memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v9-第1部分

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Memoirs　of　Napoleon　Bonaparte；　V9

by　Louis　Antoine　Fauvelet　de　Bourrienne

His　Private　Secretary




Edited　by　R。　W。　Phipps
Colonel；　Late　Royal　Artillery

1891



CONTENTS：
CHAPTER　I。　　to　　CHAPTER　X。　　　1805…1807




CHAPTER　I。

1805。

　　　　　Abolition　of　the　Republican　calendarWarlike　preparations　in
　　　　　AustriaPlan　for　re…organizing　the　National　GuardNapoleon　in
　　　　　StrasburgGeneral　MackProclamationCaptain　Bernard's
　　　　　reconnoitering　missionThe　Emperor's　pretended　anger　and　real
　　　　　satisfactionInformation　respecting　Ragusa　communicated　by　Bernard
　　　　　Rapid　and　deserved　promotionGeneral　Bernard's
　　　　　retirement　to　the　United　States　of　America。

I　had　been　three　months　at　Hamburg　when　I　learned　that　the　Emperor　had　at
last　resolved　to　abolish　the　only　remaining　memorial　of　the　Republic；
namely；　the　revolutionary　calendar。　　That　calendar　was　indeed　an　absurd
innovation；　for　the　new　denominations　of　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　the　month　of　Messidor。　　On　the　9th　of　September　a
'Senates…consulte'　decreed　that　on　the　1st　of　January　following　the
months　and　days　should　resume　their　own　names。　　I　read　with　much　interest
Laplace's　report　to　the　Senate；　and　must　confess　I　was　very　glad　to　see
the　Gregorian　calendar　again　acknowledged　by　law；　as　it　had　already　been
acknowledged　in　fact。　　Frenchmen　in　foreign　countries　experienced
particular　inconvenience　from　the　adoption　of　a　system　different　from　all
the　rest　of　the　world。

A　few　days　after　the　revival　of　the　old　calendar　the　Emperor　departed　for
the　army。　　When　at　Hamburg　it　may　well　be　supposed　that　I　was　anxious　to
obtain　news；　and　I　received　plenty　from　the　interior　of　Germany　and　from
some　friends　in　Paris。　　This　correspondence　enables　me　to　present　to　my
readers　a　comprehensive　and　accurate　picture　of　the　state　of　public
affairs　up　to　the　time　when　Napoleon　took　the　field。　　I　have　already
mentioned　how　artfully　he　always　made　it　appear　that　he　was　anxious　for
peace；　and　that　he　was　always　the　party　attacked；　his；　conduct　previous
to　the　first　conquest　of　Vienna　affords　a　striking　example　of　this
artifice。　　It　was　pretty　evident　that　the　transformation　of　the　Cisalpine
Republic　into　the　kingdom　of　Italy；　and　the　union　of　Genoa　to　France　were
infractions　of　treaties；　yet　the　Emperor；　nevertheless；　pretended　that
aLl　the　infractions　were　committed　by　Austria。　　The　truth　is；　that
Austria　was　raising　levies　as　secretly　as　　possible；　and　collecting　her
troops　on　the　frontiers　of　Bavaria。　　An　Austrian　corps　even　penetrated
into　some　provinces　of　the　Electorate；　all　this　afforded　Napoleon　a
pretest　for　going　to　the　aid　of　his　allies。

In　the　memorable　sitting　preceding　his　departure　the　Emperor　presented　a
project　of　a　'Senatus…consulte'　relative　to　the　re…organisation　of　the
National　Guard。　　The　Minister　for　Foreign　Affairs　read　an　explanation　of
the　reciprocal　conduct　of　France　and　Austria　since　the　peace　of
Luneville；　in　which　the　offences　of　France　were　concealed　with　wonderful
skill。　　Before　the　sitting　broke　up　the　Emperor　addressed　the　members；
stating　that　he　was　about　to　leave　the　capital　to　place　himself　at　the
head　of　the　army　to　afford　prompt　succour　to　his　allies；　and　defend　the
dearest　interests　of　his　people。　　He　boasted　of　his　wish　to　preserve
peace；　which　Austria　and　Russia；　as　he　alleged；　had；　through　the
influence　of　England；　been　induced　to　disturb。

This　address　produced　a　very　powerful　impression　in　Hamburg。　　For　my
part；　I　recognised　in　it　Napoleon's　usual　boasting　strain；　but　on　this
occasion　events　seemed　bent　on　justifying　it。　　The　Emperor　may　certainly
have　performed　more　scientific　campaigns　than　that　of　Austerlitz；　but
never　any　more　glorious　in　results。　　Everything　seemed　to　partake　of　the
marvellous；　and　I　have　often　thought　of　the　secret　joy　which　Bonaparte
must　have　felt　on　seeing　himself　at　last　an　the　point　of　commencing　a
great　war　in　Germany；　for　which　he　had　so　often　expressed　an　ardent
desire。　　He　proceeded　first　to　Strasburg；　whither　Josephine　accompanied
him。

All　the　reports　that　I　received　agreed　with　the　statements　of　my　private
correspondence　in　describing　the　incredible　enthusiasm　which　prevailed　in
the　army　on　learning　that　it　was　to　march　into　Germany。　　For　the　first
time　Napoleon　had　recourse　to　an　expeditious　mode　of　transport；　and
20；000　carriages　conveyed　his　army；　as　if　by　enchantment；　from　the　shores
of　the　Channel　to　the　banks　of　the　Rhine。　　The　idea　of　an　active　campaign
fired　the　ambition　of　the　junior　part　of　the　army。　　All　dreamed　of　glory；
and　of　speedy　promotion；　and　all　hoped　to　distinguish　themselves　before
the　eyes　of　a　chief　who　was　idolised　by　his　troops。　　Thus　during　his
short　stay　at　Strasburg　the　Emperor　might　with　reason　prophesy　the
success　which　crowned　his　efforts　under　the　walls　of　Vienna。

Rapp；　who　accompanied　him；　informed　me　that　on　leaving　Strasburg　he
observed；　in　the　presence　of　several　persons；　〃It　will　be　said　that　I
made　Mack's　plan　of　campaign　for　him。　　The　Caudine　Forks　are　at　Ulm。〃

　　　　　＇This　allusion　to　the　Caudine　Forks　was　always　in　Napoleon's　mouth
　　　　　when　he　saw　an　enemy's　army　concentrated　on　a　point；　and　foresaw　its
　　　　　defeatBourrienne。＇

Experience　proved　that　Bonaparte　was　not　deceived；　but　I　ought　on　this
occasion　to　contradict　a　calumnious　report　circulated　at　that　time；　and
since　maliciously　repeated。　　It　has　been　said　that　there　existed　an
understanding　between　Mack　and　Bonaparte；　and　that　the　general　was　bought
over　to　deliver　up　the　gates　of　Ulm。　　I　have　received　positive　proof　that
this　assertion　is　a　scandalous　falsehood；　and　the　only　thing　that　could
give　it　weight　was　Napoleon's　intercession　after　the　campaign　that　Mack
might　not　be　put　on　his　trial。　　In　this　intercession　Napoleon　was
actuated　only　by　humanity。

On　taking　the　field　Napoleon　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　the　Bavarians；
with　whom　be　opposed　the　enemy's　army　before　the　arrival　of　his　own
troops。　　As　soon　as　they　were　assembled　he　published　the　following
proclamation；　which　still　further　excited　the　ardour　of　the　troops。

　　　　　SOLDIERSThe　war　of　the　third　coalition　is　commenced。　　The　Austrian
　　　　　army　has　passed　the　Inn；　violated　treaties；　attacked　and　driven　our
　　　　　ally　from　his　capital。　　You　yourselves　have　been　obliged　to　hasten；
　　　　　by　forced　marches；　to　the　defence　of　our　frontiers。　　But　you　have
　　　　　now　passed　the　Rhine；　and　we　will　not　stop　till　we　have　secured　the
　　　　　independence　of　the　Germanic　body；　succoured　our　allies；　and　humbled
　　　　　the　pride　of　our　unjust　assailants。　　We　will　not　again　make　peace
　　　　　without　a　sufficient　guarantee！　　Our　generosity　shall　not　again
　　　　　wrong　our　policy。　　Soldiers；　your　Emperor　is　among　you！　　You　are　but
　　　　　the　advanced　guard　of　the　great　people。　　If　it　be　necessary　they
　　　　　will　all　rise　at　my　call　to　confound　and　dissolve　this　new　league；
　　　　　which　has　been　created　by　the　malice　and　the　gold　of　England。
　　　　　But；　soldiers；　we　shall　have　forced　marches　to　make；　fatigues　and
　　　　　privations　of　every　kind　to　endure。　　Still；　whatever　obstacles　may
　　　　　be　opposed　to　us；　we　will　conquer　them；　and　we　will　never　rest　until
　　　　　we　have　planted　our　eagles　on　the　territory　of　our　enemies！

In　the　confidential　notes　of　his　diplomatic　agents；　in　his　speeches；　and
in　his　proclamations；　Napoleon　always　described　himself　as　the　attacked
party；　and　perhaps　his　very　earnestness　in　so　doing　sufficed　to　reveal
the　truth　to　all　those　who　had　learned　to　read　his　thoughts　differently
from　what　his　words　expressed　them。

At　the　commencement　of　the　campaign　of　Austerlitz　a　circumstance　occurred
from　which　is　to　be　dated　the　fortune　of　a　very　meritorious　man。　　While
the　Emperor　was　at　Strasburg　he　asked　General　Marescot；　the　commander…in…
chief　of　the　engineers；　whether　he　could　recommend　from　his　corps　a
brave；　prudent；　and　intelligent　young　officer；　capable　of　being　entrusted
with　an　important　reconnoitering　mission。　　The　officer　selected　by
General　Marescot　was　a　captain　in　the　engineers；　named　Bernard；　who　had
been　educated　in　the　Polytechnic　School。　　He　set　off　on　his　mission；
advanced　almost　to　Vienna；　and　returned　to　the　headquarters　of　the
Emperor　at　the　capitulation　of　Ulm。

Bonaparte　interrogated　him　himself；　and　was　well　satisfied　with　his
replies；　but；　not　content　with　answering　verbally　the　questions　put　by
Napoleon；　Captain　Bernard　had　drawn　up　a　report　of　what　he　observed；　and
the　different　routes　which　might　be　taken。　　Among　other　things　he
observed　that　it　would　be　a　great　advantage　to　direct　the　whole　army　upon
Vienna；　without　regard　to　the　fortified　places；　for　that；　once　master　of
the　capital　of　Austria；　the　Emperor　might　dictate　laws　to　all　the
Austrian　monarchy。　　〃I　was　present；〃　said　Rapp　to　me；　〃at　this　young
officer's　interview　with　the　Emperor。　　After　reading　the　report；　would
you　believe　that　the　Emperor　flew　into　a　furious　passion？　　'How！'　cried
he；　'you　are　very　bold；　very　presumptuous！　　A　young　officer　to　take　the
liberty　of　tracing　out　a　plan　of　campaign　for　me！　　Begone；　and　await　my
orders。'〃

This；　and　some　other　circumstances　which　I　shall　have　to　add　respecting
Captain　Bernard；　completely　reveal　Napoleon's　character。　　Rapp　told　me
that　as　soon　as　the　young　officer　had　left　the　Emperor　all　at　once
changed　his　tone。　　〃That；〃　said　he；　〃is　a　clever　young　man；　he　has　taken
a　proper　view　of　things。　　I　shall　not　expose　him　to　the　chance　of　being
shot。　　Perhaps　I　shall　sometime　want　his　services。　　Tell　Berthier　to
despatch　an　order　for　his　departure　for　Elyria。〃

This　order　was　despatched；　and　Captain　Bernard；　who；　like　his　comrades；
was　ardently　looking　forward　to　the　approaching　campaign；　regarded　as　a
punishment　what　was；　on　the　Emperor's　part；　a　precaution　to　preserve　a
young　man　whose　merit　he　appreciated。　　At　the　close　of　the　campaign；　when
the　Emperor　promoted　those　officers　who　had　distinguished　themselves；
Bernard；　who　was　thought　to　be　in　disgrace；　was　not　included　in
Berthier's　list　among　the　captains　of　engineers　whom　he　recommended　to
the　rank　of　chef　de　bataillon