napoleon bonaparte, v10-第11章

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interviews　this　minister　had　at　Dresden　with　his　Majesty；　but　the　Emperor
had　been　entirely　unable　to　bring　himself　to　the　belief　that　the　Emperor
of　Austria　would　make　common　cause　with　the　coalition　of　the　north
against　his　own　daughter　and　grandson。　　Finally　all　doubts　were　solved　by
the　arrival　of　Count　Louis　de　Narbonne；　who　was　returning　from　Prague　to
Dresden；　as　bearer　of　a　declaration　of　war　from　Austria。　　Every　one
foresaw　that　France　must　soon　count　among　its　enemies　all　the　countries
no　longer　occupied　by　its　troops；　and　results　justified　this　prediction
only　too　well。　　Nevertheless；　everything　was　not　lost；　for　we　had　not　yet
been　compelled　to　take　the　defensive。




CHAPTER　XIV。

War　recommenced　before　negotiations　were　finally　broken；　for　the　Duke　of
Vicenza　was　still　in　communication　with　M。　de　Metternich。　　The　Emperor；
as　he　mounted　his　horse；　said　to　the　numerous　generals　surrounding　him
that　he　now　marched　to　conquer　a　peace。　　But　what　hope　could　remain　after
the　declaration　of　war　by　Austria；　and　above　all；　when　it　was　known　that
the　allied　sovereigns　had　incessantly　increased　their　pretensions　in
proportion　as　the　Emperor　granted　the　concessions　demanded？　　The　Emperor
left　Dresden　at　five　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　advancing　on　the　road　to
Koenigstein；　and　passed　the　next　day　at　Bautzen；　where　he　revisited　the
battlefield；　the　scene　of　his　last　victory。　　There　the　king　of　Naples；
who　did　not　wish　royal　honors　to　be　rendered　himself；　came　to　rejoin　the
Emperor　at　the　head　of　the　Imperial　Guard；　who　presented　as　imposing　an
appearance　as　in　its　pristine　days。

We　arrived　at　Gorlitz　on　the　18th；　where　the　Emperor　found　the　Duke　of
Vicenza；　who　was　returning　from　Bohemia。　　He　confirmed　the　truth　of　the
report　his　Majesty　had　already　received　at　Dresden；　that　the　Emperor　of
Austria　had　already　decided　to　make　common　cause　with　the　Emperor　of
Russia　and　the　Kings　of　Prussia　and　Sweden　against　the　husband　of　his
daughter；　the　princess　whom　he　had　given　to　the　Emperor　as　a　pledge　of
peace。　　It　was　also　through　the　Duke　of　Vicenza　that　the　Emperor　learned
that　General　Blucher　had　just　entered　Silesia　at　the　head　of　an　army　of
one　hundred　thousand　men；　and；　in　violation　of　most　sacred　promises；　had
seized　on　Breslau　the　evening　before　the　day　fixed　for　the　rupture　of　the
armistice。　　This　same　day　General　Jomini；　　Swiss　by　birth；　but　until
recently　in　the　service　of　France；　chief　of　staff　to　Marshal　Ney；　and
loaded　with　favors　by　the　Emperor；　had　deserted　his　post；　and　reported　at
the　headquarters　of　the　Emperor　Alexander；　who　had　welcomed　him　with
demonstrations　of　most　intense　satisfaction。

　　　　　＇Baron　Henri　Jomini；　author　of　the　celebrated　treatise　on　the　art
　　　　　of　war；　was　born　in　the　Canton　de　Vaud；　1779；　aide…de…camp　to　Ney；
　　　　　1804；　distinguished　himself　in　several　battles；　and　on　his　desertion
　　　　　was　made　lieutenant…general　and　aide　to　Emperor　Alexander；　died
　　　　　1869。＇

The　Duke　of　Vicenza　gave　the　particulars　of　this　desertion；　which　seemed
to　affect　his　Majesty　more　than　all　the　other　news。　　He　told　him；　among
other　things；　that　when　General　Jomini　had　entered　the　presence　of
Alexander；　he　found　this　monarch　surrounded　by　his　chiefs；　among　whom
Moreau　was　pointed　out　to　him。　　This　was　the　first　information　the
Emperor　had　received　of　General　Moreau's　presence　at　the　enemy's
headquarters。　　The　Duke　of　Vicenza　added；　that　when　the　Emperor　Alexander
presented　General　Jomini　to　Moreau　the　latter　saluted　him　coolly；　and
Jomini　replied　only　by　a　slight　inclination　of　his　head；　and　retired
without　uttering　a　word；　and　the　remainder　of　the　evening　remained　in
gloomy　silence　in　a　corner　of　the　saloon　opposite　to　that　occupied　by
General　Moreau。　　This　constraint　had　not　escaped　the　Emperor　Alexander's
observation；　and　the　next　morning；　as　he　was　making　his　toilet；　he
addressed　Marshal　Ney's　ex…chief　of　staff：　〃General　Jomini；〃　said　he；
〃what　is　the　cause　of　your　conduct　yesterday？　　It　seems　to　me　that　it
would　have　been　agreeable　to　you　to　meet　General　Moreau。〃〃Anywhere
else；　Sire。〃〃What！〃〃If　I　had　been　born　a　Frenchman；　like　the　general；
I　should　not　be　to…day　in　the　camp　of　your　Majesty。〃　　When　the　Duke　of
Vicenza　had　finished　his　report　to　the　Emperor；　his　Majesty　remarked　with
a　bitter　smile；　〃I　am　sure　that　wretch　Jomini　thinks　he　has　performed　a
fine　action！　　Ah；　Caulaincourt；　these　desertions　will　destroy　me！〃
Perhaps　Moreau；　in　welcoming　General　Jomini　so　coldly；　was　actuated　by
the　thought　that　were　he　still　serving　in　the　French　army　he　would　not
have　betrayed　it　with　arms　in　his　hand；　and　after　all　it　is　not　an
unusual　thing　to　see　two　traitors　each　blush　for　the　other；　deluding
themselves　at　the　same　time　in　regard　to　their　own　treachery；　not
comprehending　that　the　sentiments　they　feel　are　the　same　as　those　they
inspire。

However　that　may　be；　the　news　which　M。　de　Caulaincourt　brought　caused　the
Emperor　to　make　some　changes　in　his　plans　for　the　campaign。　　His　Majesty
entirely　abandoned　the　idea　of　repairing　in　person　to　Berlin；　as　he　had
expressed　his　intention　of　doing；　and；　realizing　the　necessity　of
ascertaining　first　of　all　the　contemplated　operations　of　the　grand　army
of　Austria；　commanded　by　the　Prince　of　Schwarzenberg；　penetrated　into
Bohemia；　but　learning　through　the　couriers　of　the　army　and　his　spies　that
eighty　thousand　Russians　still　remained　on　the　opposite　side　with　a
considerable　body　of　the　Austrian　army；　he　retraced　his　steps　after　a　few
engagements　in　which　his　presence　decided　the　victory；　and　on　the　24th　we
found　ourselves　again　at　Bautzen。　　His　Majesty　from　this　place　sent　the
King　of　Naples　to　Dresden；　in　order　to　restore　the　courage　of　the　King　of
Saxony　and　the　inhabitants　when　they　should　find　the　enemy　at　the　gates
of　their　city。　　The　Emperor　sent　them　the　assurance　that　the　enemy's
forces　would　not　enter；　since　he　had　returned　to　defend　its　approaches；
and　urged　them　at　the　same　time　not　to　allow　themselves　to　be　dismayed　by
any　sudden　or　unexpected　attack　made　by　isolated　detachments。　　Murat
arrived　at　a　most　opportune　moment；　for　we　learned　later　that
consternation　had　become　general　in　the　city；　but　such　was　the　prestige
attached　to　the　Emperor's　assurances　that　all　took　courage　again　on
learning　of　his　presence。

After　the　King　of　Naples　had　gone　to　fulfill　this　mission；　Colonel
Gourgaud　was　called　during　the　morning　into　the　Emperor's　tent；　where　I
then　was。　　〃I　will　be　tomorrow　on　the　road　to　Pirna；〃　said　his　Majesty；
〃but　I　shall　halt　at　Stolpen。　　As　for　you；　hasten　to　Dresden；　go　with　the
utmost　speed；　reach　it　this　night。　　Interview　on　your　arrival　the　King　of
Naples；　Durosnel；　the　Duke　of　Bassano；　and　Marshal　Gouvion　Saint…Cyr；
reassure　them　all。　　See　also　the　Saxon　minister　Gersdorf。　　Say　to　him
that　you　could　not　see　the　king　because　you　set　out　in　such　haste；　but
that　I　can　to…morrow　bring　forty　thousand　men　into　Dresden；　and　that　I　am
preparing　to　enter　with　all　the　army。　　Next　day　you　will　see　the
commandant　of　the　engineering　corps；　you　will　visit　the　redoubts　and　the
fortifications　of　the　town；　and　when　you　have　inspected　everything；　you
will　return　quickly　and　meet　me　at　Stolpen。　　Report　to　me　exactly　the
real　state　of　affairs；　as　well　as　the　opinion　of　Marshal　Saint…Cyr　and
the　Duke　of　Bassano。　　Set　out。〃　　The　colonel　left　immediately　at　a
gallop；　though　he　had　eaten　nothing　as　yet　that　day。

The　next　evening　at　eleven　o'clock；　Colonel　Gourgaud　returned　to　the
Emperor；　after　performing　all　the　requirements　of　his　mission。　　Meanwhile
the　allied　army　had　descended　into　the　plain　of　Dresden；　and　had　already
made　some　attacks　upon　the　advance　posts。　　It　resulted　from　information
given　by　the　colonel　that　when　the　King　of　Naples　arrived；　the　city；
which　had　been　in　a　state　of　complete　demoralization；　now　felt　that　its
only　hope　was　in　the　Emperor's　arrival。

In　truth；　hordes　of　Cossacks　were　already　in　sight　of　the　faubourgs；
which　they　threatened　to　attack；　and　their　appearance　had　compelled　the
inhabitants　of　these　faubourgs　to　take　refuge　in　the　interior　of　the
city。　　〃As　I　left；〃　said　Colonel　Gourgaud；　〃I　saw　a　village　in　flames
half　a　league　from　the　great　gardens；　and　Marshal　Gouvion　Saint…Cyr　was
preparing　to　evacuate　that　position。　　〃But　after　all；〃　said　the　Emperor
eagerly；　〃what　is　the　opinion　of　the　Duke　of　Bassano？〃〃Sire；　the　Duke
of　Bassano　does　not　think　that　we　can　hold　out　twenty…four　hours。〃〃And
you？〃〃I；　Sire？　　I　think　that　Dresden　will　be　taken　to…morrow　if　your
Majesty　is　not　there。〃〃I　can　then　rely　upon　what　you　tell　me？〃
〃Sire；　I　will　answer　for　it　with　my　head。〃

Then　his　Majesty　summoned　General　Haxo；　and　said　to　him；　his　finger　on
the　map；　〃Vandamme　is　advancing　by　way　of　Pirna　beyond　the　Elbe。　　The
eagerness　of　the　enemy　in　penetrating　as　far　as　Dresden　has　been　extreme。
Vandamme　will　find　himself　in　his　rear。　　I　intend　to　sustain　his　movement
with　my　whole　army；　but　I　am　uneasy　as　to　the　fate　of　Dresden；　and　am　not
willing　to　sacrifice　that　city。　　I　can　reach　it　in　a　few　hours；　and　I
shall　do　so；　although　it　grieves　me　much　to　abandon　a　plan　which　if　well
executed　might　furnish　the　means　of　routing　all　the　allies　at　one　blow。
Happily　Vandamme　is　still　in　sufficient　strength　to　supplement　the
general　movement　by　attacks　at　special　points　which　will　annoy　the　enemy。
Order　him；　then；　to　go　from　Pirna　to　Ghiesubel；　to　gain　the　defiles　of
Peterswalde；　and　when　intrenched　in　this　impregnable　position；　to　await
the　result　of　operations　under　the　walls　of　Dresden。　　I　reserve　for　him
the　duty　of　receiving　the　swords　of　the　vanquished。　　But　in　order　to　do
this　it　is　necessary　that　he　should　keep　his　wits　about　him；　and　pay　no
attention　to　the　tumult　made　by　the　terrified　inhabitants。　　Explain　to
General　Vandamme　exactly　what　I　expect　of　him。　　Never　will　he　have　a
finer　opportunity　to　gain　the　marshal's　baton。〃

General　Haxo　set　out　instantly；　and　the　Emperor　made　Colonel　Gourgaud
reenter　his　apartment；　and　ordered　him　to　take　a　fresh　horse；　and　return
to　Dresden　more　quickly　than　he　had　come；　in　order　to　announce　his
arrival。　　〃The　old　guard　will　precede　me；〃　said　his　Majesty。　　〃I　hope
that　they　will　have　no　more　fear　when　they　see　that。〃

On　the　morning　of　the　26th　the　Emperor　was　seated　on　his　horse　on　the
bridge　of　Dresden；　and　began；　amid　cries　of　joy　from　both　the　young　and
old　guard；　to　make　dispositions　for　the　terrible　battle　which　lasted
three　days。

It　was　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning　when　the　inhabitants　of　Dresden；　now
reduced　to　despair；　and　speaking　freely　of　capitulation；　witnessed　his
Majesty's　arrival。　　The　scene　changed　suddenly；　and　to　the　most　complete
discouragement　succeeded　most　entire　confidence；　especially　when　the
haughty　cuirassiers　of　Latour…Maubourg　defiled　over　the　bridge；　holding
their　heads　high；　and　their　eyes　fixed　on　the　neighboring　hillsides
covered　by　the　enemy's　lines。　　The　Emperor　immediately　alighted　at　the
palace　of　the　king；　who　was　preparing　to　seek　an　asylumn　in　the　new　town；
but　whose　intentions　were　changed　by　the　arrival　of　this　great　man。　　The
interview　was　extremely　touching。

I　cannot　undertake　to　describe　all　the　occurrences　of　those　mem