Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: April 30, 2025
Davoust's generals say, on the contrary, that Prince Eugene, who was already encamped, could not find in his heart to make his soldiers leave their fires and their meal, which they had already begun, and the cooking of which always cost them a great deal of trouble.
It was as yet impossible to ascertain either the cause or the result, and the night was passed under arms. About three in the morning, one of Davoust's subalterns ventured to the foot of the wall, which he scaled without noise.
The grand army being dispersed, it was necessary to collect it together. Napoleon had resolved to defile with his guard, the army of Italy, and three of Davoust's divisions, before the front of attack of the Russians; to abandon his Witepsk line of operation, and take that of Orcha, and, lastly, to throw himself with 185,000 men on the left of the Dnieper and of the enemy's army.
Their foremost troops, overpowering the right of the Italians, had already seized one point, of which they kept possession, when Ney despatched from Wiazma one of his regiments, which attacked them in the rear and dislodged them. At the same time Compans, a general of Davoust's, joined the Italian rear-guard with his division.
Such was the result of my visit to Blucher; but, in spite of his promises, his troops continued to commit the most revolting excesses. Thus the Prussian troops have left in the neighbourhood of Paris recollections no less odious than those produced by the conduct of Davoust's corps in Prussia. Of this an instance now occurs to my memory, which I will relate here.
"On the evening before the battle of Friedland," he went on, after a moment, "I had been sent with a despatch to General Davoust's quarters, and I was on the way back to my own, when at a turn in the road I found myself face to face with the Emperor. Napoleon gave me a look. "'You are Captain Genestas, are you not? he said. "'Yes, your Majesty. "'You were out in Egypt? "'Yes, your Majesty.
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.
This man during the whole journey never once broke silence but by some deep sighs, which he had not power to repress. General Davoust's secretary observed him with curiosity and interest, but did not venture to intrude upon his grief by any conversation.
In excuse for this action it has been urged that he had but two days' supply of bread in the camp, and that a forward move of Davoust's corps round his right flank threatened to cut him off from his base of supplies, Königsberg. The first excuse only exposes him to greater censure.
Helena Comparison of dates Possibility of my having saved the Due d'Enghien's life Advice given to the Duc d'Enghien Sir Charles Stuart Delay of the Austrian Cabinet Pichegru and the mysterious being M. Massias The historians of St. Helena Bonaparte's threats against the emigrants and M. Cobentzel Singular adventure of Davoust's secretary The quartermaster The brigand of La Vendee.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking