back； but the conscripts did not take flight。 They withstood the fire；
rallied by platoons； and flanked the enemy； crying with all their might；
〃Vive l'Empereur。〃 The Emperor appeared； and recovering from the
terrible shock they had sustained； and electrified by the presence of
their hero； they attacked in their turn with incredible violence。 His
Majesty was astonished。 〃In the twenty years；〃 said he； 〃I have
commanded French armies I have never witnessed such remarkable bravery
and devotion。〃
It was indeed a touching sight to see those youthful soldiers； although
grievously wounded； some without an arm； some without a leg； with but a
few moments of life remaining； making a last effort； as the Emperor
approached； to rise from the ground； and shout with their latest breath；
〃Vive l'Empereur。〃 Tears fill my eyes as I think of those youths； so
brilliant； so strong； and so courageous。
The enemy displayed the same bravery and enthusiasm。 The light infantry
of the Prussian guard were almost all young men who saw fire for the
first time； they exposed themselves to every hazard； and fell by hundreds
before they would recoil a step。
In no other battle； I think； was the Emperor so visibly protected by his
destiny。 Balls whistled around his ears； carrying away as they passed
pieces of the trappings of his horse； shells and grenades rolled at his
feet； but nothing touched him。 The soldiers observed this； and their
enthusiasm rose to the highest pitch。
At the beginning of the battle； the Emperor saw a battalion advancing
whose chief had been suspended from his office two or three days before
for some slight breach of discipline。 The disgraced officer marched in
the second rank with his soldiers； by whom he was adored。 The Emperor
saw him； and halting the battalion； took the officer by the hand； and
placed him again at the head of his troop。 The effect produced by this
scene was indescribable。
On the 8th of May； at seven o'clock in the evening； the Emperor entered
Dresden； and took possession of the palace； which the Emperor of Russia
and King of Prussia had quitted that very evening。 A short distance from
the barriers the Emperor was saluted by a deputation from the
municipality of that town。
〃You deserve；〃 said he to these deputies； 〃that I should treat you
as a conquered country。 I know all that you have done while the
allies occupied your town； I have a statement of the number of
volunteers whom you have clothed； equipped； and armed against me；
with a generosity which has astonished even the enemy。 I know the
insults you have heaped on France； and how many shameless libels you
have to suppress or to burn today。 I am fully aware with what
transports of joy you received the Emperor of Russia and the King of
Prussia within your walls。 Your houses are still decorated with the
garlands； and we still see lying on the earth the flowers which the
young girls scattered in their path。 Nevertheless； I am willing to
pardon everything。 Thank your king for this； it is he who saves
you； and I pardon you only from love of him。 Send a deputation to
entreat him to return to you。 My aide…de…camp； General Durosnel；
will be your governor。 Your good king himself could not make a
better selection。〃
As soon as he entered the city the Emperor was informed that a part of
the Russian rear…guard sought to hold its ground in the new town；
separated from the old by the river Elbe； and had fallen into the power
of our army。
His Majesty immediately ordered that everything should be done in order
to drive out this remnant of the enemy； and during an entire day there
was a continued cannonading and shooting in the town from one bank to the
other。 Bullets and shell fell like hail on the spot occupied by the
Emperor。 A shell struck the walls of a powder…magazine not far from him；
and scattered the pieces around his head； but fortunately the powder did
not ignite。 A few moments after another shell fell between his Majesty
and several Italians； they bent to avoid the explosion。 The Emperor saw
this movement； and laughingly said to them； 〃Ah； coglioni！ non fa male。〃
＇Ah； scamps！ don't behave badly。〃＇
On the 11th of May； in the morning； the Russians were put to flight and
pursued； the French army entering the city from all sides。 The Emperor
remained on the bridge the whole day； watching his troops as they filed
in。 The next day at ten o'clock the Imperial Guard under arms were
placed in line of battle on the road from Pirna to Gross Garten。 The
Emperor reviewed it； and ordered General Flahaut to advance。
The King of Saxony arrived about noon。 On meeting again； the two
sovereigns alighted from their horses and embraced each other； and then
entered Dresden amid general acclamations。
General Flahaut； who had gone to meet the King of Saxony with a part of
the imperial Guard； received from this good king the most flattering
testimonials of appreciation and gratitude。 It is impossible to show
more cordiality and friendliness than the King of Saxony displayed。 The
Emperor said of him and his family that they were a patriarchal family；
and that all who comprised it joined to striking virtues an expansive
kindness of manner which made them adored by their subjects。 His Majesty
paid this royal personage the most affectionate attentions； and as long
as the war lasted sent couriers each day to keep the king informed of the
least circumstance： He came himself as often as possible； and； in fact；
constantly treated him with that cordiality he so well knew how to
display and to render irresistible when he chose。
A few days after his arrival at Dresden his Majesty held a long
conversation with the King of Saxony； in which the Emperor Alexander was
the principal subject of conversation。
The characteristics and faults of this prince were fully analyzed； and
the conclusion drawn from this conversation was that the Emperor
Alexander had been sincere in the interview at Erfurt； and that it must
have been very complicated intrigues which had thus led to the rupture of
all their treaties of friendship。 〃Sovereigns are most unfortunate；〃
said his Majesty； 〃always deceived； always surrounded by flatterers or
treacherous counselors； whose greatest desire is to prevent the truth
from reaching the ears of their masters； who have so much interest in
knowing it。〃
The two sovereigns next spoke of the Emperor of Austria。 His Majesty
appeared profoundly grieved that his union with the Archduchess Marie
Louise； whom he did all in his power to render the happiest of women；
should have failed in producing the result he had anticipated； of
obtaining for him the confidence and friendship of her father。 〃It is
perhaps because I was not born a sovereign；〃 said the Emperor； 〃and
nevertheless； I should think that this would be an additional inducement
to the friendship of my father…in…law。 I shall never be convinced that
such ties are not strong enough to obtain the alliance of the Emperor of
Austria； for； in fact； I am his son…in…law； my son is his grandson； he
loves his daughter； and she is happy； how； then； can he be my enemy？〃
On learning of the victory of Lutzen；and the entrance of the Emperor into
Dresden； the Emperor of Austria hastened to send M。 de Bubna to his son…
in…law。 He arrived on the evening of the 16th； and the interview； which
his Majesty immediately granted； lasted until two hours after midnight。
This led us to hope that peace was about to be concluded； and we
consequently formed a thousand conjectures； each more encouraging than
the other； but when two or three days had passed away； and we still
witnessed only preparations for war； we saw that our hopes were cruelly
deceived。 Then it was I heard the unfortunate Marshal Duroc exclaim；
〃This is lasting too long！ We will none of us outlive it！〃 He had a
presentiment of his own death。
During the whole of this campaign the Emperor had not a moment of repose。
The days passed away in combats or marches； always on horseback； the
nights in labors in the cabinet。 I never comprehended how his body could
endure such fatigue； and yet he enjoyed almost continuously the most
perfect health。 The evening before the battle of Bautzen he retired very
late； after visiting all the military posts； and； having given all
necessary orders； slept profoundly。 Early next morning； the 20th of May；
movements began； and we awaited at headquarters with eager impatience the
results of this day。 But the battle was not over even then； and after a
succession of encounters； always ending in our favor； although hotly
contested； the Emperor； at nine o'clock in the evening； returned to
headquarters； took a light repast； and remained with Prince Berthier
until midnight。 The remainder of the night was passed in work； and at
five o'clock in the morning he was on his feet and ready to return to the
combat。 Three or four hours after his arrival on the battlefield the
Emperor was overcome by an irresistible desire for sleep； and； foreseeing
the issue of the day； slept on the side of a ravine； in the midst of the
batteries of the Duke of Ragusa； until he was awaked with the information
that the battle was gained。
This fact； which was related to me in the evening； did not astonish me in
the least； for I have already remarked that when he was compelled to
yield to the necessity of sleep； that imperious want of nature； the
Emperor took the repose which was so necessary to him when and where he
could； like a true soldier。
Although the result was decided； the battle was continued until five
o'clock in the evening。 At six o'clock the Emperor had his tent erected
near a solitary inn； which had served as headquarters for the Emperor
Alexander during the two preceding days。 I received orders to attend him
there； and did so with all speed； but his Majesty； nevertheless； passed
the whole night receiving and congratulating the chief generals； and
working with his secretaries。
All the wounded who were able to march were already on the road to
Dresden； where all necessary help awaited them。 But on the field