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But scarcely had Napoleon ended his war against the northern powers, when his evil genius drove him to undertake one even more terrible, in the south of Europe, in the Iberian peninsula. Translated by Oliver.C.Colt The Memoirs of General the Baron de Marbot. Translated by Oliver.C.Colt Chap. 1. My marriage. Farewell to Masséna. Chap. 2. Biography of Masséna. Chap. 3. 1812.
Marbot gives the general opinion of military circles when he says that the Emperor wanted to provoke a continental war in order to escape the ridicule which the failure of his Boulogne plans would otherwise have aroused. "The new coalition came just at the right moment to get him out of an annoying situation."
This reasoning impressed the First Consul, who set my brother at liberty and sent him to Cherbourg, to join the 49th Line regiment, as he did not wish him to continue as aide-de-camp to Bernadotte. Bonaparte, who had a very long memory, probably had engraved, somewhere in his head, the words, "Marbot. Aide-de-camp of Bernadotte. Conspiracy of Rennes."
He complimented me most warmly on having, while yet so young, taken up a military career, and taking me gently by the ear, which was always the most flattering caress which he bestowed on those with whom he was pleased, he said to my father, "One day this will be a second General Marbot." This prediction came true, although at that time I had no expectation of it.
The opinion of the soldiery on Poland and the Poles is well expressed by that prince of raconteurs, Marbot: "Weather frightful, victuals very scarce, no wine, beer detestable, water muddy, no bread, lodgings shared with cows and pigs. 'And they call this their country, said our soldiers."
The Emperor, at the request of Augereau promoted me to lieutenant; but for a moment I thought he was going to refuse me this rank, for remembering that a Marbot had figured in the conspiracy of Rennes, he frowned when the marshal spoke up for me and, looking closely at me he said "Is it you who...?" "No sire, it is not me who!..." I replied.
Then, while we were talking, he told me that he had once seen at Orthez a general whose name was Marbot. I told him that this was my father, and described him. Then the good man, whose name was Bordenave became even more solicitous and wanted to dry my clothes and offered me a bed for the night; but I thanked him and went on my way to Orthez, where I arrived at nightfall, completely worn out.
Masséna sent me the following letter, the only reward for three campaigns fought and three wounds recieved under his command. Paris. 24th November. 1811 My dear Marbot, I send you the service order which I have received on your behalf. I asked for promotion for you, as you are aware, and I am doubly disappointed that you did not obtain this and that I am also to lose you.
Cashel Hoey and John Lillie ; Fauvalet de Bourrienne, Eng. trans. by J. S. Memes, 3 vols. ; Antoine de Marbot, 3 vols.; C. F. de Meneval, covering the years 1802-1815, 3 vols. ; A. F. Miot de Melito, Eng. trans. ; L. P. de Segur, 3 vols; and C. M. de Talleyrand-Perigord, Eng. trans., 5 vols.
Marshal Oudinot followed the Emperor to find out what was to happen to the 23rd, and was told "Major Marbot will continue to command them." Before reaching the rank of colonel I was destined to suffer yet another serious wound. In fairness to M. de La Nougarède, I have to say that he expressed the liveliest remorse at having been the involuntary cause of the delay in my advancement.
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