Memoirs of Napoleon - Volume 09 , livre ebook

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pubOne.info present you this new edition. Abolition of the Republican calendar- Warlike preparations in Austria- Plan for re-organizing the National Guard- Napoleon in Strasburg- General Mack- Proclamation- Captain Bernard's reconnoitering mission- The Emperor's pretended anger and real satisfaction- Information respecting Ragusa communicated by Bernard - Rapid and deserved promotion- General Bernard's retirement to the United States of America.

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	06 novembre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819949060
Langue	English

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MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 9.
By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE
His Private Secretary
CHAPTER I.
1805.
Abolition of the Republican calendar— Warlikepreparations in Austria— Plan for re-organizing the National Guard—Napoleon in Strasburg— General Mack— Proclamation— CaptainBernard's reconnoitering mission— The Emperor's pretended anger andreal satisfaction— Information respecting Ragusa communicated byBernard — Rapid and deserved promotion— General Bernard'sretirement to the United States of America.
I had been three months at Hamburg when I learnedthat the Emperor had at last resolved to abolish the only remainingmemorial of the Republic, namely, the revolutionary calendar. Thatcalendar was indeed an absurd innovation, for the new denominationsof the months were not applicable in all places, even in France;the corn of Provence did not wait to be opened by the sun of themonth of Messidor. On the 9th of September a 'Senates-consulte'decreed that on the 1st of January following the months and daysshould resume their own names. I read with much interest Laplace'sreport to the Senate, and must confess I was very glad to see theGregorian calendar again acknowledged by law, as it had alreadybeen acknowledged in fact. Frenchmen in foreign countriesexperienced particular inconvenience from the adoption of a systemdifferent from all the rest of the world.
A few days after the revival of the old calendar theEmperor departed for the army. When at Hamburg it may well besupposed that I was anxious to obtain news, and I received plentyfrom the interior of Germany and from some friends in Paris. Thiscorrespondence enables me to present to my readers a comprehensiveand accurate picture of the state of public affairs up to the timewhen Napoleon took the field. I have already mentioned how artfullyhe always made it appear that he was anxious for peace, and that hewas always the party attacked; his, conduct previous to the firstconquest of Vienna affords a striking example of this artifice. Itwas pretty evident that the transformation of the CisalpineRepublic into the kingdom of Italy, and the union of Genoa toFrance were infractions of treaties; yet the Emperor, nevertheless,pretended that all the infractions were committed by Austria. Thetruth is, that Austria was raising levies as secretly as possible,and collecting her troops on the frontiers of Bavaria. An Austriancorps even penetrated into some provinces of the Electorate; allthis afforded Napoleon a pretest for going to the aid of hisallies.
In the memorable sitting preceding his departure theEmperor presented a project of a 'Senatus-consulte' relative to there-organisation of the National Guard. The Minister for ForeignAffairs read an explanation of the reciprocal conduct of France andAustria since the peace of Luneville, in which the offences ofFrance were concealed with wonderful skill. Before the sittingbroke up the Emperor addressed the members, stating that he wasabout to leave the capital to place himself at the head of the armyto afford prompt succour to his allies, and defend the dearestinterests of his people. He boasted of his wish to preserve peace,which Austria and Russia, as he alleged, had, through the influenceof England, been induced to disturb.
This address produced a very powerful impression inHamburg. For my part, I recognised in it Napoleon's usual boastingstrain; but on this occasion events seemed bent on justifying it.The Emperor may certainly have performed more scientific campaignsthan that of Austerlitz, but never any more glorious in results.Everything seemed to partake of the marvellous, and I have oftenthought of the secret joy which Bonaparte must have felt on seeinghimself at last an the point of commencing a great war in Germany,for which he had so often expressed an ardent desire. He proceededfirst to Strasburg, whither Josephine accompanied him.
All the reports that I received agreed with thestatements of my private correspondence in describing theincredible enthusiasm which prevailed in the army on learning thatit was to march into Germany. For the first time Napoleon hadrecourse to an expeditious mode of transport, and 20, 000 carriagesconveyed his army, as if by enchantment, from the shores of theChannel to the banks of the Rhine. The idea of an active campaignfired the ambition of the junior part of the army. All dreamed ofglory, and of speedy promotion, and all hoped to distinguishthemselves before the eyes of a chief who was idolised by histroops. Thus during his short stay at Strasburg the Emperor mightwith reason prophesy the success which crowned his efforts underthe walls of Vienna.
Rapp, who accompanied him, informed me that onleaving Strasburg he observed, in the presence of several persons,“It will be said that I made Mack's plan of campaign for him. TheCaudine Forks are at Ulm. ”
— [This allusion to the Caudine Forks wasalways in Napoleon's mouth when he saw an enemy's army concentratedon a point, and foresaw its defeat— Bourrienne. ] —
Experience proved that Bonaparte was not deceived;but I ought on this occasion to contradict a calumnious reportcirculated at that time, and since maliciously repeated. It hasbeen said that there existed an understanding between Mack andBonaparte, and that the general was bought over to deliver up thegates of Ulm. I have received positive proof that this assertion isa scandalous falsehood; and the only thing that could give itweight was Napoleon's intercession after the campaign that Mackmight not be put on his trial. In this intercession Napoleon wasactuated only by humanity.
On taking the field Napoleon placed himself at thehead of the Bavarians, with whom be opposed the enemy's army beforethe arrival of his own troops. As soon as they were assembled hepublished the following proclamation, which still further excitedthe ardour of the troops.
SOLDIERS— The war of the third coalition iscommenced. The Austrian army has passed the Inn, violated treaties,attacked and driven our ally from his capital. You yourselves havebeen obliged to hasten, by forced marches, to the defence of ourfrontiers. But you have now passed the Rhine; and we will not stoptill we have secured the independence of the Germanic body,succoured our allies, and humbled the pride of our unjustassailants. We will not again make peace without a sufficientguarantee! Our generosity shall not again wrong our policy.Soldiers, your Emperor is among you! You are but the advanced guardof the great people. If it be necessary they will all rise at mycall to confound and dissolve this new league, which has beencreated by the malice and the gold of England. But, soldiers, weshall have forced marches to make, fatigues and privations of everykind to endure. Still, whatever obstacles may be opposed to us, wewill conquer them; and we will never rest until we have planted oureagles on the territory of our enemies!
In the confidential notes of his diplomatic agents,in his speeches, and in his proclamations, Napoleon alwaysdescribed himself as the attacked party, and perhaps his veryearnestness in so doing sufficed to reveal the truth to all thosewho had learned to read his thoughts differently from what hiswords expressed them.
At the commencement of the campaign of Austerlitz acircumstance occurred from which is to be dated the fortune of avery meritorious man. While the Emperor was at Strasburg he askedGeneral Marescot, the commander-in- chief of the engineers, whetherhe could recommend from his corps a brave, prudent, and intelligentyoung officer, capable of being entrusted with an importantreconnoitering mission. The officer selected by General Marescotwas a captain in the engineers, named Bernard, who had beeneducated in the Polytechnic School. He set off on his mission,advanced almost to Vienna, and returned to the headquarters of theEmperor at the capitulation of Ulm.
Bonaparte interrogated him himself, and was wellsatisfied with his replies; but, not content with answeringverbally the questions put by Napoleon, Captain Bernard had drawnup a report of what he observed, and the different routes whichmight be taken. Among other things he observed that it would be agreat advantage to direct the whole army upon Vienna, withoutregard to the fortified places; for that, once master of thecapital of Austria, the Emperor might dictate laws to all theAustrian monarchy. “I was present, ” said Rapp to me, “at thisyoung officer's interview with the Emperor. After reading thereport, would you believe that the Emperor flew into a furiouspassion? 'How! ' cried he, 'you are very bold, very presumptuous! Ayoung officer to take the liberty of tracing out a plan of campaignfor me! Begone, and await my orders. '”
This, and some other circumstances which I shallhave to add respecting Captain Bernard, completely revealNapoleon's character. Rapp told me that as soon as the youngofficer had left the Emperor all at once changed his tone. “That, ”said he, “is a clever young man; he has taken a proper view ofthings. I shall not expose him to the chance of being shot. PerhapsI shall sometime want his services. Tell Berthier to despatch anorder for his departure for Elyria. ”
This order was despatched, and Captain Bernard, who,like his comrades, was ardently looking forward to the approachingcampaign, regarded as a punishment what was, on the Emperor's part,a precaution to preserve a young man whose merit he appreciated. Atthe close of the campaign, when the Emperor promoted those officerswho had distinguished themselves, Bernard, who was thought to be indisgrace, was not included in Berthier's list among the captains ofengineers whom he recommended to the rank of chef de bataillon; butNapoleon himself inscribed Bernard's name before all the rest.However, the Emperor forgot him for some time; and it was only anaccidental circumstance that brought him to his recollection. Inever had any personal acquaintance with Bern