promptly received the Cross of the Legion of Honor。
In the beginning of the campaign of Tilsit； the Emperor； being at Berlin；
one day took a fancy to make an excursion on foot to the quarter where
our soldiers in the public houses indulged in the pleasures of the dance。
He saw a quartermaster of the cavalry of his guard walking with a coarse；
rotund German woman； and amused himself listening to the gallant remarks
made by this quartermaster to his beautiful companion。 〃Let us enjoy
ourselves； my dear；〃 said he； 〃it is the 'tondu' who pays the musicians
with the 'kriches' of your sovereign。 Let us take our own gait； long
live joy！ and forward〃〃Not so fast；〃 said the Emperor； approaching
him。 〃Certainly it must always be forward； but wait till I sound the
charge。〃 The quartermaster turned and recognized the Emperor； and；
without being at all disconcerted； put his hand to his shako； and said；
〃That is useless trouble。 Your Majesty does not need to beat a drum to
make us move。〃 This repartee made the Emperor smile； and soon after
gained epaulets for the sub…officer； who perhaps might have waited a long
while except for this fancy of his Majesty。 But； at all events； if
chance sometimes contributed thus to the giving of rewards； they were
never given until after he had ascertained that those on whom he bestowed
them were worthy。
At Eylau provisions failed； for a week； the bread supply being exhausted；
the soldiers fed themselves as they could。 The evening before the first
attack； the Emperor； who wished to examine everything himself； made a
tour of the bivouacs； and reaching one where all the men were asleep； saw
some potatoes cooking； took a fancy to eat them； and undertook to draw
them out of the fire with the point of his sword。 Instantly a soldier
awoke； and seeing some one usurping part of his supper； 〃I say； you are
not very ceremonious； eating our potatoes！〃〃My comrade； I am so hungry
that you must excuse me。〃〃Well； take one or two then； if that is the
case； but get off。〃 But as the Emperor made no haste in getting off； the
soldier insisted more strongly； and soon a heated discussion arose
between him and the Emperor。 From words they were about to come to
blows； when the Emperor thought it was time to make himself known。 The
soldier's confusion was indescribable。 He had almost struck the Emperor。
He threw himself at his Majesty's feet； begging his pardon； which was
most readily granted。 〃It was I who was in the wrong；〃 said the Emperor；
〃I was obstinate。 I bear you no illwill； rise and let your mind be at
rest； both now and in the future。〃
The Emperor； having made inquiries concerning this soldier； learned that…
he was a good fellow； and not unintelligent。 On the next promotion he
was made sub…lieutenant。 It is impossible to give an idea of the effect
of such occurrences on the army。 They were a constant subject of
conversation with the soldiers； and stimulated them inexpressibly。 The
one who enjoyed the greatest distinction in his company was he of whom it
could be said： 〃The Emperor has spoken to him。〃
At the battle of Essling the brave General Daleim； commanding a division
of the fourth corps； found himself during the hottest part of the action
at a spot swept by the enemy's artillery。 The Emperor； passing near him；
said： 〃It is warm in your locality！〃〃Yes； Sire； permit me to extinguish
the fire。〃〃Go。〃 This one word sufficed； in the twinkling of an eye the
terrible battery was taken。 In the evening the Emperor； seeing General
Daleim； approached him； and said； 〃It seems you only had to blow on it。〃
His Majesty alluded General Daleim's habit of incessant whistling。
Among the brave general officers around the Emperor； a few were not
highly educated； though their other fine qualities recommended them； some
were celebrated for other reasons than their military merit。 Thus
General Junot and General Fournier were known as the best pistol shots；
General Lasellette was famous for his love of music； which he indulged to
such an extent as to have a piano always in one of his baggage wagons。
This general drank only water； but； on the contrary； it was very
different with General Bisson。 Who has not heard of the hardest drinker
in all the army？ One day the Emperor； meeting him at Berlin； said to
him； 〃Well； Bisson； do you still drink much？〃〃Moderately； Sire； not
more than twenty…five bottles。〃 This was； in fact； a great improvement；
for he had more than once reached the number of forty without being made
tipsy。 Moreover； with General Bisson it was not a vice； but an imperious
need。 The Emperor knowing this； and being much attached to him； allowed
him a pension of twelve thousand francs out of his privy purse； and gave
him besides frequent presents。
Among the officers who were not very well educated； we may be permitted
to mention General Gros； and the manner in which he was promoted to the
grade of general proves this fact。 But his bravery was equal to every
proof； and he was a superb specimen of masculine beauty。 The pen alone
was an unaccustomed weapon to him； and he could hardly use it to sign his
name； and it was said that he was not much more proficient in reading。
Being colonel of the guard； he found himself one day alone at the
Tuileries in an apartment where he waited until the Emperor could be
seen。 There he delighted himself with observing his image reflected in
the glass； and readjusting his cravat； and the admiration he felt at his
own image led him to converse aloud with himself or rather with his
reflection。 〃Ah！〃 said he； 〃if you only knew 'bachebachiques'
（mathematics）； such a man as you； with a soldier's heart like yours； ah！
the Emperor would make you a general！〃〃You are one；〃 said the Emperor；
striking him on the shoulder。 His Majesty had entered the saloon without
being heard； and had amused himself with listening to the conversation
Colonel Gros had carried on with himself。 Such were the circumstances of
his promotion to the rank of general； and what is more to be a general in
the guard。
I have now arrived at the end of my list of military anecdotes。 I have
just spoken of a general's promotion； and will close with the story of a
simple drummer； but a drummer renowned throughout the army as a perfect
buffoon； in fact； the famous Rata； to whom General Gros； as we shall see；
was deeply attached。
The army marched on Lintz during the campaign of 1809。 Rata； drummer of
the grenadiers of the fourth regiment of the line； and famous as a
buffoon； having learned that the guard was to pass； and that it was
commanded by General Gros； desired to see this officer who had been his
chief of battalion； and with whom he had formerly taken all sorts of
liberties。 Rata thereupon waged his mustache； and went to salute the
general； addressing him thus： 〃Ah； here you are； General。 How are you？〃
〃Very well； indeed； Rata； and you？〃〃Always well； but not so well as
you； it seems to me。 Since you are doing so very well； you no longer
think of poor Rata； for if he did not come to see you； you would not even
think of sending him a few sous to buy tobacco。〃 While saying； 〃You do
so well；〃 Rata had quickly seized General Gross hat； and put it ；on his
head in place of his own。 At this moment the Emperor passed； and seeing
a drummer wearing the hat of a general of his guard； he could hardly
believe his eyes。 He spurred up his horse； and inquired the cause。
General Gros then said； laughing； and in the frank speech he so often
used even to the Emperor； 〃It is a brave soldier from my old battalion；
accustomed to play pranks to amuse his comrades。 He is a brave fellow；
Sire； and every inch a man； and I recommend him to your Majesty。
Moreover； Sire； he can himself do more than a whole park of artillery。
Come； Rata； give us a broad side； and no quarter。〃 The Emperor listened；
and observed almost stupefied what was passing under his very eyes； when
Rata； in no wise intimidated by the presence of the Emperor； prepared to
execute the general's order； then； sticking his finger in his mouth； he
made a noise like first the whistling and then the bursting of a shell。
The imitation was so perfect that the Emperor was compelled to laugh； and
turning to General Gros； said； 〃Come； take this man this very evening
into the guard； and remind me of him on the next occasion。〃 In a short
while Rata had the cross； which those who threw real shells at the enemy
often had not； so largely does caprice enter into the destiny of men！
L'ENVOI。
（BY THE EDITOR OF THE FRENCH EDITION OF 1830。）
The life of any one who has played a distinguished part offers many
points of view； the number of which increases in proportion to the
influence he has wielded upon the movement of events。 This has been
greater in the case of Napoleon than of any other personage in history。
The product of an era of convulsions； in all of whose changes he took
part； and which he at last closed by subjecting all ideas under a rule；
which at one time promised to be lasting； he； like Catiline； requires a
Sallust； like Charlemagne； an Eginhard； and like Alexander； a Quintus
Curtius。 M。 de Bourrienne has； indeed； after the manner of Commines；
shown him to us undisguised in his political manipulations and in the
private life of his Court。 This is a great step towards a knowledge of
his individuality； but it is not enough。 It is in a thorough
acquaintance with his private life that this disillusioned age will find
the secret springs of the drama of his marvelous career。 The great men
of former ages were veiled from us by a cloud of prejudice which even the
good sense of Plutarch scarcely penetrated。 Our age； more analytical and
freer from illusions； in the great man seeks to find the individual。 It
is by this searching test that the present puts aside all illusions； and
that the future will seek to justify its judgments。 In the council of
state； the statesman is in his robe； on the battlefield the warrior is
beneath his armor； but in his bedchamber； in his undress； we find the
man。
It has been said that no man is； a hero to his valet。 It would give wide
latitude to a witty remark； which has bec