thousand francs。〃〃Twelve thousand francs！ that is not right； you should
not have less than M。 Colin。 I will attend to that。〃 And his Majesty
was kind enough to make immediate inquiries； but was told that the
accounts for the year were made out； whereupon the Emperor informed me
that till the end of the year； M。 le Baron Fain
＇Born in Paris； 1778； attended Napoleon in his campaigns as
Secretary of the Records； wrote memoirs of the last three years of
Napoleon's reign； died 1837。＇
would give me each month out of his privy purse five hundred francs； as
he wished that my salary should equal that of M。 Colin。
CHAPTER XI。
After the Emperor left the army and committed； as we have seen； the
command to the King of Naples； his Sicilian Majesty also abandoned the
command intrusted to him； and set out for his states； leaving Prince
Eugene at the head of the forces。 The Emperor was deeply interested in
the news he received from Posen； where the general headquarters were in
the latter part of February and beginning of March； and where the prince
vice…king had under his orders only the remains of different corps； some
of which were represented by a very small number of men。
Moreover； each time that the Russians appeared in force； there was
nothing to be done but to fall back； and each day during the month of
March the news became more and more depressing。 The Emperor consequently
decided at the end of March to set out at an early day for the army。
For some time previous the Emperor； much impressed by Malet's conspiracy
during his last absence； had expressed the opinion that it was dangerous
to leave his government without a head； and the journals had been filled
with information relative to the ceremonies required when the regency of
the kingdom had been left in the hands of queens in times past。 As the
public well knew the means frequently adopted by his Majesty to foster in
advance opinions favorable to any course of conduct he intended to
pursue； no one was surprised to see him before leaving confide the
regency to the Empress Marie Louise； circumstances not having yet
furnished him the opportunity of having her crowned； as he had long
desired。 The Empress took the solemn oath at the palace of the Elysee；
in presence of the princes； great dignitaries； and ministers。 The Duke
of Cadore was made secretary of the regency； as counselor to her Majesty
the Empress； together with the arch…chancellor； and the command of the
guard was confided to General Caffarelli。
The Emperor left Saint…Cloud on the 15th of April； at four o'clock in the
morning； and at midnight of the 16th entered Mayence。 On his arrival his
Majesty learned that Erfurt and the whole of Westphalia were in a state
of the deepest alarm。 This news added incredible speed to his march； and
in eight hours he was at Erfurt。 His Majesty remained but a short while
in that town； as the information that he there received set his mind at
rest as to the result of the campaign。 On leaving Erfurt the Emperor
wished to pass through Weimar in order to salute the grand duchess； and
made his visit on the same day and at the same hour that the Emperor
Alexander went from Dresden to Toeplitz in order to visit another Duchess
of Weimar （the hereditary princess； her sister）。
The grand duchess received the Emperor with a grace which enchanted him；
and their conversation lasted nearly half an hour。 On leaving； his
Majesty said to the Prince de Neuchatel； 〃That is an astonishing woman；
she has the intellect of a great man。〃 The Duke accompanied the Emperor
as far as the borough of Eckhartsberg； where his Majesty detained him to
dine。
NOTE BY CONSTANT。His Majesty's household； reorganized in part for this
campaign of 1813； was composed of the following persons：
Grand marshal of the palace； the Duke of Frioul。
Grand equerry； the Duke of Vicenza。
Aides…de…camp： Generals Mouton； Count de Lobau； Lebrun； Duke de
Plaisance； Generals Drouot； Flahaut； Dejean； Corbineau； Bernard；
Durosnel； and Aogendorp。
First ordinance officer； Colonel Gourgaud。
Ordinance officers： Baron de Mortemart； Baron Athalin； M。 Beranger； M。 de
Lauriston； Messieurs Barons Desaix； Laplace； and de Caraman； Messieurs de
Saint Marsan； de Lamezan； Pretet； and Pailhou； there was also M。
d'Aremberg； but at this time he was a prisoner in the town of Dantzic。
First chamberlain and master of the wardrobe； the Count of Turenne。
Prefect of the palace； Baron de Beausset。
Quartermaster of the palace； Baron de Canouville。
Equerries； Barons Van Lenneps； Montaran；and de Mesgrigny。
Private secretaries； Baron Mounier and Baron Fain。
Clerks； Messieurs Jouanne and Provost。
Secretary interpreters； Messieurs Lelorgue； Dideville； and Vouzowitch。
Director of the topographical bureau； Baron Bacler d'Albe。
Geographical engineers； Messieurs Lameau and Duvivier。
Pages； Messieurs Montarieu； Devienne； Sainte Perne； and Ferreri。
The Emperor had his headquarters on the square of Eckhartsberg。 He had
only two rooms； and his suite slept on the landing and the steps of the
staircase。 This little town； transformed in a few hours into
headquarters； presented a most extraordinary spectacle。 On a square
surrounded by camps； bivouacs； and military parks； in the midst of more
than a thousand vehicles； which crossed each other from every direction；
mingled together； became entangled in every way； could be seen slowly
defiling regiments； convoys； artillery trains； baggage wagons； etc。
Following them came herds of cattle； preceded or divided by the little
carts of the canteen women and sutlers；such light； frail vehicles that
the least jolt endangered them； with these were marauders returning with
their booty； peasants pulling vehicles by their own strength； cursing and
swearing amid the laughter of our soldiers； and couriers； ordinance
officers； and aides…de…camp； galloping through all this wonderfully
variegated and diversified multitude of men and beasts。
And when to this is added the neighing of horses； bellowing of cattle；
rumbling of wheels over the stones； cries of the soldiers； sounds from
trumpets； drums； fifes； and the complaints of the inhabitants； with
hundreds of persons all together asking questions at the same time；
speaking German to the Italians； and French to the Germans； how could it
be possible that his Majesty should be as tranquil and as much at his
ease in the midst of this fearful uproar as in his cabinet at Saint…Cloud
or the Tuileries？ This was nevertheless the case； and the Emperor；
seated before a miserable table covered with a kind of cloth； a map
spread before him； compass and pen in hand； entirely given up to
meditation； showed not the least impatience； and it would have been said
that no exterior noise reached his ears。 But let a cry of pain be heard
in any direction； the Emperor instantly raised his head； and gave orders
to go and ascertain what had happened。
The power of thus isolating one's self completely from all the
surrounding world is very difficult to acquire； and no one possessed it
to the same degree as his Majesty。
On the 1st of May the Emperor was at Lutzen； though the battle did not
occur till next day。 On that day； at six o'clock in the evening； the
brave Marshal Bessieres； Duke of Istria； was killed by a cannon…ball；
just at the moment when； mounted on a height； wrapped in a long cloak
which he had put on in order not to be remarked； he had just given orders
for the burial of a sergeant of his escort； whom a ball had just slain a
few steps in front of him。
From the first campaigns in Italy the Duke of Istria had hardly left the
Emperor at all； had followed him in all his campaigns； had taken part in
all his battles； and was always distinguished for his well…proved
bravery； and a frankness and candor very rare among the high personages
by whom his Majesty was surrounded。 He had passed through almost all
grades up to the command of the Imperial Guard； and his great experience；
excellent character； good heart； and unalterable attachment to the
Emperor； had rendered him very dear to his Majesty。
The Emperor was much moved on learning of the death of the marshal； and
remained some time silent with bent head； and eyes fastened on the
ground。 At last he said； 〃He has died like Turenne； his fate is to be
envied。〃 He then passed his hand over his eyes and withdrew。
The body of the marshal was embalmed and carried to Paris； and the
Emperor wrote the following letter to the Duchess of Istria：
〃MY COUSIN；
Your husband has died on the field of honor。 The loss sustained by
you and your children is doubtless great； but mine is greater still。
The Duke of Istria has died a most glorious death； and without
suffering。 He leaves a stainless reputation； the richest heritage
he could have left his children。 My protection is assured； and they
will also inherit the affection I bore their father。 Find in all
these considerations some source of consolation in your distress；
and never doubt my sentiments towards you。
This letter having no other object； I pray that God； my cousin； may
have you in his holy keeping。
NAPOLEON。〃
The King of Saxony reared a monument to the Duke of Istria on the exact
spot where he fell。 The victory so long disputed in this battle of
Lutzen was on that account only the more glorious for the Emperor； and
was gained principally by the young conscripts； who fought like lions。
Marshal Ney expected this of them； for before the battle he said to his
Majesty； 〃Sire； give me a good many of those young men； I will lead them
wherever I wish。 The old bearded fellows know as much as we； they
reflect； they are too cold blooded； but these intrepid children know no
difficulties； they look straight before them； and neither to the right
nor left。〃
In fact； in the midst of the battle； the Prussians； commanded by the king
in person； attacked the corps of Marshal Ney with such fury that it fell
back； but the conscripts did not take flight。 They withstood the fire；
rallied by platoons； and flanked th