General Woronzow； the Prussian corps under the orders of General Billow；
and the Swedish army； break themselves to pieces against his impregnable
defenses。
So much valor was nevertheless at last compelled to yield to numbers； and
above all to treachery； for at the height of the combat before the gates
of Leipzig； a battalion from Baden； which until then had fought valiantly
in the French ranks； suddenly abandoned the gate Saint…Peter； which it
was commissioned to defend； and at the entrance to the city gave itself
up to the enemy。 Thereupon； according to what I have heard related by
several officers who were in this terrible tumult； the streets of Leipzig
presented a most horrible sight； and our soldiers； now compelled to
retire； could do so only by disputing every step of the ground。 An
irreparable misfortune soon filled the Emperor's soul with despair。
I shall now relate the events which signalized this deplorable day just
as my memory recalls them。 I do not know to what cause to attribute it；
but none of the many stirring events which I witnessed present themselves
more distinctly before my mind than a scene which took place under the
walls of Leipzig。 Having triumphed over incredible obstacles； we at last
succeeded in crossing the Elster on the bridge at the mill of Lindenau。
I can still see the Emperor as he stationed officers along the road
charged to indicate to stragglers where they might rejoin their
respective commands。 On this day； after the immense loss sustained owing
to a disparity of numbers； he showed the same solicitude concerning
everything as after a decisive triumph。 But he was so overcome by
fatigue that a few moments of sleep became absolutely necessary； and he
slept profoundly under the noise of the cannon which thundered around him
on all sides。 Suddenly a terrible explosion occurred； and a few moments
after the King of Naples entered his Majesty's barrack accompanied by
Marshal Augereau。 They brought sad news…the great bridge over the Elster
had just been blown up。 This was the last point of communication with
the rear guard； which consisted of twenty thousand men now left on the
other side of the river under the command of Marshal Macdonald。 〃This；
then； is how my orders are executed！〃 exclaimed the Emperor； clasping his
head between his hands。 He remained a moment buried in thought and
absorbed in his own reflections。
The fact was； his Majesty had given orders to undermine all the bridges
over the Elster and have them blown up； but not until after the French
army had crossed the river in safety。 I have since heard this event
discussed from many points of view； and have read many contradictory
accounts。 It is not my province to shed light on a point of history
which forms such a subject of controversy； and I have consequently
limited myself to relating as I have done only what came within my own
knowledge。 Nevertheless； I may be permitted to make to my readers one
simple observation which presents itself to my mind whenever I read or
hear it said that the Emperor himself had the bridge blown up in order to
shelter himself from the enemy's pursuit。 I ask pardon for such an
expression； but this supposition appeared to me an absurdity so
incredible as to surpass belief； for it is very evident that if under
these disastrous circumstances he could think only of his own personal
safety； he would not a short time before have voluntarily prolonged his
stay in the palace of the King of Saxony； where he was exposed to much
more imminent danger than he could have encountered after leaving
Leipzig。 Moreover； the Emperor was far from enjoying the consternation
which struck him when he learned that twenty thousand of his brave
soldiers were separated from him perhaps forever。
How many misfortunes were the inevitable results of the destruction of
the last bridge on the road from Leipzig to Lindenau！ And how many deeds
of heroism； the greater part of which will remain forever unknown； mark
this disaster！ Marshal Macdonald； seeing himself separated from the
army； plunged on horseback into the Elster； and was fortunate enough to
reach the other bank； but General Dumortier； attempting to follow his
intrepid chief； disappeared and perished in the waves with a great number
of officers and soldiers； for all had sworn not to surrender themselves
to the enemy； and it was only a small number who submitted to the cruel
necessity of being made prisoners。 The death of Prince Poniatowski
caused intense sorrow in the heart of the Emperor； and it may be said
that every one at headquarters was deeply distressed at the loss of our
Polish hero； and all were eager to learn the particulars of so grievous
and irreparable a misfortune。 As was well known； his Majesty had given
him orders to cover the retreat of the army； and all felt that the
Emperor could not have bestowed this trust more worthily。 It is related
that seeing himself pressed by the enemy against the bank of the river；
with no means of crossing； he was heard to say to those around him；
〃Gentlemen； here we must die with honor！〃 It is added that putting into
practice this heroic resolution he swam across the waters of the Pleisse
in spite of the wounds he had received in the stubborn combat he had
sustained since morning。 Then finding no longer any refuge from
inevitable captivity； except in the waters of the Elster； the brave
prince had thrown himself into it without considering the impassable
steepness of the opposite bank； and in a few moments he with his horse
was ingulfed beneath the waves。 His body was not found until five days
afterwards； and then drawn from the water by a fisherman。 Such was the
end； both deplorable and glorious； of one of the most brilliant and
chivalrous of officers； who showed himself worthy to rank among the
foremost French generals。 Meanwhile the lack of ammunition compelled the
Emperor to retire promptly； although in remarkably good order； to Erfurt；
a town well furnished with both provisions and forage； as well as
material for arming and equipping the army；in fact with all the
materials of war。 His Majesty arrived on the 23d； having engagements
each day； in order to protect his retreat against forces four or five
times as numerous as those remaining at his disposal。 At Erfurt the
Emperor remained only two days； and left on the 25th after bidding adieu
to his brother…in…law the King of Naples； whom he was never to see again。
I witnessed a part of this last interview； and remarked a certain
constraint in the manner of the King of Naples； which； however； his
Majesty seemed not to perceive。 It is true that the king did not
announce his immediate departure； and his Majesty was ignorant that this
prince had secretly received an Austrian general。
＇This was Count Mier； charged to guarantee to Murat the possession
of his kingdom if he abandoned the cause of the Emperor。 He
abandoned him。 What did he gain？NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
His Majesty was not informed of this until afterwards； and manifested
little surprise。 Moreover （I call attention to this because I so often
had occasion to remark it）； so many severe blows repeated in such quick
succession had struck the Emperor for some time past； that he seemed to
have become almost insensible； and it might well have been said that he
felt himself perfectly intrenched in his ideas of fatality。
Nevertheless； his Majesty； though unmoved under his own misfortunes； gave
full vent to his indignation on learning that the allied sovereigns
considered the King of Saxony as their prisoner； and had declared him a
traitor； simply because he was the only one who had not betrayed him。
Certainly if fortune had again become favorable to him； as in the past；
the King of Saxony would have found himself master of one of the most
extensive kingdoms of Europe； but fortune was hereafter to be always
adverse； and even our victories brought us only a barren glory。
Thus； for instance； the French army soon covered itself with glory at
Hanau； through which it was necessary to pass by overwhelming the immense
army of Austrians and Bavarians collected at this point under the command
of General Wrede。 Six thousand prisoners were the result of this
triumph； which at the same time opened to us the road to Mayence； which
we expected to reach without other obstacles。 It was on the 2d of
November； after a march of fourteen days from Leipzig； that we again
beheld the banks of the Rhine； and felt that we could breathe in safety。
Having devoted five days to reorganizing the army； giving his orders； and
assigning to each of the marshals and chiefs of the several corps the
post he was to occupy during his absence； the Emperor left Mayence on the
7th； and on the 9th slept at Saint…Cloud； to which he returned preceded
by a few trophies； as both at Erfurt and Frankfort we had taken twenty
banners from the Bavarians。 These banners； presented to the minister of
war by M。 Lecouteux aide…de…camp to the Prince de Neuchatel； had preceded
his Majesty's arrival in Paris by two days； and had already been
presented to the Empress； to whom the Emperor had done homage in the
followin