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Updated: April 30, 2025
The above has been related to me and other persons by Davoust's secretary, whom I shall not name.
On the morning of the battle, about six or seven o'clock, the Austrians had already advanced, when an aide-de-camp came to announce to his Majesty that a sudden rise in the Danube had washed down a great number of large trees which had been cut down when Vienna was taken, and that these trees had driven against and broken the bridges which served as communication between Essling and the island of Lobau; and in consequence of this the reserve corps, part of the heavy cavalry, and Marshal Davoust's entire corps, found themselves forced to remain inactive on the other side.
In his bulletins, as in the "Relation Officielle," the Emperor sought to gloze over his error by magnifying Hohenlohe's corps into a great army and attenuating Davoust's splendid exploit, which in his private letters he warmly praised. The fact is, he had made all his dispositions in the belief that he had the main body of the Prussians before him at Jena.
On the morning of the battle, about six or seven o'clock, the Austrians had already advanced, when an aide-de-camp came to announce to his Majesty that a sudden rise in the Danube had washed down a great number of large trees which had been cut down when Vienna was taken, and that these trees had driven against and broken the bridges which served as communication between Essling and the island of Lobau; and in consequence of this the reserve corps, part of the heavy cavalry, and Marshal Davoust's entire corps, found themselves forced to remain inactive on the other side.
"We must soon learn it all," said an old colonel of artillery near me. "If the game be war, we shall be called up to assist Davoust's movement on Göding. The Russians have but one line of retreat, and that is already in our possession." "I cannot for the life of me understand the Emperor's inaction," said a younger officer; "here we remain just as if nothing had been done.
The Russians had no means of extending themselves on this field of battle; they, nevertheless, accepted the challenge. Their numbers were there useless; they attacked like men sure of victory; they did not even think of profiting by the woods, in order to turn Davoust's right.
Their corps had been used as the extreme vanguard against Davoust's force, which was thrice their superior in numbers, and in consequence they were subjected to great fatigues. They had almost forgotten how it seemed to sleep in a bed and eat at a table. One night march had followed another.
Davoust's corps was to his right, Poniatowski's division came next, while Murat with his cavalry division completed the semicircle. "The Russians must be mad," was the comment of the veterans of Julian's regiment. "The place is of no strength; the artillery will breach the walls in no time.
This was not confided to him without an injunction of the strictest secrecy, but it is said that Davoust communicated the plan to Fouche. Considering Davoust's character this is very unlikely, but if so, it is far from improbable that Fouche communicated the plan to the Allies with whom, and more particularly with Prince Metternich, he is well known to have been corresponding at the time.
Italy and Eugene Siege of Dantzic-Capitulation concluded but not ratified-Rapp made prisoner and sent to Kiow Davoust's refusal to believe the intelligence from Paris Projected assassination of one of the French Princes Departure of Davoust and General Hogendorff from Hamburg The affair of Manbreuil Arrival of the Commissioners of the Allied powers at Fontainebleau Preference shown by Napoleon to Colonel Campbell Bonaparte's address to General Kohler His farewell to his troops First day of Napoleon's journey The Imperial Guard succeeded by the Cossacks Interview with Augerean The first white cockades Napoleon hanged in effigy at Orgon His escape in the disguise of a courier Scene in the inn of La Calade Arrival at Aix The Princess Pauline Napoleon embarks for Elba His life at Elba.
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