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Majesty returned to his first idea of marching on Berlin； and already
even had disposed his troops with this intention； when the fatal news
arrived that Vandamme； the victim of his own rashness； had disappeared
from the field of battle； and his ten thousand men； surrounded on all
sides； and overwhelmed by numbers； had been cut to pieces。 It was
believed that Vandamme was dead； and it was not until later we learned
that he had been taken prisoner with a part of his troop。 It was learned
also that Vandamme； incited by his natural intrepidity； and unable to
resist a desire to attack the enemy whom he saw within his grasp； had
left his intrenchments to make the attack。 He had conquered at first；
but when after his victory he attempted to resume his former position he
found it occupied； as the Prussians had seized it； and though he fought
with all the abandon of despair； it was all in vain； and General Kleist；
proud of this fine trophy； conducted him in triumph to Prague。 It was
while speaking of this audacious attack of Vandamme that the Emperor used
this expression； which has been so justly admired； 〃For a retreating
enemy it is necessary to make a bridge of gold； or oppose a wall of
brass。〃 The Emperor heard with his usual imperturbability the
particulars of the loss he had just experienced； but nevertheless
repeatedly expressed his astonishment at the deplorable recklessness of
Vandamme； and said he could not comprehend how this experienced general
could have allowed himself to be drawn away from his position。 But the
deed was done； and in such instances the Emperor never lost time in
useless recriminations。 〃Come；〃 said he； addressing the Duke of Bassano；
〃you have just heardthat means war from early in the morning until late
in the evening。〃
After giving various orders to the army and his chiefs； the Emperor left
Dresden on the evening of the 3d of September； with the intention of
regaining what he had lost from the audacious imprudence of General
Vandamme。 But this defeat； the first we had sustained since the
resumption of hostilities； became the forerunner of the long series of
reverses which awaited us。 It might have been said that victory； having
made one last effort in our favor at Dresden； had finally grown weary；
for the remainder of the campaign was but a succession of disasters；
aggravated by treachery of every description； and ending in the horrible
catastrophe at Leipzig。 Before leaving Dresden we had learned of the
desertion to the enemy of a Westphalian regiment； with arms and baggage。
The Emperor left Marshal Saint…Cyr in Dresden with thirty thousand men；
with orders to hold it to the last extremity； since the Emperor wished to
preserve this capital at any price。 The month of September was spent in
marches and countermarches around this city； with no events of decided
importance。 Alas！ the Emperor was never again to see the garrison of
Dresden。 Circumstances becoming still more embarrassed； imperiously
demanded that his Majesty should promptly oppose some obstacle to the
progress of the allies。 The King of Saxony； furnishing an example of
fidelity rare among kings； determined to accompany the Emperor； and
entered his carriage in company with the queen and the Princess Augusta；
having the headquarters' staff as escort。 Two days after his departure
the Saxon troops joined the French army at Eilenburg； on the banks of the
Mulda。 The Emperor exhorted these allies； whom he believed faithful； to
maintain the independence of their country； pointed out to them how
Prussia was threatening Saxony； and endeavoring to acquire her most
beautiful provinces； and reminded them of the proclamation of their
sovereign； his worthy and faithful ally； finally he spoke to them in the
name of military honor； urging them； in closing； to take it always as
their guide； and to show themselves worthy rivals of the soldiers of the
grand army with whom they had made common cause； and beside whom they
were now about to fight。 The words of the Emperor were translated and
repeated to the Saxons by the Duke of Vicenza； and this language from the
lips of one whom they regarded as the friend of their sovereign and the
saviour of their capital seemed to produce a profound impression。 The
march was then begun in confidence； with no premonition of the
approaching defection of these very men who had so often greeted the
Emperor with their cries of enthusiasm； swearing to fight to the death
rather than abandon him。
His Majesty's plan then was to fall on Blucher and the Prince Royal of
Sweden； from whom the French army was separated only by a river。 We
therefore left Eilenburg； where the Emperor parted with the King of
Saxony and his family； the Duke of Bassano； the grand park of artillery；
and all the conveyances； and directed our course towards Duben。 Blucher
and Bernadotte had retired； leaving Berlin uncovered。 Then the Emperor's
plans became known； and it was seen that he was marching on Berlin； and
not on Leipzig； and that Diiben was only the meetingplace for the various
corps； who； when united； were to march on the capital of Prussia； which
the Emperor had already seized twice。
The time was unfortunately past when a simple indication of the Emperor's
plans was regarded as a signal of victory。 The chiefs of the army； who
had until now been perfectly submissive； began to reflect； and even took
the liberty of disapproving of plans which they were afraid to execute。
When the army became aware of the Emperor's intention to march on Berlin；
it was the signal for almost unanimous discontent。 The generals who had
escaped the disasters of Moscow； and the dangers of the double campaign
in Germany； were fatigued； and perhaps eager to reap the benefits of
their good fortune； and at last to enjoy repose in the bosom of their
families。 A few went so far as to accuse the Emperor of being anxious to
still extend the war。 〃Have there not been enough killed？〃 said they。
〃Must we all share the same fate？ 〃 And these complaints were not kept
for secret confidences； but were uttered publicly； and often even loud
enough to reach the ears of the Emperor； but in that case his Majesty
seemed not to hear。
Amidst this disaffection of a large number of the chiefs of the army； the
defection of Bavaria was learned； and gave an added strength to the
anxiety and discontent inspired by the Emperor's resolution； and then
occurred what had never taken place before： his staff united their
entreaties that he should abandon his plans in regard to Berlin； and
march on Leipzig。 I saw how much the Emperor suffered from the necessity
of listening to such remonstrances； notwithstanding the respectful
language in which they were couched。 For two entire days his Majesty
remained undecided； and how long these forty…eight hours were！ Never did
abandoned cabin or bivouac present a more mournful sight than the sad
chateau of Duben。 In this doleful residence I saw the Emperor for the
first time entirely unemployed； the indecision to which he was a prey
absorbed him so entirely that his character seemed entirely changed。 Who
could believe it？ To the activity which drove him on； and； so to speak；
incessantly devoured him； had succeeded a seeming indifference which is
perfectly indescribable。 I saw him lie on the sofa nearly a whole day；
the table before him covered with maps and papers at which he did not
even glance； and with no other occupation for hours than slowly tracing
large letters on sheets of white paper。 This was while he was
vacillating between his own will and the entreaties of his generals。
At the end of two days of most painful suspense he yielded； and from that
time all was lost。 How much better it would have been had he not
listened to their complaints； but had again allowed himself to be guided
by the presentiments which possessed him！ He repeated often； with grief；
while recalling the concessions he made at that time； 〃I should have
avoided many disasters by continuing to follow my own impulses； I failed
only by yielding to those of others。〃
The order for departure was given； and as if the army felt as much pride
in triumphing over the will of its Emperor as they would have felt in
beating the enemy by obeying the dictates of his genius； they abandoned
themselves to outbursts of joy which were almost beyond reason。 Every
countenance was radiant。 〃We shall now；〃 they repeated on all sides； 〃we
shall now see France again； embrace our children； our parents； and our
friends！ The Emperor and Marshal Augereau alone did not share the
general light…heartedness。 The Duke of Castiglione had just arrived at
headquarters； after having in some measure avenged on the army of
Bohemia； Vandamme's defeat。 He； like the Emperor； had dark presentiments
as to the consequences of this retrograde movement； and knew that
desertions on the way would add to the number of the enemy； and were so
much the more dangerous since these deserters had so recently been our
allies and knew our positions。 His Majesty yielded with a full
conviction of the evil which would result； and I heard him at the end of
a conversation with the marshal which