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the　honor　of　firing　the　first　shot；　but　he　refused；　not　conceiving；
doubtless；　that　any　pleasure　could　be　found　in　slaying　at　short　range　a
poor；　exhausted　animal；　who　no　longer　had　the　power　to　protect　itself；
even　by　flight。




CHAPTER　XXVIII。

The　Emperor　remained　only　a　few　days　at　Paris；　after　our　return　from
Italy；　before　setting　out　again　for　the　camp　of　Boulogne。　　The　fetes　of
Milan　had　not　prevented　him　from　maturing　his　political　plans；　and　it　was
suspected　that　not　without　good　reason　had　he　broken　down　his　horses
between　Turin　and　Paris。　　These　reasons　were　plainly　evident；　when　it　was
learned　that　Austria　had　entered　secretly　into　the　coalition　of　　Russia
and　England　against　the　Emperor。　　The　army　collected　in　the　camp　of
Boulogne　received　orders　to　march　on　the　Rhine；　and　his　Majesty　departed
to　rejoin　his　troops　about　the　end　of　September。　　As　was　his　custom；　he
informed　us　only　an　hour　in　advance　of　his　departure；　and　it　was　curious
to　observe　the　contrast　of　the　confusion　which　preceded　this　moment　with
the　silence　that　followed　it。　　Hardly　was　the　order　given；　than　each　one
busied　himself　hastily　with　his　own　wants　and　those　of　his　Majesty；　and
nothing　could　be　heard　in　the　corridors　but　the　sound　of　domestics　coming
and　going；　the　noise　of　cases　being　nailed　down；　and　boxes　being　carried
out。　　In　the　courts　appeared　a　great　number　of　carriages　and　wagons；　with
men　harnessing　them；　the　scene　lighted　by　torches；　and　everywhere　oaths
and　cries　of　impatience；　while　the　women；　each　in　her　own　room；　were
sadly　occupied　with　the　departure　of　husband；　son；　or　brother。　　During
all　these　preparations　the　Emperor　was　making　his　adieux　to　her　Majesty
the　Empress；　or　taking　a　few　moments　of　repose；　but　at　the　appointed　hour
he　rose；　was　dressed；　and　entered　his　carriage。　　Soon　after　everything
was　silent　in　the　chateau；　and　only　a　few　isolated　persons　could　be　seen
flitting　about　like　shadows；　silence　had　succeeded　to　noise；　solitude　to
the　bustle　of　a　brilliant　and　numerous　court。　　Next　morning　this　deep
silence　was　broken　only　by　a　few　scattered　women　who　sought　each　other
with　pale　faces　and　eyes　full　of　tears；　to　communicate　their　grief　and
share　their　apprehensions。　　Many　courtiers；　who　were　not　of　the　party；
arrived　to　make　their　court；　and　were　stupefied　on　learning　of　his
Majesty's　absence；　feeling　as　if　the　sun　could　not　have　risen　that　day。

The　Emperor　went　without　halting　as　far　as　Strasburg；　and　the　day　after
his　arrival　in　this　town；　the　army　began　to　file　out　over　the　bridge　of
Kehl。

On　the　evening　before　this　march；　the　Emperor　had　ordered　the　general
officers　to　be　on　the　banks　of　the　Rhine　on　the　following　day；　at　exactly
six　in　the　morning。　　An　hour　before　that　set　for　the　rendezvous；　his
Majesty；　notwithstanding　the　rain　which　fell　in　torrents；　went　alone　to
the　head　of　the　bridge；　to　assure　himself　of　the　execution　of　the　orders
he　had　given；　and　stood　exposed　to　this　rain　without　moving；　till　the
first　divisions　commenced　to　file　out　over　the　bridge。　　He　was　so
drenched　that　the　drops　which　fell　from　his　clothing　ran　down　under　his
horse；　and　there　formed　a　little　waterfall；　and　his　cocked　hat　was　so　wet
that　the　back　of　it　drooped　over　his　shoulders；　like　the　large　felt　hats
of　the　coal…burners　of　Paris。　　The　generals　whom　he　was　awaiting　gathered
around　him；　and　when　he　saw　them　assembled；　he　said；　〃All　goes　well；
messieurs；　this　is　a　new　step　taken　in　the　direction　of　our　enemies；　but
where　is　Vandamme？　　Why　is　he　not　here？　　Can　he　be　dead？〃　　No　one　said　a
word。　　〃Answer　me；　what　has　become　of　Vandamme？　　〃General　Chardon；
general　of　the　vanguard；　much　loved　by　the　Emperor；　replied；　〃I　think；
Sire；　that　General　Vandamme　is　still　asleep；　we　drank　together　last
evening　a　dozen　bottles　of　Rhine　wine；　and　doubtless〃〃He　does　very　well
to　drink；　sir；　but　he　is　wrong　to　sleep　when　I　am　waiting　for　him。〃
General　Chardon　prepared　to　send　an　aide…de…camp　to　his　companion　in
arms；　but　the　Emperor　prevented　him；　saying；　〃Let　Vandamme　sleep；　I　will
speak　to　him　later。〃　　At　this　moment　General　Vandamme　appeared。　　〃Well；
here　you　are；　sir；　you　seem　to　have　forgotten　the　order　that　I　gave
yesterday。〃〃Sire；　this　is　the　first　time　this　has　happened；　and〃
〃And　to　avoid　a　repetition　of　it；　you　will　go　and　fight　under　the　banner
of　the　King　of　Wurtemburg；　I　hope　you　will　give　them　lessons　in
sobriety。〃

General　Vandamme　withdrew；　not　without　great　chagrin；　and　repaired　to　the
army　of　Wurtemburg；　where　he　performed　prodigies　of　valor。　　After　the
campaign　he　returned　to　the　Emperor；　his　breast　covered　with　decorations；
bearing　a　letter　from　the　King　of　Wurtemburg　to　his　Majesty；　who；　after
reading　it；　said　to　Vandamme：　　〃General；　never　forget　that；　if　I　admire
the　brave；　I　do　not　admire　those　who　sleep　while　I　await　them。〃　　He
pressed　the　general's　hand；　and　invited　him　to　breakfast；　in　company　with
General　Chardon；　who　was　as　much　gratified　by　this　return　to　favor　as　was
his　friend。

On　the　journey　to　Augsburg；　the　Emperor；　who　had　set　out　in　advance；　made
such　speed　that　his　household　could　not　keep　up　with　him；　and
consequently　he　passed　the　night；　without　attendants　or　baggage；　in　the
best　house　of　a　very　poor　village。　　When　we　reached　his　Majesty　next　day；
he　received　us　laughing；　and　threatened　to　have　us　taken　up　as　stragglers
by　the　provost　guard。

From　Augsburg　the　Emperor　went　to　the　camp　before　Ulm；　and　made
preparations　to　besiege　that　place。

A　short　distance　from　the　town　a　fierce　and　obstinate　engagement　took
place　between　the　French　and　Austrians；　and　had　lasted　two　hours；　when
cries　of　'Vive　l'Empereur！'　　were　suddenly　heard。　　This　name；　which
invariably　carried　terror　into　the　enemy's　ranks；　and　always　imparted
fresh　courage　to　our　soldiers；　now　electrified　them　to　such　an　extent
that　they　put　the　Austrians　to　flight；　while　the　Emperor　showed　himself
in　the　front　ranks；　crying　〃Forward；〃　and　making　signs　to　the　soldiers　to
advance；　his　Majesty's　horse　disappearing　from　time　to　time　in　the　smoke
of　the　cannon。　　During　this　furious　charge；　the　Emperor　found　himself
near　a　grenadier　who　was　terribly　wounded；　and　yet　this　brave　fellow
still　shouted　with　the　others；　〃Forward！　　forward！〃

The　Emperor　drew　near　him；　and　threw　his　military　cloak　over　him；　saying；
〃Try　to　bring　it　back　to　me；　and　I　will　give　you　in　exchange　the　cross
that　you　have　just　won。〃　　The　grenadier；　who　knew　that　he　was　mortally
wounded；　replied　that　the　shroud　he　had　just　received　was　worth　as　much
as　the　decoration；　and　expired；　wrapped　in　the　imperial　mantle。

At　the　close　of　the　battle；　the　Emperor　had　this　grenadier；　who　was　also
a　veteran　of　the　army　of　Egypt；　borne　from　the　field；　and　ordered　that　he
should　be　interred　in　the　cloak。

Another　soldier；　not　less　courageous　than　the　one　of　whom　I　have　just
spoken；　also　received　from　his　Majesty　marks　of　distinction。　　The　day
after　the　combat　before　Ulm；　the　Emperor；　in　visiting　the　ambulances；　had
his　attention　attracted　by　a；　cannoneer　of　light　artillery；　who　had　lost
one　leg；　but　in　spite　of　this　was　still　shouting　with　all　his　might；
'Vive　l'Empereur！'　　He　approached　the　soldier　and　said　to　him；　〃Is　this；
then；　all　that　you　have　to　say　to　me？〃〃No；　Sire；　I　can　also　tell　you
that　I；　I　alone；　have　dismounted　four　pieces　of　the　Austrian　cannon；　and
it　is　the　pleasure　of　seeing　them　silenced　which　makes　me　forget　that　I
must　soon　close　my　eyes　forever。〃　　The　Emperor；　moved　by　such　fortitude；
gave　his　cross　to　the　cannoneer；　noted　the　names　of　his　parents；　and　said
to　him；　〃If　you　recover；　the　Hotel　des　Invalides　is　at　your　service。〃
〃Thanks；　Sire；　but　the　loss　of　blood　has　been　too　great；　my　pension　will
not　cost　you　very　dear；　I　know　well　that　I　must　soon　be　off　duty；　but
long　live　the　Emperor　all　the　same！〃　　Unfortunately　this　brave　man
realized　his　real　condition　only　too　well；　for　he　did　not　survive　the
amputation　of　his　leg。

We　followed　the　Emperor　into　Ulm　after　the　occupation　of　that　place；　and
saw　a　hostile　army　of　more　than　thirty　thousand　men　lay　down　their　arms
at　the　feet　of　his　Majesty；　as　they　defiled　before　him；　and　I　have　never
beheld　a　more　imposing　sight。　　The　Emperor　was　seated　on　his　horse；　a　few
steps　in　front　of　his　staff；　his　countenance　wearing　a　calm　and　grave
expression；　in　spite　of　which　the　joy　which　filled　his　heart　was　apparent
in　his　glance。

He　raised　his　hat　every　moment　to　return　the　salutes　of　the　superior
officers　of　the　Austrian　troops。　　When　the　Imperial　Guard　entered
Augsburg；　eighty　grenadiers　marched　at　the　head　of　the　columns；　each
bearing　a　banner　of　the　enemy。

The　Emperor；　on　his　arrival　at　Munich；　was　welcomed　with　the　greatest
respect　by　his　ally；　the　Elector　of　Bavaria。　　His　Majesty　went　several
times　to　the　theater　and　the　hunt；　and　gave　a　concert　to　the　ladies　of
the　court。　　It　was；　as　has　been　since　ascertained；　during　this　stay　of
the　Emperor　at　Munich　that　the　Emperor　Alexander　and　the　King　of　Prussia
pledged　themselves　at　Potsdam；　on　the　tomb　of　Frederick　the　Great；　to
unite　their　efforts　against　his　Majesty。

A　year　later　Napoleon　also　made　a　visit　to　the　tomb　of　the　great
Frederick。

T