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RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF NAPOLEON； V11
BY CONSTANT
PREMIER VALET DE CHAMBRE
TRANSLATED BY WALTER CLARK
1895
CONTENTS：
CHAPTER XV。 to CHAPTER XXIII。
CHAPTER XV。
During the second day of the battle of Dresden； at the end of which the
Emperor had the attack of fever I mentioned in the preceding chapter； the
King of Naples； or rather Marshal Murat； performed prodigies of valor。
Much has been said of this truly extraordinary prince； but only those who
saw him personally could form a correct idea of him； and even they never
knew him perfectly until they had seen him on a field of battle。 There
he seemed like those great actors who produce a complete illusion amid
the fascinations of the stage； but in whom we no longer find the hero
when we encounter them in private life。 While at Paris I attended a
representation of the death of 'Hector' by Luce de Lancival； and I could
never afterwards hear the verses recited in which the author describes
the effect produced on the Trojan army by the appearance of Achilles
without thinking of Prince Murat； and it may be said without exaggeration
that his presence produced exactly this effect the moment he showed
himself in front of the Austrian lines。 He had an almost gigantic
figure； which alone would have sufficed to make him remarkable； and in
addition to this sought every possible means to draw attention to
himself； as if he wished to dazzle those who； might have intended to
attack him。 His regular and strongly marked features； his handsome blue
eyes rolling in their orbits； enormous mustaches； and black hair falling
in long ringlets over the collar of a kurtka with narrow sleeves； struck
the attention at first sight。 Add to this the richest and most elegant
costume which one would wear even at the theater；a Polish coat richly
embroidered； and encircled by a gilded belt from which hung the scabbard
of a light sword； with a straight and pointed blade； without edge and
without guard； large amaranth…colored pantaloons embroidered in gold on
the seams； and nankeen boots； a large hat embroidered in gold with a
border of white feathers； above which floated four large ostrich plumes
with an exquisite heron aigrette in the midst； and finally the king's
horse； always selected from the strongest and handsomest that could be
found； was covered with an elegantly embroidered sky…blue cloth which
extended to the ground； and was held in place by a Hungarian or Turkish
saddle of the richest workmanship； together with a bridle and stirrups
not less magnificent than the rest of the equipment。 All these things
combined made the King of Naples a being apart； an object of terror and
admiration。 But what； so to speak； idealized him was his truly
chivalrous bravery； often carried to the point of recklessness； as if
danger had no existence for him。 In truth； this extreme courage was by
no means displeasing to the Emperor； and though he perhaps did not always
approve of the manner in which it was displayed； his Majesty rarely
failed to accord it his praise； especially when he thought necessary to
contrast it with the increasing prudence shown by some of his old
companions in arms。
On the 28th the Emperor visited the battlefield； which presented a
frightful spectacle； and gave orders that everything possible should be
done to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded； and also of the
inhabitants and peasants who had been ravaged and pillaged； and their
fields and houses burned； and then ascended the heights from which he
could follow the course of the enemy's retreat。 Almost all the household
followed him in this excursion。 A peasant was brought to him from
Nothlitz； a small village where the Emperor Alexander and the King of
Prussia had their headquarters during the two preceding days。 This
peasant； when questioned by the Duke of Vicenza； said he had seen a great
personage brought into Nothlitz； who had been wounded the evening before
on the staff of the allies。 He was on horseback； and beside the Emperor
of Russia； at the moment he was struck。 The Emperor of Russia appeared
to take the deepest interest in his fate。 He had been carried to the
headquarters of Nothlitz on lances of the Cossacks interlaced； and to
cover him they could find only a cloak wet through with the rain。 On his
arrival at Nothlitz the Emperor Alexander's surgeon came to perform the
amputation； and had him carried on an extending chair to Dippoldiswalde；
escorted by several Austrian； Prussian； and Russian detachments。
On learning these particulars the Emperor was persuaded that the Prince
von Schwarzenberg was the person in question。 〃He was a brave man；〃 said
he； 〃and I regret him。〃 Then after a silent pause； 〃It is then he；〃
resumed his Majesty； 〃who is the victim of the fatality！ I have always
been oppressed by a feeling that the events of the ball were a sinister
omen； but it is very evident now that it was he whom the presage
indicated。〃
While the Emperor gave himself up to these conjectures； and recalled his
former presentiments； prisoners who were brought before his Majesty had
been questioned； and he learned from their reports that the Prince von
Schwarenzberg had not been wounded； but was well； and was directing the
retreat of the Austrian grand army。 Who was； then； the important
personage struck by a French cannonball？ Conjectures were renewed on
this point； when the Prince de Neuchatel received from the King of Saxony
a collar unfastened from the neck of a wandering dog which had been found
at Nothlitz。 On the collar was written these words； 〃I belong to General
Moreau。〃 This furnished； of course； only a supposition； but soon exact
information arrived； and confirmed this conjecture。
Thus Moreau met his death the first occasion on which he bore arms
against his native country；he who had so often confronted with impunity
the bullets of the enemy。 History has judged him severely； nevertheless；
in spite of the coldness which had so long divided them； I can assert
that the Emperor did not learn without emotion the death of Moreau；
notwithstanding his indignation that so celebrated a French general could
have taken up arms against France； and worn the Russian cockade。 This
unexpected death produced an evident effect in both camps； though our
soldiers saw in it only a just judgment from Heaven； and an omen
favorable to the Emperor。 However that may be； these are the
particulars； which I learned a short time after； as they were related by
the valet de chambre of General Moreau。
The three sovereigns of Russia； Austria； and Prussia had been present on
the 27th at the battle on the heights of Nothlitz； but had retired as
soon as they saw that the battle was lost。 That very day General Moreau
was wounded by a cannon…ball near the intrenchments in front of Dresden；
and about four o'clock in the afternoon was conveyed to Nothlitz； to the
country house of a merchant named Salir； where the Emperors of Austria
and Russia had established their headquarters。 Both limbs of the general
were amputated above the knee。 After the amputation； as he requested
something to eat and a cup of tea； three eggs were brought him on a
plate； but he took only the tea。 About seven o'clock he was placed on a
litter； and carried to Passendorf by Russian soldiers； and passed the
night in the country house of M。 Tritschier； grand master of forests。
There he took only another cup of tea； and complained greatly of the
sufferings he endured。 The next day； the 28th of August； at four o'clock
in the morning； he was conveyed； still by Russian soldiers； from
Passendorf to Dippodiswalde； where he took a little white bread and a
glass of lemonade at the house of a baker named Watz。 An hour after he
was carried nearer to the frontiers of Bohemia； borne by Russian soldiers
in the body of a coach taken off the wheels。 During the entire route he
incessantly uttered cries which the extremity of his sufferings drew from
him。
These are the details which I learned in regard to Moreau； and； as is
well known； he did not long survive his wound。 The same ball which broke
both his legs carried off an arm from Prince Ipsilanti； then aide…de…camp
to the Emperor Alexander； so that if the evil that is done can be
repaired by the evil received； it might be said that the cannon…shot
which tore away from us General Kirgener and Marshal Duroc was this day
sent back on the enemy。 But alas！ it is a sad sort of consolation that
is drawn from reprisals。
It may be seen from the above； and especially from the seemingly decisive
benefits arising from the battle of Dresden； that since the resumption of
hostilities； in every place where our troops had been sustained by the
all…powerful presence of the Emperor； they had obtained successes； but
unfortunately this was not the case at points distant from the main line
of operations。 Nevertheless； seeing the allies routed by the army which
he commanded in person； and certain； moreover； that General Vandamme had
held the position which he had indicated to him through General Haxo； his
Majesty returned to his first idea of marching on Berlin； and