hostilities； had consequently divided the two hundred thousand men of his
infantry into fourteen army corps； the command of which was given to
Marshals Victor； Ney； Marmont； Augereau； Macdonald； Oudinot； Davoust； and
Gouvion Saint…Cyr； Prince Poniatowski； and Generals Reynier； Rapp；
Lauriston； Vandamme； and Bertrand；。 The forty thousand cavalry formed
six grand divisions under the command of Generals Nansouty； Latour…
Maubourg； Sebastiani； Arrighi； Milhaud； and Kellermann； and； as I have
already said； the King of Naples had the command of the Imperial Guard。
Moreover； in this campaign appeared for the first time on our fields of
battle the guard of honor； a select troop recruited from the richest and
most distinguished families； and which had been increased to more than
ten thousand men； divided into two divisions under the simple title of
regiments； one of which was commanded by General Count of Pully； and the
other； if I am not mistaken； by General Segur。 These youths； but lately
idlers given up to repose and pleasure； became in a short time most
excellent cavalry； which signalized itself on various occasions； notably
at the battle of Dresden； of which I shall soon have occasion to speak。
The strength of the French army has been previously stated。 The combined
army of the allies amounted to four hundred and twenty thousand infantry；
and its cavalry to hardly less than one hundred thousand； without
counting a reserve army corps of eighty thousand Russians； in readiness
to leave Poland under the command of General Beningsen。 Thus the enemy's
army outnumbered ours in the proportion of two to one。
At the time we entered into this campaign； Austria had just declared war
openly against us。 This blow； although not unexpected； struck the
Emperor deeply； and he expressed himself freely in regard to it before
all persons who had the honor to approach him。 M。 de Metternich； I have
heard it stated； had almost certainly forewarned him of this in the last
interviews this minister had at Dresden with his Majesty； but the Emperor
had been entirely unable to bring himself to the belief that the Emperor
of Austria would make common cause with the coalition of the north
against his own daughter and grandson。 Finally all doubts were solved by
the arrival of Count Louis de Narbonne； who was returning from Prague to
Dresden； as bearer of a declaration of war from Austria。 Every one
foresaw that France must soon count among its enemies all the countries
no longer occupied by its troops； and results justified this prediction
only too well。 Nevertheless； everything was not lost； for we had not yet
been compelled to take the defensive。
CHAPTER XIV。
War recommenced before negotiations were finally broken； for the Duke of
Vicenza was still in communication with M。 de Metternich。 The Emperor；
as he mounted his horse； said to the numerous generals surrounding him
that he now marched to conquer a peace。 But what hope could remain after
the declaration of war by Austria； and above all； when it was known that
the allied sovereigns had incessantly increased their pretensions in
proportion as the Emperor granted the concessions demanded？ The Emperor
left Dresden at five o'clock in the afternoon； advancing on the road to
Koenigstein； and passed the next day at Bautzen； where he revisited the
battlefield； the scene of his last victory。 There the king of Naples；
who did not wish royal honors to be rendered himself； came to rejoin the
Emperor at the head of the Imperial Guard； who presented as imposing an
appearance as in its pristine days。
We arrived at Gorlitz on the 18th； where the Emperor found the Duke of
Vicenza； who was returning from Bohemia。 He confirmed the truth of the
report his Majesty had already received at Dresden； that the Emperor of
Austria had already decided to make common cause with the Emperor of
Russia and the Kings of Prussia and Sweden against the husband of his
daughter； the princess whom he had given to the Emperor as a pledge of
peace。 It was also through the Duke of Vicenza that the Emperor learned
that General Blucher had just entered Silesia at the head of an army of
one hundred thousand men； and； in violation of most sacred promises； had
seized on Breslau the evening before the day fixed for the rupture of the
armistice。 This same day General Jomini； Swiss by birth； but until
recently in the service of France； chief of staff to Marshal Ney； and
loaded with favors by the Emperor； had deserted his post； and reported at
the headquarters of the Emperor Alexander； who had welcomed him with
demonstrations of most intense satisfaction。
＇Baron Henri Jomini； author of the celebrated treatise on the art
of war； was born in the Canton de Vaud； 1779； aide…de…camp to Ney；
1804； distinguished himself in several battles； and on his desertion
was made lieutenant…general and aide to Emperor Alexander； died
1869。＇
The Duke of Vicenza gave the particulars of this desertion； which seemed
to affect his Majesty more than all the other news。 He told him； among
other things； that when General Jomini had entered the presence of
Alexander； he found this monarch surrounded by his chiefs； among whom
Moreau was pointed out to him。 This was the first information the
Emperor had received of General Moreau's presence at the enemy's
headquarters。 The Duke of Vicenza added； that when the Emperor Alexander
presented General Jomini to Moreau the latter saluted him coolly； and
Jomini replied only by a slight inclination of his head； and retired
without uttering a word； and the remainder of the evening remained in
gloomy silence in a corner of the saloon opposite to that occupied by
General Moreau。 This constraint had not escaped the Emperor Alexander's
observation； and the next morning； as he was making his toilet； he
addressed Marshal Ney's ex…chief of staff： 〃General Jomini；〃 said he；
〃what is the cause of your conduct yesterday？ It seems to me that it
would have been agreeable to you to meet General Moreau。〃〃Anywhere
else； Sire。〃〃What！〃〃If I had been born a Frenchman； like the general；
I should not be to…day in the camp of your Majesty。〃 When the Duke of
Vicenza had finished his report to the Emperor； his Majesty remarked with
a bitter smile； 〃I am sure that wretch Jomini thinks he has performed a
fine action！ Ah； Caulaincourt； these desertions will destroy me！〃
Perhaps Moreau； in welcoming General Jomini so coldly； was actuated by
the thought that were he still serving in the French army he would not
have betrayed it with arms in his hand； and after all it is not an
unusual thing to see two traitors each blush for the other； deluding
themselves at the same time in regard to their own treachery； not
comprehending that the sentiments they feel are the same as those they
inspire。
However that may be； the news which M。 de Caulaincourt brought caused the
Emperor to make some changes in his plans for the campaign。 His Majesty
entirely abandoned the idea of repairing in person to Berlin； as he had
expressed his intention of doing； and； realizing the necessity of
ascertaining first of all the contemplated operations of the grand army
of Austria； commanded by the Prince of Schwarzenberg； penetrated into
Bohemia； but learning through the couriers of the army and his spies that
eighty thousand Russians still remained on the opposite side with a
considerable body of the Austrian army； he retraced his steps after a few
engagements in which his presence decided the victory； and on the 24th we
found ourselves again at Bautzen。 His Majesty from this place sent the
King of Naples to Dresden； in order to restore the courage of the King of
Saxony and the inhabitants when they should find the enemy at the gates
of their city。 The Emperor sent them the assurance that the enemy's
forces would not enter； since he had returned to defend its approaches；
and urged them at the same time not to allow themselves to be dismayed by
any sudden or unexpected attack made by isolated detachments。 Murat
arrived at a most opportune moment； for we learned later that
consternation had become general in the city； but such was the prestige
attached to the Emperor's assurances that all took courage again on
learning of his presence。
After the King of Naples had gone to fulfill this mission； Colonel
Gourgaud was called during the morning into the Emperor's tent； where I
then was。 〃I will be tomorrow on the road to Pirna；〃 said his Majesty；
〃but I shall halt at Stolpen。 As for you； hasten to Dresden； go with the
utmost speed； reach it this night。 Interview on your arrival the King of
Naples； Durosnel； the Duke of Bassano； and Marshal Gouvion Saint…Cyr；
reassure them all。 See also the Saxon minister Gersdorf。 Say to him
that you could not see the king because you set out in such haste； but
that I can to…morrow bring forty thousand men into Dresden； and that I am
preparing to enter with all the army。 Next day you will see the
commandant of the engineering corps； you will visit the redoubts and the
fortifications of the town； and when you have inspected everything； you
will return quickly and meet me at Stolpe