Life of Napoleon, vol. 3

PAGI

Austrian Policy— Character of the Times— Military Preparations of Aus- tria—She excites Insurrection in Germany — Secret Societies— The State of Westphalia — Situation of Prussia, and of the other European Powers — Insurrectionary States of the Tyrol — Austria takes the Initiative in the War— Her Plan of Operations— Position and Number of her Forces —The French Army — Relative Numbers of the opposing Forces — Ber- thier sent to rally the French Army— Advance of the Austrians — Faults of Berthier— Napoleon arrives at Ingolstadt— Difficulty of forming a Junction with Davoust — Advance of the Austrian Right toward Ratis- bon— New Movements of Davoust— Battle of Thann— Junction with Davoust effected— Dispositions against the Austrian Centre— Aflair of Abensberg— Movement of Davoust— Hiller defeated at Landshut — Da- ' voust attacks the Austrian Centre — Advance of Napoleon — Battle of Eckmuhl — Retreat of the Archduke — Remarks — Napoleon marches on Vienna— Operations in Italy— Continuation of Napoleon's March— Tardy Projects of Prince Charles to save his Capital— Napoleon's second En- trance into Vienna— Dispositions for the Passage of the Danube— Motives of this Undertaking- Difficulties of its Execution— Preparations for effecting the Passage— Kolowrath's Attack on Lints— Massena crosses to the left Bank of the Danube— The Archduke attacks the French— Bat- tle of Essling— Council of War, and new Projects of Napoleon— Death of Lannes— Remarks on the new Position of the French— Reply to Rog- niat's Criticisms on the Battle of Essling— General Remarks on the Tac- tics of Battles— Military Operations in Italy— Battle of the Piave— Eu-

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Austrian Policy— Character of the Times— Military Preparations of Aus- tria—She excites Insurrection in Germany — Secret Societies — The State of Westphalia — Situation of Prussia, and of the other European Powers — Insurrectionary States of the Tyrol — Austria takes the Initiative in the War — Her Plan of Operations— Position and Number of her Forces — The French Army — Relative Numbers of the opposing Forces — Ber- thier sent to rally the French Army — Advance of the Austrians — Faults of Berthier— Napoleon arrives at Ingolstadt— Difficulty of forming a Junction with Davoust — Advance of the Austrian Right toward Ratis- bon— New Movements of Davoust— Battle of Thann— Junction with Davoust effected— Dispositions against the Austrian Centre—- Aflair of Abensberg — Movement of Davoust — Hiller defeated at Landshut — Da- ' voust attacks the Austrian Centre — Advance of Napoleon — Battle of Eckmuhl — Retreat of the Archduke — Remarks — Napoleon marches on Vienna— Operations in Italy— Continuation of Napoleon's March— Tardy Projects of Prince Charles to save bis Capital— Napoleon's second En- trance into Vienna— Dispositions for the Passage of the Danube— Motives of this Undertaking- Difficulties of its Execution— Preparations for effecting the Passage— Kolowrath's Attack on Linta— Massena crosses to the left Bank of the Danube— The Archduke attacks the French— Bat- tle of Essling— Council of War, and new Projects of Napoleon— Death of Lannes— Remarks on the new Position of the French— Reply to Rog- mat's Criticisms on the Battle of Essling— General Remarks on the Tac- tics of Battles — Military Operations in Italy — Battle of the Piave — Eu-

WAR OP 1809 IN GERMANY, OR THE CAMPAIGN OF WAGRAM.

' Army — Advance of the Austrians — Faults of Berthier — Napoleon arrives at Ingolstadt— Difficulty of forming a Junction with Davoust — Advance of tho Austrian Right toward Ratisbon — New Movements of Davoust — Battle of Thaun — Junction with. Davoust effected — Dispositions against the Austrian Centre— Amur of Abensberg — Movement of Davoust — Hiller defeated at Landshut — Davoust attacks the Austrian Centre— Advance of Napoleon — Battle of Eckmuhl — Retreat of the Archduke — Remarks— Napoleon marches on Vienna — Operations in Italy — Continuation of Napoleon's March — Tardy Projects of Prince Charles to save his Capital — Napoleon's second Entrance into Vienna— Dispositions for the Passago of the Danube— Motives of this Undertaking — Difficulties of its Execution — Preparations for effecting tho Passage — Kolowrath's attack on Lintz — Massena crosses the left Bank of the Danube — The Archduke attacks tho French — Battle of Essling — Council of War, and new Projects of Napoleon — Death of Lannes — Remarks on tbo new Position of the French — Reply to Rogniat's Criticisms on the Battle of Essling — General Remarks on the Tactics of Battles — Military Operations in Italy — Battle of the Piave— Eugene pursues the Austrians — Retreat of the Archduke John on Grate — Junction of the Armies of Napoleon and Eugene— Insurrection of Westphalia and Prussia — Affairs of the Tyrol — Operations in Poland— Situation of Affaire in Germany — Affaire of Rome — The Pope transferred to Savona — Measures of Napoleon for repairing the Check received at Essling— Eugene marches against the Archduke John — Battle of Raab— Results of this Battle, and Siege of Raab— The Archduke John disobeys the Orders of the Generalissimo— Bombardment of Presbourg — Marmont's March — Operations of Giulay — Combat of Gratz — General Situa- tion of Military Affairs — New Passage of the Danube— Operations on the morning of the fifth (July)— Position of the opposing Forces— Preliminary Attack of the French — Battle of Wagram — Defeat of the Austrians — Remarks on the Battle — Retreat of the Archduke, and Pursuit of the French — Battle of Znaim— Armistice— Its Conditions— Motives of Austria in ratifying it—

CH.XIV..1 THE WAR OF 1809 IN GERMANY. 29

Another characteristic incident is related of Napoleon while occupying the island of Lobau, after the battle of Essling. Passing a company of grenadiers, seated at their dinner, he remarked to them, " Well, my friends, I hope you find the wine good." " It will not make us drunk," replied one of their number; " there is our wine-cellar, '• pointing to the Danube. Napoleon was surprised at this answer, as he had ordered the distribution of a bottle of wine to each man. On investigation, it was found that forty thousand bottles, which he had sent to the army a few days before, had been purloined and sold by the commissaries. They were Immediately brought to trial, and condemned to be shot

WAR OP 1809 IN GERMANY, OR THE CAMPAIGN OF WAGRAM.

' Army — Advance of the Austrians — Faults of Berthier — Napoleon arrives at Ingolstadt— Difficulty of forming a Junction with Davoust — Advance of tho Austrian Right toward Ratisbon — New Movements of Davoust — Battle of Thaun — Junction with. Davoust effected — Dispositions against the Austrian Centre— Amur of Abensberg — Movement of Davoust — Hiller defeated at Landshut — Davoust attacks the Austrian Centre— Advance of Napoleon — Battle of Eckmuhl — Retreat of the Archduke — Remarks— Napoleon marches on Vienna — Operations in Italy — Continuation of Napoleon's March — Tardy Projects of Prince Charles to save his Capital — Napoleon's second Entrance into Vienna— Dispositions for the Passago of the Danube— Motives of this Undertaking — Difficulties of its Execution — Preparations for effecting tho Passage — Kolowrath's attack on Lintz — Massena crosses the left Bank of the Danube — The Archduke attacks tho French — Battle of Essling — Council of War, and new Projects of Napoleon — Death of Lannes — Remarks on tbo new Position of the French — Reply to Rogniat's Criticisms on the Battle of Essling — General Remarks on the Tactics of Battles — Military Operations in Italy — Battle of the Piave— Eugene pursues the Austrians — Retreat of the Archduke John on Grate — Junction of the Armies of Napoleon and Eugene— Insurrection of Westphalia and Prussia — Affairs of the Tyrol — Operations in Poland— Situation of Affaire in Germany — Affaire of Rome — The Pope transferred to Savona — Measures of Napoleon for repairing the Check received at Essling— Eugene marches against the Archduke John — Battle of Raab— Results of this Battle, and Siege of Raab— The Archduke John disobeys the Orders of the Generalissimo— Bombardment of Presbourg — Marmont's March — Operations of Giulay — Combat of Gratz — General Situa- tion of Military Affairs — New Passage of the Danube— Operations on the morning of the fifth (July)— Position of the opposing Forces— Preliminary Attack of the French — Battle of Wagram — Defeat of the Austrians — Remarks on the Battle — Retreat of the Archduke, and Pursuit of the French — Battle of Znaim— Armistice— Its Conditions— Motives of Austria in ratifying it—

CH.XIV..1 THE WAR OF 1809 IN GERMANY. 29

to retain the position between the two villages ; after getting our forces ready, we ought to have debouched under the protection of these two bastions, by an obliquo movement, pushing forward the right wing, and refusing the left ; which was exactly what Lannes and Massena were intending to execute, if Davoust had been able to reach them. The only thing that can be said of this operation is, that, pos- sibly, it might have been better to delay the offensive attack until the complete arrival of Davoust's forces, and then to direct it from Essling on Baasdorf. It was in this way that we afterward operated at the battle of Wagram. With respect to the deep formation of troops, which, it is alleged, Lannes employed against the enemy, I .no more advised it than I do some of the other ideas of my critic. But had the troops of Lannes been drawn up according to the thin for- mation, there would not have been space for Davoust to form on his right ; this would have delayed Davoust's com* ing into action, and have exposed my centre, too thin for resistance, to the attaoks of tho enemy, while the third corps-d'armee was still moving into. line. But, in fact, my centre was not entirely of the deep formation ; the troops were drawn up according to the mixed system. .Claparedo had his three brigades deployed, two facing to the north, and the third, formed, crotchet wise, to cover themselves against Rosenberg; St Hilaire was also .deployed. In fine, Rn- gniat's criticisms on this battle partake more of the spirit of general denunciation than of a just and searching, ana- lytical examination.

GH.XTVV) THE WAB OF 1809 IN GERMANY. 117

The cessation of hostilities was the more timely for us in the north of Germany, where the Austrians had recently gained some success, and where the English had made a small debarcation. My brother Jerome had collected a corps of ten thousand men to drive the enemy from Dresden, by acting in concert with the few Saxons still remaining under the. orders of General Thielmann. On the other side, Junot was coming for the same purpose from Franconia ; they were to effect a junction in Yoigtland. The archduke had sent General Keinmayer into Saxony to give form and object to the insurrectionary operations which were attempted in that couutry. This general, uniting with the duke of Bruns- wick and the division of Amende, and acting in concert with the corps of Badvojewich, sought to prevent the junc- tion of Junot and the king of Westphalia. He encountered the former near Gefr6es on the ninth of July, and drove him back on Bareith. Jerome fell back on Schleitz, and, on hearing the victory of Wagram, and the descent of the Eng- lish, decided to rally his corps on Erfurth. The Austrians, having entered Dresden on the twenty-first, refused to evacu- ate the place, under the pretense that the armistice was

GH.XTVV) THE WAB OF 1809 IN GERMANY. 117

rendering this the first port in Europe. The English, how- ever, before risking themselves on French soil, waited to learn the result of the first operations of the campaign on the Danube. Some, however, attribute this delay to a want of unanimity in the English ministry in the choice of a com- mandant, Wellington being then engaged in the Peninsular War. At last, on hearing the news of the battle of Wagram, they deemed it high time to act ; and, on the first of August, the fleet of Admiral Strachan landed Lord Chatham's army on the island of Walcheren. The heir of this great name, the elder brother of Pitt, proved that generations succeed, without resembling each other. He committed innumerable faults in the execution of this enterprise, which, if well con- ducted, would infallibly have reached Antwerp. The most .convenient route for reaching this place from the coast, is the road leading from Blakenberg by Bruges and Ghent ; it is paved for the distance of twenty-four leagues. The coast at this time was so entirely stripped of all means of defense, that there was not the slightest obstacle to prevent the land- ing at this point of thirty thousand men, who could have reached Antwerp on the third day with the whole train of artillery with which they were most amply provided. The remainder of the army and fleet might have entered the Scheldt so as to fix our attention on Flushing and the island of Cassand. Our fleet, taken unawares, would have found retreat impossible. Antwerp was almost completely desti- tute of a garrison ;° and the capture even of the fort, called the T6te-de-Flandre, on the opposite bank of the Scheldt, would have secured the success of the enterprise.

CONTENTS. IX

Dnieper— Hazardous March of Barclay — Pursuit of Ney and Murat— Battle of Valoutina — Betreat of the Russians— Position of Napoleon — Battle of Gorodeczna — Affairs of Polotsk — Napoleon resolves to advance —Character of the Country— New Generalissimo of the Russian Armies — Preparations for Battle — Position of the Enemy — Plan of Attack — Battle of Borodino or the Moscowa — Remarks on this Battle— Napoleon enters Moscow — The Russians burn the City— New Projects of Napo- leon — The Russians inarch on Taroutina — Embarrassing Position of the French. SU

CONTENTS. IX

Dnieper— Hazardous March of Barclay— Pursuit of Ney and Murai — Battle of Valoutina— Retreat of the Russians — Position of Napoleon — Battle of Gorodeczna — Affairs of Polotsk — Napoleon resolves to advance —Character of the Country— New Generalissimo of the Russian Armies — Preparations for Battle — Position of the Enemy— Plan of Attack — Battle of Borodino or the Moecowa — Remarks on this Battle— Napoleon enters Moscow — The Russians burn the City — New Projects of Napo- leon — The Russians march on Taroutina— Embarrassing Position of the French. 3H

WAR OF 1812, OR CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIA.

Causes of the War with Russia— -Opinions of Napoleon's Counselors— Military Chances of Success — Negotiations with Russia — Fruits of the Continental System — Occupation of Swedish Pomerania — Alliance with Prussia — Pacific Proposals to the Emperor Alexander — Offensive and Defeusive Alliance with Austria— Result of the Negotiations with Russia — Proposals of Peace to England — Ultimatum of Russia — Napoleon repairs to Dresden — Return of Narbonne— Pradt s Mission to Warsaw — LigneuTs Mission to Sweden — Pre- parations for opening the Campaign — Diversion of the Turks — Dispositions of the Russian Army — Its Organization — French and Allied Army — Plans of Napoleon — Passage of the Niemen — The Russians retreat on Drissa — Napo- leon's Delay at Wilna— Mission of Balaschof— Reply of Napoleon— Poland — War between England and the United States — Operations against Bagration — Napoleon advances on Polotsk — Camp of Drissa — Alexander retires to 8t Petersburg— Operations of Barclay — Combats of Ostrowno — Operations of - Bagration — Affair of Mohilew — Halt at Witepsk — Operations of Napoleon's Wings — Tormassof defeats the Saxons — Operations of Oudroot — Turkey, Sweden and England—Council of War— Barclay takes the Offensive— Napo- leon's March on Smolensk — Battles of Smolensk — Retreat of Barclay — Results of the Campaign — Ney passes the Dnieper — Hazardous March of Barclay — Pursuit of Ney and Murat — Battle of Valoutina — Retreat of the Russians— Position of Napoleon — Battle of Gorodeczno-^-Affaire of Polotsk — Napoleon resolves to advance— Character of the Country— New Gener- alissimo of the Russian Armies — Preparations for Battle— Position of the Enemy — Plan of Attack— Battle of Borodino of the Moscowa— Remarks on this Battle— Napoleon enters Moscow — The Russians bum the City— New Projects of Napoleon — The Russians march on Taroutina — Embarrassing Position of the French.

VOL. III. — 24.

Battle of Borodino, or of the Moscowa,— At six o'clock the signal of attack is given. Tho artillery directs its thun- ders upon the fleches. Davoust rushes forward with his two divisions. The brigade of Plausonne on Eugene's left, which was merely to occupy Borodino and remain in observation, carried away by an ill-directed zeal, goes beyond the village and debouches against the entire corps of Doctorof, who drives it back with loss. Plausonne falls a victim of the