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Updated: May 20, 2025
Bonaparte was much pleased with General Sebastiani's conduct when he was sent to Constantinople, after the peace of Amiens, to induce the Grand Seignior to renew amicable relations with France. At the period here alluded to, namely, before the news of the evacuation of Egypt, that country greatly occupied Bonaparte's attention.
My regiment, together with what was left of Sébastiani's cavalry corps, went down the Rhine by short marches; but although the weather was perfect and the countryside charming, we were all deeply unhappy, for one could foresee that France was going to lose possession of this fine land, and that her misfortunes would not stop there.
Instantly, Sébastiani's cavalry division, consisting at the most of 5 to 6000 men was confronted by 20,000 enemy horsemen who, as well as outnumbering us, had the advantage of being almost all of them Uhlans, that is to say armed with lances, while we had only a few such squadrons.
At that time only two European powers were not tied to Napoleon's fate Sweden and Turkey. Napoleon was anxious to gain the alliance of these two powers. With respect to Sweden his efforts were vain; and though, in fact, Turkey was then at war with Russia, yet the Grand Seignior was not now, as at the time of Sebastiani's embassy, subject to the influence of France.
A great deal was said about the views and projects of France with respect to Turkey, and this complaint originated in General Sebastiani's mission to Egypt. On that point I can take upon me to say that the English Government was not misinformed.
Some grape-shot and some small-arms fire from our infantry, together with a charge in open order by Sébastiani's cavalry, scattered the first line of the enemy, somewhat unskillfully placed at the extreme edge of the wood; but as one penetrated a little further, our squadrons could not operate except in the few clearings which they came across, only the Light Infantry followed in the steps of the Bavarians, whom they pursued from tree to tree to the end of the forest.
The interesting details of his proceedings were published in the 'Moniteur'. The secret information respecting the means of successfully attacking the English establishments in India was very curious, though not affording the hope of speedy success. The published abstract of General Sebastiani's report was full of expressions hostile to England.
It is a strange coincidence that in the month previous a rebellion of the janizaries had deprived Selim III of his throne, and that, Sebastiani's influence being thus ended, France's position in the Oriental question was utterly changed.
The last unit in the line of march was Sébastiani's division, which had as its rear-guard the brigade commanded by General Saint-Geniès, who had served as an officer in the army of Egypt, and who, although courageous, was not very bright.
Fox at the head of the British Cabinet Intended assassination of Napoleon Propositions made through Lord Yarmouth Proposed protection of the Hanse towns Their state Aggrandisement of the Imperial family Neither peace nor war Sebastiani's mission to Constantinople Lord Lauderdale at Paris, and failure of the negotiations Austria despoiled Emigrant pensions Dumouriez's intrigues Prince of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Loizeau.
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