napoleon bonaparte, v10-第11章
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with this mission； and consequently will go at once to Dlarkersdorf；
and； as an evidence of his authority； will present to Minister
Hermann the accompanying order； and take possession of the above
mentioned sum of two hundred gold napoleons。 The secretary
Meyerheim will account to me alone for the execution of this order。
At Dresden this 20th of March llst of April）； 1814。
（Signed） BARON DE ROSEN。〃
This order needs no comment。 After the battles of Bautzen and Wurschen；
the Emperor entered Silesia。 He saw on every occasion combined armies of
the allies put to flight before his own in every encounter； and this
sight； while flattering his vanity exceedingly； also greatly strengthened
him in the belief that he would soon find himself master of a rich and
fertile country； where the abundant means of subsistence would be of much
advantage in all his undertakings。 Many times a day he exclaimed； 〃How
far are we from such a town？ When do we arrive at Breslau？ 〃His
impatience did not prevent him meanwhile from occupying his mind with
every object which struck his attention； as if he were free from all
care。 He examined the houses； one by one； as he passed through each
village； remarked the direction of rivers and mountain ranges； and
collected the most minute information which the inhabitants could or
would give him。 On the 27th of May； his Majesty； when not more than
three days march from Breslau； met in front of a little town called
Michelsdorf several regiments of Russian cavalry who held the road。 They
were quite near the Emperor and his staff before his Majesty had even
perceived them。 The Prince de Neuchatel； seeing the enemy so near；
hastened to the Emperor； and said； 〃Sire； they are still advancing。〃
〃Well； we will advance also；〃 replied his Majesty； smiling。 〃Look behind
you…〃 And he showed the prince the French infantry approaching in close
columns。 A few discharges soon drove the Russians from this position；
but half a league or a league farther we found them again； and this
maneuver was again and again repeated。 The Emperor； perceiving this；
maneuvered accordingly； and in person directed with the greatest
precision the troops as they advanced。 He went from one height to
another； and thoroughly inspected the towns and villages on the route in
order to reconnoiter their position； and ascertain what resources he
could obtain from the country； and； as a result of his attentive care and
indefatigable oversight； the scene changed ten times a day。 If a column
emerged from a deep ravine； a wood； or a village； it could take immediate
possession of a height； since a battery was found already in position to
defend it。 The Emperor indicated every movement with admirable tact； and
in such a manner that it was impossible to be taken at a disadvantage。
He commanded only the troops as a whole； transmitting either personally；
or through his staff officers； his orders to the commander of the corps
and divisions； who in their turn transmitted or had them transmitted to
the chiefs of battalions。 All orders given by his Majesty were short；
precise； and so clear that it was never necessary to ask explanations。
On the 29th of May； not knowing how far on the road to Breslau it was
prudent to advance； his Majesty established himself on a little farm
called Rosnig； which had been pillaged； and presented a most miserable
aspect。 As there could be found in the house only a small apartment with
a closet suitable for the Emperor's use； the Prince de Neuchatel and his
suite established themselves as well as they could in the surrounding
cottages； barns； and even in the gardens； since there was not sufficient
shelter for all。 The next day a fire broke out in a stable near the
lodging of the Emperor。 There were fourteen or fifteen wagons in this
barn； which were all burned。 One of these wagons contained the traveling
treasury chest； in another were the clothes and linen belonging to the
Emperor； as well as jewelry； rings； tobacco boxes； and other valuable
objects。 We saved very few things from this fire； and if the reserve
corps had not arrived promptly； his Majesty would have been obliged to
change his customary toilet rules for want of stockings and shirts。 The
Saxon Major d'Odeleben； who has written some interesting articles on this
campaign； states that everything belonging to his Majesty was burned； and
that it was necessary to have him some pantaloons made in the greatest
haste at Breslau。 This is a mistake。 I do not think that the baggage…
wagon was burned； but even if it had been； the Emperor would not on that
account have needed clothing； since there were always four or five
complete suits either in advance or in the rear of the headquarters。
In Russia； when the order was given to burn all carriages which lacked
horses； this order was rigorously executed in regard to the persons of
the household； and they were consequently left with almost nothing； but
everything was reserved which might be considered indispensable to his
Majesty。
At length on the 1st of June； at six o'clock in the morning； the advance
guard entered Breslau； having at its head General Lauriston； and General
Hogendorp； whom his Majesty had invested in advance with the functions of
governor of this town； which was the capital of Silesia。 Thus was
fulfilled in part the promise the Emperor had made in passing through
Warsaw on his return from Russia： 〃I go to seek three hundred thousand
men。 Success will render the Russians bold。 I will deliver two battles
between the Elbe and the Oder； and in six months I will be again on the
Niemen。〃
These two battles fought and gained by conscripts； and without cavalry；
had re…established the reputation of the French army。 The King of Saxony
had been brought back in triumph to his capital。 The headquarters of the
Emperor were at Breslau； one of the corps of the grand army was at the
gates of Berlin； and the enemy driven from Hamburg。 Russia was about to
be forced to withdraw into its own boundaries； when the Emperor of
Austria； acting as mediator in the affairs of the two allied sovereigns；
advised them to propose an armistice。 They followed this advice； and as
the Emperor had the weakness to consent to their demands； the armistice
was granted and signed on the fourth of June； and his Majesty at once set
out on his return to Dresden。 An hour after his departure he said； 〃If
the allies do not in good faith desire peace； this armistice may become
very fatal to us。〃
On the evening of the 8th of June； his Majesty reached Gorlitz。 On that
night fire broke out in the faubourg where the guard had established its
quarters； and at one o'clock one of the officials of the town came to the
headquarters of the Emperor to give the alarm； saying that all was lost。
The troops extinguished the fire； and an account was rendered the Emperor
of what had occurred。 I dressed him in all haste； as he wished to set
out at break of day。 〃To how much does the loss amount？〃 demanded the
Emperor。 〃Sire； to seven or eight thousand francs at least for the cases
of greatest need。〃〃Let ten thousand be given； and let it be distributed
immediately。〃 The inhabitants were immediately informed of the
generosity of the Emperor； and as he left the village an hour or two
after； he was saluted with unanimous acclamations。
On the morning of the 10th we returned from Dresden。 The Emperor's
arrival put an end to most singular rumors which had been circulated
there since the remains of Grand Marshal Duroc had passed through the
city。 It was asserted that the coffin contained the body of the Emperor；
that he had been killed in the last battle； and his body mysteriously
concealed in a room of the chateau； through the windows of which lights
could be seen burning all night。 When he arrived； some persons perfectly
infatuated with this idea went so far as to repeat what had already been
reported； with the added circumstance that it was not the Emperor who was
seen in his carriage； but a figure made of wax。 Nevertheless； when next
day he appeared before the eyes of all on
