Life of Napoleon, vol. 2

THE PRUSSIAN ARMY.

Napoleon returns to Prance — Crisis of the Bank — ^Relations with England — Progress of the English Power in India — Disastrous Maritime Expedi- tion of the French — Continental Means of opposing England — Difficulty of forming Alliances with the Great Powers — System of Federate States — Reasons for the successive Additions to the French Empire— Death of Pitt — ^Blockade of Ports by a mere British Order in Council — ^New Diffi- culties with Prussia — Tho Cabinet of Berlin perverts the Treaty of Vienna — Motives for this Step— Negotiations of Haugwitz — A New Treaty — Discussions with Austria, for Cattaro and Wurtzbourg — A Fed- eration substituted in place of the German Empire — Napoleon crowns the different Members of his Family — Joseph, King of Naples — ^Louis, of Holland — Eugene, Heir to the Throne of Lombardy — Murat, Grand Duke of Berg — Military Operations in Naples — Siege of Gaeta — Diver- sion in Calabria — Confederation of the Rhine, with Napoleon as Protec- tor — Francis abdicates the Crown of Germany, and is proclaimed Emperor of Austria — Sensation at Berlin — Prussia entitled to the Presi- dency of the Confederation — Interior State of the French Empire — Mechanism of Napoleon^s Government — ^The Public Credit restored — Conscription regulated — Monuments — Internal Improvements — Military and Maritime Works — State of Prussia — Negotiations with England — Treaty sigpied, but not ratified, with Russia — Mission of Sebastiani to Constantinople — Attack of the English on Buenos- Ayres — Rupture of the Negotiations with England — Prussia abruptly decides on War — ^Her extraordinary Ultimatum — First Movements of the French Army — The Position and Plan of Operations of the Prussians — Napoleon's Plan of Operations — Faults of the Prussians — ^Their Generals — Views of the Duke of Brunswick — Napoleon cuts off their Communications — His decisive Manceuvre^Battle of Jena — Battle of Auerstadt — Extraor- dinary Results of these two Victories — Combat of Halle — March on Potsdam and Berlin— Visit to the Cabinet of the Great Frederick- Entrance into Berlin— Operations of Hohenlohe— Fall of Spandau — Dis- posiiions against Hohenlohe — Combat and Capitulation of Pronzlow —

THE WAR OF 1806, OR CAMPAIGN OF JENA.

erent Members of his Family — Joseph, King of Naples — Louis, of Holland — Eugene, Heir to the Throne of Lombardy — Murat) Grand Duke of Ben; — ^Military Operations in Naples — Siege of Gaeta — ^Di version in Calabria — Confederation of the Rhine, with Napoleon as Protector — ^Francis abdicates the Crown of Germany, and is proclaimed Emperor of Austria — Sensations at Berlin — Prussia entitled to tho Presidency of the Confoderaiion — Interior State of the French Empire — ^Icchanism of Napoleon's Government— The Public Credit restored — Conscription regula- ted — Monuments — Internal Improvements — Military and Maritime Works — State of Prussia — Negotiations with England — ^Treaty signed, but not ratified, with Russia — Mission of Sebastiam to Constantinople — Attack of the En- gUsh on Buenos- Ayrcs — Rupture of the Negotiations with England — Prussia abruptly decides on W^ar— Her extraordinary Ultimatum — First Movements of the French Army — ^The Position and Plan of Operations of the Prussians — Napoleon's PUn of Operations— Faults of tho Prussians— Their Generals — Tiews of the Duke of Brunswick — Napoleon cuts off their Communications — Hid decisive Manoeuvre — Battle of Jena — Battle of Aucrstadt — Extraordinary Results of these two Victones — Combat of Halle — March on Potsdam and Berlin- Visit to the Cabinet of the Great Frederick — Entrance into Berlin- Operations of Hohenlohe— Fall of Spandau — Dispositions against Hohenlohe — Combat and Capitulation c( Prenzlow — Fall of Stettin — Bluchor retires on Mecklonbourg — Capitulation cf Custnn — Measures for taking possession of the Country between the Rhine and the Oder — Armistice with tho Saxons— Bluchor driven to Lubeck — Pall of Lubeck — Capitulation of Bluclier— Takin;? of Magdobourg — Napoleon at Berlin — The celebrated Berlin Decree — British Orders in Council — Armistice with Prussia, not ratified- Napoleon advances to the Vistula— Immense BeeultB of this Seven Weeks' War.

THE WAR OF 1806, OR CAMPAIGN OF JENA.

• Christiaa Henry Charles, Count of Haugwitz, was bom in Silesia in 1758. He early engaged in diplomatic aflkin, and sucoeeded Hertzberg as Minister of Foraign Affairs and President of tho. Prussian cabinet. He was greatly dis- tingoiflbed as a diplomatist, but retired tcom public life after tho battle of Jena,

VOL. II. — 13.

Battle of Aaerstedt* — While we were gaining the victory of Jena, Davoust obtained at Auerstedt a no less signal suc^ cess against the army of the king. The latter had put him- self in march the night before to gain Naumbourg and Frey- bourg. The division of Scfamettau, which led the march, advanced to G-erstedt, and his reconnoitring parties, pushed into the defile of Kosen, made prisoners of a similar recon* noitring party sent out by Davoust The duke of Bruns* wick, being informed of the presence of this marshal's corps at Naumbourg, persisted in the opinion that it was merely a detachment of partisans ; instead of pushing forward Schmettau to Kosen the same night, he left him in position and caused to bivouac the two other divisions and the reserve between Eberstedt and Banstet ; the head-quarters were at Auerstedt. It may be inferred how little the king expected the fate that awaited his army, when it is known that the queen even remained there, with an inconceivable security ; he had great difficulty in inducing her to return to Weimar.

TIMIT.

Condition of the Enemy's Forces— Poland — ^Napoleon's Measure for secur- ing his Rear — ^The King of Prussia rejects the Armistice — ^The Russian Army — Invasion of Moldavia — Position of the two Armies — Napoleon takes the Offensive — ^Combat of Pultusk — Napoleon prepares for Winter- quarters — Measures for securing his Position — Continuation of the War between Russia and Turkey — Benningaen takes Command of the Rus- sian Army — Afiairs of Silesia— Benningsen attacks Napoleon's Left — Movements of the Latter — His Project accidently discovered by the Russians — Soult fights at Bergfried— ^mbat of Landsberg — Couibat of Liebstadt — Battle of Eylau — The French Army resumes its Winter^ quarters — Combat of Ostrolenka — Embarrassment of Napoleon's Posi- tion — Menaces of Spain — ^Austria offers her Intervention for Peace-^ The English threaten Constantinople — Passage of the Dardanelles — Sebastian! rouses the Turks to defend themselves — Retreat of the English — ^Napoleon's Firmness — Negotiations at the Campof Finkenstein — Nego- tiations with England broken off by Perceval— Treaty of Triple- Alliance at Bartenstein— Operations in Pomerania — Negotiations with Sweden — Army of Observatk>n on the Elbe — English Expediton into Egypt- Sieges in Silesia— Siege and Fall of Dantzic — Resumption of Hostilities — Danger and Escape of Key— Napoleon Marches to bis Assistance — Favorable Changes of Napoleon's Position— Battle of Heilsberg— Ope- rations of Benningsen— Battle of Friedland— The Russians rccross the Niemen— They propose Peace— Interview of the Emperors at Tilsit— The Peace signed—Prussia— Conditions of the Treaty of Tilsit— Revolution at Oonstaatinoplo— Prqjects on Turkey— Special Stipulations at Tilsit 244

VOL. IL — 10.

This battle, which was more fatal to us than that .of ihe Hogue, and which perhaps decided the empire of the wrprld, if that em])ire depended on England or France, cost the vic- tors only sixteen hundred men killed and wounded ; a re* markable example of the di£ference of war on sea and on land. The smallest combats of an advanced guard, between 180S and 1815, cost more lives than this naval victory. In the battles of Eylau and^Moskwa, thirty thousand men W(se sacrificed, without giving any other advantage than the possession of the field of battle, that is, a few acres of ground.

VOL. II. — 17.

Ncy, who had allowed the Russians to escape, pursued only by a detachment, learned by accident that we were fighting at Eylau ; he had neither heard the cannon nor received my orders. He promptly determined to move on Schmoditten so as to connect himself with my left. But it was too late to give a decisive turn to the battle, for night was already approaching, though the combat was partially continued till eight o'clock ; nevertheless, the arrival of Ney in rear of the right flank of the Russians became a decisive circiunstance, for it determined them to retreat during t£e night. To execute this vetrograde movement with great security, they caused Ney to be attacked by the division of Sacken, which had suffered the least during the day. Ney sustained himself near Schmoditten, but the attack deceived him, and made him doubt the issue of the battle. He took position at some distance from the road to Eonigsberg, and the Russians filed off all the morning, as it were, under the very fire of his cannon.

VOL. II. — 17.

Buch was the cruel battle of Eylau, so interesting in the extraordinary circumstances that accompanied it, and so little decisive in its results. At eleven o'clock, Soult had suffered much, and Augereau's corps was comparatively destroyed. All had been lost but for the stand which I made for three hours at the cemetery of Eylau, at the head of my guard, my cavalr}% and my artillery, which I directed myselfl The army will not refuse to bear me witness that I was not the least moved by the critical position in which we were placed until the arrival of Davoust. I could have wished to see by my side, on this occasion, those of my de- tractors who have accused me of wanting courage and pres- ence of mind.^

TIMIT.

Condition of the Enemy's Forces— Poland — ^Napoleon's Measure for secur- ing his Rear — ^The King of Prussia rejects the Armistice — ^The Russian Army — Invasion of Moldavia — Position of the two Armies — Napoleon takes the Offensive — ^Combat of Pultusk — Napoleon prepares for Winter- quarters — Measures for securing his Position — Continuation of the War between Russia and Turkey — Benningaen takes Command of the Rus- sian Army — Afiairs of Silesia— Benningsen attacks Napoleon's Left — Movements of the Latter — His Project accidently discovered by the Russians — Soult fights at Bergfried— ^mbat of Landsberg — Couibat of Liebstadt — Battle of Eylau — The French Army resumes its Winter^ quarters — Combat of Ostrolenka — Embarrassment of Napoleon's Posi- tion — Menaces of Spain — ^Austria offers her Intervention for Peace-^ The English threaten Constantinople — Passage of the Dardanelles — Sebastian! rouses the Turks to defend themselves — Retreat of the English — ^Napoleon's Firmness — Negotiations at the Campof Finkenstein — Nego- tiations with England broken off by Perceval— Treaty of Triple- Alliance at Bartenstein— Operations in Pomerania — Negotiations with Sweden — Army of Observatk>n on the Elbe — English Expediton into Egypt- Sieges in Silesia— Siege and Fall of Dantzic — Resumption of Hostilities — Danger and Escape of Key— Napoleon Marches to bis Assistance — Favorable Changes of Napoleon's Position— Battle of Heilsberg— Ope- rations of Benningsen— Battle of Friedland— The Russians rccross the Niemen— They propose Peace— Interview of the Emperors at Tilsit— The Peace signed—Prussia— Conditions of the Treaty of Tilsit— Revolution at Oonstaatinoplo— Prqjects on Turkey— Special Stipulations at Tilsit 244

FRISDLAND.

Condition of the Enemy's Foroe»— Poland— Napoleon's Measure for secoring his Bear — The King of Prussia rejects the Armistice— The Bussian Army — Invasion of Moldavia— Position of the two Armies— Napoleon takes the Offensive— Combat of Paltusk— Napoleon prepares for Winter Quarters- Measures for securiDg his Position — Continuation of the War between Bussia and Turkey — Benningsen takes Command of the Buasian Army — Affiiirs of Silesia— Benningseu attacks Napoleon's Left— Movements of the Latter— His Project accidentally Discovered by the Bussians— Soult fights at Bergw fried — Combat of Landsberg — Combat of Liebstadt — Battle of £ylau — ^The French Army resumes its Winter Quarters — Combat of Ostrolenka — Ember^ raasment of Napoleon's Position — Menaces of Spain — Austria offers her In- tervention fi>r Peace — The Englisli threaten Constantinople— Passage of the Dardanelles— Sebastianl rouses the Turks to defend themselves — Betreat of the English — ^Napoleon's Firmness— Negotiations at the Camp of Finkenstein —Negotiations with England broken off by Perceval— Treaty of Triple- Alliance at Bartenstein — Operations in Pomeraniar->Negotiations with Sweden — Army of Observation on the Elbe — ^English Expedition into Egypt —Sieges in Silesia — Siege and fall of Dantzio^Besumption of Hostilities — Danger and escape of Ney — Napoleon Marches to his Assistance— Favorable Changes of Napoleon's Position — Battle of Heilsberg— Operations of Ben- ningsen — Battle of Friedland — The Bussians recross the Niemen-*They pro- pose Peace— Interview of the Emperors at Tilsit — ^The Peace Signed— Prussia — Conditions of the Treaty of Tilsit — Bevolution at Constantinople- Projects on Turkey— Special Stipukttions at Tilsit

VOL. II. — 17.

The Rvssiaas recross the NiemeB.— The Bussian army, enfeebled by the loss of about twenty thousand men hora-de- combat, sought only to regain its frontiers. On the fifteen th, it passed the Pregel at Wehlau, and took the road to Tilsit. The coi-ps of Kamcnski and of Lestocq which defended Konigsbcrg, having learned the result of the battle of Fried- land, evacuated this city and also retreated on Tilsit, hotly pressed by Davoust. On the sixteenth, Soult entered into the capital of Old Prussia, where we made immense captures ; for, independently of considerable magazines, we found there more than one hundred thousand stand of arms, recently debarked from England, and also a large quantity of muni- tions. Murat, who had hastened to pass the Pregel at Tapiau as soon as he heard of the victory of Friedland, cut up the enemy's rear-guard, and his army, closely pursued by our cavalry, passed the Niemen, at Tilsit, on the morning of the nineteenth : the same day I entered that city.

WAR IN THE SPANISH PENINSULA.

The scenes of Jena, Auerstedt, Pultusk, Eylau, Heilsberg, and oven the victory of Friedland, had terribly thinned the ranks of my veterans of Boulogne ; only the souvenirs of them existed in the regiments. The skeletons (cadres) were filled with young soldiers. I thought to stimulate them to new exertions by giving a just recompense to their predece^ sors for the glory acquired by so much courage and resigna- tion. Moreover, the position of my throne required that I should leave to my successor a respectable class, interested in its maintainance. If a nobility be a doubtful support of thrones, and if it be true that nobles and priests are as factious