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THE

LAST CAMPAIGN OF BONAPARTE;

FROM THE FRENCH OF AN EYE-WITNESS.

Fas mihi quod vidi referre.

THE debarkation of Bonaparte | at Cannes, was a stroke of thunder to all honest and patriotic Frenchmen, and to those who sincerely wished the tranquillity and happiness of their country.

The whole army shamefully violated their caths of allegiance to the best of kings, and treacherously turning their arms against him, soon forced him to abandon his capital. All true Frenchmen were then mortified by the sight of Bonaparte's triumphant arrival at Paris. The measures which he immediately adopted, were those which he had pursued during his iron reign over France.

Impatient to act upon the frightful theatre of the field of battle, to strew it with bodies and bathe himself in blood, Napoleon hastened the formation of armies with incredible activity. On all sides troops were raised, united, and dispatched for the frontiers; regiments were filled up from restored prisoners and new levies, and the national guard was re-organized. Artillery, equipments, and arms of every description, were issued as if by enchantment from the arsenals and manufactories, and in a few days, France was transformed into a vast camp. Whilst a numerous army filed off towards Belgium, others were forming in Alsace, Lorraine, and Franche

Compté, and on the side of the Alps and the Pyrenees.

The army of the North which was the most considerable, in the early part of June occupied extensive cantonments in the departments of the North and of Aisne, where they remained in echellon order. The general head-quarters were at Laon. The first corps occupied Valenciennes, and the second Maubeuge. They communicated on the right with the army of Ardennes and that of the Moselle; their left rested upon Lille. Composed in a great measure of old soldiers lately restored to the ranks, the army of the North was full of courage and inflamed with enthusiasm for Bonaparte. Dispositions favourable to the support of the army, were manifested in all the departments which had been the theatre of war in 1814, except that of the North, where the contrary sentiments were distinctly avowed, and where the presence of the troops was suffered with an impatience but ill concealed. From this department no levies were drawn, and the national guard obstinately refused to

march.

The army relied upon the effective co-operation of the inhabitants when hostilities should break out; and the inhabitants generally believing that the allies had entered

France in 1814, only in consequence of repeated treachery, relied upon the army with entire confidence. The commencement of the war was thus expected with feelings of perfect security, and the troops remaining in their cantonments eager for the fight, complained only of the tardiness with which the allies advanced.

Such was the state of affairs when they learned that the guards having left Paris at the termina-, tion of the champ de Mai, were approaching Laon by forced marches; and that Bonaparte a few days after, had followed in the same direction, and was hastening towas hastening to wards the frontiers. He arrived nearly at the same time with the guards at Vervins, where he put himself at the head of the army of the North which had quitted its quarters.

It was not generally supposed that his intention was to attack; it seemed more probable that the army was led to the extreme frontier to take up a line of defence. He displayed however, his usual activity on the march; was constantly engaged in reviews, and in visiting the fortifications of the towns through which he passed. He omitted no opportunity of exhibiting himself to the troops.

On arriving at Beaumont, the army of the North united with that of Ardennes, commanded by Vandamme, whose head-quarters were established at Fumay. The army of the Moselle under the orders of General Gérard, left Metz at the same time, and debouching by forced marches through Philippeville, took their station in the line. The army of the North then counted five corps of infantry, commanded by Lieute nant Generals d'Erlon, Reille, Vandamme, Gérard, and count

Lobau. The cavalry, commanded in chief by Grouchy, was divided into four corps, under the orders of Generals Pajol, Excelmans, Milhaud, and Kellerman. The imperial guard, 20,000 strong, formed the nucleus of this fine

army, which was followed by a considerable train of artillery perfectly well equipped, and a collection of moveable bridges. Each corps had a park of reserve in addition to the batteries regularly attached to it. The artillery of the guard was especially distinguished for its magnificence, being almost entirely composed of new pieces.

These troops, all choice and well-appointed, might amount to an effective force of 150,000 men, of whom 20,000 were cavalry, and carried with them 300 pieces of cannon.- -But whilst they were yet in the heart of their own country, they were wanting in that strict discipline which constitutes the strength of armies, as well as the protection of the countries which they occupy. Regardless of their unhappy countrymen, who displayed the greatest zeal in contributing the means of subsistence, the French troops treated them with the utmost harshness; and considering pillage as one of their indisputable rights, made

a

boast of abandoning themselves to every species of excess. Every where houses were sacked, under the pretence of searching for provisions; the soldiers broke open doors, rifled drawers and chests, mal-treated the peasantry, and seized upon every thing that suited them. "They had taken the field," it was said, " and war could not be carried on without

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petite for plunder, refined as it was by ten years of wars which can only be compared in the ravages they occasioned to the incursions of barbarous hordes upon the territories of their neighbours. Thus, running from house to house, and from cellar to cellar, and destroying what they could not carry away, the soldiers returned to camp laden with spoil, and the miserable peasantry, objects of the coarsest abuse, and accused of having concealed their money, were glad to escape even with the surrender of their whole property. The majority of the officers, it must be confessed, but feebly opposed this infamous rapine, and excused themselves by saying with an air of complacency, "Why are there no magazines? the soldiers must live."-Whilst the soldiers lived, the officers, as may readily be supposed, were abundantly supplied, and suffered no embarrassment but that of choice.-Do we recognise in this, the loyal, disinterested, generous and honourable character of French officers? Undoubtedly not; but times are changed, and it belonged to the officers of Bonaparte to give to our military biography a new and peculiar aspect.

merely in this light, and persuading themselves that they were aiding in the defence of their coun try, they conceived it to be their first duty to remain steady at their posts. It was impossible, moreover, to restrain the excesses above mentioned. The soldiers were not to be withheld; such of their leaders as were animated with the best intentions, knew full well that this license had constantly prevailed in the armies commanded by Bonaparte, and that it had always been his most effectual means to conciliate their attachment and excite their courage.

The country which they traversed was covered with fine crops of grain, and gave promise of a plentiful harvest;-but woe to the tracts which bordered on the route. of the army, and especially those which were deemed proper for an encampment. The most fertile spots were always selected for this purpose, and in a few moments every thing disappeared, trodden down or cut as provender for the horses, or as materials for barracks.

The army itself was distracted within by the same anarchy which prevailed in its external conduct; it seemed as if an implacable hatred raged in each corps against the rest, and as if open war existed among them. No reciprocal confidence, no indication that they were fighting in the same cause: on every side were exhibit

Amongst these avaricious and unprincipled plunderers, there plunderers, there was still a number of men of honour and morality, who lamented these disorders, and served with regret in an army, criminal in its rebellion, and still further disgraceded marks of pride, selfishness, and by so outrageous a conduct: but rapacity.There was not even hurried along by circumstances, harmony among the commanders. and wishing to hide from them- When the head of a column or selves the extent of their perjury, regiment arrived at a place where they averted their eyes from the it was intended to halt, he seized causes of the war, to contemplate upon every thing he could find, only the ostensible end-the pro- without caring for those who tection of the French territory from were to follow. Sentinels were invasion. By viewing the subject posted in the houses which afford

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ed a prospect of plunder, and by the right of occupancy, kept off all who attempted to share in the spoil. It frequently happened that force was exerted against these sentinels, and, in the combats which ensued, many were killed and wounded. The imperial guard, proud of its pre-eminence, as janissaries of the despot, behaved with arrogance towards the other troops, and were of course, particularly detested by them; so that when they happened to be inferior in numbers, they were, in their turn, persecuted and outraged. The different corps of cavalry entertained the same jealousy and animosity towards each other, and heaped all sorts of insults upon the infantry, whilst the infantry on their side, menaced them with the bayonet.

Such was the spirit of the army. In advancing towards the frontiers to protect its fellow citizens, it reduced them on its march, to a situation in which they had nothing to fear from the bitterest enemy.

From the time of leaving its cantonments, it had continued to move with celerity; the weather though inclement, had not so deepened the roads as to impede the passage of the artillery and caissons. The rapidity of the movements bordered, in fact, on precipitation. It now became evident that the plan was to surprise the enemy in Belgium by an unexpected irruption. On the 14th, the whole army was united and in line on the extreme frontier. All uncertainty as to the object of these manœuvres was now dispelled by the following proclamation, which was read at the head of each division and regiment

"SOLDIERS,

"It is to-day the anniversary of Marengo and Friedland, which

twice decided the destiny of Eu rope. Then, as at Austerlitz and Wagram, we were too generous. We believed the oaths and protestations of princes whom we left upon the throne. To-day we find them leagued together, and wishing to overthrow the independence and the most sacred rights of France. They have commenced this most unjust attack. Let us march to meet them-They and we, are we not still the same men?

"Soldiers-At Jena, against these same Prussians now so ar rogant, you were one to three, and at Montmirial one to six

"Those of you who have been prisoners among the English, relate to your comrades the frightful evils that you suffered in their hulks

The Saxons, Belgians, and Hanoverians, the soldiers of the confederation of the Rhine, lament that they are compelled to aid the cause of princes who are enemies of justice and the rights of all nations. They know that this coalition is insatiable. After having absorbed twelve millions of Poles, twelve millions of Italians, one million Saxons, and six millions of Belgians-it will next destroy the secondary powers of Germany

"Madmen!-a moment of pros perity has blinded them. The oppression and humiliation of the French people are beyond their power. If they enter France, they will find in it their grave.

"Soldiers, We have forced marches to make, battles to fight, and perils to encounter: but with constancy the victory will be ours: the rights, the honour, and the happiness of our country will be re-conquered

"For all Frenchmen who have

a heart the moment is arrived to conquer or to die!"

upon the left bank of the Sambre, drove the enemy to the opposite side. While a number of sharp. shooters defended the approach to the bridge, the Prussians were busily engaged in rendering it im. passable, so as to retard the march of the French, and give themselves time to evacuate the town; but being briskly pushed, they were not able to destroy it entirely. The damage which they had occasioned being but slight, the sappers and marines of the guard soon removed all difficulties. Towards noon the work was finished; the

It is almost unnecessary to say that this proclamation was received with transports of joy and noisy acclamations by a multitude of ignorant soldiers, for whom high-sounding words, however unintelligible to them, are the perfection of eloquence. It is equally unnecessary to comment upon this ridiculously emphatic address, bearing as it does, the genuine stamp of Bonaparte, It augmented the uneasiness of those reflecting men, who gave themselves the trouble of examining his incohe-light cavalry passed over, and rent ideas, by showing them, in took possession of Charleroi. the full extent, the dangers which despair had driven him to en

counter.

In the mean time, the officers were exulting in the precision of their marches, and discovered, as they said, the presence of the 66 great man" by the result of combined movements, executed in a manner so skilful, that the different corps of the army seemed, after proceeding for some days on the same route, to have found themselves regularly placed in the line, as if they had sprung out of the earth by a magic power.

On the 15th at break of day, the army was in motion to enter Belgium. The 2d corps attacked the advanced posts of the Prussians which were opposite to them, and pursued them briskly as far as Marchienne au Pont. The cavalry of this corps had an opportunity of charging several squares of infantry which they penetrated, and from whom they took some hundred prisoners. The Prussians hastened to repass the Sambre. The light cavalry of the centre followed the route of the 2d corps upon Charleroi, and sweeping by successive charges, all the force

The 2d corps having in the mean time effected its passage at Marchienne, advanced upon Gosselies, a town situated on the Brussels road, with the intention of cutting off the retreat of the column driven back at Charleroi. The Prussians, surprised at such a brisk assault, and pursued by our light troops, retired in good order upon Fleurus, where they began to concentrate. They were repeatedly attacked by our advanced guard, which, without allowing them time to take up their position, threw themselves with overwhelming impetuosity upon the columns that resisted. The presence of Bonaparte so electrified the French troops, that they rushed upon the enemy without firing a gun, and springing with the bayonet into the midst of the enemy's masses, drove every thing before them. The squadrons of the bodyguard repeatedly charged the Prussian infantry. In one of these attacks, General Letort, colonel of the dragoons of the guard, received a mortal wound. After many obstinate and bloody combats, the French succeeded in mastering all the positions where the enemy at

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