashion in +Paris at that day to fly flags largely on days of +public rejoicing.</p> + +<p>At ten o’clock the cannon again thundered +out an Imperial salute—a hundred and one guns. +All knew what that was for, and there was a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">23</span> +hush of expectation all over Paris. The guns +meant that the Emperor had started; that the +Imperial State procession had left the Tuileries. +At that moment the chilly drizzle of sleet was +still coming down, but the universal enthusiasm +rose superior to the wet and cold. No weather +could damp the anticipations of the excited +Parisians over the Imperial spectacle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MURAT COMMANDS THE PARADE</div> + +<p>On the Champ de Mars, as the guns began to +fire, the soldiers—all long since in their places +drawn up in closely massed columns, that ranged +right round the parade ground on three sides—stripped +off and rolled up their soaked cloaks, +fixed bayonets, and stood to arms. Murat, +Governor of Paris, Commander-in-Chief on the +parade, took post in front of the Imperial +Pavilion before the Ecole Militaire: a gorgeous +figure in a bright blue velvet uniform coat, +resplendently embroidered with gold, a lilac +sash with crimson stripes round his waist; in +scarlet breeches braided with gold, purple leather +Hessians, trimmed and tasselled with gold, with +gleaming gold spurs and sabre-scabbard; wearing +a Marshal’s cocked hat with crimson ostrich-plumes, +and mounted on a no less splendidly +caparisoned charger, with leopard-skin and +crimson and gold saddle-trappings. A brilliant +<i lang="fr">entourage</i> of staff officers and dandy aides de +camp, daintily attired in pearl-grey uniforms, +with silver lace, or in crimson and green and +gold, clustered in rear of their chief.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">24</span></p> + +<p>Simultaneously, the massed bands of the +Imperial Guard, who had been playing national +airs and popular music at times during the past +hour, formed to the front near by.</p> + +<p>For the time being, until after the Emperor +should arrive and take his seat on the throne, +the troops on parade, comprising the Army +deputations to receive the Eagles, remained +as they had been marshalled on arrival; arranged +in a vast fan-shaped formation round +three sides of the Champ de Mars. The entire +Imperial Army of Napoleon stood represented +within that space: Imperial Guard, and Line, +Cavalry and Artillery; the sailors of the Navy; +the National Guard,—the <i lang="fr">mise en scène</i> presenting +a tremendous impression of martial power, as +all stood formed up in close order, in their full-dress +review-uniforms, muskets held stiffly at the +support, bayonets fixed.</p> + +<p>The Imperial procession set off in full State, +accompanied by much the same display of +martial pomp that had attended the great +Coronation progress to Notre Dame of three +days before. It moved off in a pelting squall +of sleet; but, almost immediately afterwards, +as though Heaven would fain spare the show, +within a few minutes of the start, the sleet and +rain ceased and the weather unexpectedly improved.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE MAMELUKES LEAD THE WAY</div> + +<p>Foremost of all, the mounted Mamelukes of +the Guard came prancing by, radiant in Oriental<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">25</span> +garb, their curved scimitars drawn and gleaming; +a hundred swarthy figures in scarlet calpacks +swathed round with white turbans, garbed in +vivid green burnous-cloaks well thrown back to +display gold-embroidered scarlet jackets, bright +straw-coloured sashes, and baggy scarlet trousers. +Their famous Horse-tail Standard headed the +squadron. Eight hundred stalwart troopers of +Napoleon’s pet regiment, the corps whose +uniform he always wore in camp, the Chasseurs +of the Guard, followed immediately after the +Mamelukes. An ideal <i lang="fr">corps d’élite</i> they looked +as they rode by, in their bristling busbies of +dark fur topped with waving crimson and green +plumes, dark green double-breasted jackets, and +crimson breeches; with crimson pelisses hanging +at the shoulder, fur-trimmed and barred with +yellow braid in hussar style. These two corps +led the van of the procession.</p> + +<p>The first set of Imperial coaches, with six +horses each and outriders, thereupon came by. +They carried mostly State magnificos and +grandees of exalted position at Court. Coach +after coach went slowly past at a dignified pace: +eight—nine—ten—eleven—conveyances, all spick +and span with new gilding and varnish. The +twelfth coach, beside which rode a bevy of +smart equerries, held the Princesses of the +Bonaparte family: five grown-up ladies and the +little daughter of Princess Louis. It was +rather a tight squeeze, for the five Imperial<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">26</span> +Highnesses were plump and bulky persons, and +had to be wedged closely; they brought with +them too, each lady, several yards of train, +brocaded stuff with stiff edging of gilt-gimp, +and thick purple and emerald green velvet +mantling, which had all to be got in and kept +from crumpling as much as possible! What +they said to one another has not been recorded—they +were usually free-spoken women with +comments for most things ready to their tongues, +like other daughters of the Revolution. At any +rate this is known. They were in white silk +dresses, low necked, and, in spite of their close +packing, shivered with the cold, which they felt +bitterly. “We were all,” related a Lady of +Honour elsewhere in the procession, “thinly +dressed, as for a heated ball-room, and had only +thin Cashmere shawls to keep our shoulders +warm with.”</p> + +<p>Then came more soldiers. The immediate +escort of the Emperor now appeared. Sitting +erect and stiff in their saddles, the Carabiniers +rode up—the senior cavalry regiment of France—eight +hundred picked horsemen uniformed in +Imperial blue and crimson and gold, with helmets +of burnished brass, over which nodded thick +tufted crests of crimson wool. The officers, +superb beings adorned with breastplates of +gleaming brass, led the regiment. The Carabiniers +claimed to be the only corps of the +Napoleonic Army which could prove continuity<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">27</span> +with the Old Royal Army, if not indeed with +the historic “Maison du Roi” itself, the Household +Brigade of the Monarchy, owing to a +curious oversight at the Revolution through +which the regiment had escaped dispersal.</p> + +<p>Then came the Man of the Hour.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE IMPERIAL COACH APPEARS</div> + +<p>Napoleon now appeared, in his brand-new +Imperial State coach. Eight noble bays drew +it—with harness and trappings of red morocco +leather studded with golden bees. A marvellous +vehicle to look at was Napoleon’s coach, gleaming +all over with gilded carved work; its roof +topped by a great golden crown, modelled “after +that of Charlemagne,” as people told one another, +upheld by four glistening gilded eagles. The +State coach sparkled all over, looking as if +encrusted with gold; a gleaming mass of carved +and gilded decorations, representing allegorical +emblems, heraldic designs, and coats of arms in +colour.</p> + +<p>Napoleon’s head coachman of the Consulate +days, César, sat on the box, his fat form embedded +in the centre of a luxurious hammer-cloth +of scarlet velvet, spangled over with +golden bees. Outriders in green and gold and +walking footmen beside the horses added their +part; also half a score of Pages of Honour, hanging +on all round at the sides and back of the coach, +in green velvet coats, gold laced down the seams, +with green silk shoulder-knots, scarlet silk +breeches and stockings, and white ostrich-plumes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">28</span> +in their jaunty black velvet hats: most of the +lads future officers of the Guard. At either +side rode Equerries and <i lang="fr">Officiers d’Ordonnance</i>, +in white and gold or pale blue and silver.</p> + +<p>To the crowds that lined the streets the State +coach was a sight of the day—the coach, for +some, as much as the Emperor. All Paris, +of course, had not been able to find room round +the Field of Mars, spacious as the accommodation +there was. The pavements all along the streets +from the Tuileries were packed with a dense +crowd, which pressed everywhere close up behind +the double rows of Gendarmes and Imperial +Guardsmen keeping the processional route.</p> + +<p>They shouted “Vive l’Empereur!” lustily, +for all had a good view of Napoleon through the +great glass windows of the coach; seated inside +on the right, wearing his ostrich-feathered cap +of semi-State, a gold embroidered purple velvet +mantle, and the Grand Master’s collar of the +Legion of Honour, sparkling with costly gems.</p> + +<p>Josephine, a slender figure in ermine cloak +and white silk dress, sat on Napoleon’s left, and +on the front seats sat Joseph and Louis, side +by side—the elder brother sleek and smiling, +wrapped up in a poppy-red cloak as Grand +Elector of the Empire; Louis Bonaparte wearing +his blue velvet Constable’s mantle over the +brass breastplate of the Colonel-in-Chief of the +Carabiniers, to which rank Napoleon had specially +promoted Louis, with the idea of maintaining<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">29</span> +an old tradition of the Monarchy that the titular +Commander of the Carabiniers should always +be a Prince of the Blood, “<i lang="fr">Frère du Roi</i>.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">CHIEFS OF THE “MAISON MILITAIRE”</div> + +<p>Napoleon’s Imperial Standard was borne +immediately after the State coach; a crowned +eagle heading the staff; the flag a silken tricolor, +richly fringed with gold and bespangled with +golden bees.</p> + +<p>Four of the Marshals, readily recognised by +their scarlet ostrich-plumes and gold-tipped +bâtons of command, attended the Standard, and, +as Colonels-General of the Imperial Guard, led +the Imperial Military Household, the “Maison +Militaire de l’Empereur.” The four were: +Davout, titular chief of the Grenadiers of the +Guard; Soult, Colonel-General of the Chasseurs; +Bessières, of the Heavy Cavalry; Mortier, of +the Guard Artillery. Close behind them four +other gorgeously brilliant officers of rank rode +abreast, the Colonels-General of the Cavalry +of the Army: St. Cyr, of the Cuirassiers, disdainful +and sardonic of mien; stern Baraguay +d’Hilliers, of the Dragoons; good-looking Junot, +Colonel-General of the Hussars; and Napoleon’s +son-in-law, the chivalrous Eugène Beauharnais, +Colonel-General of Chasseurs. A brilliant +cavalcade of little less resplendent cavaliers, +the Emperor’s aides de camp, all of them Generals +of Division or Brigadiers, rounded up the +group.</p> + +<p>Another eye-surfeit of gleaming varnish, gilded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">30</span> +carvings, and green liveries continued the +pageant: twelve other State coaches, six-horsed +like those in advance; carrying the personal +suites of Napoleon and Josephine and the +Princesses, Court Chamberlains and similar gold-embroidered +functionaries, Ladies of the Palace +and “Officers of the Crown.” The procession +ended after them; the rear being brought up +by the Mounted Grenadiers of the Guard, +strapping troopers in huge bear-skins—soldiers +picked for their height and bearing from the +Cavalry of the Line—and the Gendarmerie +d’Elite, who formed the Imperial palace-guard.</p> + +<p>More than half the Imperial Guard—numbering, +in 1804, ten thousand officers and men—lined +the streets under arms; detachments of Grenadiers +and Vélites, Foot-Chasseurs, Veterans of +the Guard, Marines of the Guard. Through +double rows of these, all standing with presented +arms, the procession took its way, passing from +the Tuileries Gardens, across the Place de Concorde +and over the bridge there, to the Esplanade +des Invalides. Yet another thundering Imperial +salute from the twenty old cannons of the Batterie +Triomphale greeted Napoleon at that point; +while rows of old soldiers, the maimed veterans +of Arcola and Rivoli and Marengo, shouted +themselves hoarse, standing ranged in front of +the Outer Court beside Napoleon’s Venetian +trophy, kept there temporarily, the Lion of St. +Mark.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">31</span></p> + +<p>From the Invalides, by way of the Rue de +Grenelle, it was not far to the Military School.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WITHIN THE MILITARY SCHOOL</div> + +<p>Withindoors at the Ecole Militaire a pause was +made in the Governor’s apartments, which +had been sumptuously furnished for the occasion +from the Imperial storerooms of the <i lang="fr">Garde +Meuble</i>. Napoleon here accepted a number of +selected addresses from the military delegations. +One of them was brought by the regimental +deputation of the 4th Chasseurs stationed at +Boulogne. It thanked the Emperor in advance +for the new standard he was presenting to the +corps, “trusting that the day is at hand when +we shall be able to contribute towards consolidating +the splendour of the Empire by planting +our Eagle on the Tower of London.” The +Emperor also received the congratulations of +the Ambassadors and Diplomatic Corps. Ten +hereditary German Princes of the Rhineland, +visiting Paris for the Coronation, attended at +the Military School to witness the Presentation +of the Eagles; at their head the Prince-Bishop-Elector +of Ratisbon, Arch-Chancellor of the +German Empire, the Margrave of Baden, and the +Princes of Hesse-Darmstadt and Hesse-Homburg. +Napoleon and Josephine after that withdrew +to assume their crowns and Imperial regalia +and pass outside to the two thrones prepared +for them and standing side by side in the grand +central pavilion in front.</p> + +<p>The vast array of “guests of the Emperor,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">32</span> +seated outside, had of course been long since +in their places, awaiting the advent of their +Majesties amid surroundings designed on a +scale of lavish magnificence regardless of cost.</p> + +<p>On either hand pavilions and galleries and +platforms, canopied and carpeted, draped and +curtained and hung in crimson and gold, decorated +with festoons and banners, and fenced +with gilded balustrading, covered the whole +length of the <i lang="fr">façade</i> of the Ecole Militaire fronting +the parade ground. In the centre stood the +Imperial Pavilion, beneath a canopy of crimson +silk supported by tall gilded columns. Side +galleries draped, and under awnings led from it +right and left to two other pavilions, at either +end of the <i lang="fr">façade</i>, similarly adorned in lavish +gorgeousness. Below the galleries extended +long stands, sloping forward to the ground, +draped in green and crimson, and packed with +rows of seats five or six deep. Here, partly +in the open, sat the provincial Coronation guests +from the Departments: the local prefects and +sub-prefects, procurators, magistrates and +syndics, mayors and councillors, and other +municipal functionaries, all in gala-day attire +of every colour, plumes in their hats, and buttons +and embroidery all over their coats. They +made a many-hued show in the mass, seen from +the parade ground. The higher State dignitaries +had seats under the canopies of the +galleries, and looked yet more decorative.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">33</span> +Seated in the pavilions on cushioned chairs were +the Ambassadors and Foreign Princes, the Senate, +Corps Legislatif, and Tribunate, High Court +Judges in flowing robes of flame-coloured silk, +and velvet-clad “Grand Officers of the Empire,” +in full-dress all. They looked imposing and +magnificent, but most of them were shivering, +with damp bodies and numbed fingers.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">IN THE IMPERIAL PAVILION</div> + +<p>The sleet had stopped for the time, but after +the all-night’s downpour of rain and snow the +seats everywhere were in a sad condition. +Canopies and cushions, curtains, seats, carpets—everything +had been drenched through and +swamped during the night. The discomfort, +however, was past helping and had to be borne. +The Imperial Pavilion itself indeed had not +escaped a wetting, and in parts it was in little +better condition than the other places. “Only +with the greatest diligence,” describes one of the +suite, “had it been possible to keep the thrones +dry.”</p> + +<p>Napoleon’s throne, with beside it the throne +for Josephine, at a slightly lower elevation, stood +at the front of the Imperial Pavilion. A gilt-framed +crimson velvet Chair of State was +provided for the Emperor, with a crowned eagle +in gilt stucco perched on the back; made on the +model of Dagobert’s chair on which Napoleon +had sat during the ceremony of the distribution +of the Crosses of the Legion of Honour at +Boulogne. As on that day, so now, trophies of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">34</span> +captured battle-flags adorned the back of the +Imperial daïs, selected from the two hundred +and odd standards taken in battle by the Armies +of Italy and Egypt which Napoleon had led in +person: trophies of Montenotte and Arcola, of +Tagliamento and Lodi, of Rivoli and Castiglione; +the red-and-white banner of the Knights of +Malta; the green Horse-tail Standard of the +Beys of Egypt; Austrian standards won by +Napoleon at the crowning triumph of Marengo.</p> + +<p>To right and left of the Emperor, on richly +decorated chairs of ceremony, Joseph and Louis +Bonaparte and the Princesses were seated. +The Imperial suites in attendance were grouped +at the back together with a cluster of court +grandees, filling most of the spacious platform +behind the throne.</p> + +<p>In the forefront, at the Emperor’s right hand, +stood a splendid galaxy of stalwart figures—the +Marshals of the Empire. They stood forward +prominently. For them that was the day +of days. All must see on such a day the champion +warriors of France, the renown of whose +victories had filled the world! The whole +eighteen were there—all except one. Marshal +Brune alone was absent; on service out of +France as Napoleon’s Ambassador at Constantinople. +The group was completed by the four +“Honorary Marshals”—the veteran Kellermann, +the victor of Valmy; Perignon; Serrurier; and +Lefebvre.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">35</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE LIEUTENANTS OF THE WAR LORD</div> + +<p>Glance for one moment round the main group +of thirteen, the chosen lieutenants of Napoleon +the War Lord, as they stand beside their Chief, +with, arrayed in front, the serried columns of +the destined victors of Austerlitz. Next to the +Emperor and the Eagles it is they who on this +Day of the Eagles are the principal objects of +interest to the general spectator.</p> + +<p>Let the reader for one moment imagine himself +on the Imperial Pavilion, with at his side +a convenient friend who knows everybody, to +point the marshals out.</p> + +<p>That short, spare, low-browed, swarthy, +Italian-faced man, with crafty, pitiless eyes, is +Masséna—“L’Enfant chéri de la Victoire,” +as Napoleon himself hailed him on the battlefield; +the very ablest undoubtedly of all the +Marshals. He knows it too. When the list of +the Marshals first came out, a friend called on +Masséna to know if it was true that he was one, +and to congratulate him. “Oh yes, thank you,” +replied Masséna in an icy tone, puckering up his +dark face with a sour look, “I am one; <em>one of +fourteen</em>!” He’s Italian in blood and breeding, +and in his tricky ways; every point about him: +but he’d give his soul to be a Frenchman! +“Massène” is what he is always trying to get +people to call him. And the airs and self-importance +he assumes—though only like most +of the others in that, indeed—ever since he +became “Monseigneur le Maréchal” and has<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">36</span> +had the honour of being addressed as “Mon +Cousin” by the Emperor! Just think of it! +In the old days, behind the counter of that little +olive-oil and dried-fruit shop up a narrow, +smelly back street at Antibes, plain “Citoyen +André” was good enough! Just look at that +thin, pouting chest, gleaming all over with gold +embroidery, with the broad crimson riband of +the Legion of Honour slanting across it, and +the aggressive tilt of his ostrich-plumed hat! +Imagine all that being once upon a time just +a cabin-boy on a Marseilles to Leghorn coaster, +half-starved and sworn at and cuffed and kicked +about by a curmudgeonly <i lang="it">padrone</i>! Then fancy +it a sneaking smuggler, chevied about, and +crouching along to keep out of carbine shot +of the Nice <i lang="fr">douaniers</i>! After that Sergeant +Masséna of the late King’s <i lang="it">Royal Italien</i> regiment +of the Line! And so to the bâton.</p> + +<p>They are most of them rather <i lang="fr">tête montée</i> +just now, with their exaltation spick and span +on them, these demi-gods of war of ours! Just +see them in the field, or on the march; away +from the Emperor. They stalk ahead in solitary +grandeur; each with his own <i lang="fr">pas seul</i>, keeping +the lesser creation at arms’ length, wrapped up +in his own dignified importance. Yet only six +months since their lofty Excellencies were mere +generals of division, “Citoyen Général” this or +that, each one; just units among a hundred +and twenty odd others! Nowadays, on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">37</span> +march, your Marshal rides by himself, forty +yards ahead of everybody; his staff have to +tail off well in rear and keep back! M. le +Maréchal doesn’t deign to open his lips, except +to give an order. He lives by himself: nobody +now is good enough to ask to dinner, except +perhaps another marshal! No off-duty pleasantries +nowadays; no more <i lang="fr">bon camaraderie</i>; +no more telling of Palais-Royal stories, +as it used to be; no more cracking of jokes +beside the bivouac fire. You might as well +expect a bishop to have a game of marbles! +Let a former brother-officer <i lang="fr">tutoyer</i> a marshal! +Poor fellow! Let him try, if he wants to know +what a paralysing, rasping, cold-blooded snub +is, to get a flattening backhander he’ll remember +as long as he wears the uniform.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">TWO FAMOUS HARD FIGHTERS</div> + +<p>That tall, bull-necked, heavy-featured man is +Augereau; “gros comme un tambour-major”; +absolutely fearless under fire, kind-hearted to +those he takes a fancy to, they say, but ordinarily +a coarse-tongued swashbuckler, with barrack-room +manners. There too is Lannes, that +keen-eyed, short man, holding his head as if +he had a crick in his neck! He has one, a +permanent one, the result of a bullet under +the jaw from a British marine’s musket in the +trenches at Acre. A hot-tempered, fiery, devil-may-care +fellow is Lannes; but as cold as ice +on the battlefield when things look like going +wrong! Among friends, chivalrous and generous-hearted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">38</span> +to a degree, his men worship Lannes; +“the Roland of the Grand Army,” some call +him. That is Moncey: and that very tall and +erect, dry, rather dense-looking, hawk-nosed +marshal with the shaggy eyebrows, Mortier. +Mark Bernadotte there, that shifty-eyed Gascon +with a sharp nose and thick hair; of medium +height,—nobody really trusts him. An ingrained +Jacobin—strip his arm and you will +find tattooed on it, indelibly, for life, “Mort +aux rois”—and a schemer, Napoleon named him +a Marshal for political reasons mainly; although, +no doubt, he has the same soldier-qualifications +as the rest; has won a pitched battle or taken +two fortresses. A cunning, plausible fellow is +Bernadotte; with ready smile and a smooth +tongue. He calls everybody “Mon ami” whether +he is talking to a brigadier or a bugler. “Que +diable fait il dans cette galère?” say a good +many people of the Commander of the First +Army Corps. Over yonder stands Bessières, +Murat’s great friend; a gentlemanly enough +fellow, but at times thick-headed, hardly of the +mental calibre of his confrères. Yet Bessières +is an ideal leader of Horse on the battlefield; +as reckless as a lion at bay: you should see him +head a charge sword in hand! One of Napoleon’s +pets is he and the only man in the Army who +sticks to his queue. Bessières flatly refused +to cut it off when the order was given last June +for everybody to copy “Le petit tondu” (“The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">39</span> +little shorn one”), as the men call the Emperor, +and it hangs halfway down his back.</p> + +<p>That dark, sleek-faced, heavy-eyed man is +Jourdan, Commander-in-Chief once of the Army +of the Revolution. “The Anvil,” some call +him, he has been so often soundly beaten. +But, all the same, he was too popular with the +Army for Napoleon to pass him over. Jourdan +it was who invented the conscription system. +He started in life as a linen-draper at Grenoble. +There is of course, too, Brune, who isn’t here +to-day: but he doesn’t count for much. A +minor-poet and a journalist was he once upon +a time. He’s another of the clever-tongued +Jacobins the Emperor gave the bâton to as a +sop.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON’S RIGHT-HAND MAN</div> + +<p>Look near the Emperor, at that neat athletic +figure, of middle height: that is “Old Berthier.” +He is from ten to fifteen years older than most +of the other marshals; or, in fact, than the +Emperor himself. Berthier, in fact, is old enough +to have been a captain in the Army of the <i lang="fr">ancien +régime</i>, and can remember how he first smelt +powder fighting under Lafayette and Washington +against the British in America. He was a staff +officer when Napoleon first came to the Ecole +Militaire here from Brienne, as a boy gentleman-cadet. +A heaven-born Chief of the Staff +is Marshal Berthier, and the Emperor without +him in a campaign would be like a man +without his right hand. Every detail goes like<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">40</span> +clockwork with Berthier at the head of the +Etat-Major.</p> + +<p>You should see the two of them on campaign, +working together in the Quartier-Général. +Napoleon will be sprawling on his stomach at +full length over a huge set of maps which cover, +spread out, nearly the whole floor of the tent; +an open pair of compasses in his hand, a box of +pins with little paper flag-heads, red, blue, yellow, +green, at one side, some of them already stuck +over the map marking the positions of the +different corps and of the enemy. He has the +compasses set to scale, to mark off some +seventeen to twenty miles, which means from +twenty-two to twenty-five miles of road, taking +into account the windings. To and fro he +twists and turns the compasses like lightning +and decides in an instant the marches for each +column to arrive at the desired point, all timed +exactly to the very day and hour with an astonishing +certainty and precision. He calls out his +instructions in half a dozen words or so, sharply +snapped out, for Berthier, who all the time is +standing near, bending down at Napoleon’s +shoulder, notebook and pencil in hand, to take +down. Old Berthier has a veritable instinct +for understanding what the Emperor means. +He can interpret the smallest grunt Napoleon +makes. He can spin out three or four broken +ejaculations into detailed orders for an Army +Corps, all worked out with absolute clearness,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">41</span> +in beautiful language. It is amazing how he +does it, but he does do it. A staff officer, or +else Bacler d’Albe, the Imperial Military Cartographer, +the officer in charge of the maps, it +may be, is all the while also kneeling by the +pin-box, and has the pins of the right colour +out and stuck in the maps as fast as the Emperor +wants them. The instant the Emperor is satisfied, +Berthier is off, and with the secretaries +at work in his own quarters drafting the orders. +Then, before you know well where you are, a +dozen <i lang="fr">estafettes</i> are galloping all over the +country with the orders—in the case of a very +important order sometimes three or four staff +officers each take a copy, to ride by different +routes so as to minimise the risk of delay or +capture. That is the working of Berthier’s +system, and there is not often a miscarriage or +serious hitch in the delivery.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MARSHALL SOULT</div> + +<p>And mark Soult, the coming man of the Marshals +when he gets his chance; a wary old +dog-fox for an enemy to tackle. A sergeant +of infantry in the old “Royal Regiment” +of former days, the old 13th of the Line, +then a drill-instructor of Volunteers, now he is +at the head of the Army at Boulogne for the +descent on England. Hardly even the Emperor +knows more about tactics than Soult. Note how +self-possessed and masterful he looks, so cold +and impassive of demeanour. Those eyes that +seem to pierce through you, those clear-cut<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">42</span> +aquiline features, that face like a mask of bronze, +show the character of the man. You wouldn’t +think though, to see his fine soldier-like figure +as he stands there, a warrior born to look at, +that Soult is not only lame from a fall from his +horse years ago, but has limped from his birth, +from a club-foot.</p> + +<p>That bald-headed marshal over there is +Marshal Davout, a dashing subaltern of Dragoons +once in the Old Royal Army. A fine +tactician for a hot place is Davout; and when +the fight has been won, no leader so harsh and +pitiless to the vanquished enemy. He wears +spectacles on service: he can hardly see ten +yards in front of his big nose. The ladies are +very fond of Davout; he waltzes so nicely.</p> + +<p>And that other there is Marshal Ney; “the +Indefatigable” is the Army’s name for him. He +never spares himself, nor the enemy, on the +battlefield; but after the last shot there is no +more generous victor than Marshal Ney. For +sheer dogged pluck against odds, for simply +marvellous intrepidity, the world cannot match +Ney. Stalwart and square-shouldered, he carries +himself with all the jaunty assurance of manner +you would expect in perhaps the most dashing +leader of hussars the Army of France has known. +He is an Alsatian, born by the Rhine; a pleasant-faced +man, with frank grey eyes, curly red hair +over a broad open forehead. “Red Michael” +is one of the soldiers’ names for Ney; and there<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">43</span> +is not one of the Marshals for whom his men +would do more.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLES AWAIT NAPOLEON</div> + +<p>Such, if it may be permitted to describe them +in this way, is something of what the Marshals +of Napoleon looked like on the day of the +Eagle presentation on the Field of Mars. All +eyes were turned on the Marshals as they stood +there beside Napoleon; a brilliant array of +soldierly figures in their red ostrich-plumed +cocked hats, richly laced uniforms, gleaming +brass-bound sword-scabbards and high jack-boots +with clanking brass spurs.</p> + +<p>From the foot of the throne a grand staircase +led down to the parade ground, widening out +with a curving sweep to either side at the foot. +It terminated there with, flanking the lower +steps, two gilded statues, designed to represent, +the one, “France granting Peace,” the other, +“France making War.” From top to bottom +of the stairs and extending at the foot to right +and left along either side, stood in rows the +colonels of the regiments on parade, together +with the senior officers of the National Guard, +all awaiting the Emperor’s appearance on the +throne. Each bore the new Eagle standard to +be presented to his own corps. All were at +their posts as the appointed moment neared, +while at the same time Murat and his attendant +cavalcade of brilliantly bedecked horsemen +closed in and formed up in front, so as immediately +to face Napoleon.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">44</span></p> + +<p>On either hand of Murat were ranked the +massed bands of the Imperial Guard, flanked +by two solid phalanxes of drummers, each a +thousand strong. Near by these were drawn up +on horseback, on one side the officers of the Head +Quarters Staff at the War Office, on the other, +the staff officers of the army corps of the Marshals.</p> + +<p>Napoleon and Josephine made their entry +into the Grand Pavilion heralded by a procession, +the bands of the Guard playing the Coronation +March. Then, to the accompaniment of +three successive shouts of “Vive l’Empereur!” +from the soldiers—the formal greeting to +Napoleon on parade, in accordance with Army +regulation—the Emperor seated himself on +the throne. He was in full Imperial garb, wearing +his Imperial mantle of rich crimson velvet +studded with golden bees, and the Imperial +crown, a golden laurel chaplet “after Charlemagne.” +In his right hand he bore the Imperial +sceptre, a tall silver-gilt wand with an eagle +surmounting it, also designed, as they said, +“after Charlemagne.”</p> + +<p>Seating himself with Josephine at his side, in +her State robes and with a magnificent crown +of diamonds on her head, Napoleon gave the +order for the proceedings to begin.</p> + +<p>Murat, as Governor of Paris, in immediate +command of the parade, raised his glittering +marshal’s bâton. The bands of the Guard +ceased playing abruptly. The next moment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">45</span> +the two thousand infantry drums began to beat. +It was the appointed signal for the detachments +to advance and form up in front of the +throne.</p> + +<p>At once, at the first roll of the drums, the +soldiers ranged round the ground began to +move.</p> + +<p>Wheeling some, counter-marching others, here +rapidly doubling, there marking time—looking, +indeed, for the moment, at first, in the mass, +to the untrained eye of the non-military spectator +like a swarming ant-heap in motion and +inextricably intermingled—like magic all suddenly +appeared in order, a series of columns, the +heads of which, arrayed at regular intervals, +were in unison converging concentrically towards +the foot of the grand staircase in front +of the throne. A dozen paces in rear of where +Murat stood all halted as one man. There was +a quick movement of bayonets as arms were +shouldered; the action making a glint of flashing +steel in spite of the dull grey light overhead.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON FACES THE PARADE</div> + +<p>Every sound was hushed as Napoleon rose to +his feet. He faced the wide-spreading multitude +and gazed silently over them for a moment; +standing well forward where all might see him. +Then he addressed the parade in strong vibrant +tones which rang out clear and resonant over +the whole assembly like a trumpet-note. In +words that seemed to thrill with intensified +energy he called on the soldiers before him, on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">46</span> +behalf of themselves and their absent comrades, +to take the oath of devotion to the Eagles.</p> + +<p>“Soldiers!” he began, his right arm outstretched +with an impassioned gesture towards +the Eagles, whose bearers held them stiffly +erect, all glancing and gleaming like polished +gold, the bright-hued silken flags unfurled, +“behold your standards! These Eagles to you +shall ever be your rallying-point. Wherever +your Emperor shall deem it needful for the defence +of his throne and his people, there shall they be +seen!”</p> + +<p>He paused. Then raising his right hand in +the air with a swift strenuous movement Napoleon +pronounced the oath:</p> + +<p>“You swear to sacrifice your lives in their +defence: to maintain them by your courage +ever in the path of Victory! You swear it?”</p> + +<p>The vast gathering stood as though spellbound. +For one instant all remained motionless +and silent, held down as it were by overmastering +emotion.</p> + +<p>Then, all together, with one accord, the soldiers +found their voices. With a thundering shout +that seemed to shake the air, the Army made +its response, answering back in one deep chorus:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“WE SWEAR IT! WE SWEAR IT!”</div> + +<p>“<i lang="fr">Nous le jurons!</i>”—“We swear it!”</p> + +<p>One and all enthusiastically re-echoed the +words; while the colonels excitedly brandished +and waved aloft the Eagles. In a frenzy of +martial ardour the entire assembly, at the top<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">47</span> +of their voices, again and again declaimed, +“We swear it! We swear it!” A wild prolonged +outburst of cheering followed, and +exuberant shouts of “Vive l’Empereur!”</p> + +<p>Before the cheering had abated, the drums +broke in again. The sharp clash and rattle +recalled all to order instantly. Again a dead +silence fell over the great host, standing now +with recovered arms.</p> + +<p>Up once more went Murat’s marshal’s bâton. +The next moment the dense-set columns were +standing stock-still like rows of statues, with +arms at the shoulder.</p> + +<p>Napoleon resumed his seat on the throne, and +as he did so yet once more a wave of enthusiasm +swept over the vast array. Redoubled shouts of +“Vive l’Empereur!” burst wildly forth, the +soldiers pulling off their hats or helmets, and +hoisting them on the points of their bayonets, +excitedly waving them, while they shouted +themselves breathless.</p> + +<p>Again the drums rolled, and again order was +restored. And now the supreme act of the +drama opened—the formal presentation of each +Eagle to its own regimental deputation.</p> + +<p>Forthwith the wide-fronted columns, breaking +swiftly into quarter-column formation, began to +move, section by section, in turn. Rapidly, +and, as it almost seemed, automatically, they +resumed their first formation, extending round +the Field of Mars on three sides. From front<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">48</span> +to rear the quarter-columns took up a full mile +and three-quarters. Ranked in close order, the +long-drawn-out array of troops on that set off, +to a stately march from the bands of the Guard, +to pass along the front of the Military School, +before the flanking pavilion, and galleries and +stands. So, in due course, all in turn came +opposite to the foot of the great stairway ascending +to the throne.</p> + +<p>Each section, as it came in front of the steps, +made a pause. The Colonels at the same +moment were passing in file before Napoleon. +Each in turn inclined the Eagle that he bore towards +the Emperor. He held the staff at an +angle of forty-five degrees—the regulation method +of salute, in accordance with an Imperial order +issued in the previous July, when the adoption +of the Eagle as the Army standard was first +announced. Napoleon on his side, with his +ungloved right hand, just touched each Eagle. +The Colonels, then, saluting, turned, one after the +other, to descend the stairs. At the foot of the +stairway each delivered over the Eagle to the +standard-bearer of his regiment, who, together +with the deputation, was at the spot to receive it.<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">5</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">49</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE ONLY EXISTING NAVAL EAGLE</div> + +<p>With the Eagles in their charge the regimental +parties moved on. Passing in front of the +stands and pavilions beyond, all wheeled there,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">50</span> +to pass again round the arena of the Field of +Mars, until they had reached their former +stations, and halted, all ranged in the order in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">51</span> +which they had taken post at their first +arrival.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLE OF THE IRISH LEGION</div> + +<p>There remained after that the grand <i lang="fr">finale</i>.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">52</span> +The March Past of the Eagle detachments before +Napoleon now came on, designed as the consummation +of the day’s doings.</p> + +<p>In connection with that, however, there was +an unfortunate incident. On the Field of Mars +were displayed also the old Army colours of the +Consulate, which, as has been said, had been +brought to Paris at the order of the War Minister +by the regimental deputations. Paraded together +with the new Eagles they helped to +render the scene the more striking; but their +presence led to an unforeseen complication, +and in the end a deplorable <i lang="fr">contretemps</i>.</p> + +<p>The standard-bearers who had received the +Eagles were each, in addition, still carrying the +old regimental flag. They had to carry both. +No instructions had been given out—by oversight, +most probably—as to the giving up of the +old flags, or what was to be done with them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ALL DID NOT WANT THE EAGLES</div> + +<p>It may have been that Napoleon desired that +the standards of the Consulate and the Eagles +of the Empire should be displayed together +on that day. None knew better than he the +deep attachment of the older men in the ranks +for their former battle-flags. Some of the old +soldiers, indeed, even there on the Field of Mars, +as we are told, were unable to restrain their +feelings at the idea of having to part that day +from their old colours. “More than one tear +was shed,” relates an officer, “amidst all the +cheering and shouts of ‘Vive l’Empereur!’”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">53</span> +Enthusiastically as most of the soldiers might +welcome the new Eagles in the presence of the +Emperor, all did not desire to part with colours +which had led through the battle-smoke on many +a victorious field of the past, even in exchange +for the glittering “Cou-cous,” as barrack-room +slang had already dubbed Napoleon’s Eagles, +giving them in advance a soldier’s nickname +that stuck to them as long as the Army of the +Empire lasted.</p> + +<p>Both sets of standards were carried in the +march past, which proceeded without incident +to a certain point.</p> + +<p>It was an effective display of the lusty manhood +of France, of the pick of the Grand Army in its +prime; not yet made <i lang="fr">chair au canon</i> to gratify +the ambition of one man. A curious commingling, +too, of fighting costumes did the review +present for the general spectators; those of +yesterday side by side with those of the coming +time. Three-fourths of the soldiers went by +wearing the stiff Republican garb of the expiring +<i lang="fr">régime</i>, as adopted hastily at the outset of the +Revolution: the long-skirted coat, cut after the +old Royal Army fashion, but blue in colour +instead of white, and with white lapels and +turn-backs; long-flapped white waistcoats, +white breeches, and high black-cloth gaiters +above the knee, such as their ancestors had worn +in the days of Marshal Saxe; the old-style big +cocked hat, worn cross-wise, or “en bataille,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">54</span> +as the soldiers called it, with a flaunting tricolor +cockade in front. The new Napoleonic style +was represented by the Imperial Guard and +Oudinot’s Grenadier Division from Arras and +the Light Infantry battalions, whose turn out +in smartly cut coatees faced with red and green, +with the tall broad-topped shakos pictures of +the time make us familiar with as the normal +presentment of the soldiers of the Empire, +attracted special attention.<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">6</a></p> + +<p>During the March Past, Frimaire suddenly +reasserted itself, and brought about the regrettable +incident that was to wind up the day.</p> + +<p>The parade was three parts through, when, all +of a sudden, a tremendous downpour of cold +rain set in, discomfiting and scattering all +who were looking on. With the drenching +effect of a shower-bath the rain commenced to +pour down in torrents, causing an immediate +stampede among the general public. The rearmost +columns of the soldiers had to pass before +empty benches, tramping along stolidly through<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">55</span> +the mud, “splashing ankle-deep through a sea +of mud,” as an officer put it.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE SPECTATORS DISAPPEAR</div> + +<p>The spectators one and all disappeared. The +immense crowd of sightseers left the benches on +the embankment round the Champ de Mars, +and fled home <i lang="fr">en masse</i>. The seat-holders on +the open stands in front of the Ecole Militaire +scurried off in like manner. The occupants of +the pavilions and galleries, half drowned by the +water that streamed down on them through the +awnings, quitted their places in haste to seek +shelter within the building. The downpour +saturated the canopy of the Imperial Pavilion +and dripped through. It compelled Josephine +to get up from her throne and hurry indoors. +The Princesses promptly followed the Empress’s +example, all except one—Napoleon’s youngest +sister, Caroline Murat. Caroline sat the March +Past out to the end, together, of course, with +Napoleon himself and the Marshals, and those +Court officials who had to stay where they were. +Soaked through, she smilingly remarked that +she was “accustoming herself to endure the +inconveniences inseparable from a throne!”</p> + +<p>Then, at the close of the review, came the +<i lang="fr">contretemps</i>.</p> + +<p>After the last Eagle had gone past the throne, +when Napoleon had left on his way back to the +Tuileries, as the troops were moving off the +ground to return to their quarters, unanticipated +trouble suddenly arose in connection with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">56</span> +the old flags. What happened may best, +perhaps, be described in the words of an eye-witness, +a General present on the Field of Mars, +Baron Thiébault:</p> + +<p>“Immediately after the Emperor had gone +and the seats all round were empty, finding it +tiresome to be loaded with the double set of +standards, all the more so, no doubt, as it was +raining, the standard-bearers apparently could +think of nothing better than to rid themselves +of the superseded flags. They began everywhere +to throw them down, that is, to drop them where +they stood in the mud. There they were trampled +under foot by the soldiers as they passed +along on their way back to quarters.”</p> + +<p>The outrage scandalised the older soldiers, +and very nearly brought about a mutiny among +some of them.</p> + +<p>“Indignant,” to continue in General Thiébault’s +words, “at such an outrage to national +emblems which the Army had been honouring +and defending for thirteen years past, many of +the men in the regiments began to grumble and +make angry protestations. Presently oaths and +violent imprecations burst out on all sides; +and then some of the grenadiers became mutinous +and defiant. They declared that they would +go back, regardless of the consequences, and +forcibly recover possession of the old colours.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE SITUATION JUST SAVED</div> + +<p>The situation speedily became so threatening +that General Thiébault hastened off to warn<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">57</span> +Murat of what was happening. As he went he +came across one of the adjutants of the Commandant +of the Military School. On the spur +of the moment he gave him orders to get +together what men he could of the party who +had been keeping the parade ground. Of +these Thiébault took personal charge and sent +them round at once to collect the thrown-down +colours and carry them inside the Ecole +Militaire.</p> + +<p>Apparently that satisfied the soldiers—anxious, +most of them, to get out of the wet as soon +as possible.</p> + +<p>General Thiébault tried after that to find +Murat, intending to report to him; but Murat +had by then left the Field of Mars. In the end +the General decided, as perhaps the wisest +course, to refrain from saying anything; not +to take official notice of what had happened. +After all he was not on duty at the parade; he +was only in Paris as an invited guest at the +Coronation festivities. Nobody, as a fact, said +a word of the affair. By the authorities all +reference to it seems purposely to have been +hushed up. Not a hint of anything of the sort +appeared in the <i lang="fr">Moniteur</i>, which published a +fairly full report of the day’s proceedings; not +a word in any of the other Parisian papers.</p> + +<p>For the soldiers a dinner of double rations at +the Emperor’s expense wound up the Day of the +Eagles; for the great personages there was “a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">58</span> +banquet at the Tuileries, at which the Pope and +the Emperor sat side by side at the same table, +arrayed in their Pontifical and Imperial insignia +and waited upon by the Grand Officers of the +Crown.” Afterwards, without delaying in the +capital, the deputations set off on their return +to rejoin their regiments. Their arrival at their +various destinations was celebrated everywhere, +by Imperial order, by a full-dress parade and +State reception of the Eagle by each corps; +the occasion being further treated as a fête-day +and opportunity for a general carousal in +camp or garrison. At Boulogne the regiments +of the “Army of England” took over their +Eagles at a grand review on December 23, +Marshal Soult presiding over the ceremony.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE CLOSE OF THE DAY</div> + +<p>The old standards of the Consulate, some +bearing on them the battle-scars of Marengo and +Hohenlinden, remained where General Thiébault’s +assistants had left them stacked, leaning +up against the wall in one of the corridors of +the Military School, until they were carted off +in artillery tumbrils to the central dépôt at +Vincennes. There, on New Year’s Day of 1805, +they were officially made away with; burned +to ashes in the presence of an ordnance department +official told off to certify to their complete +destruction. That was the authorised method +in France of disposing of the standards of a +discredited <i lang="fr">régime</i>; but all the same it was +a hard fate for national emblems that had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">59</span> +waved victoriously over so many a hard-fought +field.</p> + +<p>Such were the principal scenes and incidents +of the Day of the Field of Mars when Napoleon +presented the Eagles of the Empire to the +Soldiers of the Grand Army.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">60</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III<br> + +<span class="subhead">IN THE FIRST <span class="locked">CAMPAIGN:—</span></span></h2> +</div> + +<h3 id="toclink_60"><span class="smcap">Under Fire with Marshal Ney</span></h3> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">The</span> Eagles made their <i lang="fr">début</i> on the battlefield +amid a blaze of glory. Within a twelvemonth +of the Field of Mars they had swooped irresistibly +across half the Continent, leading forward +victoriously through the cannon-smoke in combat +after combat, to achieve the crowning +triumphs of Ulm and Austerlitz. Within the +twelvemonth they witnessed the overwhelming +defeat of more than 200,000 foes, the capture +of 500 cannon, while 120 standards had been +paraded before them as spoils of victory.</p> + +<p>In the first fortnight of September 1805, +Austria and Russia, as the protagonists in +Pitt’s great European Coalition against Napoleon, +declared war on France, and an army of +80,000 Austrians traversed Bavaria in hot +haste, to take post at Ulm by the Danube, +on the frontiers of Würtemberg. There they +proposed to hold Napoleon in check, until their +Russian allies, whose advance by forced marches +through Poland had already begun, could join<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">61</span> +hands with them. After that they would press +forward in resistless force to cross the Rhine +and invade France.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON’S OPENING MOVE</div> + +<p>But Napoleon was beforehand with them from +the outset. Within twenty-four hours of the +ultimatum reaching his hands he had made +the opening move in the campaign: the lion, +whose skin had been sold, had crouched for +the fatal spring.</p> + +<p>General Mack, the Austrian Commander-in-chief, +entered Bavaria on September 8. On +September 1 Napoleon’s “Army of the Ocean” +had struck its tents in Boulogne camp and +started on its way, with plans laid that ensured +Mack’s overthrow. A hundred and eighty thousand +soldiers were hastening along every high-road +through Hanover, Holland, and Flanders, +and in eastern France, towards the great plain +of central Bavaria, to deal the Austrians the +heaviest and most resounding blow ever yet +dealt to a modern army.</p> + +<p>Napoleon, screening his movement by means +of Murat’s cavalry, sent ahead on a wide front +to occupy the attention of the Austrian outposts, +made a bold sweep right round Mack’s +right flank. Before the Austrian general had +any suspicion that there was a single Frenchman +on that side of him, the entire French army had +passed the Danube in his rear, and had blocked +the great highway from Vienna. Napoleon at +the first move had cut the Austrian line of communication<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">62</span> +with their base. He had barred +the only route by which the Russians could +approach to Mack’s assistance.</p> + +<p>That done, swiftly and successfully, while +Mack, startled and utterly staggered at the +sudden appearance of the enemy in his rear, +was hurriedly facing about in confusion, to try +to hold his ground, Napoleon struck at him +hard. He hurled attack after attack in force +on the Austrian flanking divisions, on both +wings of Mack’s army, and broke them up. +Taking thousands of prisoners and many guns, +he drove the wreck, a disorganised mass of +scared and helpless battalions, in rout to the +walls of Ulm itself. Penned in there, ringed +round by 100,000 French bayonets, with the +French artillery pouring shot and shell into +the doomed fortress from commanding heights +within short range, General Mack, left now +with barely 30,000 men, after a despairing +interview with Napoleon, was terrorised into +immediate surrender at discretion.</p> + +<p>Amid such scenes did the Eagles of the Field +of Mars undergo their baptism of fire. Ever +in the forefront under fire, brilliantly, time and +again, did those who bore them do their duty.</p> + +<p>It was round the Eagles of Marshal Ney’s +corps, “the Fighting Sixth,” that the fiercest +contests of the campaign centred; and on every +occasion they gained honour.</p> + +<p>In the sharp brush at the bridge across the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">63</span> +Danube at Reisenburg, near the small town of +Günsburg, on October 8, one of the opening +encounters of the campaign, the Eagle of the +59th of the Line showed the way to victory. The +Austrians, whom Ney surprised on the south +side or right bank, retreating as the French +approached, had partially broken down the +bridge before Ney’s men could reach the place.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AT THE BRIDGE OF GÜNSBURG</div> + +<p>The Danube flows wide and deep at Reisenburg, +and there was no other means of getting +over.</p> + +<p>Ney had explicit orders from Napoleon to +cross over and occupy Günsburg, and to hold +the river passage. As the 59th, who led the +attack, got to the bridge, a long and narrow +wooden structure, the Austrian sappers were +hard at work destroying it; covered by a rearguard +brigade of infantry and artillery. The +planking had been ripped away, but most of the +bridge framework and supporting beams still +stood. The 59th came up and opened fire, +compelling the sappers to withdraw. Then a +hasty effort was made by the pioneers of the +regiment under fire to repair part of the bridge. +They made a way across with planks wide +enough for a few men to scramble over together. +“In places only one man could get across at a +time.”</p> + +<p>At once the 59th rushed forward cheering, +but the concentrated Austrian fire from the +other side was too hot to face. They were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">64</span> +beaten back three times, the dead and wounded +falling into the rushing stream below. But +were they not the 59th? No other of the regiments +following them in rear should have +the honour of being the first to make the passage! +The Eagle-bearer of the 59th, weaving the Eagle +aloft, headed a fourth attack; with Colonel +Gerard Lacuée, the colonel of the regiment, +a distinguished officer and an Honorary A.D.C. +to the Emperor, beside him. The two led out +in front, regardless of the storm of bullets round +them. Colonel Lacuée fell mortally wounded. +An officer ran forward and carried the Colonel +back to die on the river-bank, but the Eagle-bearer +went on. “Soldiers,” the brave fellow +stopped for an instant to turn round and shout +back to his comrades, “your Eagle goes forward! +I shall carry it across alone!” The men of the +59th, thrown into a frenzy at the sight of their +Eagle’s peril, rallied instantly to follow. The +four leading companies held on bravely and got +across. Then they charged the Austrians at +the point of the bayonet and drove them back +into the village. That, though, was not all. +Fresh Austrians had turned back to help their +rearguard troops. Firing from the river-bank +on either side of the village, for a time they +stopped the other French regiments from crossing +the bridge after the 59th. Austrian dragoons +and infantry at the same time charged the +gallant regiment, entirely isolated now on that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">65</span> +side of the river. But they could not break the +59th. Forming square, the two battalions, with +their Eagles held on high as rallying-centres, +kept a host of foes at bay. Three fierce Austrian +charges did they beat off—and then help +arrived. A second regiment, the 50th, had by +then managed to get across the bridge. The +two regiments maintained themselves there all +the afternoon until nightfall and then bivouacked +on the ground they had won until morning, +“passing an anxious time, under arms, unable +to light a fire. Fortunately, in the dark the +Austrians did not realise our small numbers. +They were more anxious to cover their own +retreat.” Before daylight the Austrians fell +back and the passage of the Danube was won.</p> + +<p>There was another morning’s work on +October 11.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLES AT HASLACH</div> + +<p>At Haslach, on the north bank of the Danube, +not far from Ulm, a brigade of Dupont’s Division +of Ney’s corps, advancing on that side on its +own account, was suddenly set on by five times +its number of Austrians. The brigade was made +up of three regiments: the 9me Légère (or +9th Light Infantry), the 32nd, and the 69th. They +stumbled, as it were, suddenly on the Austrians, +whereupon General Dupont, who was riding +with the brigade, on the opposite side of the +river from the rest of his troops, “judging that +if he fell back it would betray his weakness,” +made a dash at the enemy. His daring deceived<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">66</span> +the Austrians, who believed that he was the +advanced guard of a large force close behind. +They held back at first and awaited attack. +Throwing the 32nd into Haslach to hold the +village, Dupont boldly charged with the two +other regiments, and at the first onset made +1,500 prisoners, numbers equal to a quarter of +his total force. The Austrians, however, rallied +and returned to the fight. They brought up +reinforcements and entrenched themselves in +the village of Jüningen, near by, where again +Dupont attacked them. Five times did the +9th Light Infantry take and retake Jüningen +at the point of the bayonet, their two battalion +Eagles heading the attack each time. No fewer +than six officers, bearing the Eagles in turn, fell +in the fight. “Ces corps ne devaient étonner +de rien,” commented Napoleon in praising +Dupont and his men.</p> + +<p>At Elchingen, a village in the immediate +neighbourhood of Ulm, the scene of the brilliant +victory by which Marshal Ney won his title of +Due d’Elchingen, the Eagles of two regiments +won distinction, through the individual heroism +of the officers who, holding them on high,—“En +haut l’Aigle!” was the charging cry—led +the onset that stormed the place.<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">7</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">67</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLES STORM ELCHINGEN</div> + +<p>Ney headed the 6th Light Infantry personally, +“in full uniform and ablaze with decorations, +offering a splendid target to the enemy.” Ney +led the 6th with the Eagle of the First Battalion +carried close at his side. Fifteen thousand +Austrians with forty guns held Elchingen, and the +post is described as being “one of the strongest +positions that could be imagined.” The village +itself, a large place, consisted of “successive piles +of stone houses, intersected at right angles by +streets, rising in the form of an amphitheatre +from the banks of the Danube to a large convent +which crowns the summit of the ascent. All the +exposed points on heights were lined with +artillery; all the windows filled with musketeers.” +The village was on the north bank, and +the river had to be crossed to get to it.</p> + +<p>First the gallant 6th Light Infantry stormed +the bridge. It had been partly destroyed by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">68</span> +the Austrians on the day before, and its tottering +arches were now swept by cannon-balls, +plunging down from batteries on the heights in +rear, and a tornado of bullets from sharpshooters +in the houses near the river-side. Fighting their +way forward step by step, the 6me Légère went +on. Their Eagle headed the advance. Its +bearer was wounded, but he proudly brandished +on high the standard; its silken flag torn to +tatters by bullets, and with one wing of the +Eagle broken by a shot. With the 6th fought +the 69th of the Line. The two regiments forced +their way along the steep crooked main street +up hill, fired down on furiously meanwhile +from the windows. Parties of men at times +entered the houses at the sides and fought the +enemy inside bayonet to bayonet, from floor +to floor. The 6th and the 69th pressed forward, +broke down the enemy’s resistance, and carried +Elchingen. The Austrians finally, after a gallant +attempt to hold out in the convent on the +hilltop, abandoned it as fresh French troops +came up from across the river.</p> + +<p>On the battlefield, when the fight was over, +Napoleon, with the Imperial staff round him, +publicly congratulated Marshal Ney (he named +him later “Duc D’Elchingen”) in the presence +of the 6th Light Infantry and the 69th, specially +paraded at the spot for the occasion.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLES AT ULM</div> + +<p>The Eagles of Ney, again, were foremost at +the winning of the final fight at Ulm. They<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">69</span> +led the furious onrush that stormed the steep +heights of Michelsberg and Les Tuileries, the +key of the last Austrian position. Thence Napoleon +looked down directly into the fortress; and +within an hour of Ney’s brilliant final feat the +French shells, from batteries, quickly galloped up +to the heights, were bursting in Ulm, carrying +terror and death into every quarter of the city.</p> + +<p>On that came the surrender of General Mack. +The curtain next rises on the intensely dramatic +Fifth Act of the tragedy, the march out of the +Austrians to lay down their arms.</p> + +<p>In that display the Eagles had their allotted +place. Before them, brought forward and prominently +paraded, each Eagle in advance of its +own corps in line, with the whole Grand Army +ranged in battle order as spectators of the +scene, the standards of the vanquished foe defiled +out of the gates of Ulm, and were laid down on +the ground in formal token of surrender.</p> + +<p>Napoleon proved himself at Ulm a born +stage-manager.</p> + +<p>Hardly ever before, never in modern war, +had such a spectacle been witnessed as that +presented on that chill and cheerless October +Sunday forenoon, October 20, 1805, in the +heart of central Germany, beside the banks of +the rushing Danube, roaring past, a yellow +foaming torrent after weeks of autumn rain, +amid pine-clad summits extending far and wide +on either hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">70</span></p> + +<p>Along the lower slopes of the high ground to +the north and east of Ulm, drawn up in lines +and columns over a wide semi-circle, stood the +victorious army; massed round, as it were, in +a vast amphitheatre. They formed up by +army corps, and took post grim and silent, +drawn up in battle array, with muskets loaded +and bayonets fixed. The Cavalry with sabres +drawn were on one side; the Infantry on the +other, facing them and leaving a space between, +along which the Austrians were to pass. Fifty +loaded cannon, in line along one ridge, pointed +down on the city. In front, towards the river, +there rose a small knoll, an outlying spur of +rock. On that Napoleon took his station +beside a blazing watchfire which marked the +spot from far. Accompanying him were most +of the marshals and the assembled Etat-Major +of the Grand Army, a numerous and brilliant +gathering. Immediately in rear stood massed +the 10,000 men of the Imperial Guard.</p> + +<p>Two army corps, a little way from the rest, +had a special post of honour. They were drawn +up at the end of the wide semi-circle of the main +army nearest the Augsburg gate of Ulm; immediately +where the defilading column of captives +would present themselves before passing +Napoleon to lay down their arms and standards. +The two corps were: that on the right, Ney’s, +the Sixth Army Corps, the heroes of the day <i lang="fr">par +excellence</i>; on the left, the Second Corps, Marmont’s,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">71</span> +who had been doing notable work elsewhere +in the neighbourhood of Ulm. Ney, with +his personal staff beside him, was on horseback +in front of the centre of his corps; Marmont had +his post in like manner in front of his men. As +his personal reward for the leading part Ney +and the Sixth Corps had had in bringing about +the triumph, that marshal had the special honour +of being designated to superintend the surrender.</p> + +<p>A few minutes before ten o’clock the French +drums began to beat, and the regimental bands +to play. Immediately after that the long-drawn-out +procession of sullen and woebegone-looking +Austrian captives began silently to +trail its way out of the Stuttgart gate of the +fortress. “Suddenly we saw an endless column +file out of the town and march up in front of +the Emperor, on the plain at the foot of a +mountain.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MACK SURRENDERS HIS SWORD</div> + +<p>General Mack himself headed it, wan-faced +and pale as the white uniform coat he wore, +his eyes filled with tears, his head bowed, a +pitiful and abject figure to behold. After him +followed eighteen Austrian generals—a surprising +number—most of them as wretched and +downcast-looking as their chief. “Behold, +Sire, the unfortunate Mack!” was the ill fated +leader’s address to Napoleon, as he formally +presented his sword. Napoleon, in a mood—as +well he might be—in that hour of unparalleled +triumph, to show courtesy to the fallen<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">72</span> +foe, desired Mack to keep his sword and remain +at his side. He said the same to the eighteen +other generals as, one by one, they came up in +turn to tender him their swords. He returned +each his sword and bade them all place themselves +near their chief. When all the swords +had been presented and returned, Napoleon made +the Austrian generals collectively a short harangue. +“Gentlemen,” he began, “war has its +chances! Often victorious, you must expect +sometimes to be vanquished!” He did not +really know, Napoleon went on, why they were +fighting. Their master had begun against him +an unjust war. “I want nothing on the Continent,” +said Napoleon in conclusion, “only ships, +colonies, and commerce!” It was on the day +before Trafalgar that these memorable words +were spoken. The Austrian generals stared at +Napoleon blankly, but not one uttered a word. +“They were all very dull; it was the Emperor +alone who kept up the conversation.” Then +they took their stand beside their conqueror +and looked on at the bitterly humiliating scene +of the defilade of their fellow soldiers.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE PARADE OF THE VANQUISHED</div> + +<p>In an almost incessant throng the columns of +the Austrian army streamed by: white-clad +cuirassiers; hussars in red and blue and grey; +battery after battery of cocked-hatted, brown-garbed +artillerymen, riding with or on their +rumbling dull-yellow wheeled guns; battalion +after battalion of white-coated linesmen; dark-green<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">73</span> +coated jägers; Hungarian grenadiers, +and so on. Twenty-seven thousand officers and +men and sixty field-guns in all defiled past the +Eagles, proudly arrayed there above them, in +front of the serried lines of glittering French +bayonets along the hillsides. For five hours on +end the host of captives plodded on before the +rocky brow from which Napoleon surveyed the +spectacle; tramping by, their muskets without +bayonets and unloaded, their cartridge-boxes +emptied. In several regiments the men maintained +a fair semblance of discipline and military +order; but the ranks of all were sadly bedraggled-looking, +the white uniforms torn and soiled +and besmirched with powder-smoke, with many +of the men hatless, or limping from wounds, or +with bound-up heads, and their arms in bloodstained +slings. As had been ordered by Napoleon, +they carried with them their standards; +no fewer than forty silken battle-flags—for the +most part cased, but here and there was to be +seen one not furled, displaying, as though in +futile defiance, its flaunting yellow folds with the +double-headed Black Eagle.</p> + +<p>As the Austrian linesmen came abreast of +where Napoleon stood, the pace of the men +slackened. Every eye was turned to look at +“him”; at the small grey-coated figure on +foot beside the watchfire, standing near the +crestfallen group of their own generals, a few +paces from the bright and brilliant-hued cavalcade<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">74</span> +of French marshals and the staff. All +stared at Napoleon, gazing as if under a spell. +Then, in the midst of it all, this happened. +Suddenly, as they passed Napoleon, a shout rose +from among the ranks of the defeated army: “Es +lebe der Kaiser!” (“Long live the Emperor!”) +The cry burst forth with startling effect. It was +repeated, and then several men took it up. But +what did it mean? “Es lebe der Kaiser!” was +the national German greeting in salute to their +own Austrian sovereign as Head of the Empire, +to the Kaiser at Vienna, the Emperor of Germany. +Did the soldiers who first raised the cry +intend it for that, or to hail Napoleon, as his +own men did, with a “Vive l’Empereur!”? The +words bore the same meaning. Or did the men +fling the words at Napoleon in a sort of bravado, +as a show of defiance? Some of the Austrians +assuredly did mean them so; to relieve the +breaking strain, the terrible tension of the ordeal. +At least some of the French officers near Napoleon +took that view of it. “As they passed by,” +describes one, “the prisoners, seized with wonder, +with admiration, slowed down in their march +to gaze at their conqueror, and some cried out +‘Long live the Emperor!’ but no doubt under +very different emotions; some with evident +mortification.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">GIVING UP THE GUNS AND HORSES</div> + +<p>From the presence of Napoleon the captive +army passed to the scene of the act of final +humiliation: to the place where, midway between<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">75</span> +the lines of bayonets of the troops of +Ney and Marmont, they were to lay down their +colours and ground their arms.</p> + +<p>The colours were first surrendered, a French +General, Andréossi, formerly Napoleon’s Ambassador +in London, receiving them, with half +a dozen staff officers and orderlies, who deposited +the flags one by one in two commissariat wagons +drawn up close by.</p> + +<p>It was a moment of the deepest and keenest +anguish for proud and gallant soldiers. All +round them on the hillsides most of the French, +overcome by excitement over the unprecedented +and amazing spectacle, were by that time almost +beside themselves, rending the air with exulting +shouts and cheers. Under the cruel stress of +the ordeal, as the supreme moment came on, +the self-possession of some of the Austrians, +tried beyond endurance, gave way.</p> + +<p>The men of the Cavalry and Artillery bore +themselves throughout with well-disciplined +steadiness. As they came to the appointed place +where groups of French cavalry troopers and +gunners, told off to take over their horses and +guns, were standing near the roadside awaiting +them, they dismounted at the word of command +from their own commanders and stood back. +With hardly a murmur from the ranks the +Austrian troopers unbuckled their swords and +carbines and pistols, and dropped them in heaps +at the places pointed out to them. With quiet<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">76</span> +dignity the officers relinquished their gold-embroidered +banners into the enemy’s hands. +In grim silence they saw the victors—who there +at any rate behaved with courtesy and soldierly +consideration for the feeling of the vanquished—step +forward to take possession of their horses +and their cannon. Many of the Austrians had +tears running down their cheeks; some stood +trembling with suppressed passion;—but all +preserved order and behaved with complete +decorum as became disciplined soldiers.</p> + +<p>With others unfortunately, with some of the +infantry corps, it was otherwise. At the very +last, before arriving at the place where they +were to give up their weapons, a number of +the men in some of the marching regiments +broke down under the fearful strain of the moment +and lost their heads. In many regiments, +no doubt, the soldiers obeyed mechanically, +acting like men half stunned after a violent +shock; they did as they were told, and passively +grounded their arms to order. But in others +the final scene was attended by acts of wild +frenzy, pitiful to behold. In, as it were, a +paroxysm of exasperation at the disgrace that +had befallen them, the rank and file of these +broke out recklessly, and got at once beyond all +efforts of their officers to control. With one +accord they began smashing the locks and butts +of their muskets on the ground with savage +curses, flinging away their arms all round, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">77</span> +stripping off their accoutrements and stamping +on them, trampling them down in the mud. +These, though, as has been said, were only some +of the men; and in certain regiments. The +majority of the Austrians bore themselves with +fortitude and calmness.</p> + +<p>At the end of the afternoon the Imperial +Guard, headed by their Eagle and band, marched +into Ulm and through the city, as we are told, +“amid the shouts of the whole populace.”</p> + +<p>So terminated the tragedy of Ulm, in the +presence of the Eagles on their first triumphant +battlefield.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE ULM TROPHIES FOR PARIS</div> + +<p>The spoils of the Eagles at all points, as announced +by Napoleon in the Ulm Bulletin of the +Grand Army, were 60,000 prisoners, 200 pieces +of cannon, and, in all, 90 flags. The 40 +standards surrendered at Ulm itself Napoleon +sent to Paris forthwith—after a grand parade +of the trophies at Augsburg, in which ninety +sergeants of the Imperial Guard bore in procession +the Austrian flags. The Ulm trophies were +made an Imperial gift for the Senate. “It is a +homage,” wrote Napoleon, “which I and my +Army pay to the Sages of the Empire.” They +were the flags, it may be added, which were +displayed at the head of Napoleon’s coffin on the +occasion of his State funeral in 1840: they form +four-fifths of the trophies now grouped round +Napoleon’s tomb. Alone of the trophies of the +Ulm campaign, and also of the Austerlitz campaign<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">78</span> +which followed it, they escaped destruction +in the holocaust of Napoleon’s trophies that took +place at the Invalides in March 1814, on the +night of the surrender of Paris to the Allies. +How that came to pass will be told later.</p> + +<p>There was a very interesting sequel to the +Ulm campaign for one of Ney’s regiments. A +brief but brilliant campaign in the Tyrol on +their own account followed for Ney’s men +immediately after Ulm.</p> + +<p>Entering the Tyrol with two of his divisions, +Ney attacked and by brilliant tactics overthrew +the Tyrolese forces and Austrian regulars who +barred his way in a position among the mountains +deemed impregnable. The battalion Eagles of +the 69th gave the signal for the frontal attack +which stormed the enemy’s position. Guided +by chamois-hunters the soldiers with the Eagles +scaled the face of a precipitous line of crags +which overhung in rear the Austrian centre, by +inserting their bayonets into fissures in the +rocks and clinging to shrubs and creepers, their +havresacs tied round their heads as protection +from the stones that the Tyrolese above showered +down on them. At the top, driving in the defenders, +they held up the gleaming Eagles in the +sunlight on the brink of the precipice to the +marshal below, firing down on the Austrians at +the same time to demoralise their resistance and +clear the way for Ney’s main effort: “Les Aigles +du 69me plantées sur la cime des rochers servirent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">79</span> +de signal à l’attacque de front que le Maréchal +Ney avait preparé.”</p> + +<p>Innsbrück, the capital of the Tyrol, and the +head-quarters of the Austrian army corps +garrisoning the country, was the immediate +prize of the victory. It was there that this +incident took place.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">TWO LOST FLAGS ARE FOUND</div> + +<p>One of Ney’s regiments, the 76th, had fought +in the Tyrol six years before; in Masséna’s +campaign of 1799, in one of the battles of which—at +Senft in the Grisons, on August 22—two +of its battalions lost their colours. An +officer of the regiment, while visiting the +arsenal at Innsbrück after Ney’s capture of the +city, came across the two flags there, in tatters +from bullet-holes, hung up as trophies. He made +known his discovery, and the place was quickly +filled with the soldiers of the regiment, eager +to see the old flags. “They crowded round them +and kissed the fragments of their old colours, +with tears in their eyes.”</p> + +<p>Ney had the flags removed at once. He restored +them to the custody of the regiment with +his own hand at a grand parade in the presence +of the rest of his army, which the marshal +attended with his staff, all in full uniform. The +old colours were received with an elaborate display +of military ceremonial. They were borne +along the lines while the regimental band played +a stately march, and the Eagles of both battalions +were formally dipped in salute to them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">80</span></p> + +<p>On receiving Ney’s report, Napoleon thought +fit to give the recovery of the flags a Bulletin +to itself. Relating how they had been lost in +battle, and the “affliction profonde” of the +regiment in consequence, he set forth how they +had been found and handed back by Marshal +Ney to the regiment “with an affecting solemnity +that drew tears from the eyes of both the old +soldiers and the young conscripts, proud of +having had their share in regaining them!” +“Le soldat Français,” concluded the Bulletin, +“a pour ses drapeaux un sentiment qui tient +de la tendresse; ils sont l’objet de son culte, +comme un présent reçu des mains d’une mère.” +A medal was specially struck to commemorate +the event; and Napoleon, in addition, specially +commissioned an artist, Meynier, to paint a +picture for him of Marshal Ney presenting the +recovered colours to the regiment. The painting +is now in one of the galleries of Versailles.</p> + +<h3 id="toclink_80"><span class="smcap">The Midnight Battle by the Danube</span></h3> + +<div class="sidenote">TRAPPED BY NAPOLEON’S FAULT</div> + +<p>A startling and dramatic episode of the first +campaign of the Eagles comes next. It took +place during the second stage of the war; in +the midst of Napoleon’s impetuous advance on +Vienna down the Danube valley after Ulm. +Intent on dealing a shattering blow at the advanced +army corps of the Russians, which had +reached Lower Austria and was making an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">81</span> +effort to cover the capital, Napoleon made a +false move, and left one of the headmost French +divisions in an exposed position, temporarily +isolated. It got trapped by the Russians at +Dürrenstein, or Dirnstein, on the north side of +the Danube, to the west of and about seventy +miles up the river from Vienna; and was all +but annihilated. There was nearly twenty +hours of continuous fighting, including a night +battle of the fiercest and most desperate character +in which three Eagles were temporarily lost; +fortunately to be recovered later among the dead +on the battlefield.<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">8</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">82</span></p> + +<p>It was on an extemporised corps, specially +placed under the command of Marshal Mortier, +that the blow fell.</p> + +<figure id="i_82" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 40em;"> + <img src="images/i_082.jpg" width="3147" height="2775" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>NAPOLEON’S CONCENTRATION IN REAR OF ULM</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>While Napoleon and the Grand Army in force +advanced along the south, or right, bank of the +Danube, Mortier had been detached across the +river to hold in check any attempt to interfere +with the main operations from the Bohemian +side. A body of Austrian cavalry, under the +Archduke Ferdinand, had managed to cut their +way through from Ulm at one point just before +the closing of the net round General Mack. +With the aid of the local militia levies these +might prove troublesome on the line of communications. +To deal with them, three divisions, +drawn from as many corps, were amalgamated +as Mortier’s special corps, which numbered in +all between twenty and twenty-five thousand +men: Gazan’s division, lent by Marshal Lannes; +Dupont’s, lent by Ney; Dumonceau’s, lent by +Marmont. To keep Mortier in touch with the +main body of the army, and that he might be +reinforced in emergency, a flotilla of Danube +craft was at the same time improvised, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">83</span> +placed in charge of the Seamen of the Guard, +a battalion of whom had accompanied Napoleon +for the campaign. The flotilla was to keep pace +with Mortier and link him with Napoleon. +Mortier crossed at Linz and moved forward; +his three divisions each a day’s march apart, +for convenience of provisioning. He marched +so fast, however, that he outstripped the connecting +boats.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE DANUBE FLOTILLA STOPPED</div> + +<p>At the moment the fighting opened, the flotilla +was miles in rear. It had been stopped and its +progress blocked near Moelkt, unable in the +swollen state of the Danube to pass the dangerous +Strudel, or whirlpool, there, raging just then, +after the heavy autumn rains, with the force of +a swirling maelstrom. The flooded river had +made it extremely difficult work all the way, +even for the picked Seamen of the Guard, to +navigate with safety the assortment of boats +and timber rafts, clumsy structures of logs and +spars lashed together, 160 feet long each, and +planked over, with cabins on the planks, which +composed the flotilla. On them, together with +a quantity of spare stores and ammunition for +the army, convalescents and footsore men of +various regiments were being carried, who, it +was intended, would thus be on the spot to +reinforce Mortier first of all in case of danger.</p> + +<p>Immediately after passing Dürrenstein, the +leading division, General Gazan’s, numbering +some 6,000 men, unexpectedly stumbled across<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">84</span> +part of the Russian rearguard. All unknown to +Mortier, the Russian army corps which had been +entrenched in front of Vienna had abandoned +its position and had hastily withdrawn north +of the river, crossing a short distance from +Dürrenstein.</p> + +<p>Mortier, after clearing a narrow and difficult +pass on the eastern side of Dürrenstein, with +steep and rocky hills on one hand and the Danube +on the other, first learned of the presence of +the enemy by catching sight of the smoke of the +burning bridge of Krems, which the Russians +had set fire to after passing over. Then he +suddenly found his further advance barred by +troops with guns, who rapidly formed up across +his path. The Russians took up a formidable-looking +position, but the marshal decided to +attack without waiting for Dupont to come up +with the Second Division, or for the flotilla; both +miles in rear. The sight of the burning bridge and +the apparent haste of the enemy to get across +the river, it would seem, misled Mortier into +thinking that the Russians had been in action +with Napoleon, and were in flight, trying +to escape. He went at them without pausing +to reconnoitre. He assumed that they were +only making a show of defence. The troops +before him he would sweep aside easily. Then +he would press on and complete the rout of the +rest of the Russians, whom he took to be retreating +in confusion, screened by the force he saw,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">85</span> +across his front. Confident of easy success, +Mortier entered into the fight then and there.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A SURPRISE FOR THE MARSHAL</div> + +<p>The sudden rencontre, as has been said, was a +surprise for the marshal. Half an hour previously +a battle had been almost the last thing +in Mortier’s thoughts. His guns were on board +a number of river boats which were being +drifted downstream abreast of the troops, the +artillery horses being led with the marching +columns along the bank. The boats had been +requisitioned a few miles back, so as to enable +the troops to get on faster over the rough stretch +of road through the Pass of Dürrenstein. The +guns were hastily disembarked and raced forward +into the firing line in order to stop a forward +movement that the Russians, who promptly +took advantage of the opportunity offered by +Mortier being apparently without artillery, +began by making.</p> + +<p>The Russians came on and quickly increased +in numbers, to Marshal Mortier’s further surprise. +Were those beaten troops in full flight? +They began to swarm down to meet the French; +heading for the guns as these were being brought +forward. The fight rapidly became general, and +charge after charge was made by the Russians +to carry Mortier’s guns. They captured them, +but were then beaten back and the guns recaptured. +Twice were the guns taken and retaken. +The two French regiments nearest the +guns, the 100th and 103rd, defended them with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">86</span> +brilliant courage, their four battalion Eagles +conspicuous in the forefront and repeatedly the +centre of desperate fighting, as the Russians +essayed again and again at the point of the +bayonet to make prize of the gleaming emblems.</p> + +<p>But more and more Russians kept joining in, +and after four hours of very severe fighting +the marshal began to get anxious. He had +gained ground towards Krems, and had made +some 1,500 prisoners; but every foot of the +way had been stubbornly contested, and his +losses had been serious.</p> + +<p>Mortier after that left the troops, and with an +aide de camp galloped back through the pass +in order to hasten up Dupont. But the Second +Division was still at a distance. Dupont’s men +were still a long way beyond Dürrenstein and +could not arrive for some time yet. Mortier +could only tell them not to lose a moment, and +then retrace his own steps. On his way back, +to his amazement, he came upon a second Russian +column in great strength in the act of debouching +from a side pass and entering Dürrenstein. It +had come round by a track among the hills on +the north to take Gazan’s division in rear, and +interpose between it and Dupont’s reinforcing +troops. At considerable personal risk the marshal +managed to evade discovery by the Russians. +By following a devious by-path he at +length got back to where Gazan’s division was;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">87</span> +as before, in hot action and slowly forcing the +Russians back.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">TOO LATE TO CLEAR THE PASS</div> + +<p>Mortier stopped the advance at once. He +faced his troops about, and, while keeping off +his original enemy, retreated; closing his +columns and rushing all back as fast as possible +to repass the defile of Dürrenstein and confront +the new enemy on the further side, in a position +he might hold until Dupont could reinforce him. +But it was already too late. The French +reached the entrance of the pass on the near +side to find it already occupied by the Russians, +who were pouring through in dense masses. +There were nearly 20,000 of them on that side +of him and 15,000 on the other, his former foes +now fast closing in from behind hard on his +heels. Mortier’s reduced ranks numbered barely +4,000 all told.</p> + +<p>Owing to the high, steep rocks on one hand, and +the river on the other, it was impossible to push +past the Russians on either flank. All that could +be done was to attack in front and try to cut a +way through. That; or to surrender! With +reckless impetuosity the French attacked, firing +furiously and flinging themselves on the Russian +bayonets; while their rearguard, facing round, +kept their first foes back. For two long hours +they fought like that; their ranks swept by the +enemy’s cannon on each side. At length they +forced the entrance to the pass: but they could +get no farther. They had by then lost all their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">88</span> +guns but two: but they still had all their Eagles. +With bullet-holes through some of them, and +their silken flags shot away or torn to tatters, +the Eagles did their part. Now they were rallying-centres; +now they were leading charges. +There was hardly a battalion in which the first +standard-bearer had not gone down.</p> + +<p>All were fighting almost without hope, holding +out in sheer despair as long as they had cartridges +left, when, as that dreadful November +afternoon was drawing to its close, suddenly, +from beyond the far end of the pass was heard +the booming of a distant cannonade. The +soldiers heard it and hope revived. It could +only be Dupont! Help, then, was coming! The +despairing rank and file took heart again—but +the hour of rescue was not yet.</p> + +<p>They had four long hours more to go through; +every hour making their terrible situation worse. +At nightfall “our cavalry gave way, our firing +slackened, our bayonets, from incessant use, became +bent and blunted. The confusion became +terrible. Things, indeed, could hardly have got +worse.” So an officer describes. The enemy, +in places, had got right in among them, but +“our soldiers, being the handier and more agile, +had an advantage over the great clumsy +Russians.” Here and there “the men were so +close, that they seized each other by the +throat.” In the midst of the fiercest of the +fighting the tall figure of the marshal was conspicuous.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">89</span> +He was seen amid the flashes from +the muskets “at the head of a party of grenadiers, +sword in hand, laying about him like any +trooper.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“YOUR DUTY IS TO SAVE THE EAGLES!”</div> + +<p>The Battalion-Eagles of the 100th, with their +Porte-Aigles and a handful of soldiers, got cut +off together, amid a surging <i lang="fr">mêlée</i> of Russians. +The major of the regiment, Henriot by name, +the senior surviving officer—the colonel of the +100th, as also the colonel of the 103rd, had +fallen earlier in the fight—saw what was happening +and the extreme peril of the Eagles. Calling +for volunteers, he got together some of his men, +cut his way through to the Eagles, and rescued +them. Major Henriot, after that, having saved +the Eagles for the moment, determined as a last +resource to attempt a forlorn-hope charge; to get +beyond the enemy and reach Dupont with them. +It might be possible to save them under the +cover of darkness. One of the Porte-Aigles +of the 6th Light Infantry with his Eagle, near by +at the moment, joined the devoted band of men +that the intrepid major now managed to rally +round the Eagles of the 100th. With half a +dozen stirring words Henriot called on them +to follow him. “Comrades, we must break +through! They are more than we, but you are +Frenchmen: you don’t count numbers! Remember, +your duty is to save the Eagles of +France!” (“Souvenez vous qu’il s’agit de sauver +les Aigles Françaises!”)</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">90</span></p> + +<p>There was a hoarse shout in reply: “We +are all Grenadiers! Pas de charge!”</p> + +<p>They dashed at the Russians, Henriot leading, +and, after fighting their way through the pass +and nearly to Dürrenstein, fell to a man. Yet +the three Eagles did not fall into Russian hands, +thanks to the darkness. They were found next +morning by French search-parties under a heap +of dead, where the last survivors, fighting back +to back, had fallen while making their final +stand.</p> + +<p>So desperate, indeed, did things look for the +French at one time, a little before midnight, +that some of his staff appealed to Mortier to +make his escape and get across to the other side +of the Danube in a boat, “so that a Marshal of +France shall not fall into the hands of the +enemy!”</p> + +<p>But the gallant veteran flatly refused to listen +to the proposal.</p> + +<p>“No,” was his answer, “certainly not! I +will not desert my brave comrades! I will save +them or die with them! Keep the boats +for the wounded,” he went on. “We have still +two guns and some case-shot—rally and make +a last effort!”</p> + +<p>Almost immediately afterwards an opportunity +did offer for the marshal to save them.</p> + +<figure id="i_90" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img src="images/i_090.jpg" width="1860" height="2311" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>MARSHAL MORTIER.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<div class="sidenote">A DASH IN THE DARK TO HELP</div> + +<p>Two of Dupont’s regiments at that moment +reached the battle. By persistent exertions, +outstripping the rest of the Second Division,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">91</span> +and continuing in the dark, guided by the flashes +of the guns, they had made their way by a +goat-path along the steep rocky slopes at the +side of the defile and taken the Russians barring +Mortier’s retreat in rear. Instantly the new +arrivals flung themselves hotly into the fight. +They were the 9th Light Infantry and the 32nd +of the Line, that old favourite of Napoleon’s in +the days of the Army of Italy, whose flag on the +Eagle-staff bore, as has been said, the golden +inscription which Napoleon had placed there—“J’étais +tranquille, le brave 32me était là.”</p> + +<p>The golden legend was of good omen for +Mortier.</p> + +<p>Their interposition put the Russian main force +between two fires, weakening the attack on +Mortier and compelling a portion of them to face +about. Its effect was speedily felt, and at +once; although a desperate effort by the two +regiments to break through and join hands with +Mortier, in which the Eagles of the 9th +and 32nd were “taken and retaken,” was beaten +back under pressure of numbers.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the two regiments so opportunely +put heart into all: Dupont’s whole division, +declared the marshal, could not be far off. He +himself would make an effort to meet him on +the farther side of the pass.</p> + +<p>“Then,” as is described by Napoleon’s aide +de camp, Count de Sègur, “rallying and closing +up the remaining troops, he brought up the only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">92</span> +two guns left him. One was to point towards +Krems and against Kutusoff’s troops; +the other Mortier placed at the head of the +column, in the direction of Dürrenstein. As all +the drums had been broken he had the charge +sounded on iron cooking-cans.</p> + +<p>“At that moment the Austrian general, +Schmidt, who had led the Russian corps from +Dürrenstein, headed a final charge which was to +strike a crushing blow and complete the destruction +of our column. But Fabvier (the +colonel in charge of Mortier’s artillery) heard +them advance. Concealed by the darkness, he +let Schmidt approach quite near. Then he +suddenly fired the gun on that side, at the +shortest range, in among the headmost of +the attacking troops. The discharge threw the +enemy into confusion and killed their leader. +Into this bloody opening Mortier and Gazan +precipitated themselves, overthrowing everything +before them. Dürrenstein itself was retaken +in the impetuous dash.”</p> + +<p>It was indeed a <i lang="fr">tour de force</i>; a sudden reversal +of the fortunes of the fight. The feat in its +complete accomplishment surprised even Mortier’s +expectations. “The Marshal, in fact, could +hardly believe his own success.” So an officer +puts it. But he had done more than burst +through the toils. As daylight next morning +showed, the Russians, driven headlong, had +abandoned six of their guns, and left in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">93</span> +hands of the French no fewer than twelve +standards. Two of them were taken by the +two Dupont regiments which had so gallantly +flung themselves on the Russian rear.</p> + +<p>That was as concerned honour and glory. +As a set off, barely 2,000 remained of Mortier’s +corps of 6,000 men. Two-thirds of the total +when the roll was called next day were found to +have fallen on the field.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THEIR FATE STILL IN DOUBT</div> + +<p>Mortier’s men regained Dürrenstein, all in +flames; set on fire by the Russians as they +evacuated the village. But where was Dupont +and his Division? They had heard Dupont’s +distant guns just before dark; but except the +two regiments who had been rushed forward +independently, ahead of the main body, starting +immediately after Mortier’s visit in the early +afternoon, no help from Dupont had reached them. +Gazan’s wearied survivors of the midnight battle +dared not even yet lay aside their arms. The fight +was not all over. The enemy were still near +by; just beyond the outskirts of the village. +Both the Russian divisions that they had been +fighting with in front and rear had in the end +united. Outnumbering Mortier’s men as they +did by ten to one, the Russians would certainly +turn back and be on them before long with +re-formed ranks, eager to take vengeance for their +defeat and the rough handling they had undergone.</p> + +<p>But the end was near.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">94</span></p> + +<p>Suddenly, from the farther side of Dürrenstein, +from the direction in which the enemy +had fallen back, there came a violent outburst +of firing. Immediately on that followed sounds +of shouting. Then there was the trampling rush +of a great host of men all making for the village. +“With despair in our hearts we were preparing +for another battle, when, in answer to our +challenge of ‘Qui vive?’ came back, with +electrifying effect, the answer ‘France!’ It +was Dupont. At last he had arrived to the +rescue of his Marshal.</p> + +<p>“We recognised each other in the light of the +blazing houses, and with transports of joy and +gratitude and cries of ‘Long live our rescuers!’ +our men threw themselves on the necks of their +deliverers.”</p> + +<p>In that dramatic fashion the battle of Dürrenstein +reached its close. The Russians fell back +under cover of the night, retreating up the +lateral valley-pass, by which way at the outset +they had worked their way round, guided by the +Austrian general, Schmidt, to surprise and cut +off Gazan’s division.</p> + +<p>Napoleon, in his great relief at learning that +Mortier had come through without disaster, +for once blamed nobody. He knew that he +himself was most of all to blame, for exposing +to sudden attack a comparatively weak detachment +of his army in the face of an enemy still +full of fight, on the farther side of a deep and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">95</span> +rapid river. “It seemed,” in Marbot’s words, +“as if no explanation of this operation beyond +the Danube satisfactory to military men being +possible, there was a desire to hush up its consequences.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">BY WAY OF COVERING THE BLUNDER</div> + +<p>By way of covering up his own glaring blunder +Napoleon heaped praises on the troops engaged. +He expressed unbounded admiration at the +stand they had made. In the 22nd “Bulletin +of the Grand Army,” issued from Schönbrunn, +near Vienna, two days later, the Emperor declared +that “le combat de Dürrenstein sera à +jamais mémorable dans les annales militaires.” +Gazan, he said, had shown “beaucoup de valeur +et de conduite.” The 4me and 9me Légère and +the 32nd and 100th of the Line, wrote Napoleon, +“se sont couverts de gloire.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">96</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV<br> + +<span class="subhead">ON THE FIELD OF AUSTERLITZ</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">Austerlitz,</span> the crowning triumph of the First +War of the Grand Army, set its <i lang="fr">cachet</i> to the +fame of the Eagles.</p> + +<p>Napoleon there lured the enemy on into +attacking him at apparent disadvantage on +ground of his own choosing. Then, availing +himself to the fullest extent of the flagrant +blundering of his assailants, he struck at them +with a smashing, knock-down blow from the +shoulder.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">LURED ON TO MEET THEIR FATE</div> + +<p>By making believe that his army was separated +in detachments, out of touch, and beyond +possibility of early concentration, and causing +it to appear further that he had become alarmed +for his own safety and was on the point of commencing +a retreat, he decoyed them into a +false move. He tempted the Czar Alexander, +whose main force had arrived within a few miles +of Vienna, and was confronting him, into making +a rash manœuvre designed to cut his line of +communications and defeat him before the +second Austrian army in the field, under the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">97</span> +Archduke Charles, hastening from the Italian +frontier to join hands with the Russians, could +reach the scene. In the confident belief that +by themselves they outnumbered Napoleon at +the critical point by two to one, with nearly +90,000 men to 40,000, the Russians made a +risky flank march to interpose between Napoleon +and his base, and drive him in rout into the +wilds of Bohemia. They began their advance +suddenly, on Thursday, November 2, but immediately +afterwards wasted two days through +faulty leadership. Before they could get within +striking distance of Napoleon he had called in +his detached corps and had massed 70,000 men +at the point of danger. Foreseeing the possibility +of the enemy’s move, his apparent disposal +of the various corps had been elaborately +arranged so as to ensure concentration at short +notice in case of emergency.</p> + +<p>From hour to hour during Sunday, +December 1, the Russian army in dense +columns streamed past within six miles of the +French position in full view of Napoleon, all +marching forward in stolid silence, intent only +on getting between Napoleon and Vienna. No +counter-move meanwhile was made from the +French side. Strict orders were sent to the +outposts that not a shot was to be fired. But +by the early afternoon all was ready for action. +Completely seeing through the enemy’s plans, +Napoleon exclaimed in a tone of absolute confidence:<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">98</span> +“Before to-morrow night that army is +mine!”</p> + +<p>On Napoleon’s right flank, in a strong defensive +position, stood Marshal Davout’s corps, +thrown back at an angle to the main front of +the army, so as to induce the enemy to extend +themselves widely on that side before opening +their attack. Marshal Soult’s corps, the most +powerful in the Grand Army, formed the centre; +supported by the Imperial Guard, Oudinot’s +Grenadier Division, and two divisions of Mortier’s +corps. Marshal Lannes’ corps, with Bernadotte’s, +was on the left, as well as Murat’s +cavalry. Napoleon proposed to allow the +Russian leading columns to circle round his +right flank and get into action with Davout. +Then, as soon as they were committed to their +attack in that quarter, Soult’s immense force +would hurl itself on the Russian centre and break +through it by sheer weight of numbers. Thus +the Allied Army would be cleft in two, after +which Napoleon would only have to fling his +weight to either side for the enemy to be destroyed +in detail. During Soult’s move, Lannes +on the left flank was to hold in check by a brisk +attack the Russian right wing and reserves, +which would prevent assistance reaching the +centre until too late to save the day. So the +battle was planned; so it was fought and won.</p> + +<figure id="i_98" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 44em;"> + <img src="images/i_098.jpg" width="3519" height="1915" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>Sketch Plan of the Positions of the Armies at + the opening of the Battle of AUSTERLITZ</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The Allied columns were seen during Sunday +afternoon to be steadily moving southward<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">99</span> +over a high ridge opposite the French camp, +crowned near the centre by the lofty plateau +of Pratzen, the key of the position on the Russian +side. They streamed along from the direction +of the village of Austerlitz, a short distance away +to the north-east, from which the battle took +its name. A tract of low marshy country, the +valley of the little river Goldbach, four miles +across, with two or three hamlets dotting it here +and there, connected by narrow cart-roads, +divided the two armies. The French position, +facing eastwards, was on a range of tableland +along the west side of the valley of the Goldbach.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE KEY OF THE POSITION</div> + +<p>Monday morning came, and the “Sun of +Austerlitz”—so often apostrophised by Napoleon +in after days—rose in a cloudless sky above +the early mists lying dense over the marshy +ground of the low-lying valley between the +armies. The dominating crest of the Pratzen +plateau showed above the mist almost bare of +troops. On the evening before it had bristled +with Russian bayonets, glistening in the rays of +the setting sun. Pratzen, the master-key of the +battlefield, had been left unoccupied. The +enemy’s corps had taken no measures to hold it +in their haste to get forward to attack the French +right wing, and cut Napoleon off.</p> + +<p>Soult’s corps—the entire French army had +been under arms since four o’clock—was ordered +to descend into the valley before the morning +mist dissipated as the sun rose. Under cover<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">100</span> +of the mist Soult was to get as close as possible +to the foot of the Pratzen Hill, so as to be on +the spot ready to seize the height immediately +the battle opened on the right.</p> + +<p>Napoleon waited, standing among the marshals +on foot near the centre of the position, until +between seven and eight o’clock. Then sharp +firing suddenly broke out from the direction of +Davout’s corps, and a few minutes later an +aide de camp came galloping up with the news +that the enemy were attacking the right wing +in great force. “Now,” said Napoleon, “is +the moment.” The marshals sprang on their +horses and spurred off to head their corps.</p> + +<p>So Austerlitz opened.</p> + +<p>Its first brunt, as Napoleon had foreseen, fell +hard and heavily on the French right wing; +but Davout’s men there proved well able to +maintain their ground. The sturdy linesmen on +that side disputed every foot of the position at +the point of the bayonet against four times +their numbers.</p> + +<p>Right gallantly, time and again, did the Eagles +on that part of the field fulfil their rôle and take +their part; now heading charges, now rallying +round them the men who had sworn to die in +their defence.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“SOLDIERS, I STAY HERE!”</div> + +<p>The 15th Light Infantry—a corps in the ranks +of which were many young soldiers, now under +fire for the first time in their lives—stormed the +village of Tellnitz, which the Russians had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">101</span> +carried in their first rush on the French outposts. +The leading battalion of the 15th drove the +Russians out; and, dashing on beyond the +village, met a reinforcing Russian column hastening +to the spot. They charged it without +hesitation, but could not break through, and +then they began to recoil before superior numbers. +The Eagle-bearer was shot down, and +fell badly wounded. He had to leave hold +of his Eagle, and amid the surging throng of +soldiers in disorder it was in great danger of +being trampled under foot and lost. Fortunately +the officer in command, <i lang="fr">Chef de Bataillon</i> +Dulong, saw what had happened, and sprang +from his horse and seized the Eagle. Holding +it on high with one hand, he shouted to his men +to stand fast. “Soldiers, I stay here!” he +called. “Let me see if you will abandon your +Eagle and your commander.” The act and +words checked the disorder. The battalion +rallied at once, re-formed ranks, and made +head against the enemy until help arrived, when +the Russians were driven back.</p> + +<p>The Eagle of another battalion in the same +division of Davout’s army corps, General +Friant’s, the 111th of the Line, a little time later +had its part. The 111th had suffered heavily +in the earlier fighting, but towards eleven o’clock +were called on to lead a counter-attack beyond +the line of fortified hedgerow that the regiment +was holding, against a fresh Russian column<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">102</span> +which was advancing with loud shouts and +bayonets at the charge to storm their position. +Immediately in front was a wide, open stretch +of ground, across which a Russian battery, to +cover the attack, was pouring a tremendous +fire of shell, the bursting projectiles tearing up +the ground as if it were being ploughed. Just +as the order to advance was given, the Porte-Aigle +fell dead. An old sergeant, Courbet by +name, took his place. He seized the Eagle and +looked round, for several of the men were +wavering. They were unwilling to leave cover +for certain death, as it looked, on the shell-swept +space of open ground before them. Courbet +climbed over the hedge, and, waving the Eagle +and flag with both hands, stood by himself amid +the bursting shells, some twenty yards in front. +“Come on, comrades!” he shouted—“come on!” +Then with the words, “A moi, soldats du 111me!” +brandishing the Eagle, he ran straight at the +fast-nearing Russians. “The effect,” says one +who saw the brave deed done, “was electric.” +The men streamed over the hedge instantly, +re-formed line in spite of the cannon-balls, and, +led by the grenadiers of the battalion, charged +the approaching enemy, broke them, drove +them before them, and seized the village in +front, whence the Russians had made their +advance.</p> + +<p>The Eagle of the 48th, another of Friant’s +regiments, in like manner was rallied in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">103</span> +moment of supreme crisis by the daring of its +Eagle-bearer.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SUDDENLY FIRED ON BY FRIENDS</div> + +<p>The Eagle of the 108th, which regiment was +fighting near by, all but fell into the enemy’s +hands through a blunder. It was early in the +morning, at the very beginning of the fight, in +crossing a marshy strip under cover of the mist, +to take in flank the Russian attack. In the +uncertain light another French regiment, the +26th Light Infantry, one of Soult’s regiments, +moving about a hundred yards on the left of +Davout’s men, mistook the 108th for the enemy, +and fired heavily into it. The Eagle-bearer +was among those shot down, and fell with the +Eagle. This sudden blow from an unexpected +quarter staggered the 108th. They fell back +hastily to re-form in rear, leaving their Eagle, +whose fall had been unobserved in the mist, +lying beside its dead bearer on the ground. The +loss was discovered just as another force of +Russians, who came up in front, reached the +place; but before they could carry off the trophy +a charge forward by some hastily rallied men of +the 108th recovered the Eagle and bore it back +to safety.</p> + +<p>So far then with Davout’s corps.</p> + +<p>Soult, meanwhile, in the centre, was striking +hard. His attack, in its effect on the Allied +Army, was a complete surprise. Soult’s advance +began the instant that the marshal, riding at +full gallop from the presence of Napoleon, could<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">104</span> +reach his men. At that moment the third of +the Russian columns in the order of march, pressing +ahead to overtake the first and second, and +join in the attack on Davout, had not long +descended the southern slope at the foot of the +Pratzen heights; while the fourth Russian +column, a mile or more in rear, was just about +to ascend the northern slope to cross the Pratzen +Hill and follow.</p> + +<p>Up the steep western hillside face of the +Pratzen clambered Soult’s regiments. Unseen +by the enemy at any point, without a shot +being fired at them, or by them, until just as +they were nearing the crest-line of the ridge, +they emerged from the mists of the valley and +seized the high ground.</p> + +<p>They moved on a front of three divisions. +Legrand’s was on the right, echeloned in the +direction of Davout’s left flank so as to keep +touch with that marshal. St. Hilaire’s was in +the centre, advancing in a long line of battalions +in attack formation. Vandamme’s division was +on the left.</p> + +<p>The Allied fourth column caught a glimpse of +Vandamme’s men as they were climbing the +last ascent, and raced forward to form up and +bar their way. There were 14,000 troops in the +column, half Austrians, half Russians; and +the Czar Alexander with the Emperor of Austria +rode with them.</p> + +<figure id="i_104" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img src="images/i_104.jpg" width="1860" height="2303" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>MARSHAL SOULT.</p> + <p>In the uniform of Colonel-in-Chief of the Chasseurs of the Guard.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Attacking at once, the French broke through<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">105</span> +the Allied front line, and, after a hard fight—for +the Austro-Russian regiments, fighting under +the two Sovereigns’ eyes, resisted with desperate +valour—forced it back on the second line with +the loss of several guns.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">GRAPE-SHOT AT THIRTY PACES</div> + +<p>Again there the Eagles took their part. On +the right of St. Hilaire’s attack, the brigade of +General Thiébault became separated in the +fighting with the Russian foremost line. Its +three regiments—the 10th Light Infantry, the +14th, and the 36th—became separated, and one +of them, the 36th, was for a time in danger of +being overpowered by part of the Russian +third column, which had faced about on hearing +the firing in rear and was hastening back up the +hill. Two Russian regiments raced up towards +them on that side. Some Austrian infantry of +the fourth column, extending in their direction, +were at the same time coming at them on the +left. In front the 36th was faced by two +Russian batteries, which dashed up, unlimbered, +and blazed away, firing grape and case shot at +barely thirty paces; as well as by some Russian +dragoons, who made as if about to charge. To +keep the dragoons off, the leading battalion +attempted to form square; but the men, breathless +after their rush uphill, were in some disorder +and for the moment out of hand. The square, +while yet half formed, was then nearly torn to +pieces by a staggering discharge of grape, and +several of the men began to get unsteady. It<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">106</span> +looked bad for the 36th, when, of a sudden, +Adjutant Labadie, of the First Battalion, snatched +the Eagle from its bearer and ran out in front. +He stopped short and held the Eagle-staff with +both hands planted firmly on the ground. Then +he called to the men, in a momentary pause while +the Russian gunners were reloading: “Soldiers +of the 36th, rally to the front! Here is your line +of battle!” The men saw him, and obeyed. +The disorder ceased. Quickly deploying to right +and left, they dashed at the Russian guns. At +the same moment the other two regiments of +the brigade, led by St. Hilaire and the brigadier, +sword in hand, came up at the <i lang="fr">pas de charge</i>, +bayonets levelled. The 10th Light Infantry +brilliantly repulsed the Austrians on one side: +the 14th on the other side drove Kamenskoi’s +Russians back down the hill.</p> + +<p>Supporting the 10th Light Infantry was the +59th of the Line, one of Mortier’s corps, of +Dupont’s division, which had been sent forward +to help in holding the Pratzen heights. Some of +the Russian dragoons dashed in among them as +they deployed to follow the 10th. A Russian +officer cut down the Eagle-bearer and seized the +Eagle. Sergeant-Major Gamier, the “Porte-Aigle,” +struggled to his feet in spite of his wounds, +wrested the Eagle back, and with his free hand +fought with his sword and killed the Russian, +saving the Eagle.</p> + +<p>On St. Hilaire’s left, during this time, Vandamme’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">107</span> +division had had to fight its way forward +against the Russians and Austrians of the +fourth column, several battalions of which, +with artillery, had rapidly taken post along a +range of knolls towards the northern edge of the +Pratzen plateau. Driving back at the outset +six Russian battalions, which charged forward +to meet them, springing up from the shelter of +a dip in the ground, Vandamme’s men, “without +firing a shot, with the bayonet only, +advanced on the main enemy with shouldered +arms, not replying to the Russian musketry.” +When within forty yards, they halted, fired a +volley, and dashed in with bayonets lowered. +The attack was successful beyond expectation. +The enemy before them were routed, and all +their guns taken, with many prisoners. Then +Vandamme received orders to wheel his division +to the right and take in flank the enemy, at that +moment in hot fight with St. Hilaire.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE RUSSIAN GUARD COME UP</div> + +<p>Vandamme was in the middle of the move +when one of his brigades met with a sudden and +unexpected disaster. Two battalions belonging +to the 24th Light Infantry and the 4th of the +Line, who fought side by side on the extreme +left of Vandamme’s command, were all but +annihilated. As they were wheeling round, +the Russian Imperial Guard came up, hurrying +forward from the Reserve, and set on +them fiercely. It was just to the left of the +village of Pratzen, as approached from the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">108</span> +French side, on the farther side of the plateau. +The Russian Foot Guards forced the 4th and the +24th Light Infantry back into some vineyards +adjoining the village in disorder. The last to +retire was the First Battalion of the 4th. They +had hardly gained the edge of the tract of vineyards, +when, without the least warning of their +approach, coming up on their flank and unseen +in the smoke and turmoil of the contest, a more +formidable enemy still assailed them. The +Russian Cuirassiers of the Guard, 2,000 horsemen, +troopers of the finest cavalry in the world, +came down on them, and charged them at a +gallop on the flank. The Grand Duke Constantine, +brother of the Czar, in person led the Cuirassiers. +Disaster, hideous, overwhelming, crushing, +for the two hapless battalions—that of the +24th Light Infantry was, in like manner, caught +just beyond cover exposed in the open—was +the instant result. They tried to form +square at the last moment, but the Cuirassiers +were on them before they could begin the evolution. +Both battalions were practically hurled +out of existence within three minutes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HOW ONE EAGLE MET ITS FATE</div> + +<p>They were ridden down, trampled on by the +huge Russian horses, and slashed to pieces +mercilessly by the giant Russian troopers with +their long straight swords. Both battalions +lost their Eagles. That of the 24th Light Infantry +was picked up later on the field and +restored to what was left of the ill-fated corps.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">109</span> +The Eagle of the 4th was carried off by the +Russians, and is now in the Kazan Cathedral at +St. Petersburg. Yet it was lost with honour; +bravely defended to the last. The Eagle-bearer +was cut down. A lieutenant tried to get hold +of the Eagle and save it; he, too, was cut down. +A private then snatched it from the dead +officer’s hands, and was in the act of waving +it on high when he in turn was sabred and fell. +The Russians made prize of the trophy at once, +and it was carried direct to the Czar Alexander +on the battlefield.</p> + +<p>Napoleon, who had moved up near the fighting +in the centre, witnessed the disaster with his +own eyes.</p> + +<p>The corps, as it happened, too, was one he +had taken an interest in. The 4th of the Line +had been in favour with him, and he had appointed +his brother Joseph as its colonel when +the 4th was at the Camp of Boulogne as part +of the “Army of England.” He had, indeed, +specially chosen that particular corps for its +steadiness. He announced Joseph’s appointment +to it in a message to the Senate on April 18, +1804, “in order that he should be allowed to +contribute to the vengeance which the French +people propose to take for the violation of the +Treaty [of Amiens] and be afforded an opportunity +of acquiring a fresh title to the esteem +of the nation.”</p> + +<p>In wild panic the survivors of the disaster<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">110</span> +fled to the rear, tearing by close past where +Napoleon and the Staff were. “They almost +rushed over us and the Emperor himself,” +describes De Ségur, who as an aide de camp +was close to the Emperor at the moment. +“Our effort to arrest the rout was in vain. +The unfortunate fellows were quite distracted +with fear and would listen to nothing. In reply +to our reproaches for so deserting the field of +battle and their Emperor, they shouted mechanically +‘Vive l’Empereur!’ and they fled away +faster than ever.</p> + +<p>“Napoleon smiled pitifully. With a scornful +gesture, he said to us: ‘Let them go!’ Retaining +all his calmness in the midst of the confusion +he despatched Rapp to bring up the +Cavalry of the Guard.”</p> + +<p>Rapp, another of the Imperial aides de camp, +was also Colonel of the Mamelukes of the Guard. +He was at the moment riding close behind the +Emperor. Rapp darted off, and, after taking +Napoleon’s order to charge the Russian Cuirassiers +to Marshal Bessières, in command of the +Cavalry of the Guard, he himself led their +headmost squadrons forward; his own swarthy +Mamelukes with two squadrons of Chasseurs +and one of Horse Grenadiers. Waving his +sabre and calling at the top of his voice, “Vengeons +les! Vengeons nos drapeaux!” “Avenge +them! Avenge our standards!” he led them +forward at full gallop. “We dashed at full<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">111</span> +speed on the artillery and took them,” described +Rapp in a letter. The guns were those of a +Russian battery which had just come into action +close by where the Guard Cuirassiers had +charged. “The enemy’s horse awaited our +attack at the halt. They were overthrown by +the charge and fled in confusion, galloping +like us over the wrecks of our squares.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“WE FOUGHT MAN TO MAN”</div> + +<p>But the Russians rallied quickly. Reinforced +by the superb regiment of the Chevalier Guards, +a corps in which all the troopers were men of +birth, they came on to meet the French again. +Just at that moment Bessières, with at his back +the magnificent cavalry of Napoleon’s Guard, +came up at full speed. Rapp’s squadrons +rejoined, and both Imperial Guards met in full +career. “Again we charged,” says Rapp, “and +this charge was terrible. It was one of the most +desperate cavalry combats ever fought, and +lasted several minutes. The brave Morland, +Colonel of the mounted Chasseurs of the Guard, +fell by my side. We fought man to man, and +so mingled together that the infantry on neither +side dared fire, lest they should kill their own +men.” They fought it out until the Russians +gave back and broke and fled—in full sight of +the Czar and the Austrian Emperor, who from +some rising ground near by had been spectators +of the desperate affray.</p> + +<p>The survivors of the hapless First Battalion +of the 4th of the Line had meanwhile recovered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">112</span> +themselves. Rallied by their officers, they had +been brought back into the battle. They returned +with their nerve restored, now only +anxious to make amends for the disgrace they +had brought on the Grand Army. They were +in time to join in the final advance beyond +the Pratzen heights and cross bayonets with an +Austrian regiment, from which they took its +two standards. That feat, as will be seen, +was to serve them in good stead later on.</p> + +<p>The charge of the Cavalry of the Guard +practically decided the fate of the day at +Austerlitz. Napoleon at once brought up +Oudinot’s Grenadiers, Bernadotte’s battalions, +and the regiments of the Old Guard to further +reinforce Soult’s divisions. The Allied centre +was shattered and driven in at all points, and +forced back for a mile-and-a-half beyond the field +of battle. It resisted desperately to the last, +and several fierce counter-attacks were made; +but in vain.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE DOG THAT SAVED AN EAGLE</div> + +<p>In one of these the Eagle of the Chasseurs à +Pied of the Imperial Guard had a narrow escape. +According to the story it was saved by a dog—“Moustache,” +a mongrel poodle that had +attached himself to the corps and become a +regimental pet. The Eagle-bearer of the First +Battalion, to whom the dog was much attached, +and whom he was following, was shot, and the +Eagle dropped to the ground beneath the man’s +body. An Austrian regiment was making a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">113</span> +counter-attack at that point, and before the +Eagle could be picked up, three Austrian soldiers +ran forward to seize it. Two of them attacked +the two men of the Eagle escort. The third +was faced by “Moustache,” who kept him off, +growling savagely and snapping at the Austrian +from behind the dead body of the Eagle-bearer. +The man dropped his musket, drew +his hanger, and cut at “Moustache,” slicing +off a paw. But in spite of that the dog managed +to keep him off until assistance came. Then +the three Austrians were bayoneted and the +Eagle was saved. Marshal Lannes, on hearing +the story, had a silver collar made for “Moustache,” +with a medal to hang from it, inscribed +on one side, “Il perdit une jambe à la bataille +d’Austerlitz, et sauva le Drapeau de son régiment”; +and on the other, “Moustache, chien +Français; qu’il soit partout respecté et cheri +comme un Brave.” “Moustache,” in the end, +it may be said, died a soldier’s death. He was +killed by an English cannon-ball at Badajoz, +and was buried on the ramparts there, with a +stone over him, inscribed: “Cy git le brave +Moustache.”</p> + +<p>The Allied centre broken through, the end +came on swiftly all over the field of battle.</p> + +<p>On Napoleon’s left wing, Lannes and Murat +had engaged the Russian rear column (or right +wing as they fronted to fight) immediately after +Soult opened the main attack. They had done<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">114</span> +their part by holding in play the enemy in front, +thus preventing the Allied troops on that side +from moving up to reinforce the centre. There, +too, as elsewhere, the Eagles of Napoleon’s +battalions fulfilled their <i lang="fr">rôle</i>; one Eagle in +particular, that of the 13me Légère, achieving +special distinction. When the Allied centre +gave way, Lannes and Murat pressed forward +impetuously, forcing their antagonists back, +and driving them off the field to the north-east, +past the village of Austerlitz.</p> + +<p>Davout, on Napoleon’s right, finished his +task at the same time; in no less workmanship +fashion. As Soult swung round his victorious +divisions to the right to take the Russian +left wing in rear, Davout’s moment came and +he gave the order to advance. Surging forward +with exultant shouts the stout-hearted defenders +of that fiercely contested side of the field swept +down on the assailants they had kept at bay for +five long hours. The Russians did their best to +make a brave resistance, but the day was lost. +Formed in close-packed columns they fell back, +losing guns and colours, and hundreds of prisoners.<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">9</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">115</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">VICTORS AND VANQUISHED</div> + +<p>As darkness closed in, the last shots were fired +at Austerlitz. Crushing and complete had been +the overthrow. The Allied army fled in wild +panic. It left on the field 30,000 men, dead, +wounded, or prisoners, 100 guns, and 400 ammunition +caissons. Forty-five standards were in +the hands of the victors. Twelve thousand men +in killed and wounded was the price Napoleon +paid. It was a big price; but the victory to +him was worth the sacrifice. At five next +morning an aide de camp from the Austrian +Emperor presented himself before Napoleon to +beg for an immediate suspension of hostilities. +The Emperor Francis himself had an interview +with Napoleon during that afternoon, and, as +the result, terms of peace—to include the Austrian +Emperor’s Russian allies—were mutually +agreed on; to be formally settled between the +diplomatists as soon as possible, Pressburg in +Hungary being named for the meeting-place.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">116</span></p> + +<p>We come now to the dramatic sequel to Austerlitz +which awaited the ill-fated First Battalion +of the 4th of the Line. They had to face Napoleon +and render account to him personally for +the loss of their Eagle. The dreaded interview +came some three weeks later; at a grand parade +of Soult’s corps before the Emperor at Schönbrunn—as +it befell, on Christmas Day.</p> + +<p>Napoleon, attended by the Imperial Staff, +most of the marshals, half a hundred other +officers of rank, and nearly as many aides de +camp, passed down the long line of troops, +congratulating most of the regiments on the +parts they had individually taken on the different +battlefields. In due course the Emperor +came to the regiments of Vandamme’s division, +ranged in their allotted place, the 4th of the +Line among them. Its First Battalion, reduced +by the disaster to a quarter of the normal +strength, stood at the head of the regiment, +looking gloomy and disconsolate, the only corps +on parade without its Eagle.</p> + +<p>Napoleon approached the place with a frown +on his face and a look as black as thunder. He +reined up opposite the battalion and addressed +it in a loud angry tone.</p> + +<p>“Soldiers,” he began hoarsely. “What have +you done with the Eagle which I entrusted to +you?”</p> + +<p>The colonel of the regiment replied that the +Eagle-bearer had been killed at Austerlitz in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">117</span> +the <i lang="fr">mêlée</i> when the Russian cuirassiers charged +the regiment, and the Eagle had been lost in +the tumult and confusion of the moment. There +was no survivor of those who had seen the +Eagle-bearer fall. The battalion, indeed, did +not know of its loss until some time later. One +and all deeply deplored what had happened, +but they desired to inform His Majesty most +respectfully that they, single-handed, had captured +two Austrian standards, and implored his +consideration on that account, begging that he +would allow them to receive a new Eagle in +exchange.</p> + +<p>The whole regiment supported the colonel’s +request with loud shouts, “réclama à grands +cris.” But Napoleon’s countenance remained +unchanged.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SCATHING CENSURE AND BITTER SCORN</div> + +<p>He replied coldly and contemptuously: +“These two foreign flags do not return me my +Eagle!” Then, after a pause, he launched +out into words of the severest censure and rebuke, +telling the men that he had seen them with his +own eyes in flight at Austerlitz. He poured +bitter scorn on their conduct, “in phrases, +stinging, burning, corrosive, which those present +remembered long afterwards—to the end of +their lives.”</p> + +<p>Again the unhappy colonel pleaded his hardest +for his men. He entreated the Emperor’s +clemency, once more beseeching Napoleon to +allow that they had wiped out the slur on their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">118</span> +good name, and to grant the battalion a new +Eagle.</p> + +<p>Napoleon said nothing for a moment. Then +he again addressed them in an abrupt tone:</p> + +<p>“Officers, sub-officers, and soldiers, swear to +me here that not one of you saw your Eagle fall. +Assure me that if you had done so you would +have flung yourselves into the midst of the +enemy to recover it, or have died in the attempt. +The soldier who loses his Eagle on the field +of battle loses his honour and his all.”</p> + +<p>“We swear it!” came the reply at once.</p> + +<p>At that there seemed to come a change in +the Emperor’s mood. He paused once more +for a few moments, during which there was dead +silence. Then he raised his voice: “I will +grant that you have not been cowards; but +you have been imprudent! Again I tell you +that these Austrian standards—even, indeed, +were they six—would not compensate me for +my Eagle.”</p> + +<p>He stopped short. He seemed to be musing +for a moment, looking straight into the eyes +of the men. After that, with a curt “Well, +I will restore you yet another Eagle!” Napoleon +turned his horse and rode on down the line of +troops.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THEY FOUND THE OTHER EAGLE</div> + +<p>It was quite true, as the colonel told Napoleon, +that the regiment was unaware at the time that +their Eagle had been lost. As a fact, search-parties—practically +all the survivors of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">119</span> +First Battalion—were out on the day after +Austerlitz hunting over the battlefield among +the dead for their lost Eagle. By the irony of +fate it was they who picked up and restored +the Eagle of the 24th Light Infantry to their +fellows in adversity; the Russians, it would +seem, had not marked its fall in the confusion +of the fighting. At any rate it was left where +it fell and where it was found.</p> + +<p>There was, as it curiously happened, no +reference in the Austerlitz Bulletin published +in France—the 30th “Bulletin of the Grand +Army”—to the loss of its Eagle by the 4th of +the Line, although the disaster to the battalion +is reported. “Un bataillon du 4me de Ligne +fut chargé par la Garde Impériale Russe à +Cheval et culbuté.” That was all that was +said on the subject. Yet, on other occasions +later, when Eagles were lost, mention was made +of the misfortune in one or other of the Bulletins, +with, generally also, some remark by way +of explaining away the unpleasant fact, and +now and then a caustic comment by Napoleon. +A picture connected with the incident was, +however, painted—at whose request is unknown. +It is now in the national collection of military +pictures of the campaigns of Napoleon at Versailles. +It shows the First Battalion of the +4th of the Line at the Schönbrunn review +“presenting Napoleon with two Austrian +standards taken by them from the enemy,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">120</span> +and claiming in exchange a new Eagle for +themselves.”<a id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">10</a></p> + +<p>This closing word may be said of the spoils +of the Eagles at Austerlitz.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE RECEPTION IN NOTRE DAME</div> + +<p>The forty-five flags captured in the battle, +with five others selected from those taken at +Ulm, making fifty in all, were presented by +Napoleon to the Cathedral of Notre Dame. +With the trophies he sent this message: “Our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">121</span> +intention is that every year on the 2nd of December +a Solemn Office shall be sung in the Cathedral +in memory of the brave men who fell on the +great day.” The flags were borne in triumph, +together with the trophies of the Ulm campaign,—120 +captured standards and colours in all—through +the streets of Paris on January 15, 1806, +amid a tremendous demonstration of popular +enthusiasm. “The behaviour of the people,” +wrote Cambacérès, “resembled intoxication.” +Four days later the Austerlitz flags were received +at Notre Dame by the assembled Cathedral +clergy, Cardinal du Belloy at their head, with +elaborate religious ceremonial.</p> + +<p>Said the Cardinal-Archbishop of Paris in his +address from the Altar-steps: “These banners, +suspended from the roof of our Cathedral, will +attest to posterity the efforts of Europe in arms +against us; the great achievements of our +soldiers; the protection of Heaven over France; +the prodigious successes of our invincible Emperor; +and the homage which he pays to God +for his victories.” Not one of the flags exists +now. They disappeared mysteriously, in circumstances +to be described later, in the early +hours of March 31, 1814, the day on which +the victorious Allies entered Paris, and Napoleon +withdrew to Fontainebleau.</p> + +<p>Fifty-four of the other trophies paraded +through Paris, flags taken in the Ulm campaign, +were presented by Napoleon, as has been said,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">122</span> +to the Senate. In return a picture of the scene +at the reception of the trophy-flags was ordered +to be painted for presentation to the Emperor. +It is now at Versailles.</p> + +<p>The remaining sixteen trophies were divided +by order of the Emperor. Eight were sent to +the Assembly Hall of the Tribunate; eight to +the Hôtel de Ville as a gift to the city of Paris.</p> + +<p>Thus did France receive the first spoils of the +Eagles.</p> + +<p>“Soldiers,” said Napoleon to the Grand +Army, in his Austerlitz Proclamation; “I am +satisfied with you. You have justified my fullest +expectations of your intrepidity. You have +decorated your Eagles with immortal glory!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">123</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V<br> + +<span class="subhead">IN THE SECOND CAMPAIGN</span></h2> +</div> + +<h3 id="toclink_123"><span class="smcap">Jena and the Triumph of Berlin</span></h3> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">The</span> curtain rises this time on an act in the War +Drama of the Eagles unique in the startling +incidents of its historic <i lang="fr">dénoûment</i>.</p> + +<p>Prussia, in September 1806, threw down the +gage to Napoleon and drew the sword for a +trial of strength, with the full assurance of +victory. There was no doubt in Germany as +to the issue; not the least anxiety was felt. +No troops in the world, declared one and all, +could stand up to the Prussian Army. It was +easy, they said at Potsdam and Berlin, to account +for what had happened last year on the Danube. +Any sort of army could have won in that war. +Timidity and want of skill in the Austrian +generals, deficient training in the men, had +been, beyond dispute, the reason of the disasters. +It would be otherwise now. Napoleon would +have to meet this time the Army of Prussia; +the best drilled and smartest soldiers in the +world, organised and trained under the system +that the Great Frederick had originated and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">124</span> +himself brought to perfection. “His Majesty +the King,” said one of the Prussian generals, +addressing a parade at Potsdam, “has many +generals better than Napoleon!” In the Prussian +Army, from veteran field-marshal to +drummer-boy, there were no two opinions as +to what must be the outcome of a clash of arms +with France. The wings of Napoleon’s Eagles +would be clipped once for all.</p> + +<p>But to hurl defiant words was not enough. +Yet further to display contempt for their French +foes, the young officers of the Prussian Guard +marched one night in procession through the +streets of Berlin to demonstrate in front of +the French Embassy. Shouting out insults +and jeers, they brandished their swords before +the windows of the mansion and made a show +of sharpening the blades on the Ambassador’s +doorsteps. The Prussian King’s ultimatum +went forth, couched in language there was no +mistaking, and the Royal Guard Corps set out +from the capital for the frontier with flags +displayed and their bands playing triumphal +airs, chanting songs of the victories of the +Great Frederick, and shouting themselves hoarse +with cries of “Nach Paris!” All over Prussia +it was the same. The marching regiments +tramped through the towns and villages, their +colours decked with flowers, their bands playing, +and with the swaggering gait of victors returning +from conquest.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">125</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">A REPLY WITHIN A WEEK</div> + +<p>The Prussian ultimatum, delivered on September +1, haughtily demanded a reply from +France within a week. It was accepted with +alacrity. Napoleon had foreseen all and laid +his plans. “Marshal,” he said to Berthier, +with a grim smile, as he read the ultimatum, +“they have given us a rendezvous for the 8th; +never did Frenchman refuse such an appeal.”</p> + +<p>The Eagles never swooped to more deadly +purpose, with results more amazing and more +dramatic, than in that campaign.</p> + +<p>Within three days of the firing of the first +shot, a Prussian division of 9,000 men had been +routed with heavy loss at Schleitz in Thuringia; +and Murat’s cavalry had captured elsewhere +great part of the Prussian reserve baggage-trains +and pontoon equipment. On the fourth +day of the war, at Saalfeld in Thuringia, 1,200 +Prussian prisoners were taken and 30 guns. +In the battles of Jena and Auerstadt, both +fought on the same day, October 14, 20,000 +Prussian prisoners, 200 guns, and 25 standards +were spoils to the Eagles. At Erfurth, on the +next day, a Prussian field-marshal with 14,000 +men, 120 guns and the whole of the grand park +of the reserve artillery of the army were taken. +At Halle 4,000 Prussian prisoners were taken, +with 30 guns; at Lübeck 8,000 prisoners and +40 guns. Magdeburg, one of the strongest +fortresses in Europe, with immense magazines +and 600 guns on the ramparts garrisoned by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">126</span> +16,000 troops, surrendered after a few hours’ +partial bombardment. Stettin, a first-class fortress +mounting 150 guns, with a garrison of +6,000 men, surrendered without firing a shot. +The strong fortress of Cüstrin on the Oder, with +4,000 men in garrison and 90 cannon on the +ramparts, surrendered, also without firing a +shot, to a solitary French infantry regiment +with four guns. The fortress of Spandau, +garrisoned by 6,000 men, hauled down its flag +and opened its gates to a squadron of French +hussars, no other French troops being within +many miles, bluffed into surrender. Within +twelve days of Jena, Napoleon had made his +entry as a conqueror into Berlin, and the Prussian +Army had ceased to exist. “We have +arrived in Potsdam and Berlin,” announced +Napoleon in a Bulletin to the Grand Army, +“sooner than the renown of our victories! +We have made 60,000 prisoners, taken 65 standards, +including those of the Royal Guard, +600 pieces of cannon, 3 fortresses, 20 generals, +half of our army having to regret that +they have not had an opportunity of firing a +shot. All the Prussian provinces from the +Elbe to the Oder are in our hands.” Before +the end of the year, in little more than three +months from the firing of the first shot, a total of +100,000 prisoners, 4,000 cannon, 6 first-class +fortresses, and many smaller ones, were in the +hands of the victors.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">127</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">RUIN, SWIFT AND IRREPARABLE</div> + +<p>Never had the world witnessed such an overthrow +in war, so complete and appalling a +catastrophe. Two battles sufficed to prostrate +Prussia and annihilate the model army of +Frederick the Great: the twin battles of Jena +and Auerstadt, both fought, as has been said, +on the same day, October 14, and within ten +miles of one another. Jena was fought under +Napoleon’s own eye; Auerstadt by Marshal +Davout, practically single-handed, with his one +army corps confronting the King and Blücher +with the main Prussian army. The Prussian +generals indeed gave themselves into Napoleon’s +hands at the outset. They separated their main +army into two bodies out of touch with each +other, in the immediate presence of the enemy. +Ruin, swift and irreparable, was the penalty. +At Jena, Prince Hohenlohe’s army was flung +roughly back and dashed to pieces, its scattered +remnants flying in wild disorder. At +Auerstadt, Davout defeated numbers nearly +double his own, through the confused tactics +of the Prussian generals. Immediately after +that came on the <i lang="fr">débâcle</i>. The Prussian Auerstadt +army was falling back, disheartened and +demoralised, but still in fair military formation +to a large extent, when, all of a sudden, not +having had up to then the least inkling of what +had happened at Jena, the retreating troops came +upon the shattered fragments of Hohenlohe’s +battalions, streaming in wild confusion across<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">128</span> +their path; masses of fugitives running for their +lives in frantic panic before the sabres of Murat’s +pursuing cavalry. That ended everything for +the Prussian army in five minutes. The sight +of their fugitive comrades struck confusion and +sheer fright into the retreating columns from +Auerstadt. All order was instantly lost: the +soldiers threw away their arms and spread over +the country in headlong rout. And there was +no means of stopping it. In their blind self-confidence +the Prussian generals had made no +arrangements in the event of a reverse. No +line of retreat had been arranged for, no rallying-point +had been thought of. “The disaster of a +single day made an end of the Prussian army +as a force capable of meeting the enemy in the +field.”</p> + +<p>For the Eagles it was a day of adventures on +both battlefields. Swiftly alternating rushes +forward, the Eagles showing the way at the +head of their regiments at one moment; hasty +halts to form in rallying squares, the Eagles in +the midst, the next moment, to check the incessant +Prussian cavalry counter-charges—that +was what the fighting on the French side was +like, all through the day, at both Jena and +Auerstadt. At one time the Eagles were leading +forward charging lines of exultantly cheering +men, firing fast and racing forward at the <i lang="fr">pas +de charge</i>; immediately afterwards they were +standing fast, each the centre of a mass of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">129</span> +breathless and excited soldiers, surging round and +closing up to form square, with bristling bayonets +levelled on every side, to hold the ground they +had won against the charging squadrons of +Prussian horsemen that came at them, thundering +down impetuously at the gallop.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“LEAD OUT YOUR EAGLE!”</div> + +<p>“I want to see the Eagles well to the front +to-day!” said Napoleon to several regiments +in turn, as he rode at early dawn along the lines +of Marshal Soult’s two foremost divisions who +were to open the attack at Jena. To them the +task had been appointed to push forward in advance, +and hold the exits from the narrow defiles +through which the French troops had to pass, +before reaching the Prussians on the high ground +beyond, in order to give time to the main army, +following close in rear, to deploy and form in battle +order. “Lead out your Eagle, Sixty-fourth!” +Napoleon said to one of the regiments told +off to go forward in the forefront of all. “I +wish to-day to see the Eagle of the Sixty-fourth +lead the battle on the field of honour!” How +that Eagle led its regiment, how those who +fought under it did their duty, the prized honour +of special mention in the Jena Bulletin of the +Grand Army, and a shower of crosses of the +Legion of Honour, distributed among all ranks, +bore testimony. Five times did the Eagle of +the 34th, the regiment fighting next to the +64th, lead a charge, each charge crossing +bayonets with the enemy, twice in hand-to-hand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">130</span> +fight with the picked corps of the Prussian +Grenadiers.</p> + +<p>It was on the battlefield of Jena that Marshal +Ney won his historic sobriquet of “The Bravest +of the Brave.” He personally led forward his +attack, with, at either side of him, the Eagles of +the 18th of the Line, the 32nd, and the 96th. +Carried away by his impetuous valour, soon after +the opening of the battle, Ney made his attack +with only at hand the three regiments of his First +Division. The other two divisions of Ney’s corps +had not yet reached the field. A regiment of +cuirassiers headed the column, and at their first +charge captured 13 Prussian guns; but the +Prussian cavalry, charging back at once to recover +the guns, overpowered the cuirassiers.</p> + +<p>“The Prussian cavalry broke the French horse, +and enveloped the infantry in such numbers +as would inevitably have proved fatal to less +resolute troops; but the brave marshal instantly +formed his men into squares, threw himself into +one of them, and there maintained the combat +by a rolling fire on all sides, till Napoleon, who +saw his danger, sent several regiments of horse, +under Bertrand, who disengaged him from his +perilous situation.”</p> + +<p>Ney’s other troops then joined the marshal, +coming up with their Eagles gleaming through +the battle-smoke: the Eagles of the 39th and +the 69th, of the 76th, the 27th, and the 59th. +Ney, extricated from his difficulties, went on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">131</span> +again at once. “With intrepid step he ascended +the hill, and, after a sharp conflict, stormed the +important village of Vierzehn-Heiligen, in the +centre of the Prussian position. In vain Hohenlohe +formed the flower of his troops to regain the +post; in vain these brave men advanced in +parade order, and with unshrinking firmness, +through a storm of musketry and grape; the +troops of Lannes came up to Ney’s support, +and the French established themselves in such +strength in the village as to render all subsequent +attempts for its recapture abortive.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">LET THEM COME ON!</div> + +<p>This was the spirit in which, at Jena, Ney’s +men fought under the Eagles. One instance will +suffice. The 76th of the Line, after the village +of Vierzehn-Heiligen had been taken, were in the +act of advancing across the open to a fresh attack, +when a charge of Prussian cavalry swept fiercely +down on them. The regiment formed in square, +each battalion rallying round its Eagle, held up +aloft for all to gather round. The Prussians had +come up suddenly. They were within 150 yards +before the 76th were ready. Then the 76th +were ordered to “present” and fire. Instead of +doing that, the men, as if moved by one common +impulse, took off their shakos, stuck them on +their bayonets, and waved them in the air, with +defiant cheers of “Vive l’Empereur!” “Donnez +feu, mes enfants! Donnez feu!” (“Fire, men, +fire!”) shouted out their colonel, Lannier, anxious +lest the enemy should get too near. “We<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">132</span> +have time: at fifteen paces, Colonel; wait and +see!” came back in answer from the ranks. +They did wait, and, at just fifteen paces, fired a +crashing volley which so staggered the Prussians +that, leaving half their men on the ground, they +turned and galloped back.</p> + +<p>The regiments of Lannes’ corps, with the fiery +marshal cantering at their head and waving +them on, cocked hat in hand, entered the battle +with drums beating and the Eagles proudly displayed +in the centre of the leading lines.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“HERE IS THE COU-COU!”</div> + +<p>One regiment lost 28 officers and 400 men. It +had made good its first attack and was advancing +to a second, when it was charged in the open by +the Prussian cavalry, while in the act of forming +square. It all but lost its Eagle. The Eagle-bearer +was cut down, and the Eagle was broken +from its staff in the trampling tumult of horsemen +intermingled with infantry, savagely fighting +with their bayonets. A soldier saved the Eagle, +and in the hurry of the moment stuffed it into +the pocket of his long overcoat. Then he went +on fighting. Apparently the man had no time +or opportunity to think of the Eagle again. +The regiment was re-forming towards the close +of the battle, when Napoleon himself, riding across +the ground near them, with his quick glance, +missed the Eagle. He cantered up to the spot, +and, on being told by an officer that he did not +know where it was, angrily accused the men of +having lost their Eagle on the field. He began<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">133</span> +upbraiding them indignantly: “What is this? +Where is your Eagle? You have brought disgrace +on the Army by losing your Eagle!” +Those were his opening words. He was rating +the men angrily, when he was abruptly interrupted +by a voice from the ranks. “No, your +Majesty, no! they did not get it: they only +got a piece of the bâton! Here is the Cou-cou! +I put it in my pocket!” The soldier drew out +the Eagle as he spoke and held it up. There +was a loud outburst of laughter from the soldiers +at the unexpected turn of events, amid which +Napoleon, without a word more, turned and +rode off elsewhere.</p> + +<p>At Auerstadt, where 30,000 French faced and +defeated 60,000 Prussians, the fighting was even +fiercer than at Jena. Recklessly the Prussian +horsemen, led in person by the dauntless Blücher, +repeatedly charged down on the French, who +formed in square everywhere to beat them back, +They did so at all points, and the Prussians only +wrecked themselves beyond recovery by their +efforts. In vain did the Prussian cavalry, as at +Jena, gallop up to the French bayonets again +and again. “In vain these gallant cavaliers, +with headlong fury, drove their steeds up to the +very muzzles of the French muskets. In vain +they rode round and enveloped their squares: +ceaseless was the rolling fire which issued from +those flaming walls: impenetrable the hedge of +bayonets which, the front rank kneeling, presented<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">134</span> +to their advances.” Erect in the centre +of each French battalion square glittered its +Eagle, raised on high defiantly above the smoke +as the volleys flashed out all round.</p> + +<p>Marshal Davout was seen at every point +wherever the regiments were hardest pressed. +From square to square the marshal galloped, as +opportunity offered in the intervals of the +Prussian attacks, “his face begrimed with sweat +and powder-smoke, his spectacles gone,<a id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">11</a> his bald +head bleeding from a wound, his uniform torn, +a piece of his cocked hat shot away,” to exhort +the men to stand fast and hold their ground. +To one regiment he called out, as he reined up +beside its square: “Their Great Frederick said +that God gave the victory to the big battalions. +He lied! It’s the stubborn soldiers who win +battles; that’s you and your general to-day!” +Davout personally brought up support at one +point to rescue a sorely pressed division of four +regiments, General Gudin’s,<a id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">12</a> holding the village +of Herrenhausen, on the right of the battlefield; +a post of vital importance to the fate of the day. +Taken by a brilliant dash forward early in the +battle, the village was held to the last, in spite of the +utmost endeavours of the Prussians to regain it.</p> + +<figure id="i_134" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 25em;"> + <img src="images/i_134.jpg" width="1932" height="2471" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>MARSHAL DAVOUT.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">135</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">AT BAY BEHIND A BARRICADE</div> + +<p>The French kept the post at the cost of half +their numbers. One regiment, the 85th, on the +side of the village fronting the Prussians, lost +two-thirds of its men and was forced back and +compelled to abandon the outskirts. It kept +the Prussians at bay, however, within the +village, behind a barricade of overturned carts, +farm implements, and cottage furniture heaped +together. Close behind the firing line across +the village street the Eagle-bearer took his stand, +amidst a hail of bullets, mounted on a wheelbarrow +and brandishing the Eagle and calling +on the men to stand firm and fire low.</p> + +<p>Marshal Davout brought up his First Division +of five regiments to rescue Gudin, heading them +sword in hand as he galloped forward. In doing +so he received his wound and had a narrow escape +of his life. “One bullet went through the +marshal’s hat just above the cockade.”<a id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">13</a></p> + +<p>The 111th of the Line, of Davout’s Third +Division, had three Eagle-bearers shot down in +succession, a fresh officer coming forward to +carry the Eagle as his predecessor fell. All the +drummer-lads of the regiment were killed, whereupon +Drum-Major Mauser, dropping his staff, +picked up a drum and beat it as the regiment +advanced in its final charge. He ran forward +close beside the Eagle until he in turn fell shot<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">136</span> +dead. This was in storming the village of +Spielberg, nearly at the close of the battle.</p> + +<p>“The corps of Marshal Davout performed +prodigies,” wrote Napoleon in the Fourth Bulletin +of the campaign, commending with warmth +“the rare intrepidity of the brave corps.” He +ordered 500 crosses of the Legion of Honour +to be distributed in Davout’s corps, directing +that when the army reached Berlin, Davout +and the Third Corps should take precedence, +and their Eagles lead the triumphal entry +through the streets of the Prussian capital. At +a special review of Davout’s corps, calling the +marshal and his generals round him, he declared +his unbounded admiration of the feat of arms +they had achieved. “Sire,” replied Davout, +deeply moved at Napoleon’s words, “the +soldiers of the Third Corps will always be to +you what the Tenth Legion was to Caesar.”</p> + +<p>At the attack on Halle, three days after Jena, +the 32nd of the Line, near the Eagle of which +regiment Ney had ridden at Jena, distinguished +themselves brilliantly. The Prussian Reserve +Army Corps was holding Halle and making a +gallant effort in a rearguard fight to safeguard +the passage there over the river Saale. Led by +the commander of Ney’s First Division, General +Dupont, in person, they stormed the bridge in +the face of a tremendous fire of grape and case +shot. Then, backed up by their comrades in +Ney’s First Division, the 18th and 96th and 9th<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">137</span> +Light Infantry, they fought their way through +the city and, breaking open the gates, stormed +the heights beyond, foremost throughout in the +attack. Four times the Eagle-bearer of the 32nd +was shot down: each time a fresh officer sprang +forward to lead the regiment on. The 97th of +the Line, while fighting their way through the +streets of Halle at another point, found the +Prussian cannon mounted at a barricade too deadly +to face in the open, and the regiment recoiled +in confusion. Taking the Eagle from the Eagle-bearer, +Colonel Barrois called forward the +grenadier company. Leading them on himself +on horseback, holding up the Eagle with his +right hand, he went straight at the barricade, +which was stormed without touching a trigger.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ACROSS A CONQUERED LAND</div> + +<p>Thenceforward there was only left for the +Eagles to choose the slain; to parade in triumph +across a conquered land. “Veni, Vidi, Vici,” +sums up the story of the after-events of the war +for the Eagles of Napoleon. The army of the +great Frederick committed suicide after Jena. +Its resistance collapsed: the army that had gone +forth in September to cross the Rhine and dictate +peace at the gates of Paris had ceased to exist +within six weeks. How completely indeed the +<i lang="fr">moral</i> of the Prussians had been shattered, this +story, from a report from Marshal Lannes to +Napoleon, serves to show. “Three hussars,” +related Lannes, “having lost their way towards +Grätz, found themselves in the midst of an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">138</span> +enemy’s squadron. They boldly drew their +carbines and, levelling them at the enemy, +called out that the Prussians were surrounded, +and must surrender at discretion. The Prussians +obeyed. The commander of the squadron, without +apparently a thought of resistance, ordered +his men to dismount, and they surrendered their +arms to those three hussars, who brought them +all in prisoners of war.”</p> + +<p>General Lassalle, with a handful of hussars, +as has been said, captured the fortress of Stettin, +with 150 guns on its walls and a garrison of 6,000 +men, by sheer effrontery. He rode up to the +main gate and demanded the surrender within +five minutes; and the governor capitulated on +the spot. “If your hussars take strong fortresses +like that,” wrote Napoleon to Murat, on +hearing the news, “I have nothing to do but +break up my artillery and discharge my engineers.” +Prince Hohenlohe with 14,000 men and +50 guns, his troops including the Royal Prussian +Guard and six regiments of Guard cavalry, +laid down their arms at Prentzlau. A few miles +away, 8,000 more Prussians surrendered on the +same day to a French brigade of dragoons. The +unfortunates were remnants of the troops beaten +at Jena, and had been relentlessly pursued for +ten days.</p> + +<p>The 7th Hussars forwarded to Napoleon as +their spoils from a three days’ chase, 7 Prussian +cavalry standards; those of the Anspach and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">139</span> +Bayreuth Dragoons; the Queen of Prussia’s +regiment; and 4 standards of the Light Cavalry +of the Guard. Marshal Lannes sent Napoleon +40 Prussian standards taken between Jena and +Berlin. Bernadotte and Soult presented 82 more +trophies, the spoils of Blücher’s army, forced to +surrender at Lübeck after a forlorn-hope fight +in the course of which the city was stormed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“THE FINEST FEAT OF ARMS”</div> + +<p>Marshal Ney took the fortress of Magdeburg +without having a single siege-gun, and with only +11,000 men at hand to deal with 24,000 in the +garrison and 700 guns on the ramparts, some of +these being the heaviest artillery of the time. +It was perhaps the most surprising event of the +war. The taking of Magdeburg, wrote Junot, +“is the finest feat of arms that has illustrated +this campaign.” Ney had been ordered to blockade +Magdeburg until a sufficient army was +available for the siege of the fortress, which +Napoleon expected would be a long and difficult +affair. But so tedious a task as a blockade +was not at all to Ney’s taste. To hasten matters +he sent for half a dozen mortars, taken at Erfurt, +and began throwing shells into the suburbs on +the side nearest him. The bombardment caused +a scare among the townsfolk. Panic-stricken at +seeing their houses set on fire and destroyed by the +bursting shells, they hastened to General Kleist, +the governor of Magdeburg, an elderly and +nervous old gentleman of between seventy and +eighty years of age, and implored him to ask<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">140</span> +terms of the French marshal. Dismayed himself +at the prospect of a siege, with disorder +rampant among the military—nearly half the +garrison was made up of fragments of fugitive +regiments from Jena who had fled to Magdeburg +for shelter from the pursuing French—Kleist, +losing his nerve in the face of the alarming +situation, agreed to negotiate for terms. +Ney’s reply was a demand for instant surrender, +whereupon the wretched governor, although he +had more than enough good troops at disposal, +without counting the Jena fugitives, to have +made a stubborn defence, tamely hoisted the +white flag.</p> + +<p>The march out of the garrison of Magdeburg +was a repetition of the Austrian humiliation of +Ulm on a lesser scale. The standards of the +Black Eagle in their turn had at Magdeburg +publicly to acknowledge defeat before the Eagles +of Napoleon.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE GARRISON LAYS DOWN ARMS</div> + +<p>Ney drew up his 11,000 men in a great hollow +square outside the Ulrich gate of the fortress. +His troops were drawn up along three sides of +the square; the fourth side, that nearest the city, +being left open. In front of the regiments stood +their Eagles, all paraded as at Ulm, the Eagle-guards +beside them, and the regimental officers +standing in line with their swords at the carry. +The Prussians marched out and, to the music of +the French bands, passed in procession along +the three inner sides of the square, and in front<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">141</span> +of Marshal Ney and his staff. The miserable +Kleist led them, and then took his stand beside +Ney, to answer the marshal’s questions as to who +and what the various regiments were, as each +set of downcast Prussians trailed past. They +tramped by, with their muskets on their shoulders +unloaded and without bayonets, and with their +colours furled. The hapless prisoners, after +they had defiled past, were at once marched +away under escort on the road to Mayence. +Twenty generals, 800 other officers, 22,000 +infantry, and 2,000 artillerymen, with 59 +standards, underwent the humiliation of the +defilade.<a id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">14</a> There were several painful scenes +at the laying down of the arms. “Their soldiers +openly insulted their officers,” describes one of +the French lookers-on. “Most of them looked +terribly ashamed of themselves; the faces of not +a few were streaming with tears.”</p> + +<p>At Magdeburg, as in the other surrenders +elsewhere, it was not the personal courage of the +officers and soldiers that was wanting—there were +men by thousands in the various garrisons ready<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">142</span> +to give their lives for the honour of their country; +it was the generals in command whose nerve +lacked. The generals were men past their +prime, and mostly physically incapable of enduring +hardships. They had been appointed to their +posts, in accordance with the system in vogue +in Prussia, for the sake of the emoluments.</p> + +<p>“The overthrow of Jena,” to use the words +of a modern writer, “had been caused by faults +of generalship, and cast no stain upon the +courage of the officers; the surrender of the +Prussian fortresses, which began on the day +when the French entered Berlin, attached the +utmost personal disgrace to their commanders. +Even after the destruction of the army in the field, +Prussia’s situation would not have been hopeless +if the commanders of the fortresses had +acted on the ordinary rules of military duty. +Magdeburg and the strongholds upon the Oder +were sufficiently armed and provisioned to detain +the entire French army, and to give time to +the King to collect upon the Vistula a force as +numerous as that which he had lost. But +whatever is weakest in human nature—old age, +fear, and credulity—seemed to have been placed +at the head of the Prussian defences.” Küstrin +on the Oder, “in full order for a long siege, was +surrendered by the older officers, amidst the +curses of the subalterns and the common soldiers: +the artillerymen had to be dragged from their +guns by force.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">143</span></p> + +<p>At Magdeburg, indeed, before the march out, +the younger officers of the garrison mobbed +General Kleist, hooting at him and cursing him +to his face; some of them, further, being with +difficulty stopped from acts of personal violence.</p> + +<p>There yet remained one day more for the +Eagles. The triumphal parade of the victorious +Eagles through Berlin was the crowning humiliation +that Napoleon imposed on vanquished +Prussia.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MARSHAL DAVOUT IN BERLIN</div> + +<p>Davout’s corps, as Napoleon had promised, +marched through the Prussian capital first of +all. The marshal was waited on as he entered +by the Burgomeister and civic authorities, +humbly bowing before him, and offering in +token of submission the keys of Berlin. The +offer, however, was declined. “You must present +them later,” was the reply; “they belong to +a greater than I!” After marching through +Berlin, Davout camped a mile beyond the city, +posting his artillery “in position as for war, +pointed towards the place as in readiness to +bombard it.” The soldiers were then allowed +to go about Berlin in parties. They behaved +very quietly, and made eager sightseers, we are +told. The shops, which had been closed during +the march through, reopened later, and the +people went about the streets as usual, “mortified +and subdued in demeanour, but apparently +very curious to see what they could of the French +officers.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">144</span></p> + +<p>Augereau’s corps, and then those of Soult, +Bernadotte, and Ney made their triumphal +entry and march through Berlin in turn, on +different days later on, bands playing and +Eagles displayed at the head of the regiments—the +people turning out on each occasion in crowds +to line the streets and gaze at the show, “expressing +great surprise at the small size of our men +and the youth of most of the officers.” Marshal +Ney’s corps brought with them their fifty-nine +trophies from Magdeburg, and, after parading +them through the streets of Berlin, ceremoniously +presented them to Napoleon in public, in front +of the statue of Frederick the Great.</p> + +<p>Napoleon himself made his triumphal entry +into Berlin on October 28, three days after +Davout’s march through. He rode from Charlottenburg +through the Brandenburg Gate and +along Unter-den-Linden to the Royal Palace, +at the head of the Old Guard and six thousand +cuirassiers in gleaming mail. Squadrons of +Gendarmerie d’Elite and Chasseurs of the Guard +and the Horse Grenadiers, in their huge bear-skins, +led the long procession, all in <i lang="fr">grande tenue</i>, +with their bands playing and the Eagles glittering +in the brilliant sunshine of a perfect autumn +day.</p> + +<p>Napoleon came next, “riding by himself, twenty +paces in front of the staff, with impassive face +and a stern expression,” passing amid dense +silent crowds, “the men all wearing black, as in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">145</span> +mourning; the women mostly with handkerchiefs +to their eyes.” The people lined both +sides of the roadway, and filled the windows of +all the houses overlooking the route. All Berlin, +young and old, was in the streets that day, +staring at the spectacle in mute silence, looking +on dumbly, pale-faced and miserable of aspect. +Not a mutter of abuse was heard, not the least +sign was apparent of the deadly hatred to their +conqueror that one and all felt. With rage and +despair in their hearts, with compressed lips and +clenched fists at their sides, the men watched +the splendid array sweep proudly past them in +all the insolent pomp of victorious war.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON RIDES THROUGH</div> + +<p>For once, on that historic occasion, Napoleon +discarded his customary wear of the green undress +uniform of his pet corps, the Chasseurs of +the Guard. He entered Berlin as the head of a +conquering army, wearing the full-dress uniform +of a French general, crimson plumed cocked hat +with blue and white aigrette, blue coat heavily +embroidered with gold, and with glittering bullion +epaulettes, and the blue and gold sash of a +general round his waist. Four marshals, Berthier, +Lannes, Davout, and Augereau, riding +abreast, followed Napoleon, immediately in front +of the Imperial Staff, a cavalcade of a hundred +and more brilliantly decorated officers, all in +their most gorgeous parade uniforms, in celebration +of the day. The keys of the city were +presented to the conqueror, and accepted by him,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">146</span> +as Napoleon passed through the Brandenburg +Gate. Ten thousand infantry of the Old Guard, +in a vast solid column of glistening bayonets, +marched, twenty abreast, in rear of the staff. +Their famous band playing triumphantly, with +the Eagle of the Grenadiers of the Old Guard +above its flag of crimson silk and gold, heading +the veterans. They also were all in the full-dress +uniform they wore on gala-day parades before +the Tuileries. By Napoleon’s special order, the +Old Guard on all campaigns carried in their +knapsacks their full-dress uniform, specially for +donning on occasions such as that at Berlin.</p> + +<p>But the cup of humiliation for the miserable +citizens of the Prussian capital was not yet full. +They had yet another military spectacle with a +significance of its own to witness; one the deep +humiliation of which they felt more bitterly +even than Napoleon’s triumphant ride in person +through their streets. The citizens of Berlin +had to look on their own officers of the Royal +Prussian Guard being led in procession through +their midst under the armed escort of Napoleon’s +grenadiers. That was Napoleon’s way of settling +accounts for that August night of wanton insult +to France, for the sharpening of the sword-blades +on the steps of the French Embassy.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE PRISONERS FARMED OUT</div> + +<p>Nor, too, did Napoleon spare the Prussian +prisoners of the rank and file. Writing from +Berlin to the Minister of the Interior in Paris, +he gave directions that the Prussian captives<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">147</span> +should be made use of as hewers of wood and +drawers of water for their conquerors. They +were to be farmed out to municipalities and +district councils in the Departments. “Their +services should be turned to account at a trifling +expense in the way of wages for the benefit of +our manufacturers and cultivators and replace +our conscripts called to serve in the ranks of the +Grand Army.”</p> + +<p>Napoleon stayed in Berlin for four weeks, +while the marshals were leading the Eagles +through Eastern Prussia towards the Polish +frontier. Russia had taken up the cause of her +defeated neighbour, and the armies of the Czar +were on the move to rescue what was left of the +Prussian army. Less than 15,000 men were +all that remained in the field to show fight, +of 200,000 soldiers who, not two months before, +had been on the march against France in full +anticipation of victory.</p> + +<p>In the Royal Palace of Berlin Napoleon received +with elaborate ceremony the deputation +of the French Senate sent from Paris specially +to congratulate the victor of Jena in the enemy’s +capital. He took advantage of the unique occasion +for the formal presentation and handing +over to their charge, for conveyance to Paris, of +the trophies of the war—340 Prussian battle-flags +and standards.<a id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">15</a> Forty of the trophies<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">148</span> +presented to the Senate on that day at Berlin +are now among the array of trophies grouped +round Napoleon’s tomb in the Invalides.</p> + +<p>Napoleon handed over to the charge of the +deputation at the same time, for transfer to the +Invalides, his own personal spoil—the sword of +Frederick the Great. It was removed—all the +world knows the story of the unpardonable +outrage—by Napoleon’s own hand from its +resting-place on the royal tomb at Potsdam. +“I would rather have this,” he said to the +officers beside him in the royal vault as he took +possession of the sword, “than twenty millions. +I shall send it to my old soldiers who fought +against Frederick in the campaign in Hanover. +I will present it to the Governor of the Invalides, +who will guard it as a testimonial of the victories +of the Grand Army and the vengeance that +it has wreaked for the disaster of Rosbach. My +veterans will be pleased to see the sword of the +man who defeated them at Rosbach!”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">FREDERICK THE GREAT’S SWORD</div> + +<p>The trophies started for France forthwith +under military escort, and Paris went mad with +exultation at the sight of them. On the day of +the State Procession which escorted the trophies<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">149</span> +from the Tuileries to the Invalides it proved +almost impossible to keep back the enormous +crowds that thronged the streets along the route, +in spite of cordons of gendarmerie and regiments +of dragoons. Deputations of veterans and +National Guards, with the Eagles of the Departmental +Legions, led the way. Then came Imperial +carriages with exalted official personages. +The trophies had their place next, displayed in +clusters of flags all round a gigantic triumphal +car. Marshal Moncey, the acting Governor of +Paris, rode a few paces behind the car of Prussian +standards, holding up the trophy of trophies +before the eyes of the wildly cheering onlookers—Frederick +the Great’s sword. A gaily attired +train of generals and staff officers attended the +marshal. The rear of the procession was brought +up by the battalions of the Guard of Paris, their +Eagles being borne amid rows of gleaming bayonets. +Salvos of artillery from the Triumphal +Battery greeted the arrival of the trophies at the +Invalides, where the veterans awaited them, +drawn up on parade before the Gate of Honour. +As Napoleon had specially directed, the Hanoverian +War veterans of the Invalides met and +escorted Marshal Moncey to the chapel at the +head of other specially nominated veterans, who +bore, marching in procession, the Prussian +trophy-standards. The trophies were deposited +with an elaborate display of ceremonial in front +of the High Altar, after which Fontanes, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">150</span> +Public Orator of the Empire, delivered an +address full of glowingly eloquent passages on +the glorious achievements of the Grand Army +and the “resplendent magnificence of the leader +who had led the Eagles to surpassing triumphs!”</p> + +<h3 id="toclink_150"><span class="smcap">The Twelve Lost Eagles of Eylau</span></h3> + +<p>Napoleon passed from the victorious fields of +Prussia to the rough experiences of the Eylau +and Friedland campaigns, which followed as +the sequel to Jena on the plains of the Polish +frontier. The Eagles there had to undergo under +fire vicissitudes of fortune that were a foretaste +of the fate in store for some of them later on, at +the hands of the same enemy, in the Moscow +campaign. No fewer than fourteen of the Eagles +borne in triumph through Berlin after Jena were +on view within a twelvemonth as spoils of war +in the Kazan Cathedral at St. Petersburg.</p> + +<p>The Eagle of Marshal Ney’s favourite regiment +in the battle-days of the Ulm campaign, +the 9th Light Infantry, was the first to meet +adventures in the Polish War. It was on the +occasion of the surprise of Bernadotte’s army +corps, at Möhringen near the Vistula, in the last +week of January 1807. The Grand Army was +lying in winter quarters to the north of Warsaw, +awaiting the reopening of the campaign in the +early spring, when the Russian army, breaking +up unexpectedly from its cantonments beyond<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">151</span> +the Vistula in the depth of winter, made a dash +at Bernadotte’s outlying troops, posted by themselves +at some distance from the main army and +scattered in detachments over a wide tract of +country for reasons of food-supply. Bernadotte +only got news of the enemy’s approach +just in time; practically at the eleventh hour. +He was rapidly concentrating his corps at Möhringen, +but barely half his troops had been able +to reach the point of danger when the Russians +struck their blow. He was able with the troops +nearest at hand to avert destruction, but the +escape was a narrow one and his losses were very +heavy, all his baggage falling into the hands of +the enemy. Fortunately for the French the +Russian advanced guard attacked prematurely +and was beaten back, after which Bernadotte +made good his retreat to a safer neighbourhood.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">FOUR TIMES TAKEN AND RETAKEN</div> + +<p>The 9th Light Infantry were in the forefront +of the fighting, which was at the closest quarters, +the soldiers on both sides meeting man to man. +Four Eagle-bearers of the 9th fell, one after +the other. Four times the Eagle was taken by +the Russians and recaptured at the point of the +bayonet. A fifth time the Eagle-bearer went +down, and on his fall this time the Eagle disappeared, +while the 9th were driven back, +broken and in disorder. They were quickly +rallied again, however, and led once more to the +charge, “going forward to the combat with the +fury of despair.” This time their impetuous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">152</span> +onset forced the Russians to give ground. +Advancing with shouts of victory, they stormed +the village of Psarrefelden, immediately in front +of them, and there seized part of a Russian +ammunition train. While searching for fresh +cartridges in one of the enemy’s ammunition +wagons to replenish their empty cartouche-boxes +an officer, to his surprise, came upon the lost +Eagle. It had been broken from its staff in +the last fight round it, and its Russian captor, +probably having enough to do to look after himself +without carrying it about, had apparently +thrust it hastily into the ammunition wagon on +top of the cartridges. At any rate there the +Eagle of the 9th Light Infantry was found, and +so it was regained. The broken staff and flag +were missing and were never seen again, but the +all-important Eagle had been recovered. It was +hurriedly mounted on a hop-pole, found leaning +against a peasant’s hut near by, which was improvised +for a staff, and on that the Eagle was +carried to the close of the fighting that day, +after which the 9th retreated with the rest of +Bernadotte’s corps.</p> + +<p>Napoleon specially decorated the lieutenant +who recovered the Eagle, and who also had +led more than one of the charges to rescue it in +the earlier fighting. He gave him the cross of +the Legion of Honour with a money grant. He +further recorded the recovery of the Eagle—though +without mentioning how it was got back—in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">153</span> +the 55th Bulletin of the Grand Army, dated +Warsaw, January 29, 1807:</p> + +<p>“The Eagle of the 9th Light Infantry was +taken by the enemy, but, realising the deep +disgrace with which their brave regiment would +be covered for ever, and from which neither +victory nor the glory acquired in a hundred +combats could have removed the stigma, the +soldiers, animated with an inconceivable ardour, +precipitated themselves on the enemy and routed +them and recovered their Eagle.”</p> + +<p>So Napoleon wrote history.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ON THE FIRST DAY AT EYLAU</div> + +<p>Two Eagles met their fate in the first day’s +fighting at Eylau—in the preliminary combat +on February 7, which formed the opening phase +of the terrific encounter next day. At Eylau—a +small township some twenty-two miles to the +south of Königsburg—Napoleon in person commanded +with 80,000 men in the field, and met +with his first serious check in a European war. +In following up the Russian rearguard on the +afternoon of the 7th, as it fell slowly back to +rejoin its main body, drawn up in position on the +farther side of Eylau, on ground chosen beforehand +by the Russian leader for making a stand, +two of Napoleon’s battalions, while pressing +hotly forward after the enemy over the open +plain, some two miles from Eylau, were overpowered +and cut to pieces. They had charged +and were driving in the nearest Russians to them, +when a Russian cavalry regiment, the St. Petersburg<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">154</span> +Dragoons, unexpectedly came on the scene. +Sweeping round amidst the tumult of the fighting, +the dragoons rode into them on the flank. The +two battalions were slaughtered almost to a +man within five minutes, before help could get +to them, and their Eagles were snatched up and +borne away. It was an act of expiation for the +St. Petersburg Dragoons. On the previous day +Murat’s pursuing hussars had charged and +broken them, putting them to flight, and in a +wild panic they had ridden over one of their own +regiments, trampling their comrades down, with +loss of life. To retrieve their character the St. +Petersburg Dragoons now went savagely at the +two French battalions, riding them down with +reckless daring and relentless fury, giving no +quarter. Their capture of two of Napoleon’s +Eagles in one charge, the taking of two Eagles +by a single regiment, stands on its own account +as a unique achievement.</p> + +<figure id="i_154" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 45em;"> + <img src="images/i_154.jpg" width="3552" height="2171" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>Sketch Plan of the Battlefield of EYLAU</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Eylau—the historic battle of February 8, 1807—was +fought in the depth of winter; in the +midst of a flat expanse of a desolate snow-plain +and ice-bound marshes; under dreary lowering +skies of leaden grey; amid howling gusts of +piercing wind, with driving snow-storms sweeping +intermittently across the field of battle. A +hundred and fifty thousand men on both sides +faced each other at the break of day, after passing +the night with their outposts within shot of one +another, the soldiers all lying in an open bivouac<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">155</span> +on the snow, round their watch-fires, wrapped +up in their cloaks, the only shelter from the bitter +cold. They fronted each other in the grey dawn +“within half-cannon shot, their immense masses +distributed in dense columns over a space in +breadth less than four miles. Between them +lay the field of battle, a wide stretch of unenclosed +ground, rising on the Russian side to a +range of small hills. All over the plain, ponds +and marshes intersected the ground, but far and +wide all was now covered over with ice and +deep snow.”</p> + +<p>Napoleon began the battle with a fierce cannonade, +opening a terrific fire all along the line +with no fewer than 350 guns. The Russians +replied at once, firing back even more furiously +and with yet more guns. For almost an hour +nearly 800 cannon belched forth shot and +shell on either side; an artillery duel perhaps +unparalleled in war. Then, in the midst of +the cannonade, Napoleon launched his first +attack. Fifteen thousand men of Augereau’s +corps moved out from the centre of the French +line to storm the Russian position. They went +forward, massed in two immense columns, with, +in support, a third column of one of Soult’s +divisions.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">GOING FORWARD TO THEIR DOOM</div> + +<p>They went forward to their doom: to meet +disaster, swift, terrible, overwhelming, and to +leave two of their Eagles in the hands of the +enemy as mementos of their fate. Yet they were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">156</span> +not given up; neither of those Eagles was +surrendered. They remained on the field amid +the dead; left behind because there was not a +man living of their regiments to defend them. +They lay where they fell, surrounded by the +soldiers who had died in their defence; lying +on the snow for the Cossacks to pick up and +carry away. They were the Eagles of the 14th +and the 24th of the Line.</p> + +<p>The Russians turned their guns on Augereau’s +corps directly it commenced its advance; it +was sheer massacre for the French, as the fierce +tornado of cannon-balls crashed into the thick +of the densely massed columns. Whole companies +were swept away, mowed down, on every +side. “Within a quarter of an hour, half of the +corps were struck down.” The rest, though, +with stolid endurance, held firmly on their way. +The soldiers went doggedly on; only halting +for a moment now and again to close up their +shattered ranks. At that moment, as they were +nearing the Russian position, a furious snow-storm +burst over the battlefield, the snow blowing +right in the faces of the French. “It was impossible,” +one of the survivors told, “to see +anything at all in front; we could at times barely +see a foot before us.” All, in spite of that, however, +laboured bravely to get forward; without +wavering, and regardless of the merciless fire of +the Russian guns, which never ceased for one +moment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">157</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">OVERWHELMED IN A SNOWSTORM</div> + +<p>Then, as the snow-blinded soldiers struggled +on, when the storm of whirling snow was at its +worst, all in an instant the catastrophe happened. +Without warning, coming from nowhere, +as it seemed, an enormous mass of Russian +horse, dragoons and Cossacks, charged suddenly, +amid an infernal din of furious shouting, into +them. “So thick was the snow-storm, and so +unexpected the onset, that the assailants were +only a few feet off, and the long lances of the +Cossacks almost touching the French infantry +when they were first discerned.” The Russians +swept down on all sides of the two divisions; +charging them in front and flanks and rear at +once, the dragoons sabring them right and left, +the Cossacks stabbing at them with their long +eighteen-foot lances.</p> + +<p>“The combat was not of more than a few +minutes’ duration; the corps, charged at once +by foot and horse with the utmost vigour, +broke and fled in the wildest disorder back +into Eylau, closely pursued by the Russian +cavalry and Cossacks, who made such havoc, +that the whole, above 15,000 strong, were, with +the exception of 1,500 men, taken or destroyed; +and Augereau himself, with his two generals of +divisions, Desjardins and Heudelet, was desperately +wounded.”</p> + +<p>Cut off in one part of the field and hemmed in, +the 24th of the Line, “one of the finest regiments +in the Grand Army, and itself almost equal to a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">158</span> +brigade,” as a French officer speaks of it, was +destroyed to a man. It refused to turn its back +to the enemy, and stood its ground to face its +fate. The 24th were slaughtered as they stood +in their ranks. Colonel Sémelé and a devoted +band of soldiers fought round the Eagle to the +last, and fell dead beside it. A Cossack picked +the Eagle up and rode off with it.</p> + +<p>The 14th had led the attack. It had lost +heavily from the Russian cannonade, but was +still pressing on when the cavalry came charging +down. The regiments next following it, however, +had suffered still more heavily from the artillery +fire. They were swept away <i lang="fr">en masse</i> by the +Cossack rush. Thus the 14th were cut off and +left by themselves, barely half a battalion of +men in numbers, in the midst of the raging +torrent of Cossacks and dragoons. The survivors +hastily threw themselves into a square +on and round a low elevation or hillock of snow. +There, with their Eagle in their midst, they +stood at bay, refusing to retire without direct +orders from their marshal.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ISOLATED AND SURROUNDED</div> + +<p>Marbot, in his memoirs, describes the fate of +the 14th, to which he was sent with a message from +Napoleon. He was one of Augereau’s aides de +camp. It was just after the wounded marshal +had been carried back to the churchyard of the +village of Eylau, the centre of the French position, +whence Napoleon, on horseback, among his +personal suite, had witnessed the disaster. All<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">159</span> +could see the 14th standing there, isolated and +surrounded; “we could see that the intrepid +regiment, surrounded by the enemy, was brandishing +the Eagle in the air, to show that it still +held its ground and wanted help.” Napoleon, +“touched by the grand devotion of these brave +men, resolved to try to save them. He gave +orders that an officer should be sent to tell +them to try to make their way back towards +the army. Cavalry would charge out to help +them. It looked,” says Marbot, “almost impossible +to get through the thronging Cossacks; +but Napoleon’s command had to be obeyed.”</p> + +<p>“A brave captain of engineers named Froissart, +who, though not an aide de camp, was on +Augereau’s staff, happened to be nearest him, +and was told to carry the order to the 14th. +Froissart galloped off: we lost sight of him in +the midst of the Cossacks, and never saw him +again or heard what became of him. The marshal, +seeing that the 14th did not move, then sent +an officer named David. He had the same fate +as Froissart; we never heard of him again. +Probably both were killed and stripped, and could +not be recognised among the many corpses which +covered the ground. For the third time the +marshal called, ‘The officer for duty!’ It was +my turn.”</p> + +<p>Marbot had seen his two predecessors go off +with their swords drawn, as though they intended +to defend themselves against attacks on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">160</span> +way. He had remarked that, and now proposed +another method for himself.</p> + +<p>“To attempt defence was madness; it meant +stopping to fight amidst a multitude of enemies. +I went otherwise to work. Leaving my sword +in its scabbard, I considered myself rather as a +rider who is trying to win a steeple-chase and +goes as quickly as possible by the shortest line +towards the appointed goal without troubling +about what is to right or left of his path. My +goal was the hillock on which stood the 14th, +and I resolved to get there without taking +heed of the Cossacks. I tried to put them out +of my mind entirely. The plan answered to perfection.”</p> + +<p>“Lisette [Marbot’s charger], flying rather +than galloping, moving more lightly than a +swallow, darted over the intervening space, +leaping the heaps of dead men and horses, the +ditches, the broken gun-carriages, the half-extinguished +bivouac fires. Thousands of Cossacks +swarmed over the plain. The first who caught +sight of me behaved like sportsmen who, while +beating, start a hare and tell of its whereabouts +to each other with shouts of ‘Your side!’ +None of the Cossacks tried to stop me. Perhaps +it was because of the amazing speed of my +mare; perhaps—probably—because there were +so many of them swarming round that each +thought I could not escape from his comrades +farther on. At any rate I got through them all,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">161</span> +and without scratch either to myself or to my +mare, and managed to reach where the 14th +stood.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“AT LAST I WAS IN THE SQUARE!”</div> + +<p>“I found them in square on top of their +hillock, but the slope all round was very slight, +and the Russian cavalry had been able to attack +them with several charges. All, though, had +been beaten off, and the regiment stood surrounded +by a circle of dead horses and dragoons. +The corpses indeed formed a kind of rampart +round our men, and made by now their position +almost inaccessible to mounted men. So I +found, for in spite of the help of our men, I had +much difficulty in getting across this horrible +entrenchment. At last, however, I was in the +square.”</p> + +<p>The major of the 14th was the senior officer +left alive, and to him Marbot gave Napoleon’s +order. But it was absolutely impossible to +carry it out; there were too few men left to +make the attempt possible. They would be +overpowered, said the major to Marbot, before +they had gone half a dozen steps. They were +past hope now, unless the cavalry could cut +their way to them at once. Marbot must save +himself and get back at once. He must take +their Eagle back with him and deliver it into +Napoleon’s own hands. “I see no means left +of saving the regiment,” were the major’s words. +“Return to the Emperor, and bid him farewell +from the 14th of the Line. We have faithfully<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">162</span> +obeyed his orders in defence of the Eagle. Bear +him back his Eagle which he entrusted to us, +which now we have no hope of defending longer. +It would add too much to the bitterness of death +for us to see it fall into the hands of the enemy.” +The major handed the Eagle to Marbot and +then saluted it, amid shouts of “Vive l’Empereur!” +from the men round.</p> + +<p>Marbot took the Eagle, and, as the only means +of preserving it during his ride back, tried to +break it off from its stout pole so as to conceal +it under his cloak. He was in the act of leaning +forward to get a purchase in order to break +the oaken staff, when he was suddenly rendered +powerless by the wind of a grape-shot. It was +a marvellous escape from death. The shot +actually went through his hat, within a quarter +of an inch of his head. It deprived him, as he +describes, of all power and sensation, although +he still remained fixed in his saddle, his eyes +witnessing the last scene, the fate of the 14th. +The square was finally rushed by a swarm of +Russian grenadiers, as Marbot says, who came +charging up to the spot—“big men with mitre-shaped +caps bound in brass.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">FIGHTING TO THE LAST MAN</div> + +<p>“These men hurled themselves furiously on +the feeble remains of the 14th. Our poor +fellows had little strength left for resistance, +weakened as they were by hardships and +privations. They had for days been only existing +on potatoes and melted snow, and on that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">163</span> +morning had not had time to prepare even that +wretched meal. Yet they made bravely what +fight they could with their bayonets, and when, +as too soon happened, the square was broken, +they tried to hold together in groups, fighting +back to back and keeping up the unequal fight +to the last man.”</p> + +<p>Those nearest Marbot, so as not to be bayoneted +from behind, stood all round him with their +backs to the mare, hemmed in by a ring of Russians, +some shooting down the hapless Frenchmen, +others killing them with the bayonet.</p> + +<p>Marbot, recovering his senses, got at the last +moment an unexpected chance of escape. His +mare, Lisette, he says, “of a notoriously savage +temper,” was pricked by a bayonet apparently, +for she suddenly sprang forward, lashing out and +kicking and biting. She crashed through the +nearest Russians and galloped off with Marbot +on her back towards Eylau. He was mistaken +by the Cossacks, he thought, for a Russian officer, +and rode on until suddenly Lisette collapsed +beneath him, and Marbot rolled off into the +snow, where he lay insensible for some hours. +He lay there until a marauder on the field after +the battle tried to strip him of his gold-laced +uniform. That roused him, and he cried for help, +which came; but the Eagle of the 14th had +disappeared.</p> + +<p>Two Eagles of St. Hilaire’s division of Soult’s +corps were taken at about the same time that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">164</span> +the 14th met its fate. One was that of the +10th Light Infantry, ridden down while hastening +forward to support Augereau. The 10th +missed its way in the snow-storm and, blundering +close under the Russian guns, was “decimated +by grape.” Immediately after that, +while reeling under the shock, and trying to +re-form its ranks, the Russian dragoons dashed +into it. They burst into its midst at full +gallop, “unseen until they were actually +among us.” No help was near, and in less than +three minutes the luckless 10th Light Infantry +had ceased to exist. The second of Soult’s +Eagles that was lost at Eylau was that of a +battalion of the 28th of the Line, which also +perished, victims to the sabres of the Russian +horsemen. It was a little later in the day, just +after the 28th had made a successful bayonet +charge on the Russian infantry. They were in +the midst of their combat when the dragoons +dashed into them, rode through them, and +scattered them, bearing off the Eagle, snatched +from the hands of the Eagle-bearer, who was cut +down in the <i lang="fr">mêlée</i>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“THE FIRST GRENADIER OF FRANCE”</div> + +<p>The Heart of the “First Grenadier of France” +nearly went to St. Petersburg at the same time, +The 46th and 28th together formed General +Levasseur’s division in Soult’s corps, and both +were overwhelmed at the same time by the +Russian dragoons. The more fortunate 46th +saved both their Eagle and the silver casket<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">165</span> +in which the heart of La Tour d’Auvergne was +kept enshrined. The casket was worn, strapped +on a velvet shield, on the chest of the senior +grenadier sergeant of the First Battalion, whose +station was next the Eagle-bearer. It was with +the 46th, then known as the 46th Demi-Brigade, +that the heroic “Premier Grenadier de France” +was serving as a captain when he met his death +in the year of Hohenlinden, while in the act of +capturing an Austrian standard. The 46th of +the Line of the modern French Army keeps up +to-day the traditional practice, first ordered by +Moreau, the victor of Hohenlinden, of calling +his name first of all at regimental parades. +It was revived some thirty years ago, after being +in desuetude since 1809. “Immediately the +Colonel has saluted the flag,” describes one of +the officers of the regiment, “the Captain commanding +the colour-company steps forward and, +facing the men, calls in a loud voice ‘La Tour +d’Auvergne,’ on which the senior sergeant of +the company steps out two paces and replies, +in a loud voice also, ‘Mort au Champ d’Honneur!’—‘Dead +on the Field of Honour!’”</p> + +<p>The heart of La Tour d’Auvergne in its silver +casket was ceremoniously deposited by the +regiment at the Invalides in 1904, eight years +ago.</p> + +<p>The 25th of the Line saved its Eagle, but lost +on the field every single one of its officers. A +plainly built obelisk with the brief inscription,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">166</span> +“To the Memory of the Officers of the 25th,” +was erected by Napoleon to commemorate their +fate at Eylau.</p> + +<p>Two Eagles of Davout’s corps were lost at +Eylau. One was that of the 18th—the sole +loss of an Eagle in the battle, as it so happens, +that it suited Napoleon’s purpose to admit +publicly. This is what he said of it in his +Eylau Bulletin—the 58th Bulletin of the Grand +Army:</p> + +<p>“The Eagle of one of the battalions of the +18th Regiment is missing. It has probably +fallen into the hands of the enemy, but no reproach +can attach to this regiment in the predicament +in which it was placed. It is a mere +accident of war. The Emperor will give the +18th another Eagle when it has taken a standard +from the enemy.”</p> + +<p>Comments on this, by the way, a British +officer, Colonel Sir Robert Wilson, who was +attached to the Russian army as British military +commissioner:</p> + +<p>“Admirable! the accidental loss of <em>one</em> Eagle +and only one! Colonel Beckendorff, then, did +not carry <em>twelve</em> Eagles (and, moreover, several +colours from which the Eagles had been unscrewed) +to Petersburg, where they now are for +the inspection of the world!”</p> + +<p>Napoleon made no other open reference to +the loss of Eagles at Eylau; but, as he showed +a little later, he felt what had happened. On the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">167</span> +other hand, outside France, many people disbelieved +the Russian official despatches. “The +number of Eagles said to be taken,” wrote the +editor of a London newspaper, “is astounding, +indeed incredible.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">TWO MORE EAGLES LOST</div> + +<p>The 18th lost their Eagle in the fierce fighting +on the extreme right of the battlefield, where, +after storming the village of Serpallen, Morand’s +division captured a Russian battery, bayoneting +the gunners. As they took the guns a Russian +cavalry brigade came hastening to the spot to +the rescue. Taking the 18th on the flank, the +Russians rode them down, breaking the regiment +up and scattering it. The Eagle disappeared +in the midst of the fight. The Eagle +of the 51st of the Line was the other that was +lost in Davout’s corps. That was taken by the +Prussian division which fought at Eylau; the +last remnant of the Jena army still combating +in the field. The Prussians, some 12,000 in +number, had made good their escape to the +Polish frontier and reached the battlefield of +Eylau at the close of the fight, in time to +strike in and take vengeance for their countrymen. +They were, however, deprived in the end +of their trophy. The captured Eagle of the +51st was claimed from them by the Russian +general after the battle, and sent with the eleven +others to St. Petersburg, where it now is.</p> + +<p>Two others of Davout’s Eagles which came +through at Eylau had narrow escapes. They<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">168</span> +were those of the 17th and 30th of the Line. +The 17th was one of the regiments ridden down +by Towazysky’s dragoons, the troopers who +carried off the Eagle of the 18th. In their +charge the dragoons broke up the 17th as well, +and the Eagle was left with only a few men +near by to defend it. They were in the midst +of the dragoons as the Russians galloped through, +slashing with their sabres at all within reach. +As the only means of saving the Eagle, Locqueneux, +a <i lang="fr">fourrier</i>, or quartermaster-sergeant, +“thrust the Eagle under the snow and stood +on it shouting for help. Colonel Mallet heard +the cry and ran to the rescue. With a few men +who rallied to the spot he succeeded in getting +the Eagle away from among the <i lang="fr">débris</i> of the +17th.” At roll-call next morning only one +man in five answered to his name. Napoleon, +on his ride over the field, happening to pass by +while the muster was being held, the gallant +<i lang="fr">fourrier</i> was brought before him and presented +with a lieutenant’s commission and an annuity +of 2,000 francs. The Eagle of the 30th of the +Line, another of Morand’s regiments, was saved +from capture in like manner by the personal +devotion of another <i lang="fr">fourrier</i>, Morin by name. +All round him men were falling, and he himself +had been severely wounded, but the brave +fellow had just strength enough to bury the +Eagle under the snow. He fainted from loss +of blood as he did it. Morin was found next<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">169</span> +morning just alive, outstretched over where +the precious Eagle lay concealed. He was able +to make signs and indicate that it was lying +underneath the snow, and then he died.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">FOUR CUIRASSIER EAGLES TAKEN</div> + +<p>Four cavalry Eagles, those of cuirassier regiments, +made up the tale of twelve lost by +Napoleon in the two days at Eylau. Platoff’s +Cossacks of the Don captured the four. They +swooped down on Murat’s cavalry, while out of +hand and partially dispersed after breaking +through the Russian centre, at the close of +Murat’s desperate charge at the head of seventy +squadrons to save the survivors of the massacre +of Augereau’s ill-fated battalions. Of one cuirassier +regiment only 18 men managed to regain +their own lines, leaving 530 of their comrades +on the field to be stripped of their shining +armour by the Cossacks.</p> + +<p>The Eagle of the Old Guard led a charge at +Eylau at the head of the Grenadiers. The Guard +came into action to beat back a daring Russian +counter-attack on the centre of Napoleon’s +position, which immediately followed the annihilation +of Augereau’s corps. Napoleon himself +gave the order for the Guard to go forward. +“The Emperor,” describes Caulaincourt, who +was on Napoleon’s staff, and near him throughout, +“standing erect in the stirrups, his glass +at his eye, was the first to realise that the black +shadow steadily drawing near through the veil +of the snow-storm must be the columns of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">170</span> +Russian reserve.<a id="FNanchor_16" href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">16</a> He immediately sent against +them two battalions of the Grenadiers of the +Guard commanded by General Dorsenne.” It +was just after Murat had been ordered to +make his charge.</p> + +<p>Dorsenne—“Le Beau Dorsenne,” he was universally +called; he had the reputation of being +the handsomest man in the whole of the Grand +Army—started off on the instant, rapidly +deploying his men into lines as he moved forward, +and with the Eagle of the Grenadiers of +the Guard in advance of the centre of the front +line. The Old Guard moved out in stately +order, marching with clockwork precision, muskets +at the support—held erect at the side and +steadied and supported with one arm held +stiffly across. One of the officers who rode +beside Dorsenne suggested to the general as +they were nearing the Russians to open fire. +“Non!” was the haughty answer. “Grenadiers +l’arme à bras! La Vieille Garde ne se +bât qu’à la baïonette!” (“No! Arms at the +support! The Old Guard only fights at the +point of the bayonet!”)</p> + +<p>They reached the Russians, who, on their side,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">171</span> +seemed for the moment as if spellbound at the +sight of them. The nearest Russians stopped +short. They stood stock-still, rooted in the +ground as it were, gazing at the sudden apparition +of the solid wall of 2,000 veteran giants in +their huge towering bear-skins. The next instant +the battalion guns of the Guard, which +accompanied the advance on either flank, opened +with a burst of fire at short range into the thick +of the Russians. At once, down came the +gleaming rows of bayonets, and, like one man, +the Old Guard sprang forward and charged into +the enemy. A moment before the bayonets +crossed a squadron of the Chasseurs of the +Guard, the men on duty as Napoleon’s own +personal escort, sent forward by the Emperor +himself to assist the Grenadiers, dashed into the +rear of the Russian column, and “drove it forward +on our Grenadiers, who received it with +fixed bayonets.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLE OF THE OLD GUARD</div> + +<p>Just before that it was that the Eagle of the +Old Guard had its adventure. A shell dropped +right in front of it and burst. The fragments +smashed the Eagle pole in two places, just above +and below the hands of the Eagle-bearer. The +Eagle fell to the ground at the feet of the Russians. +But they had not time to get hold of it. +Instantly Lieutenant Morlay, the Eagle-bearer, +sprang forward and recovered it. Picking the +Eagle up, with the flag and fragment of pole +that was left, Morlay snatched hold of a grenadier’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">172</span> +musket and jammed the piece of the staff +into the muzzle beside the bayonet. He carried +the Eagle in that manner throughout the rest of +the battle.<a id="FNanchor_17" href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">17</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">173</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">AT MIDNIGHT AFTER THE BATTLE</div> + +<p>A hundred and fifty thousand combatants had +faced one another at daybreak. An hour before +midnight, when the last shots were fired, 50,000 +men lay dead or wounded on the field. “Never,” +if we may recall the grim picture of the scene +next day that Alison has drawn, “was spectacle +so dreadful as that field presented on the following +morning. Above 50,000 men lay in the +space of two leagues, weltering in blood. The +wounds were, for the most part, of the severest +kind, from the extraordinary quantity of cannon-balls<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">174</span> +which had been discharged during the action +and the close proximity of the contending masses +to the deadly batteries, which spread grape at +half-musket shot through their ranks. Though +stretched on the cold snow and exposed to the +severity of an Arctic winter, the sufferers were +burning with thirst, and piteous cries were heard +on all sides for water, or assistance to extricate +the wounded men from beneath the heaps of +slain or load of horses by which they were +crushed. Six thousand of these noble animals +encumbered the field, or, maddened with pain, +were shrieking aloud amidst the stifled groans +of the wounded. Broken gun-carriages, dismounted +cannon, fragments of blown-up caissons, +scattered balls, lay in wild confusion amidst +casques, cuirassiers, and burning hamlets, casting +a livid light over a field of snow. Subdued by +loss of blood, tamed by cold, exhausted by +hunger, the foemen lay side by side, amidst the +general wreck. The Cossack was to be seen +beside the Italian; the gay vine-dresser from +the banks of the Garonne lay athwart the stern +peasant from the plains of the Ukraine.”</p> + +<p>When Napoleon took his ride over the field, +“the men exhibited none of their wonted enthusiasm; +no cries of ‘Vive l’Empereur!’ were +heard; the bloody surface echoed only with the +cries of suffering or the groans of woe.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE “TEMPLE OF VICTORY”</div> + +<p>Sixteen Russian standards were sent to Paris +after Eylau; Napoleon’s set-off to the twelve<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">175</span> +Eagles taken to St. Petersburg. They were to +be hung, he directed, temporarily at the Invalides, +until such time as the conversion of the +former Church of the Madeleine into Napoleon’s +grandiose “Temple of Victory” should be +effected—a project that was fated never to be +accomplished. There, designed Napoleon, all +the trophies of the Grand Army would find their +final resting-place, in a splendid edifice, designed +externally after the Parthenon at Athens. +Within, the trophies would be displayed, amidst +colonnades of Corinthian pillars of marble and +granite and a mass of decorative sculptures, +statues of marshals and generals who had met +their death in battle, and bas-reliefs of famous +colonels, before a lofty marble curule chair, +which Napoleon would occupy as a throne on +great occasions. “It is a Temple I desire,” he +laid down, writing from his camp in Poland, “not +a church; and everything must be made in a +chaste, severe, and durable style, and be suitable +for solemnities at all times and all hours.”</p> + +<p>Two more Eagles had yet to go to St. Petersburg +before the war was over—the Eagle of the +15th of the Line and another. They were the +spoils that the beaten Russian army carried off +from the battle of Friedland, fought some six +months after Eylau, on July 14. Napoleon +won one of his most famous victories at Friedland, +and one that he afterwards recorded on the +colours of all the regiments that fought in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">176</span> +battle; but the defeated army carried back with +them two more of his Eagles.</p> + +<p>The Eagle of the 15th of the Line, a regiment +of Marshal Ney’s corps, was lost in a bayonet +charge while fighting the Russian Imperial +Guard. The second Eagle was left among the +dead in the repulse of a column of Marshal +Lannes’ corps in the earlier part of the battle. +“A column of 3,000 men advanced straight +against Friedland. They were permitted to approach +close to the Russian cannon without a +single shot being fired, when suddenly the whole +opened with grape, and with such effect that in +a few minutes a thousand men were struck down, +the column routed, and the Eagle taken.”</p> + +<p>One of the regiments of the column saved +itself as it fell back by rallying round its Eagle. +As at Eylau, so at Friedland the Russian dragoons +dashed down among the broken battalions +while trying to re-form under the murderous +cannonade. The 50th of the Line had been near +the head of the column, and more than half of +its men had been shot down. The dragoons were +cutting their way through to the Eagle, when +Adjutant Labourie snatched it from its wounded +bearer, and, holding it up, shouted to the men: +“Rally round the Eagle. We must defend it +to the death!” A small square hastily formed +round him, and, stubbornly resisting, they kept +the Russian dragoons off and fought their way +back to safety with the Eagle.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">177</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">GOLDEN WREATHS FOR THE EAGLES</div> + +<p>The Peace of Tilsit closed the war within a +month of Friedland.</p> + +<p>The welcome-home of Paris to the Old Guard, +and public decoration of the Eagles with crowns +of gold, was the curtain-scene and grand <i lang="fr">finale</i> +of the Jena-Friedland drama. To all the regiments +of the Grand Army under fire at Jena, +Friedland, and Eylau, wreaths of gold, to be +affixed round the necks of their Eagles, were +voted by the Municipality of Paris. The wreaths +were to be publicly presented to each regiment +on its return to France.</p> + +<p>The Guard were the first to receive theirs, and +their arrival in the capital was made the occasion +of a series of civic fêtes; announced +officially as being “offered in tribute to the +Glory of the Grand Army.” Wednesday, +November 25, 1807, was the day on which the +Guard were due to reach Paris. All had been +made ready to accord them a magnificent reception.</p> + +<p>The Prefect of the Seine, at the head of the City +magistrates and the Municipal Councillors of +Paris, all in their robes and chains and glittering +insignia of office, escorted by a mounted cohort +of National Guards, met the returning veterans +at the Barrier on the Strasburg road. Marshal +Bessières led the Guard, who marched up with +bands playing and resplendent in their full-dress +uniforms, horse and foot and artillery—12,000 +men in all. A gigantic triumphal arch was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">178</span> +set up beyond the Barrier, wide enough for +twenty men to march through abreast. It was +the approach to a wide arena on which the troops +drew up, massed in front of a lofty platform, +decked out with flags and wreaths of evergreens +and bright-coloured hangings. There the Prefect +took his place with his <i lang="fr">entourage</i> as the +soldiers drew near. Grand-stands to accommodate +a crowd of sightseers surrounded the +arena.</p> + +<p>The Old Guard marched in and drew up in +close order, on which the proceedings opened +with the civic address. “Heroes of Jena, of +Eylau, of Friedland,” began the Prefect, “conquerors +of a splendid peace, immortal thanks are +your due from France! We salute you, Eagles +of war, the symbols of the might of our noble-hearted +Emperor! You have made known +throughout the world, with his great name, the +glory of victorious France!” So, in grandiloquent +style, the address commenced. At its close +the regiments of the Guards defiled past the +platform in turn—Carabineers and Cuirassiers, +Chasseurs, Dragoons, and Hussars, and the battalions +of veteran Grenadiers. Round the neck +of each Eagle, as its corps came up, the Prefect +hung a wreath of laurel-leaves in gold.</p> + +<p>Then came the triumphal march through the +streets of Paris to the Tuileries, amid cheering +crowds, nearly beside themselves with excitement +and enthusiasm, and with difficulty kept<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">179</span> +back from breaking through the rows of National +Guards who lined the pavement, to hug +the grim bearskin-hatted warriors. The Eagles +deposited with ceremony in the Imperial Guardroom +of the Palace of the Tuileries, the horsemen +dismounted in the Square of the Carrousel, +muskets were piled, and all marched off +to the Champs Elysées. An immense banquet +awaited them there, under vast marquees—shelter +that the men appreciated, for it turned +out a miserably wet afternoon.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">BANQUETED BY THE CITY OF PARIS</div> + +<p>The banquet in the Champs Elysées was the +first in the round of festivities with which Paris +welcomed home the “Victors over Europe.” +The fêtes lasted over three days, and terminated +in a grand reception given by the Senate to all +ranks of “Our Invincible Guard” in the Gardens +of the Luxembourg.<a id="FNanchor_18" href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">18</a></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">181</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI<br> + +<span class="subhead">PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE</span></h2> +</div> + +<h3 id="toclink_181"><span class="smcap">The “Eagle-Guard”</span></h3> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">The</span> loss of twelve Eagles in one battle made a +deep and lasting impression upon Napoleon. +That twelve of his cherished emblems, those +mementoes of victorious Caesar, for whose prestige +he had advanced such exacting claims, should +have fallen <i lang="fr">en bloc</i> into the hands of the enemy +came as a galling blow to Napoleon’s military +pride. Twelve Eagles reft from amid the bayonets +of the Grand Army on one battlefield: twelve +Eagles paraded together as trophies through the +capital of an exulting foe! It was a poignantly +felt humiliation for the mighty Imperator of the +Field of Mars. And yet no default could be +charged against the soldiers to whom these +Eagles had been entrusted. All that men might +do for their defence they had done. Most of +the luckless battalions, indeed, had fought and +fallen directly under the eyes of the Emperor +himself, looking on from his post of vantage +by the wall of Eylau churchyard.</p> + +<p>Napoleon, however, had already realised that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">182</span> +his distribution of an emblem to whose preservation +he attached such extreme importance +had been made on too lavish a scale. He had been +imprudent in distributing such hostages to +fortune broadcast; there were too many Eagles +on offer to the enemy. Napoleon, indeed, had +already tacitly admitted that. Within two +months of the opening of the first campaign of +the Grand Army—during the Austerlitz campaign—immediately +after Murat’s daring gallop +on Vienna, Napoleon had summarily directed all +the light cavalry Eagles to be sent back from +the front. Every Hussar and Chasseur regiment +was ordered to return its three squadron +Eagles to head-quarters forthwith, for sending +back to France. In future, a new Army regulation +laid down, those corps would not take their +Eagles into the field at all. The regulation after +that was extended to Dragoons; and later to +all Light Infantry battalions. No doubt it was +a step dictated by prudence. In these corps +particularly, from the nature of the duties they +had normally to perform, the Eagles were +peculiarly exposed to risk of isolation and +capture.</p> + +<p>What had happened at Eylau, and several +narrow escapes in hand-to-hand combats at +Friedland, together with certain other incidents +in that battle which had come under Napoleon’s +personal notice, where, through a nervous anxiety +for the safety of their Eagles, some battalion<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">183</span> +commanders had kept back round them men +whose bayonets were badly wanted elsewhere, +led to a further step. Napoleon took advantage +of the general scheme for the reorganisation of +the Grand Army, which he carried out in 1808, +to recast entirely his original arrangement as +to the Eagles. He reduced the numbers by two-thirds.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NO MORE BATTALION EAGLES</div> + +<p>Battalion Eagles were to be withdrawn in +favour of Regimental Eagles. In the infantry, +under the reorganisation scheme, there were to +be five battalions to each regiment instead of +three as heretofore; but there would be only +one Eagle in future for the entire regiment. +The existing Second and Third battalions were +ordered to give up the Eagles they had hitherto +carried, which would find a resting-place at the +Invalides. The Regimental Eagle would be borne +by the First Battalion. The other battalions +would carry only “fanions,” small pennon-shaped +flags. Each would have one “fanion,” a +plain serge flag, of a distinctive colour for each +battalion, without any mark or device on it, +beyond the number of the battalion.</p> + +<p>The Imperial edict, issued early in 1808, laid +down that for the special protection of the +Regimental Eagle in battle a commissioned officer +and two picked veterans were to be appointed +as the “Eagle-Guard,” replacing the sergeant-major +and escort of the Battalion Eagles. The +three were to be known as the First, Second, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">184</span> +Third Eagle-Bearers or “Porte-Aigles.” The +officer to whose special charge the Regimental +Eagle itself was committed was to be a senior +lieutenant, “a man of proved valour, with not +less than ten years’ Army service, including +service on the battlefield in four campaigns,” +specified as those of Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena, and +Friedland. He would receive captain’s pay, and +wear a gold-laced cocked hat and gold epaulettes. +The two other Porte-Aigles were to be, in +Napoleon’s own words, “deux braves,” of ten +years’ service in the ranks, and “non-lettrés.” +On the last qualification, indeed, Napoleon laid +peculiar stress. The two were to be, as the +Emperor himself put it, “men who could neither +read nor write, so that their only hope of promotion +should be through acts of special courage +and devotion.” They would receive lieutenants’ +pay, have special privileges, and wear +four gold lace chevrons on their arms. Only the +Emperor could nominate or degrade Porte-Aigles.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">PENNONS TO FRIGHTEN HORSES</div> + +<p>The Second and Third Porte-Aigles were to +carry no weapons except heavy pistols, “to blow +out the brains of an enemy attempting to lay +hands on an Eagle.” These were Napoleon’s +own words as to that, in his order of February 18, +1808: “Pour éviter que l’ardeur dans la mêlée ne +les détourne de leur unique objet, de la garde +de l’Aigle, le sabre et l’épée leurs sont interdits. +Ils n’auront d’autres armes que plusieurs paires +de pistolets, d’emploi que de veiller froidement<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">185</span> +a brûler la cervelle de celui qui avancerait la +main pour saisir l’Aigle.” After the Wagram +campaign of 1809 Napoleon substituted a helmet +and defensive brass scale-epaulettes as the +First Porte-Aigle’s equipment. He gave the two +soldiers of the Eagle-Guard a halberd each, with +a pennon or banderol attached—Red for the +Second Porte-Aigle, White for the Third—as well +as a sword and a pair of large-bore pistols. The +pennons were for use should mounted men attack +the Eagle; “for fluttering in front of the horses +in order to make them rear and plunge and upset +their riders.”<a id="FNanchor_19" href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">19</a></p> + +<p>Two more soldiers were added to the Eagle-Guard +in 1813, as the Fourth and Fifth Porte-Aigles. +They were armed with the same +weapons as the others, and had respectively +Yellow and Green pennons on their halberds.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">186</span></p> + +<p>Yet further to add to the prestige of the +Eagles, Napoleon, after Wagram, decreed the +institution of a Special Order of Military Merit, +which he called the “Order of the Trois Toisons +d’Or”—something on the lines of our own +Victoria Cross—certain of the provisions of +which had direct reference to the Eagles. The +decoration was to be conferred on men, whatever +their rank, “distinguished in the defence of +the Eagle of their regiment.” Also, according to +the 6th Article of the Constitution of the Order, +“Les Aigles des régiments qui ont assisté avec +distinction aux grandes batailles seront décorés +de l’Ordre des Trois Toisons d’Or.”<a id="FNanchor_20" href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">20</a></p> + +<p>The special distinction of having the badge +of the Legion of Honour affixed to its Eagle as +a decoration to the regimental standard was in +1812 granted to one corps, the celebrated 57th.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">187</span> +It was as a reward for magnificent intrepidity +displayed under the eyes of Napoleon at the +battle of Borodino. The 57th had at the same +time a further and unique mark of Imperial +regard awarded to it. Napoleon ordered that +a representation of the badge of the Legion of +Honour should be stamped on the uniform +buttons of the regiment. No corps of the Grand +Army, perhaps, had a finer fighting tradition +than this splendid regiment—the same “<i lang="fr">Terrible +57me qui rien n’arrête</i>,” of the Army of Italy; +which, too, as has been said, Napoleon singled +out for a special word of encouragement on the +morning of Austerlitz; calling to them as he +rode past, “You will remember to-day, Fifty-seventh, +how I once named you ‘Le Terrible’!”</p> + +<p>But, with regard to the Regimental Eagles of +1808, even for Napoleon it was one thing to +decree the abolition of Battalion Eagles, and +another to obtain compliance with the order +that the surplus Eagles should be returned to +the War Minister for laying up at the Invalides.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SOME CORPS DID NOT OBEY</div> + +<p>A number of second and third battalions of +regiments stationed at places out of the way of +direct Imperial inspection—in garrisons beyond +the frontiers, in subjugated countries, or in the +remaining overseas possessions of France—continued +for some time to evade the order recalling +their Eagles. No doubt, too, they were unwilling +to part with standards some of which had led +the corps under fire at Austerlitz and Jena.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">188</span></p> + +<p>Napoleon had to repeat his order of recall +twice: once during 1809; the second time in +1811. That second order was the outcome of a +discovery made by the Emperor himself. At an +Imperial review of the troops of the Amsterdam +and North Holland garrisons on October 12, +1810, three of the regiments had the temerity +to parade before the Emperor’s eyes with four +Eagles apiece—one to each battalion. Such +flagrant disobedience could not be overlooked; +and then subsequent inquiries brought out the +fact that elsewhere there were many Battalion +Eagles which had similarly been retained against +orders. An additional discovery was made at +the same time, that the Fourth-Battalion Eagles +had been supplied surreptitiously, through some +official at the Ministry of War, entirely without +Napoleon’s knowledge.</p> + +<p>It made Napoleon excessively angry. He +complained bitterly to Marshal Berthier at the +way in which the department which had to do +with the standards of the Army had been mismanaged. +“La partie des drapeaux des régiments,” +he declared, “est aujourd’hui dans un +grand chaos.” To the Minister of War, General +Clarke, Duc de Feltre, Napoleon sent a stinging +letter of rebuke.</p> + +<p>With the letter went the draft of yet another +decree, to be communicated to every corps in +the service.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON’S FINAL ORDER</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">189</span></p><div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“I only give,” wrote Napoleon now, “one +Eagle per regiment of infantry, one per +regiment of cavalry, one per regiment of +artillery, one per regiment of special gendarmerie. +None to the departmental companies +or guards of honour.</p> + +<p>“No corps may possess an Eagle which +has not been bestowed by my own hand.</p> + +<p>“All regiments, further, of whatever denomination, +if they did not receive the Eagle +they are authorised to possess from the +hand of the Emperor in person, either +directly on parade, or through a regimental +deputation, must return it to the Ministry +of War for the will of his Majesty to be +declared as to that Eagle.</p> + +<p>“All other corps are to carry ‘fanions,’ +ordinary flags. Infantry regiments reduced +below 1,000 men in strength, and cavalry +regiments of less than 500 men, cannot +retain their Eagle, and must return it +to the dépôt. They will be accorded a +standard [drapeau] without the Eagle.</p> + +<p>“All the infantry regiments now in possession +of an Eagle per battalion, and cavalry +with one per squadron, are to send the +extra-regulation Eagles at once to Paris, to +be kept [<i lang="fr">déposées</i>] at the Invalides until +they can be placed in the ‘Temple of Glory’ +[the Church of the Madeleine, then being +rebuilt].” “Jusqu’à ce qu’elles puissent être +misées dans le Temple de la Gloire,” was +what Napoleon wrote.</p> +</div> + +<p>Three of the British trophy-Eagles now at +Chelsea, it may be remarked in passing, bear the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">190</span> +number “82.” They came into our hands in +February 1809, at the surrender of Martinique +to a conjoint British military and naval expedition. +The 82nd was one of the regiments referred +to as out of the way of direct inspection; +in garrison across the Atlantic. It had not +obeyed the order of 1808 to return its Second +and Third Battalion Eagles to Paris—with the +result that three Eagles at Chelsea represent the +misfortune of this one regiment.</p> + +<p>“The First Battalion,” ordered Napoleon in +his decree of 1811, “is to carry the Eagle: the +other battalions will have each a fanion, quite +plain, as follows: 2nd Battalion, White; 3rd, +Red; 4th, Blue. Where certain regiments may +possess additional battalions, these are to have, +the 5th a Green fanion, the 6th a Yellow fanion.”<a id="FNanchor_21" href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">21</a></p> + +<p>In 1813, in Napoleon’s conscript army levied +to replace the host destroyed in Russia, the +newly raised Line regiments, and “Provisional-Regiments,” +made up of the amalgamated +dépôt battalions of various corps, had to earn +their Eagles on the battlefield. “No newly +raised regiment,” ordered Napoleon, “is to +receive an Eagle until after his Majesty has been +satisfied with its service before the enemy.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE ONLY NAMES ALLOWED</div> + +<p>The flags issued in 1808, and after that, to go<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">191</span> +with the Regimental Eagles, were much more +elaborate than those of the Champ de Mars. +They had white diamond-shaped centre panels, +similar to those in the flags presented on the +Field of Mars, but with Imperial crowns embroidered +in gold on the red and blue upper +corners of the flag, and golden Eagles on the +lower corners. Gold embroidered wreaths of +laurel, encircling the Imperial monogram “N.” +divided off the crowns above from the Eagles +below. A border of gold fringe round the entire +flag, embroidered with bees, was another new +enrichment. In these flags the regimental battle-honour +inscriptions on the reverse side of the +white centre space in the former flags appeared +in a revised from. Only victories of importance +since the institution of the Empire, and at which +Napoleon had commanded in person, were admitted. +Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau, Friedland, +Eckmühl, Essling, Wagram, constituted +the full list from which selection was made. One +regiment alone was allowed to record an earlier +victory:—the Imperial Guard. They preserved +their “Marengo” honour. Inscriptions +such as “Le 75e arrive et bât l’ennemi,” “J’étais +tranquille, le 32e était là,” and the others +which had been allowed on the flags of the +Field of Mars, recalling deeds of the Army of +Italy, disappeared from the revised pattern of +1808. A new inscription was specially authorised +for the flag of one regiment, in honour of a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">192</span> +feat of great distinction during the Wagram +campaign. The 84th of the Line was permitted +to inscribe “Un contre dix—Grätz, 1809”—but +that only lasted for three years; the inscription +was ordered to be taken off in 1811.</p> + +<p>The design of the flag introduced in 1808 held +until 1814. A less elaborate design was adopted +for the Eagle-standards of the “Hundred Days,” +two specimens of which are in this country—the +Waterloo trophies at Chelsea.</p> + +<p>Attractive and handsome as the new flag was, +the Army, as before, looked on it as but an +appendage, as merely “l’ornement de l’Aigle.” +The Eagle at the head of the staff, by itself, was +all that nine soldiers out of ten troubled about. +Not a few regiments, indeed, when on service, +removed the flags altogether from their Eagle-poles +and displayed as their standard the Eagle +only. Particularly was this the case in Spain, +where many regiments were in the field continuously, +in some instances, for over six years—from +1808 to 1814. Asked one day after the +Peninsular War about the inscription and battle-honours +on the flag of his regiment, an infantry +<i lang="fr">chef de bataillon</i> frankly confessed that he had +“never set eyes on it!” The silken flag, he +explained, “had been removed from the Eagle-pole +before he first joined as a lieutenant, and +had always, as he understood, been kept at the +dépôt of the corps in France, rolled up and +locked away in the regimental chest. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">193</span> +Eagle on its bare pole was all he had ever +seen.”</p> + +<p>Said another officer: “We never spoke of the +regiment’s ‘colours,’ and never saw them. We +spoke only of ‘the Eagle.’”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WHEN NAPOLEON MET AN EAGLE</div> + +<p>This may be added. Napoleon was scrupulously +exact in showing respect to the Eagle of a regiment +whenever he passed one; whether on the +line of march, or in bivouac, under a sentry, +with the Eagle-Guard near at hand, resting +horizontally on a support of piled muskets with +bayonets fixed. If on horseback, Napoleon always +uncovered and bowed low; if on the line of +march, he sometimes stopped his carriage in +passing, and got out, saluted the Eagle, and said +a few words about the regiment’s battle record +to the Eagle-Guard.</p> + +<p>Between the review on the Field of Mars in +1804 and the overthrow on the plains of Leipsic +in 1814 the number of regiments in the Grand +Army increased continuously, requiring the +presentation of many new Eagles. Forty-four +were presented in the period to the infantry +alone; to the regiments of the Line bearing +numbers from the 113th to 156th; besides others +to the regiments of the “Middle Guard” and +“Young Guard,” and to two additional regiments +of Cuirassiers. In every case Napoleon, in +accordance with the stipulation that he so insisted +on, made the presentation in person, with +his own hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">194</span></p> + +<p>In not a few instances, indeed, the ceremony +took place on campaign; and for one of these +exceptionally interesting occasions we have +available the notes of an eye-witness. It was at +the presentation of the Eagle of the 126th Regiment +of the Line, in Germany, in 1813.</p> + +<p>Napoleon made his appearance in his campaigning +uniform, the dark green undress of the +Chasseurs of the Guard, and mounted as usual on +a grey charger. His staff, all brilliant in full +dress, attended him. Approaching the scene +at a canter, they all slowed down to a walk as +they neared where the regiment stood, with its +battalions parading every available man, and +drawn up to form three sides of a hollow square. +The new Eagle, enveloped in the leather casing +in which it had been brought from France, lay +on a pile of drums on one flank of the First +Battalion, and a little in advance. The fourth, +or open, side of the square was for the Imperial +staff, who drew up there, while the Emperor by +himself rode into the middle of the square. As +Napoleon reined up, the regimental drums beat +the <i lang="fr">Appel</i>, and the officers of the regiment +stepped to the front, with swords at the carry, +and formed in line before the Emperor.</p> + +<p>Marshal Berthier, Chief of the Head-quarter +Staff, then rode across to where the Eagle lay. +He dismounted to receive it at the hands of the +First Porte-Aigle, the Eagle being uncased at +the same time. Berthier saluted the Eagle;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">195</span> +then, holding it erect with both hands, the +marshal bore it ceremoniously along in front of +the row of officers, who saluted with lowered +swords as the Eagle passed, the drums of the +regiment now beating a long roll. Halting close +in front of Napoleon, Berthier inclined the Eagle +forward in salute, and the Emperor, on his side, +uncovered and bowed in return. Then, drawing +his glove from his left hand, Napoleon raised his +hand and extended it towards the Eagle. He +held the reins, according to his custom, in his +right hand. Napoleon began his address to the +corps in a deep, impressive tone:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AT A PRESENTATION IN THE FIELD</div> + +<p>“Soldiers of the 126th Regiment of the Line, +I entrust to you the Eagle of France! It is to +serve to you ever as your rallying-point. You +swear to me never to abandon it, but with life! +You swear never to suffer an affront to it for the +honour of France! You swear ever to prefer +death for it to dishonour! You swear!” The +last words were pronounced with a peculiar +stress, in a very solemn tone, with intense +energy.</p> + +<p>Instantly the officers of the regiment replied. +Holding their swords on high, with one voice +they shouted: “We swear!”</p> + +<p>The next moment the words were taken up +and repeated enthusiastically by the men: +“We swear!”</p> + +<p>Berthier, on that, formally handed the Eagle +over to the colonel of the regiment, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">196</span> +Emperor, raising his hand to his hat in salute +to the Eagle, turned to rejoin the Staff and +ride off elsewhere.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon before the three days’ battle +of Leipsic opened, on October 15, 1813, Napoleon, +on the Marchfeldt, in the very presence of the +enemy, presented with these formalities new +Eagles to three newly raised regiments.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">197</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII<br> + +<span class="subhead">BEFORE THE ENEMY AT ASPERN AND WAGRAM</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">Napoleon’s</span> regimental Eagles made their début +on the battlefield in the Wagram campaign of +1809, when Austria challenged Napoleon to a +second trial of strength in her premature attempt +to achieve the liberation of Germany. The gallant +deeds of the regiments that fought round +the Eagles in that war are commemorated on the +standards of the French Army to-day by the +legend “Wagram, 1809,” a name and date +that stand as the comprehensive memento of a +conflict that lasted four months, and included +no fewer than ten fiercely fought battles. They +are superabundant as a fact; it would almost +need a book by itself to tell the full story. It +must suffice therefore to take here only these, +picked out at random, as typical of the rest.</p> + +<p>This is the achievement that “Wagram, 1809,” +inscribed in golden letters on the silken tricolor +standard of the present-day 65th of the Line, +serves to recall.</p> + +<p>Napoleon’s 65th was one of the regiments of +Marshal Davout’s corps at Ratisbon, where +Davout had been stationed on the eve of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">198</span> +outbreak of the war. He was hastily recalled +on the Austrians opening hostilities and advancing +in greatly superior force. Davout fell +back at once, leaving behind him the 65th to +hold the very important bridge over the Danube +at Ratisbon for forty-eight hours, until the +bulk of his corps had gained a sufficient start +on their way.</p> + +<p>The 65th had not long to wait for the enemy. +Within twelve hours of the marshal’s retirement +the Austrians swooped down on Ratisbon to +seize the bridge. Two of their army corps led +the advance. One took possession of the city, +sending troops forward to secure the bridge. +Part of the other crossed the Danube in the +neighbourhood of the city in boats, in order to +cut off and capture the French troops left behind. +It was expected that in the presence of so overpowering +an enemy the single French regiment +holding the bridge would not venture to make +a serious defence. The Austrians did not know +the 65th.</p> + +<p>To oppose the first comers three battalions of +the 65th barricaded and loopholed the houses +nearest the bridge on that side. The remaining +battalion held a fortified outwork, or bridge-head, +across the river.</p> + +<p>For a whole day the battalions in the city +held the Austrians at bay, resisting desperately +in the streets and from house to house. Four +hundred Austrian prisoners, together with an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">199</span> +Austrian regimental standard and three other +flags, testified to the way they did their duty. +The battalion holding the bridge-head on the +farther side of the river made meanwhile a no +less stubborn resistance and kept the enemy off +until nightfall. Then, however, it was found +that their ammunition was exhausted. The +three battalions fighting the city were by that +time in a no less desperate plight. They on +their side had been forced back to their last +defences among the houses immediately surrounding +the approach to the bridge. Still, though, +they kept up a fierce resistance, at the last using +cartridges taken from the cartouche-boxes of the +Austrian prisoners and their own dead and +wounded comrades. They held out until further +defence of the bridge was impossible, until +indeed further resistance at all was hopeless.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HOW WERE THEY TO SAVE THE EAGLE?</div> + +<p>But the regimental Eagle? What was to +become of that? The Eagle of the 65th must +at all cost be kept from being surrendered into +an enemy’s hands. What was to be done? At +first it was suggested that an officer, known to +be a good swimmer, should try to swim down +the river with it in the dark until he could land +safely on the farther bank, after which he should +do his best to make his way to wherever Napoleon +might be, there to render personally into his +hands the sacred Eagle. But the other surviving +officers were loth to part with their treasured +standard in that way. The risk of a man getting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">200</span> +through the Austrians who were swarming on +the other side of the Danube was considered too +great. It was then suggested to sink it in the +Danube, noting the spot, so as to be able to +fish it up again on some future day. Colonel +Coutard, in command of the 65th, however, was +against that. They might never be able, or have +time, to find it at the bottom of a deep and +swiftly flowing river like the Danube. He proposed +to conceal the Eagle in the ground, burying +it in some secret place. There it might without +difficulty be recovered later on and brought back +to France. The colonel’s proposal was assented +to, and then a further suggestion was made. +Their Eagle should be given a fitting shroud by +wrapping round it the captured Austrian flags +they had taken that afternoon. That would +preserve the trophies also for future days when +the fortune of war again favoured the regiment. +The idea was eagerly taken up, and the Eagle +was buried in a cellar, wrapped up in the Austrian +flags.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WRAPPED UP IN CAPTURED FLAGS</div> + +<p>After that, at the very last, just as the Austrians +were about to launch another attack it +was impossible to withstand, Colonel Coutard +had the <i lang="fr">chamade</i> beaten, and the 65th surrendered. +They were granted, as they well deserved, the +honours of war, and were for the time being +confined under guard in the city. Their captivity, +however, was not for long. Their release +came about in a very few days on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">201</span> +Austrian troops hurriedly evacuating Ratisbon +before Napoleon’s triumphant advance.<a id="FNanchor_22" href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">22</a> The +Eagle was now dug up, and Colonel Coutard, +with a deputation from the regiment, waited on +Napoleon on his arrival, to present the Eagle +before him, still wrapped up in the three captured +Austrian flags.</p> + +<p>In recognition of the endurance that the 65th +had shown, the colonel was created a Baron of +the Empire; crosses of the Legion of Honour +were distributed broadcast among all ranks; +forty soldiers who had shown exceptional gallantry +in the fighting were, as a reward, specially +transferred to the Old Guard.</p> + +<p>Such is the fine story that the battle-honour +“Wagram, 1809,” lettered in gold on the regimental +tricolor of the present-day 65th of the +Line in the French Army commemorates, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">202</span> +care is taken that every young soldier on joining +is made acquainted with it.</p> + +<p>Equally fine as an exploit, and yet more renowned +for the exceptional honour that Napoleon +paid to the Eagle of the regiment, was the +splendid heroism that the 84th of the Line +displayed at Grätz in Styria. That episode of +the campaign, indeed, is commemorated by a +double battle-honour on the flag of the 84th of +the modern French Army. Both “Wagram, +1809,” and “Un contre dix—Grätz, 1809” +are inscribed in golden letters on its tricolor. +Napoleon himself, as has been said, bestowed +the honour of the unique inscription on the +regimental flag. He had also the words “Un +contre dix” incised on the square tablet supporting +the Eagle itself. Here is the story of +the exploit as related by one of Napoleon’s +staff officers in the campaign, Colonel Lejeune:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">KEPT OFF WITH THE BAYONET</div> + +<p>“Amongst all these battles and victories +there was one action so remarkable and so brilliant +that I feel impelled to describe it here from +the accounts of eye-witnesses. During the +taking of Grätz by General Broussier, and when +the struggle was at its fiercest, Colonel Gambin +of the 84th Regiment was ordered, with two of +his battalions, to attack the suburb of St. +Leonard, where he made from four to five +hundred prisoners. This vigorous assault led +General Guilay on the enemy’s side to imagine +he had to deal with a whole army, and he hurried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">203</span> +to the aid of the suburb with considerable forces. +Gambin did not hesitate to attack them, and he +took from them the cemetery of the Graben +suburb, but was in his turn invested by the +Austrian battalions, and found it impossible to +rejoin the main body of the French. He accepted +the situation, spent the whole of the +night in fortifying the cemetery and the adjoining +houses, and, his ammunition being exhausted, +he actually kept at bay some 10,000 assailants +with the bayonet alone, even making several +sorties to carry off the cartouches on the dead +bodies with which his attacks had strewn the +ground near the cemetery. General Guilay now +directed the fire of all his guns and five fresh +battalions on this handful of brave men, who had +already for nineteen hours withstood a whole +army. General Broussier was at last able to +send Colonel Nagle of the 92nd, with two battalions, +to the aid of the 84th. The enemy +vainly endeavoured to prevent the two regiments +from meeting. Colonel Nagle overthrew +every obstacle, got into the cemetery, and after +embracing each other the two officers, with their +united forces, flung themselves upon the Austrians, +took 500 of them prisoners, with two flags, +and carried the suburb of Graben by assault, +finding no less than 1,200 Austrian corpses in +the streets. When the Emperor heard of this +feat of arms, he was anxious to confer the greatest +distinction he could on the 84th Regiment, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">204</span> +ordered that its banner should henceforth bear +in letters of gold the proud inscription, ‘One +against ten.’”</p> + +<p>Seldom indeed did the soldiers of Napoleon +encounter a more determined enemy than the +Austrians proved themselves in the war of 1809. +At Aspern, the battle on the Danube near Vienna, +where Napoleon experienced his first defeat on +the Continent, more than one Eagle came within +an ace of being taken. The Eagle of the 9th of +the Line, for instance, to save it from what appeared +to be imminent capture, was actually +buried on the battlefield in the middle of the +fighting. “Our colonel,” wrote one of the men +of the 9th, “took the Eagle of the regiment, +pulled it from its staff, and, after digging a hole +in the ground with a pioneer’s tool, buried and +concealed there our rallying signal to prevent +it from falling into the enemy’s hands.” It was, +though, after all, an unnecessary precaution. +The hard-pressed 9th were rescued at the last +moment, whereupon the Eagle made its reappearance.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">VICTIMS OF A PANIC IN THE DARK</div> + +<p>Three other Eagles, less fortunate, are now in +the Austrian Army Museum at Vienna; those +of the 35th of the Line and of the 95th and 106th. +The Eagle of the 35th was taken on the Italian +frontier near Lake Garda, in a surprise attack +at daybreak on the camp of the Viceroy, Eugène +Beauharnais, by the troops of the Archduke +John. The other two fell into Austrian hands<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">205</span> +on the night of the opening attack at Wagram, +victims of a panic that suddenly seized one of +the French columns. It had led the attack on +the centre of the Austrian position with brilliant +success.</p> + +<p>Two thousand prisoners and five standards +had been taken, and the French were advancing +exultantly, when the Austrians counter-attacked +with fresh troops, headed by the Archduke +Charles in person. The French resisted stubbornly, +and at first successfully. They held +their own until, in the midst of furious hand-to-hand +fighting, they were suddenly charged by +cavalry. It was late evening, and in the gathering +dusk a sudden panic seized a regiment on +the flank. The panic spread instantly to the +whole of the attacking column. All order was +lost forthwith. The soldiers gave way in confusion, +broke up, and went racing back headlong, +a mob of fugitives, down the steep ascent that a +few minutes before they had so gallantly won. +As they went back in a tumultuous rush, fresh +French troops, coming up to their support, “in +the darkness mistook the retreating host for +enemies and fired upon it; they, in their turn, +were overthrown by the torrent of fugitives.” +The Austrian prisoners taken in the advance +escaped, the captured Austrian standards were +recaptured, and two Eagles disappeared in the +dark amid the turmoil. Those are the two now +at Vienna.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">206</span></p> + +<p>Fortunately for Napoleon the Austrian leaders +did not realise the smashing nature of the blow +they had dealt. The fate of Napoleon’s Empire +otherwise might have been decided on that +night. Unaware that the panic had “spread an +indescribable alarm through the French centre +as far as the tent of the Emperor, they stopped +the advance, sounded the recall, and fell back to +their original positions.”</p> + +<p>Of the Eagle-bearers of four regiments at +Aspern, the 2nd, 16th, 37th, and 67th of the +Line, not one came through the day alive, but the +Eagles were saved. They were the four regiments +that took the village of Aspern and held it +all day and till after dark—12,000 men against +80,000 enemies. The village was the all-important +key of the battlefield. Its defence was +of supreme moment, for only part of Napoleon’s +army had been able to get across the Danube +as yet, the main bridge of boats having been +broken down and swept away.</p> + +<p>They had seized Aspern at the outset, but had +been forced to fall back before an Austrian +counter-attack, returning after that to recapture +it, and hold it until the end.</p> + +<p>Marshal Masséna led the onset that retook the +village. “The Austrians,” describes a French +officer, “had entered Aspern, and it was absolutely +necessary to dislodge them. Masséna +therefore, who had had all his horses killed, +marched on foot with drawn sword at the head<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">207</span> +of the Grenadiers of the Molitor division, forced +his way into the village, crowded as it was with +Austrians, drove them out, and pursued them +for some twelve or fourteen yards beyond the +houses. But here the French troops found +themselves face to face with the strong force +under Hiller, Bellegarde, and Hohenzollern, +advancing rapidly in their direction. It was +hopeless for the division to attempt to engage +such superior numbers in the open plain, so Masséna +recalled the pursuers, and ordered them to +hold Aspern. The enemy, ashamed apparently +of this first defeat, returned to the charge with +80,000 men and more than a hundred pieces +of cannon, which were soon pointed on the +village.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AT BAY IN THE BURNING VILLAGE</div> + +<p>It was impossible to stop the onrush of the +Austrians. In spite of every effort of Masséna, +who with his artillery “opened fire upon the +densely packed masses of men, every shot working +terrible havoc amongst them,” they swarmed +forward to the outskirts of the village. A +life-and-death struggle in defence began. “In +a very few minutes the village was completely +surrounded by troops; and hidden from view +in the dense clouds of smoke from the cannon, +the musketry, and the fires which at +once broke out, the combatants, almost suffocated +by the smoke, crossed bayonets without +being able to see each other; but neither +side gave way a step, and for more than an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">208</span> +hour the terrible attack and desperate defence +went on amongst the ruins of the burning +houses.”</p> + +<p>It was during the Austrian opening attack on +the outskirts of Aspern that at one point a +French regiment—the number of the regiment is +not given in any account—was forced apart from +the rest, and driven back in disorder beyond the +village. Its colonel was killed, and, though the +Eagle was kept from falling into the enemy’s +hands, the regiment fell back in confusion. Napoleon +witnessed the check and galloped to intercept +the troops as they were retreating. Riding +into the midst of the fugitives, he personally rallied +them, and then called angrily for the colonel. +There was no answer from any one, and in high +anger Napoleon again called for the colonel. +Then somebody made the reply that the colonel +was dead. “I know that!” answered Napoleon +sharply. “I asked where he was!” “We left him +in the village.” “What! you left your colonel’s +body in the hands of the enemy? Go back +instantly, find it, and remember that a good +regiment should always be able to produce both +its Colonel and its Eagle!” Napoleon’s stinging +rebuke did its work. The men at once re-formed +and turned back. Charging forward with a rush, +they forced their way through to where the +colonel had fallen and recovered the body. +Then they joined in with the other defenders +at the village, and did their duty to the end.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">209</span> +The colonel’s body was brought back and laid +before Napoleon next morning.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MARSHAL MASSENA UNDER FIRE</div> + +<p>The fearful contest in Aspern went on until +four in the afternoon, by which time the Austrians +had succeeded in taking half the village. +They could not, however, get beyond that. +“Masséna still held the church and cemetery, +and was struggling to regain what he had lost. +Five times in less than three hours he took and +retook the cemetery, the church, and the village, +without being able to call to his aid the Legrand +division, which he was obliged to hold in reserve +to cover Aspern on the right and keep the enemy +from getting in on that side. Throughout this +awful struggle Masséna stood beneath the great +elms on the green opposite the church, calmly +indifferent to the fall of the branches brought +down upon his head by the showers of grape-shot +and bullets, keenly alive to all that was +going on, his look and voice, stern as the <i lang="la">quos +ego</i> of Virgil’s angry Neptune, inspiring all who +surrounded him with irresistible strength.”</p> + +<p>Even when the sun went down “the struggle +was far from being over, and the awful battle +was still raging in the streets and behind the +walls of the village of Aspern. The enemy, +irritated at the stubborn resistance of so small a +body of troops, redoubled their efforts to dislodge +them before nightfall, and went on fighting +by the light of the conflagrations alone. The +history of our wars relates no more thrilling incident<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">210</span> +than this long and obstinate struggle, in +which our troops, disheartened by the ever-fresh +difficulties with which they had to contend, +worn out by fatigue, and horrified by the carnage +round them, were kept at their posts by the +example and exhortations of Masséna and his +officers alone. General Molitor had lost some +half of his men, and the enemy were hurrying up +from every side. The struggle was maintained +under these terrible conditions until eleven +o’clock, when we remained masters of Aspern +and of the whole line between it and Essling.”</p> + +<p>Five regiments of the French Army of to-day +commemorate a splendid Eagle-incident in the +name “Wagram, 1809,” on their colours; the +final charge of Macdonald’s column which saved +and decided the battle for Napoleon, besides +gaining a marshal’s bâton for the Scottish officer +who achieved the feat. That was on the final +battlefield of Wagram itself, the outcome of which +tremendous encounter settled the fate of the war. +It was the culminating event of the battle. The +crisis was at hand for both armies when the order +was given to Macdonald to go forward. On the +Austrian side the powerful and fresh corps of the +Archduke John was rapidly nearing the scene, +and the fortune of the day yet wavered in the +balance. Napoleon, as his last hope and final +effort to break the stubborn Austrian array of +the Archduke Charles’ host which still confronted +him, defiant still after ten hours of charges and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">211</span> +counter-charges, holding out tenaciously in a +strong position, massed his reserves and sent +them at the centre of the Austrians, to press forward +in a vast column of closely formed battalions. +They went at the enemy with all the daring of +a forlorn hope.</p> + +<figure id="i_211" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 25em;"> + <img src="images/i_211.jpg" width="1739" height="1410" alt="Diagram of battalion positions in 3-sides of a square"> +</figure> + +<div class="sidenote">MACDONALDS’S COLUMN ADVANCES</div> + +<p>“Moving steadily forward through the wreck +of guns, the dead, and the dying, this undaunted +column, preceded by its terrific battery incessantly +firing, pushed on half a league beyond +the front at other points of the enemy’s line. +In proportion as it advanced, however, it became +enveloped in fire; the guns were gradually +dismounted or silenced, and the infantry +emerged through their wreck to the front. The +Austrians drew off their front line upon their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">212</span> +second, and both, falling back, formed a sort +of wall on each side of the French column, from +whence issued a dreadful fire of grape and +musketry on either flank of the assailants. Still +Macdonald pushed on with unconquerable resolution: +in the midst of a frightful storm of +bullets his ranks were unshaken; the destiny +of Europe was in his hands, and he was worthy +of the mission. The loss he experienced, however, +was enormous; at every step huge chasms +were made in his ranks, whole files were +struck down by cannon-shot, and at length his +eight dense battalions were reduced to 1,500 +men. Isolated in the midst of enemies, this +band of heroes was compelled to halt. The +Empire rocked to its foundations: it was the +rout of a similar body of the Guard at Waterloo +that hurled Napoleon to the rock of St. Helena.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE BATTLE WON AT LAST</div> + +<p>The five regiments which formed the spear-point +of the attack had paraded that morning +6,000 strong. They numbered now, the survivors, +less than 300. They were at the extreme +point of the advance, but were held fast and +unable to go farther. The enemy were on every +side of them, for in the last moments they had +pressed on beyond touch of the troops that were +following next. The Austrians saw their chance +to charge them and annihilate them before the +approach of French supports to the main column +could get near. But General Broussier, the +Brigadier in command of the leading troops,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">213</span> +knew his work and his men. As they halted +he rapidly rallied the fragments of the nearest +regiments and formed them in a single square. +They drew up under the <i lang="fr">feu d’enfer</i> of cannon +and musketry, three deep in front, with, in the +centre, held up on high, the five Eagles of +the regiments; so as not to weaken the front, +the firing line, “the Eagles were held up only +by men who had been wounded.” Broussier +marked the massing of the Eagles in the midst; +and, as the firing round them for one moment +seemed to lull, raising his voice, he called out +for all to hear: “Soldiers, swear to die here +to the last man round your Eagles!” “Jurez +moi, soldats, de mourir tous, jusqu’au dernier, +autour de vos Aigles!” were the Brigadier’s +words. But there was fortunately no need for +all to die. At that moment reinforcing troops +came up, with the Young Guard at their head. +The column, on that, moved forward again with +a steady front, “and the Archduke, despairing +now of maintaining his position, when assailed +at the crisis of the day by such a formidable +accession of force in the now broken part of his +line, gave directions for a general retreat.” +The Eagles had done their part and the battle +of Wagram was won.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">214</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII<br> + +<span class="subhead">“THE EAGLE WITH THE GOLDEN WREATH” IN LONDON</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">There</span> are thirteen of Napoleon’s Eagles in +England, among the trophies of the British Army +at Chelsea Royal Hospital; or, to speak strictly, +twelve Eagles and a “dummy” Eagle, the later +reproduction of a very famous trophy, gone +now, unfortunately, to the melting-pot of a +thieves’ kitchen. It is with the dummy Eagle, +as it may be called for short, without disrespect +to its gallant custodians, and five of the twelve +Eagles at Chelsea, that we are for the immediate +moment concerned. That represents +the first of Napoleon’s trophies won by British +soldiers in hand-to-hand fight—the once celebrated +“Eagle with the Golden Wreath.”</p> + +<p>The story opens on Saturday morning, May 18, +1811, a day that was a great occasion for Londoners. +For the first time, on that Saturday, +trophies taken from Napoleon were publicly +displayed in the British Capital, and no pains +were spared to make the most of the event. +An elaborate and dramatic ceremonial was +ordained for the occasion by the authorities<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">215</span> +at the instance of the Prince Regent. It was +like nothing else of the kind ever witnessed or +heard of in England before.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WHAT LONDON HAD SEEN BEFORE</div> + +<p>On many another day in bygone times London +had been the scene of stately martial pageants +in which the victor’s spoils from many battlefields +were borne in triumph, amid blare of +trumpets and clash of drums, to be deposited +with due ceremony in their allotted resting-places. +So had it been when the Marlborough +trophies from Blenheim and Ramillies, the +captured flags from Dettingen, Louisburg, and +Minden, were borne along the crowded streets, +preceded by bands playing triumphant music +and accompanied by armed escorts of Foot and +Horse. Another Saturday, seventeen years before, +May 17, 1794, had been the last occasion +of trophy-flags being displayed in London, +when the captured French Republican standards +of the garrison of Martinique were publicly +carried through the streets by Life Guards and +Grenadiers, with the band of the First Guards +leading the way and the Tower guns booming +out an artillery <i lang="fr">feu de joie</i>, from St. James’s +Palace to St. Paul’s, to be received at the great +west doors of the Cathedral by the Dean and +Chapter, and laid up “as a lasting memorial +of the success of his Majesty’s Arms.” Some +of the flags then displayed hang in the Hall of +Chelsea Hospital to-day.</p> + +<p>So, too, had it been in London in yet earlier<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">216</span> +times, in the far off, unhappy days of Civil War +in England, when the citizens of those periods, +in turn, saw the spoils of Bosworth, and of Marston +Moor and Naseby, of Worcester, Preston, +and Dunbar, paraded through their midst, +escorted by mail-clad men-at-arms, on the way +to be hung up exultingly in St. Paul’s Cathedral +or in Westminster Hall. With his own Royal +banners from Marston Moor and Naseby drooping +down overhead from the roof of Westminster +Hall, Charles the First faced his judges and heard +his fate. But never before in London had so +elaborately designed a ceremony attended the +display of trophies taken from any enemy, as +that planned for the <i lang="fr">Royal Depositum</i>, as it +was officially styled, of the first of the captured +Eagles of Napoleon to be received in England.</p> + +<p>There was to be a special display of trophies +the London newspapers announced some days +beforehand. The newspapers had not spared +themselves in working up public interest. At +the outset they had told how, on the night of +March 24, Captain Hope, First A.D.C. to +General Graham, had arrived in London with +the Barrosa despatches and a “French Eagle +with a wreath of gold,” which, it was stated, “the +general trusted his aide de camp might be permitted +to lay at his Majesty’s feet.” Then +Londoners were informed that the Barrosa +Eagle was a trophy of unusual importance, and +was being kept at the War Office, to be presented<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">217</span> +to the Prince Regent at the next <i lang="fr">levée</i>. It was +announced a week later that his Royal Highness +had been so desirous of seeing it at once, +that the War Minister, the Earl of Liverpool, +instead of waiting five weeks for the <i lang="fr">levée</i>, had +already presented it to the Prince at Carlton +House. On that came the official notification +that “the Eagle with the Golden Wreath,” +as the trophy was everywhere styled, together +with a number of other French trophies, +which had been previously received and had +been some time stored away at the War Office +pending instructions as to their disposal, would +be deposited in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, +(now the Museum of the Royal United Service +Institution). “The <i lang="fr">Royal Depositum</i> ceremony +will be very grand, and the martial music appropriate +to the occasion, and as the orders have +been issued by direction of his Royal Highness +the Prince Regent, the Chapel will be thronged +with nobility.” So one journal notified; another +remarking that “in addition to the great +religious and military ceremony, an anthem is +to be performed after the manner of the Te +Deum.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A GRAND MARTIAL CEREMONY</div> + +<p>Thus popular interest was aroused and kept +alive in advance, and the selected Saturday +morning proving fine and pleasant, with the +prospect of a genial and sunny forenoon, Londoners +turned out in large numbers to see the +show.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">218</span></p> + +<p>To the Brigade of Guards it fell to carry out +the ceremony of the military reception of the +Eagles.</p> + +<p>The “Parade in St. James’s Park,” which we +know now as the Horse Guards Parade, was the +appointed place for the display, and as the clock +struck nine the preliminaries opened with the +arrival of a large body of Guards’ recruits who +were to keep the ground. From quite an early +hour a crowd had been gathering there and +along the side of the Park. Soon afterwards +the first of the troops designated to attend the +ceremony began to arrive. These were several +companies of the First Guards and Coldstreamers +“in undress, with side arms.” They formed +line along either side of the parade-ground; on +one side “extending from the corner of the +Chancellor of the Exchequer’s garden to the +Egyptian gun”; on the opposite side, “from the +Admiralty towards the Park.” To right and +left of the archway under the Horse Guards +leading to Whitehall were drawn up the “recruiting +parties stationed in the Home District.”</p> + +<p>At a quarter to ten came on the scene the +first of the actors in the day’s proceedings, the +“King’s Guard” of the day, “in their best +uniforms, and with sprigs of oak and laurel in +their hats.” Marching up, headed by the combined +bands of the First Guards and the Coldstreamers, +with the regimental colour of the First +Guards, they formed on the right, along the open<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">219</span> +side of the square, facing towards the Horse +Guards. Following them, a few moments later, +came the picked detachment appointed as the +“trophy-escort,” furnished jointly by the +grenadier companies of the First Guards and +the Coldstreamers. All were in review-order full +dress, “wearing long white gaiters, with oak and +laurel leaves in their hats.” A captain of the +First Guards was in command; and the detachment +was made up of two subalterns, four +sergeants, and ninety-six rank and file. They +took post on the left of the King’s Guard. As +the trophy-escort halted, up came another detachment +of Guards, a hundred strong, with +the Life Guards; marching across the square +and through the Horse Guards archway to line +the way thence to the doors of the Chapel Royal.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">GETTING READY FOR THE PRINCES</div> + +<p>Towards ten o’clock privileged spectators +were admitted within the square, “to stand at +an appointed spot”: several veteran generals, +“in their best uniforms and powdered,” as a +newspaper reporter remarks; Lord Liverpool +the War Minister; the Earl Marshal; the +Speaker; the Spanish and Portuguese Ambassadors, +both gorgeously attired; and “a number +of beautiful and elegant ladies of distinction.”</p> + +<p>The Horse Guards clock struck ten, and as the +last clanging stroke died away “the authorities” +came clattering on to the ground on horseback: +Sir David Dundas, Commander-in-Chief +of the Army and Governor of Chelsea Hospital,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">220</span> +at the head of a number of other plumed and +cocked-hatted generals in full uniform, together +with the Head-quarters Staff at the Horse +Guards. Prominent in the glittering array of +gold-laced red coats, “mounted on a cream-coloured +Arab,” was General Sir John Doyle, +Colonel of the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers; the +regiment whose prowess at Barrosa had won +the great trophy of the day—“the Eagle with +the Golden Wreath.”</p> + +<p>With Royal punctuality, as the clock chimed +the half-hour, amid cheers from the crowd and +the spectators filling the windows of the Horse +Guards and Admiralty and other Government +offices overlooking the ground, came riding up +the three Princes who were to preside at the +ceremony—the Dukes of York, Cambridge, and +Gloucester.</p> + +<p>The display began forthwith.</p> + +<p>Preceded by the two Guards’ bands playing +the “Grenadiers’ March,” the trophy-escort of +grenadiers crossed the Parade at a slow step, +and marched in four divisions, or “platoons,” +to the old Tilt Yard orderly-room under the +Horse Guards. There the trophies had been +taken beforehand to be in readiness for the ceremony. +The grenadiers halted before the doors, +and the trophies, twelve in number, were brought +out by Lifeguardsmen from the Tilt Yard Guard +and committed to the charge of twelve picked +sergeants—six of the First Guards, six of the Coldstreamers—selected<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">221</span> +to bear them to the Chapel +Royal.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE CAPTURED EAGLES TAKE POST</div> + +<p>The trophy-bearers carrying the Eagles then +took post according to the date of the capture +of each trophy; the earliest taken of the Eagles +leading. In advance of all, immediately after +the band, marched the three officers with swords +drawn; the captain and the two subalterns. +Then, with their flanking grenadiers as escort, +a file to each trophy, came, one after the other, +three Battalion Eagles of Napoleon’s 82nd of +the Line, surrendered at the capitulation of Martinique +in 1809. Immediately in rear marched +No. 1 platoon of grenadiers; in the interval +between the first trophy-group and the second. +That consisted of the Regimental Eagle of the +French 26th of the Line, surrendered at Martinique +at the same time as the Eagles of the +82nd, and then that of the 66th of the Line, surrendered +at the capitulation of Guadaloupe in +1810, with, just behind them, the all-important +trophy of the day, the first Napoleonic Eagle +captured—or, at any rate, taken possession of—by +British soldiers on the battlefield: “the +Eagle with the Golden Wreath”—that Eagle of +Napoleon’s 8th Regiment of the Line, won in +hand-to-hand fight by the 87th Royal Irish +Fusiliers at Barrosa.</p> + +<p>Five of the Eagles had their silken tricolor +flags still attached to the poles. The Barrosa +Eagle had none: it showed simply a bare pole<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">222</span> +topped by the wreathed Eagle. The wreath, +according to a newspaper reporter present, was +“an honour conferred on the regiment for fine +conduct at the battle of Talavera, where they +were opposed to the 87th; and, by a singular +coincidence of circumstances, these regiments +met in conflict at Barrosa and recognised each +other.” As we shall see, the statement was a +freak of journalistic imagination, without a scrap +of fact behind the story, although, strangely, the +legend holds to this day and reappears periodically +in print. Adds the reporter, as to the appearance +of the Eagle, recording this time what he actually +saw: “The Eagle is fixed on a square +pedestal, and standing erect on one foot; the +other raised as if grasping something; its wings +expanded. It is about the size of a small pigeon, +and appears to be made of bronze, or of some +composition like pinchbeck, gold-gilt.” The +“something” which the talons of the Eagle appeared +to be grasping was the “thunderbolt,” +which was missing, having been either knocked +out of its place in the scuffle on the battlefield, +or stolen later by somebody for a relic. The +wreath was really of gold. A couple of its leaves +picked up on the field after the battle and given +to Major Hugh Gough, the gallant commander +of the 87th at Barrosa, are now in possession of +one of that officer’s descendants.</p> + +<figure id="i_222" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 39em;"> + <img src="images/i_222.jpg" width="3115" height="2185" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>Plan of the Battle of BARROSA</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The second grenadier platoon divided the +Eagles from the first three of the flag-trophies,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">223</span> +borne in file, one by one, in the same way as the +Eagles. The first in date of capture led; a +French Republican standard taken in fight at +Sir Ralph Abercombie’s victory at Alexandria, +ten years before, and kept ever since at the War +Office: “the Invincible’s standard.” “As it +is falsely called,” adds the reporter; right for +once. “So tattered is it,” he continues, “that +the mottoes are not legible; a bugle in the +centre was the only figure we could distinguish.” +Two flags taken by Wellington’s men in the +Peninsula accompanied the Alexandria flag: +“a Fort Standard,” as it is described, and the +battalion colour, or “fanion,” of the Second +Battalion of Napoleon’s 5th of the Line.<a id="FNanchor_23" href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">23</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">224</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE TROPHY FLAGS PARADED</div> + +<p>In rear of the colour of the 5th marched the +third grenadier platoon, and the last three +trophies sent to England by Wellington. Two +were a pair of tattered German standards, the +flags of the two battalions of a Prussian regiment +in Napoleon’s service, composed of unfortunate +soldiers levied compulsorily during the French +occupation of their country, and tramped off to +Spain to meet their fate under British bullets. +Each flag bore the legend “L’Empereur des +Français au Régiment Prussien” on one side, +and “Valeur et Discipline” on the other, and +was mounted on a staff with a steel pike-head +instead of an Eagle. They were silken flags of the +ordinary Napoleonic pattern. The third flag +of the group was that of a “provisional regiment”; +also with a steel pike-head to its staff.</p> + +<p>From the Tilt Yard orderly-room the trophies +and their escort-guard set off, as before, in slow +time, the bands playing “God save the King!” +The sergeants, carrying the Eagles and Flags +between the files of grenadiers, marched in the +intervals between the four divisions “in double +open-order with arms advanced.” Right round +the square they now passed, close along the lines +of the troops drawn up, “the immense multitude +rending the air with huzzas.” In front of the First +Guards, in front of the recruiting parties, in front +of the long line of Coldstreamers, along each of +the three sides of the square, paced the procession +with martial pomp to the stately music<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">225</span> +of the two bands as they led the way. Then it +proceeded along the fourth side of the square +until it came face to face with the King’s Guard, +all standing with ordered arms, not at the +present.</p> + +<p>There was a brief pause in front of the Colour +of the King’s Guard.</p> + +<p>That was the supreme moment of the display. +Now took place the formal act of obeisance to +the victors; the formal act of abasement and +humiliation for the vanquished. Amid redoubled +cheering from all sides, the Eagles and +the other flags were, one and all, formally dipped +and prostrated. “The captured standards +saluted and were lowered to the ground in token +of submission.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">PROSTRATED IN THE DUST</div> + +<p>The procession turned away in front of the +King’s Guard and led round in front of the three +Royal Dukes, seated on their chargers, a little +in advance of the Commander-in-Chief and +Horse Guards Staff, at the centre of the parade-ground. +Again, as they now passed before the +Royal trio, the hapless Eagles of Napoleon and +the other French flags in turn were one by one +made to pay homage, bowed grovelling to the +dust; the crowd of onlookers shouting themselves +hoarse “with,” as we are told, “truly +British huzzas.”</p> + +<p>After that the trophy procession marched +across to the Horse Guards archway, and through +to Whitehall and the Chapel Royal; between<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">226</span> +Life Guards on one side and more Foot Guards +on the other, drawn up to keep a lane open through +the immense crowd of people who had gathered +there, and thronged the wide roadway. “The +procession,” says our reporter, “moved off the +Parade amid the acclamations of many thousand +spectators and entered the Chapel as the clock +was striking eleven, which [<i lang="la">sic</i>] was crowded +by all the beauty and fashion in Town.” Another +reporter speaks of the Chapel Royal as being +“exceedingly crowded in all parts with nobility +and gentlemen and ladies of distinction.”</p> + +<p>“The religious part of the ceremony,” we are +told, “was solemn and impressive.” It comprised +Morning Prayer and a sermon by the +Sub-Dean. “Previous to the commencement +of the Te Deum, a pause was made, when three +grenadier sergeants entered at each door by the +sides of the Altar with the Eagles on black poles +about 8 feet high. They took their stations in +front of the Altar. Each party was guarded by +a file of grenadiers, commanded by two officers; +the whole of them with laurel-leaves in their caps +as emblems of Victory. At the same instant +the five French flags and Bonaparte’s honourable +standard entered the upper gallery at the back +of the Altar, all carried by grenadier sergeants.</p> + +<p>“The whole remained presented for some time +for the gratification of the beholders, after which +the Eagles were placed in brass sockets on each +side of the Altar, suspended by brass chains.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">227</span> +The five flags were suspended from the front of +the second gallery, and Bonaparte’s honourable +standard placed over the door of the second +gallery, behind the others.”</p> + +<p>The trophies, with others won at Salamanca +and Waterloo, and subsequently laid up in the +Chapel Royal, were removed later to Chelsea +Royal Hospital, where all, except “the Eagle with +the Golden Wreath,” are now kept treasured amid +befitting surroundings.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">STOLEN FROM CHELSEA AT MIDDAY</div> + +<p>“The Eagle with the Golden Wreath” disappeared +from Chelsea Hospital in broad daylight. +It was displayed in the Chapel, affixed in front +of the organ-loft over the doorway, until it suddenly +vanished from there a little after midday +on Friday, April 16, 1852, in the absence of the +pensioner-custodian of the Chapel during the +Hospital dinner-hour. How it was stolen was +apparent; but the thief was never traced. The +thief, attracted undoubtedly by the widely told +story that the wreath was of gold, made his way +into the Chapel by the roof, which was undergoing +repairs at the time, to which he got access +by a workman’s ladder. He got inside by the +trap-door on the leads above the organ-loft. +There, with a saw, he cut through the Eagle-pole +near where it was fastened to the organ-loft, +and, secreting it under his coat, made his escape +by the way he had come, unseen by anybody. +The Eagle-pole was found outside, in front of +the building, with the Eagle and wreath wrenched<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">228</span> +off. For some reason the Royal Hospital authorities +of the day offered a reward of only a +sovereign, and though the London police did +their best, the malefactor was never discovered.<a id="FNanchor_24" href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">24</a></p> + +<p>At Barrosa Napoleon’s 8th of the Line was +in the French column that made its attack on +the right. It was one of the regiments that +charged forward across the plain at the foot +of Barrosa ridge, to break through General +Graham’s second brigade and drive it back to +the edge of the cliffs by the seashore, while the +French left attack seized the ridge itself, and +beat back the British first brigade in the act of +hastening to regain that unwisely abandoned +position. The Eagle went down in the fierce +counter-attack with which Graham’s men on the +plain, the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers in the front +line, met the French onset.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">229</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">“IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP THEM”</div> + +<p>What befell the 8th of the Line is told by one +of their own officers in his <i lang="fr">Journal de Guerre</i>—Lieutenant-Colonel +Vigo-Roussillon, in command +of the First Battalion, with which was the Eagle.</p> + +<p>Just before the critical moment, says Colonel +Roussillon, the 8th, who were on the flank of +the French second line, lost touch with the +regiment next them, and had in consequence to +meet the 87th by themselves. They fired their +hardest as the British troops came on, “but +could not stop them, ever advancing to a bayonet +attack.”</p> + +<p>They came on silently, steadily, irresistibly. +“Their officers,” adds one of Victor’s staff, +“kept up all the time the old custom of striking +with their canes those of the men who fell out of +the ranks. Our own non-commissioned officers,” +he adds, “placed as a supernumerary rank, +crossed their muskets behind the squads, thus +forming buttresses which kept the ranks from +giving way. Several of the French officers, also, +picked up the muskets of the wounded, and flung +themselves into the gaps made in the ranks of +the men.”</p> + +<p>“I saw the English line,” describes Colonel +Roussillon again, “at sixty paces continuing to +advance at a slow step without firing. It +seemed impossible to stop them; we had not +sufficient men.”</p> + +<p>Apparently he then caught sight of General +Graham, leading the British line.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">230</span></p> + +<p>“Under the influence of a sort of despair, I +urged forward my charger, a strong Polish horse, +against an English mounted officer who seemed +to be the colonel of the nearest regiment coming +on at us. I got up to him, and was about to run +him through with my sword, when I was held +back by a sense of compassion and abandoned +the murderous thought. He was an officer with +white hair and a fine figure, and had his hat +in his hand, and was cheering on his men. His +calmness and noble air of dignity irresistibly +arrested my arm.”</p> + +<p>Such is the lieutenant-colonel’s own account. +But did he really get quite close to the general? +Graham was the last man in the world to let him +get back unfought!</p> + +<p>“I then,” as Vigo-Roussillon continues, +“quickly galloped back to my own men, and +was riding along the line, telling them to meet +the enemy with our bayonets, and drive them +back, when a bullet from an English marksman +broke my right leg.</p> + +<p>“I managed to dismount and tried to pass +through in rear of the line, but it was impossible +to walk. The ground was covered with thick +bushes, and I was crippled and in great pain. +All I could do was to sit down where I was, +calling on the men to fire again. A moment +later I was enveloped in smoke; and at the same +instant the English charged in among us.</p> + +<p>“I called out my loudest, cheering on my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">231</span> +men; and now two soldiers tried to lift me up +and carry me. But both were shot down.</p> + +<p>“For the time we held our own, and kept the +enemy back; but some of the English got round +us. Seeing themselves outflanked, the battalion +began to give ground. Then came a second +furious charge from the English, and that broke +us.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“FIGHTING WITH THEIR FISTS”</div> + +<p>The fight, man to man, went on desperately +for several minutes—some of the British soldiers, +as yet another French officers relates, fighting +with their fists. “Many of the Englishmen +broke their weapons in striking with the butts +or bayonets; but they never seemed to think +of using the swords they wore at their sides. They +went on fighting with their fists.”</p> + +<p>It was in the final <i lang="fr">mêlée</i> that “the Eagle with +the Golden Wreath” was taken; after a sharp and +fierce hand-to-hand fight round it.</p> + +<p>Colonel Roussillon himself was at almost the +same moment struck down, and lay insensible +for a space among the dead near by. He was +recovering his senses and trying to stand up, when, +as he tells, a British sergeant saw him and ran at +him with his halberd. He parried the thrust, +and kept the sergeant off, and then a British officer +came up. To him the Commandant of the First +Battalion of the 8th surrendered his sword.</p> + +<p>The fight for the Eagle—on one hand to take it, +on the other to keep it—was furious; desperately +and heroically contested by both sides.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">232</span></p> + +<p>First, a gallant Irish boy, from Kilkenny, +Ensign Edward Keogh of the 87th, caught sight +of it, borne on high above the fray. There +had been no unscrewing of the Eagle of the +8th, no trying to break it from its pole. “See +that Eagle, sergeant!” called Keogh to Sergeant +Masterton, among the foremost, close +by his officer; and then he dashed straight +into the thick of the party round the Eagle, +sword in hand. The brave lad cut his way +through, with Masterton and four or five privates +close behind him. He got close up to the “Porte-Aigle,” +crossed swords with him, and got a grip +of the Eagle-pole. But he could not wrench it +from the no less brave Frenchman’s hands before +he went down with half a dozen musket bullets +and bayonet stabs in his body.</p> + +<p>Porte-Aigle Guillemin, as the gallant French +Eagle-bearer of the 8th was named, fell dead at +the same moment, shot through the head by +one of the British privates.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HOW THE TUSSLE ENDED</div> + +<p>Instantly other Frenchmen rushed up to save +the Eagle, and formed round it hastily. One +of the British privates who seized hold of the staff +was slashed to death, and the French recovered +it. The fight round the Eagle went on for some +minutes. In that time no fewer than seven +French officers and sub-officers fell dead in defence +of the Eagle. An eighth officer, Lieutenant +Gazan, clung to the pole to the last, +regardless of wounds that nearly hacked him to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">233</span> +pieces. Finally the Eagle was torn from his +grasp by Sergeant Masterton, at the end the sole +unwounded survivor of the attacking British +party. Gazan “survived miraculously,” and +lived to be decorated by Napoleon for his devoted +courage. Masterton seized the Eagle and +kept it. So “the Eagle with the Golden +Wreath” became a British trophy.</p> + +<p>From the crossing of the bayonets in the final +charge to the taking of the Eagle, the <i lang="fr">mêlée</i> lasted +about fifteen minutes.</p> + +<p>The remnant of the 8th were saved by a rally +to the spot by the French 54th, after another +regiment, the 47th, had attempted its rescue in +vain. The 47th lost their Eagle in the <i lang="fr">mêlée</i>, +but recovered it. “The man who had charge +of it was obliged to throw it away, from excessive +fatigue and a wound,” explains a British +officer. The 8th lost at Barrosa their Colonel +(Autié) and the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second +Battalion, killed; Vigo-Roussillon, of the First +Battalion, wounded; and 17 other officers and +934 of the rank and file killed or wounded. +The <i lang="fr">Moniteur</i>, the official Paris newspaper under +the Napoleonic <i lang="fr">régime</i>, in reporting the battle +of April 5, referred to the loss of the Eagle in +these terms: “A battalion of the 8th, having +been charged in wood-covered ground, and the +Eagle-bearer being killed, his Eagle has not been +found since.”</p> + +<p>The battalion that fared so hardly had to pay<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">234</span> +the regulation penalty. Napoleon gave the 8th +no other Eagle. He held rigidly to his rule, +and set his face relentlessly against a second +presentation. They must present him first with +a standard taken on the battlefield from the +enemy. But with Wellington’s men opposed +to them to the end, the 8th got few chances in +that direction. They had to fight without an +Eagle to the close of the Peninsular War.</p> + +<p>Two days after Barrosa, when General Graham +re-entered Cadiz with the Spanish army, “the +Eagle with the Golden Wreath” was publicly +paraded through the crowded streets, “between +the regimental colours,” as the 87th marched to +barracks, the church bells ringing triumphantly, +and amid exultant shouts and cheers of the +populace, and cries of “Long live Spain! Death +to our oppressors!” At the barracks “we +presented the Eagle to our gallant commander,” +says one of the officers.</p> + +<p>The Eagle was then sent to England in the +custody of the officer carrying General Graham’s +despatch. Its capture is commemorated to +this day by the Royal Irish Fusiliers, who +wear “an Eagle with a Wreath of Laurel” +as a regimental badge, while a similar Eagle +is embroidered in gold on the regimental colour. +Also, a representation of the wreathed Barrosa +Eagle was granted later on as a special augmentation +to the family arms of the officer who +commanded the 87th in the battle, Major Hugh<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">235</span> +Gough, on his being raised to the Peerage while +Commander-in-Chief in India after the first +Sikh War. “The Aiglers” was always the +regiment’s sobriquet after Barrosa among their +comrades in Wellington’s army; a sobriquet +that has endured since then in the form of “the +Aigle-Takers,” although our modern recruits +are said to prefer calling themselves “the Bird-Catchers.”<a id="FNanchor_25" href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">25</a></p> + +<div class="sidenote">ONE OF THE PARIS WREATHS</div> + +<p>It was in this way that the Barrosa trophy +Eagle came by its golden wreath. The decoration, +as has been said, had nothing to do with +Talavera.</p> + +<p>The wreath was one of those voted by the +City of Paris to the regiments that had gone +through the Jena and Polish frontier campaigns, +the first of which was presented to the Imperial +Guard. First of all, in the outburst of patriotic +enthusiasm in France at the news of Jena, wreaths +had been voted as decorations for the Eagles, +by way of popular tribute to the regiments +which had helped in dealing that staggering blow +to the famous Prussian Army. After the crowning +victory of Friedland which ended the war, +in a fresh outburst of enthusiasm, golden wreaths +were voted wholesale for the Eagles of all the +corps that had taken part in the fighting that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">236</span> +followed Jena, during the nine months of war, +down to the final day of Friedland. It was +a costly guerdon, and their proposed generosity +staggered the Paris municipality when the estimate +was presented. No fewer than 378 wreaths—according +to the official return—had to be provided. +But the vote had been carried by acclamation +on its first proposal, and trumpeted +all over France. Also, the Emperor had taken +up with the idea warmly. The Paris authorities +dared not back out, and had to go on with it in +spite of the cost. They carried it out with so +good a grace that, as the sequel, a suggestion +came from the Tuileries that the Austerlitz +battalions of the Grand Army which had not +had the fortune to be in the Jena-Friedland +campaign should receive wreaths as well, an +Imperial hint that the authorities, shrinking +from the extra expense, were so slow to fall in +with, that in the end it had to be forced on them, +by means of a bluntly worded letter through the +Ministry of War. “Tell the Prefect of the +Seine,” wrote Napoleon to the War Minister, +“that I expect wreaths of gold, similar to those +given for Jena and Friedland, to be provided on +behalf of the City of Paris for all the regiments +at Austerlitz!”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ACROSS GERMANY IN CARTS</div> + +<p>The 8th was presented with its wreath in +Paris, while on the way to take part in the Peninsular +War. It was one of the regiments of the +First Corps of the Grand Army, which Napoleon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">237</span> +hastily recalled from Germany in the spring of +1808, and hurried across Europe to reinforce the +troops in Spain on the first news of serious +trouble being on foot in that quarter. The whole +First Army Corps was recalled; starting from +Berlin, where it had been quartered, and journeying +by Magdeburg and Coblentz. Along the +route the unfortunate German burgomasters +and village authorities had to provide, not only +provisions day by day, but transport vehicles +for 30,000 soldiers; mostly farm-carts and wagons, +each taking from four to sixteen men. The +troops travelled by night and day, with only +two stoppages of fifty minutes each in the +twenty-four hours, for meals, and the authorities +of the villages and towns named as halting-places +were compelled to have hot food kept ready so +that the men might fall to instantly on arrival. +It was a journey the soldiers never forgot. +The weather was rough and wet, the roads +in places were almost impassable, and the carts +continually broke down, in addition to which +the peasant-drivers requisitioned for the conveyances +deserted at every opportunity, usually +going off at night with the horses after cutting +the traces, leaving their wagon-loads of sleeping +soldiers stranded by the roadside.</p> + +<p>The 8th received its wreath at the Barrier of +Pantin, on the outskirts of Paris. It arrived +with the Second Division of the corps, and the +troops were met by the Prefect of the Seine and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">238</span> +the Municipal Council in State, while Marshal +Victor, the commander of the Army Corps, attended +the ceremony in full-dress uniform. He +replied to the Prefect’s complimentary address +by declaring that “these golden crowns henceforward +decorating the Eagles of the First Corps +will to them ever be additional incentives to +victory.” One by one the regiments passed +before the Prefect, who hung round each Eagle’s +neck “a wreath of gold, shaped as two branches +of laurel.” A triumphal march into Paris and +an open-air banquet to all ranks in the Tivoli +Gardens, with free tickets to the theatres after +it, wound up the day.</p> + +<p>All along the line of march through France +to the Spanish frontier, banquets and elaborate +festivities welcomed the regiments—and at the +same time, it would appear, gave some of their +entertainers more than they bargained for. The +triumphal progress, from all accounts, proved +such hard work for the ladies in the country +towns, where public balls were in the programme +every night, that at some places for the later +comers—the 8th and other regiments in the +Second Division of Marshal Victor’s corps—the +balls had to be abandoned, “because the ladies +were too tired to dance any more.” It was explained, +with apologies, that they had practically +been danced off their feet by the regiments +of the First Division, which had preceded the +Second, incessantly passing through during the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">239</span> +previous three weeks, and that “most of the +ladies, through sheer fatigue, had taken to their +beds!”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THEY DID NOT MEET AT TALAVERA</div> + +<p>At Talavera, the 8th, as part of a brigade of +three regiments, had a passage of arms on the +battlefield, first with the British 83rd; and then +with the Guards; lastly with the 48th, before +whose magnificent charge in the final phase of +the fight they had to give ground. They did +not meet the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers at all +in the battle.<a id="FNanchor_26" href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">26</a></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">240</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX<br> + +<span class="subhead">OTHER EAGLES IN ENGLAND FROM BATTLEFIELDS OF SPAIN</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">Napoleon’s</span> Eagles made a second appearance +before the London populace in the following +year. That was on September 30, 1812, and +the Horse Guards Parade was again the scene +of the display—this time with more elaborate +ceremonial, and with the added presence of yet +greater personages. Queen Charlotte herself +this time witnessed the reception ceremony, with +four of the Princesses; and the Prince Regent +in person, “mounted on a white charger,” +attended, to be publicly done obeisance to by +the humbled standards of the enemy. Four of +his Royal brothers, the Dukes of Clarence, York, +Cambridge, and Sussex, accompanied the Prince +Regent. Only the poor old King, blind and +insane, was absent of the Royal family, remaining +in his seclusion at Windsor Castle.</p> + +<p>The Queen and Princesses watched the scene +from the windows of the Levée Room at the +Horse Guards, looking down over the Parade; +the Prince Regent was on the ground and took +the salute. The Eagles this time were five in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">241</span> +number; and four French flags, one of exceptional +interest, the garrison-standard of Badajoz, +were with them in the procession.</p> + +<p>The military display was on the grandest +scale possible; the <i lang="fr">ensemble</i> making up, as we +are told, “a spectacle grand and impressive +beyond anything ever beheld.” The First and +Second Life Guards were present, “drawn up +in a line reaching from the Foreign Office nearly +to Carlton House,” with their bands in State +dress and their standards. All three regiments +of Foot Guards took part, with the State Colour +of the First Guards, and three bands. Horse +and Foot Artillery from Woolwich were also +there; forming by themselves one side of the +great hollow square which occupied the wide +space of the ground, the scene of the reception +of “the Eagle with the Golden Wreath.” Ninety +grenadiers, drawn from the three regiments of +Foot Guards, thirty from each, formed the +trophy-escort, which, as before, accompanied +the Eagles and captured standards round the +square at a slow march—the five Eagles in advance +by themselves, borne by as many Guards’ +sergeants between files of grenadiers with fixed +bayonets.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLES ARE HUMBLED AGAIN</div> + +<p>Again the trophies of Napoleon were spared +nothing in the humiliation that they had to +undergo. Twice were they lowered to the dust +before the Queen; twice to the Prince Regent; +eight times before the standards of the Life<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">242</span> +Guards; three times before the standards of +the Guards and the King’s Colour of the First +Guards, “the immense concourse of spectators +rending the air with their huzzas” every time +the trophies went down. Then, as before, the +trophies were paraded across Whitehall to the +Chapel Royal, and solemnly “churched” and +hung up there, before the Royal family and +“all the Cabinet Ministers and the leading +members of the nobility in London.”</p> + +<p>They were this time all Wellington’s trophies. +Two of the Eagles were spoils from the battle +of Salamanca—“dreadfully mutilated and disfigured +in the conflict,” according to a newspaper +reporter’s account, “one of them having lost +its head, part of the neck, one leg, half the +thunderbolt, and the distinctive number; the +other without one leg and the thunderbolt.” +Two had been taken in Madrid “in more perfect +state and without their flags.” The last of the +five had been “found on the way to Ciudad +Rodrigo, in the bed of a river, dried up in summer, +having been thrown away some months before +during Masséna’s retreat.” The four Eagles +which still bore distinctive numbers were, we are +told, “those of the 22nd, 13th, and 51st and +the 39th.” Of the standards, the garrison flag +of Badajoz looked “like a sieve, a great part of +it quite red with human blood”; the four other +colours “were so mutilated that not a letter or +device was legible.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">243</span></p> + +<p>How we came by the trophies so displayed in +London on that Wednesday forenoon is our +story.</p> + +<p>The two Salamanca Eagles were—and are, +for they have a place to-day among our Chelsea +Hospital trophies—mementoes of one of the most +dramatic episodes of a battle in which there were +many.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WELLINGTON AND SALAMANCA</div> + +<p>Salamanca, it may be said incidentally—the +battle, like Waterloo, was fought on a Sunday, +on July 22, 1812—was, in Wellington’s own +eyes, his <i lang="fr">chef d’œuvre</i>, his masterpiece, although +it may be rather overlooked now perhaps by +most of us and the world at large, eclipsed in +the dazzling splendour of the last crowning +victory of Waterloo. It was at Salamanca that +Wellington, in the words of a French officer, +speaking, of course, in general terms, “defeated +40,000 men in forty minutes.” The victory was +held in such estimation by Wellington himself +that he selected it in preference to all his other +victories to be displayed over again in a sham +fight on the Plain of Saint-Denis in the presence +of the three Allied Sovereigns during the occupation +of Paris in 1815 after Waterloo. Of it +he wrote at the time: “I never saw an army +receive such a beating.”</p> + +<p>Upwards of 6,000 prisoners were taken, including +one general and 136 other officers. Six +thousand of the enemy, at the lowest computation, +were left dead or wounded on the field<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">244</span> +of battle. Three French generals were killed +and three wounded. Marshal Marmont himself, +the enemy’s commander-in-chief, was among +the wounded; grievously maimed by a bursting +shell as he galloped to rally one of his broken +columns. “Spurring furiously to the point of +danger, he was struck by the fragment of a +shell, which shattered his left arm and tore open +his side.” Marmont bore the arm in a sling for +the rest of his life. He was carried off the +field under fire, on a stretcher made of a soldier’s +great-coat with a couple of muskets thrust +through the armholes to give it shape, under +the escort of a squad of grenadiers. Eleven +cannon—melted down at Woolwich Arsenal in +1820 as a cheap way of making new field-guns +for the British Army—with the two Eagles and +six stand of colours, were the trophies of the +day.</p> + +<p>The two Salamanca trophy Eagles at Chelsea +Hospital are the spoils of the fiercest cavalry +charge that British horsemen ever delivered +on a battlefield; the death-ride—for 1,200 of +Napoleon’s infantry—of the Heavy Brigade, +which annihilated an entire French division in +less than a quarter of an hour. It came about +as one of the results of that opening false move +on the part of the French commander which +cost France in the end the loss of the battle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MARMONT’S FATAL BLUNDER</div> + +<p>Marmont, after a series of ably conducted +manœuvres in the neighbourhood of Salamanca,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">245</span> +had forced Wellington, on July 22, into a +position so unfavourable that the British +commander decided to retire towards the Portuguese +frontier under cover of darkness during +the following night. But at the last moment +the French marshal overreached himself. Taking +in the difficulties that confronted his opponent +he attempted to anticipate him and cut him off +from his base by barring the one line of retreat +that was open to Wellington. In doing that, +Marmont gave his game away. He rashly +divided his force in the presence of the enemy, +separating his left wing to a distance from the +main body and marching off a whole division of +infantry, cavalry, and artillery to occupy the +road to Ciudad Rodrigo.</p> + +<p>The fault was flagrant, and Wellington seized +eagerly at the chance all unexpectedly offered +him. He was at breakfast when Marmont’s +troops began their false move and the aide +de camp whom he had posted on the look-out +hurriedly came to him with the news. “I +think they are extending to the left——” the +young officer began. He did not finish the +sentence.</p> + +<p>“The devil they are!” interposed Wellington +hastily, with his mouth full. “Give me +the glass!”</p> + +<p>He took it, and for nearly a minute scanned +the movements of the enemy with fixed attention.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">246</span></p> + +<p>“By God!” he ejaculated abruptly as he +lowered the glass. “That’ll do!”</p> + +<p>He turned to another aide de camp.</p> + +<p>“Ride off and tell Clinton and Leith to return +to their former ground.” These were the +generals commanding the Fifth and Sixth +Divisions, on the right and right-centre of the +British position. Then Wellington ordered up +his horse. Closing his spy-glass with a snap, +he turned with these words to his Spanish +attaché, Colonel Alava: “Mon cher Alava, +Marmont est perdu!” A moment later Wellington +was on horseback and his staff also, all +galloping off.</p> + +<p>Wellington grasped the meaning of Marmont’s +move. He saw his chance of falling on +in force and overpowering the detached French +wing before help could reach it.</p> + +<p>He made his way as fast as his charger could +carry him to the British Third Division—Picton’s +men, temporarily commanded by +Wellington’s brother-in-law, General Sir Edward +Pakenham.</p> + +<p>“As he rode up to Pakenham,” says an officer +whose regiment was close by, “every eye was +turned on him. He looked paler than usual, +but was quite unruffled in his manner, and as +calm as if the battle to be fought was nothing +more than an ordinary assemblage of troops for +a field-day.”</p> + +<p>“Ned,” said Wellington, as he drew rein<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">247</span> +beside Pakenham, tapping him on the shoulder +and pointing in the direction of the separated +French column as its leading troops were beginning +to move towards their distant position, +“Ned, d’ye see those fellows on the hill? Throw +your division in column, and at ’em and drive +’em to the Devil!”</p> + +<p>“I will, my lord, by God!” was Pakenham’s +laconic reply, and he turned away to give the +necessary orders.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A FURIOUS COUNTER-ATTACK</div> + +<p>The two Eagles were taken in the course of +Pakenham’s attack, when the Third Division, +with the Fifth advancing on one flank, was +moving forward to meet the fierce counter-attack +with which the enemy, after the first +collision, attempted to make amends for their +commander’s blunder.</p> + +<p>“We were assailed,” describes a British officer +in the Third Division, “by a multitude who, +reinforced, again rallied and turned upon us +with fury. The peals of musketry along the +centre continued without intermission, the smoke +was so thick that nothing to our left was distinguishable; +some men of the Fifth Division +got intermingled with ours; the dry grass was +set on fire by the numerous cartridge-papers +that strewed the battlefield; the air was scorching; +and the smoke rolling onwards in huge +volumes, nearly suffocated us.”</p> + +<p>In the midst of the din and turmoil the Heavy +Cavalry came suddenly on the scene. “A loud<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">248</span> +cheering was heard in our rear; the Brigade +half turned round, supposing themselves about +to be attacked by the French cavalry. A few +seconds passed, the trampling of horses was +heard, the smoke cleared away, and the Heavy +Brigade of Le Marchant was seen coming forward +in line at a canter. ‘Open right and left!’ +was an order quickly obeyed; the line opened, +and the cavalry passed through the intervals, +and, forming rapidly in our front, prepared for +their work.”</p> + +<p>Catastrophe for the French assailants followed +at once; swift, overwhelming, irremediable. +The enemy in front had practically ceased to +exist within the next twelve minutes. The +entire French division and its supporting troops +were struck down and shattered; broken to +fragments and annihilated.</p> + +<p>There was a “whirling cloud of dust, moving +swiftly forward and carrying within its womb +the trampling sound of a charging multitude. +As it passed the left of the Third Division, Le +Marchant’s heavy horsemen, flanked by Anson’s +Light Cavalry, broke out at full speed, and +the next instant 1,200 French infantry, formed +in several lines, were trampled down with +terrible clangour and tumult. Bewildered and +blinded they cast away their arms and ran +through the openings of the British squadron, +stooping and demanding quarter, while the +dragoons, big men on big horses, rode on hard,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">249</span> +smiting with their long, glittering swords in +uncontrollable power, and the Third Division, +following at speed, shouted as the French +masses fell in succession before this dreadful +charge.”</p> + +<p>So Napier describes the onset.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">CHARGING DOWN AT FULL GALLOP</div> + +<p>Startled and aghast at what they saw coming +at them, the French attempted hastily to form +squares. But Le Marchant’s impetuous squadrons +were too quick for them. They came +swooping down, the troopers galloping their +hardest, with loosened reins, all racing forward, +charging down with the irresistible sweep of +an avalanche, and crashed into the midst of +the ill-fated infantrymen before the squares +could be formed.</p> + +<p>Down on the enemy the cavalry thundered, +1,200 flashing British sabres. Three of the finest +regiments of the British Army formed the +brigade—the 3rd Dragoons, the “King’s Own”; +the 4th, “Queen’s Own”; the 5th Dragoon +Guards—strong and burly men on big-boned +horses, and with sharp-edged swords. “<i lang="la">Nec +aspera terrent</i>” was—and is—the fearless motto +of the gallant “King’s Own,” who showed the +way; and they flinched at nothing that day. +“<i lang="la">Vestigia nulla retrorsum</i>” was—and is—the +motto of the 5th, who closed the column; and +dead and wounded and prisoners were the vestiges +they left in rear on that stricken field.</p> + +<p>General Edward Le Marchant, a daring and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">250</span> +capable soldier—“a most noble officer,” was +what Wellington called him—led them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">FOUR REGIMENTS CUT TO PIECES</div> + +<p>A French regiment a little in advance, the +ill-fated 62nd of the Line, was the first to face +the British, and to go down. They did not +attempt to form square. They had, indeed, no +time to do so. Yet they were in a formation +sufficiently formidable. The 62nd was a regiment +of three battalions, and stood formed up +in a column of half-battalions, presenting six +successive lines closely massed one behind the +other. Their front ranks opened fire just before +the leading horsemen reached them, but it did +not check the British onset even for a moment. +The cavalry bore vigorously forward at a gallop +and burst into and through their column, riding +it down on the spot. Nearly the whole regiment +was killed, wounded, or taken; leaving the +broken remnants to be carried off as prisoners +by the infantry of the Third Division as these +raced up in rear, clearing the ground before +them.</p> + +<p>The 62nd were disposed of by the cavalry in +less than two minutes. According to French +official returns, the unlucky regiment, out of a +total strength that morning of 2,800 of all ranks +in its three battalions, lost 20 officers and +1,100 men in killed alone; the survivors who +escaped capture not being sufficient to form half +a battalion.</p> + +<p>Cheering triumphantly, the charging squadrons<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">251</span> +dashed on. They came full tilt on a +second French regiment, the 22nd, catching it +in the act of forming square. The front face +of the square was already drawn up and met +the troopers with a hasty volley which brought +down some of the men and horses. But that +made little difference. The next moment the +cavalry were on them. The mass of the square +in rear made but a weak effort at resistance. +They swayed back, broke their ranks, and fell +apart in utter confusion. Slashed down right +and left, as had been the case with the 62nd, +in little more than a minute only groups of +fugitives were left, to be made prisoners by the +British infantry, following in rear of the +horsemen.</p> + +<p>The cavalry raced on then to attack a third +French regiment. In turn it attempted to make +a stand, but only to be dealt with in like manner. +It, too, was caught before its square could be +formed, and was ridden down.</p> + +<p>Yet another French battalion confronted the +British troopers after that. It had had time to +take advantage of a small copse, an open wood +of evergreen oaks, where it formed its ranks +in <i lang="fr">colonne serrée</i>, to await attack, and make a +stand. “The men reserved their fire with much +coolness, until the cavalry came within twenty +yards. Then they poured it in on the concentrated +mass of men and horses with deadly +effect. Nearly a third of the dragoons came to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">252</span> +the ground, but the remainder had sufficient +command of their horses to dash forward. They +succeeded in breaking the French ranks and dispersing +them in utter confusion over the field.”</p> + +<p>All the time the infantry in rear were racing +on with exultant cheers, finishing off the horsemen’s +work as fast as they came up. It was an +easy task. Further fight had been scared out +of the French under the stress of the fearful +experience they had gone through. “Such as +got away from the sabres of the horsemen,” says +one of the British officers, “sought safety +amongst the ranks of our infantry; and, scrambling +under their horses, ran to us for protection, +like men who, having escaped the first shock of +a wreck, will cling to any broken spar, no matter +how little to be depended on. Hundreds of beings, +frightfully disfigured, in whom the human face +and form were almost obliterated—black with +dust, worn down with fatigue, and covered with +sabre-cuts and blood—threw themselves among +us for safety. Not a man was bayoneted—not +one even molested or plundered. The invincible +old Third on this day surpassed themselves; for +they not only defeated their terrible enemies in +a fair stand-up fight, but saved them when total +annihilation seemed the only thing.”</p> + +<p>The two Salamanca Eagles were taken now. +They fell to two infantry officers as their actual +captors: one to an officer of a regiment of the +Third Division, and the other to an officer of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">253</span> +Fifth Division, which had come into the fight, +and were following the cavalry, partly mingled +with Pakenham’s men.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">TAKEN IN HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT</div> + +<p>The first Eagle—that of the hapless French +62nd, whose fate has been told—fell to Lieutenant +Pierce of the 44th, a regiment in the +Fifth Division. He came on the Eagle-bearer +while in the act of unscrewing the Eagle from its +pole in order to hide it under his long overcoat +and get away with it. Pierce sprang on the +Frenchman, and tussled with him for the Eagle. +The second Porte-Aigle joined in the fight, whereupon +three men of the 44th ran to their officer’s +assistance. A third Frenchman, a private, added +himself to the combatants, and was in the act +of bayoneting the British lieutenant, when one +of the men of the 44th, Private Finlay, shot him +through the head and saved the officer’s life. +Both the Porte-Aigles were killed a moment later—one +by Lieutenant Pierce, who snatched the +Eagle from its dead bearer’s hands. In his +excitement over the prize Pierce rewarded the +privates who had helped him by emptying his +pockets on the spot, and dividing what money +he had on him amongst them—twenty dollars. +A sergeant’s halberd was then procured, on +which the Eagle was stuck and carried triumphantly +through the remainder of the battle. +Lieutenant Pierce presented it next morning to +General Leith, the Commander of the Fifth +Division, who directed him to carry it to Wellington.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">254</span> +In honour of the exploit the 44th, now +the Essex Regiment, bear the badge of a Napoleonic +Eagle on the regimental colour, and the +officers wear a similar badge on their mess-jackets.</p> + +<p>The second Eagle taken was that of the 22nd +of the Line. It was captured by a British +officer of the 30th, Ensign Pratt, attached for +duty to Major Cruikshank’s 7th Portuguese, a +Light Infantry (or Caçadores) battalion, serving +with the Third Division. He took it to General +Pakenham, whose mounted orderly displayed +the Eagle of the 22nd publicly after the battle, +“carrying it about wherever the general went for +the next two days.”</p> + +<p>Two more Eagles, it was widely reported in +the Army, came into the possession of other +regiments of the Third and Fifth Divisions. One +of them is said to have “wanted its head and +number”; but what became of them is unknown. +Possibly the existence of these particular +trophies was merely camp gossip. According +to one story, an officer picked up one of +the Eagles during the battle and “carried it +about in his cap for some days.” No Eagles, +however, reached head-quarters after Salamanca +except those of the 62nd and 22nd, which in due +course were sent to England.<a id="FNanchor_27" href="#Footnote_27" class="fnanchor">27</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">255</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">ONE THAT JUST ESCAPED</div> + +<p>One Eagle narrowly evaded capture at the +hands of the Hanoverian Dragoons of the King’s +German Legion in the pursuit after Salamanca. +It escaped—to find its way to Chelsea Hospital +on a later day, as the famous trophy of our own +1st Dragoons, the “Royals,” at Waterloo. What +took place when the Eagle of the 105th of the +Line so nearly fell into the enemy’s hands after +Salamanca is a story that in its incidents stands +by itself.</p> + +<p>General Anson’s cavalry brigade, made up of +British Light Dragoons and the Hanoverians, +was sent in chase to follow and break up the wreck +of the defeated army. It came upon the French +rearguard in the act of taking post at a place +called Garcia Hernandez. In front were several +squadrons of cavalry; in rear the 105th of the +Line. The three battalions of the regiment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">256</span> +were moving in column, with guns in the intervals. +Not seeing the French infantry and guns +at first, owing to an intervening ridge, Anson +rode for the cavalry and drove them in. “Their +squadrons fled from Anson’s troopers, abandoning +three battalions of infantry, who in separate +columns were making up a hollow slope, hoping +to gain the crest of some heights before the pursuing +cavalry could fall on, and the two foremost +did reach higher ground, and there formed in +squares.” The squares at once opened fire on +the horsemen, and for a moment checked them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A SQUARE CHARGED AND BROKEN</div> + +<p>The Hanoverian Dragoons were the nearest +of the pursuers to the rearmost of the French +squares, and there was no way to ride past without +exposing their flank at close range. Captain +Von Decken, who was leading the dragoons, +on the spur of the moment took the daring +decision to attack the square with the single +squadron he had with him, then and there. Without +an instant’s hesitation the gallant captain +charged, regardless of the fierce fusillade that +met him at once, from which his men went down +all round. They dropped fast under fire. By +twos, by threes, by tens, all round they fell; +yet the rest of them, surmounting the difficulties +of the ground, hurled themselves in a mass on +the column and went clean through it.</p> + +<p>The gallant Von Decken was among the first +to go down, shot dead a hundred yards from +the square. But a leader no less heroic was at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">257</span> +hand. Instantly Captain Von Uslar Gleichen, +in charge of the left troop, dashed to the front. +He rode out to the head of the squadron, inciting +his men by voice and gesture and example. +Another French volley smote hard on the +squadron, but the intrepid troopers galloped +through it, and, bringing up their right flank, +swept on towards the enemy’s bayonets, making +to attack the square on two sides. The two +foremost ranks of the French were on the knee +with bayonets to the front, presenting a deadly +double row of steel. In rear the steady muskets +of four standing ranks were levelled at the horsemen. +The dragoons pressed on close up, and some +were trying, in vain, to beat aside the bayonets +before them, and make a gap through, when an +accident at the critical moment gave the opportunity. +A shot from the kneeling ranks, apparently +fired unintentionally, as it is said, killed a +horse, and caused it with its rider to fall forward, +right across and on top of the bayonets. Thus a +lane was unexpectedly laid open to the cavalry. +They seized the chance instantly and crowded +in through. The square was broken. It was +cleft apart: its ranks were scattered and dispersed. +All was over in a few moments. Within +three minutes the entire battalion had been either +cut down under the slaughtering swords of the +dragoons or had been made prisoners.</p> + +<p>Immediately on that another Hanoverian +captain, Von Reitzenstein, came sweeping by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">258</span> +with the second squadron, riding for the second +French square. These met the charge with a +bold front and rapid volley, but their <i lang="fr">moral</i> +had been shaken by the startling and horrible +scene they had just beheld. The front face of +the second square gave way as the horsemen got +close, and four-fifths of that battalion were either +sabred on the spot or made prisoners.</p> + +<p>There was yet, near by, the third battalion in +its square. Its numbers had been added to by +such fugitive survivors from the first and second +squares as had been able to reach the place and +get inside. The third squadron of the Dragoons +dealt with the third square in the same way, +riding boldly at it, and breaking in with deadly +results, as before.</p> + +<p>How the Eagle of the 105th was saved—it was +with the first battalion in the square first broken—is +not on record. It did, however, somehow, +evade capture—hidden hastily perhaps beneath +the coat of somebody in the handful of men +who got away in the <i lang="fr">mêlée</i>. Only the broken +Eagle-pole was left, to be picked up among +the dead after the fight:</p> + +<p>Described a British officer who went over +the ground after the fight:</p> + +<p>“The contest ended in a dreadful massacre +of the French infantry. The 105th bravely +stood their ground, but the ponderous weight +of the heavy cavalry broke down all resistance; +and arms lopped off, heads cloven to the spine,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">259</span> +or gashes across the breast and shoulders showed +the fearful encounter that had taken place.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SPOILS TAKEN IN ANOTHER WAY</div> + +<p>The third of the trophy Eagles paraded in +London before the Prince Regent was that of +Napoleon’s 39th of the Line. It had been +picked up in the dried-up bed of the river Ceira, +one of the tributaries of the Douro. Apparently +the Eagle had been dropped, owing to the fall +of its bearer during the night action of Foz +d’Aronce on June 15, 1811, when Ney’s corps +of Masséna’s army, then retreating from Torres +Vedras, was roughly handled and driven across +the river by Wellington’s Third and Light +Divisions.</p> + +<p>The fourth and fifth of the Eagles were found +at Madrid on Wellington’s occupation of the +city after Salamanca—stored away in the +French arsenal and army dépôt there, to which +uses the ancient Royal Palace of the Buen +Retiro, just outside the walls of Madrid, had +been converted.<a id="FNanchor_28" href="#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">28</a> Seventeen hundred men held +the Retiro, and the approaches to the arsenal +had been fortified by order of Napoleon, but +the garrison surrendered without firing a shot. +They gave up to the victors 180 brass cannon, +900 barrels of powder, 20,000 stand of arms, +muskets and bayonets, together with the Eagles +of the 13th and 51st of the Line, which had been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">260</span> +laid up at the Retiro for safe custody while the +two regiments were operating in a wild part of +the country against the Spanish guerrillas.<a id="FNanchor_29" href="#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">29</a></p> + +<p>The last Eagles taken by Wellington in the +Peninsular War came into our hands in the +battles of the Pyrenees.<a id="FNanchor_30" href="#Footnote_30" class="fnanchor">30</a> Neither of them is +now in existence. One was taken by our 28th +in the combat of the Pass of Maya. The 28th, +supporting the 92nd Highlanders in the fighting, +overwhelmed with a series of fierce volleys an +unfortunate French regiment, which was afterwards +discovered to be the French 28th—a +curious coincidence. The Eagle of the 28th, +the senior corps of its brigade, was found on the +battlefield, and was brought to England and +hung in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall. It disappeared +from there in circumstances already +related. The second French Eagle was that +of the 52nd of the Line, presented by Wellington,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">261</span> +as has been told, to the Spanish Cortes. +That also has since been entirely lost sight of.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON’S ORDER OF RECALL</div> + +<p>This also may be added. Early in 1813 a +special order was issued by Napoleon to the +army in Spain requiring the Eagles of most of +the regiments to be sent back to France. Napoleon +at that time was in Paris, engaged in getting +together a new Grand Army to replace that +destroyed in Russia. The regiments in Spain, +he said, would be so weakened by the intended +withdrawal of their third, fourth, and fifth +battalions (which he was recalling in order to +send them to Germany for the coming campaign +there), that the Eagles—in charge of the first +battalions which were remaining in Spain—would +be exposed to undue risk. “In future,” he wrote, +“there will in Spain be only one Eagle to each +brigade, that of the senior regiment of the brigade.” +The Eagles withdrawn from Spain, +added the order, would “in the end rejoin the +battalions with the Grand Army in Germany, +as soon as these had been reconstituted afresh +as regiments, with a sufficient force of men to +ensure the safety of the Eagles.” All the cavalry +Eagles were recalled: “No regiment of Cavalry +in Spain is to retain its Eagle. Those who have +not done so are immediately to send theirs to +the dépôt.”</p> + +<p>It was due to this order mainly that at +Vittoria, after the overwhelming rout of the +French army, only one Eagle-pole—with its<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">262</span> +Eagle gone—fell into British hands, although +there had been on the field upwards of 70,000 +French soldiers (of whom 55,000 were infantry), +and the French lost everything—in the words +of one of their own generals (Gazan), “all their +equipages, all their guns, all their treasure, all +their stores, all their papers.”<a id="FNanchor_31" href="#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">31</a></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">263</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X<br> + +<span class="subhead">IN THE HOUR OF DARKEST DISASTER</span></h2> +</div> + +<h3 id="toclink_263"><span class="smcap">After Moscow: How the Eagles faced their Fate</span></h3> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">There</span> are seventy-five standards of Napoleon’s +Grand Army of 1812 now in Russia, trophies of +the Moscow disaster. Rather more than half +of the number are Eagles. The remainder of +the trophies are battalion and cavalry flags; some +French, some the ensigns of allied contingents +and the troops of vassal states of the Napoleonic +Empire, compelled to take a part in the campaign. +All the European armies of the period are +represented among the trophies: green and +white Saxon flags; blue and white Bavarian +flags; violet and white Polish ensigns; Spanish, +Dutch, and Portuguese colours; Swiss flags; +Westphalian and Baden flags of the Confederation +of the Rhine; the red and black of Würtemburg; +the yellow and black of Austria; the white +and black of Prussia; the green, white, and red +tricolor of Italy.</p> + +<p>They are preserved at St. Petersburg, in the +Kazan Cathedral and in the Cathedral of St.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">264</span> +Peter and St. Paul. Those in the Kazan Cathedral +are grouped over and round the tomb of the +septuagenarian hero, Kutusoff, who lies buried +on the spot where he knelt in prayer before +setting out to take command as generalissimo +of the national army. Near by, suspended +against the pillars, are the marshal’s bâton of +Davout, and the keys of Hamburg, Leipsic, +Dresden, Rheims, Breda, and Utrecht, similarly +spoils of the Napoleonic war.<a id="FNanchor_32" href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">32</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">265</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">MOST OF THE EAGLES GOT THROUGH</div> + +<p>The actual Eagle trophies number all told +between forty and fifty: less than a third of the +total array of Eagles that crossed the Niemen at +the head of their regiments on the outbreak of +the war. The majority of the Eagles of the +Grand Army were saved from falling into the +hands of the Russians through the devoted +heroism of those responsible for their safe-keeping +amid the horrors of the retreat. Of those at St. +Petersburg, not more than half at most were +taken in actual combat, and they were only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">266</span> +yielded up by their bearers with life, being picked +up from among the dead bodies, and carried off +by the Russians on going over the field after the +fight was over. Five Eagles only were surrendered +by capitulation. The others were +brought in by the Cossacks, who came upon them +while prowling in rear of the retreating army. +They were found, some in hollow trees, where +their despairing bearers had tried to conceal +them; some in holes dug with bayonets in the +frozen ground underneath the snow. Others<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">267</span> +were dragged to light, broken from their staves, +from beneath the coats or from the knapsacks +of officers and men, who had fallen by the way at +night and been frozen to death, during the final +stage of the retreat between Wilna and the +Niemen. It is in remembrance of how, to the +last, during the Moscow retreat, in many a dark +and hopeless hour, there yet remained detachments +of devoted men, the last remnants of +regiments, at all times ready to stand at bay +and sacrifice themselves for the honour of their +Eagles, amidst hordes of disorganised fugitives +all round—in remembrance of that, the army +of modern France commemorates on the colours +of certain regiments, as representing corps that +bore the same numbers in Napoleon’s Grand +Army in Russia, the names, among others, +of “Marojaroslav,” “Polotz,” “Wiasma,” +“Krasnoi,” “La Berezène,” defeats and disasters +though these were.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WHAT FRANCE REMEMBERS TO-DAY</div> + +<p>The Eagles were under fire for the first time in +Russia on July 17, in the attack on Smolensk on +the Dnieper, the ancient Lithuanian capital, +where took place the first important battle of the +war. There the Eagles of Ney’s and Davout’s +corps did their part in inciting the men to add +fresh laurels to the fame of their regiments; +ever prominent in the attack, leading charge after +charge as the columns made repeated efforts to +storm the fortified suburbs and lofty ramparts +of the citadel. The soldiers did all that intrepidity<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">268</span> +and desperate valour might attempt, +but in vain. No valour could prevail against the +stubborn endurance of the Russians, who also +occupied a strongly walled position that was +practically impregnable. The fierce contest +went on all through a whole day, until nightfall, +and then, under cover of darkness, the defenders +silently drew off and retreated beyond the city, +leaving Smolensk in flames. No fewer than +15,000 French and 10,000 Russians fell in the +merciless encounter.</p> + +<p>Next morning there followed a spectacle +hardly ever perhaps paralleled: the march of +the Grand Army through the streets between the +still blazing houses, “the martial columns advancing +in the finest order to the sound of military +music.” “We traversed between furnaces,” +as an officer puts it, “tramping over the hot and +smouldering ashes, in all the pomp of military +splendour, bands playing and each Eagle leading +its men.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WON ON THE BATTLEFIELD</div> + +<p>At Smolensk one regiment won its Eagle, which +Napoleon presented at five o’clock in the morning +on July 19, before the paraded battalions of +Davout’s corps. It was the 127th of the Line; +a regiment, it is curious to note, enrolled a few +months before, from former Hanoverian subjects +of our own King George the Third, and commanded +by French officers as a regular corps of +the French Line. By Napoleon’s latest ordinance, +issued just before the Emperor quitted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">269</span> +Paris in May, the regiments newly raised for the +Russian War, of which there were several, were +in each case to win their Eagles on the battlefield. +The Eagle for each regiment was to be +provided in advance, but would be held back, +locked up in the regimental chest, until it “should +be won by distinguished conduct.” The 127th +won their Eagle at Smolensk, their brilliant +service being specially brought before Napoleon +by Marshal Davout, who, of his own initiative, +claimed the Eagle for them from Napoleon. +The regiment bore it with distinction through +the hottest of the fighting at Borodino, carried +it all through the disastrous retreat from Moscow, +and preserved it to the end to go through the +later campaign in Germany, and face the enemy +after that in the last stand before Paris in 1814. +The Eagle was eventually destroyed by order of +the restored Bourbon Government.</p> + +<p>The second great battle-day of the Eagles in +the Russian War was at Borodino, on September +7. There a quarter of a million and +more combatants faced each other: on one +side, 132,000 Russians with 640 guns; on the +other, 133,000 French with 590 guns. The +battle of Borodino was perhaps the most sanguinary +and the most obstinately contested in +history. The opening shots were fired at sunrise. +When at sunset both sides drew sullenly +apart, exhausted after twelve hours of carnage, +neither army was victorious. Each held the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">270</span> +ground on which it had begun the battle; +25,000 men lay dead on the field, and 68,000 +more lay wounded, an appalling massacre that +staggered even Napoleon.</p> + +<p>Amidst the ferocious savagery of the hand-to-hand +fighting that characterised Borodino all +over the field, many of the Eagles were in +desperate peril. Several were cut off in the +terrible havoc that the ferocious Russian counter-charges +wrought in the French ranks, and were +only saved by the stern fortitude of the soldiers, +fighting at times back to back round the Eagles, +keeping off the enemy with bayonet thrusts till +help should come. In one part of the field the +9th of the Line was isolated and for a time broken +up and scattered. The Eagle-bearer was cut off +by himself and surrounded. He saved the +Eagle, as he fell wounded. “Amidst the confusion, +wounded by two bayonet thrusts, I fell, +but I was able to make an effort to prevent the +Eagle falling into the hands of the enemy. Some +of them rushed at me and closed round, but, +getting to my feet, I managed to fling the Eagle, +staff and all, over their heads towards some of +our men, whom I had caught sight of, fortunately +near by, trying to charge through and rescue the +Eagle. This was all I could do before I fell +again and was made prisoner.” The brave +fellow returned to France two years later, at the +Peace of 1814, and made his way to the regimental +dépôt, where he found barely twenty of his comrades<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">271</span> +at Borodino left. The rest had succumbed +during the retreat from Moscow. The +survivors had brought back the Eagle to France; +only, however, to have to give it up to the new +Minister of War for destruction.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">TWO EAGLES JUST SAVED</div> + +<p>The 18th of the Line, broken in a Russian +counter-attack, after storming one of the Russian +redoubts erected to defend part of the position, +rallied with their Eagle in their midst and held +their ground in spite of repeated attacks until +help could get through to them. At the roll-call +next morning, 40 officers out of 50, and +800 men out of 2,000 were reported as missing; +left dead or wounded on the field. Another +regiment lost its colonel and half one battalion +dead on the field; the Eagle-Guard were all +shot down or bayoneted round the Eagle, which +in the end was saved and brought out of the +battle by a corporal, who was awarded a commission +by Napoleon in the presence of the +remains of the regiment next day. The Eagle +of the 61st of the Line again was only kept out +of Russian hands by the devotion of the men +round it. Napoleon rode past the regiment next +day while being paraded for the roll to be called. +Only two battalions were there, and he asked +the colonel where the third battalion was. “It +is in the redoubt, Sire!” was the officer’s reply, +pointing in the direction of the Great Redoubt, +round which some of the hardest fighting of the +day had taken place. The battalion had literally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">272</span> +been annihilated: not an officer or a man +of the 1,100 in the third battalion of the 61st +had returned from the fight.</p> + +<p>A regiment of Cuirassiers lost its Eagle at +Borodino: the Eagle had disappeared in the +midst of a fierce <i lang="fr">mêlée</i>, in which the Eagle-bearer +had gone down. The loss was not discovered +till later. All, however, refused to believe that +it had been captured: that was incredible. The +dead Eagle-bearer’s body was found after the +battle, but no Eagle was there. Overwhelmed +with shame, the regiment had to admit that the +impossible had happened, and during the weeks +that they were at Moscow “they remained +plunged in a profound dolour.” The Eagle +reappeared in an extraordinary way. In the +retreat, when passing the scene of the battle, +a ghastly and horrible spectacle with its unburied +corpses and the carcasses of horses strewn +thickly and heaped up all over the field, a sudden +thought struck one of the officers. Late that +night, he and a brother officer, taking the risk +of capture by Cossacks on the prowl in rear +of the retreating army, rode back and found +their way by moonlight to where the Cuirassiers +had had their fight and the Eagle-bearer had +fallen. They found the Eagle inside the carcass +of the Eagle-bearer’s horse. It had been thrust in +there by the dying Eagle-bearer through the gaping +wound that had killed the horse, as the only +means to conceal it in the midst of the enemy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">273</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">HOW THE EAGLES ENTERED MOSCOW</div> + +<p>The Eagles made their last triumphant entry +into a conquered capital at Moscow on September +14, the Eagle of the Old Guard leading +the way at the head of the grenadiers of the +Guard, all wearing for the day their full-dress +parade uniform. As has been said, every officer +and soldier of the Guard, by Napoleon’s standing +order, carried a suit of full-dress uniform in +his kit or knapsack on campaign in readiness +for such occasions—“en tenue de parade comme +si elle eut défiler au Carrousel.” They had +marched like that with music and full military +pomp twice through Vienna, and through the +streets of Berlin and Madrid; but there was at +Moscow a disconcerting and ominous difference, +both in their surroundings and in the reception +that they met. Elsewhere, alike in Vienna, +Berlin, and Madrid, the parade march of the +victorious Eagles passed through densely crowded +streets of onlookers, silently gazing with dejected +mien at the scene. At Moscow not a +soul was in the streets, at the windows, anywhere; +on every side were emptiness and desolation. +The inhabitants had fled the city, and +only deserted houses remained. The first incendiary +fires at Moscow broke out at midnight, +within twelve hours of Napoleon taking up his +residence in the Kremlin.</p> + +<p>The spell after that was broken. Henceforward +victory deserted the Eagles; the hour +of fate was at hand for Napoleon and the Grand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">274</span> +Army. The Fortune of War, indeed, turned +against the Eagles even before Napoleon had +quitted Moscow.</p> + +<p>Early on October 18, Napoleon, while at +breakfast in the Kremlin, suddenly heard distant +cannonading away to the south. He learned +what had happened that afternoon while holding +a review of the Italian Royal Guard. “We +hastily regained our quarters, packed up our +parade-uniforms, put on our service kit ... +and to the sound of our drums and bands +threaded our way through the streets of Moscow +at five in the afternoon.” During the past five +weeks, while all had been outwardly quiet, the +Russian armies had been manœvring to close in +along the only road of retreat open to Napoleon.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE FIRST SENT TO THE CZAR</div> + +<p>The nearest of the Russian armies, concentrated +to the south-west of Moscow, struck the +first blow on October 18 at daybreak, by surprising +Murat’s cavalry camp near Vinkovo. +The results to the French were disastrous. Two +thousand of Murat’s men were killed and as many +more were taken prisoners. Between thirty and +forty guns were lost, and Murat’s personal camp-baggage +train, which included “his silver canteens +and cooking utensils, in which cats’ and horse flesh +were found prepared for food”—a discovery that +opened the eyes of the Russians to the precarious +position of affairs in Napoleon’s army. Murat +himself, according to one story, “rode off on +the first alarm in his shirt.” He only got away,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">275</span> +according to another, by cutting his way through +the Russians sword in hand, at the head of his +personal escort of carabineers. Two Eagles were +spoils of the surprise; the first to fall into Russian +hands in the war. They were lost in the +general scrimmage, their bearers being sabred +at the outset of the Russian onslaught. The +Eagles were at once sent off to St. Petersburg +to be presented to the Czar Alexander.</p> + +<p>On the other hand nine Eagles were saved, +their escorts fighting their way successfully +through the Russians.</p> + +<p>Many stories are recorded in memoirs of survivors +of the Grand Army of heroic endeavours +made repeatedly by officers and men to save +their Eagles from the enemy amid the disasters +and horrors of the retreat. Their devotion and +self-sacrifice had their reward in the preservation +of seven Eagles in every ten.</p> + +<p>Two Eagles were lost fourteen days after +leaving Moscow, in the disastrous battle at +Wiasma on November 2, halfway on the road +back to Smolensk, where the advanced columns +of the pursuing Russians attacked and all but +cut the retreating French army in two. The +rearguard of the Grand Army, Marshal Davout’s +corps, with the Italian corps of the Viceroy +Eugène Beauharnais, was overpowered and +driven in and broken up; crushed under the +overpowering artillery fire of the Russians. They +left behind 6,000 dead, 2,000 prisoners, and 27<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">276</span> +guns. Two Eagles were taken, their regiments +being virtually annihilated, but twenty-one were +saved. They were safeguarded through the rout +by groups of brave-hearted officers and men, +who beat off the rushes made at them by the +Russian cavalry and the Cossacks. They fought +their way through until they met Ney’s troops, +who had heard the firing and turned back, +arriving in time to stem and check the Russian +pursuit and enable what was left of the two +shattered army corps to rally under their protection.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“WE HAVE DONE OUR DUTY!”</div> + +<p>One infantry regiment at Wiasma perished on +the battlefield to a man, but saved its Eagle. +It was the rearmost of all, and was isolated +and surrounded beyond reach of help. In vain +its men formed square and tried to fight their +way after the rest through the surging masses +of the Russians. They made their way for a +time until the enemy brought up artillery. A +Russian battery galloped up, unlimbered close +to them, and opened fire with murderous effect. +The Frenchmen tried desperately to charge +the guns, but were beaten back by a rush of +cavalry. At last, in despair, they formed square +and faced the cruel slaughter that the guns +made in their ranks, in the hope that help might +reach them. Terms were offered them and +refused. They would not surrender, and fought +on till dusk, when their ammunition gave out. +The Russians were closing round for a final<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">277</span> +decisive charge on the small handful of survivors, +when the wounded colonel, seeing all was +over, made the attempt that saved the Eagle. +The scanty remnant of what had that morning +been a regiment of 3,000 men formed round in a +ring, facing towards the enemy with bayonets +levelled. The Eagle-staff was broken up and +the fragments thrust under the ground. With +flint and steel a match was lighted and the +silken tricolor consumed. The Eagle was then +tied up in a havresac and entrusted to an old +soldier who was known to be a good rider. The +colonel, giving up his own charger to the man, +bade him watch his chance and, as the enemy +came on in the dark, dash through them and +ride his hardest. “Carry the Eagle to his +Majesty,” were the colonel’s words. “Deliver +it to him, and tell him that we have done our +duty!” The man rode off. He was able to +get through the nearest Russians under cover +of the darkness, having to fight his way before +he got clear, and receiving several wounds. Then +his horse fell dead from its injuries. On foot he +stumbled on, and before midnight reached, not +Napoleon, but Marshal Ney, to whom he gave +up his precious charge. No officer or man of +the others of the luckless regiment was ever +heard of in France again. No prisoners from +it ever returned—only the Eagle survived.</p> + +<p>Three days after Wiasma the Russian winter +suddenly set in on the doomed host. It brought<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">278</span> +about at once the disintegration and disorganisation +of the Grand Army. Already, demoralised +by their privation, hundreds of men +had fallen out of the ranks, flinging away +their muskets and knapsacks, and straggling along +in disorderly groups. A third practically of the +Army ceased to exist as a fighting force within +the first fortnight of the retreat, before the first +snows fell. The others, though, still kept to their +duty. Marching in the ranks day after day, +they strove their hardest to beat back the incessant +attacks of the swarms of Cossacks, +hovering round on the watch to raid the baggage-convoys +at every block or stoppage on the +road. With the coming of the snow the doom of +the Grand Army was sealed. It was impossible +to maintain discipline with the thermometer +at twenty degrees below zero. Men dropped +dead from cold by the score every half-mile.</p> + +<p>On November 6 the sun disappeared; a grey +fog enshrouded everything; the frost set in; +and a bitter north wind in howling gusts swept +over the face of the land; with it came down the +snow, falling hour after hour by day and night +without ceasing.</p> + +<p>“From that day the Army lost its courage +and its military instinct. The soldier no longer +obeyed his officer. The officer separated himself +from his general. The disbanded regiments +marched in disorder. In their frantic search +for food they spread themselves over the plain,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">279</span> +pillaging and destroying whatever fell in their +way.” So a survivor wrote.</p> + +<p>The snow came down “in large broad flakes, +which at once chilled and blinded the soldiers: +the marchers, however, stumbled forward, men +often struggling and at last sinking in holes +and ravines that were concealed from them by +the new and disguised appearance of the country. +Those who yet retained discipline and kept +their ranks stood some chance of receiving +assistance; but amid the mass of stragglers, +the men’s hearts, intent only on self-preservation, +became hardened and closed against every feeling +of sympathy and compassion. The storm-wind +lifted the snow from the earth, as well as that +steadily pelting down from above, into dizzy +eddies round the soldiers. Many were hurled +to the ground in this manner, while the +same snow furnished them with an instant +grave, under which they were concealed until +the next summer came, to display their ghastly +remains in the open air.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WHEN THE COSSACKS GOT TO WORK</div> + +<p>The Cossacks redoubled their attacks on the +retreating army after Wiasma. They had +harassed the French incessantly from the day +after Napoleon passed Mojaisk, but after Wiasma +their audacity increased a hundredfold. They +captured prisoners hourly, from among the +stragglers mostly; in droves, by fifties and +hundreds at a time. Day after day they hung +on the flanks, swooping down with loud shouts<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">280</span> +on the unfortunate wretches, rounding them up +like sheep, and driving them before them towards +their own camps at the points of their long +lances. Many they killed on the spot, or +stripped naked to perish in the snow. Others +they drove along to the nearest camp of Kutusoff’s +regulars for the sake of the money reward +offered for prisoners brought in alive. Others +again, to save themselves the trouble of driving +them all the way to the army camp, they handed +over to peasants in the villages, selling them +at a rouble a head, for the peasants to make +sport of and maltreat or kill. The brutalities and +ruthless devastations that the French army +had committed in its advance to Moscow had +infuriated the Russian peasantry. Intent on +vengeance they now made use of their opportunity +to the full. They burned alive some of +their captives, by tossing them into pits half +filled with blazing pine-logs. Seventy were +done to death in this horrible way in one village. +Others they buried up to their necks in the +ground and left to die; or else tied them to +trees for the wolves to tear to pieces.<a id="FNanchor_33" href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">33</a> Others +they clubbed or flogged to death, tying down<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">281</span> +the wretched Frenchmen to logs on the ground, +hounding on the women and children to hammer +their heads to pieces with thick sticks. A +common method of Cossacks and peasants alike +for making prisoners was to light great watch-fires +at night, a little way off from the retreating +column, and as the frozen and starving +stragglers came crowding up to the blaze they +surrounded them and carried them off wholesale.</p> + +<p>After the snow set in, guns and baggage-wagons +were abandoned to the Cossacks at +almost every hundred yards. It was impossible +for the weakened and dying horses to drag +them along; even to keep their footing on the +frozen ground. Within the first week after +Wiasma the appalling number of 30,000 horses +either died of starvation, there being no way of +getting fodder for them because of the snow, +or were frozen to death.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLES OF NEY’S CORPS</div> + +<p>In spite of everything, some of the regiments +still kept together and marched in military +formation, with their Eagles at their head; +those in particular of Marshal Ney’s corps. +They formed the rearguard and chief protection +to the army from Wiasma onwards; held +together by the heroic example and personality +of their indefatigable leader, ever present where +there was fighting, ever calm and confident, and +ready with words of encouragement. Not an Eagle +was lost along the line of march between Moscow<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">282</span> +and Smolensk by Ney’s men; rallying round +them to beat off the Cossack attacks time and +again with the cry, “Aux Aigles! Voici les +Cosaques!”</p> + +<p>This incident, not unlike the cuirassier ride +to recover the Eagle left on the field at Borodino, +is said to have taken place between Wiasma +and Smolensk. One regiment of Ney’s cavalry +missed its Eagle after a sharp fight on the road, +the Eagle-bearer having apparently fallen during +the encounter, unseen by the survivors. That +night round the bivouac fire lots were drawn, +and two officers rode back amid blinding snow +squalls to try to find the Eagle. They successfully +evaded the Cossacks and made their +way ten miles back to the scene of the combat, +where, after scaring off some wolves, they +searched in the snow and found the dead officer’s +body with the Eagle by its side. They brought +it back safely to the regiment and restored it +to their comrades. Their limbs were frost-bitten +and rigid from cold, so that they had to be +lifted off their horses, but the brave men were +content—they had saved their Eagle.</p> + +<figure id="i_282" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 35em;"> + <img src="images/i_282.jpg" width="2753" height="1780" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p class="p0 left smaller"><cite>Photo Alinari.</cite></p> + <p>MARSHAL NEY WITH THE REARGUARD IN THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.</p> + <p class="smaller">From a picture by A. Ivon, at Versailles.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<div class="sidenote">SO FAR TEN EAGLES LOST</div> + +<p>At Krasnoi, on November 19, between +Smolensk and the Beresina, Napoleon underwent +another severe defeat from the pursuing +Russians, 10,000 prisoners and 70 guns falling +into the victors’ hands. Two Eagles were +carried off from the battlefield and despatched +to St. Petersburg by special courier, together<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">283</span> +with Kutusoff’s report to the Czar. Twenty-seven +Eagles, however, got past the Russians, +fighting their way through, thanks to the endurance +of brave men who rallied round them. +Krasnoi it was that gave the death-blow to +Napoleon’s last hope of rallying the Grand Army. +After it less than 30,000 men remained under +arms with the main column, including the +8,000 survivors of the Imperial Guard. Up to +then, according to the Russian official returns, +80,000 prisoners, 500 guns, and “40 standards +and flags of all kinds” had fallen into the hands +of the pursuers. Not more than ten, however, +of the forty standards taken were Eagles: the +two taken at Murat’s surprise at Vinkovo; the +two taken at Wiasma; the two taken at Krasnoi; +also two taken before Napoleon reached +Smolensk, from a brigade sent from Smolensk +to help him on the road, which blundered into +the middle of the Russian army and had to +surrender; and two captured elsewhere, from +the French flanking armies of Marshal Macdonald +and Marshal St. Cyr. An eleventh +Eagle was taken in the second battle at Krasnoi, +from Ney’s rearguard; the only Eagle that Ney +actually lost in fight throughout the 600 miles’ +march between Moscow and the frontier.</p> + +<p>At Krasnoi, Ney’s rearguard, following at a +day’s march behind the rest of the army, found +its way barred. The Russians, after defeating +Napoleon’s main column, a day’s march in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">284</span> +advance, had waited on the scene of the former +fighting for Ney. They held a position that it +was practically impossible for Ney’s comparatively +small force to get past. After vainly +attempting to break through, Ney had to draw +back, and make a forlorn-hope effort to avoid +destruction by a long détour, in the course of +which he had to abandon guns, baggage, and +horses, and cross the Dnieper on ice hardly thick +enough to bear the weight of a man.</p> + +<p>On the eve of Krasnoi, indeed, the rearguard +found itself in so desperate a position, that Ney +ordered all its Eagles to be destroyed. His +regiments had suffered so severely in their continuous +fighting, that it was impossible adequately +to safeguard the Eagles. Every musket +and bayonet was wanted in the fighting line. +It was impossible to supply sufficient Eagle-escorts. +So far, in spite of the dreadful straits +to which some of the regiments had been reduced, +all had marched openly with their Eagles, and +fought round them, guarding them sedulously +by night and day. “When excess of fatigue +constrained us to take a few moments of repose,” +describes Colonel De Fesenzac of the 4th of the +Line, “we (what was left of the regiment able +to carry arms—not 100 men) assembled together +in any place where we could find shelter, a few +of the men standing by to mount guard for the +protection of the regimental Eagle.”</p> + +<p>“Then,” describes the colonel, “came the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">285</span> +order that all the Eagles should be broken up and +buried. As I could not make up my mind to +this, I directed that the staff should be burned, +and that the Eagle of the 4th Regiment should +be stowed in the knapsack of one of the Eagle-bearers, +by whose side I kept my post on the +march.” The Eagle of the 4th, it may be added +by the way, was the identical Eagle that Napoleon +had presented to the regiment in place of +that lost at Austerlitz, in exchange for, as has +been told, two captured Austrian flags.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“THEY OUGHT TO PERISH WITH US”</div> + +<p>Other officers did the same as Colonel De +Fesenzac. One officer, however, the colonel of +the 18th of the Line, flatly refused to have his +regimental Eagle either broken up or hidden +away. “The Eagle,” he says in his journal, +which still exists, “had throughout, until then, +been carried at the head of the regiment, and I +declined to obey the order on behalf of the 18th. +It seemed to us a monstrous ignominy. Our +Eagles were not given us to be made away with +or hidden: they ought to perish with us.” The +Eagle of the 18th did actually perish with the +regiment. In the rearguard repulse at Krasnoi +the entire regiment was destroyed, except for +some twenty survivors, including the colonel, +severely wounded. “Our Eagle,” says the gallant +colonel, proudly recording its fate, “remained +among our dead on the field of battle.”</p> + +<p>That Eagle of the 18th was the only one of +Marshal Ney’s Eagles to fall into the hands of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">286</span> +the Russians in battle. Some ten of the Eagles +now at St. Petersburg were found on the bodies +of officers and men who had been either frozen +to death or had fallen dead on the march during +Ney’s retreat after Krasnoi; they were not taken +in fight.</p> + +<p>Ney rejoined Napoleon with only 1,500 men +left out of 12,000, of which the rearguard had +consisted when it left Smolensk. It was while +making his last effort to get past the Russians +after his attempt to break through at Krasnoi +had failed, that Ney, overtaken on the banks of +the half-frozen Dnieper on the evening before he +risked his perilous crossing, and summoned by +the Russians to surrender, made that proudly +defiant reply which has ever since been a treasured +memory to the French Army: “A Marshal of +France never surrenders!” Six hours later he +had evaded capture and, with the remnant of +his corps, was across the river. All the world +has heard how Napoleon, hopeless of seeing him +again, welcomed Ney with the words: “I have +three hundred millions of francs in the vaults of +the Tuileries; I would have given them all for +Marshal Ney!”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ALL KEPT TOGETHER FOR SAFETY</div> + +<p>The remaining Eagles had by now been assembled +for preservation under the protection +of what troops of the main column, which +Napoleon accompanied, still continued under +arms. Further effort to rally the shattered host +was beyond possibility. Only portions of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">287</span> +two army corps of Marshals Victor and Oudinot, +called in from holding the line of communications, +still retained military formation, together with +the reduced battalions of the Old Guard which +had kept near Napoleon throughout. To save +the remaining Eagles, the officers of broken-up +and disbanded regiments, with some devoted +soldiers who stood by them, took personal charge +of the Eagles, and carried them with their own +hands. Banding together and marching in company +side by side, they tramped on, plodding +through the snow day and night for 200 miles; +the collected Eagles all massed in the centre. +They attached themselves to the column of the +Old Guard, and kept their way close by Napoleon.</p> + +<p>A survivor of the retreat from Moscow, in his +memoirs, describes how he saw Napoleon and the +Eagles pass by him on the way to the Beresina +on the morning of November 25:</p> + +<p>“Those in advance seemed to be generals, a +few on horseback, but the greater part on foot. +There was also a great number of other officers, +the remnant of the Doomed Squadron and Battalion, +formed on the 22nd and barely existing +at the end of three days. Those on foot dragged +themselves painfully along, almost all of them +having their feet frozen and wrapped in rags or +in bits of sheep’s-skin, and all nearly dying of +hunger. Afterwards came the small remains +of the Cavalry of the Guard. The Emperor +came next, on foot, and carrying a staff. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">288</span> +wore a large cloak lined with fur, and had a red +velvet cap with black-fox fur on his head. Murat +walked on foot at his right, and on his left the +Prince Eugène, Viceroy of Italy. Next came +the Marshals Berthier—Prince of Neufchatel—Ney, +Mortier, Lefebvre, with other marshals and +generals whose corps had been annihilated.</p> + +<p>“The Emperor mounted a horse as soon as he +had passed; so did a few of those with him: +the greater part of them had no horses to ride. +Seven or eight hundred officers and non-commissioned +officers followed, walking in order and +perfect silence, and carrying the Eagles of their +different regiments, which had so often led them +to victory. This was all that remained of 60,000 +men.</p> + +<p>“After them came the Imperial Guard on +foot, marching also in order.”</p> + +<p>Four Eagles were lost in the fighting at the +passage of the Beresina, where a whole division +of Marshal Victor’s corps (General Partonneaux’s) +was cut off and compelled to surrender. +On the last night, when either massacre under +the Russian guns or laying down their arms was +all that was left to them, they broke up and +buried their Eagles in the ground underneath +the snow. The officers of one regiment, it is +told, broke up their Eagle before burying it, +burned the flag at their last bivouac fire, mixed +the ashes with thawed snow, and swallowed the +concoction.</p> + +<figure id="i_288" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 29em;"> + <img src="images/i_288.jpg" width="2313" height="1748" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>NAPOLEON AND THE “SACRED SQUADRON” ON THE WAY TO THE BERESINA.</p> + <p>From the picture by H. Bellangé.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">289</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">WHEN THE LAST HOPE WAS GONE</div> + +<p>The little column of officers with their Eagles +passed the Beresina with the Guard, and thus +escaped that last catastrophe, the crowning +horror of the bridge disaster, when 24,000 ill-fated +human beings were sent to their account; +either killed in the fighting with the Russians, +or drowned in the river, jammed together on the +burning bridge, while the Russian guns from the +rear thundered on them with shot and shell.</p> + +<p>The officer-escort with the Eagles tramped on +until Wilna was reached; until after Napoleon +had left the army and set off for Paris. Then, +on the final falling apart of the remnants of the +stricken host, the officers themselves dispersed, +to escape as best they could individually and +get to the Niemen; breaking up the Eagle-poles +and concealing the Eagles and flags in knapsacks +or under their uniforms. The dispersal, says one +officer, was at Napoleon’s own instance. “He +ordered all the officers who had no troops to make +the best of their way at once to the Niemen, +considering that their services had best be saved +for the future army he was going to Paris to raise +and organise.” That is one story. According to +another officer, utter despair at their frightful +position, abandoned by their chief, was the cause +of the break-up at Wilna and the final <i lang="fr">débâcle</i>. +“Until then a few armed soldiers, led by their +officers, had still rallied round the Eagles. Now, +however, the officers began to break away, and +the soldiers became fewer and fewer, and those<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">290</span> +left were finally reduced, of necessity, some to +conceal the Eagles in knapsacks, others to make +away with them.” Some of the officers fell dead +on the way to the Niemen, struck down suddenly +by the cold, and their Eagles remained +with them. Others who died, with their last +strength tried to put their charges beyond reach +of the enemy by scraping or digging holes in +the frozen ground, and burying the Eagles.<a id="FNanchor_34" href="#Footnote_34" class="fnanchor">34</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">291</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLE OF THE OLD GUARD</div> + +<p>The Eagle of the Old Guard recrossed the +Niemen at Kovno, while Ney was making his +final stand, defending the gate of the town; the +marshal fighting musket in hand at the last, +with less than twenty soldiers. That Eagle was +still carried openly—the only one still so displayed—carried +defiantly aloft on its staff, borne +to the last with its escort in military formation, +in the midst of the ranks of the 400 men of the +Old Guard who were all that were able to reach +the frontier.</p> + +<h3 id="toclink_291"><span class="smcap">At Bay in Northern Germany—1813</span></h3> + +<p>There were yet dark days in store for the Eagles +after the retreat from Moscow was over. The +tale of their misfortunes was not yet ended. +There was yet to be the sequel to the great +catastrophe; further humiliations in the War +in Germany of 1813, and the Winter Campaign +of 1814 in Eastern France, which followed as +the consequence and result of the overthrow in +Russia.</p> + +<p>No fewer than fifteen of the Eagles that the +devotion of their officers brought through the +retreat from Moscow are now—making allowance +for difficulties of identification, owing to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">292</span> +defective records—among the trophies of victory +to be seen at Berlin and Potsdam, in Vienna, and +also at St. Petersburg. Those in Germany are +mostly kept in the Garrison Church of Potsdam, +suspended triumphantly above the vault in which +lies the sarcophagus of Frederick the Great. +They were placed there of set purpose as an act +of retribution, as a votive offering to the <i lang="la">manes</i> +of the Great Frederick; as a Prussian rejoinder +to Napoleon’s act of wanton desecration after +Jena. The four trophy Eagles at Vienna are +in the Imperial Arsenal Museum there. Two +of them are the spoils of Kulm; displayed together +with the keys of Lyons, Langres, Troyes, +and the fortress of Mayence, which were surrendered +during the march of the Allies on Paris. +The Russian trophy Eagles of 1813 are at St. +Petersburg, displayed with the Eagles which fell +into Russian hands in the retreat from Moscow.</p> + +<p>What the annihilation of the Grand Army in +Russia meant for Europe, with what dramatic +rapidity its import for the vassal states of +Napoleon was realised and turned to account, +is a familiar story. Prussia led the revolt at +once, and all Northern Germany rose in arms <i lang="fr">en +masse</i> to commence the “War of Liberation,” +joining hands with Russia as the pursuing armies +of the Czar crossed the frontier. Then Austria, +after negotiations rendered abortive at the last +by Napoleon’s infatuated pride and overweening +self-confidence, threw her sword into the balance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">293</span> +and turned the scale decisively against France. +Napoleon’s hastily raised conscript levies, outnumbered +and outmanœuvred, were defeated +on battlefield after battlefield, and driven in +rout across the Rhine to their final surrender +at the gates of Paris; and then came the abdication +of Fontainebleau.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLES DIED HARD</div> + +<p>Yet, with all that, in those dark hours of their +fate the Eagles died hard. The trophy-collections +of Berlin, Vienna, and St. Petersburg +testify to that. Only a percentage of the Eagles +which faced their fate on the battlefield became +spoils to the victors. Marshal Macdonald’s army, +routed by Blücher on the Katzbach, thanks to +the devotion of the regimental officers and +some of their men, saved all its Eagles from +the enemy except three. Ney’s army, no less +roughly handled at Dennewitz, managed to +retain in like manner all its Eagles except three. +Vandamme’s army, annihilated and dispersed +at Kulm, saved its Eagles all but two. Oudinot +was routed at Gross Beeren, with the loss of guns +and many prisoners; Gérard underwent the same +fate near Magdeburg; Bertrand was surprised +and defeated with heavier losses still; but not +one Eagle was left as spoil of these disasters +in the hands of the victorious foe.</p> + +<p>In one battle the Eagle of Napoleon’s Irish +Legion was only just kept from being to-day +among the trophies displayed in the Garrison +Church of Potsdam over the tomb of Frederick<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">294</span> +the Great. It was immediately after Macdonald’s +defeat on the Katzbach. The Irish +Legion was one of the regiments in one of Macdonald’s +divisions, that of General Puthod. +They had had a hard fight of it, and their retreat +was barred by the river Bober in flood. Under +stress of the continuous attacks of the Prussians +in ever-increasing force, the 12,000 men of +Puthod’s Division had been reduced to barely +5,000. They had used up their last cartridges, +and had been driven back to the +river-bank, where the Prussian army closed in +on them “in a half-moon.” The Prussians +halted for one moment until they realised that +the troops before them had no more ammunition. +Then, aware that they had their foe at their mercy, +they rushed forward, cheering exultantly, to +deliver the <i lang="fr">coup de grâce</i>. “All of a sudden,” +describes an Irish officer, “30,000 men ran forward +on their prey, of whom none but those who +knew how to swim could attempt to escape.” +The greater number of the French, all the same, +jumped into the river, and took the risk of +drowning rather than surrender. Less than +five hundred got across the stream, and after +that they had to wade waist-deep for half a mile +over flooded marshes under a pitiless fire from +the Prussian batteries. In the end only 150 +men reached dry ground alive. Among the +survivors were just 40 men of the Irish Legion, +with their Eagle—Colonel Ware, eight officers,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">295</span> +the Eagle-bearer, and thirty privates. The +Irish remnant made their way eventually to +Dresden, and reported themselves to Napoleon.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE IRISH EAGLE’S FIRST ESCAPE</div> + +<p>That adventure, by the way, was the Irish +Eagle’s second escape from falling into an +enemy’s hands since Napoleon presented it to +the Legion on the Field of Mars. On the first +occasion it came within an ace of being now +among our British trophy Eagles at Chelsea; of, +indeed, being the first Napoleonic Eagle to be +brought as spoil of war to England. The Irish +Legion was in garrison at Flushing in 1809, when +the fortress surrendered to the British Walcheren +Expedition. On the night before the final +capitulation, Major Lawless of the Irish Legion +took charge of the Eagle, and in a rowing-boat +made a risky passage among the British ships +of war in front of the batteries. He escaped up +the Scheldt to Antwerp, where he delivered the +Eagle personally to Marshal Bernadotte. Napoleon +sent for the major to Paris, decorated him +for saving the Eagle, with the Cross of the Legion +of Honour, and promoted him lieutenant-colonel.</p> + +<p>In the disaster on the Bober also, a soldier of +the 134th of the Line saved the Eagle of another +regiment, the 147th. The two regiments, as the +Prussians charged down on them after their +cartridges gave out, in desperation rushed to +meet their assailants with the bayonet. They +were overpowered and hurled back in confusion<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">296</span> +to the bank of the river, all intermingled in the +<i lang="fr">mêlée</i>. The Eagle-bearer of the 147th fell dead, +shot down, and a Prussian officer made for the +Eagle. A soldier of the 134th bayoneted the +officer as he got to it, picked up the Eagle, and, +seeing only more Prussians round him, flung himself, +still holding on to the Eagle, into the river. +The man could not swim, and was fired at as he +floundered in the water, but he was not hit. +Unable to reach the other side, he somehow got +on to a shallow patch, and, still holding fast to +the Eagle, kept his footing there, until, to get +away from the hail of bullets all round him, he +again risked drowning by trying to drift downstream. +He managed to keep his head above +water, and got over to a bed of rushes, fringing +the farther bank. Creeping in there, still holding +on closely to the Eagle, the brave fellow hid for +six hours until dark, embedded in mud to his +armpits most of the time. After nightfall he +worked his way through and crawled ashore. +Finally, after wandering across country for eight +days, feeding on berries and what he could pick +up, in constant peril of discovery among the +hostile peasants and parties of Prussian dragoons +scouring the district, the heroic soldier at length +found his way to Dresden. There he was +brought before Marshal Berthier, to whom he +delivered the Eagle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AT THE COST OF HIS LIFE</div> + +<p>At the battle of the Katzbach the colonel of +the 132nd of the Line threw away his life under<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">297</span> +the mistaken impression that he saw the Eagle +of his regiment captured by the enemy. He was +short-sighted, and suddenly missed it in the +middle of a charge. Thinking he saw the Eagle +being carried off by a party of Prussians he rode +straight through the enemy at them, to fall +mortally wounded halfway, with his horse shot +beneath him. Some of the men saw the colonel +fall, and charged after him. They got to him +and carried him off the field, and in the retreat +until a place of safety was reached, where the +survivors of the regiment had rallied. There +the officers came round to bid farewell to their +dying chief. The Eagle-bearer of the regiment +was among them, and he, to the amazement of +all, produced the Eagle from his havresac, +broken from its staff, and held it up before the +eyes of the dying colonel. No enemy’s hand, he +declared, had contaminated it. Finding himself +and the Eagle, he explained, in imminent danger +of capture, he had wrenched the Eagle off the +staff and hidden it—his act causing the disappearance +which the colonel had marked, and +which had resulted in his fatal dash among the +enemy.</p> + +<p>The 17th of the Line saved their Eagle and +themselves after Vandamme’s defeat at Kulm, +and made their way to safety, as one of the +officers relates, after an extraordinary series +of adventures. They had joined Vandamme’s +army at the beginning of the first day’s fighting—the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">298</span> +battle lasted three days—coming in after +a week’s march from Dresden, through pouring +rain most of the time. They numbered four +battalions, 4,000 men in all. Vandamme was +successful on the first two days and the 17th +by themselves routed an Austrian regiment +and captured a gun. On the evening of the +second day the French advanced again, driving +the enemy before them into the valley of Kulm. +They bivouacked on the ground they had won, +anticipating a final triumph on the morrow. +But during that night two Russian and Prussian +army corps reinforced the Austrian columns +unknown to the French.</p> + +<p>One of the officers of the 17th, Major Fantin +des Odoards, during the night had his suspicions +aroused about the enemy, and made a discovery; +but Vandamme would not listen to him.</p> + +<p>He was unable to sleep, says Major Fantin, +and, learning from a patrol that mysterious +sounds were being heard in the direction in +which the Austrians had retreated, he left the +bivouac and went out alone beyond the outposts, +to creep in the dark towards the Austrian +watch-fires. At times, as he crawled forward, +describes the major, he lay flat and listened with +his ear to the ground. In the end he felt certain +that he heard the tramp and stir of a vast number +of men, and also the rumble of artillery wheels +moving across the front. Apparently, from the +direction the unseen troops were taking, they were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">299</span> +marching to cut off the retreat of the army from +Dresden, Napoleon’s base of operations throughout +the campaign.</p> + +<p>Major Fantin returned to the bivouac and +went at once to report to the general, finding +him asleep. He aroused Vandamme and told +what he had heard and suspected; only, however, +to be rebuffed and rudely answered that he was +quite mistaken. Vandamme, a surly and ill-conditioned +boor to deal with at all times, +awoke in a vile temper. “You are a fool!” +was what he said in reply. “If the enemy are +on the move at all, they are in retreat, trying +to escape me. To-morrow will see them flying, +or my prisoners.” With that Vandamme terminated +the interview, and turned over and +went to sleep again.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HEMMED IN ON EVERY SIDE</div> + +<p>He found out his mistake all too soon. Daylight +disclosed dense swarms of Austrians, Prussians, +and Russians in front of Vandamme, on +his flanks, and closing on his rear; outnumbering +him nearly four to one. It was a desperate +position, for the only road by which Vandamme +might retreat was held by the enemy. Little +time was left to him to deliberate what to do. +He was in the act of forming up his columns +in a mass to try to fight his way through, when +the enemy attacked in overpowering force. +Before noon that day, out of 30,000 men, 10,000 +had fallen. Seven thousand more were wounded +or prisoners. The rest were fugitives, flying<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">300</span> +for shelter and hiding-places in the woods +round the battlefield. All the French guns +and baggage had been taken, and Vandamme +himself was a prisoner, together with many +officers of rank. The “annals of modern warfare +record few instances of defeat more complete +than that of Vandamme at Kulm.”</p> + +<p>The only regiment that kept its order was +the 17th, and it before the crisis had lost +heavily. Its colonel and two of the <i lang="fr">chefs de +bataillon</i> had been killed; the two others were +wounded. Only some 1,700 of the 4,000 men +remained. It rested with Major Fantin, as +senior officer, to save those that were left and +the Eagle.</p> + +<p>The 17th were on the extreme right of the +battle, where they had been posted as support +to Vandamme’s artillery. They held their +ground as long as possible, but the enemy closed +in on them, overlapping them on both flanks, +and then stormed and captured the guns. The +17th were isolated and in imminent peril—surrender +or destruction were the only alternatives +before them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“EN HAUT L’AIGLE!”</div> + +<p>Looking round, the major, as he describes, +marked a wooded hill some little way off, and +decided to make for that. There was just time +to get away before the enemy closed in on +them. He sent off all his tirailleurs, about +400 men, to skirmish and hold in check the +advancing Austrians. As they went off he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">301</span> +shouted to the rest: “En haut l’Aigle! +Ralliement au drapeau!” (“Display the Eagle! +All rally to the standard!”) The men of the +regiment formed round him quickly, and the +major pointed out the wooded hill to them with +his sword. “All of you disperse at once,” he +told them, “and make your way there as quickly +as you can. You will find the Eagle of the regiment +there, and me with it!” The 17th broke +up and scattered, and, under the protection of +the skirmishers, aided by the opportune mist +which hung low over the ground after the heavy +rains of the past week, they made off in groups +in the direction pointed out. All just got past +the enemy in time, Major Fantin and two +officers accompanying the Eagle.</p> + +<p>An hour later, “<i lang="fr">nos débris</i>,” as the major +puts it, were straggling up the hill, where they +again rallied round the Eagle. The skirmishers, +cleverly withdrawn at the right moment, evaded +the enemy also, and most of them joined their +comrades on the hill, where all silently drew +together. They then moved off, to halt for +concealment in a wooded glade behind. They +stayed there, keeping quiet and lying down +beside their arms, for several hours; off the +track of the pursuit, and undiscovered by the +enemy. “We were all very hungry and without +anything but what cartridges we had still +left.”</p> + +<p>At nightfall they moved away in the direction<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">302</span> +in which Dresden was judged to be, without +having a single map or anything to guide them. +They marched all night, mostly by a forest road, +and keeping their direction by means of occasional +glimpses of the stars seen through rifts +in the cloudy sky overhead. More than once +they had to halt as the enemy were heard on +the move not far off. They groped their way +forward with extreme caution, not a light being +struck, and the necessary words of command +being spoken in an undertone, until after midnight. +Then they suddenly came into the +open round a bend of the road, and discovered, +not half a mile off in front, the numerous watch-fires +of a large body of troops. “The column +halted at the sight like one man and stood in +absolute silence. Who were those in front of +us? Friends or the enemy?”</p> + +<p>Two scouts were sent forward to try to find +out. They were away for half an hour; an +interval of intense suspense and anxiety to the +others. At the end of the time the two scouts +came rushing back. They brought unexpectedly +good news. It was a French bivouac: that of +the 14th Army Corps—Marshal St. Cyr’s. So +the 17th and their Eagle were saved.</p> + +<p>Other Eagles that got away from the rout at +Kulm and rejoined the army owed their safety +to the determination of small groups of officers +and men who cut their way through the enemy. +“Officers fought with their swords, privates<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">303</span> +with their bayonets and the butts of their +muskets: and as the struggle was to escape +and not to destroy, a push and wrestle, or a blow, +which might suffice to throw the individual +struck out of the way of the striker, prevented +in many instances the more deadly thrust.” +Finally, as the 17th had done, they found +shelter among the woods and ravines of the neighbourhood, +and lay low there until the enemy +had moved off towards Töplitz, whereupon they +made their way to Dresden. The cavalry saved +their Eagles by cutting their way through the +enemy. They suffered heavy losses, but succeeded +in their effort. Their commander, +General Corbineau, “presented himself, wounded +and covered with blood, before Napoleon”; it +was his arrival that announced the disaster. +The Eagles of the 33rd and the 106th of the +Line taken at Kulm are at Vienna.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLE-TROPHIES OF LEIPSIC</div> + +<p>The three days of battle at Leipsic, between +October 16 and 19, 1813, cost Napoleon 60,000 +men in killed, wounded, and prisoners, and 300 +guns; but not more than 6 Eagles were among +the trophies of battalion-flags and squadron-colours +taken or found on the field, now at +Berlin, Vienna, and St. Petersburg.</p> + +<p>One Eagle was lost during the first day’s +fighting at Leipsic—taken on the 16th by +Blücher from Ney’s corps; but no others were +lost until the end. The 80,000 men who were +able to make good their retreat with Napoleon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">304</span> +across the bridge over the Elster before it was +prematurely blown up, through a non-commissioned +officer’s blunder, carried their Eagles +with them. What colour-trophies came into +the possession of the Allies were taken amid +the final scenes of carnage; from cut-off battalions +of the three divisions left behind on the right +bank of the river, victims of the destruction of +the bridge. They were mostly captured in the +ferocious hand-to-hand fighting which marked +the closing phase of the battle in the suburbs of +Leipsic. The French defended themselves there +to the last with the courage of despair among +the fortified villas and loopholed garden walls. +“Pressed upon by superior numbers, and +fighting, now in the streets, now in the houses, +now through gardens or other enclosures, the +single end which they could accomplish or which +in point of fact they seemed to desire, was that +they might sell their lives at the dearest rate +possible.” Two at least of the Eagles now at +Berlin were hastily buried in gardens during +the last stand, and were dug up there later when +the ground was being turned over.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AMIDST THE ROUT AT LEIPSIC</div> + +<p>Forced to give back before their ever-increasing +enemies, not a few of the French “preferred +death to captivity, and fought to the last. These, +retiring through by-lanes and covered passages, +made their way to the river, some where the +ruins of the bridge covered its banks, some above +and others below that point, and, plunging into<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">305</span> +the deep water, endeavoured to gain the opposite +shore by swimming, an attempt in which comparatively +few succeeded.”</p> + +<p>The three doomed divisions of Lauriston, +Regnier, and Poniatowski, who were cut off by +the blowing up of the bridge, had, as it happened, +not many Eagles among them to lose. They +were largely made up of newly raised conscript +regiments to whom Napoleon had not yet awarded +Eagles; regiments not yet entitled to carry +Eagles, according to the later regulations that +Napoleon had laid down. Only four of the newly +raised regiments altogether, so far during the +campaign in Germany, had qualified for the +honour. They had received their Eagles with +the customary ceremony at the hands of Napoleon: +three of them on October 15, the day +before the battle of Leipsic opened. The fourth +had received its Eagle at Dresden a month +earlier. Two of these four Eagles only were lost +to the enemy at Leipsic.</p> + +<p>The Eagle-bearers of four or five other regiments +among those cut off by the bridge disaster +tried to swim across the Elster with their Eagles. +Their fate is unknown; probably they were +drowned in the attempt. Other Eagle-bearers, +before surrendering, were seen to fling their +Eagles into the river to sink there.</p> + +<p>How one Eagle, during the battle on the 18th, +was momentarily lost, and then regained by a +splendid act of valour, is told by Caulaincourt,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">306</span> +who was on Napoleon’s staff, and witnessed the +gallant deed that won the Eagle back. In the +midst of the fighting, a number of Saxon regiments +abandoned Napoleon’s cause and went over <i lang="fr">en +masse</i> to the enemy. To signalise their defection +they turned on the nearest French regiment and +mobbed it; attacking it at close quarters with +the bayonet. Thrown into confusion by the +unexpected onslaught, the French were for the +moment broken and forced back, whereupon the +Saxons, making for the Eagle, got possession of +it. “A young officer of Hussars,” relates Caulaincourt, +“whose name I forget, rushed headlong +into the enemies’ ranks. In the charge some of +the miserable renegades had carried off one of +our Eagles. The gallant young officer rescued it, +but at the cost of his life. He threw the Eagle +at the Emperor’s feet, and then he himself fell, +mortally wounded and bathed in blood. The +Emperor was deeply moved. ‘With such men,’ +he exclaimed, ‘what resources does not France +possess!’”</p> + +<p>The regiments left by Napoleon to garrison +the fortresses in Germany, at Stettin, at Magdeburg, +Torgau, Dantzic, and elsewhere, previous +to surrendering took steps to prevent their +Eagles falling into the hands of their adversaries. +In every case they destroyed them, smashing the +Eagles into small fragments, which were either +distributed among officers and men, or else +thrown into the ditch of the fortress. In more<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">307</span> +than one case they melted the Eagles down, and +broke up and buried the metal, while the flags +were burned.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">KEPT FROM THE HANDS OF THE FOE</div> + +<p>At Dresden, where Marshal St. Cyr had to +surrender, a month after Leipsic, the terms +granted by the Austrian general conducting the +siege allowed the troops to return to France +with their arms, their baggage, and their Eagles, +seven in number. Superior authority, however, +cancelled the privilege. The garrison had already +started on their march when, to their utter consternation, +the capitulation was abruptly annulled +by the Austrian Generalissimo, Schwartzenberg, +with the result that the hapless troops were +compelled to yield themselves prisoners at discretion. +The soldiers were defenceless and could +only submit to their hard fate. They did not, +however, let their seven Eagles pass into the +enemy’s hands. Five of the seven were broken +up, and the flags torn to pieces and divided among +the regiments. Two of the Eagles, those of the +25th of the Line and the 85th, were concealed +intact by two officers, who kept them from discovery +for months, while they were prisoners in +Hungary. After the Peace, in the following +year, they brought them back to France—to +meet there the doom that awaited all the Eagles +of Napoleon of which the officials of the Bourbon +<i lang="fr">régime</i> got possession.</p> + +<p>One memento of the Winter Campaign in +Eastern France is now at the Invalides—the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">308</span> +Eagle of the 5th of the Line. It was found in +the river Aube at Arcis after the battle there, +which, in its result, decided the fate of Napoleon; +its outcome being the immediate march of the +Allied armies on Paris. The 5th was one of the +regiments of the rearguard column, under Oudinot, +half of which was drowned in the river in +trying to get across at night, after stubbornly +holding out in the town all the afternoon in +order to enable Napoleon to cross the river in +safety. The 5th was one of the regiments that +sacrificed themselves. Its Eagle-bearer was +among the drowned, and his Eagle sank with him. +It remained in the bed of the stream until long +afterwards, when it was accidentally discovered, +and fished up.</p> + +<p>The 132nd of the Line of the modern army of +France commemorates on its flag a feat of arms +done under the Eagle of the old 132nd of Napoleon’s +Army, after having been saved from the +Prussians at the Katzbach, and again at Leipsic. +It was in one of the fights in the closing campaign +in Eastern France. The proud legend inscribed +in golden letters, “Rosny, 1814: Un contre +huit,” commemorates how the regiment, single-handed, +held at bay and beat off an enemy eight +times its force, saving itself for the third time, +and its Eagle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE GRAND ARMY’S LAST PARADE</div> + +<p>The surviving Eagles of the war, the last +to face the enemy in the north of those presented +on the Field of Mars, paid their last salute to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">309</span> +War Lord at Napoleon’s final review of the +remnants of the Grand Army at Rheims on +March 15, 1814.</p> + +<p>A pitiful, a moving, sight was that hapless +military spectacle: the closing parade before +Napoleon of his last remaining soldiers.</p> + +<p>This is how Alison describes it: “How different +from the splendid military spectacles of the +Tuileres or Chammartin, which had so often +dazzled his sight with the pomp of apparently +irresistible power! Wasted away to half the +numbers which they possessed when they crossed +the Marne a fortnight before, the greater part of +the regiments exhibited only the skeletons of +military array. In some, more officers than +privates were to be seen in the ranks; in all, +the appearance of the troops, the haggard air +of the men, their worn-out uniforms, and the +strange motley of which they were composed, +bespoke the total exhaustion of the Empire. +It was evident to all that Napoleon was expending +his last resources. Besides the veterans of +the Guard—the iron men whom nothing could +daunt, but whose tattered garments and soiled +accoutrements bespoke the dreadful fatigue to +which they had been subjected—were to be +seen young conscripts, but recently torn from the +embraces of maternal love, and whose wan +visages and faltering steps told but too clearly +that they were unequal to the weight of the arms +they bore. The gaunt figures and woeful aspect<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">310</span> +of the horses, the broken carriages and blackened +mouths of the guns, the crazy and fractured +artillery wagons which defiled past, the general +confusion of arms, battalions, and uniforms, +even in the best appointed corps, spoke of the +mere remains of the vast military army which +had so long stood triumphant against the world +in arms. The soldiers exhibited none of their +ancient enthusiasm as they defiled past the +Emperor; silent and sad they took their way +before him: the stern realities of war had chased +away its enthusiastic ardour. All felt that in +this dreadful contest they themselves would +perish, happy if they had not previously witnessed +the degradation of France!”<a id="FNanchor_35" href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">35</a></p> + +<p>What is indeed the most interesting of all the +Eagles, the most famous battle-standard in the +world, which for a time was at the Invalides, is +at present preserved in private hands in Paris—the +Eagle of Napoleon’s Old Guard, the Eagle +of the “Adieu of Fontainebleau.” It is treasured +with devoted care in the family of the officer who +commanded the Grenadiers of the Guard in the +retreat from Moscow, at Fontainebleau, and at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">311</span> +Waterloo—General Petit. It is kept in the house, +in Paris, in which the old general died, in the +room he used as his <i lang="fr">salon</i>. General Petit refused +to be parted from the Eagle of his regiment +during his lifetime; he kept it with him wherever +he went, always in his personal care. It +was at the Invalides while General Petit was in +residence there as Governor of the Hospital.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE OLD GUARD AT FONTAINEBLEAU</div> + +<p>On that never-to-be-forgotten April forenoon +of 1814, in the Court of the White Horse of the +Château of Fontainebleau, Napoleon embraced +the standard, and taking the Eagle in his hands, +kissed it in front of the veteran Grenadiers of +the Old Guard. His travelling carriage, to convey +the fallen Emperor on the first stage of his +journey to Elba, was in waiting, close by, ready +to start. Twelve hundred Grenadiers of the +Guard stood with presented arms all round the +courtyard; drawn up in a great hollow square +as a guard of honour to render to the master +they adored the parting salute.</p> + +<p>Napoleon passed slowly round the square +and inspected the ranks, man by man, looking +intently into the scarred and war-worn, weather-beaten +old faces, each one of which was familiar +to him. Their station on every battlefield +had been close at hand to where he took up his +post. Night after night, in every campaign +from Austerlitz to those last dreadful weeks, +he had slept in their midst; his tent always +pitched in the centre of the camp of the Imperial<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">312</span> +Guard. That had been Napoleon’s invariable +custom in war. They had shared with him that +last forlorn-hope march to save Paris, until, +completely worn out and footsore, exhausted +nature forbade their attempting to go farther. +With tears streaming from their eyes the old +soldiers, before whose bayonets in the charge +no Continental foe had ever stood, mutely returned +Napoleon’s last wistful, pathetic look of +farewell.</p> + +<p>He addressed a few touching words to them, +standing in the centre of the square. Next he +turned to General Petit, near at hand, and +before them he took the general in his arms, +as representing all, and kissed him on the cheek. +“I cannot embrace you all,” exclaimed Napoleon +in a voice broken with emotion, yet which all +could hear distinctly, “so I embrace your +General!” Then he motioned to the Porte-Aigle, +standing all the while before him, with +the Eagle held in the attitude of salute.</p> + +<p>“Bring me the Eagle,” he said, “that I may +embrace it also!” “Que m’apporte l’Aigle, +que je l’embrasse aussi!” were Napoleon’s +words.</p> + +<p>The Porte-Aigle advanced and again inclined +the Eagle forward to the Emperor. Napoleon +took hold of it, embraced and kissed it three +times, tears in his eyes, and displaying the +deepest emotion.</p> + +<figure id="i_312" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 30em;"> + <img src="images/i_312.jpg" width="2388" height="1800" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>NAPOLEON’S FAREWELL TO THE OLD GUARD AT FONTAINEBLEAU.</p> + <p>From a print after H. Vernet, kindly lent by Messrs. T. H. Parker, 45, Whitcomb Street.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“Ah, chère Aigle,” he exclaimed, “que les<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">313</span> +baisers que je te donne retentissent dans la +postérité.”</p> + +<p>The Eagle-bearer then stepped back a pace.</p> + +<p>“Adieu, mes enfants! Adieu, mes braves! +Entourez moi encore une fois!” were Napoleon’s +closing words as the historic scene +terminated.</p> + +<p>The old soldiers all stood utterly broken +down, weeping bitter tears, overcome with +grief, as Napoleon made his way to the carriage; +the members of the Household bowing +low as he passed, and kissing his hand, were all +also in tears.</p> + +<p>Finally, amid a mournful cry of “Vive +l’Empereur!” Napoleon drove away.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ASHES MINGLED WITH WINE</div> + +<p>As soon as Napoleon’s carriage was beyond +the precincts, the Grenadiers of the Guard +solemnly lowered the Imperial Standard, flying +above the Château. There, in the courtyard, +they burned it. Then, mixing the ashes +in a barrel of wine that was brought out, they +handed round the liquor in bowls and drank off +the draught, pledging Napoleon with cries of +“Vive l’Empereur!” So it is related by one +who was an eye-witness and a partaker; one +of the officers of the Old Guard.</p> + +<p>Kept safely in concealment for ten months by +General Petit, during the Bourbon Restoration +period in 1814, the Eagle of the Old Guard +appeared once more after the return from Elba. +It faced the enemy for the last time at Waterloo.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">314</span> +Something of that will be said further on. +General Petit kept close beside it all through the +retreat, during that night of horror after Waterloo; +a faithful band of devoted veterans accompanying +him and surrounding the Eagle. So it +made its final return to France, to be preserved +for the rest of his life by the man who, above +all others, had most right to be custodian of +the Eagle of the Old Guard.</p> + +<p>The Bourbon War Minister ordered it to be +given up, to be burned at the artillery dépôt +at Vincennes with the other Eagles that the +Restoration officials were able to get hold of. +General Petit flatly and indignantly refused +to part with the Eagle of the Old Guard. He +was able, as before, to conceal it successfully, +in spite of every effort to discover its whereabouts, +until after the Revolution of 1830. +Then, at the last, it was safe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE FLAG OF THE OLD GUARD</div> + +<p>Faded and frayed away in parts, the gold +embroidery on it dulled and tarnished from the +lapse of years, and torn here and there round the +jagged bullet-holes in the silk, is now, in its old +age, the Flag of the Old Guard. As it was at +first—as it was when it made its débût at the +opening of its career, on that December afternoon +on the Field of Mars—the flag is of rich +crimson silk, fringed with gold, sprinkled over +on both sides with golden bees, and with, at the +corners, encircled in golden laurel-wreaths, the +Imperial cypher, the letter “N.” In shape<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">315</span> +it was—and of course is still—almost a square: +a metre deep, vertically, on the staff, and some +half-dozen inches more than that lengthwise, +horizontally, in the fly. On one side, in the +centre, the Napoleonic Eagle is displayed, a +gold embroidered Eagle poised on a thunderbolt. +Inscribed round the Eagle in letters of +gold is the legend:</p> + +<p class="center"> +“GARDE IMPÉRIALE<br><br> + +<span class="smcap">L’Empereur Napoléon</span><br> +<span class="smcap">au 1<sup>er</sup> Régiment des</span><br> +<span class="smcap">Grenadiers à Pied.</span>” +</p> + +<p>On the other side are inscribed these fifteen +names of Napoleon’s great days in war, also +in golden letters: “Marengo; Ulm; Austerlitz; +Jéna; Berlin; Eylau; Friedland; Madrid; +Eckmühl; Essling; Wagram; Vienna; Smolensk; +Moskowa; Moscow.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">316</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI<br> + +<span class="subhead">THAT TERRIBLE MIDNIGHT AT THE INVALIDES</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">The</span> Battalion Eagles of 1804, those of the +second and third battalions withdrawn by the +decree of 1808, together with the Light Cavalry +(Hussar, Chasseur, and Dragoon) Eagles recalled +in the autumn of 1805, and a number of Light +Infantry Eagles returned to the Ministry of War +at the end of 1807, perished in the flames +of the great holocaust of trophy-flags at the +Invalides on the night of March 30, 1814, the +night of the surrender of Paris to the Allies.</p> + +<p>It was on that tragic Wednesday night that +the great sacrifice was made, amid the bowed +and weeping old soldiers of France, the veterans +of a hundred battlefields, on the most terrible +and mournful occasion in the wide-ranging annals +of the great institution which the Grand +Monarque, in the full pride of his power, at the +topmost pinnacle of his renown, founded and +opened in person with grandiose martial pomp +and State display. All was over for France on +that <span class="locked">night—</span></p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indentq">“Around a slaughtered army lay,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">No more to conquer and to bleed:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">The power and glory of the war</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Had passed to the victorious Czar.”</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">317</span></p> +<p>The two marshals charged with the defence +of Paris, Marmont and Mortier, had on that +afternoon placed the submission of the capital +in the hands of Alexander of Russia on the +heights of Montmartre, whence, and from the +Buttes Chaumont and the other northern heights +from right to left, 300 loaded cannon pointed +threateningly down over the vanquished and +panic-stricken city, supported by the bayonets +and sabres of 120,000 men, Russians and +Prussians, Bavarians, Würtemburgers, and Austrians, +flushed and exultant in their hour of +supreme triumph, the soldiers of all the nations +of the Continent at war with Napoleon.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON WITHIN TWELVE MILES</div> + +<p>It was at ten o’clock on that fateful night for +France that the great destruction of trophies at +the Invalides took place. Napoleon had set +his last stake, had attempted his desperate last +manœuvre, and had failed. He had been foiled +and baffled when within reach almost of his goal. +At that very hour indeed, only twelve miles +away, he had just been stopped in his wild +midnight gallop, his final forlorn-hope effort to +reach the capital, by the news that all hope was +past, that the worst had happened, that Paris +had fallen.</p> + +<p>Only forty-eight hours before, on Monday night, +at Saint-Dizier, a small town 170 miles away, +had Napoleon suddenly realised the gravity +of the catastrophe impending over Paris. He +was at that moment in the act of dealing the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">318</span> +Allies a counter-stroke which he confidently +believed would save the situation and bring the +enemy’s advance to a general stand. Just a +week before, he had abruptly turned back in +his retreat towards the capital and had boldly +started to march across the rear of the Allies +in the direction of the Rhine. He would sever +their communications; he would cut the enemy +off from their base. Calling out the <i lang="fr">levée en +masse</i> of the peasantry all over Eastern France, +and at the same time rallying to him the garrisons +of the French fortresses in Alsace and +Lorraine, with 100,000 men at his disposal, +led by Ney, Macdonald, Victor, and Oudinot, +while two other marshals, Marmont and Mortier, +held the enemy at bay in front of Paris, he was +looking forward to checkmate the Allies at the +last moment and paralyse their advance on the +capital. It was a daring and masterly project; +but the Fortune of War was against Napoleon. +He had sent word of his plans to Marie Louise +at the Tuileries, together with instructions to his +brother Joseph, Governor of Paris, but on the +way a Cossack patrol captured the bearer of the +vitally important documents. Napoleon’s despatch +for once was not in cypher, and its full +import was apparent instantly. It was carried +to the Czar Alexander, and forthwith laid before +a hastily convened Russian council of war. +Another letter, taken at the same time, laid +bare the critical condition of affairs inside<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">319</span> +Paris itself; describing how all was in confusion +there, and that treachery to the cause +of the Empire was at work within the city. The +council of war decided to pay no heed to Napoleon’s +counter-stroke, and, instead, to march +at once on Paris in full force. Marmont and +Mortier, it was known, could barely muster +6,000 regulars. With Blücher’s Prussians, at +that moment on the point of joining them, the +Allies could bring into line not far short of +150,000 men. This final plan was agreed to +on the afternoon of Friday, March 24, and the +general advance began at once.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON’S BLANK DISMAY</div> + +<p>Napoleon knew nothing of what was happening +until late on the night of the 27th, the following +Monday. Then he was suddenly made aware +of the full position. “Nothing,” exclaimed the +doomed Emperor in blank dismay, “but a +thunderbolt can save us now.” The Allies +then had not turned back! The enemy nearest +him, whom he had planned to attack next day, +believing them to be the Russian main army, +was only—he discovered at the last moment—a +cavalry division, sent back to delude him and +prevent his finding out what was really going +on. And the troops advancing on Paris were +already three clear days ahead of him! Napoleon +counter-marched his whole force at once to +hasten to the rescue of the capital. They would +take the route by Sens, Troyes, and Fontainebleau, +making a sweep to keep clear of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">320</span> +enemy’s columns, and approach Paris by the +south bank of the Seine. It was a long march +of fully 180 miles, but there was no other +way open. Marmont and Mortier, to whom +the news of Napoleon’s intended approach was +sent off immediately, must manage to hold out +in front of the city on the north bank until the +Emperor arrived.</p> + +<p>Fresh news, however, and yet more serious, +as to the imminence of the grave peril threatening +Paris, reached Napoleon during Tuesday night. +Leaving the army to follow, he pressed forward +ahead of the troops by himself in his travelling-carriage, +escorted only by the Old Guard. They +hurried forward with feverish eagerness all that +night and the next day, the men of the Guard +panting along at the double in their effort to +keep up. With hardly a halt, they struggled +along, famishing—most of the men had tasted +no cooked food for the past five days—shoeless +most of them, plodding and splashing barefoot +through the mud, ankle deep; under a pitiless +downpour of rain all the time. By Wednesday +evening, the 30th, they had reached Troyes, after +a forty miles march without a stop. There, +still worse news reached Napoleon. Marmont +and Mortier had been disastrously defeated at +Meaux, and in consequence their defence of the +northern heights outside the city was all but +hopeless.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AT FULL GALLOP FOR PARIS</div> + +<p>Napoleon, on that, abandoned his travelling-carriage<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">321</span> +for a light post-chaise, which set off at +a gallop. He must now risk a ride practically +unattended, in the desperate hope of being +able to evade hostile patrols and get by stealth +into the city. Once there, he would himself +take charge of the defence. The men of the +Old Guard were left behind at Troyes. They +were worn out and unable, from sheer exhaustion, +to go a step farther. Only a troop of Cuirassiers +rode with the post-chaise, and most of these +had to give up and drop back as the chaise raced +forward, Napoleon himself from time to time +calling from the windows to the postillions to +keep on flogging the horses and go faster and +faster. At every stopping-place to change horses +the Emperor sent off a courier to tell Paris to +hold out; and at each post-house he received +still more alarming messages from the city. Now +he heard that the Empress and his little son had +had to fly from Paris. Then he learned that the +whole city was in a state of complete panic, with +affrighted peasants from all round crowding in; +the shops and banks all shut; the theatres closed, +a thing that had not happened even at the +height of the Reign of Terror; everywhere chaos +and hopeless despair. After that came the news +that the enemy were advancing so fast that +they were expected at any moment before the +City barriers.</p> + +<p>At ten o’clock Napoleon arrived at the village +of Fromenteau, near the Fountains of Juvisy,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">322</span> +twelve and a half miles from Paris. The post-chaise +had to stop there again for a relay of +fresh horses. As it drew up, a party of soldiers +passed by, coming from the direction of the +capital. Not knowing who was in the chaise, +some of them shouted out to the occupants, +Napoleon, and Caulaincourt, who had been riding +with the Emperor: “Paris has surrendered!”</p> + +<p>The dread news struck Napoleon like a bullet +between the eyes. “It is impossible! The +men are mad!” he hissed out, gripping at the +cushions of his seat. Then he turned to his +companion: “Find an officer and bring him +to me!”</p> + +<p>One rode up, as it happened, at that moment, +a General Belliard. Napoleon questioned him +eagerly, and he gave the Emperor sufficient +details to leave no doubt of what had befallen. +Great drops of sweat stood on Napoleon’s forehead. +He turned, quivering with excitement, +to Caulaincourt. “Do you hear that?” he +ejaculated hoarsely, fixing a gaze on his companion +under the light of the lamps, the bare +memory of which made Caulaincourt shudder +ever after to his dying day.</p> + +<p>They left the chaise, and looking across the +Seine Napoleon saw to the north and east, in +the direction of Villeneuve Saint-Georges, the glare +of the enemy’s watch-fires. Marshal Berthier +now came up in a second post-chaise which had +been following the Emperor’s. Speaking excitedly,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">323</span> +Napoleon declared that he would go +on to Paris. He set off walking rapidly along +the road in the dark, leaving the horses to be +put to and the post-chaise to pick him up. +Berthier and Caulaincourt attended him, and +General Belliard and some dragoons followed +at a few paces behind. Napoleon rejected +every remonstrance and refused to turn back. +“I asked them,” exclaimed Napoleon, talking +half to himself, half to his companions, “to hold +out for only twenty-four hours! Miserable +wretches! Marmont swore that he would be +cut to pieces rather than yield! And Joseph +ran away: my own brother! To surrender the +capital to the enemy: what poltroons!” So +he went on in a breathless torrent of words. +He added finally: “They have capitulated: +betrayed their country; betrayed their Emperor; +degraded France! It is too terrible! +Every one has lost his head! When I am not +there they do nothing but add blunder to +blunder.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“MISERABLE WRETCHES!”</div> + +<p>But to go on, with Paris in the hands of an +army of 150,000 men, was out of the question. +Napoleon had to bow to the inevitable. He +at length yielded to the protests of the others. +He stopped beside the Fountains of Juvisy. +“He sat down on the parapet of one of the +fountains,” described Labédoyère, an eye-witness, +“and remained above a quarter of an hour +with his head resting on his hands, lost in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">324</span> +most painful reflections.” Then he rose, went +back to the post-chaise, and, telling General +Belliard to rally all the men he could at Essonne, +set off to drive to Fontainebleau. He reached +there at six next morning.</p> + +<p>Between ten o’clock on Wednesday night and +six o’clock on Thursday morning the tragedy +at the Invalides was enacted. Its opening scene +took place just as Napoleon’s post-chaise was +drawing up in the village of Fromenteau. Its +final scene took place just as the post-chaise was +entering the courtyard of Fontainebleau.</p> + +<p>The Capitulation of Paris was signed before +the Barrier of La Villette at five in the afternoon. +Its first article laid down that the French army +must evacuate Paris within twelve hours: before +five o’clock next morning. The last clause recommended +the city to the mercy of the Allied +Sovereigns, and of the Czar Alexander in particular.</p> + +<p>All day long the booming of cannon and rattle +of musketry had dinned in the ears of the +trembling and terrified Parisians, ever steadily +drawing nearer. The marshals, Marmont and +Mortier, had made their last stand, and, resisting +desperately to the last, in a struggle in which +the Allies lost two to every one of the defenders, +so ferocious was the contest, had been beaten +back into the city. They carried back with +them, so gallantly had they counter-attacked +at one point, the standard of the Second Squadron<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">325</span> +of the Russian Garde du Corps—now a +trophy in the present collection at the Invalides.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">BEYOND ALL HOPE NOW</div> + +<p>The outnumbered and exhausted troops could +make no further fight, although, to the end, +many of the soldiers were for holding out to the +last cartridge. The <i lang="fr">Générale</i> had beaten to arms +at two in the morning; at six, with sunrise, the +enemy’s guns opened fire; from then until late +in the afternoon the fighting had gone on incessantly.</p> + +<p>All was over by four o’clock. From east to +west, from Charenton and Belleville, right round +to Neuilly, the Allies, the Russians, Blücher’s +Prussians, and the Austrians, had captured +every position capable of defence, one after the +other, by sheer weight of numbers, and had +carried at the point of the bayonet every place +of vantage held by the French. Woronzeff and +the Prince of Würtemburg had stormed Romainville, +La Villette, and La Chapelle. Langeron +and the Russian Imperial Guard were masters +of the heights of Montmartre and the Buttes +Chaumont, looking down directly on Paris. +Eighty-six guns had been taken from the +marshals since the morning; nearly six thousand +soldiers and National Guards had fallen, killed +or wounded, facing the foe. A six-miles long +line of batteries and battalions on the side of the +Allies had closed in to within short musket +range of the Paris barriers. Already the Russian +cannon were opening fire on the city, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">326</span> +their shells were bursting over the central streets +of Paris; falling, some in the Chaussée d’Antin +and on the Boulevard des Italiens.</p> + +<p>At four o’clock Marmont, who had been the +soul of the defence, fighting, now on horseback, +now on foot, using his sword at times—“the +marshal was seen everywhere in the thickest of +the fight, a dozen or more soldiers were bayoneted +at his side, and his hat was riddled with bullets”—at +four o’clock Marmont repassed within the +barriers to announce that further defence was +impossible. He was scarcely recognisable, we +are told—“he had a beard of eight days’ growth; +the great-coat which covered his uniform was in +tatters; from head to foot he was blackened with +powder-smoke.” Then had to be done the only +thing that was left to do. Marmont and Mortier +held a hasty conference, and after it a trumpeter +and an aide de camp carrying a white flag rode +out through the firing line to the nearest advanced +post of the Allies. The officer was taken before +the Czar Alexander on the plateau of Chaumont, +and Paris surrendered. The last sounds that +were heard on the French side as the firing +ceased came from a battalion of the Imperial +Guard which had been serving under Marmont, +from a scanty remnant of veterans stubbornly +resisting at bay to the last—shouts of “Vive +l’Empereur!”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE FLAG OF THE POLYTECHNIC</div> + +<p>The old pensioners of the Invalides manfully +did their duty, and bore their part in the defence<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">327</span> +all day, as well as they were able. All who +could carry a musket had gone out to the barriers; +others did their best by helping to bring +up ammunition. Most of them fought at the +Barrière du Trône on the Vincennes road, assisting +the brave lads of the Polytechnic School to +hold the post and man a battery of eight-and-twenty +cannon in front of the barrier; until a +headlong charge of Russian cavalry, Pahlen’s +dragoons with some Cossacks, swooped down +from the flank, annihilating the devoted band of +gunners. Those of the boys who were left, +however, saved the school flag, presented to the +Polytechnic just ten years before by the Emperor +with his own hand, on the Day of the +Eagles on the Field of Mars. With the Invalides’ +veterans and some of the National +Guards, the survivors held the barrier throughout +the day to the end, beating back repeated +attempts of the Russians to storm the gate. +The lads, finally, after learning that Marmont +had capitulated, made their way back to the +school, and there burned their precious standard +to save it from falling into the enemy’s hands. +Those who were left of the veterans hastened +back to the Invalides at the same time, overcome +with anxiety to learn what was to happen +to their own priceless treasures within the +Hospital, the trophy flags. There were at the +Invalides at that time, by one account, 1417 +trophy flags; according to another account—which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">328</span> +included apparently in the total the +returned Battalion and Light Infantry and +Cavalry Eagles—altogether 1,800 standards.</p> + +<p>Within the walls of the Invalides all was deep +gloom and hopeless despondency among those +in charge. Even at nightfall, as it would appear, +the authorities had not made up their minds +how the trophies were to be disposed of.</p> + +<p>It is a hapless and pitiful story from first to +last. Some time previously, while the Allied +armies were still being kept at bay on the plains +of Champagne, the Governor of the Invalides, old +Marshal Serrurier, a distinguished veteran of +the Revolutionary Army, had applied to the +Minister of War for instructions as to the disposal +of the trophies at the Invalides in the event of the +enemy advancing on Paris. The only answer he +received was a formal letter to the effect that the +matter would have to go before the Emperor. At +that time Napoleon was in the midst of his last +forlorn-hope attempt to stem the tide of invasion; +in the midst of a life-and-death struggle, fighting +desperately day after day at one place or another. +The Ministry of War apparently pigeon-holed +the application after that, and forgot all about +the trophies at the Invalides until the actual day +of the attack on Paris—until that Wednesday +forenoon.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">FORGOTTEN UNTIL TOO LATE</div> + +<p>Then, when already Marmont’s outer line of +defence had been forced, and the last fight for +the inner heights overlooking the city was raging<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">329</span> +furiously, almost within sight from the Invalides, +a letter from the War Minister was +handed to Serrurier. It “trusted that the +Marshal had taken steps for the safety of the +trophies; especially for the preservation of +Frederick the Great’s sword. The flags,” continued +the letter, “had best be detached from +their staves, and rolled up carefully. The War +Minister is sure that your Excellency will do all +that is possible. The road to the Loire is open.” +Such were the instructions sent to the Invalides +after the eleventh hour! Then, during the +afternoon, when the enemy’s bombshells, fired +from the plateau of Chaumont, were falling in the +heart of the city, a single artillery wagon, or +fourgon, a vehicle barely large enough to remove +a small percentage of what there was to carry +away, drew up at the main gates of the Invalides. +It brought also ten more trophy flags, collected +from somewhere in Paris. In the general confusion +nobody, it would seem, even inquired +what they were or where they came from. The +driver’s instructions were merely that “they +were to go away with the Invalides trophies.” +The ten flags were taken out and stacked in a +corridor for the time being, while the fourgon +waited unheeded at the gate until after dark.</p> + +<p>What steps Marshal Serrurier took during the +afternoon to secure adequate transport is unknown; +or, indeed, what he did with himself all +that time. The Governor was seen just before<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">330</span> +the dinner-hour in the Corridor d’Avignon, in +an out-of-the-way part of the building, in conference +with the Lieutenant-Governor and an +adjutant-major. Another officer, Adjutant Vollerand, +was with them, holding in his hands +Frederick the Great’s sword and sash. Apparently +they did not want to be observed, and +were discussing how to hide the relics or bury +them within the precincts of the Invalides. +After that nothing more was seen of Serrurier +at the Invalides until between nine and ten at +night, some hours after the Capitulation, and +when it had become known that the Allies intended +to occupy Paris in force, and that their +troops would enter and take possession of the +city early next morning. Then the Governor +reappeared.</p> + +<p>A few minutes after nine o’clock the veterans +of the Invalides, who had been restlessly pacing +about the halls and corridors during the evening, +or standing about in dejected groups in the courtyards, +not knowing what they were to do, were +suddenly summoned to muster at once in the +Grand Court, or Cour d’Honneur. All turned out +from the wards and paraded, forming up by +the light of lanterns. All but those who were +bedridden were brought out, the maimed and +cripples being led out, or hobbling out on their +crutches, together with the survivors of those +who had fought so gallantly at the barriers +during the day, their faces still begrimed with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">331</span> +powder-smoke, their clothes torn and stained, +some without their hats, their arms in slings, or +with bandages over recent wounds. Then the +tall, spare figure of the Governor, a grim, hard-featured +old warrior, white-haired, over seventy +years of age, was seen emerging from his quarters, +with the senior staff-officers of the Hospital +following in rear. Serrurier harangued the +pensioners briefly. He told them that the +enemy would enter the city next day and would +present themselves at the Invalides to enforce +the giving up of the trophies. What did the +men of the Invalides desire should be done?</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“LET US BURN THEM HERE!”</div> + +<p>There was a pause for a moment; a dead +silence, as the old soldiers gazed dumbfoundedly +at one another. Then one man stepped out to +the front and spoke up for the rest. A battle-scarred +old sergeant-pensioner of the Grenadiers +of the Old Guard answered the Governor +on behalf of his comrades, his reply, greeted as +it was by vociferous shouts of approval on +every side, voicing the unanimous wish of the +veterans. “If they will not let us keep our +banners, let us burn them here! We will +swallow the ashes!” The order to make a +bonfire of the trophies then and there was issued +forthwith.</p> + +<p>Anything that came to hand for fuel was +eagerly seized, and a great pile speedily made of +broken-up stools and mess-tables and forms, +hauled out from the barrack-rooms withindoors.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">332</span> +They were stacked in a heap just in front of +the pedestal on which it had been intended +to erect an equestrian statue of the heroic +Marshal Lannes, who died from his wounds at +Aspern in the arms of Napoleon. Meanwhile, +parties of men ran inside with ladders, and set +to work to strip the dining-halls and the Chapel +of the rows of flags hanging up there. They bore +them outside, roughly bundled together in their +arms; some, silently, with frowning, stern-set +faces and set teeth; others beside themselves +with rage, and cursing savagely aloud; others +sullenly muttering oaths; not a few of the old +fellows with tears streaming down their cheeks. +They carried the trophies out and heaped them +up into an immense funeral pyre. The battalion +and other Eagles shared the fate of the captured +trophies—standards, some of these, that had +been borne under fire in the thick of triumphant +battle at Austerlitz, and Jena, at Auerstadt +and Friedland—to save them on the morrow +from falling into the hands of those in whose +defeat and humiliation they had had their part. +The fire was lighted and the masses of tattered +silk blazed up furiously. When the flames +were at their fiercest, Marshal Serrurier stepped +forward and with his own hand flung into the +midst of the fiery mass the sword of Frederick +the Great.</p> + +<p>For half the night the veterans stood round and +watched the flames complete the work of destruction.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">333</span> +They stood massed round in a densely +packed throng of sullen, gloomy, brokenhearted +men. They stayed there until long after midnight, +gazing, in a state of dull despair, at the +fire; while some now and again stirred up the +glowing fuel and made the flames leap up afresh, +roaring and crackling and casting a dull red +throbbing glare over the old walls and rows of +windows all round, and gleaming on the lofty +gilded dome of the Invalides, in itself an intended +memento of victory. On first seeing the golden +domes of the Kremlin as he approached Moscow, +Napoleon had sent orders to Paris to have the +dome of the Invalides gilded as a memorial of +his achievement of the goal of the campaign! +Most of the veterans stood there throughout +the greater part of that cold March night, +watching until the fire had died down and only +a great heap of smouldering cinders remained; +all that was left of the trophies of victorious +France.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE TROPHIES OF TWO CENTURIES</div> + +<p>Among the vast array of foreign trophies at +the Invalides that perished on that night were +English flags nearly two centuries old, the remains +of the spoil of some forty-four English +banners of Charles the First’s soldiers, triumphantly +carried to Paris from the Ile de Rhé +in November 1627 and hung in Notre Dame. +Others flags destroyed there, too, dated from the +wars of the Grand Monarque; spoils won on +the battlefield by the famous Condé and Turenne;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">334</span> +also trophies taken from William the Third at +Steenkirk and Landen and elsewhere; the +British and Dutch and Danish and Bavarian +ensigns won by Turenne’s great successor, +Marshal Luxembourg, “le Tapissier de Notre +Dame,” as they dubbed him at Versailles, for +the almost innumerable trophies sent by Luxembourg +to be hung up in the Cathedral of Paris, +with State processions and Te Deums in the +presence of the King. Other British battle-spoils, +the trophies of France, which passed out +of existence at the Invalides on that night were +these: a flag taken at Fontenoy by the Irish +Brigade; the regimental colours surrendered +by the garrison of Minorca which Admiral +Byng failed to rescue; those of another British +garrison of Minorca of the time of the Great +Siege of Gibraltar, when France, for the second +time, wrested the island from England; four +British and Hessian regimental flags surrendered +to Washington at Yorktown and sent +by Congress as a gift to the King of France; +flags taken by the French from British West +India garrisons in the same war; besides British +naval ensigns also taken during the American +War, with other British ship-flags, some of which +indeed dated from the earlier battle times of +Duguay Trouin and Jean Bart. Destroyed at +the Invalides also on that Wednesday night +was a British naval ensign from Trafalgar. It +had been hoisted on board one of Nelson’s prizes,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">335</span> +the <i lang="fr">Algéciras</i>. In the storm after the battle +the ship was in imminent peril of wreck, and the +French prisoners on board were liberated in +order to help to save her. They used their +freedom to overpower the small British prize-crew +and carried the vessel off into Cadiz, whence +the British ensign, hoisted originally in triumph +over the French tricolor during the battle of +two days before, on the <i lang="fr">Algéciras</i> being captured, +was sent as a trophy to Paris. There were +also destroyed at the Invalides at the same +time the ensign of Lord Cochrane’s famous +brig-of-war, the <i>Speedy</i>, captured in the Mediterranean +in 1801, and those of three British line-of-battle +ships, the <i>Berwick</i>, the <i>Swiftsure</i>, and +the <i>Hannibal</i>, taken within the previous twenty +years.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SPOILS TAKEN IN NAVAL FIGHTS</div> + +<p>Most of the trophies won by Napoleon and the +Grand Army all over Europe, and by the Armies +of the Republic and Consulate before that, +perished in the holocaust: the spoils of Valmy +and Fleurus and Jemmapes; of Hohenlinden; +of Dego and Mondovi; of Rivoli and Montenotte; +of Castiglione, Lodi, and Arcola; of +Zurich and Marengo, and other victories. On +that night, too, passed out of existence the +famous flag of the Army of Italy presented by +Napoleon, and bearing inscribed on it the names +of eighty triumphs on the battlefield and the +detailed record of the taking of 150,000 prisoners, +170 standards, 550 siege-guns, and 600 pieces<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">336</span> +of field artillery; the Horse-tail banners of the +Mamelukes, taken by Napoleon at the battle +of the Pyramids; the historic standard of the +Knights of St. John, won in hand-to-hand fight +outside the main gate of Valetta. Most of +the 340 Prussian standards Napoleon sent to +Paris after the Jena campaign, together with +the sword and Black Eagle sash of Frederick +the Great, as well as the recovered French +trophies of the Seven Years’ War, originally +won by Frederick at Rosbach, the standards +of Frederick the Great’s Guards, and Austrian +spoils taken by the Prussians at Leuthen, Kolin, +and Hohenfriedburg, all of which had been +carried off to Paris by Napoleon—these were +among the war-treasures destroyed at the Invalides +on that night. With them went into +the flames the Grand Army’s Russian trophies +from Eylau and Friedland, the Austrian trophies +from Eckmühl and Wagram, besides many +Spanish and Portuguese trophies taken before +Wellington landed in the Peninsula to turn the +tide of war.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AFTER DUPONT’S SURRENDER</div> + +<p>One French Eagle which perished on that +night was the survivor of a disaster: Dupont’s +surrender at Bailen in Andalusia in 1808,<a id="FNanchor_36" href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">36</a> at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">337</span> +the outset of the Spanish insurrection; that +cruel humiliation for the arms of France, the news +of which came on Europe with all the startling +effect of a thunderclap, and drove Napoleon +nearly frantic in his furious indignation. It had +been one of three Eagles taken by the Spaniards, +that of the 24me Légère, and had been recovered +by the daring of an officer of the regiment, one +of the prisoners, Captain Lanusse. Confined in a +prison-hulk at Cadiz, he escaped to shore one +night, managed to find out where his regiment’s +flag was kept, displayed as a Spanish trophy, got +hold of it, and then made his way outside the city +into the lines of the besieging French army. +There he presented the Eagle to Marshal Soult,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">338</span> +who forwarded it direct to Napoleon. Lanusse, +as his reward, was promoted a <i lang="fr">chef de bataillon</i> +of the 8th of the Line, and fell to the bayonet of +a British soldier of the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers +at Barrosa. The recovered Eagle Napoleon +sent to the Invalides.</p> + +<p>By morning all that remained of the proud +trophies of France at the Invalides was a heap +of grey ashes, fragments of charred flag-poles, +and scraps of partly molten metal. The <i lang="fr">débris</i> +was raked up at daylight, and shovelled into the +artillery fourgon of the previous afternoon, +which had been standing all night outside the +main gate of the Invalides. The artillery wagon +drove off with it to the Seine near by and emptied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">339</span> +the heap into the river. That was the end of +the night’s destruction.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ALL THAT WAS DREDGED UP</div> + +<p>Some portion of the <i lang="fr">débris</i> was recovered from +the Seine a year afterwards, and is preserved in +the Chapel of the Invalides now. In June +1815 a workman, doing some repairs by the +riverside, discovered a portion of a flag under +water, and on hearing of that, two patriotic +young Frenchmen, an engineer and a journalist, +privately set to work soon afterwards to see +if they could fish up anything that might be +worth preserving. At the time the Allies were in +possession of Paris, during the second occupation, +after Waterloo, and the two young men +had to proceed cautiously. They were successful +in the end in recovering portions of 183 trophies, +metal spear-head ornaments, from ensign-staves +mostly. Seventy-eight were later identified as +of Austrian origin; one as part of a British flag; +two as having belonged to Russian standards; +various fragments as the remains of thirty-nine +Prussian standards; four from Spanish flags +with Bourbon fleurs-de-lis; and two fragments +of Turkish standards from Egypt. The +remainder of the salvage it was impossible to +identify.</p> + +<p>That the great sacrifice had not been made in +vain, was speedily apparent. In the course of +the morning after the bonfire, a little before noon +on Thursday, March 31, within two hours of the +entry into Paris of the vanguard of the Allied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">340</span> +armies, a Russian aide de camp presented himself +at the Invalides, and, in the name of the +Allied sovereigns, demanded a statement of the +trophies kept there. The officer came up on +horseback, accompanied by a mounted man of +the National Guard, and an armed escort of +Russian dragoons. The main gate was open as +usual, and the Russian officer rode through without +taking notice of the gate-sentry’s challenge. +He was only stopped by a rush of the pensioners’ +day-guard, called out by the sentry’s shout of +alarm—“Aux armes!” The guard turned out +and faced the aide de camp with lowered halberds. +The Russian colonel protested, but the +officer on duty refused to let him pass without +orders from his own chief, and General Darnaud, +the Lieutenant-Governor, was sent for. That +officer came, and the Russian dismounted and +explained his mission. He had orders, he said, +to “take cognisance” of the trophies of the +Invalides. General Darnaud replied bluntly: +“Very good, I will permit you to visit the Hôtel. +Come with me!” The general added: “As to +the trophies, sir, we have dealt with them according +to the laws of war!” “On en avait agi +suivant les lois de guerre!” were his words. The +Russian did not seem to grasp the general’s +meaning, and stood still for a moment, staring +blankly at him. On that, Madame Darnaud, the +Lieutenant-Governor’s wife, who had followed +into the courtyard immediately after her husband,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">341</span> +interposed. She addressed the officer, +speaking volubly and angrily, but only to draw +down on herself from the Russian the uncivil +rejoinder that he had not come there to talk to +a woman! After that, the general, accompanied +by some of the men of the main guard +with shouldered halberds, formally conducted +the officer inside the Invalides, the party taking +their way along the colonnade round the Court +of Honour, in the midst of which could be seen +the wide burnt-out space where the fire had been, +the pungent smell of the fumes from which +still hung about the place, and so into the Chapel +of St. Louis. There the scene that met the +Russian aide de camp’s eyes seemed to stagger +him: bare blank walls, the gallery stripped and +defaced; with empty and broken metal sockets +here and there to show where the flags had been +fastened up. The interior had been entirely +cleared from end to end along the sides. It was +absolutely unrecognisable to any who had seen +it before. The Russian officer, who had visited +the Invalides six or seven years previously, after +Tilsit, could only gaze round dumbly, utterly +taken aback. He muttered something, but did +not speak aloud. Then, glaring round savagely +into the eyes of those about him, he turned away +abruptly, and was conducted to the Outer Court, +where he remounted his horse, and rode off +hastily in the direction whence he had come.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE WALLS STRIPPED AND BARE</div> + +<p>All Napoleon’s trophies, however, did not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">342</span> +perish at the Invalides. Some of the Grand +Army’s captured flags, as it so chanced, escaped +destruction on that night, and are at the Invalides +now. They are in the Chapel and in the Salle +Turenne, besides half a hundred in the Crypt, +grouped round Napoleon’s tomb. The forty-five +Austrian flags taken at Ulm are beside Napoleon’s +tomb, with nine other flags. Presented +by the Emperor to the Senate, as has been told, +the Ulm trophies, during the night of March 30, +were hastily taken down from where they had +been hung in the Grand Salon for the past nine +years, and hidden in a vault below. They made +a second public appearance on the occasion of +Napoleon’s funeral at the Invalides in 1840, when +they were placed at the head of the coffin. They +have ever since been kept beside the tomb.</p> + +<p>The Austerlitz trophies met another fate. +Kept at Notre Dame, they disappeared mysteriously +from there in the early morning of the +day of the entry of the Allies into Paris. At +three in the morning of March 31 an urgent message +from the Prefect of the Seine was delivered +at Notre Dame, calling on the Cathedral authorities +to take down and conceal the Austerlitz +trophies at once. The Chapter met hastily in +the Archbishop’s room, and the flags were all +down within half an hour. They have never +been seen since, nor was their fate ever accounted +for.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HOW FIFTY-ONE FLAGS WERE SAVED</div> + +<p>At the Luxembourg Palace were displayed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">343</span> +110 trophies, the spoils of the Eagles, won from +all the nations of Europe and presented to +the <i lang="fr">Corps Legislatif</i> by Napoleon. They were +safely removed on the night of March 30, and +were hidden securely. Brought out and set up +again a year later, on Napoleon’s return from +Elba, the authorities forgot about hiding them +again in the confusion after Waterloo. As the +result more than half of them are now in Berlin. +Blücher sent a party of staff officers to seize the +entire collection, but a sharp-witted functionary +hoodwinked the Prussians on their arrival. +They went back to get written orders, and before +they returned, as many as possible of the trophies +had been pulled down and got out of the way. +One of the attendants managed the affair on +his own initiative, a hall-porter named Mathieu. +He was able to save and hide as many as fifty-one +of the flags, and they have since been forwarded +to the Invalides. The other fifty-nine trophies +the Prussians seized and carried off. Two +Austrian standards taken by Napoleon at +Marengo escaped destruction by having been +previously lent from the Invalides to an artist, +Charles Vernet, for a battle-picture he had been +commissioned to paint for Napoleon. They +were in Vernet’s studio in March 1814. His +son, Horace Vernet, returned them in later days +to the Invalides, where they now are.</p> + +<p>In addition, it would seem, at least a moiety +of the Invalides trophies were kept back at the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">344</span> +last moment by some of the veterans themselves. +Several of the old soldiers, it would +appear, after stripping down the flags from the +walls, instead of carrying all out into the courtyard +to the bonfire, retained and hid a few of +them on their own account, to smuggle them +outside afterwards and keep them in concealment.<a id="FNanchor_37" href="#Footnote_37" class="fnanchor">37</a></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">345</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII<br> + +<span class="subhead">THE EAGLES OF THE LAST ARMY</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">The</span> Eagles came back to France with the +return of Napoleon from Elba; to lead the last +Army to the campaign of the Hundred Days.</p> + +<p>They “flew from steeple to steeple across +France,” in Napoleon’s expressive phrase, +“from the shores of Fréjus until they alighted +on the towers of Notre Dame.” The enthusiasm +that greeted their reappearance spread like +wild-fire; it blazed up like an exploding magazine. +The rapturous acclamation and enthusiasm +with which the Eagles were welcomed +back was the measure of the prevailing +discontent and resentment among the soldiers +at the harsh and unworthy treatment they had +received during the ten months of the restored +<i lang="fr">régime</i>.</p> + +<p>The Army had come off badly by its change +of masters. The Bourbons had done all in their +power to alienate its regard; as much through +malice in not a few cases, as through downright +stupidity.</p> + +<p>“Of all the institutions of France the most +thoroughly national and the most thoroughly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">346</span> +democratic was the Army; it was accordingly +against the Army that the <i lang="fr">noblesse</i> directed its +first efforts. Financial difficulties made a large +reduction in the forces necessary. Fourteen +thousand officers and sergeants were accordingly +dismissed on half-pay; but no sooner had this +measure of economy been effected than a multitude +of emigrants who had served against the +Republic in the army of the Prince of Condé or +in La Vendée were rewarded with all degrees +of military rank.... The tricolor, under which +every battle of France had been fought from +Jemmapes to Montmartre, was superseded by +the white flag of the House of Bourbon, under +which no living soldier had marched to victory.... +The Imperial Guard was removed from +service at the Palace, and the so-called Military +Household of the old Bourbon monarchy revived, +with the privileges and the insignia +belonging to the period before 1775.”</p> + +<p>The abolition of the Eagles was the preliminary +step of all. A justifiable measure, no +doubt, from a political point of view, it touched +to the quick the military instinct of the nation. +And on that followed the abolition of the national +tricolor in favour of the old Bourbon white flag.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">EVERY ONE TO BE DESTROYED</div> + +<p>Within three weeks of the Farewell of Fontainebleau +the Eagles of the Army, with the +tricolor standards, were officially proscribed; +the order went forth to send them to Paris +forthwith for destruction in the furnaces of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">347</span> +artillery dépôt at Vincennes. On May 12 it +was notified that the white Bourbon flag was +again to be the standard of the Army, with a +brass fleur-de-lis at the head of the colour-staff +in place of the Eagle.</p> + +<p>Every regiment was required to send its Eagle +to the Ministry of War in Paris on receipt of the +order. No allowances or exceptions were made; +although in several instances officers urgently +petitioned to be allowed to retain their Eagles +with the corps, if only as mementoes of feats of +arms achieved by the regiments in battle. +Every request was rejected, whatever the circumstances. +There were reasons of State policy +no doubt, as has been said, against the general +retention as regimental standards of military +insignia so intimately associated with Napoleon; +but in certain instances, at least, indulgence +might reasonably have been extended to the +applications. There were personal and romantic +associations connected with some of +the Eagles, specially endearing them to the +soldiers, for which privilege might well have been +accorded. One very hard case may be cited +as typical of others: that of the Eagle of the +25th of the Line.</p> + +<p>The Eagle of the 25th had been carried under +fire in some twenty battles and all through the +Moscow campaign; and had notable battle-scars +to show for its distinguished services. One +leg and one wing of the Eagle had been shot<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">348</span> +away in action, and there were five bullet-holes +in its metal body. Its maimed appearance, +indeed, had attracted Napoleon’s attention at +a review, and he had stopped while riding +past the regiment and taken the Eagle into his +hands, examining it with extreme interest and +putting his fingers into the bullet-holes, finally +returning it to the Porte-Aigle with a deep bow +of respect. The regiment almost worshipped +their Eagle on its own account, for what it had +gone through; but it had further undergone +yet more surprising adventures. The 25th had +been in the garrison of Dresden in 1813 when +Marshal St. Cyr had to capitulate to the Austrians. +On the night before the surrender the +Eagle-staff was broken up and burned, and the +few strips of ragged silk that remained of the +shot-torn regimental tricolor flag were tied +under an officer’s uniform for secret conveyance +out of the city. The shattered Eagle broke in +two while being removed from its staff, and its +two fragments were concealed under the petticoats +of two vivandières who were to convey it +in that manner to the regimental dépôt in France. +Under the capitulation the garrison was granted +the honours of war and a safe-conduct back to +France. The terms, however, were annulled +by the Allied Sovereigns then advancing, after +Leipsic, to invade France, and in the outcome all +the regiments, after they had started for France, +were made prisoners and marched away to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">349</span> +interned in Hungary. The major of the 25th +got back the two fragments of the Eagle, stowed +them away under his uniform, and kept them +about him by day and night for five months; +until finally, on his release after Napoleon’s +abdication, he brought the Eagle back across +the Rhine, “wrapped up like contraband.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“SEND IT TO PARIS FORTHWITH!”</div> + +<p>On the 25th receiving the order to send in its +Eagle for destruction, he wrote personally to +the Minister of War—General Dupont, of Bailen +notoriety, as has been said—who had never +forgiven Napoleon’s harsh usage of him, and now +took every opportunity of paying back old scores +on the heads of his former comrades in arms. +The major wrote setting forth in detail the story +of the regimental Eagle, relating its exceptionally +interesting career and its battle damages, +also how he had preserved it after Dresden, and +implored the War Minister, in the name of the +regiment, that they might retain the two fragments +to be kept in the regimental “Salle +d’Honneur” as an honoured relic. The reply +was a peremptorily worded command to send +the Eagle to Paris forthwith for destruction +with the other Eagles of the Army. The major, +in the circumstances, considered himself compelled +to comply. He summoned the officers to +his quarters, where they “paid their last adieux +to the object of veneration, and then, in their +presence, the Eagle fragments were packed in a +box, and despatched to the Ministry of War.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">350</span></p> + +<p>The story, with others to the same effect, went +the round of every barrack-room in France, and +wherever it was told, there were angry murmurings +and increased discontent.</p> + +<p>By no means all the Eagles of the Army, it +would appear, were given up to the authorities +in Paris. Not a few colonels flatly refused to +comply with Dupont’s order, taking the risk +of prosecution or of being turned out of the +service summarily—a certainty in any event +under the new <i lang="fr">régime</i>, as the majority of the +senior regimental officers anticipated, and as +actually came to pass. General Petit of the +Grenadiers of the Old Guard, as has already been +said, refused to give up that famous Eagle, and +concealed it successfully; and not a few other +officers did the same with the Eagles of their +corps. Others destroyed their regimental Eagles +and either burned the silken tricolor flags, or +cut them up; dividing the ashes or fragments +among their comrades.</p> + +<p>Their Eagles taken away, it was next made +known to the Army, that the “battle honours” +and war distinctions of the various corps, won +under Napoleon, would not appear on the new +regimental flags when issued. “Austerlitz,” +“Jena,” “Friedland,” and the other names of +pride to the Grand Army, were henceforward to +be erased from military recognition. The new +flags, when publicly distributed in September +1814, showed each a blank white field, with on it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">351</span> +only an oval shield, bearing the three fleurs-de-lis, +the Royal Bourbon cognisance, and the name +of the corps—its new name, revived from Army +Lists of the Old Monarchy, a name long since +forgotten and totally unfamiliar.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NO MORE REGIMENTAL NUMBERS</div> + +<p>The regimental numbers of the Grand Army, +ennobled by glorious campaigns, immortalised +by their associations of victory and brilliant +feats of arms, instinct with a renown acquired on +a hundred battlefields all over Europe, were at +the same time done away with by a stroke of the +War Minister’s pen. That proved the most +unpopular measure of all; the cruellest of blows +to the <i lang="fr">esprit de corps</i> and pride of the former +soldiers of Napoleon. It was felt as a gratuitous +insult; it was perhaps the most deeply resented +injury of all. In future, in place of their treasured +regimental numbers, the various corps of the +Army, horse and foot, were to be known by +departmental or territorial names—meaningless +to nine soldiers out of ten, and without traditions—or +else by the names of royal princes and princesses, +and titled personages, remembered only, +some of them, as having fled on the battlefield +before the national armies. Bercheney and +Chamborant Hussars, Orléans Dragoons and +Chasseurs, Regiments d’Artois, de Berri, d’Armagnac, +d’Angoulême, de Monsieur, d’Anjou, +and so forth—what traditions had designations +such as these to compare with, to mention in the +same breath with, the traditions immortally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">352</span> +associated with the numbers, familiar as household +words wherever French soldiers met together, +of the dragoon and chasseur regiments which +Murat had led at Austerlitz, of the dashing +hussars of Lassalle, of the cuirassiers whose +resistless onset had swept the field at Jena, of +the horsemen at the sight of whose sabres before +their gates Prussian fortresses had surrendered +at discretion? It came with a sense of personal +degradation, as a sort of desecration on the +men of regiments like the 75th of the Line, or the +32nd, the 9th Light Infantry or the 84th, or the +35th, or “Le terrible 57me”—to be labelled and +hear themselves officially addressed on parade +as “Beauvoisis” or “Auxerre” or “Nivernais,” +by the name of some prosaic locality, or the +style of some ancient aristocrat, their titular +colonel.<a id="FNanchor_38" href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">38</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">353</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">AT THE HEAD OF THE “ELBA GUARD”</div> + +<p>Napoleon announced the return of the Eagle +in his first address to the Army, sent off on his +landing to be distributed broadcast among the +soldiers. “Come and range yourselves under +the banners of your chief.... Victory shall +march at the <i lang="fr">pas de charge</i>: the Eagle with the +national colours shall fly from steeple to steeple +to the towers of Notre Dame!”</p> + +<p>The first of the regimental Eagles to make its +appearance in France accompanied Napoleon +from Elba and landed with him. It was the +Eagle of the six hundred veterans of the Old +Guard who, as the “Elba Guard,” had volunteered +to share Napoleon’s exile, and had formed +his personal escort. It figured in the historic<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">354</span> +scene at Grenoble a week after the landing, where +Napoleon, on meeting the first soldiers sent to +arrest his advance, by the magic of his presence +and the sight of the Eagle borne behind him, so +dramatically won over to his side the former +5th of the Line, the first regiment of the Army to +throw in its lot with Napoleon after Elba. The +Eagle that had its part on the historic occasion—with +its silken tricolor flag, embroidered with +silver wreaths and scrollery, and golden bees, +crowns and Imperial cyphers, and inscribed +“L’Empereur Napoléon à la Garde Nationale de +l’Ile Elba”—is now in private possession in +England. It fell by some means into the hands +of a Prussian soldier at the occupation of Paris<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">355</span> +after Waterloo and was sold a few weeks later to +a visitor to Paris. In the dramatic scene of the +meeting of Napoleon with the 5th of the Line, +General Cambronne, Commander of the Elba +Guard, bore the Eagle a few paces behind +Napoleon and held it up appealingly to the +regiment.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“LET ANY WHO WISHES—FIRE!”</div> + +<p>The 5th of the Line, says one story, vouched +for by an eye-witness, was marching out to block +a narrow gorge through which ran the road +Napoleon was known to be taking. At some +little way off, his party was seen approaching, he +himself being readily recognised by his small +cocked hat and <i lang="fr">redingote gris</i>. Immediately the +men were formed up across the road, and, as +Napoleon came nearer, they were ordered to +make ready and present. They did so: the +muskets came up and were levelled. Then came +a pause; dead silence; an interval of breathless +suspense. Napoleon’s own action decided the +issue. Stepping rapidly forward, opening and +throwing back his great-coat as he did so, he +called aloud to the regiment: “Soldats, voilà +votre Empereur! Que celui d’entre vous qui +voudra le tuer, faire feu sur lui!” (“Soldiers, here +is your Emperor! Let any one who wishes to +kill him fire on him!”) A Royalist officer +hastily called out the order: “Le voilà! donnez +feu, soldats!” But not a shot came. The next +instant, with shouts of “Vive l’Empereur!” the +soldiers lowered their muskets, broke their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">356</span> +ranks, and rushed forward to surround Napoleon +and welcome him in a frenzy of enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>According to another story, this is what took +place. Before the word “Fire!” could be given, +Napoleon had stepped forward, close up to the +muzzles of the levelled muskets. With a smile +on his face he began in his usual colloquial, +familiar way when talking to the men: “Well, +soldiers of the 5th, how are you all? I am come +to see you again: is there any one of you who +wishes to kill me?” Shouts came in reply of +“No, no, Sire! certainly not!” The muskets +went down; Napoleon passed along the ranks, +inspecting the men just as of old; after that the +regiment faced about, took the lead of the party, +and, with Napoleon in the middle and the “Elba +Guard” bringing up the rear, all marched on +towards Grenoble.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">MARSHAL NEY’S DILEMMA</div> + +<p>There, meanwhile, events had been moving +rapidly. The commandant of the garrison was +an <i lang="fr">émigré</i> officer, but most of the troops had +been won over for Napoleon by Colonel Labédoyère, +at the head of the 7th of the Line. The +commandant ordered the gates to be closed, +which was done; also the cannon on the ramparts +to be loaded. That order was duly +obeyed; “but the men rammed home the +cannon-balls first, before putting in the powder, +so that the guns were useless.” Labédoyère +marched out with his regiment to meet Napoleon, +the band playing, “and carrying the Eagle of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">357</span> +regiment, which had been concealed and preserved.” +They met Napoleon a short distance +from Grenoble and, with the 5th, led the way +in, arriving after dark. “On Napoleon’s approach, +the populace thronged the ramparts with +torches; the gates were burst open; Napoleon +was borne through the town in triumph by a +wild and intermingled crowd of soldiers and +workpeople.”<a id="FNanchor_39" href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">39</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">358</span></p> + +<p>Napoleon entered Paris on the night of +March 20. The Eagles made their first appearance +in the capital next day. They had been +officially restored as the standards of the Army<span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">359</span> +by an Imperial decree issued on March 13 from +Lyons.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AT THE FIRST REVIEW IN PARIS</div> + +<p>Paris saw them again first at the review of the +garrison of the capital which Napoleon held<span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">360</span> +within twenty-four hours of his arrival; on the +Place du Carrousel, in front of the Tuileries. +There too the Imperial Guard, reconstituted that +same morning, made their public reappearance. +In the midst of the brilliant scene, as Napoleon +was ending the address of personal thanks for +their loyalty that he made to the assembled +troops in dramatic style, suddenly General +Cambronne marched on to the parade at the +head of the Elba Six Hundred, with drums +beating and escorting the former Eagles of the +Guard. Drawing up in line ceremoniously, the +“Elba Guard” halted before Napoleon, saluting +and dipping the Eagles forward. A frantic +roar of enthusiastic cheering greeted the salute +of the Eagles.</p> + +<p>Napoleon took instant advantage of the first +pause as the cheering subsided. Pointing to the +veterans just arrived, and standing with the +Eagles ranged in front of them, held on high at +arm’s-length by their bearers, he again addressed +the assembled troops. “They bring back to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">361</span> +you the Eagles which are to serve as your rallying-point. +In giving them to the Guard, I give them +to the whole Army. Treason and misfortune +have cast over them a veil of mourning; but +they now reappear resplendent in their old +glory. Swear to me, soldiers, that these Eagles +shall always be found where the welfare of the +nation calls them, and those who would invade +our land again shall not be able to endure their +glance!” “We swear it! We swear it!” +was the answer that came back amid tumultuous +shouts from every side.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ONCE MORE THE FIELD OF MARS</div> + +<p>The Eagles restored by proclamation as the +standards of the Army, and the regiments reconstituted +by their old numbers, to the unbounded +gratification of the soldiers everywhere, another +Imperial proclamation announced that Napoleon +would once again personally distribute new Eagles +to the regiments. The ceremony of the Field of +Mars of ten years before would be repeated. +The Emperor, with his own hand, would present +each Eagle to a regimental deputation, which +would specially attend in Paris to receive it. To +give the utmost possible <i lang="fr">éclat</i> also to the proceedings +on the occasion, just as the former +presentation of the Eagles had been made an +integral feature of the Coronation celebration, so +now the forthcoming distribution would take +place at the same time that Napoleon renewed +his Imperial oath of fidelity to the Constitution, +as reshaped by the “<i lang="fr">Acte Additionel</i>,” which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">362</span> +had been drafted to comply with the political +exigencies of the moment.</p> + +<p>The date provisionally fixed was towards the +end of May. By that time the returns of the +<i lang="fr">Plébiscite</i> voting, to authorise the re-establishment +of the Empire, would be known. The +historic event takes its name of the “<i lang="fr">Champ +de Mai</i>” from the date proposed for it, although, +in actual fact, the ceremony took place on +June 1. The place appointed was where the +former distribution of the Eagles had been made, +the Field of Mars, the wide open space in front of +the Military School, and the display was to be +on no less grandiose scale than its predecessor.</p> + +<p>Immense wooden stands were erected all round +the Field of Mars, with tiers of benches, to seat, +it was calculated, as many as two hundred +thousand people. In front of the Military School +was set up an Imperial throne, under a canopy +of crimson silk, and elevated on a gorgeously +decorated platform. Napoleon was to take his +new Imperial oath from the throne, and thereupon +formally attach his signature to the “<i lang="fr">Acte +Additionel</i>.” There was to be a religious service +also, and for that an altar was erected at +one side of the throne, raised on steps and +draped in red damask, picked out with gold. +The balconies and stands all round were draped +and hung with tricolor flags, festooned amid +gilded Eagles, and heraldic insignia, and emblematic +figures meant to typify the prosperity<span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">363</span> +and glory awaiting France under the returned +Imperial <i lang="fr">régime</i>. As on the previous occasion, +all the celebrities of France were invited, and +had their allotted places on the stands nearest +the throne. As before, too, the central arena +was packed with a dense array of troops; the +deputations called up to receive the Eagles, the +massed battalions of the Imperial Guard, and +detachments of all the regiments of the garrison +of Paris. It was a radiantly fine summer’s day, +and the display offered a spectacle of surpassing +brilliance. Says one of the officers: “The sun +flashing on 50,000 bayonets seemed to make +the vast space sparkle!”</p> + +<p>A hundred cannon fired from the Esplanade of +the Invalides ushered in the day of the “<i lang="fr">Champ +de Mai</i>.” Again, at ten o’clock, the artillery +thundered forth as Napoleon quitted the +Tuileries in State to take his way to the Field +of Mars, “amid prodigious crowds of spectators +applauding enthusiastically,” along the Champs +Elysées and across the Pont d’Jéna.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NINE MARSHALS TAKE PART</div> + +<p>Nine of the marshals who had cast in their +lot with the returned Emperor rode on either side +of Napoleon’s coach: Davout, Minister of War, +who had not yet sworn allegiance to the Bourbons; +Soult, the newly appointed Chief of the +Staff of the Army; Serrurier, Governor of the +Invalides; Brune and Jourdan; Moncey and +Mortier; Suchet and Grouchy. Ney was absent; +Napoleon had refused to see him. Ney’s widely<span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">364</span> +reported speech to Louis XVIII., that he would +“bring the bandit to Paris in an iron cage,” had +not been forgiven. Murat was in disgrace for +his recent blundering move in Northern Italy, +which had vitally affected Napoleon’s plans. +His desertion during the closing campaign, when +Napoleon was at bay after Leipsic, moreover, +was beyond condonation. Of others who had +been at Napoleon’s side on the Field of Mars ten +years before, Lefebvre and Masséna professed +to be too old and infirm for service in the field, +although Masséna was still nominally on the +Active List, and had been in command for King +Louis at Toulon. He was due in Paris to meet +Napoleon, but his fidelity was more than doubtful: +“gorged with wealth, Masséna thought +only of preserving it.” Augereau kept in the +background, Napoleon refusing to have more to +do with him. Berthier, on that very morning, was +lying dead at Bamberg in Bavaria; whether +victim of an accident or suicide has never been +made clear. Lannes and Bessières were in their +graves, fallen on the field of battle. Bernadotte, +King of Sweden, was actively on the side of the +enemy. Marmont, Oudinot, Macdonald, and +Victor, marshals of later creation, had left +France in company with the Bourbon princes. +Old Kellerman and Perignon, “Honorary Marshals” +of 1804, had not come forward again, remaining +in seclusion; nor had St. Cyr, “the +man of ice,” another marshal since the Field<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">365</span> +of Mars, who was staying at home with studied +indifference, “occupying himself on his estate +with his hay crops and playing the fiddle.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE “MAN OF SEDAN” WAS THERE</div> + +<p>Napoleon was accompanied in the State coach +by three of his brothers—Lucien, Joseph, and +Jerome. This time there was of course no +Empress present. Josephine was dead: Marie +Louise was holding back elsewhere. None of +the Bonaparte princesses appeared in the procession. +The only one attending the “<i lang="fr">Champ de +Mai</i>” came as a spectator: Hortense Beauharnais, +the daughter of Josephine and wife of Louis +Bonaparte. She had gone on in advance to the +Military School and was seated among the +exalted personages awaiting Napoleon there; +accompanied by her two boys (one the future +Third Napoleon, the “Man of Sedan”). She +seemed most interested, as we are told, in the +sketch-book she brought with her to draw a +picture of the scene.</p> + +<p>Napoleon alighted in the First Court of the +Military School, being acclaimed on all sides as +he made his appearance with vociferous shouts +of “Vive l’Empereur!” Preceded by palace +grandees and Court officials, who had alighted +from their carriages in advance and formed up +to receive him, he entered the building and +passed on through to take his seat on the throne. +“He had the air of being in pain and anxious,” +describes an onlooker. “He descended slowly +from his carriage while a hundred drums beat<span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">366</span> +‘<i lang="fr">Au Champ</i>.’ Then, advancing quickly, returning +the salutes of the assemblage at either +side with bows, he proceeded to the throne, and +sat down, gazing round at the people in their +dense masses as he did so. Jerome and Joseph +seated themselves on the right; Lucien on the +left; all three clad in white satin with black +velvet hats with white plumes. Napoleon himself +had on his Imperial mantle of ermine and +purple velvet embroidered with golden bees.”</p> + +<p>For a time the thundering cannon salutes +and acclamations of the people that hailed +Napoleon’s appearance on the daïs were deafening. +Bowing repeatedly on every side, he took +his seat on the throne, while all present stood +and remained uncovered. The guns then ceased, +the music of the bands and the drummings and +trumpetings of the battalions died away into +silence. On that the ceremony of the day +opened with the celebration of High Mass by the +Archbishop of Tours.</p> + +<p>The religious portion of the pageant, we are +told, “seemed to arouse no interest in Napoleon. +His opera-glass wandered all the time over the +immense multitude before him.” His attention +was not recalled until the Mass was over, when +the delegates from the Electoral College, marshalled +by the Master of the Ceremonies, ascended +the platform, and ranged themselves +before the throne. A Deputy stepped forward, +and after deep obeisance, in a loud resonant<span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">367</span> +voice read an address teeming with sentiments +of patriotic attachment and expressing inviolable +fidelity towards the Emperor personally. +Napoleon seemed to listen with interest, +“marking his approbation with nods and +smiles.” The Deputy ceased speaking amidst +rapturous applause, and then Arch-Chancellor +Cambacérès, resplendent in a gorgeous orange-yellow +robe, stood forward in front of Napoleon +to notify officially the popular acceptance of the +new national Constitution. He declared the +total of the votes given in the <i lang="fr">Plébiscite</i> to show +a clear million in favour of the restoration of the +Empire. There was a flourish of trumpets, and +forthwith the chief herald proclaimed that the +“Additional Act to the Constitution of the +Empire” had been agreed to by the French +people.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON SIGNS THE ACT</div> + +<p>Again from all round thundered out an +artillery salute, and the whole assembly rose to +their feet and cheered. A small gilded table +was brought forward and placed before Napoleon, +who, the Arch-Chancellor holding the parchment +open, and Joseph Bonaparte presenting the pen, +publicly ratified the Act with his formal signature. +The air resounded once more with the cannon +firing and noisy acclamations on all sides.</p> + +<p>Napoleon rose, when at length the cheering +ceased, to address the assembly with one of his +most impassioned dramatic harangues. “Emperor, +Consul, Soldier, I hold everything from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">368</span> +the people! In prosperity and in adversity; in +the field, in the council; in power, in exile, +France has been the sole and constant object of +my thoughts and actions!” So he began. He +closed in the same vein: “Frenchmen! my +will is that of my people; my rights are theirs; +my honour, my glory, my happiness, can never +be separated from the honour, glory, and happiness +of France!”</p> + +<p>Again came the outburst of rapturous applause. +It subsided, and the Archbishop of Bourges, as +Grand Almoner of the Empire, came forward. +Kneeling before Napoleon he presented the +Book of the Gospels, on which Napoleon solemnly +took the Imperial Oath to observe the new +Constitution. There only remained for Arch-Chancellor +Cambacérès and the principal officers +of State to take their oaths of allegiance to +the Constitution and the Emperor, and after +that a solemn Te Deum closed the political +ceremony.</p> + +<p>It was now the turn of the Eagles and the +Army. The civilian personages withdrew from +the steps of the throne; the electoral deputations +fell back; leaving a clear open space in +front. Immediately, as if by magic, the Eagles +suddenly appeared; long rows of them flashing +and glittering in the brilliant sunshine. They +were brought forward in procession, advancing +in massed rows “resplendent and dazzling like +gold.” Carnot, Minister of the Interior, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">369</span> +“Organiser of Victory” of the Armies of the +Revolution, headed the procession, “clad in a +Spanish white dress of great magnificence,” +carrying the First Eagle of the National Guard of +Paris. Next him came Marshal Davout, Minister +of War, carrying the Eagle of the 1st Regiment +of the Line, and then Admiral Decrès, Minister +of Marine (as representing the French Navy), +carrying the Eagle of Napoleon’s 1st Regiment +of Marines. General Count Friant (he fell at +Waterloo), as Colonel-in-Chief, bore the Eagle +of the Imperial Guard. Other officers of exalted +rank bore other Eagles.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SPRINGING FORWARD TO MEET THEM</div> + +<p>Napoleon’s demeanour, hitherto, for most +of the time, formal and apathetic, altered instantaneously +at the appearance of the Eagles. +“He sprang from the throne, and, casting aside +his purple mantle, rushed forward to meet his +Eagles”; amid a sudden hush that seemed +to fall over the whole assembly at the sight. +Then the momentary silence was broken. An +enthusiastic shout went up as the Emperor, +pressing forward impetuously, as though +electrified with sudden energy, took up his +station immediately in front of the array of +soldiers, the <i lang="fr">élite</i> of the veterans of the old +Grand Army left alive, as they stood there +formed up in an immense phalanx. To the +sound of martial music the regimental deputations +forthwith moved up and advanced to pass +before him. Napoleon, with a gesture of deep<span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">370</span> +reverence, took each Eagle into his own hands +from the officer who had been carrying it, and +then delivered it with stately formality to its +future regimental bearer as the deputations in +turn filed past him.</p> + +<p>He had a word for the men of every corps as +each set of ten officers and men drew up before +him. To some he said, glancing at the number +of their regiment on their shakos, “I remember +you well. You are my old companions of +Italy!” or, “You are my comrades of Egypt!” +and so on. Others he reminded of past days of +distinction. “You were with me at Arcola!” +he said to one group, or “at Rivoli!” “at +Austerlitz!” “at Friedland!” to others, as +might be—his words, we are told, “inspiring +the men with deep emotion.” For each of the +National Guard deputations he had also their +little speech. To one detachment for instance, +as it came up, he said: “You are my old companions +from the Rhine; you have been the +foremost, the most courageous, the most unfortunate +in our disasters; but I remember all!”</p> + +<p>The last Eagle presented, Napoleon called on +the soldiers to take the Army Oath of fidelity +to the Standard, using his customary Eagle +oration formula.</p> + +<p>“Soldiers of the National Guard of the +Empire!” he began, “Soldiers of my Imperial +Guard! Soldiers of the Line on land and sea! +I entrust to your hands the Imperial Eagle!<span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">371</span> +You swear here to defend it at the cost of your +life’s blood against the enemies of the nation. +You swear that it will always be your guiding +sign, your rallying point!”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AMIDST A TUMULT OF ENTHUSIASM</div> + +<p>Some of those nearest interrupted Napoleon +with shouts of “We swear!” He went on: +“You swear never to acknowledge any other +standard!” The shouts of “We swear!” again +broke in vociferously.</p> + +<p>Napoleon again went on: “You, Soldiers of +the National Guard of Paris, swear never to +permit the foreigner to desecrate again the +capital of the Great Nation! To your courage +I commit it!” Cries of “We swear!” +repeated continuously amidst a tumult of +clamour, once more burst forth.</p> + +<p>Napoleon continued and concluded, turning +to his favourite Pretorians: “Soldiers of the +Imperial Guard, swear to surpass yourselves in +the campaign which is now about to open, to +die round your Eagles rather than permit +foreigners to dictate terms to your country!” +He ceased after that, and once again the air +vibrated with shouts of “We swear! We swear!” +and ejaculations of “Vive l’Empereur!” from +the soldiers and the throng of onlookers cramming +the stands around.<a id="FNanchor_40" href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">40</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">372</span></p> + +<p>The military <i lang="fr">finale</i> of the day was the march +past of the assembled troops before the Emperor, +in slow time, headed by the Eagles. +“Nothing could have been more imposing,” +says one of the spectators, “than this concluding +display in the magnificent pageant. +Amid the crash of military music, the blaze of +martial decoration, the glitter of innumerable +arms, 50,000 men passed by. The immense +concourse of beholders, their prolonged shouts +and cheers, the occasion, the Man, the mighty +events which hung in suspense, all concurred +to excite feelings and reflections which only +such a scene could have produced.” On the +other hand, we have this from a colder critic +of the scene: “The display was without heart, +and theatrical; the vows of the soldiers were +made without warmth. There was but little +real enthusiasm: the shouts were not those of +future victors of another Austerlitz and Wagram, +and the Emperor knew it!” Which are we to +believe?</p> + +<p>According to Savary, who was close beside +him, Napoleon, for his part, was satisfied with +the enthusiasm of the soldiers. “The Emperor +left the Field of Mars confident that he might +rely on the sentiments then manifested towards +him, and from that moment his only care was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">373</span> +to meet the storm that was forming in +Belgium.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">ON THE REGIMENTAL PARADES</div> + +<p>The new Eagles left Paris that night with their +escorts. Each, on its arrival where its regiment +was stationed, was received with elaborate +ceremony, and formally presented on parade to +the assembled officers and men; a religious +service being held in addition in some cases, at +which all were sworn individually to give their +lives in its defence. This, for instance, is what +took place with one regiment, the 22nd of the +Line, stationed with the advanced division of +Grouchy’s Army Corps on the Belgian frontier +at Couvins, near Rocroy, in the Ardennes. +“The new Eagle,” describes one of the officers, +“all fresh from the gilder’s shop, was solemnly +blessed in the church of Couvins; then each +soldier, touching it with his hand, swore individually +to defend it to the death. After the religious +service the regiment formed in square, and the +colonel delivered an address, in which he recalled +the old glories of the 22nd of the Line, and +expressed his conviction that the regiment would +worthily uphold the old-time fame of the corps +in the coming campaign. The glowing language +was received with great emotion, and as of happy +augury for the future.”<a id="FNanchor_41" href="#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">41</a></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_375">375</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII<br> + +<span class="subhead">AT WATERLOO</span></h2> +</div> + +<h3 id="toclink_375">“<span class="smcap">Ave Caesar! Morituri te Salutant!</span>”</h3> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">The</span> Eagles figure in four episodes in the story +of Waterloo.</p> + +<p>They had their part at the outset in that intensely +dramatic display on the morning of the +battle, when, before the eyes of Wellington’s +soldiers, drawn up with muskets loaded and +bayonets fixed, and guns in position ready to open +fire, Napoleon passed his army in review; the last +parade of the Last Army on the day of its last +battle. Said Napoleon himself afterwards, in +words that are in keeping with the resplendent +spectacle: “The earth seemed proud to bear +so many brave men!” (“La terre paraissait +orgueilleuse de porter tant de braves!”)</p> + +<p>It was a little after nine in the morning that +the Last Army of Napoleon moved out from its +bivouacs of the night before to take up its station +for the battle. This is how a British hussar, +who was looking on, describes the opening of the +wonderful show: “Marching in eleven columns +they came up to the front and deployed with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">376</span> +rapidity, precision, and fine scenic effect. The +drums beat, the bands played, the trumpets +sounded. The light troops in front pressed forward, +and the rattle of musketry was followed +by the retreat of our horsemen and foot soldiers. +Light wreaths of smoke curled upwards into the +misty air, and through this thin veil the dense dark +columns of the French infantry and the gay and +gleaming squadrons of French horse were seen +moving into their positions. Before them was +the open valley, yet green with the heavy crops; +behind them dark fringes of wood, and a thick +curtain of dreary cloud.</p> + +<p>“The French bands struck up so that we could +distinctly hear them. Not long after, the +enemy’s skirmishers, backed by their supports, +were thrown out; extending as they advanced, +they spread over the whole space before them. +Now and then they saluted our ears with well-known +music, the whistling of musket-balls. +Their columns, preceded by mounted officers to +take up the alignments, soon began to appear; +the bayonets flashing over dark masses at different +points, accompanied by the rattling of drums +and the clang of trumpets.</p> + +<p>“They took post, their infantry in front, in +two lines, 60 yards apart, flanked by lancers with +their fluttering flags. In rear of the centre of +the infantry wings were the cuirassiers, also in +two lines. In rear of the cuirassiers, on the +right, the lancers and chasseurs of the Imperial<span class="pagenum" id="Page_377">377</span> +Guard, in their splendid but gaudy uniforms: +the former clad in scarlet; the latter, like hussars, +in rifle-green, fur-trimmed pelisse, gold lace, +bearskin cap. In rear of the cuirassiers, on the +left, were the horse-grenadiers and dragoons of +the Imperial Guard, with their dazzling arms. +Immediately in rear of the centre was the reserve, +composed of the 6th Corps, in columns; on the +left, and on the right of the Genappe road, +were two divisions of light cavalry. In rear of +the whole was the infantry of the Imperial +Guard in columns, a dense dark mass, which, with +the 6th Corps and cavalry, were flanked by their +numerous artillery. Nearly 72,000 men, and +246 guns, ranged with matches lighted, gave an +awful presage of the approaching conflict.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">AS THEY MARCHED ON TO THE FIELD</div> + +<p>Napoleon rode out to watch them as they +deployed into position. He took his stand at +the point where the columns reached the field +and wheeled off to right and left to form up in +readiness for the signal that should launch their +massed ranks forward across the intervening +valley against the British position in front. +Marshal Soult, Chief of the General Staff, rode +close behind Napoleon on one side; Marshal +Ney, in charge of the main attack that day, was +on the other. In rear followed in glittering +array the cavalcade of staff officers, with, dragged +along after them, tied by a rope to a dragoon +orderly, Napoleon’s Waterloo guide, the innkeeper +De Coster.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_378">378</span></p> + +<p>Hardly had Napoleon himself ever witnessed +before the like of the tremendous display of +enthusiasm that greeted his presence on the +field on the morning of that final day. “The +drums beat; the trumpets sounded; the bands +struck up ‘Veillons au salut de l’Empire.’ As +they passed Napoleon the standard-bearers +drooped the Eagles; the cavalrymen waved their +sabres; the infantrymen held on high their +shakos on their bayonets. The roar of cheers +dominated and drowned the beat of the drums +and the blare of the trumpets. The ‘<i lang="fr">Vive +l’Empereurs!</i>’ followed with such vehemence +and such rapidity that no commands could be +heard. And what rendered the scene all the more +solemn, all the more moving, was the fact that +before us, a thousand paces away perhaps, we +could see distinctly the dull red line [“la ligne +rouge sombre”] of the English army.”</p> + +<p>So one French officer (Captain Martin of the +45th of the Line) describes. The shouts of +“Vive l’Empereur!” says another, a veteran +of Count d’Erlon’s First Army Corps, “rose +more vehemently, louder and longer than I ever +heard before, for our men were determined that +they should be heard among the brick-red lines +which fringed the crest of Mont Saint-Jean.”</p> + +<p>It was for the Eagles the counterpart of the +Day of the Field of Mars, the culminating act of +homage to Napoleon from the soldiers of the +Grand Army.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_379">379</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">HIS IN LIFE AND DEATH</div> + +<p>“The sight of him,” if we may use the words +of Lamartine, “was for some a recompense for +their death, for others an incitement to victory! +One heart beat between these men and the Emperor. +In such a moment they shared the same +soul and the same cause! When all is risked for +one man, it is in him his followers live and die. +The army was Napoleon! Never before was +it so entirely Napoleon as now. He was repudiated +by Europe, and his army had adopted him +with idolatry; it voluntarily made itself the +great martyr of his glory. At such a moment +he must have felt himself more than man, more +than a sovereign. His subjects only bowed to +his power, Europe to his genius; but his army +bent in homage to the past, the present, and the +future, and welcomed victory or defeat, the +throne or death with its chief. It was determined +on everything, even on the sacrifice of +itself, to restore him his Empire, or to render his +last fall illustrious. Accomplices at Grenoble, +Pretorians at Paris, victims at Waterloo: such +a sentiment in the generals and officers of Napoleon +had in it nothing that was not in conformity +with the habits and even the vices of humanity. +His cause was their cause, his crime their crime, +his power their power, his glory their glory. +But the devotion of those 80,000 soldiers was +more virtuous, for it was more disinterested. +Who would know their names? Who would pay +them for the shedding of their blood? The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_380">380</span> +plain before them would not even preserve their +bones! To have inspired such a devotion was +the greatness of Napoleon; to evince it even to +madness was the greatness of his Army!”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SOME WHO HAD MET BEFORE</div> + +<p>They knew, too, not a few of them, the stamp +of men they were about to meet. Never before +that day, of course, had Napoleon met British +soldiers on the battlefield; but there were +others present who had, and a good many of +them.</p> + +<p>Many a French regiment at Waterloo had old +scores of their own to settle, past days to avenge. +The 8th of the Line, the fate of whose “Eagle +with the Golden Wreath” at Barrosa has been +recorded, were on the field, and dipped their +glittering new Eagle, received at the “<i lang="fr">Champ de +Mai</i>,” in salute as they passed Napoleon that +morning. So too did the 82nd, whose former +battalion Eagles from Martinique are at Chelsea +now; the 13th of the Line and the 51st, who lost +their regimental Eagles in the Retiro arsenal of +Madrid; the 28th, who met their fate, and lost +their Eagle under the bullets of the British 28th +in the Pyrenees. Others were there who had +fought against Wellington in Spain, and, more +fortunate, had preserved their Eagles. Among +these were the 47th, who on the battlefield at +Barrosa lost and regained their Eagle; and the +105th, mindful yet of their terrible Salamanca +experience of what dragoon swords in strong +hands could do. The 105th were destined,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_381">381</span> +soldiers and Eagle alike, to undergo a fate more +fearful still, ere the sun should set that day.</p> + +<p>Two of the regiments that paraded before +Napoleon to meet the soldiers of Wellington +had met under fire the sailors of Nelson at +Trafalgar: the 2nd of the Line, now in Jerome +Bonaparte’s division of Reille’s Army Corps, +and the 16th, serving with the Sixth Corps. A +third regiment, the 70th, which did duty as +marines at Trafalgar, was with Grouchy, not +many miles away; as was the 22nd of the Line, +whose Eagle, taken at Salamanca, is at Chelsea +Hospital, and the 34th, whose drum-major’s staff +is to this day a prized trophy of the British 34th +(now the First Battalion of the Border Regiment), +won in Spain, when, as it so befell, two +regiments bearing the same number crossed +bayonets on the battlefield.<a id="FNanchor_42" href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">42</a></p> + +<p>The famous 84th of the Line were at Waterloo, +with their proud legend, “Un contre dix,” restored +at the “<i lang="fr">Champ de Mai</i>,” flaunting proudly +on their new silken flag as the Eagle bent in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">382</span> +salute to Napoleon; also, the hardly less widely +renowned 46th, the corps of the First Grenadier +of France, La Tour d’Auvergne, whose name was +called at the head of the list at that morning’s +roll-call and answered with the customary answer, +“Dead on the Field of Honour”; also, too, Napoleon’s +former-time favourite, the 75th, mindful +still on that last day of their glorious youth when +“Le 75me arrive et bât l’ennemi”—a motto +that an earlier colonel of the corps had proposed +once to replace on the flag by “Veni, Vidi, Vici.”</p> + +<p>The Old Guard paraded in their fighting kit, +with, as usual, in their knapsacks their full-dress +uniforms, carried in readiness to be put on for +Napoleon’s triumphal entry into Brussels.</p> + +<p>Drouet d’Erlon rode past at the head of the +First Army Corps; Count of the Empire in +virtue of his rank as a general; once upon a +time the little son of the postmaster at Varennes, +where Louis Seize and Marie Antoinette so pitifully +ended their attempted flight, harsh old +Drouet, ex-sergeant of Condé dragoons, from +whom he inherited his talent for soldiering. +General Reille led past the Second Corps. He, +curiously, had had something of a naval past. +He had hardly forgotten that other battle-day +morning, when he galloped on to the field of +Austerlitz, and reported himself to the Emperor +as having come direct from Cadiz, put ashore +from the doomed French fleet of Admiral Villeneuve +just a week before it sailed to fight Trafalgar.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_383">383</span> +Both Reille and his men, above all others, +were burning with excitement and eagerness +that day to get at the enemy. They had missed +taking part either at Ligny or Quatre Bras, +through contradictory orders which had kept +them marching and counter-marching between +the two battlefields; unable to reach either +in time. Smarting under the reproach that +they had been useless in the campaign, though +the pick of the Line was in their ranks, the +men one and all were burning to retrieve their +reputation.</p> + +<p>Count Lobau—he took his name from the island +in the Danube which played so vital a part in +the battle of Aspern—was at the head of the +Sixth Corps, the third of Napoleon’s grand +divisions of the army at Waterloo. Formerly +General Mouton, Napoleon renamed him when +he made him a Count for his skill and heroism +at Aspern. “Mon Mouton,” said Napoleon +of him once as he watched the general in action, +“est un lion.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON IN HIGH SPIRITS</div> + +<p>Napoleon himself was in the highest spirits, +full of pride and confidence. In that mood had +he announced his intention of holding the review. +There was no need to hurry, he said; Blücher +and Wellington had been driven apart. The +parade would pass the time while waiting for the +soaked ground to get dry, and make it easier for +the guns to move from point to point. And +there was also this. The spectacle would have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_384">384</span> +assuredly a disquieting effect on the Dutch and +Belgians in Wellington’s army. Many of the +men in front of him had served with the Eagles +in former days: all stood nervously in awe, it +was notorious, of the mighty name and reputation +of Napoleon. Hesitating, as some were +known to be, between their fears and their patriotism, +the influence of the imposing spectacle +might well—believed Napoleon—turn the scale +and induce them to come over.</p> + +<p>This was Napoleon’s plan for the battle, as +outlined that morning to his brother Jerome. +First would be the general preparation for attack +by a tremendous cannonade all along the line +from massed batteries. On that, the two army +corps of D’Erlon and Reille would advance +simultaneously and assault in front, supported +by cavalry charges of cuirassiers. Then, if the +English had not yet been beaten, would follow +the final assault, the crushing blow that it would +be impossible to resist; to be delivered by the +remaining army corps of Lobau and the Young +Guard, supported by the Middle Guard and the +Old Guard. So Napoleon planned to fight and +win at Waterloo.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“THE GAME IS WITH US”</div> + +<p>Of the ultimate issue of the day he flattered +himself there could be no two opinions. “At +the last I have them, these English!” “(Enfin +je les tiens, ces Anglais!”) he exclaimed +jubilantly as he reconnoitred Wellington’s position +in the early morning. At breakfast with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_385">385</span> +the two Marshals, Soult and Ney, he declared that +the odds were 90 to 10 in his favour. “Wellington,” +he said to Ney, “has thrown the dice, and +the game is with us.”</p> + +<p>He turned fiercely on Soult, who, knowing the +mettle of the British soldier from experience, +had entreated him to recall Grouchy’s 30,000 +men from watching the Prussians near Wavre.</p> + +<p>“You think because Wellington has defeated +you, that he must be a very great general! I +tell you he is a bad general, and the English are +but poor troops! This, for us, will only be an +affair of a <i lang="fr">déjeuner</i>—a picnic!”</p> + +<p>“I hope so,” was all that Soult said in reply.</p> + +<p>At that moment Reille and General Foy, +experienced Peninsular veterans both, whose +opinions should have had weight, were announced. +Said Reille, in reply to Napoleon’s asking what +he thought: “If well placed, as Wellington +knows how to draw up his men, and if attacked +in front, the English infantry is invincible, by +reason of its calm tenacity and the superiority +of its fire. Before coming to close quarters with +the bayonet we must expect to see half the +assaulting troops out of action.”</p> + +<p>Interposed Foy: “Wellington never shows +his troops, but if he is yonder, I must warn your +Majesty that the English infantry in close combat +is the very devil!” (“L’infanterie Anglaise +en duel c’est le diable!”)</p> + +<p>Napoleon lost his temper. With an exclamation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_386">386</span> +of angry incredulity he rose hastily from +the breakfast table, and the party broke up.</p> + +<p>He spent a great part of the day watching the +battle from a little mound, a short distance from +the farm of Rossomme; mostly pacing to and +fro, his hands behind his back; at times violently +taking snuff, occasionally gesticulating excitedly. +Near by was a kitchen table from the farmhouse, +covered with maps weighted down with stones, +with a chair placed on some straw, on which at +intervals he rested. Soult kept ever near at +hand, and the staff remained a little in rear. +It was not until the afternoon was well advanced +that Napoleon got again on horseback.</p> + +<p>As related by the guide De Coster in conversation +with an English questioner a few months +after Waterloo, this is what passed:</p> + +<p>“He had frequent communications with his +aides de camp during the day?”</p> + +<p>“Every moment.”</p> + +<p>“And when they reported what was going +on?”</p> + +<p>“His orders were always ‘Avancez!’”</p> + +<p>“Did he eat or drink during the day?”</p> + +<p>“No!”</p> + +<p>“Did he take snuff?”</p> + +<p>“In abundance.”</p> + +<p>“Did he talk much?”</p> + +<p>“Never, except when he gave orders.”</p> + +<p>“What was the general character of his countenance +during the day?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">387</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">WHEN THE LAST CHARGE FAILED</div> + +<p>“<i lang="fr">Riante!</i>—till the last charge failed.”</p> + +<p>“How did he look then?”</p> + +<p>“<i lang="fr">Blanc-mort!</i>”</p> + +<p>“Did he say ‘<i lang="fr">Sauve qui peut</i>’?”</p> + +<p>“No! When he saw the English infantry rush +forward, and the cavalry in the intermediate +spaces coming down the hill, he said: ‘<i lang="fr">A present +il est fini. Sauvons-nous!</i>’”<a id="FNanchor_43" href="#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">43</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_388">388</span></p> + +<h3 id="toclink_388"><span class="smcap">How Wellington’s Trophies were won</span></h3> + +<p>It was in Napoleon’s second grand attack that +our two Waterloo Eagle-trophies, the most +famous spoils ever won by the British Army, +came into Wellington’s hands.</p> + +<p>The first attack began about half-past eleven, +when Reille’s corps, on the French left, made its +opening effort against Hougoumont. Intended +by Napoleon at the outset rather as a feint to +mislead Wellington into fixing his attention on +that side, the stubborn defence of Hougoumont +involved the Second Corps in a struggle that +kept it fully occupied for the whole day; unable +to take part or be of use elsewhere.</p> + +<p>The second grand attack took place shortly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_389">389</span> +after two in the afternoon, when Marshal Ney +made his tremendous onslaught with thirty-three +battalions of Drouet d’Erlon’s First Army +Corps on the left-centre of the British position, +to the east of the Charleroi road, where +Picton’s men held the ground.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A DARK OBJECT IN THE HAZE</div> + +<p>The launching of Ney’s attack just then came +about as the result of Napoleon’s sudden and +disquieting discovery that the Prussians were +approaching. It was to have opened an hour +earlier, but, because of that, had been held back +at the last moment. Napoleon, while looking +round with the idea that Grouchy’s troops might +be in sight in that quarter, made the discovery +with his own eyes. Those round him, indeed, at +first doubted what the dark object—which appeared +in the hazy atmosphere like a shadow on +the high ground near Mont Saint-Lambert, some<span class="pagenum" id="Page_390">390</span> +six miles off to the north-east—really was. Soult +at first could make out nothing; then he was +positive it was a column of troops—probably +Grouchy’s. The staff, scanning the suspicious +neighbourhood with their telescopes, asserted +that what the Emperor saw was only a wood. +The arrival of some hussars with a Prussian +prisoner, whom they had just captured while +trying to get round with a despatch from Bülow +to Wellington to announce the approach of the +Prussian Fourth Corps, settled the question.</p> + +<p>Napoleon paced backwards and forwards for +a minute, taking pinches of snuff incessantly. +Then he ordered off his Light Cavalry to reconnoitre; +dictated to Soult an urgent message +recalling Grouchy; and sent off an aide de +camp to tell Lobau to wheel the Sixth Corps to +the right, facing towards Saint-Lambert. After +that he gave Ney orders to open his attack.</p> + +<p>Ney took in hand his work forthwith, and +at once a terrific cannonade opened. Eighty +French field-guns, a third of Napoleon’s artillery +on the field, began firing together from the +plateau in front of La Belle Alliance; storming +furiously with shot and shell to break down +the British resistance, and clear the way for +the onset of the charging columns. Without +slackening an instant the guns thundered incessantly +for nearly an hour; getting back from +the British artillery in reply a fire that was at +least as vigorous and no less effective.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_391">391</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">“EN AVANT!” “VIVE L’EMPEREUR!”</div> + +<p>Then Ney gave the word to advance.</p> + +<p>Immediately the French infantry were on the +move. They went forward massed in four +divisions; in four solid columns of from four to +five thousand men each, advancing <i lang="fr">en échelon</i> +from the left, with intervals between of about +four hundred paces. Eight battalions made up +each column, except that of the second division, +which had nine. The battalions stood drawn +up in lines, three deep, with a front of two hundred +files. They were packed closely, one behind +the other; with intervals between, from front +to rear, of only five paces. So closely were they +wedged together, that there was barely room +between the battalions for the company officers. +Two brigadiers, Quiot and Bourgeois, led the +left column, General Allix, their chief, being +elsewhere; General Donzelot, a keen soldier +and universally popular as the best hearted and +most genial of good fellows, headed the second +column; Marcognet, a grim, hard-bitten veteran, +a prime favourite with Marshal Ney for +his dogged determination in action, had the +third; General Durutte was in charge of the +fourth, away to the right.</p> + +<p>With their battalion-drums jauntily rattling +out the <i lang="fr">pas de charge</i>, amid excited cries and +loud exultant shouts of “En avant!” “Vive +l’Empereur!” the columns stepped off. Ahead +of them raced forward at a run swarming +crowds of <i lang="fr">tirailleurs</i>; extending fan-wise as they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_392">392</span> +went, spreading out widely across the front in +skirmishing array. The four massed columns +surged quickly forward and over the edge of +the plateau down the slope on to the space of +shallow valley between the armies. As they +did so, from the moment they crossed the crest-line +and dipped below, a fierce hurricane of fire +beat in their faces. Round-shot and shrapnel +swept the columns through and through, tearing +long bloody lanes through the densely packed +masses of men.</p> + +<p>Marshal Ney accompanied the first column +for some part of the way, riding by the side +of Drouet d’Erlon.</p> + +<p>As they crossed the intervening ground below, +the death-dealing British guns fired down on +them incessantly, but in spite of all, they stoutheartedly +moved forward, without checking +their pace. It was terribly toilsome work in +places: now they had to plough laboriously over +sodden and slippery ground; now to trample +their way through cornfields with standing grain-crops +nearly breast-high, or, where trodden +down, tangling round the men’s feet.</p> + +<p>Quiot’s brigade turned off to attack La Haye +Sainte, but the rest of the division, Bourgeois’ +men and the three other columns, held on their +way, moving in dense phalanxes of gleaming +bayonets up the slopes.</p> + +<p>The second column, Donzelot’s, reached the top +a little in advance of the others, and was met<span class="pagenum" id="Page_393">393</span> +by Kempt’s brigade of Picton’s troops, which +charged it and forced it to yield ground.</p> + +<p>A moment later Marcognet’s column reached +the British line, coming up over the crest of the +hill immediately in front of Picton’s Highland +Brigade.</p> + +<p>Received with a furious outburst of musketry +from all along the extended British line, Marcognet’s +leading files were thrown into some +confusion by the hail of bullets. They were, +however, veterans, and though their ranks were +shaken, they still pressed on, amid a tumult of +fierce cries and shouts of “Vive l’Empereur!” +and the wild clash and rattle of their drums.</p> + +<p>But they got no farther. The British brigadier +on the spot, Sir Dennis Pack, called on the +nearest Highland regiment, the 92nd, to charge +them with the bayonet. A moment after that, +all unexpectedly, the cavalry of the Union +Brigade were on them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE HIGHLANDERS DASH FORWARD</div> + +<p>The Highlanders dashed forward with exultant +cheers and levelled bayonets, taking the French +volley that met them without firing back a shot. +They did not, however, get up to the French, +nor actually cross steel on steel. As the Highlanders +got within a dozen yards the column +suddenly stopped short, and some of the men in +front seemed suddenly to be panic-stricken. A +moment before all were madly yelling out: +“Forward!” “Victory!” Now they began to +turn their backs in disorder.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_394">394</span></p> + +<p>It was not, though, at the sight of the bayonets. +They had seen and heard something else. The +thundering beat of approaching horse-hoofs +shook the ground.</p> + +<p>With a trampling turmoil of horse-hoofs the +cavalrymen of the British Union Brigade burst +on the scene, galloping forward from their +former post in rear of Picton’s infantry. The +Scots Greys were on the left; the Inniskillings +in the centre; the Royal Dragoons on the right.</p> + +<p>Marcognet’s men heard their approach, and +the next moment saw the horsemen coming at +them. The unexpected sight startled and staggered +them; and some of those in the front line +gave way. The alarm spread at once, as most +of the rest realised what was approaching. The +whole column swayed to and fro violently. +Then it lost cohesion and began to roll back in +mingled ranks down-hill.</p> + +<p>A moment later the Greys were among them. +“The smoke in which the head of the French +column was enshrouded had not cleared away +when the Greys dashed into the mass.</p> + +<p>“Highlanders and Greys charged together, +while shrill and wild from the Highland ranks +sounded the mountain pipe, mingled with shouts +of ‘Scotland for ever!’” So an officer describes. +The men of the 92nd seized hold of the stirrup-leathers +of the horsemen, and charged with them. +“All rushed forward, leaving none but the disabled +in their rear.”</p> + +<figure id="i_394" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 41em;"> + <img src="images/i_394.jpg" width="3229" height="2166" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p class="larger">WATERLOO</p> + <p>The Charge of the Union Brigade</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">395</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">A SHOUT OF “ATTENTION! CAVALRY!”</div> + +<p>“The dragoons,” describes Captain Siborne, +“having the advantage of the descent, appeared +to mow down the mass, which, bending under +the pressure, quickly spread itself outwards in +all directions. Yet in that mass were many +gallant spirits who could not be brought to +yield without a struggle; and these fought +bravely to the death.”</p> + +<p>Says some one on the French side: “We +heard a shout of ‘Attention! Cavalry!’ +Almost at the same instant a crowd of red +dragoons mounted on grey horses swept down +upon us like the wind. Those who had straggled +were cut to pieces without mercy. They did +not fall upon our columns to ride through and +break us up—we were too deep and massive for +that; but they came down between the divisions, +slashing right and left with their sabres and +spurring their horses into the flanks of the +columns to cut them in two. Though they did +not succeed in this, they killed great numbers +and threw us into confusion.”</p> + +<p>The foremost French battalion of Marcognet’s +column was the 45th of the Line, one of Napoleon’s +favourite corps, recruited in the capital, +and always spoken of by him as “Mes braves +Enfants de Paris.” Said he of them indeed +once, when pointing them out to the Russian +Envoy at the grand review of June 1810: +“Mark those soldiers, Prince: that is my 45th—my +brave children of Paris! If ever cartridges<span class="pagenum" id="Page_396">396</span> +are burned between my brother the Emperor of +Russia and me, I will show him the efficiency of +my 45th. It was they who stormed your +Russian batteries at Austerlitz. They are +scamps [“des vauriens”] off duty, but lions on +campaign; you should see their dash, their +intrepidity; above all, their cheerfulness under +fire!” Small men—“ideal voltigeurs” Napoleon +also called the 45th—they stood a poor chance +against the stalwart swordsmen of the Scots +Greys.</p> + +<figure id="i_396" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 26em;"> + <img src="images/i_396.jpg" width="2042" height="2583" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>THE FIGHT FOR THE STANDARD.</p> + <p>Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys taking the Eagle of the 45th at Waterloo.</p> + <p>From the picture by R. Andsell, A.R.A., at Royal Hospital, Chelsea.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>It was they who were to yield up the first of +our British Eagle-trophies of Waterloo. The +prize fell to a non-commissioned officer of the +Greys, Sergeant Charles Ewart, a Kilmarnock +man, who achieved the feat of taking it single-handed. +Ewart, an athletic fellow of splendid +physique and herculean strength, six feet four +in his stockings, and a notable <i lang="fr">sabreur</i>, was +plunging through the struggling press of infantry, +slashing out to right and left, when he +caught sight of the Eagle of the 45th, with its +gorgeous new silken flag, bearing the glittering +inscription in letters of gold—“Austerlitz, +Jena, Friedland, Essling, Wagram.” It was being +hurried away to the rear for safety in the +middle of a small band of devoted men who +surrounded it, and were fighting hard with +their bayonets to keep the British off. Sergeant +Ewart saw that and rode straight for the Eagle-bearer. +Parrying the bayonet-thrusts at him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_397">397</span> +as he got up, he cut down the French officer +who carried the Eagle, and then had a fight with +two others. These, first one and then the other, +were killed or disabled by the sergeant, who in +the end carried off the splendid trophy triumphantly.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HOW EWART TOOK THE EAGLE</div> + +<p>Ewart himself, in a letter to his father, tells +his own story of the taking of the Eagle:</p> + +<p>“He and I had a hard contest for it. He +thrust for my groin; I parried it off and cut him +through the head, after which I was attacked by +one of their lancers, who threw his lance at me, +but missed the mark by my throwing it off +with my sword, at my right side. Then I cut +him from the chin upwards, which went through +his teeth. Next I was attacked by a foot-soldier, +who, after firing at me, charged me +with his bayonet; but he very soon lost the +combat, for I parried it and cut him down +through the head. That finished the contest +for the Eagle.”</p> + +<p>Napoleon was watching the progress of the +fight through his glasses. He witnessed the +charge of the Scots Greys—unaware, of course, +that it was his pet “Enfants de Paris” who were +undergoing their fate. “Qu’ils sont terribles +ces chevaux gris!” was the exclamation that, +according to the guide De Coster, fell from +Napoleon’s lips at the sight. The Greys cut +his unlucky 45th to pieces, and had overthrown +the rest of Marcognet’s Division in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_398">398</span> +three minutes. “In three minutes,” says a +British officer in the charge, “the column was +totally overthrown and numbers of them taken +prisoners.”</p> + +<p>Sabring their way through the remnants of +the 45th, and leaving the prisoners to be secured +by the Highlanders, the Greys then charged the +supporting regiment, the 25th of the Line. +These, “lost in amazement at the suddenness +and wildness of the charge and its terrific effect +on their comrades on the higher ground in front,” +were caught in the act of trying to form square. +Some of them fired a few shots at the dragoons, +but the impetus of the first charge carried the +Greys in among them with a rush, driving in +the foremost ranks and making the rest of +the column in rear roll back and break up. +In panic and despair they threw down their +muskets and, according to a British officer, +“surrendered in crowds.” The Eagle of the 25th, +however, was saved. It was carried safely off +the field, and is now one of the Napoleonic relics +at the Invalides.</p> + +<p>Ewart was at once sent to Brussels with the +trophy, and on his arrival carried it through the +crowded streets “amidst the acclamations of +thousands of spectators who saw it.” He was +given an ensigncy in the 3rd Royal Veteran +Battalion in recognition of his exploit. The +sword he used at Waterloo is now among the +treasures of Chelsea Hospital, and Ewart’s old<span class="pagenum" id="Page_399">399</span> +regiment bears embroidered on its standard a +French Eagle, with the legend “Waterloo.”<a id="FNanchor_44" href="#Footnote_44" class="fnanchor">44</a></p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE CHARGE OF THE “ROYALS”</div> + +<p>Within a few moments of Sergeant Ewart +capturing the Eagle of the 45th, an officer of the +Royal Dragoons, Captain A. K. Clark (afterwards +Sir A. K. Clark-Kennedy) took, also in hand-to-hand +fight, the other Eagle sent home by Wellington +from Waterloo—that of the 105th of the +Line, the leading regiment of Bourgeois’ +Brigade.</p> + +<p>The Royals, on the right of the Union Brigade, +came down on the French left column. That, as +yet, had had no enemy in front of it, and was +advancing with cheers and shouts of triumph +across the crest-line of the ridge. It overlapped +and extended beyond the flank of what +had been Picton’s line, and so far had only been +fired at from a distance by artillery and part of +the 95th. Suddenly the French were startled by +the apparition of a mass of cavalry quite near; +coming on within eighty or ninety yards of them—emerging +from the battle-smoke at a gallop.</p> + +<p>The sight took them completely by surprise.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_400">400</span> +The loud shouts of triumph stopped abruptly. +“The head of the column,” describes one of the +Royals, “appeared to be seized with a panic, +gave us a fire which brought down about twenty +men, went instantly about, and endeavoured to +regain the opposite side of the hedges.” They +had just crossed the Wavre road along the slope, +about halfway up.</p> + +<p>It was the men of one corps, the 105th of the +Line, who so turned back. They, of all in the +regiments of Napoleon’s army, knew what it +was to be charged by cavalry. They had had +one fearful experience of what cold steel in +strong hands could do, and wanted no second. +They were the same 105th whom Wellington’s +Hanoverian Dragoons, in the pursuit after Salamanca, +had ridden down and slaughtered so +mercilessly. Once more the fearful fate was +about to overtake them—was at hand, was on +them! In the ranks were many veterans who +had served in the 105th in Spain before 1814, +and had rejoined on Napoleon’s return from +Elba. The slaughter after Salamanca was a +grim and horrifying memory in the regiment +that every man shuddered to recall. It all came +back vividly to them now, as the flashing sabres +of the Royal Dragoons burst into view, making +for them across the ridge. The whole regiment +gave back and broke, turning for help to the +supporting 28th in rear.</p> + +<p>But they were not able to reach their refuge<span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">401</span> +in time. Without drawing rein the Royals +pressed home their charge. They were into the +105th in a moment, cutting them down on all +sides.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">HOW THE SECOND EAGLE WAS TAKEN</div> + +<p>In that <i lang="fr">mêlée</i> the Eagle of the 105th met its +fate. Captain Clark-Kennedy himself describes +how that came about—how he came to take the +Eagle. He was in command of the centre +squadron, leading through the thick of the +ill-fated infantrymen.</p> + +<p>“I did not see the Eagle and Colour (for there +were two Colours, but only one with an Eagle) +until we had been probably five or six minutes +engaged. It must, I should think, have been +originally about the centre of the column, and +got uncovered from the change of direction. +When I first saw it, it was perhaps about forty +yards to my left, and a little in my front. The +officer who carried it, and his companions, were +moving with their backs towards me, and endeavouring +to force their way through the crowd.</p> + +<p>“I gave the order to my squadron, ‘Right +shoulders forward! Attack the Colour!’ leading +direct on the point myself. On reaching +it I ran my sword into the officer’s right side, +a little above the hip-joint. He was a little to +my left side, and he fell to that side, with the +Eagle across my horse’s head. I tried to catch +it with my left hand, but could only touch the +fringe of the flag; and it is probable it would +have fallen to the ground, had it not been prevented<span class="pagenum" id="Page_402">402</span> +by the neck of Corporal Styles’ horse, +who came close up on my left at the instant, +and against which it fell. Corporal Styles was +standard-coverer: his post was immediately +behind me, and his duty to follow wherever +I led.</p> + +<p>“When I first saw the Eagle, I gave the order +‘Right shoulders forward! Attack the Colour!’ +and on running the officer through the body +I called out twice together, ‘Secure the Colour! +Secure the Colour! It belongs to me!’ This +order was addressed to some men close to me, +of whom Corporal Styles was one.</p> + +<p>“On taking up the Eagle I endeavoured to +break the Eagle off the pole, with the intention +of putting it into the breast of my coat, but I +could not break it. Corporal Styles said, ‘Pray, +sir, do not break it,’ on which I replied, ‘Very +well. Carry it to the rear as fast as you can. It +belongs to me!’”</p> + +<p>Taking hold of the Eagle, Corporal Styles +turned away. He had a fight to get through +with it, and had, we are told, literally to cut +his way back to safety.</p> + +<p>Captain Clark-Kennedy, who received two +wounds and had two horses killed under him, +was given the C.B. He was granted later, as +an augmentation to his family arms, the representation +of a Napoleonic Eagle and flag; +with for crest a “demi-dragoon holding a flag +with an Eagle on it.” Corporal Styles was appointed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">403</span> +to an ensigncy in the West India Regiment. +The Royal Dragoons wear the device of +a Napoleonic Eagle as collar-badge, and bear +an Eagle embroidered on their standard.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">WHERE ANOTHER FLAG WAS FOUND</div> + +<p>As with the 45th, so with the 105th—both +battalions of each regiment lost their colours; +the regimental Eagle and the “fanion” of the +second battalion. The “fanion” of the 105th, +described as “a dark blue silken flag, with on it +the words ‘105me Régiment d’Infanterie de +Ligne,’” came into British possession in a manner +that is not clear. It was not taken in fight +by the Royals. Was it picked up on the field +after the battle by some camp-follower and +sold? Its existence and whereabouts remained +unknown until some twenty-four years afterwards. +As it happened, curiously, General Clark-Kennedy, +as he then was, himself lighted upon +it by chance, hanging in the hall of Sir Walter +Scott’s home at Abbotsford. How it got there, +in spite of all inquiries, the general was unable +to discover.</p> + +<p>Two other Eagles, it would appear, had adventures +at Waterloo.</p> + +<p>One, according to an unconfirmed story, was +taken and lost by the Inniskillings, who charged +the 54th and 55th of the Line, stationed at the +rear of Bourgeois’ Brigade, just after the Royals +attacked the leading battalion of that column. +A trooper named Penfold claimed to have taken +the Eagle of one of the two regiments. “After<span class="pagenum" id="Page_404">404</span> +we charged,” he said, “I saw an Eagle which I +rode up to, and seized hold of it. The man who +bore it would not give it up, and I dragged him +along by it for a considerable distance. Then +the pole broke about the middle, and I carried +off the Eagle. Immediately after that I saw +a comrade, Hassard, in difficulties, and, giving +the Eagle to a young soldier of the Inniskillings, +I went to his aid. The Eagle got dropped and +lost.”</p> + +<p>The second of these two Eagles is said to have +been captured by the Blues, the Royal Horse +Guards, and then lost in much the same way. +“A private in the Blues,” records Wellington’s +Supplemental Despatches, “killed a French officer +and took an Eagle; but his own horse being +killed, he could not keep it.” A French officer +also mentions the taking of the Eagle by the +Blues and its recovery.</p> + +<p>About the time that the ill-fated 45th of the +Line and the 105th lost their Eagles in front +of Picton’s Division, another Eagle elsewhere +had a narrow escape from capture, being saved +by its colonel’s personal act. That took place +in front of Hougoumont, with the Eagle of the +1st of the Line. The regiment was in Jerome +Bonaparte’s Division in front of Hougoumont, +and had made an attack on the outbuildings +of the château, which the defenders had beaten off. +At the last moment, as the French assault recoiled, +the Eagle-bearer and his two fellows<span class="pagenum" id="Page_405">405</span> +were shot down together. The battalion fell +back, leaving the Eagle lying on the ground in +the open, beside its dead guardians. For the +moment, apparently, the British defenders did +not see the trophy thus left within their reach. +Before they did so Colonel Cubières, of the 1st +of the Line, discovered its loss and saw where it +had fallen. He ran out by himself, picked up +the Eagle, and, escaping harm of any kind, carried +it back to the regiment. According to M. +Thiers, “the English officers checked the fire +of their men while the deed was being performed, +in admiration of his courage”—an interesting +detail in the story if true!</p> + +<h3 id="toclink_405"><span class="smcap">The Last Attack and After: The Eagles of the Guard</span></h3> + +<div class="sidenote">THE EAGLES OF THE GUARD</div> + +<p>In the third episode in the story of Waterloo +we strike another note. How the Eagles of the +Guard fared in the closing hour of the battle, +when Napoleon staked his last desperate throw +and lost—that final phase remains to tell.</p> + +<p>Fourteen Eagles of the Guard were on the +field. All came safely through the battle and +survived the risks and perils of the night retreat +that followed, to recross the frontier with the +rallied remnants of the stricken host. Only +three, however, are now in existence: one at +the Invalides; the other two in private keeping +in France. The remaining eleven were, some<span class="pagenum" id="Page_406">406</span> +of them at any rate, destroyed by the officers +on the final disbanding of the Grand Army, +refusing to give them up to the emissaries of the +Bourbon <i lang="fr">régime</i> sent to receive them for conveyance +to Vincennes, where as many as could +be got hold of among the regimental Eagles +underwent their fate by fire.</p> + +<p>Five Eagles went forward in the great last-hope +attack of the Guard against the centre of +Wellington’s position, the overthrow of which +cost Napoleon the battle. They were the Eagles +of the 3rd and 4th Grenadiers of the Guard, and +of three regiments of the Chasseurs of the Guard, +the 1st, 3rd, and 4th. All five are among those +that have disappeared since Waterloo.</p> + +<p>Close beside the Eagle of the 3rd Grenadiers +it was that Marshal Ney fought so heroically, as +he led in person the historic grand attack of the +Imperial Guard. His fifth horse was shot under +Ney in the advance, and he then drew his sword +and strode forward on foot alongside the Eagle-bearer. +So he led until the column reeled back +and broke under the sudden attack of the British +Guards across the crest-line of the slope. At +that moment Ney lost his footing, and fell in the +confusion. “He disappeared,” says a French +officer, “just at the moment that the Guard gave +way. But he was up again in a moment, and +with voice and gesture strove his hardest to rally +them.” It was to no purpose. The great +column wavered, swayed, and then fell apart in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_407">407</span> +disorder. “Mitraillée, fusillée, reduit à quinze +ou seize cent hommes, la Garde recule!” Ney +was swept off his feet in the retreat, and borne +backwards; carried away in the rush of the +fugitives, struggling helplessly in the crowd. +“Bathed in perspiration, his eyes blazing with +indignation, foaming at the mouth, his uniform +torn open, one of his epaulets cut away by a +sabre-slash, his star of the Legion of Honour +dented by a bullet, bleeding, muddy, heroic, +holding a broken sword in his hand, he shouted +to the men, ‘See how a Marshal of France dies +on the battlefield!’ But it was in vain: he +did not die.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NEY’S LAST HEROIC EFFORT</div> + +<p>Then Ney, mounting a trooper’s horse, made +for a regiment near, whose men were falling +back in fair order, with their Eagle borne defiantly +in their midst—the 8th of the Line. With +them was a battalion of the 95th, also displaying +their Eagle gallantly as they, too, tried to withdraw +in regular formation. Ney made them +face about, and put himself at their head. +He appealed to them in the words he had used +just before, when trying to rally the Guard: +“Suivez moi, camarades. Je vais vous montrer +comment meurt un Maréchal de France sur le +champ de bataille!” The men turned to face +the enemy, with a shout of “Vive le Maréchal +Ney!” They charged forward towards where +some of the red-coats of Kempt’s and Pack’s +infantry showed themselves in the van of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_408">408</span> +pursuers. But at the same instant some horsemen +of a Prussian hussar regiment dashed at +them at a gallop. The sight of the horsemen +was too much for their shattered nerves. They +turned their backs and ran off panic-stricken. +Ney’s last rallied band broke and fled, with cries +of “Sauve qui peut!”</p> + +<p>Yet not quite all. A small band of the men +of the 8th kept round their Eagle, and retired in +order, still holding it up. <i lang="fr">Chef de Bataillon</i> +Rullière, of the 95th, snatched the Eagle of that +regiment from its bearer, broke the staff, and +carried off the Eagle concealed under his coat.</p> + +<p>Ney’s sixth horse was shot under him as the +men turned. Again getting to his feet he staggered +on in the midst of the crowd of fugitives +until he at last found his way into one of the +rallying squares formed in rear by some of +the survivors of the Guard. There now, beside +the Eagle of the 4th Chasseurs of the Guard, +Ney made his last stand at Waterloo—at bay, +desperate. He fought in the square, “shoulder +to shoulder with the rest, shooting and thrusting +with a musket and bayonet he got hold of,” as +the square slowly made its retreat off the field, +until in the darkness it broke up, and the men +dispersed. The devotion of a mounted officer +who met the marshal on foot, utterly worn out +and by himself, and gave up his horse to him, +enabled Ney in the end to reach a place of safety.</p> + +<p>Napoleon was watching the Second Column<span class="pagenum" id="Page_409">409</span> +of the Guard at the moment of its disaster. +How the overwhelming catastrophe burst on his +gaze, abruptly and all unexpectedly, makes one +of the most dramatic of historic scenes. At +that moment Napoleon was about to lead in +person the reserve of the Guard, three battalions +which he had retained near him throughout, to +reinforce the fighting line.</p> + +<p>“While they were being marshalled for the +attack—one battalion deployed, with a battalion +in close column on either side—he kept his +glass turned upon the conflict in which he intended +to bear a part.</p> + +<p>“Suddenly his hand fell.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON IS HORROR-STRICKEN</div> + +<p>“‘Mais ils sont mêlée!’ he ejaculated in a +tone of horror, his voice hollow and quavering. +He addressed his aide de camp, Count Flahault, +who was under no illusion as to what troops were +meant. The sun had just set. There was no +radiance to prevent all men seeing what was +going on out there in the north-west.”</p> + +<p>Immediately on that followed the general +collapse: the almost instantaneous break up of +the French army all along the line.</p> + +<p>“First the trampled corn in rear was sprinkled, +then it was covered, with a confused mass of men +moving south; behind and among them the +sabres of Vivian’s hussars and Vandeleur’s +dragoons rose and fell, hacking and hewing on +every side.</p> + +<p>“‘La Garde recule!’ sounded like a sob in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_410">410</span> +the motionless ranks of the Old Guard (the three +battalions near Napoleon), and sped with astonishing +swiftness to every part of the field. +‘La Garde recule!’ cried the men of Allix, +Donzelot, and Marcognet, and began to melt +away from the vantage ground they had recently +so nobly won. ‘La Garde recule!’ whispered +Reille’s columns, still unbroken on the left. +Far on the right, Durutte’s battalions, suddenly +confronted by the heads of Ziethen’s columns, +where they had been told to look for Grouchy’s, +caught up the word. Next, the uneasy murmur, +‘Nous sommes trahis!’ was heard—for was +there not treason? Had not General Bourmont +and his staff, and other officers, openly gone over +to the enemy? ‘La Garde recule!’ Oh +fatal cry! soon swelling into one still more +dreadful—last tocsin of the soldier’s agony—‘Sauve +qui peut!’ Papelotte and La Haye +were abandoned, and from the east, as already +from the west, the wreck of the Last Army +rolled towards the Charleroi road.”</p> + +<p>The Eagle that was close beside Napoleon at +that most awful moment of his life, as he saw +his Guard break and fall back in confusion, is at +the Invalides now. It is the Eagle of the 2nd +Grenadiers of the Guard; one of the three reserve +battalions that were forming up to go +forward at the moment of the catastrophe.</p> + +<figure id="i_410" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 34em;"> + <img src="images/i_410.jpg" width="2688" height="2698" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p class="larger">WATERLOO</p> + <p>THE FINAL PHASE</p> + <p class="smaller">Sketch Plan to show the attack and the defeat of + the columns of the Guard.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Napoleon watched the panic begin to spread +over the field for a brief moment. Then he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_411">411</span> +roused himself to try to meet the impending +crash. First he formed the Guard battalions +nearest him into square. Then he sent off his +last remaining gallopers, in the futile hope that +it might be possible to rally the men of the nearest +divisions to him before they had time to scatter. +But the effort was hopeless: it was beyond +possibility to stem the raging torrent of frantic +soldiers, now in full flight on every side, racing +past in the direction of Jemmapes. The lie that +he had sent round just before the Guard started +on its charge, that Grouchy had arrived, recoiled +on his own head. The panic-stricken soldiers +would not be stopped. “They had been told +that Grouchy had arrived. They had found +instead Ziethen’s terrible Prussians. Now they +would listen to nothing. The fugitives streamed +past, rushing on and bellowing as they went +that they had been betrayed and that all was +lost!”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">NAPOLEON SHELTERS IN A SQUARE</div> + +<p>After that Napoleon rode into the nearest +square, and took shelter in its midst. It was +that of the Second Battalion of the 2nd Chasseurs +of the Guard. The square moved off at once +towards La Belle Alliance, and, turning there +into the Charleroi road, took its way back towards +Rossomme, half a mile in rear, where the +two battalions of the 1st and 2nd Grenadiers +of the Old Guard had remained all day.</p> + +<p>At Rossomme Napoleon passed to the square +of the First Battalion of the 1st Grenadiers of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_412">412</span> +Old Guard. The two battalions of the Guard +there had already formed in squares of their +own accord, with their Eagles held on high in +their midst. They were joined by the 1st +Chasseurs of the Guard, coming up from Caillou, +a short distance in rear. The three squares held +their ground firmly, beating off the headmost of +the Prussian attacks. They remained halted +until, on some of the Prussian artillery nearing +the place, Napoleon himself gave the order to +move away in retreat.</p> + +<p>At a slow step, the drums rolling out the +stately “Grenadier’s March,” sullen and defiant, +the Old Guard, with Napoleon in the midst of +the square of the 1st Grenadiers, set forth on +their last journey. Their Eagle was still borne +on high in their midst—close beside Napoleon. +It is the Eagle that is now treasured in Paris by +the descendants of General Petit, the commander +of the Grenadiers at Waterloo—the Eagle of the +Adieu of Fontainebleau; the same Eagle that +led the Guard at Austerlitz and Jena, at Eylau +and Friedland, at Wagram, and throughout all +the horrors of the retreat from Moscow. It +escorted Napoleon off the field after Waterloo.</p> + +<figure id="i_412" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 29em;"> + <img src="images/i_412.jpg" width="2302" height="1818" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>THE SQUARE OF THE OLD GUARD AT BAY AFTER WATERLOO.</p> + <p>From the picture by H. Bellangé.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<div class="sidenote">THE OLD GUARD MARCH AWAY</div> + +<p>The Grenadiers of the Guard escorted Napoleon +for four miles from the battlefield, beating +back repeated efforts that were made by Prussian +cavalry to break up their ranks. To +maintain their formation to the last was their +only hope of safety; and terrible were the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_413">413</span> +measures they took to safeguard themselves +and keep their ranks intact. Friend or foe who +attempted to get in among them was mercilessly +shot down. “Nous tirons,” describes General +Petit, “sur tout ce qui presentaient, amis et +ennemis, de peur de laisser entrer les uns +avec les autres.” They took their way along +the Charleroi road; the 2nd Grenadiers marching +on the <i lang="fr">chaussée</i> itself, the 1st Grenadiers to the +left of the road. With marvellous calmness and +cool courage did the veterans proceed on their +way. “Every few minutes they stopped to +rectify the alignment of the faces of the square, +and to keep off pursuit by means of rapid and +well-sustained musketry.”</p> + +<p>Erckmann-Chatrian’s soldier of the 25th, who +was amongst the fugitives streaming across +country on either side of the high-road, tells +how he heard from afar the stately drum-beat +of their march. “In the distance <i lang="fr">La Grenadière</i> +sounded like an alarm-bell in the midst of a +conflagration. Yet, indeed, this was much more +terrible—it was the last drum-beat of France! +This rolling of the drums of the Old Guard +sounding forth in the midst of disaster had in it +something infinitely pathetic as well as terrible.”</p> + +<p>And of the scene with Napoleon in the square +of the Grenadiers as it tramped its way along, +we have this from Thiers: “With sombre but +calm countenance, he rode in the centre of the +square, his far-seeing glance as it were probing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_414">414</span> +futurity and realising that more than a battle +had been lost that day. He only interrupted +his gloomy meditations to inquire now and again +for his lieutenants, some of whom were among +the wounded near him. The soldiers all round +seemed stupefied by the disaster. The men +moved stolidly on, almost without a word to one +another. Napoleon alone seemed to be able to +speak; occasionally addressing a few words to +the Major-General (Soult), or to his brother +Jerome, who rode beside him. Now and again, +when harassed by the Prussian squadrons, the +square would halt, and the side that was attacked +fired on the assailants, after which the sad and +silent march was resumed.”</p> + +<p>Throughout the march, keeping their position +at a little distance from the squares of the Grenadiers, +rode the Horse-Grenadiers and the Mounted +Chasseurs of the Guard. One of the finest displays +of soldierly endurance ever made, perhaps, +was that given by the Horse-Grenadiers of the +Guard as the magnificent regiment left the field, +“moving at a walk, in close columns and in +perfect order; as if disdaining to allow itself +to be contaminated by the confusion that prevailed +around it.” So describes a British officer +who saw them ride away. They beat off all attacks +and kept steadily and compactly together. +“They literally walked from the field in the most +orderly manner, moving majestically along, with +their Eagle in their midst, as though merely<span class="pagenum" id="Page_415">415</span> +marching to take up their ground for a field-day.” +This, further, is what a British officer of +Light Dragoons, who came up with them in the +pursuit, says of their heroic demeanour: “Seeing +the men of our brigade approach, they halted, +formed line, and fired a volley—a rare thing for +dragoons—and waited a few minutes, as much +as to say, ‘We are ready to receive your charge +if you are so disposed’; then finding we did not +advance, they again continued their slow retreat.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A FAMOUS EAGLE NOW IN FRANCE</div> + +<p>The Eagle of the Horse-Grenadiers has disappeared +since Waterloo: that of the Mounted +Chasseurs of the Guard is in existence, in France, +in the custody of a member of the Bonaparte +family. It was preserved by General Lefebvre-Desnouettes, +Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, +who commanded the Chasseurs at Waterloo. +Carried in safety to France, the Eagle was then +taken to America, when the General, on whose +head a price had been placed, escaped across the +Atlantic in the autumn of 1815. He presented +it later to Joseph Bonaparte, in the possession +of whose representatives the Eagle is now. It +still bears attached to the staff the green silk +guidon-shaped flag, inscribed “Chasseurs de la +Garde,” and embroidered with gold and silver +laurel-leaves, which it bore at Waterloo.</p> + +<p>Napoleon quitted the square of Grenadiers +about two miles from Jemmapes. By that time +the Prussians had ceased their attacks on the +Guard for easier prey elsewhere. He rode on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_416">416</span> +at a little distance ahead; the battalions of the +Guard at the same time re-forming into columns +of march. They kept with the Emperor until +the neighbourhood of Jemmapes was reached. +There Napoleon and Soult and the others quitted +the road, betaking themselves across the fields +to make their way as best they could to Charleroi, +whence Napoleon was able to continue his flight +in a post-chaise.</p> + +<p>Yet another of the Waterloo Eagles of the +Guard with a story to be told of it was that of +the 2nd Chasseurs—one of the Eagles that have +now disappeared. How the Eagle was saved +from capture, and finally brought through to +safety, recalls a remarkable and dramatic +incident of the battle.</p> + +<p>The 2nd Chasseurs was one of the twelve +battalions of the Young Guard detached by +Napoleon late in the afternoon to assist General +Lobau and the Sixth Army Corps to keep off +the Prussian flank attack. Between them they +saved the army from an even worse catastrophe +than that which actually befell Napoleon +at Waterloo—from having to surrender. For +nearly an hour after the rout had become general, +the Sixth Corps, and the battalions of the Young +Guard assisting it, by their heroic resistance, +prevented the Prussians from breaking in on the +only line of retreat open to the defeated army, +and enabled Napoleon to get clear away.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">TO SAVE THE REST OF THE ARMY</div> + +<p>“Lobau,” to quote the words of a modern<span class="pagenum" id="Page_417">417</span> +military writer, “recognised to the full that he +alone interposed between the Prussians and the +French line of retreat. If he failed, retreat would +be cut off, and the army taken in rear as well as +in front and flank; not a man would get away. +The fate of the Army, the Emperor, of France, +rested on Lobau at the supreme moment, and +splendidly he did his duty. Dusk had given way +to dark, only illuminated by the blazing ruins of +Planchenoit, before Lobau retired, but by that +time the rear of the flying army had cleared the +point of peril, and comparative safety was assured. +Still steady, and in good order, he took post on +the high-road to close the line of flight and block +pursuit, and the gallant remnant of the Sixth +Corps and the Young Guard had to bear the full +fury of the combined advance of the enemy. +Nothing at Waterloo can surpass for coolness, +courage, and determination the heroic resistance +of Lobau.”</p> + +<p>It was in the village of Planchenoit that the +2nd Chasseurs fought side by side with the other +battalions of the Guard in that quarter under +the leadership of General Pelet, to whom Napoleon +had specially entrusted the defence of the post. +Planchenoit was defended foot by foot at the +point of the bayonet against ever-increasing +numbers of the Prussians. The 2nd Chasseurs +were the last troops of all to quit, after contesting +the village house by house, cottage by +cottage, fighting the Prussians man to man<span class="pagenum" id="Page_418">418</span> +among the bushes and walls of the gardens, +and finally in the churchyard, where they made +their last stand at bay, desperately combating +among the tombstones. Fresh Prussians kept +coming up to join in the attack, but the 2nd +Chasseurs, their Eagle defiantly displayed in the +midst of the battling throng, resisted stubbornly. +When at the last they drew off, the whole of +Planchenoit was a mass of flames, blazing from +end to end.</p> + +<p>There remained a rough half-mile of open +ground before they could get to the Charleroi +road—the line of retreat along which, by that +time, a large proportion of the fugitives from the +main army had got away. The 2nd Chasseurs, +in rear of all, as they left their last shelter in +Planchenoit and were beyond the churchyard +walls, were swept down on by a furious rush of +Prussian cavalry, and half the regiment was +cut to pieces. The moon was rising by that +time, and the Prussians had sufficient light for +their deadly work.</p> + +<p>The survivors, broken up, and thrown in +irremediable disorder, could after that only run +for their lives. But they still bore their Eagle +among them. It was draped under a black cloth. +Somebody, in some house in the village, as they +were falling back to the churchyard, had, it +would appear, caught up a strip of crape or black +cloth, and hastily wrapped it round the +Eagle to conceal it in that way from hostile<span class="pagenum" id="Page_419">419</span> +eyes. The Eagle-bearer refused to break the +Eagle from the staff, and hide it under his +coat, as others had done elsewhere with other +Eagles.</p> + +<p>With the Eagle so covered, a small party of +devoted soldiers were accompanying their +standard as the survivors of the Prussian +charge hastened towards the Charleroi road, +when there came yet another attack from the +Prussian horse, who charged among them and +trampled them down as the troopers slashed +mercilessly at the fugitives. At that moment +the Eagle and its guardians found themselves +near the General. They were isolated and cut +off in the midst of the wild <i lang="fr">mêlée</i>. Pelet caught +sight of them, desperately striving to protect +the Eagle-bearer, who was frantically clutching +at the Eagle-staff as he held on to it and tried +to get through.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“SAVE YOUR EAGLE OR DIE ROUND IT!”</div> + +<p>Pelet made for the group, shouting at the top +of his voice: “Rally, Chasseurs! Rally on me! +Save your Eagle or die round it!” (“A moi, +Chasseurs! A moi! Sauvons l’Aigle ou mourons +autour d’elle!”)</p> + +<p>In the midst of the frenzied tumult his cry for +help was somehow heard by the men ahead. +They turned back in their flight and fought their +way to the threatened Eagle. Others pressed +round to join them, until by degrees was formed +a compact body between two and three hundred +in number, who with their bayonets kept the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">420</span> +cavalry back as they fought their way towards +the high-road step by step.</p> + +<p>More than once they had to halt and face +about, as the Prussian horsemen in their repeated +attempts to capture the Eagle circled +round them, and dashed in at them again and +again, but, “forming what is usually termed a +rallying square, and lowering their bayonets, +they succeeded in repulsing the charges of the +cavalry.” At one point in the retreat “some +guns were brought to bear upon them, and +subsequently a brisk fire of musketry; but +notwithstanding the awful sacrifice which was +thus offered up in defence of their precious +charge, they succeeded in reaching the main +line of retreat, and saved alike the Eagle and +the Honour of the Regiment.”</p> + +<div class="tb">* * * * *</div> + +<p>The Eagles of the Guard all came safely +through the turmoil and horrors of the night of +the rout after Waterloo. And—it seems incredible, +but the fact is vouched for by several +officers—so did the other Eagles of the army. +All at Waterloo, it is declared, were brought +back to France, except the two taken from the +ill-fated 45th and the 105th of the Line by the +Scots Greys and the Royals. Those two only +remained as trophies in the hands of the victors. +General Charras, whose good faith we have no +right to impugn, declares the fact in explicit +language, and another officer relates how, on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">421</span> +day after the battle, when the rallied remains +of the army assembled at Phillippeville and +Maubeuge, “the soldiers wept tears of joy at +learning how many of their Eagles had been +saved.”</p> + +<div class="sidenote">“MAKE WAY FOR THE EAGLE!”</div> + +<p>Says General Charras, describing how the +Eagles were saved that night: “Two standards +had been lost on the battlefield. There was +none other lost. In the crowd of disbanded +horsemen and foot-soldiers, marching and running +pell-mell, some still armed, others having +thrown away or broken their sabres and guns +under the impulse of rage, of despair, of terror, +there were to be seen, by the pale light of the +moon, little groups of officers of every grade, +and of soldiers, spontaneously collected round the +standard of each regiment, and advancing sabre +in hand, bayonet on the gun, resolute and imperturbable +in the midst of the general disorder. +‘Place au drapeau!’ cried they when the rout +arrested their march, and this cry always sufficed +to cause the very men who had become deaf to +every word of command and to all discipline +to stand aside before them and open a passage. +They had often to endure peril, they had often +to repulse the enemy’s attacks, but they saved +their conquered flags from the attempts and +hands of the conqueror.”</p> + +<p>Grouchy also saved all his Eagles—although +one had its adventures in the attack on Wavre, and +was nearly lost to the Prussians. The story<span class="pagenum" id="Page_422">422</span> +this time is not exactly creditable to some of +those concerned; but the regiment in question, +it must be said, had but few old soldiers in its +ranks, having been made up almost entirely of +recently levied and half-trained conscripts. Also, +it had just previously been very roughly handled +by the Prussians on the battlefield of Ligny. +There, indeed, it had been charged by cavalry, +and had suffered severely. The unfortunate +regiment was the 70th of the Line.</p> + +<p>In Grouchy’s fighting at Wavre they were in +Vandamme’s Division, which had orders to carry +the bridge over the Dyle and storm the town, +held by the Prussians in considerable force. To +give the 70th a chance of getting their revenge +for Ligny, and winning back the old good name +of the regiment, Vandamme specially chose them +for the post of honour in the attack; appointing +the 70th to lead the van in the preliminary +storming of the bridge. They led the attack, +dashing forward bravely enough at the outset, +and got halfway across. Then they stopped +short, their ranks decimated by the furious +fire with which the Prussians received them from +the houses on the opposite bank, hesitated, +went on a few paces, stopped again, and finally +ran back in panic.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">SAVED BY ANOTHER REGIMENT</div> + +<p>The sight of the sudden rout maddened their +leader, Colonel Maury. Stooping from his charger, +he snatched hold of the Eagle from its bearer, +and held it up before the men. “What! you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">423</span> +scoundrels! You dishonoured me two days +ago; you are again disgracing me to-day! +Forward! Follow me!” (“Comment, canaille! +Vous m’avez deshonoré avant-hier, et vous +recidiviez aujourdhui! En avant! Suivez +moi!”) Brandishing the Eagle the colonel +turned his horse to ride back across the bridge. +The drums beat the charge: the regiment followed. +But all was to no purpose. As fate +willed it, the gallant colonel fell, shot dead before +he could get across, and at the sight of his fall +panic again seized the regiment. They ran +wildly back again, leaving the dead colonel’s +body and the Eagle lying halfway across the +bridge. The Eagle was rescued and brought +back by the men of another regiment. Had it +not been for the sudden rush forward of the +leading company of the 22nd of the Line, the +regiment supporting the 70th in the attack, the +Eagle would have been taken. Several Prussian +soldiers had indeed already run forward to pick +it up, and their leader was in the act of doing so +when the foremost of the rescuers arrived, beat +back the Prussians, and recovered the fallen +Eagle.</p> + +<p>The failure of this one regiment at Wavre is +the only recorded instance of bad behaviour +before the enemy in the Waterloo campaign. +And for it too, in view of the composition of the +regiment in question, some allowance may surely +be made.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">424</span></p> + +<h3 id="toclink_424"><span class="smcap">The Eagles announce Victory to London</span></h3> + +<p>The last of the four episodes is supplemental: +the story of how Wellington’s Eagle-trophies +themselves first announced Waterloo to London.</p> + +<p>The two Eagles were sent to England immediately +after the battle, together with Wellington’s +Waterloo despatch, by Major the Hon. Henry +Percy, of the 11th Light Dragoons, who was +almost the only member of Wellington’s staff +who went through the battle unwounded. He +arrived in London, displaying the Eagles from +his post-chaise as he travelled through the streets, +on the stroke of eleven o’clock on the night of +Wednesday, June 21.</p> + +<p>Up to then not a word had come from Wellington: +not a word of reliable news as to what +had happened had reached England. Rumours +of an early check to the French had arrived, +from unofficial sources, during the previous day, +but nothing more had been heard, and all London +was on tenterhooks of suspense.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">THE FIRST RUMOURS IN LONDON</div> + +<p>The battle was fought on Sunday the 18th. +But no news of it, or in regard to it, of any +kind reached England during either Monday or +Tuesday. There was no intelligence from the seat +of war at all. On the Wednesday morning the +<i>Times</i> announced vaguely that Napoleon had +struck the first blow unsuccessfully. A Mr. Sutton, +of Colchester, it said, the owner of packet-boats +running between Harwich and Ostend, had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">425</span> +forwarded a message to the effect that there +had been fighting on the 15th and 16th and +skirmishing on the 17th, and that a fresh battle +was beginning on the morning of the 18th. His +informant at Brussels had sent that news. There +was no more news until Wednesday afternoon, +when the <i>Sun</i> came out with a special edition +stating that the Government had received no despatches, +but that “a gentleman who left Ghent +on Monday, and two others from Brussels, brought +word that Sunday’s battle had been successful.” +All London was in the streets until between ten +and eleven that night, in a state of eager expectation; +but repeated inquiries at the Horse +Guards, at the War Office, and at the Mansion +House only met with the answer—“No news +yet.”</p> + +<p>It was just as the crowds were dispersing, +tired of waiting, and taking it as certain that +nothing could be known until the morning, as +the clocks were on the stroke of eleven, that +Major Percy arrived in London.</p> + +<p>“He left the Duchess of Richmond’s ball,” +says his niece, Lady Bagot, in whose words the +story may best be told, “on the night before the +battle, and had no time to change his dress, +or even his shoes, before going into action. +When he received orders to go to England with +the despatches, he posted to Antwerp, and there +took the first sailing boat he could find to convey +him to Dover, where he landed in the afternoon.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_426">426</span> +He found that a report of the victory had preceded +him there. The Rothschilds had chartered +a fast sloop to lie off Antwerp, and bring +the first news of the battle to the English shore—news +which was to be used for Stock Exchange +purposes.</p> + +<p>“My uncle’s confirmation of the rumour of a +great victory was received with the greatest +relief and enthusiasm. At that time the hotel-keeper +at Dover, a certain Mr. Wright, had the +monopoly of the posting arrangements between +that port and London. He immediately placed +his best horses at my uncle’s disposal, and despatched +an express to order fresh relays all along +the road. Besides the despatches my uncle +took the two captured Eagles of the Imperial +Guard with him. These, being too large to go +into the carriage, were placed so as to stick out +of the windows, one on each side. In this manner +he drove straight to the Horse Guards, +where he learnt that the Commander-in-Chief, +at that time the Duke of York, was dining out. +He next proceeded to Lord Castlereagh’s, and +was told that he and the Duke of York were +both dining with a lady in St. James’s Square. +To this house he drove, and there learnt that the +Prince Regent was also of the dinner-party.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">PRESENTED TO THE PRINCE REGENT</div> + +<p>“Requesting to be shown immediately into +the dining-room, he entered that apartment +bearing the despatches and the Eagles with him. +He was covered with dust and mud, and, though<span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">427</span> +unwounded himself, bore the marks of battle +upon his coat. The dessert was being placed +upon the table when he entered, and as soon as +the Prince Regent saw him he commanded the +ladies to leave the room. The Prince Regent +then held out his hand, saying, ‘Welcome, +Colonel Percy!’ ‘Go down on one knee,’ said +the Duke of York to my uncle, ‘and kiss hands +for the step you have obtained.’ Before the +despatch could be read, my uncle was besieged +with inquiries of various prominent officers +engaged, and had to answer ‘Dead’ or ‘Severely +wounded’ so often that the Prince Regent burst +into tears. The Duke of York, though greatly +moved, was more composed.</p> + +<p>“By this time my uncle was exhausted from +fatigue, and begged the Prince’s permission to +go to his father’s house in Portman Square. +The crowd was so great in St. James’s Square, +that he had the greatest difficulty in getting +through it and reaching my grandfather’s house, +which was soon surrounded by anxious multitudes +begging for news of relations and friends. +My uncle told them that the victory was complete, +but that the number killed and wounded +was very large. He told them that he would +answer more questions next morning.”</p> + +<p>The Eagles themselves in fact announced the +victory in London. People in the streets saw +the chaise as it passed on its way with its horses +at a gallop, racing at full speed along the Old<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">428</span> +Kent Road, across Westminster Bridge, and +through Parliament Street to Whitehall, “the +gleaming lamps showing a French Eagle and +the French flags projecting from each window.”</p> + +<p>The news spread like wild-fire, and before +Colonel Percy could reach the house where the +Prince Regent was dining—Mrs. Boehm’s, in +St. James’s Square—South London was +flocking over Westminster Bridge to Whitehall. +The West End heard the news immediately +afterwards, and everybody hurried out again +into the streets.</p> + +<p>It became quickly known where the chaise +had gone after leaving the Horse Guards, and +promptly an ever-increasing crowd hurried off +there. Before the despatch had been read an +enormous mass of people had assembled in St. +James’s Square, outside the house. They were +in time to hear the cheering by the company inside +the house that greeted the reading of the +despatch; the cheers were instantly echoed back, +accompanied by an outburst of vociferous shouting +followed by a tremendous chorus of “God +save the King!” The windows of the dining-room +were open, and a moment later the two +Eagles with their tricolor flags were thrust +through. They were held up, with candles at +either side, to show them plainly, so that all +might know that the victory had been decisive.</p> + +<p>“For a few minutes dustmen’s bells and +watchmen’s rattles were sprung all over London.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_429">429</span> +Liquor was produced at many a street-corner, +and toasts were drunk to Wellington and confusion +to Bonaparte.”<a id="FNanchor_45" href="#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">45</a></p> + +<div class="sidenote">HOW PARIS HEARD THE NEWS</div> + +<p>The closing scene took place on Thursday, +January 18, 1816—on the “General Thanksgiving<span class="pagenum" id="Page_430">430</span> +Day for the Restoration of Peace.” The +two Eagles were on that day publicly paraded +at the Horse Guards and laid up in the Chapel +Royal, Whitehall, with ceremonies similar to +those that attended the reception of the Barrosa +and Salamanca trophies. Again the battalions +of the Brigade of Guards in England, with their +bands “in State clothing,” turned out to take +part in the display, the Eagles, as before, being +made to march round the square and do formal +obeisance to the British flag by being prostrated +in the dust before the Colour of the King’s +Guard of the day, at which sight, as on the +former occasions, both the troops and the crowd +of spectators “instantaneously gave three loud +huzzas with the most enthusiastic feeling.” +The Duke of York, as Commander-in-Chief, presided +this time at the parade. Two sergeants +of the Grenadier and Third Guards who had been +wounded at Waterloo were selected to carry the +Eagles; escorted by a picked company of eighty-four +officers and men “drawn from among the +heroic defenders of Hougoumont on the field of +battle.” Lifeguardsmen and Blues just arrived +from the Army of Occupation, in France, assisted +the Foot Guards on parade.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">IN THE CHAPEL ROYAL, WHITEHALL</div> + +<p>The escort entered the Chapel Royal by +the two doors in equal divisions, the band playing +and marching up to the steps of the Communion +Table, where they filed off to right and +left. As soon as the band had ceased, the two<span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">431</span> +sergeants bearing the Eagles approached the +Altar and fixed upon it their consecrated banners. +Both the Chaplain-General to the Forces (Archdeacon +Owen) and the Bishop of London, with +two Royal Chaplains (“the Rev. Mr. Jones and +the Rev. Mr. Howlett”), officiated in the service; +the Bishop preaching a special sermon, with for +his text Psalm xx. verses 7 and 8:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“<em>Some trust in chariots and some in horses: +but we will remember the name of the Lord +our God.</em></p> + +<p>“<em>They are brought down and fallen: but +we are risen and stand upright.</em>”</p> +</div> + +<p>“After the customary blessing, the band +played ‘God save the King!’ the whole congregation +standing. Among those who attended were +a considerable number of persons of fashion and +distinction in public life, the Dukes of Gloucester +and York, and the Earl of Liverpool, and several +officers of the Army and Navy, with many +elegant and distinguished females.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">432</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV<br> + +<span class="subhead">AFTER THE DOWNFALL</span></h2> +</div> + +<p class="in0"><span class="firstword">The</span> remnant of the Waterloo army, as mustered +and officially reported to Paris on July 1, +1815, after it had been withdrawn by convention +with the Allies beyond the Loire, numbered some +23,000 of all arms.<a id="FNanchor_46" href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">46</a> The soldiers had their +Eagles with them. The Eagles were still the +standards of the army, although all was over with +Napoleon, and he had set out on his flight from +Malmaison to the coast near Rochfort—to find +the <i>Bellerophon</i> awaiting him there.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">PRESENTED AFTER WATERLOO</div> + +<p>The last occasion on which an Eagle of Napoleon’s +Army had its part on parade was one day,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_433">433</span> +near the Loire, with a regiment not at Waterloo. +It was when the news of Napoleon’s abdication +reached its colonel. He was Colonel Bugeaud +of the 14th of the Line, in after years the famous +Marshal who gained Algeria for France. As it +happened, the 14th had not long received their +Eagle from the “<i lang="fr">Champ de Mai</i>.” It had been +brought by the deputation of the regiment sent +to Paris to receive it at the hands of the Emperor, +but had not yet been formally presented on +parade, owing to the regiment being on the +march from the south-eastern frontier of France. +The 14th joined the rallied remnants of the +Waterloo army to the south of the Loire, and +there Colonel Bugeaud made the presentation +of the Eagle. For the occasion he made use of +the Napoleonic formula of address at such +ceremonies, but with a variation to suit the +altered situation. He took the opportunity to +remind the regiment that, if the Chief had fallen, +they yet owed allegiance to their country. +“Soldiers of the 14th,” began the colonel, “here +is your Eagle. It is in the name of the nation +that I present it to you. If the Emperor, as it is +stated, is no longer our Sovereign, France remains. +It is France who confides this Eagle to +you as your standard; it is ever to be your +talisman of victory. Swear that as long as a +soldier of the 14th exists no enemy’s hand shall +touch it!” “We swear it!” responded the +soldiers all together, and then the officers stepped<span class="pagenum" id="Page_434">434</span> +forward in front of the ranks, waving their +swords and again shouting, “We swear it!”</p> + +<p>The end for the Eagles of Napoleon came on +August 3, 1815. On that day the Ministerial +decree was promulgated, abolishing them and +the tricolor flag, and disbanding the entire +Army. The white Bourbon flag was restored +once more, with a new form of Army organisation, +which substituted “Departmental Legions” +in the place of regiments. As in the year before, +it was notified that all Eagles were to be sent to +the Artillery dépôt at Vincennes for destruction +there, according to law—the metal of the Eagles +to be melted down, their silken tricolor flags +to be burned.</p> + +<p>The date of the final disbandment was fixed +for September 30, and in almost every case +there was a pathetic scene when the hour came +for the soldiers to take their last farewell of +their Eagles. “On the day of the disbandment,” +describes one officer, speaking of his own regiment, +“we all paraded, and the roll was called +for the last time. Then the Eagle was passed +solemnly down along the line, the band playing +a funeral march. The officers and soldiers, all +in tears, after saluting it, embraced and kissed +the Eagle. It was then escorted back to the +colonel’s quarters to be packed up in a box and +forwarded, according to the official instructions, +by carrier to the Ministry of War, thence to go +to Vincennes.”</p> + +<figure id="i_434" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img src="images/i_434.jpg" width="1872" height="2648" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"> + <p>LA REVUE DES MORTS.</p> + <p>From a picture by R. Demoraine.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_435">435</span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">ON THE DAY OF THE LAST PARADE</div> + +<p>In a few cases, where the senior officers knew +that they had nothing to hope for in the way of +consideration from the new <i lang="fr">régime</i>, the Eagles +were publicly broken up at the last parade by +the colonels themselves, with a blacksmith’s +hammer or pioneer’s hatchet, and the silken +tricolor flags cut to pieces, after which the metal +fragments, together with the shreds of the flags, +were distributed as keepsakes among officers +and men. That being done, all silently dispersed, +never to reassemble. In some other cases, as +had happened a twelvemonth previously, the +Eagles disappeared before the last parade—the +officers in the various regiments having +arranged for one of themselves to retain the +Eagle of the corps privately, either by agreement +or after drawing lots.</p> + +<p>It was in this way that what Napoleonic +Eagles and flags are now at the Invalides came +to be there. They were kept hidden by their +possessors until after the Revolution of July, +1830, and then, on the formation of the present +collection of standards and trophies being officially +sanctioned, most of those at present exhibited +were brought to light and presented, +either by those who had been treasuring them +in secret, or by their heirs and families.</p> + +<p>Three Waterloo Eagles are at the Invalides: +those of the 2nd Grenadiers of the Guard, and +of the 25th and 26th of the Line; these last two +of the regiments in the columns charged by the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_436">436</span> +Scots Greys and the Royals. In addition to the +Eagles, there are at the Invalides several standards +that saw service on the battlefield under Napoleon +and survived the vicissitudes of war: seven +flags of infantry, and as many of artillery, one +cuirassier standard, and five other cavalry standards. +Most of these originally bore Eagles on +their staves, but those Eagles are now wanting.<a id="FNanchor_47" href="#Footnote_47" class="fnanchor">47</a></p> + +<figure id="i_436" class="figcenter" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img src="images/i_436.jpg" width="4980" height="3041" alt="General map of Central and Eastern Europe"> + <figcaption> + <p class="p0 right smaller"><a href="images/i_436large.jpg">(<i>High-res</i>)</a></p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<div class="chapter footnotes"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES</h2> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">1</a> “The Eagle for each standard,” said Napoleon, going into +details with Berthier, “must be made ‘strong and light’—‘<i lang="fr">Il +convient de la rendre à la fois solide et légère.</i>’” “An Eagle +looking to its left, with wings half expanded, and with its talons +grasping a thunderbolt, as in the old Roman standard,” was the +approved design: the bird measuring eight inches from head +to feet, and in the spread of its wings from tip to tip, nine and +a half inches. Below the thunderbolt, as base and support, +was a tablet of brass, three inches square; bearing in raised +figures the number of the regiment. The weight of the whole—the +Eagle was to be of copper, gilded over—was just three and +a half pounds avoirdupois, and a stout oaken staff was provided, +eight feet long and painted <i lang="fr">bleu impérial</i>, to which the +silken regimental colour was attached; the flag being thirty-five +inches along the staff and thirty-three lengthwise, in the fly.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">2</a> The drawings made and laid before Napoleon at Saint-Cloud +are in existence, preserved among the archives of the Ministry +of War in Paris.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">3</a> All armies, as a fact, owe to Napoleon the introduction of +the practice of inscribing on the colours of a regiment the names +of battles in which that regiment has won honour; nowadays +an essential feature of the war-flags of all nations. It originated +after Napoleon’s first campaign as General Bonaparte, at the +head of the Army of Italy; and, together with the inscriptions +of quotations of passages from his despatches, was introduced +by him as a device to aid in developing military spirit and a +sense of <i lang="fr">esprit de corps</i> among the soldiers. The Directory +promptly censured the innovating young general for acting +without having first referred the matter to Paris. They sent +orders that all such inscriptions were to be forthwith deleted +from the flags. Napoleon, however, refused to obey; and the +regiments of his Army supported him. One and all protested +against the removal of their titles to fame, the first appearance +of which on their flags had been hailed with enthusiasm. In the +result the Directory deemed it advisable to accept the situation; +and after that, in turn, the flags of the regiments of the other +Republican armies elsewhere were authorised to display similar +decorations of their own. The practice in due course was +adopted in the other armies of Europe.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">4</a> The sending of an invitation to the Pope had been finally +decided on in July, after a series of protracted discussions in +the Imperial Council of State.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">5</a> One of the Eagles so presented by Napoleon on that afternoon +is now at Madrid. It is a trophy that is absolutely unique. +Upwards of a hundred and thirty of Napoleon’s Eagles, the +spoils of war, now decorate cathedrals, chapels, and arsenals in +the capitals of Europe; but there is only one French naval +Eagle now in existence, the trophy at Madrid; the Eagle of a +line-of-battleship named the <i>Atlas</i>.</p> + +<p>Every French line-of-battleship was represented on the Champ +de Mars and received its Eagle. “Tous les vaisseaux,” to quote +the words of M. Le Brun, in his <cite lang="fr">Guerres Maritimes de France</cite>, +“étaient gratifiés d’une aigle et d’un drapeau à leur nom, donnés +par l’Empereur à son couronnement, ou avaient assisté et prêté +serment des députations du port et de l’Armée Navale; chaque +vaisseau avait envoyé sa députation composée de trois officiers, +trois officiers mariners, et quatre gabiers ou matelots.”</p> + +<p>The Eagle of the <i>Atlas</i> was received on the Field of Mars by +the ship’s deputation of three officers, three warrant officers, and +four seamen, sent from Toulon, where the <i>Atlas</i> then was in +harbour with Admiral Villeneuve’s fleet, which Nelson was +watching. The <i>Atlas</i> crossed the Atlantic in the Toulon fleet +with Nelson in pursuit, returned to Europe, fought in the indecisive +battle off Cape Finisterre in July 1805, and was so +shattered in the fight, in which the ship only just escaped capture, +that she was left behind for repairs at Ferrol when Villeneuve +put to sea finally, to meet his fate at Trafalgar. The <i>Atlas</i> had +to remain there and fell into the hands of the Spaniards in 1808, +at the time of the national uprising against Napoleon. Thus +the naval Eagle passed into Spanish possession.</p> + +<p>The crew of the <i>Atlas</i> were taken by surprise, while the ship +was in dock at Ferrol, by the Spanish regiment of Navarre in +garrison there when the news of the Rising of May 2 at Madrid +reached Galicia. They were trapped and pounced down upon. +The ship was seized by a sudden assault, the officers and men +being made prisoners to the provincial Junta, before they had a +chance of concealing or making away with their Eagle.</p> + +<p>In other cases elsewhere, undoubtedly, the naval Eagles were +somehow disposed of surreptitiously. It is very remarkable +that not a single French naval Eagle came into British hands on +board the thirty odd ships of the line which we captured between +1805 and 1814 during the war with Napoleon. At Trafalgar, +according to a French officer on board the French flagship, the +<i>Bucentaure</i>, they had one. Describing the approach of the +<i>Victory</i>, at the outset of the battle, says the officer: “A collision +appeared inevitable. At that moment Villeneuve seized the +Eagle of the <i>Bucentaure</i> and displayed it to the sailors who surrounded +him. ‘My friends,’ he called out, ‘I am going to +throw this on board the English ship! We will go and fetch +it back or die!’ (‘Mes amis, je vais la jetter à bord du vaisseau +Anglais! Nous irons la reprendre ou mourir!’) Our seamen +responded to these noble words by their acclamations.” Admiral +Villeneuve, all the same, did not throw any Eagle on board the +<i>Victory</i>; nor was one found in the <i>Bucentaure</i> during the forty-eight +hours that the ship was in our possession after the battle, +previous to her wreck in the storm at the entrance to Cadiz +harbour. None too were found on board any of Nelson’s other +prizes. As to that, also, what was done with, or became of, the +Eagles of the five battalions serving as marines in the French +fleet at Trafalgar, officers and men of which were taken prisoners +by us—those of the 2nd of the Line, the 16th, 67th, 70th, and +79th?</p> + +<p>At the Field of Mars all eyes were on the six hundred and +fifty officers and men of the Naval Brigade as they marched round +the arena to receive their Eagles. Soldiers everybody was +familiar with. There was nothing particular about them which +had not been seen before. But a French sailor was not often seen +away from his port; and to Paris man-of-war’s men were things +quite new and strange. And, besides, were they not “nos braves +marins,” who were going to clear the way for the “Invasion +Flotilla” and the “Army of England”; to strike the blow that +should sweep from the path of the Emperor “ce terrible Nelson!” +One and all gazed in wonder at the sailors: the captains in their +long, swallow-tailed blue coatees barred with gold lace, white +breeches, and high top-boots; the sprightly “<i lang="fr">aspirants</i>,” or +midshipmen, in cut-away jackets and little round hats with +turned-up brims; the showy “Marins de la Garde,” wearing +broad-topped shakos edged with yellow braid, over which tall +red tufts nodded, red-cuffed and yellow-braided blue jackets, +and blue trousers striped with yellow; the other sailors of the +fleet in massed squads, in shiny black flat-brimmed hats, blue +jackets studded with brass buttons, red waistcoats, red, white, +and blue striped pantaloons, wide in the leg, “a l’Anglaise,” and +shoes with round steel buckles. Such a sight the good people +of Paris had never witnessed before, and they gazed at it rapturously +with all their eyes, and shouted their loudest “Vive la +Marine!”</p> + +<p>There was too, in addition to the sailors, one Eagle deputation +the strange appearance of which attracted special curiosity and +interest that afternoon. Everybody gazed in wonder at a +group of strapping-looking foreigners of all ages who marched +along by themselves, got up as light infantrymen, with green +tufted shakos and bright green uniforms. They belonged to +one of the Emperor’s newest creations; and were the Eagle +escort of Napoleon’s “Irish Legion.” They had come to the +Field of Mars to receive the only Eagle that Napoleon ever +gave to a foreign regiment in his service, with a flag designed +specially for them, of “Irish Green,” as it was described, of +silk, fringed with gold cord, inscribed on one side in letters +on gold: “Napoléon, Empereur des Français, à la Legion +Irlandaise,” and bearing on the other a golden harp, uncrowned, +and the words “L’Indépendance d’Irlande.” Two ex-patriated +men of good Irish family, refugees escaped from the penalty +of treason under English law for their part in the Rising +of ’98, seven years before, headed the deputation; a Captain +Tennant and a Captain William Corbet. In the ranks of +the regiment the deputation represented marched other +Irish refugees, who had shed English blood at Wexford and +Enniscorthy; fugitives from political justice before that who +had had a part in the attempted raids of Hoche and Humbert; +“Wild Geese” who had made their flight overseas after the +fiasco of 1803; and a sprinkling of French-born Irish, some of +whom had worn the red coat of the old Irish Brigade in the +Royal Army of France, grandsons of the men of Fontenoy. +Napoleon had enrolled his Irish Legion just a twelvemonth +before, in view of a descent on Ireland from Brest simultaneously +with the crossing of the Straits of Dover from Boulogne. At +the request of those who first came forward to enlist, he had +uniformed the corps in the “national” green, in place of the +former red coat which had been the historic colour of the old +French-Irish regiments ever since James the Second, under the +Treaty of Limerick, carried over to France the remains of the +army that had fought for him at the Boyne. The Eagle the Irish +Legion received on the Field of Mars faced Wellington in Spain, +and narrowly escaped falling into Blücher’s hands in Germany in +1813. It was hidden away after Fontainebleau, and reappeared +during the “Hundred Days,” finally to disappear after Waterloo.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="label">6</a> Pigtails, too, were missing; for the first time at a military +display of the kind in Paris. Even the soldiers of the Revolution, +the rank and file, had kept up the old style of clubbed-hair. The +new <i lang="fr">régime</i>, however, had altered all that. “Le petit tondu” +(“The little shorn one”), a camp-fire nickname for Napoleon, +from his close-cropped head, had made every soldier cut his +hair short; by a general order of six months before. The order, +it may be mentioned incidentally, at first nearly raised a riot +in the Imperial Guard, and led to a number of duels between +“les canichons,” the “lap-dogs” or “poodles,” as the men +who obeyed the order at the outset were sneeringly dubbed by +comrades who refused to do so, and the others.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="label">7</a> Ney rode up to head the 6th Light Infantry at the outset, +immediately after a chaffing challenge to Murat. The two, +who had been operating together during the previous days, had +had some difference over their methods of attack. Said Murat +arrogantly on one occasion, after Ney had been laboriously trying +to get into his brother-marshal’s head an elaborate scheme of +his proposed tactics: “I don’t follow your plans. It is my +way not to make mine till I am facing the enemy!” Ney, on +the morning of Elchingen, got his chance to pay Murat back. +They were together, riding close to Napoleon, with all the staff +near by, and not far from the Danube bank. As the guns began +to open, Ney suddenly turned and laid hold of Murat’s arm. +Giving his colleague a rough shake, before the Emperor and +everybody, Ney exclaimed: “Now, Prince, come on! Come +along with me! and make your plans in the face of the enemy!” +The astonished Murat drew himself back, whereupon Ney spurred +up his horse and dashed forward; “galloping off to the river-bank, +he plunged into the water up to his horse’s belly amidst a +shower of cannon-balls and grape, to direct the mending of the +bridge.” That done, he galloped on to head the leading column +of attack across the bridge.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="label">8</a> Napoleon himself, it so chanced at the outset, heard the +fierce cannonading from afar, and, becoming suddenly alarmed +at what might be happening, was thrown into a fever of anxiety +over it; into a state of violent agitation. It was on the evening +of November 11. Napoleon just then was on his way to take up +his quarters at the Abbey of St. Polten, whence only a few miles +intervened between him and Vienna. As he was nearing St. +Polten he was suddenly alarmed by “the smothered, distant +echo of heavy firing, which was not even interrupted by night.” +So one of the aides de camp on the Emperor’s staff, De Ségur, +describes. “What unforeseen danger could suddenly have +overtaken Mortier? It was almost certainly he who, going +forward with an advanced guard of five thousand men, had +unexpectedly come across Kutusoff with forty thousand. It was +impossible, though, at first, to imagine the destruction of the +marshal and his unhappy division.”</p> + +<p>At St. Polten they listened, and in the end feared for the worst.</p> + +<p>“One could only offer up prayers and await the decision of +fate! The wide and deep Danube separated us from the marshal. +This stream had just delivered over to the enemy one of Mortier’s +generals, who in despair had tried to make his escape in a boat. +Everything announced a catastrophe: the Emperor no longer +doubted it. In his anxiety, as he drew nearer to the sound of +the combat, while advancing from Moelkt to St. Polten, the fear +of a reverse usurped the place of Napoleon’s former confidence of +victory. Now, his agitation increasing with the noise of the +firing, he despatched everybody for news: officers, aides de +camp; every officer who happened to be near him. With his +mind full of Mortier’s peril he suspended the progress of the +invasion. He stopped Bernadotte and the flotilla behind at +Moelkt. He recalled Murat, dashing on for the gates of Vienna; +and Soult, following Murat. Not indeed until three on the next +afternoon, the 12th of November, was Napoleon’s anxiety allayed +by the arrival of an aide de camp from Mortier.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="label">9</a> It was to one of these retreating columns that the historic +“Ice Disaster” happened. Every one knows the story, as related +in Napoleon’s Austerlitz Bulletin, and mentioned also by +Ségur, Marbot, and Lejeune in their memoirs, how a column +from the Russian left wing tried to escape over the frozen surface +of the lake of Satschan, how Napoleon turned a battery on them +while in the act of crossing the ice and broke it, and how “thousands +of Russians, with their horses, guns, and waggons, were +seen slowly settling down into the depths.” The actual facts are +recorded in the recently discovered report of the “Fischmeister” +(or overseer) of the Carp Fishery of Satschan Lake, setting forth +the results of draining off the water in the spring of 1806. There +were found at the bottom, recorded the Fischmeister, twenty-eight +cannon, one hundred and fifty dead horses, but only three +human corpses. The column, it would appear, had been composed +of five batteries of artillery, and when the ice was broken, +the guns, all but the two nearest the shore, sank through and +dragged the horses with them to the bottom; but the gunners, +it would seem, were all able to scramble out, except the three +unfortunates who had been either hit by French round-shot, or +were entangled in the harness of their teams. The loss of human +life was therefore, presumably, only three men out of the five +hundred or so who must have been riding on, or with, the guns.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_10" href="#FNanchor_10" class="label">10</a> Incidentally, that Christmas Day morning of the Schönbrunn +review has an interest for us in this country. Napoleon left +the palace for the review in a vile temper, which no doubt was +one reason why he vented his spleen so savagely on the unfortunate +soldiers of the 4th in his speech of censure. This +was probably the prime cause. Late on the night before, on +Christmas Eve, a courier from Paris had arrived at the Imperial +head-quarters, bringing the defeated Admiral Villeneuve’s +Trafalgar despatch, his “Compte Rendu,” written while Villeneuve +was a prisoner on his way to England, and dated from “A bord de +la frégate Anglaise <i>Euryalus</i>—le 15me Novembre 1805.” It had +been sent to France under a flag of truce, as an act of international +courtesy, and the Minister of Marine forwarded it to +Napoleon. The news of the disaster had reached the Emperor +some five weeks before, at Znaim in Moravia, a fortnight before +Austerlitz; first, from some Austrian officers taken prisoners +by Augereau in the Tyrol, then from the English papers. It +had been enough then to give him a bad night, and make him +morose for a week. Now that he learned the story from his +own admiral, it made him more furious than ever. The original +despatch received by Napoleon at Schönbrunn that Christmas +Eve exists, with its pathetic closing appeal, the pitiless response +to which sent Admiral Villeneuve to a suicide’s grave. “Profondément +pénétré,” it ran, as written by Villeneuve’s own hand, +“de toute l’etendue de mon malheur et de toute la responsibilité +que comporte un aussi grand désastre, je ne désire rien tant que +d’être bientôt à même d’aller mettre aux pieds de S.M. ou la +justification de ma conduite ou la victime qui doit être immolée, +non a l’honneur du pavillon, qui, j’ose le dire, est demeuré intact, +mais aux manes de ceaux qui auroient péri par mon imprudence, +mon inconsidération ou l’oubli de quelqu’un de mes devoirs.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_11" href="#FNanchor_11" class="label">11</a> The spectacles which Marshal Davout wore at Auerstadt—an +extremely primitive-looking pair of goggles in thick-rimmed +frames—were picked up on the field, and are treasured to this +day by the family of the present Duc d’Auerstadt.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_12" href="#FNanchor_12" class="label">12</a> Gudin’s division was officially returned as having lost 124 +officers and 3,500 men.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_13" href="#FNanchor_13" class="label">13</a> Davout’s cocked hat, with one end shot away and a bullet-hole +through the crown, is now one of the battle relics of Napoleon’s +wars kept at the Invalides.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_14" href="#FNanchor_14" class="label">14</a> In his instructions to Ney in regard to the trophies taken, +Napoleon wrote this, specially with reference to a number of +flags belonging to Prussian regiments elsewhere which had been +temporarily stored at Magdeburg: “Les drapeaux prussiens +pris dans l’arsenal de Magdeburg ne signifient rien: donnez +l’ordre qu’ils soient brûlés, mais vous ferez porter en triomphe +par votre premier division les drapeaux pris à la garnison, +pour être remis par vous à Berlin à l’Empereur. On ne doit +porter en triomphe que les drapeaux pris les armes à la main, +et brûler ceux pris dans les arsenaux.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_15" href="#FNanchor_15" class="label">15</a> The <i>Moniteur</i> made this notification in addition: “The +Emperor has ordered a series of eight pictures, sixteen feet by +ten, each, with life-size figures, from MM. Gérard, Lethière, +Gautherot, Guérin, Hennequin, Girodet, Meynier, and Gros. +The pictures are intended for the galleries of the Tuileries, and +will depict the most memorable events of the campaign in Germany.” +They are now in the Louvre, badly “skied,” and only +paid heed to by the batches of recruits who from time to time +are conducted round to see them under the guidance of under-officer +instructors as lecturers.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_16" href="#FNanchor_16" class="label">16</a> The hat that Napoleon wore at Eylau is kept in the little +crypt beside Napoleon’s tomb in the Invalides. It is the identical +one represented in the colossal picture of the battle by Gros, +to be seen at the Louvre, and was given to Gros for the picture. +At the second Funeral of Napoleon in 1840, it figured beside the +coffin, with the Emperor’s decorations and the sword Napoleon +wore at Austerlitz.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_17" href="#FNanchor_17" class="label">17</a> A gallant young officer of the Guard was the first man to +break through the Russian line in front. With half a dozen +grenadiers he made a dash forward, just as the chasseurs made +their attack. Captain Ernest Auzoni—that was the young +officer’s name—caught sight of a Russian flag a few paces from +him, and, calling on the men of his company, led straight at it, +cutting his way through. “Courage!” he shouted. “Brave +comrades! Follow me!” Auzoni, describes Caulaincourt, +“rushed forward sword in hand, followed by his company, and +penetrated the compact centre of the Russian column: his +sudden assault broke their ranks, and our grenadiers burst in +through the passage opened to them by the brave Auzoni.”</p> + +<p>Napoleon, from his post near at hand, was also an eye-witness +of the captain’s daring. On the Russians falling back +after the routing of the column, as the Guard were re-forming +for a fresh advance, he summoned Auzoni and the men of his +company before him. “Captain Auzoni,” began Napoleon as +they stood in front of him, “you well deserve the honour of +commanding my ‘veteran’ <i lang="fr">vieux moustaches</i>; you have most +nobly distinguished yourself. You have won an officer’s cross +and an annuity of two thousand francs. You were made captain +at the beginning of the campaign, and I hope you will return +to Paris with still higher rank. A man who earns his honours +on the field of battle stands very high in my estimation!” +Turning then to the soldiers, Napoleon added: “I award ten +crosses to your company!” With an enthusiastic cheer the +company marched off to rejoin their comrades, and as Caulaincourt +puts it, “the same men advanced to meet the enemy’s +fire with a degree of courage and enthusiasm which is impossible +to describe.”</p> + +<p>The brave young Guardsman captain, though, did not see +Paris again. Auzoni met his fate at Eylau. He fell later in the +day, in another charge, in which he took a second Russian flag. +Napoleon himself discovered him, lying at the last gasp among +the mortally wounded on the field. It was next day, as Napoleon, +in accordance with his invariable practice, was riding over the +scene of the battle.</p> + +<p>“Near a battery which had been abandoned by the enemy,” +to use again the words of Caulaincourt, “about 150 or 200 French +grenadiers were lying dead, surrounded by four times their +number of Russians. They were lying weltering in a river of +blood, amid broken gun-carriages, muskets, swords, and other +<i lang="fr">débris</i>. They had plainly fought with the most determined +fury, for every corpse showed numerous and horrible wounds. +A feeble cry of ‘Vive l’Empereur!’ was heard as we rode up. +It came from the middle of this mountain of dead, and all eyes +were turned instantly to the spot whence the voice proceeded. +Half concealed beneath a tattered flag lay a young officer whose +breast was decorated with an order. He was still alive, and, +though covered with many wounds, as we stopped by him he +managed to raise himself so as to rest on his elbow. But his +handsome face was overcast with the livid hue of death. He +recognised the Emperor, and, in a feeble, faltering voice, exclaimed: +‘God bless your Majesty! Farewell, farewell! Oh, +my poor mother!’ He turned a look of supplication towards +the Emperor, and with that, with the words on his lips, ‘To my +country, to dear France—my last thoughts!’ he fell back dead.</p> + +<p>“Napoleon seemed riveted to the spot. ‘Brave men!’ +he exclaimed. ‘Brave Auzoni! Noble young fellow! Ah, +this is a frightful scene! The annuity shall go to his mother: +let the order be presented for my signature as soon as possible!’ +Then, turning to Surgeon Ivan, who accompanied him, he said: +‘Examine poor Auzoni’s wounds and see what can be done for +him!’ Nothing however, could be done: the brave youth was +beyond medical aid.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_18" href="#FNanchor_18" class="label">18</a> The Old Guard was recruited from the <i lang="fr">élite</i> of the Line. +After every battle soldiers who had been particularly prominent +in the fighting were specially transferred to the Old Guard; a +form of advancement much coveted among the rank and file. +At all times there was great competition to enter the Guard, +and every regimental colonel kept “waiting lists,” in anticipation +of vacancies, on which names were sometimes down for years. +Service in the Old Guard meant, in addition to the prestige of +enrolment in so favoured a corps, life amid the gaieties and pleasures +of Paris, with increased pay and personal privileges; and +the highly estimated honour of a special weekly inspection by +the Emperor himself in the Courtyard of the Carrousel, at which +Napoleon invariably walked in and out among the ranks, talking +to the men; and any Guardsman who had a grievance might then +personally lay it before the Emperor. The private in the Guard +drew seven sous a day as compared with the one sou pay of the +private of the Line. Off duty, the private of the Guard ranked +on an equality with a sergeant of the Line, and in army social +circles was entitled to be addressed by the Linesmen he met as +“Monsieur.”</p> + +<p>Only men of unblemished record were qualified for admission +to the Old Guard. A colonel of a Line regiment on one occasion +sent a man into the Guard who turned out a <i lang="fr">mauvais sujet</i>. +Napoleon ordered the unfortunate colonel to be publicly reprimanded +on parade, and confined to his quarters for three days; +and further had his name and offence put in General Army +Orders, issued for universal circulation from the War Office, +and posted up at the head-quarters of every regiment throughout +the service.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_19" href="#FNanchor_19" class="label">19</a> Baron Lejeune, on the Imperial staff at Wagram, who was +clever with his pencil, was specially desired by Napoleon to +design the costume for the Eagle-Guard, as he himself relates. +“Anxious to confer distinction on those brave fellows who had +taken part in the actual defence of the flag, the Eagle of their +regiment, Napoleon conceived the idea of giving them a costume +and equipment which should mark them out as specially honoured, +and at the same time be suitable to the duties they had to perform. +The Emperor therefore sent for me and asked me to make +a sketch of a costume such as he wished to give to what he called +his ‘Eagle-Guard,’ or those non-commissioned officers whose +office it was to surround and defend the actual standard-bearers. +The chief weapons of each were to be a pistol, a sword, and a +lance, so that in the heat of the battle they would never have to +trouble themselves about loading a gun. There was to be gold +on their epaulettes, sword-belts, and helmets. I made a drawing +and took it to the Emperor, and he sent it to the Minister of +War with his own instructions on the subject.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_20" href="#FNanchor_20" class="label">20</a> Colonel Lejeune was again called in to design the decoration +for the Order, and has recorded what Napoleon said to him. +“‘The Order of the Golden Fleece,’ he said, ‘is typical of +victory; my Eagles have triumphed over the Golden Fleeces +of the King of Spain and the Emperors of Germany, so I mean +to create for the French Empire an Imperial Order of the Three +Golden Fleeces. The sign of this order shall be my own Eagle +with outspread wings, holding in each of its talons one of the +ancient Golden Fleeces it has carried off; whilst hanging from its +beak it will proudly display the Fleece I now institute.’ He +then took a pen and roughly marked out the size I was to make +my drawing.... I made the drawings as desired, and he issued +the order accordingly. The institution of the new Order was +duly announced in the <i>Moniteur</i>; but the terms of the treaty +of peace compelled him to suppress a distinction the chief aim +of which had been to humiliate the conquered countries of +Spain and Austria.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_21" href="#FNanchor_21" class="label">21</a> They were to be merely identifying tokens. “If by misfortune,” +Napoleon went so far as to say, “fanions should fall +into the enemy’s hands, it will be apparent from their plain +appearance that their capture is a matter of no account.” “Une +affaire sans conséquence” were Napoleon’s words.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_22" href="#FNanchor_22" class="label">22</a> It was during the battle at Ratisbon that Napoleon, according +to the story, was wounded for the only time in his life, +and had to dismount, and, in the sight of the dismayed soldiers, +have his wound dressed by a surgeon, the news causing consternation +through the ranks of the whole army far and wide. +Indeed, only this year there was placed in the Army Museum at the +Invalides, as an historic relic of the highest interest, “the fragment +of a shell that struck Napoleon at Ratisbon on the 23rd of April, +1809, and gave him the only wound he ever received in battle.” +The truth is revealed in M. Combes’ journal, which, after telling +how Napoleon carefully concealed everything which might detract +from his reputation among his soldiers for invulnerability, enumerates +his wounds in detail. After his death half a dozen scars +were found on his body. There was the mark of a wound on his +head, a hole above his left knee, either from a bayonet or a lance, +the mark of the injury received at Ratisbon, another on one +hand, and on the body the scars of sword cuts and slashes.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_23" href="#FNanchor_23" class="label">23</a> As to this last trophy, it was unfortunate from our point of +view—since Fate willed that the 5th of the Line should lose its +colours to an enemy—that one of the original Battalion Eagles +of the corps had previously, in accordance with Napoleon’s order +of 1808, been returned to Paris. The half-winged Eagle of the +5th would have made a notable trophy for Chelsea Hospital. +While heading an attack on an Austrian field-work in Masséna’s +battle at Caldiero on the Venetian frontier in November 1805, +the Eagle was smashed from its staff by a grape-shot and dashed +violently to the ground, with one wing shattered. At the same +time the battalion recoiled before the terrific fire with which its +charge was met. The Eagle saved the honour of the corps. +Picking its battered remains up and waving it at arm’s-length +above his head, with a shout of “Come on, comrades! follow the +Eagle,” one of the officers rushed with it through the <i lang="fr">mêlée</i> to +the front and led the forlorn-hope onset that stormed the post. +After that, the Eagle, lashed to the stump of its broken pole, +went through the battle to the end, doing its part in rallying the +battalion round it, to keep at bay greatly superior numbers of +the enemy until relief arrived. There had been almost a mutiny +in the 5th in 1808 when they were ordered to return their battle-scarred +ensign to the Invalides, but the order was obeyed. Otherwise +the half-winged Eagle would have been at Chelsea now.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_24" href="#FNanchor_24" class="label">24</a> The present imitation Eagle at Chelsea was specially cast in +brass from a mould of one of other trophies; one of the Eagles +of the 82nd being used as the model. The imitation wreath was +made from a sketch by an old officer of the Hospital staff. The +Eagle and wreath were specially reproduced in order that the +Barrosa Eagle trophy should be represented among the Peninsular +and Waterloo Eagles displayed together at the head of the +catafalque on the occasion of the lying-in-state at Chelsea of the +remains of the Duke of Wellington, seven months after the +theft. The dummy is in the Chapel at Chelsea now, with a brass +tablet beneath it notifying that it is not the original Eagle, set +up where the Barrosa Eagle used to be, in front of the organ-loft. +The existing staff, however, is genuine. It is the Eagle-pole that +the thief threw away in his fright; the staff actually borne by +the Porte-Aigle of Napoleon’s 8th of the Line under fire at +Austerlitz and Friedland; the identical staff inclined in salute +with the Eagle to Napoleon on the throne on the Day of the +Eagles on the Field of Mars.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_25" href="#FNanchor_25" class="label">25</a> In a letter from an officer of the 87th, published in the London +papers, it is stated that the regiment also captured the Eagle of +the French 47th, but “the man who had charge of it was obliged +to throw it away, from excessive fatigue and a wound. We had +been under arms for thirty-two hours before the action began.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_26" href="#FNanchor_26" class="label">26</a> The successor to the 8th of the Line of the Grand Army in +the Army of the Third Napoleon was, in its turn, no less unfortunate +than its predecessor. The Eagle of the 8th of the Line +of the Army of the Second Empire is now at Potsdam, one of +the spoils of the war of 1870–1. It was carried through the +streets of Berlin in the triumphal parade of the Prussian troops +on their return home after the war, and after that, was deposited +over the vault of Frederick the Great in the Church at +Potsdam in the presence of the old Kaiser Wilhelm, Moltke, +Von Roon, and other leaders of the victorious host. It bears +these “battle-honours,” inscribed on its silken flag, among them +“Talavera”:</p> + +<p class="in0 center"> +“<span class="smcap">Austerlitz</span><br> +1805.<br> +<span class="smcap">Friedland</span><br> +1807.<br> +<span class="smcap">Talavera</span><br> +1809.<br> +<span class="smcap">Anvers</span><br> +1832.<br> +<span class="smcap">Zaatcha</span><br> +1849.<br> +<span class="smcap">Solferino</span><br> +1859.” +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_27" href="#FNanchor_27" class="label">27</a> Southey, in his <cite>History of the Peninsular War</cite>, makes this +ugly suggestion in regard to the Eagle trophies of Salamanca: +“It is said that more than <em>ten</em> were captured, but that there +were men base enough to conceal them and sell them to persons +in Salamanca who deemed it good policy, as well as a profitable +speculation, to purchase them for the French.” It may be, +as to that, that Marmont’s army lost more than the two Eagles +now at Chelsea. It is of course possible that camp followers +and Spanish peasants of the locality, wandering over the battlefield +to strip and plunder the dead on the day after the battle, +when Wellington and the army were miles away, picked up +Eagles on the scene of so tremendous a disaster for the French. +They might easily traffic in them with French agents at Salamanca, +well aware of their value if they could be secretly restored +to their regiments. It is, however, inconceivable that British +soldiers could have acted as alleged and been guilty of the +dastardly crime that Southey hints at. Four Eagle-poles, with +screw tops and the Eagles gone, were found on the field by British +burying-parties; but those were all, and one of the four may +have been the pole of the Eagle of the 62nd.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_28" href="#FNanchor_28" class="label">28</a> As to Napoleon’s opinion in regard to the preservation of +trophies so acquired, see his memo to Ney at Magdeburg, quoted +in Chapter V., as <a href="#Footnote_14">footnote to page 141</a>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_29" href="#FNanchor_29" class="label">29</a> Napoleon had given permission to his marshals in Spain to +grant colonels of regiments, in certain circumstances, discretionary +powers as to the disposal of their Eagles. Colonels were authorised, +when their regiments were proceeding on what might be +considered “exceptionally hazardous service,” or when operating +in difficult country, to keep the Eagles back, and leave them in +camp or in a fortress. That is how Wellington in 1812 came to +find the Eagles of the 13th and 51st of the Line at Madrid.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_30" href="#FNanchor_30" class="label">30</a> On July 28, 1813, in a skirmish in the Pyrenees, the 40th +(now the 2nd Somersetshire Regiment) surrounded and captured +the French 32nd of the Line, rounding its First Battalion up in +a valley and charging it with the bayonet, 24 officers and 700 +men being taken. The Eagle had been thrown into a rapid +mountain torrent in sight of our men, during the retreat of the +32nd, but it was impossible to prevent it, or to recover the Eagle +afterwards.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_31" href="#FNanchor_31" class="label">31</a> Others of the Eagles had narrow escapes during the Peninsular +War. In the fighting south of the Douro, near Grijon, on the +day before Wellington’s passage of the river at Oporto, the +31st Light Infantry all but lost their Eagle on being charged by +the British 14th and 20th Light Dragoons. The 31st broke in +confusion before the British onset, and only rallied some miles +from the battlefield. “Our losses,” described one of the officers, +“were very heavy, but our Eagle, which had been in extreme +peril in the encounter, was happily saved.” Again, in the pursuit +up the mountain side after the defeat of Girard’s Division +at Arroyo dos Molinos, the Eagles of the 34th and 40th of the +Line escaped capture—although both regiments were all but +annihilated—to Marshal Soult’s expressed relief. In reporting +the reverse to Napoleon, Soult added this by way of solatium: +“L’honneur des armes est sauvé; les Aigles ne sont pas tombés +au pouvoir de l’ennemi.” After Talavera, the Eagle of the +25th of the Line was picked up on the battlefield by a party of +the King’s German Legion—it was sent to Hanover and is now +in Berlin; also, during the battle, the British 29th took two +Eagle-poles in a charge, but with the Eagles unscrewed from the +tops and removed by the Eagle-bearers at the last moment and +carried out of the fight under their coats.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_32" href="#FNanchor_32" class="label">32</a> Elsewhere are other permanent trophies of the campaign, +spoils of another kind. Nine hundred and twenty-nine of +Napoleon’s cannon fell into Russian hands, mostly abandoned +during the retreat, without attempt at defence. Of these, most +are fittingly kept at Moscow; they number 875, and are exhibited +in the arsenal, or mounted as trophies in the public +squares in the Holy City. As with the flags, they are not all +French. Those bearing the French Imperial cypher, the letter +“N” surmounted by the Eagle and Napoleonic crown, number +less than a half of the total. The French guns number 365; the +bulk of the collection being made up of artillery from allied and +vassal states: 189 Austrian cannon, 123 Prussian, 70 Italian, +40 Neapolitan, 34 Bavarian, 22 Dutch, 12 Saxon, 8 Spanish, +5 Polish, with 7 Westphalian, Würtemburg, and Hanoverian +pieces. The Prussian and Austrian guns, most of them, it is +fair to say, were not captured from the contingents serving with +the Grand Army in Russia: they formed part of the artillery +marching with Napoleon’s main column; they belonged to the +French army, and were manned by French gunners, being +spoils from the Austerlitz, Wagram, and Jena campaigns, turned +to account to form field batteries for the French army. Innumerable +other reminders of the fate of the Grand Army are +preserved all over Russia: soldiers’ arms and accoutrements, +personal belongings and decorations of French officers and men, +fragments of uniforms, helmets, swords and lances, pistols and +muskets; relics mostly picked up on battlefields or by the +wayside along the route of the retreat. The muskets serve to +illustrate incidentally, in the variety of the woods used for their +stocks, the makeshifts to which, some time before 1812, the +demands of Napoleon’s armaments had reduced France: the +musket-stocks of oak, chestnut, elm, beech, maple, of even +poplar and deal, tell a tale of exhausted supplies of the walnut +and ash woods ordinarily used in the manufacture of firearms.</p> + +<p>The total of 75 Eagles and other standards is no extravagantly +large array of trophies, remembering the overwhelming nature +of the catastrophe to the Grand Army in Russia. Of the 600,000 +soldiers who mustered round their regimental colours at the +crossing of the Niemen at the outset of the campaign, 125,000 +were killed in fight, and 193,048, according to the Russian official +returns, were taken prisoners. In round numbers 250,000 died +on the line of march during the retreat, from cold, hardships, +and starvation, or were killed as stragglers by the Cossacks and +peasants. The mementoes also of their grim fate exist to-day in +Russia. The graves of most of them may be seen all along the +railway line from Wilna to Moscow, which follows closely the route +of Napoleon and the Grand Army, over country the same in +appearance now as then; a dreary, wind-swept, lonesome plain, +broken only by vast stretches of dark, monotonous birch and +pine forests, with here and there narrow ravines, and strips of +hilly ground, amid which wind chill and sluggish rivers. At +intervals huge mounds, looking like embankments or ancient +barrows of enormous size, rise over the flat expanse of plain. +They are the graves of the French dead. It took three months +to destroy the remains of the dead soldiers and of some 150,000 +horses which perished in the campaign. The ghastly task was +carried out locally by the peasantry, under an urgent Government +order, so as to prevent the outbreak of pestilence in the +spring from the vast numbers of unburied corpses that strewed +the track of the ill-fated host. The bodies, when the snow +thawed, were dragged together and collected in heaps each “half +a verst long and two fathoms high,” over 500 yards long and some +14 feet high. At first, efforts were made to burn them, but the +supply of firewood failed, and the stench all over the country +was unbearable. The corpses were then hauled into shallow +trenches alongside, and quicklime and earth heaped over them, +making the mounds now to be seen along the railway, on either +side of the old post-road from Wilna to Moscow, the route of +Napoleon’s retreat. In the province of Moscow, 50,000 dead +soldiers and 29,000 dead horses were so disposed of before the +middle of February; in the province of Smolensk, by the end +of the month, 72,000 dead soldiers and 52,000 horses; in the +province of Minsk, 40,000 human corpses and 28,000 horses; +to which, later on, when the ice had melted, 12,000 more dead +soldiers were added, the bodies found in the Beresina; in the +province of Wilna, also by the end of February, 73,000 dead +soldiers, with 10,000 dead horses. There were, in addition, very +many never accounted for: dead stragglers who had perished +in the forests, their remains being devoured by the wolves; and +those who were massacred—beaten to death, or buried alive, +or burned alive—by the peasants in places away from the line +of march. Such was the appalling loss of life that attended +the Moscow campaign, and which the trophies represent. In the +circumstances, in proportion, the toll is hardly a large one.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_33" href="#FNanchor_33" class="label">33</a> The wolves killed many of the stragglers as they wandered +in search of food or shelter from the cold, away from the retreating +columns. They followed in the track of the Grand Army to the +last, across Germany to the Rhine. It is the fact, indeed, that +the presence of wolves to-day in the forest lands of Central +Europe is largely due to the tremendous incursion of ravenous +brutes from Russia which swept in huge swarms in rear of +Napoleon’s ill-fated host.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_34" href="#FNanchor_34" class="label">34</a> Coignet, then a lieutenant of the Old Guard, thus speaks +of the horrors of those latter days immediately following the +Beresina: “The cold continued to grow more intense; the +horses in the bivouacs died of hunger and cold. Every day +some were left where we had passed the night. The roads were +like glass. The horses fell down, and could not get up. Our +worn-out soldiers no longer had strength to carry their arms. +The barrels of their guns were so cold that they stuck to their +hands. It was twenty-eight degrees below zero. But the +Guard gave up their knapsacks and guns only with their lives. +In order to save our lives, we had to eat the horses that fell upon +the ice. The soldiers opened the skin with their knives, and +took out the entrails, which they roasted on the coals, if they +had time to make a fire; and, if not, they ate them raw. They +devoured the horses before they died. I also ate this food as +long as the horses lasted. As far as Wilna we travelled by +short stages with the Emperor. His whole staff marched along +the sides of the road. The men of the demoralised army marched +along like prisoners, without arms and without knapsacks. +There was no longer any discipline or any human feeling for one +another. Each man looked out for himself. Every sentiment +of humanity was extinguished. No one would have reached +out his hand to his father; and that can easily be understood. +For he who stooped down to help his fellow would not be able to +rise again. We had to march right on, making faces to prevent +our noses and ears from freezing. The men became insensible +to every human feeling. No one even murmured +against our misfortunes. The men fell, frozen stiff, all along the +road. If, by chance, any of them came upon a bivouac of other +unfortunate creatures who were thawing themselves, the newcomers +pitilessly pushed them aside, and took possession of their +fire. The poor creatures would then lie down to die upon the +snow. One must have seen these horrors in order to believe +them.... But it was at Wilna that we suffered most. The +weather was so severe that the men could no longer endure it: +even the ravens froze.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_35" href="#FNanchor_35" class="label">35</a> One of those who presented arms before Napoleon at the +Rheims review died, just twenty years ago, as the last French +survivor of Trafalgar—André Manuel Cartigny. At Trafalgar +he had been a powder-boy on board the celebrated <i>Redoutable</i>, +from the mizen-top of which the bullet was fired which killed +Nelson. He paraded at Rheims among the remnant of survivors +of Napoleon’s last battalion left of the Seamen of the Guard, +and was present a month later at the historic farewell at Fontainebleau.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_36" href="#FNanchor_36" class="label">36</a> General Dupont, an officer of the highest promise and with +an exceptionally brilliant record, Ney’s right-hand man, and +chief divisional leader on many battlefields, a special favourite +also with Napoleon (“a man I loved and was rearing up to be +a marshal,” were Napoleon’s words of him), while on the expedition +which was to win him the bâton, at the head of 25,000 +men, let himself be surrounded and cut off; trapped among the +gorges of the Sierra Morena by a horde of peasants backed up +by Spanish regulars; and then, in spite of a final chance that +offered for him to force his way through, surrendered to the +enemy. He had committed “<i lang="fr">une chose sans exculpe; une +lacheté insultante</i>,” declared Napoleon in savage fury on hearing +of the surrender. Those who had had part in it, declared the +Emperor, should “die on the scaffold”—“ils porteront sur +l’échaffaud la peine de ce grand crime national!” He had +Brigadier Legendre, Dupont’s Chief of the Staff, who had been +released on parole, brought before him at Valladolid, and heaped +on the wretched, broken man the bitterest reproaches and +revilings; beside himself in his wrath. Not a word in reply, in +explanation, would he listen to. Before the Imperial Guard +on parade, and the assembled Imperial Staff, Napoleon finally +gripped the general by the wrist and shook it passionately. +An onlooker, another officer, describes the scene: “A nervous +contraction of the muscles seemed to seize the Emperor. ‘What, +General!’ he ejaculated, his voice quivering with fury. ‘Why +did not your hand wither when it signed that infamous capitulation!’” +Legendre was cashiered: Dupont (who had been +ill and was wounded during the battle) was cashiered, degraded +from the Legion of Honour, and kept under police <i lang="fr">surveillance</i> as +long as the Empire lasted.</p> + +<p>What became of the other two Eagles, those of the “Garde +de Paris” and of the Second Battalion of the 5th Light Infantry, +and the fourteen Reserve Battalion flags that were taken at +Bailen is unknown. They are not in Spain, although one trophy +indirectly associated with the disaster is now at Madrid, the +admiral’s flag of Admiral Rosily, who was at Cadiz with the +French squadron which Dupont was marching to rescue. It is +kept as a trophy in the Museo Naval of Madrid. Rosily had +charge of the five French ships of the line which escaped into +Cadiz after Trafalgar. When Spain rose against Napoleon, they +were placed in danger from the garrison of Cadiz; being at the +same time unable to put to sea because a British fleet blockaded +the port. Dupont’s army was specially sent to bring away the +4,000 soldiers and sailors on board, who were then to abandon +the ships. Just before Dupont reached Bailen, the Spaniards +attacked Rosily, bombarding his ships with heavy cannon, and +mortars and a gunboat flotilla, and he had to surrender, his +admiral’s flag being carried off by the Spaniards, ultimately to +find its way to its present resting-place.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_37" href="#FNanchor_37" class="label">37</a> Years later these trophies were again brought to light, and +by degrees, one at a time, or two or three together, found their +way once more to the Hôtel, where they form part of the present +collection. Among those now in the Invalides are six of +Frederick the Great’s trophies annexed at Berlin by Napoleon +in 1806; six Austrian and Bavarian flags, also of the Seven +Years’ War period, removed by Napoleon from Vienna; an old +German flag taken by Marshal Turenne, and in earlier times hung +in Notre Dame; five Austrian colours of unknown origin; one +Russian flag-trophy from Austerlitz; one Prussian standard +from Jena; and a number of Spanish and Portuguese flags from +the Peninsular War.</p> + +<p>Three British regimental flags, originally captured by Napoleon’s +Polish lancers at Albuera, found their way back in this +manner to the Invalides. They were taken at Albuera in the +first part of the battle, when, under cover of mist and rain squalls, +the French cavalry, circling round one flank, swooped down on +the leading British brigade before its regiments could form in +square. Of the five other British flags at present in the Invalides, +four were taken on March 8, 1814, just three weeks before +the burning of the trophies, and had not yet reached Paris. +They were taken from us in very tragic circumstances—at the +disastrous attempt to storm the fortress of Bergen-op-Zoom; +but the details of that painful story nor the identification of the +flags do not concern us here. One of the four flags is kept beside +Napoleon’s tomb. The fifth flag purports to have been a British +sloop-of-war’s red ensign and to have been captured in the +Baltic in December 1813, in an action of which the British +Admiralty has no record, and the French account is only a +tradition. It again, apparently, had not reached Paris by March +1814.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_38" href="#FNanchor_38" class="label">38</a> To the Army, Louis XVIII. was only a King imposed on +them by their enemies; by the triumphant enemies of France, +the European Coalition. He was merely the “<i lang="fr">protégé</i> of foreign +bayonets,” placed over them by the English and Prussians; +“l’émigré rentré en croupe derrière un cosaque!” To the +soldiers he only personified defeat and disaster; and the memories +that they gloried in had been of set purpose obliterated by him +and his creatures. The very charter under which he had assumed +authority was dated the 19th year of his reign, as though +Napoleon had never been. He had proscribed their Eagle +standards before which all Europe had trembled. By his ordinances +he had abolished and insulted the memory of their victories. +In addition he had disbanded and turned adrift their +officers, and had left them to starve, without the pay that was +their due, in wretchedness and rags.</p> + +<p>Fuel was added to the fires of disaffection in the ranks by the +tales that went round of every barrack-room of personal ill-usage +of and affronts to officers who had won the respect of all +on campaign, and before the enemy under fire. <i lang="fr">Ci-devant</i> colonels +and captains in long-forgotten corps of the old-time Royal Army +were appointed at one stride Lieutenant-Generals and Major-Generals +on the Active List, ousting and sending into unemployment +men, whom Napoleon himself had picked out for command, +whose names were household words to the Army. In almost +every regiment officers who had grown grey in war-service before +the enemy, who had won distinction on a hundred battlefields, +were shelved; set aside for <i lang="fr">émigrés</i>, who, a quarter of a century +before, had been boy subalterns in the army of the <i lang="fr">ancien +régime</i>, and had not set foot in France since they fled the country +at the outbreak of the Revolution. These were brought back +and posted wholesale as colonels and <i lang="fr">chefs de bataillon</i> all +through the Army, superseding and driving into poverty veterans +who had raised themselves to their ranks and positions through +personal merit and war-service, and had qualified step by step +in the different grades. At a <i lang="fr">levée</i> one day, after a review before +the Duc de Berri, a grey-headed old regimental officer stepped +forward, according to custom, and made a request to have +granted to him for his services the Cross of St. Louis. “What +have you done to deserve it?” was the Prince’s reply, uttered +in a cold and sneering tone. “I have served in the Army of +France for twenty years, your Royal Highness!” “Twenty +years of robbery!” was the cruel and insolent answer as the +Duc de Berri turned his back on the veteran. The words were +repeated everywhere among the soldiers and had the worst +effect. Another tale that caused deep resentment throughout +the Army was that of the treatment which Marshal Ney had +received at Court when protesting against rudeness which had +been shown by certain ladies of title to his wife one day at the +Tuileries. They had openly insulted the Maréchale Ney by +making sarcastic and contemptuous comments on her comparatively +lowly birth. Marshal Ney personally complained to the +King, but was coldly referred to the Court Chamberlain. He +laid his complaint before that functionary and was personally +rebuffed “in a harsh and insolent manner”—as the only reply +to which the Marshal with his wife had withdrawn from Paris +altogether. And more than one other officer of eminence, it +was told, had in like manner been forced to cease attendance +at Court. When the moment came for the reappearance of +Napoleon in their midst, the Army was more than ready to receive +their old leader with open arms and rally once more to the +Eagles.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_39" href="#FNanchor_39" class="label">39</a> It was the action of Marshal Ney that sealed the fate of the +Bourbon <i lang="fr">régime</i>.</p> + +<p>Ney had accepted the Restoration as bringing peace to exhausted +France; he had given in his allegiance to the Bourbons. +Angry and sick at heart as he was over the ill-treatment meted +out to his brother officers, and the humiliations that the new +<i lang="fr">régime</i> had inflicted on the Army, and sore over personal grievances +of his own, he had, in spite of all, loyally held back from +intriguing against the restored dynasty. Napoleon’s leaving +Elba, when he first heard the news, he condemned outspokenly +as a crime against France. Impulsive and headstrong by nature, +he forgot his grievances, and hastened to Paris to offer his sword +to the King. Napoleon, he said to the King at the interview +at the Tuileries, which was immediately granted him, was a +madman and deserved to be brought to Paris “like a bandit in +an iron cage.” So hostile witnesses at Ney’s court-martial +declared, though Ney himself emphatically denied using any +words of the kind. His services were accepted gladly, for Ney +was the most popular of all the marshals with the soldiers, and +he was sent to lead the army against Napoleon. Besançon was +proposed as his head-quarters, and he betook himself there.</p> + +<p>Almost at once, however, anxieties and doubts beset Ney. +On taking up his command he found but few regiments available. +He was promised reinforcements, but none arrived, and while +he waited, no news of the rapidly altering situation reached him +from Paris. Meanwhile the news came steadily in from all +sides that the soldiers could not be trusted to oppose Napoleon. +Ney was still loyal to the Bourbons, and he moved his troops +nearer the line of advance Napoleon was taking; to Lons le +Saulnier, midway between Besançon and Lyons. To officers +who hinted that the soldiers would not fight if Napoleon appeared, +Ney answered angrily: “They <em>shall</em> fight. I will take +a musket and begin the firing myself! I will run my sword +through the first man who hesitates!”</p> + +<p>But events were moving too fast: the tide of Bonapartism +was rising visibly on all sides. Napoleon, Ney heard, was being +received everywhere with acclamation; the soldiers were said +to be declaring for him by thousands. Already in every garrison +the soldiers were displaying their old Eagle cap-badges and +tricolor cockades. “Every soldier in the Army,” relates Savary +in his Memoirs, “had preserved his tricolor cockade and the +Eagle-badge of his shako or cap. It was needless for any order +to be given for their resumption; that had been done on the +first intelligence of the Emperor’s landing in France.” Everywhere +too, officers who had kept back and hidden the old regimental +Eagles and tricolor standards, were bringing them out +openly. In regiments where the Ministerial order had been +obeyed and the Eagles sent to Paris for destruction, the soldiers +now took out the Bourbon arms from the white flags, substituting +a tricolor shield for the royal shield with the three fleurs-de-lis.</p> + +<p>Ney next began to doubt what line of conduct he ought to +adopt. On one side was his oath of allegiance to the King. On +the other was the prospect of a civil war which would be ruinous +to France, which he, at the head of his army, had it in his power +to prevent. It became borne in on him as his duty to the country +in the circumstances to throw his influence on the side of +his old comrades and Napoleon. His personal grievances against +the Bourbons rankled in his mind, and self-interest urged him +to go with the stream; but it was rather a sense of duty and +patriotism, to avert a civil war, that impelled Ney to take the +action that he did. His final decision was influenced by an insidiously +worded letter from Napoleon, playing on Ney’s personal +feelings and calling him by his old name of “the Bravest of the +Brave.” The letter was brought to him by two secret emissaries +on the night of March 13, who urged on the marshal that his +soldiers were about to abandon him, and that it was impossible +for him single-handed to hope to stem the current of national +feeling. That and the letter turned the scale. Ney decided to +abandon the cause of the Bourbons.</p> + +<p>Assembling his troops on parade next day, he publicly declared +for Napoleon in a fiery proclamation addressed to the +Army. “Officers, under-officers, and soldiers,” Ney began, +reading out the proclamation from on horseback in front of +the assembled battalions, “the cause of the Bourbons is lost +for ever! The dynasty adopted by the French nation is about +to reascend the throne. To the Emperor Napoleon, our +Sovereign, alone belongs the right of reigning in our dear country.” +The proclamation concluded with these words: “Soldiers, +I have often led you to victory. I will now conduct you to that +immortal phalanx which the Emperor Napoleon is leading towards +Paris. It will arrive there within a few days, when our +hopes and our happiness will be for ever realised. Long live +the Emperor!”</p> + +<p>The declaration came as fire to a train of gunpowder. Ney +had hardly uttered a dozen words before frantic exclamations +and shouts burst forth; shakos and caps and helmets were raised +and waved on muskets and swords, amid tumultuous cries of +“Vive l’Empereur!” “Vive le Maréchal Ney!” The men +broke their ranks and rushed headlong round Ney, catching hold +of him and kissing his hands and feet and uniform: “those +not near enough kissing his embarrassed aides de camp.” +Shouted some: “We knew you would not leave us in the hands +of the <i lang="fr">émigrés</i>!” The marshal at the close was escorted back +to his quarters amid a crowd of excited soldiers cheering frantically.</p> + +<p>The scene there was very different. Arrived in his quarters, +Ney found himself at once surrounded by a group of anxious +and nervous staff-officers and aides de camp. Said some: “You +should have informed us of it before, M. le Maréchal! We +ought not to have been made witnesses of such a spectacle!” +One or two officers protested and resigned on the spot. One +aide de camp, indeed, a former <i lang="fr">émigré</i>, broke his sword in two +and flung the pieces at Ney’s feet. “It is easier,” he exclaimed +passionately, “for a man of honour to break iron than to break +his word.”</p> + +<p>“You are children,” was the marshal’s answer. “It is +necessary to do one thing or the other. What would you have +me do? Can I stop the advancing sea with my hands? Can I +go and hide like a coward to avoid the responsibility of events I +cannot alter? Marshal Ney cannot take refuge in the dark! +There is but one way to deal with the evil—to take one side and +avert civil war. So we shall get into our hands the man who has +returned, and prevent his committing further follies. I am not +going over to a man, but to my country.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_40" href="#FNanchor_40" class="label">40</a> The silken standard flags attached below the Eagles were +plainer in design than the flags of 1804 and 1808. They were of +the ordinary pattern of the national banner, three vertical bands +of colour, edged with golden fringe. Lettered in gold on the +white central band of the flag was the Imperial dedication, +worded similarly to the inscription on the older flags, and on +the reverse the names of the battles in which the corps had taken +part—“Austerlitz,” “Jena,” etc.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_41" href="#FNanchor_41" class="label">41</a> Napoleon left Paris for the front on the early morning of +June 12, after spending several hours in his cabinet, issuing +orders and making arrangements for the carrying on of the +Government in his absence. Caulaincourt, acting for the time +being as Foreign Minister, was with Napoleon until the last +moment, and witnessed his departure. “The clock struck three, +and daylight was beginning to appear. ‘Farewell, Caulaincourt!’ +said the Emperor, holding out his hand to me, ‘Farewell! +We must conquer or die!’ With hurried steps he passed +through the apartments, his mind being evidently fully taken up +with melancholy thoughts. On reaching the foot of the staircase, +he cast a lingering look round him, and then threw himself into +his carriage and drove away.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_42" href="#FNanchor_42" class="label">42</a> Trafalgar, on the French side, it may be added by the way, +had a distinguished representative at Waterloo in the person of +the officer at the head of the Artillery of the Imperial Guard, +General Drouot. He had fought against Nelson as a major of +artillery doing duty in the French fleet. His ship was one of the +few that escaped into Cadiz after the battle, whence he was +recalled to join the Grand Army in the Jena campaign. Drouot +was the officer who, during the retreat from Moscow—where he +brought the artillery of the Guard through without losing a gun—“washed +his face and shaved in the open air, affixing his looking-glass +to a gun-carriage, every day, regardless of the thermometer!”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_43" href="#FNanchor_43" class="label">43</a> Napoleon—it may be of general interest to add—passed the +whole of the day, between the review in the forenoon and late +in the afternoon when he rode forward to witness the Guard +start for the last charge, on the ridge of high ground near Rossomme, +So the memoirs of the officers of his staff unanimously +record. At no time was he near the so-called “observatory,” in +regard to which there has recently been a controversy, based on +the publication of a letter by the eminent surgeon, Sir Charles +Bell, who was at Waterloo, and rendered very valuable service to +the wounded. This is the story as told in his letter by Dr. Bell:</p> + +<p>“About half a mile of ascent brought us to the position of +Bonaparte. This is the highest ground in the Pays Bas. I +climbed up one of the pillars of the scaffolding, as I was wont +to do after birds’ nests.... We got a ladder from the farm-court; +it reached near the first platform. I mounted and climbed with +some difficulty; none of the rest would venture.... The view +was magnificent. I was only one-third up the machine, yet it +was a giddy height. Here Bonaparte stood surveying the field.</p> + +<p>“This position of Bonaparte is most excellent; the machine +had been placed by the side of the road, but he ordered it to be +shifted. The shifting of this scaffolding shows sufficiently the +power of confidence and the resolution of the man. It is about +sixty feet in height. I climbed upon it about four times the +length of my body, by exact measurement, and this was only the +first stage. I was filled with admiration for a man of his habit +of life who could stand perched on a height of sixty-five feet +above everything, and contemplate, see, and manage such a +scene.”</p> + +<p>Mention of the scaffold-platform is also made by Sir Walter +Scott, who rode over the field in August 1815. Sir Walter gives +this version, in a letter to the Duke of Buccleuch:</p> + +<p>“The story of his (Napoleon’s) having an observatory erected +for him is a mistake. There is such a thing, and he repaired to +it during the action; but it was built or erected some months +before, for the purpose of a trigonometrical survey of the country, +by the King of the Netherlands.”</p> + +<p>Thomas Kelly, an enterprising London publisher, went further. +He had a picture of the erection drawn, and brought it out as a +popular print in October 1815, under the title of “Bonaparte’s +Observatory to view the Battle of Waterloo.” The print shows +a three-tiered structure, apparently quite lately constructed, +with three platforms, and ladders leading from one platform to +the other. Napoleon himself is depicted on top, his spy-glass at +his eye, and with two staff officers in attendance.</p> + +<p>There certainly was a structure of the kind on the field. +Such a thing, in a dilapidated condition, is to be seen in miniature +on the Siborne model of the battlefield at the Royal United +Service Institution. It is made to scale, and in its essential +features bears out Dr. Bell’s description. It stands close to the +“wood of Callois” by the Nivelle road, rather more than a mile +to the south of Hougoumont. It has only one platform, whence +it would overlook the trees and give a good view of the battle.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, in addition to the silence of all Napoleon’s +officers on the subject, we have this plain statement +from Frances Lady Shelley, an intimate friend of the Duke of +Wellington, who was in Paris during the occupation after the +battle and was also taken over the battlefield by the Duke of +Richmond some three months after Waterloo. It appears in her +recently published Diary, at p. 173, and may be taken as settling +the fate of the story of “this towering and massive perch,” +“that wonderful scaffold,” “that huge scaffolding,” “part of +Napoleon’s equipment at Waterloo,” as a modern historical +writer calls it.</p> + +<p>This is what Lady Shelley wrote at the time:</p> + +<p>“Throughout the battle of Waterloo Napoleon remained +on a mound, within cannon shot, but beyond the range of musketry +fire. He certainly was not in the observatory after the battle +began; nor could he have from that spot directed the movements +of his troops. That observatory was built for topographical +reasons by a former Governor of the Netherlands +something like a century ago.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_44" href="#FNanchor_44" class="label">44</a> The “fanion” of the second battalion of the 45th shared +the fate of the regimental Eagle. It fell to Private Wheeler +of the 28th, the “Slashers,” the present 1st Battalion of the +Gloucestershire Regiment. The 28th, on the left of Picton’s +line, had, like the Highlanders, charged forward among the +French, following close after the Greys. Wheeler, after a fierce +fight with the bearer of the “fanion,” in which he was severely +wounded, bayoneted the French sergeant and carried off the +trophy. It disappeared in an unexplained manner some days later, +during Wellington’s march on Paris, while being forwarded to +the Duke’s head-quarters.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_45" href="#FNanchor_45" class="label">45</a> The news of Waterloo reached Paris just twenty-four hours +earlier than it reached London—during the night of Tuesday, +June 20. How it was broken to the French capital forms a +story little less dramatic than the other story of how the news +of Waterloo arrived in London. In Paris they had had news +of the successful opening of the campaign. On the 18th, just +as Napoleon was holding his last review, before Waterloo opened, +the “triumphal battery” of the Invalides was firing a <i lang="fr">feu de joie</i> +in honour of victory over Blücher at Ligny. On Monday and +Tuesday, the 19th and 20th, Napoleon’s Ligny Bulletin, with +details, was published in the <i>Moniteur</i>. When the cafés closed +that evening, there was as yet no word of Waterloo. But at that +same moment the news was arriving—in a private message to +Carnot, the Minister of the Interior. What had happened +leaked out first at his house.</p> + +<p>“On that evening,” describes M. Edgar Quinet, “several +persons were assembled at the house of M. Carnot, and they +vainly asked him for news. To evade these importunate questions, +Carnot went to a card-table and sat down with three of +his friends. He from whom I have this story sat opposite the +Minister. By chance he raised his eyes and looked at Carnot; +he saw his countenance, serious, furrowed, with tears pouring +down it. The cards were thrown up; the players rose. ‘The +battle is lost!’ exclaimed Carnot, who could contain himself +no longer.” The news spread through Paris like wild-fire. It +was not believed at first; the catastrophe was too stunning, too +terrible. To that succeeded a gloomy stupor (une morne stupeur).</p> + +<p>“They had not long to wait. All was known next morning. +The astounding news of the rout of the army in Belgium, and +the still more astounding news of the arrival of Napoleon in +Paris, were spread through the great city almost simultaneously, +and stirred to the depths its restless and volatile population. +Twice before had Napoleon suddenly returned to Paris—from +Moscow, from Leipsic—and each time alone, without an army. +Thus had he again presented himself.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_46" href="#FNanchor_46" class="label">46</a> The Campaign of the Hundred Days, it has been estimated, +from first to last cost Napoleon in round numbers, in killed, +wounded, and prisoners taken in the field:</p> + +<table id="t432"> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Ligny (Killed and wounded)</td> + <td class="tdr">10,000</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Quatre-Bras (Killed and wounded)</td> + <td class="tdr">4,300</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Waterloo (Killed and wounded)</td> + <td class="tdr">29,500</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Waterloo (Prisoners unwounded)</td> + <td class="tdr">7,500</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Wavre (Killed and wounded)</td> + <td class="tdr">1,800</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Lesser actions (Killed and wounded)</td> + <td class="tdr"><span class="bb">2,100</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdr l1">Total</td> + <td class="tdr"><span class="bbd">55,200</span></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Out of the 126,000 men with whom Napoleon took the field, +he lost some 43 per cent. of his army in the week between June +15 and 22.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_47" href="#FNanchor_47" class="label">47</a> Five Eagles were on show in London in the autumn of +1815, in the so-called “Waterloo Museum,” having been acquired +somehow on the occupation of Paris. Two were described as +the Eagles of the 5th of the Line and of the Seamen of the +Guard, and two as National Guard Eagles—all four having +been presented at the <i lang="fr">Champ de Mai</i>. The fifth purported to +be the Eagle of the “Elba Guard.” None of the five had ever +been in action.</p> + +</div> +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_437">437</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="INDEX">INDEX</h2> + +<div class="index"> +<ul class="index"> +<li class="ifrst">Alexander, Czar of Russia, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, + <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>, <a href="#Page_326">326</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Aspern, Battle of, <a href="#Page_204">204–10</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle buried on the battlefield, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">two Eagles lost at, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">at bay in the burning village, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Napoleon demands to see both Eagle and colonel, <a href="#Page_208">208</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Auerstadt, Battle of, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133–6</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Davout under fire at, <a href="#Page_134">134–5</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles under fire at, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Napoleon and the Third Corps, <a href="#Page_136">136</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Augereau, Marshal, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, + <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">wounded at Eylau, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">sends Marbot to save a regiment, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">in disgrace, <a href="#Page_364">364</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Austerlitz, Eagles in the battle:</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 15th Light Infantry rescued by the Commandant, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 111th rallies the regiment, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 108th in peril, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 10th Light Infantry rescued, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 24th Light Infantry lost, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">fate of Eagle of 4th, <a href="#Page_108">108–10</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the Chasseurs of the Guard saved by a dog, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">trophies sent to Notre Dame, <a href="#Page_120">120–121</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">trophies disappear in 1814, <a href="#Page_342">342</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Barrosa, Battle of, trophy stolen from Chelsea Hospital, <a href="#Page_227">227–8</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Colonel Vigo-Roussillon’s narrative, <a href="#Page_229">229–31</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">how the 87th advanced, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">fighting with their fists, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">French colonel and General Graham, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">French account of taking of “Eagle with Golden Wreath,” <a href="#Page_232">232–3</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">as reported in the <i>Moniteur</i>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Napoleon refuses to replace lost Eagle, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">the “Aiglers,” <a href="#Page_235">235</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Battalion Eagles, abolished, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187–8</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Napoleon’s anger at the Amsterdam review, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">some supplied surreptitiously, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">final orders issued, <a href="#Page_189">189</a></li> + +<li class="indx">“Battle-honours,” as first authorised by Napoleon, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">adopted in other armies, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">only selected names allowed, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">on the flag of the Old Guard, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">abolished at the Restoration, <a href="#Page_350">350</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Beauharnais, Eugène, Viceroy of Italy, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Berlin, insolence of Prussian officers, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">their fate, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Napoleon’s triumphant entry, <a href="#Page_144">144–6</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">in the uniform of a French general, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">demeanour of the citizens, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">French soldiers in the streets, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">march through, of Davout’s corps, <a href="#Page_143">143–4</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">parade of captured Prussian flags in, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_438">438</span>deputation of Senate carries trophies to Paris, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Bernadotte, Marshal, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, + <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">surprised at Möhringen, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Berthier, Marshal, chief of the general staff of Grand Army, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, + <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, + <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">on campaign with Napoleon, <a href="#Page_39">39–41</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">at an Eagle presentation, <a href="#Page_194">194</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Bessières, Marshal, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, + <a href="#Page_364">364</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Borodino, in the battle, <a href="#Page_269">269–72</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles have several narrow escapes, <a href="#Page_270">270–2</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">soldier’s personal narrative, <a href="#Page_270">270</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Boulogne Camp, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a></li> + +<li class="indx">British trophies, destroyed at the Invalides, <a href="#Page_333">333–5</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">naval flags among them, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">the trophies now there, <a href="#Page_344">344</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Brune, Marshal, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Caesar, Eagle of, adopted by Napoleon, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Cambronne, General, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Campaign of 1813, fate of Eagles in: at the battles of the Katzbach, Dennewitz, Kulm, Grossbeeren, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Irish Legion saves its Eagles, <a href="#Page_294">294–5</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">heroic feat of a soldier, <a href="#Page_295">295–6</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">a short-sighted colonel, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">the Eagle of the 17th escapes, <a href="#Page_297">297–302</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">one lost in first day’s fighting at Leipsic, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles buried or flung into the Elster, <a href="#Page_304">304–305</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">dashing rescue by young officer, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles after the capitulation of Dresden, <a href="#Page_306">306–307</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle lost in a river in Eastern France, <a href="#Page_307">307–8</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">“One against eight,” <a href="#Page_308">308</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Caulaincourt, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>, + <a href="#Page_373">373</a>, <a href="#Page_373">374</a></li> + +<li class="indx">“<i lang="fr">Champ de Mai</i>,” 1815, <a href="#Page_362">362–72</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">distribution of Eagles to the Last Army at, <a href="#Page_369">369–72</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">why so called, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">varying opinions on effect of, <a href="#Page_372">372</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Champ de Mars, presentation of Eagles on, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20–1</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22–3</a>, + <a href="#Page_43">43–59</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">personages who were there, <a href="#Page_28">28–9</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35–42</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">taking the oath, <a href="#Page_46">46–7</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">the final contretemps, <a href="#Page_56">56–7</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Chapel Royal, Whitehall, reception of Wellington’s trophies in, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_430">430–1</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Charlemagne, Eagle and Insignia of, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Chasseur Eagles ordered to be withdrawn, <a href="#Page_182">182</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Chasseurs, 4th, deputation to Napoleon, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Chasseurs of the Guard, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416–20</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Chelsea Hospital, trophies, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Barrosa trophy stolen, <a href="#Page_227">227–8</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Clark-Kennedy, Sir A. K., takes an Eagle at Waterloo, personal narrative, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>, + <a href="#Page_403">403</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Cock proposed as National Emblem, Napoleon objects to it, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_6">6</a></li> + +<li class="indx">“Cou-cous,” barrack-room nickname for the Eagles, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">adventure of one at Jena, <a href="#Page_133">133</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Cüstrin, surrender of fortress, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Danube flotilla in Austerlitz campaign, <a href="#Page_82">82–3</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Davout, Marshal, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, + <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, + <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, + <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_369">369</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Decoration of “Trois Toisons d’Or” proposed for Eagles, <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> + +<li class="indx">De Coster, Napoleon’s Waterloo guide, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a></li> + +<li class="indx">D’Erlon, General Drouet, at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>, + <a href="#Page_392">392</a></li> + +<li class="indx"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_439">439</span>Disbandment of the Grand Army, Eagles at, <a href="#Page_434">434–5</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Donzelot, General, at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>, <a href="#Page_410">410</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Dragoon Eagles ordered to be withdrawn, <a href="#Page_182">182</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Dresden, surrender of, 1813, fate of the Eagles at, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348–349</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Dupont, General, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86–91</a>, + <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">surrender of Bailen, fate of, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Minister of War at the Restoration, harsh conduct of, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Dürrenstein, combat at: Napoleon’s alarm on hearing sudden cannonade, <a href="#Page_81">81–2</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">forlorn-hope charge of the 100th and 103rd to save the Eagles, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">heroism of Marshal Mortier at, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles of the 9th and 32nd taken and retaken, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">just saved at the last, <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Durutte, General, at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_410">410</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Eagle lost in Masséna’s retreat found in a river in Spain and now at Chelsea, <a href="#Page_259">259–60</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">of Chasseurs of the Guard at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">captured at Bailen recovered at Cadiz by French officer, <a href="#Page_337">337</a></li> + +<li class="indx">“Eagle with the Golden Wreath,” taking of, at Barrosa, <a href="#Page_231">231–3</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">fate of, at Chelsea, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">origin of the Wreath, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_6">6</a></li> + +<li class="indx">“Eagle Guard,” institution of, after Eylau, <a href="#Page_183">183–6</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">why Napoleon created it, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">costume designed for Napoleon by Baron Lejeune, <a href="#Page_185">185</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Eagles, allowed by Napoleon to be kept back on occasions, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">ordered to be withdrawn from Spain, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">proscribed at the Restoration, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434–6</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">those now at Invalides, <a href="#Page_307">307–8</a>, <a href="#Page_435">435</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">two that were taken and retaken at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_403">403–4</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">how all but two got through in the end, <a href="#Page_420">420–1</a></li> + +<li class="indx">“Elba Guard,” Eagle of the, <a href="#Page_353">353–5</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Elchingen, Ney’s heroism at, <a href="#Page_66">66–8</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Elephant proposed as National Emblem, <a href="#Page_5">5</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Ewart, Sergeant Charles, of the Scots Greys, takes an Eagle at Waterloo, personal account, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>, <a href="#Page_398">398</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Eylau Campaign, twelve Eagles lost, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 9th Light Infantry lost at Möhringen and found in a Russian ammunition wagon, <a href="#Page_151">151–3</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">two Eagles taken on first afternoon of Battle of Eylau, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">the 14th and 24th annihilated, and their Eagles carried off by Cossacks, <a href="#Page_155">155–63</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Marbot’s daring ride and narrow escape, <a href="#Page_158">158–63</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">10th Light Infantry and 28th also annihilated and Eagles lost, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">the 25th saves its Eagle, but loses all its officers, <a href="#Page_165">165–7</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles of the 18th and 51st taken, <a href="#Page_166">166–7</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">narrow escapes of the Eagles of the 17th and 30th, <a href="#Page_168">168–9</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">four cuirassier regiments lose their Eagles, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the Old Guard shot down, <a href="#Page_172">172–3</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">two more Eagles lost at Friedland, <a href="#Page_175">175–6</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">“Fanions,” institution of, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">ordered for all second and third and extra battalions, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">regulation colours of, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Napoleon’s opinion of their value, <a href="#Page_190">190</a></li> + +<li class="indx">“First Grenadier of France,” Heart of the, narrow escapes in battle, <a href="#Page_164">164–5</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Flag on the Eagle, design and details of, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12–14</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191–3</a>, <a href="#Page_371">371</a></li> + +<li class="indx"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_440">440</span>Flags lost under the Republic recovered in arsenal at Innsbrück, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Marshal Ney presents on parade, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Napoleon’s special Bulletin, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Fleur-de-lis proposed as National Emblem, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Fontainebleau, Eagle of the Old Guard at, <a href="#Page_312">312–14</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Frederick the Great, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, + <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, + <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">his sword seized by Napoleon at Potsdam, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, borne through the streets of Paris, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">fate at the Invalides, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Garcia Hernandez, action at, French square broken by the Hanoverian Dragoons, <a href="#Page_255">255–8</a>, <a href="#Page_400">400</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Gazan, General, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, + <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Golden Wreaths voted by Paris municipality for Eagles of Jena and Friedland, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235–8</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Napoleon orders the Austerlitz Eagles to be also decorated, <a href="#Page_236">236</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Gough, Major Hugh, commanding 87th at Barrosa, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Graham, General, at Barrosa, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Grätz, combat at, special inscription, “One against ten,” placed on Eagle of the 84th, <a href="#Page_202">202–4</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Grouchy, General, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_410">410</a>, + <a href="#Page_411">411</a>, <a href="#Page_421">421</a>, <a href="#Page_422">422</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Guillemin, Porte-Aigle, of 8th of the Line, killed at Barrosa, <a href="#Page_232">232</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Günsburg, storming of the bridge of, in the Ulm Campaign, heroism of Eagle-bearer of the 59th, <a href="#Page_63">63–5</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Halle, rearguard, action at, after Jena, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136–7</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Haslach, brilliant defence by Dupont, <a href="#Page_65">65–6</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Horse Grenadiers after Waterloo, British officer’s tribute to, <a href="#Page_414">414–415</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Horse Guards Parade, display of captured Eagles on, <a href="#Page_217">217–27</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241–2</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429–31</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Hussar Eagles ordered to be withdrawn, <a href="#Page_182">182</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Ice disaster at Austerlitz, <a href="#Page_114">114–15</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Invalides, on the day of the destruction of the Eagles, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Frederick the Great’s sword and Jena trophies sent to, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">destruction of trophies at, in 1814: no orders till too late, <a href="#Page_328">328–9</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">holocaust in the Court of Honour, <a href="#Page_331">331–9</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Russian officer sent to demand an account, <a href="#Page_339">339–42</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">dome gilded by order of Napoleon from Moscow, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">attempt at salvage of trophies, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Napoleonic trophies now at, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_435">435</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Irish Legion Eagle, presented by Napoleon on the Field of Mars, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">narrow escape of coming to Chelsea, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">saved from the Prussians in 1813, <a href="#Page_294">294</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Jena Campaign, in the battle, <a href="#Page_127">127–133</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Napoleon and the Eagle of the 64th at Jena, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 76th at bay, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle pocketed by a soldier, <a href="#Page_132">132–3</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 111th of the Line at Auerstadt, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 32nd at Halle, <a href="#Page_136">136–7</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles paraded at the surrender of Magdeburg, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">in the triumphal march through Berlin, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">trophies paraded in Paris, <a href="#Page_147">147–9</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">half trophies recovered in 1814, <a href="#Page_343">343</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Jourdan, Marshal, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Katzbach, incident in battle at the, colonel sacrifices his life for his Eagle by mistake, <a href="#Page_296">296–7</a></li> + +<li class="indx"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_441">441</span>Kazan Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Napoleonic trophies in, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263–5</a>, + <a href="#Page_292">292</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Kempt, General, at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_407">407</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Keogh, Ensign Edward, 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, heroic attempt to capture Eagle at Barrosa, <a href="#Page_232">232</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Kleist, General, Governor of Magdeburg, surrenders to Ney, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140–1</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">insulted by his officers, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Kulm, defeat of Vandamme at, 1813, Eagle of the 17th saved after extraordinary adventures, personal narrative, <a href="#Page_297">297–302</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Lannes, Marshal, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, + <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, + <a href="#Page_332">332</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Last Eagle presented to a regiment, <a href="#Page_433">433–4</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Lefebvre-Desnouettes, General, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Legion of Honour decoration affixed to a regimental standard, <a href="#Page_186">186–7</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Leipsic, Battle of, fate of the Eagles cut off on right bank of the Elster, <a href="#Page_303">303–6</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Light Infantry Eagles ordered to be withdrawn, <a href="#Page_182">182</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Lion proposed as National Emblem of France, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_8">8</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Lobau, Count, at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_383">383–384</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416–17</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Lübeck, Blücher’s surrender at, and spoils from, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Macdonald, Marshal, at Wagram, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>, + <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Mack, General, in Ulm Campaign, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Magdeburg, surrender of, to Marshal Ney, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139–143</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Mamelukes of the Guard, <a href="#Page_24">24–5</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Marbot and the Eagle of 14th at Eylau, <a href="#Page_158">158–63</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Marcognet, General, at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, <a href="#Page_395">395</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>, + <a href="#Page_410">410</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Marmont, Marshal, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, + <a href="#Page_317">317</a>, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>, + <a href="#Page_326">326</a>, <a href="#Page_327">327</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Masséna, Marshal, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, + <a href="#Page_259">259</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">heroic defence of Aspern, <a href="#Page_206">206–10</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Masterton, Sergeant, 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, captor of Eagle at Barrosa, <a href="#Page_232">232–3</a></li> + +<li class="indx">“Mes braves Enfants de Paris,” Napoleon and 45th of the Line, <a href="#Page_395">395–6</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Möhringen, surprise of Bernadotte at, <a href="#Page_150">150–3</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Moncey, Marshal, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Morlay, Lieutenant, Eagle-bearer of the Old Guard at Eylau, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Mortier, Marshal, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81–7</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90–4</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, + <a href="#Page_317">317–19</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Moscow Campaign, Russian trophies, spoils, and other mementoes of the retreat, <a href="#Page_263">263–266</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">fate of Eagles at Borodino, <a href="#Page_270">270–1</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Cuirassier regiment loses its Eagle and finds it again, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">surprise of Murat, at Vinkovo, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">at Wiasma, the only survivor of a regiment, <a href="#Page_276">276–7</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">after Wiasma, midnight ride of two officers, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Ney orders the Eagles to be destroyed, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">at Krasnoi, loss of the Eagle of the 18th, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">concentrated near the Imperial Guard, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">at the Beresina, Eagle broken up and buried, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">after the Beresina, Eagles buried in the snow, <a href="#Page_290">290</a></li> + +<li class="indx">“Moustache,” dog of Chasseurs of Guard, at Austerlitz, <a href="#Page_112">112–13</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Murat, Prince, King of Naples, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, + <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, + <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, + <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_442">442</span>Napoleon: with Berthier on campaign, <a href="#Page_40">40–1</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">oration at Eagle presentations, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">at the surrender of Ulm, <a href="#Page_70">70–4</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">sees the rout of the 4th at Austerlitz, <a href="#Page_109">109–10</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">at Eylau, <a href="#Page_158">158–9</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169–170</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172–4</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">meeting Eagles on the march, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">numerous wounds of, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">forlorn-hope attempt to save Paris, <a href="#Page_319">319–23</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">during the battle at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_386">386–7</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389–90</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>, <a href="#Page_409">409–10</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">witnesses the rout of the Guard, <a href="#Page_409">409</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">retreating in the square of the Old Guard, <a href="#Page_411">411–14</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Naval Eagle, only one now existing, <a href="#Page_46">46–50</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Ney, Marshal, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65–9</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, + <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78–9</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, + <a href="#Page_139">139–41</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, + <a href="#Page_276">276–7</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281–6</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, + <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_357">357–60</a>, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>, + <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390–2</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406–8</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">superintends the surrender at Ulm, <a href="#Page_70">70–1</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">defilade of garrison of Magdeburg before, <a href="#Page_140">140–1</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">heroism of, in retreat from Moscow, <a href="#Page_281">281–4</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">orders his Eagles to be destroyed, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406–8</a>.</li> + +<li class="ifrst">Officers’ guard accompanies Eagles throughout Moscow retreat, <a href="#Page_286">286–7</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289–90</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Official Eagle regulations and instructions, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188–90</a>, + <a href="#Page_268">268–9</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Old Guard, full-dress uniform always carried for triumphal parades, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of, at Eylau, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171–2</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">charge of, at Eylau, <a href="#Page_170">170–1</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">how recruited and privileges, <a href="#Page_179">179–80</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of, recrosses the Niemen, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">existing Eagle of the Grenadiers, <a href="#Page_314">314–15</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">escort Napoleon from Waterloo, <a href="#Page_411">411–415</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Oudinot, Marshal, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, + <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Pack, General, Sir Dennis, at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_407">407</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Percy, Major the Hon. Henry (11th Light Dragoons), brings Wellington’s Waterloo despatch to England, <a href="#Page_424">424–5</a>, <a href="#Page_427">427–428</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Petit, General, at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, + <a href="#Page_412">412</a>, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Picton, General Sir Thomas, at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, + <a href="#Page_399">399</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Pierce, Lieutenant, 66th Regiment, takes Eagle at Salamanca, <a href="#Page_253">253</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Polytechnic, school flag burned after surrender of Paris, <a href="#Page_327">327</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Pope and the Coronation, Napoleon’s first views as to presence of in Paris, <a href="#Page_3">3</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Pratt, Ensign, 30th Regiment, takes Eagle at Salamanca, <a href="#Page_254">254</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Presentation of Eagles by Napoleon in the field, <a href="#Page_194">194–6</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268–9</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Prussian army, before Jena, <a href="#Page_123">123–5</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">hopeless demoralisation of after, <a href="#Page_125">125–126</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137–8</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142–3</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">fugitives from Jena cause break-up of Auerstadt troops, <a href="#Page_127">127–8</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Prussian prisoners in France, Napoleon’s orders in regard to, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Rapp, Colonel, of the Mamelukes, at Austerlitz, <a href="#Page_110">110–11</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Ratisbon, heroic fight in defence, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of 65th buried in cellar, <a href="#Page_197">197–201</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Reception of the Old Guard in Paris after Friedland, <a href="#Page_177">177–9</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Regimental numbers abolished by the Bourbons at Restoration, feeling among the soldiers, <a href="#Page_351">351–2</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Reille, General, at Waterloo, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>, + <a href="#Page_388">388</a>, <a href="#Page_410">410</a></li> + +<li class="indx"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_443">443</span>Retiro, Madrid, two Eagles taken at surrender of, now at Chelsea, <a href="#Page_259">259–60</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Russian Cuirassiers of the Guard at Austerlitz, <a href="#Page_108">108–9</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">St. Cyr, Marshal, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, + <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a></li> + +<li class="indx">St. Hilaire, General, at Austerlitz and Eylau, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> + +<li class="indx">St. Petersburg Dragoons take two Eagles at Eylau, <a href="#Page_153">153–4</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Salamanca, Battle of, <a href="#Page_243">243–5</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Wellington’s diploma victory, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Marmont carried wounded off the field, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">charge of Heavy Cavalry at, three regiments ridden down, <a href="#Page_250">250–2</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">two Eagles taken at, <a href="#Page_253">253–5</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Saving of the Eagle of the Chasseurs of the Guard at Austerlitz, <a href="#Page_418">418–20</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Schönbrunn review after Austerlitz, 4th of the Line censured by Napoleon at, <a href="#Page_116">116–20</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Serrurier, Marshal, Governor of the Invalides, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, + <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Smolensk, Eagles in the attack on, <a href="#Page_267">267–8</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">new regiment wins its Eagle at, <a href="#Page_268">268–9</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Soult, Marshal, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, + <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, + <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, + <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, + <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Spandau, surrender of fortress of, to squadron of hussars, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> + +<li class="indx">State procession of Napoleon to Champ de Mars for presentation of Eagles, <a href="#Page_24">24–30</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Stettin, surrender of, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Styles, Corporal, 1st Royal Dragoons, at Waterloo, takes charge of captured Eagle, <a href="#Page_402">402</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">“Temple of Victory” for the trophies of the Grand Army, Napoleon’s proposals for the Madeleine as, <a href="#Page_175">175</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Trophies taken in the Jena Campaign, Napoleon’s disposal of, <a href="#Page_138">138–9</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, + <a href="#Page_147">147–8</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Trophy Eagles at Vienna, <a href="#Page_204">204–5</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Tyrol Campaign, 1805, storming of the heights before Innsbrück by Marshal Ney, Eagles signal main attack, <a href="#Page_78">78–9</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Ulm Campaign, Eagles in:</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of 59th at Günsburg, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 6th Light Infantry heads the attack at Elchingen, <a href="#Page_67">67–8</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">paraded at the surrender of Ulm for the Austrian prisoners to pass before, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">humiliating march past of defeated Austrian army, <a href="#Page_69">69–77</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">trophies sent by Napoleon to Paris, <a href="#Page_77">77–8</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Vandamme, General, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, + <a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_422">422</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Victor, Marshal, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Vigo-Roussillon, Lieut.-Col., of the 8th of the Line, at Barrosa, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, + <a href="#Page_233">233</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Villeneuve, Admiral, after Trafalgar, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Vincennes, Artillery Depôt of, Eagles sent to, for destruction at the Restoration, <a href="#Page_346">346–7</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a></li> + +<li class="ifrst">Wagram Campaign:</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 65th hidden in a cellar at Ratisbon, wrapped in Austrian flags, unearthed, and presented to Napoleon, <a href="#Page_200">200–1</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">“One against ten,” the Eagle of the 84th, <a href="#Page_202">202–4</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 9th buried on the battlefield at Aspern, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles of the 35th, 95th, and 106th taken, <a href="#Page_204">204–5</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Macdonald’s column at Wagram; five regiments rally round their Eagles, <a href="#Page_212">212–13</a></li> + +<li class="indx">Waterloo Campaign:</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles in, Napoleon’s parade of, before the battle, <a href="#Page_380">380–2</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_444">444</span>taking of Eagle of the 45th, <a href="#Page_396">396–7</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">two other Eagles stated to have been taken and recovered, <a href="#Page_398">398–9</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403–5</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">“fanion” of the 45th taken and lost while on the march, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">taking of the Eagle of the 105th, <a href="#Page_400">400–3</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">“fanion” of the 105th found at Abbotsford, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the 1st of the Line before Hougoumont saved by colonel, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles of the Guard in the last attack, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagles of the 8th and 95th, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">Eagle of the Old Guard escorts Napoleon off the field, <a href="#Page_412">412–14</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">news of, in London, <a href="#Page_426">426–9</a>;</li> +<li class="isub1">in Paris, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wellington, mentioned, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, + <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>, + <a href="#Page_259">259</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, + <a href="#Page_385">385</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>, + <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a></li> +</ul> +</div></div> + +<p class="p2 center smaller"><i>Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.</i></p> + +<div class="chapter transnote"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber’s Notes</h2> + +<p>Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made +consistent when a predominant preference was found +in the original book; otherwise they were not changed.</p> + +<p>Simple typographical errors were corrected; unbalanced +quotation marks were remedied when the change was +obvious, and otherwise left unbalanced.</p> + +<p>Illustrations in this eBook have been positioned +between paragraphs and outside quotations. In versions +of this eBook that support hyperlinks, the page +references in the List of Illustrations lead to the +corresponding illustrations.</p> + +<p>Footnotes, originally at the bottoms of the pages that referenced them, +have been collected, sequentially renumbered, and placed at the end of +the main text, just before the Index.</p> + +<p>Odd-page running headings appear here as Sidenotes, +usually placed near relevant text. Some +of the sidenotes refer to text in footnotes, and +the footnotes in this eBook are at the end of the +main text, not on their original pages.</p> + +<p>The index was not systematically checked for +proper alphabetization or correct page references.</p> + +<p>The index often shortened page numbers in a +sequence, e.g., “144, 51, 52”. In this ebook, +those page numbers have been expanded to their +full size, e.g., “144, 151, 152”. However, it is +possible that some were missed.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_8">Page 8</a>: “éploye” was printed that way, without an +acute accent on the final “e”.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_68">Page 68</a>: “Duc D’Elchingen” was printed as +“Due D’Elchingen”; changed here.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_387">Page 387</a>: “A present il est fini” was printed +that way, without an acute accent over the “e” +in “present”.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_413">Page 413</a>: “presentaient” was printed that way, +without an acute accent over the first “e”. +</p> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75293 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75293-h/images/cover.jpg b/75293-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4942dc --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/coversmall.jpg b/75293-h/images/coversmall.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..579c6a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/coversmall.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_001.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f5bc3c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_001.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_082.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_082.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b32064 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_082.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_090.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_090.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1c30db8 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_090.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_098.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_098.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9396ba0 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_098.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_104.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_104.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a326cb1 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_104.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_134.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_134.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3234142 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_134.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_154.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_154.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..11df39b --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_154.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_211.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_211.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7ec85b --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_211.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_222.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_222.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3adbd1a --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_222.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_282.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_282.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c019f27 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_282.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_288.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_288.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7bb51cb --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_288.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_312.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_312.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0c8cd3 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_312.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_394.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_394.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cfff91a --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_394.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_396.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_396.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7bcb839 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_396.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_410.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_410.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..132a4a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_410.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_412.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_412.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..efdbadf --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_412.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_434.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_434.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..373840e --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_434.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_436.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_436.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b03b845 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_436.jpg diff --git a/75293-h/images/i_436large.jpg b/75293-h/images/i_436large.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4fb39a8 --- /dev/null +++ b/75293-h/images/i_436large.jpg |
