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Immediately on their arrival at Champ…Aubert； the army； finding itself in
presence of the Russian army corps； against which they had already fought
at Brienne； fell on it without even waiting to take repose； separated it
from the Prussian army； and took the general…in…chief and several general
officers prisoners。 His Majesty； whose conduct towards his conquered
foes was always honorable and generous； made them dine at his table； and
treated them with the greatest consideration。
The enemy were again beaten at the Farm des Frenaux by Marshals Ney and
Mortier； and by the Duke of Ragusa at Vaux…Champs； where Blucher again
narrowly escaped being made prisoner。 At Nangis the Emperor dispersed
one hundred and fifty thousand men commanded by the Prince von
Schwarzenberg； and ordered in pursuit of them Marshals Oudinot；
Kellermann； Macdonald； and Generals Treilhard and Gerard。
The eve of the battle of Wry； the Emperor inspected all the surroundings
of this little town； and his observing glasses rested on an immense
extent of marshy ground in the midst of which is the village of Bagneux；
and at a short distance the village of Anglure； past which the Aube
flows。 After rapidly passing over the unsafe ground of these dangerous
marshes； he set foot on solid ground； and seated himself on a bundle of
reeds； and there； leaning against the wall of a night…hunter's hut； he
unrolled his map of the campaign； and； after examining it a few moments；
remounted his horse and set off at a gallop。
At this moment a flock of teal and snipe flew up before his Majesty； and
he exclaimed laughingly： 〃Go； go； my beauties； make room for other game。〃
His Majesty said to those around him； 〃This time we have them！〃
The Emperor was galloping towards Anglure； in order to see if the hill of
Baudemont； which is near this village； was occupied by the artillery；
when the noise of cannon heard in the direction of Wry compelled him to
retrace his steps； and he accordingly returned to Wry； saying to the
officers who accompanied him； 〃Let us gallop； gentlemen； our enemies are
in a hurry； we should not keep them waiting。〃 A half hour after he was
on the battlefield。 Enormous clouds of smoke from the burning of Wry
were driven in the faces of the Russian and Prussian columns； and partly
hid the maneuvers of the French army。 At that moment everything
indicated the success of the plans the Emperor had formed that morning in
the marshes of Bagneux； for all went well。 His Majesty foresaw the
defeat of the allies； and France saved； while at Anglure all were given
up to despair。 The population of many villages shuddered at the approach
of the enemy； for not a piece of cannon was there to cut off their
retreat； not a soldier to prevent them from crossing the river。
The position of the allies was so exceedingly critical that the whole
French army believed them destroyed； as they had plunged with all their
artillery into the marshes； and would have been mowed down by the shower
of balls from our cannon if they had remained there。 But suddenly they
were seen to make a new effort； place themselves in line of battle； and
prepare to pass the Aube。 The Emperor； who could pursue them no farther
without exposing his army to the danger of being swallowed up in the
marshes； arrested the impetuosity of his soldiers； believing that the
heights of Baudemont were covered with artillery ready to overwhelm the
enemy； but hearing not a single shot in this direction； he hurried to
Sezanne to hasten the advance of the troops； only to learn that those he
expected to find there had been sent toward Fere Champenoise。
During this interval； a man named Ansart； a land owner at Anglure；
mounted his horse； and hurried at the utmost speed to Sezanne in order to
inform the marshal that the enemy were pursued by the Emperor； and about
to cross the Aube。 Having reached the Duke； and seeing that the corps he
commanded was not taking the road to Anglure； he hastened to speak。
Apparently the Emperor's； orders had not been received； for the marshal
would not listen to him； treated him as a spy； and it was with much
difficulty this brave man escaped being shot。
While this scene was taking place； his Majesty had already reached
Sezanne； and seeing many inhabitants of this village around him； he
requested some one to guide him to Fere Champenoise； whereupon a bailiff
presented himself。 The Emperor immediately set out； escorted by the
officers who had accompanied him to Sezanne； and left the town； saying to
his guide； 〃Go in front； monsieur； and take the shortest road。〃 Arrived
at a short distance from the battlefield of Fere Champenoise； his Majesty
saw that every report of the artillery made the poor bailiff start。 〃You
are afraid；〃 said the Emperor to him。 〃No； Sire。〃〃Then； what makes you
dodge your head？〃〃It is because I am not accustomed like your Majesty
to hearing all this uproar。〃〃One should accustom himself to everything。
Fear nothing； keep on。〃 But the guide； more dead than alive； reined in
his horse； and trembled in every limb。 〃Come； come； I see you are really
afraid。 Go behind me。〃 He obeyed； turned his horse's head； and galloped
as far as Sezanne without stopping； promising himself most faithfully
never again to serve as guide to the Emperor on such an occasion。
At the battle of Mery； the Emperor； under the very fire of the enemy； had
a little bridge thrown over the river which flows near the town。 This
bridge was constructed in an hour by means of ladders fastened together；
and supported by wooden beams； but as this was not sufficient； it was
necessary that planks should be placed on this。 None could be found；
however； for those who might have been able to procure them did not dare
to approach the exposed spot his Majesty occupied at this moment。
Impatient； and even angry； because he could not obtain the planks for
this bridge； his Majesty had the shutters of several large houses a short
distance from the river taken down； and had them placed and nailed down
under his own eyes。 During this work he was tormented by intense thirst；
and was about to dip water up in his hand to slake it； when a young girl；
who had braved danger in order to draw near the Emperor； ran to a
neighboring house； and brought him a glass of water and some wine； which
he eagerly drank。
Astonished to see this young girl in so perilous a place； the Emperor
said to her； smiling； 〃You would make a brave soldier； Mademoiselle； and
if you are willing to wear epaulets you shall be one of my aides…de…
camp。〃 The young girl blushed； and made a courtesy to the Emperor； and
was going away； when he held out his hand to her； and she kissed it。
〃Later；〃 he said； 〃come to Paris； and remind me of the service you have
rendered me to…day。 You will be satisfied of my gratitude。〃 She thanked
the Emperor and withdrew； very proud of his words of commendation。
The day of the battle of Nangis an Austrian officer came in the evening
to headquarters； and had a long； secret conference with his Majesty。
Forty…eight hours after； at the close of the engagement at Mery； appeared
a new envoy from the Prince von Schwarzenberg； with a reply from the
Emperor of Austria to the confidential letter which his Majesty had
written two days before to his father…in…law。 We had left Mery in
flames； and in the little hammock of Chatres； where headquarters had been
established； there could no shelter be found for his Majesty except in
the shop of a wheelwright； and the Emperor passed the night there；
working； or lying on the bed all dressed； without sleeping。 It was there
also he received the Austrian envoy； the Prince of Lichtenstein。 The
prince long remained in conversation with his Majesty； and though nothing
was known of the subject of their conversation； no one doubted that it
related to peace。 After the departure of the prince； the Emperor was in
extraordinarily high spirits； which affected all those around him。
Our army had taken from the enemy thousands of prisoners； Paris had just
received the Russian and Prussian banners taken at Nangis and Montereau；
the Emperor had put to flight the foreign sovereigns； who even feared for
a time that they might not be able to regain the frontiers； and the
effect of so much success had been to restore to his Majesty his former
confidence in his good fortune； though this was unfortunately only a
dangerous illusion。
The Prince of Lichtenstein had hardly left headquarters when M。 de Saint…
Aignan； the brother…in…law of the Duke of Vicenza； and equerry of the
Emperor； arrived。 M。 de Saint…Aignan went； I think； to his brother…in…
law； who was at the Congress of Chatillon； or at least had been； for the
sessions of this congress had been suspended for several days。 It seems
that before leaving Paris M。 de Saint…Aignan held an interview with the
Duke of Rovigo and another； minister； and they had given him a verbal
message to the Emperor。 This mission was both delicate and difficult。
He would have much preferred that these gentlemen should have sent in
writing the communications which they insisted he should bear to his
Majesty； but they refused； and as a faithful servant M。