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appearance　inspired　pity。　　This　brave　marshal；　who　had　twenty　times
escaped　Russian　bullets；　now　saw　himself　dying　of　hunger；　and　when　one　of
his　soldiers　gave　him　a　loaf；　he　seized　it　and　devoured　it。　　He　was　also
the　one　who　was　least　silent；　and　while　thawing　his　mustache；　on　which
the　rain　had　frozen；　he　railed　indignantly　against　the　evil　destiny　which
had　thrown　them　into　thirty　degrees　of　cold。　　Moderation　in　words　was
difficult　while　enduring　such　sufferings。

For　some　time　the　Emperor　had　been　in　a　state　of　great　anxiety　as　to　the
fate　of　Marshal　Ney；　who　had　been　cut　off；　and　obliged　to　clear　for
himself　a　passage　through　the　midst　of　the　Russians；　who　followed　us　on
every　side。

As　time　passed　the　alarm　increased。　　The　Emperor　demanded　incessantly　if
Ney　had　yet　been　seen；　accusing　himself　of　having　exposed　this　brave
general　too　much；　asking　for　him　as　for　a　good　friend　whom　one　has　lost。
The　whole　army　shared　and　manifested　the　same　anxiety；　as　if　this　brave
soldier　were　the　only　one　in　danger。　　A　few　regarding　him　as　certainly
lost；　and　seeing　the　enemy　threaten　the　bridges　of　the　Borysthenes；
proposed　to　cut　them；　but　the　army　was　unanimous　in　their　opposition　to
this　measure。

On　the　20th；　the　Emperor；　whom　this　idea　filled　with　the　deepest
dejection；　arrived　at　Basanoni；　and　was　dining　in　company　with　the　Prince
of　Neuchatel　and　the　Duke　of　Dantzic；　when　General　Gourgaud　rushed　in
with　the　announcement　that　Marshal　Ney　and　his　troops　were　only　a　few
leagues　distant。　　The　Emperor　exclaimed　with　inconceivable　joy；　〃Can　it
be　true？〃　　M。　Gourgaud　gave　him　particulars；　which　were　soon　known
throughout　the　camp。　　This　news　brought　joy　to　the　hearts　of　all；　each　of
whom　accosted　the　other　eagerly；　as　if　each　had　found　a　long…lost
brother；　they　spoke　of　the　heroic　courage　which　had　been　displayed；　the
talent　shown　in　saving　his　corps　in　spite　of　snows；　floods；　and　the
attacks　of　the　enemy。　　It　is　due　Marshal　Ney；　to　state　here；　that
according　to　the　opinion　I　have　heard　expressed　by　our　most　illustrious
warriors；　his　safe　retreat　is　a　feat　of　arms　to　which　history　furnishes
no　parallel。　　The　heart　of　our　soldiers　palpitated。　　with　enthusiasm；　and
on　that　day　they　felt　the　emotions　of　the　day　of　victory！　　Ney　and　his
division　gained　immortality　by　this　marvelous　display　of　valor　and
energy。　　So　much　the　better　for　the　few　survivors　of　this　handful　of
braves；　who　can　read　of　the　great　deeds　they　have　done；　in　these　annals
inspired　by　them。　　His　Majesty　said　several　times；　〃I　would　give　all　the
silver　in　the　vaults　of　the　Tuileries　to　have　my　brave　Ney　at　my　side。〃

To　Prince　Eugene　was　given　the　honor　of　going　to　meet　Marshal　Ney；　with　a
corps　of　four　thousand　soldiers。　　Marshal　Mortier　had　disputed　this　honor
with　him；　but　among　these　illustrious　men　there　were　never　any　but　noble
rivalries。　　The　danger　was　immense；　the　cannon　of　Prince　Eugene　was　used
as　a　signal；　understood　by　the　marshal；　to　which　he　replied　by　platoon
fires。　　The　two　corps　met；　and　even　before　they　were　united；　Marshal　Ney
and　Prince　Eugene　were　in　each　other's　arms；　and　it　is　said　that　the
latter　wept　for　joy。　　Such　scenes　make　this　horrible　picture　seem
somewhat　less　gloomy。　　As　far　as　the　Beresina；　our　march　was　only　a
succession　of　small　skirmishes　and　terrible　sufferings。

The　Emperor　passed　one　night　at　Caniwki；　in　a　wooden　cabin　containing
only　two　rooms。　　The　one　at　the　back　was　selected　by　him；　and　in　the
other　the　whole　service　slept　pell…mell。　　I　was　more　comfortable；　as　I
slept　in　his　Majesty's　room；　but　several　times　during　the　night　I　was
obliged　to　pass　into　this　room；　and　was　then　compelled　to　step　over　the
sleepers　worn　out　by　fatigue。　　Although　I　took　care　not　to　hurt　them；
they　were　so　close　together　that　it　was　impossible　not　to　place　my　feet
on　their　legs　or　arms。

In　the　retreat　from　Moscow；　the　Emperor　walked　on　foot；　wrapped　in　his
pelisse；　his　head　covered　with　a　Russian　cap　tied　under　the　chin。　　I
marched　often　near　the　brave　Marshal　Lefebvre；　who　seemed　very　fond　of
me；　and　said　to　me　in　his　German…French；　in　speaking　of　the　Emperor；
〃He　is　surrounded　by　a　set　of　who　do　not　tell　the　truth；　he　does　not
distinguish　sufficiently　his　good　from　his　bad　servants。　　How　will　he　get
out　of　this；　the　poor　Emperor；　whom　I　love　so　devotedly？　　I　am　always　in
fear　of　his　life；　if　there　were　needed　to　save　him　only　my　blood；　I　would
shed　it　drop　by　drop；　but　that　would　change　nothing；　and　perhaps　he　may
have　need　of　me。〃




CHAPTER　VII。

The　day　preceding　the　passage　of　the　Beresina　was　one　of　terrible
solemnity。　　The　Emperor　appeared　to　have　made　his　decision　with　the　cool
resolution　of　a　man　who　commits　an　act　of　desperation；　nevertheless；
councils　were　held；　and　it　was　resolved　that　the　army　should　strip　itself
of　all　useless　burdens　which　might　harass　its　march。　　Never　was　there
more　unanimity　of　opinion；　never　were　deliberations　more　calm　or　grave。
It　was　the　calm　of　men　who　decide　to　make　one　last　effort；　trusting　in
the　will　of　God　and　their　own　courage。　　The　Emperor　had　the　eagles
brought　from　each　corps　and　burned；　since　he　thought　that　fugitives　had
no　need　of　them。　　It　was　a　sad　sight　to　see　these　men　advancing　from　the
ranks　one　by　one；　and　casting　in　the　flames　what　they　valued　more　than
their　lives；　and　I　have　never　seen　dejection　more　profound；　or　shame　more
keenly　felt；　for　this　seemed　much　like　a　general　degradation　to　the　brave
soldiers　of　the　battle　of　La　Moskwa。　　The　Emperor　had　made　these　eagles
talismans；　and　this　showed　only　too　plainly　he　had　lost　faith　in　them。
And　although　the　soldiers　realized　that　the　situation　of　affairs　must　be
desperate　to　have　come　to　this；　it　was　at　least　some　consolation　to　think
that　the　Russians　would　have　only　the　ashes。　　What　a　scene　was　presented
by　the　burning　of　these　eagles；　above　all　to　those　who　like　myself　had
been　present　at　the　magnificent　ceremonies　attending　their　distribution
to　the　army　in　the　camp　of　Boulogne　before　the　campaign　of　Austerlitz！

Horses　were　needed　for　the　artillery；　and　at　this　critical　moment　the
artillery　was　the　safeguard　of　the　army。　　The　Emperor　consequently　gave
orders　that　the　horses　should　be　impressed；　for　he　estimated　the　loss　of
a　single　cannon　or　caisson　as　irreparable。　　The　artillery　was　confided　to
the　care　of　a　corps　composed　entirely　of　officers；　and　numbering　about
five　hundred　men。　　His　Majesty　was　so　much　touched　at　seeing　these　brave
officers　become　soldiers　again；　put　their　hand　to　the　cannon　like　simple
cannoneers；　and　resume　their　practice　of　the　manual　of　arms　in　their
devotion　to　duty；　that　he　called　this　corps　his　sacred　squadron。　　With
the　same　spirit　which　made　these　officers　become　soldiers　again；　the
other　superior　officers　descended　to　a　lower　rank；　with　no　concern　as　to
the　designation　of　their　grade。　　Generals　of　division　Grouchy　and
Sebastiani　took　again　the　rank　of　simple　captain。

When　near　Borizow　we　halted　at　the　sound　of　loud　shouts；　thinking
ourselves　cut　off　by　the　Russian　army。　　I　saw　the　Emperor　grow　pale；　it
was　like　a　thunderbolt。　　A　few　lancers　were　hastily　dispatched；　and　we
saw　them　soon　returning　waving　their　banners　in　the　air。　　His　Majesty
understood　the　signal；　and　even　before　the　cuirassiers　had　reassured　us；
so　clearly　did　he　keep　in　mind　even　the　possible　position　of　each　corps
of　his　army；　he　exclaimed；　〃I　bet　it　is　Victor。〃　　And　in　fact　it　was
Marshal　Victor；　who　awaited　us　with　lively　impatience。　　It　seemed　that
the　marshal's　army　had　received　very　vague　information　of　our　disasters；
and　was　prepared　to　receive　the　Emperor　with　joy　and　enthusiasm。　　His
soldiers　still　fresh　and　vigorous；　at　least　compared　with　the　rest　of　the
army；　could　hardly　believe　the　evidence　of　their　own　eyes　when　they　saw
our　wretched　condition；　but　the　cries　of　〃Vive　l'Empereur〃　were　none　the
less　enthusiastic。

But　a　different　impression　was　made　when　the　rear　guard　of　the　army　filed
before　them；　and　great　confusion　ensued；　as　each　one　of　the　marshal's
army　who　recognized　a　friend　rushed　out　of　the　ranks　and　hastened　to　him；
offering　food　and　clothing；　and　were　almost　frightened　by　the　voracity
with　which　they　ate；　while　many　embraced　each　other　silently　in　tears。
One　of　the　marshal's　best　and　bravest　officers　stripped　off　his　uniform
to　give　it　to　a　poor　soldier　whose　tattered　clothing　exposed　him　almost
naked　to　the　cold；　donning　himself　an　old　cloak　full　of　holes；　saying
that　he　had　more　strength　to　resist　the　freezing　temperature。　　If　an
excess　of　misery　sometimes　dries　up　the　fountains　of　the　heart；　sometimes
also　it　elevates　men　to　a　great　height；　as　we　see　in　this　instance。　　Many
of　the　most　wretched　blew　out　their　brains　in　despair；　and　there　was　in
this　act；　the　last　which　nature　suggests　as　an　end　to　misery；
a　resignation　and　coolness　which　makes　one　shudder　to　contemplate。　　Those
who　thus　put　an　end　to　their　lives　cared　less　for　death　than　they　did　to
put　an　end　to　their　insupportable　sufferings；　and　I　witnessed　during　the
whole　of　this　disastrous　campaign　what　vain　things　are　physical　strength
and　human　courage　when　the　moral　strength　springing　from　a　determined
will　is　lacking。　　The　Emperor　marched　between　the　armies　of　Marshal
Victor　and　Marshal　Oudinot；　and　it　was　a　depressing　sight　to　see　these
movable　masses　halt　sometimes　in　succession；first　those　in　front；　then
those　who　came　next；　then　the　last。　　And　when　Marshal　Oudinot　who　was　in
the　lead　suspended　his　march　from　any　unknown　cause；　there　was　a　general
movement　of　alarm；　and　ominous　rumors　were　circulated；　and　since　men　who
have　seen　much　are　disposed　to　believe　anything；　false　rumors　were　as
readily　credited　as　true；　and　the　alarm　lasted　until　the　front　of　the
army　again　moved　forward；　and　their　confidence　was　somewhat　restored。

On　the　25th；　at　five　o'clock　in　the　evening；　there　had　been　thrown　across
the　river　temporary　bridges　made　of　beams　taken　from　the　cabins　of　the
Poles。　　It　had　been　reported　in　the　army　that　the　bridges　would　be
finished　during　the　night。　　The　Emperor　was　much　disturbed　when　informed
that　the　army　had　been　thus　deceived；　for　he　knew　how　much　more　quickly
discouragement　ensues　wh