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INTRODUCTION
By M. CAMILLE ROUSSET.
IN the month of May,
1825, the sexagenarian Marshal Macdonald, left a widower for the third
time, was plunged in the deepest grief. fly his previous marriage he had
only daughters ; the last marriage, solemnized scarcely four years
before, and which had terminated so sadly, left him a son, heir to his
name. It was for this child still in the cradle that, far from Paris,
far from the conventional consolations and condolences of the Court, the
Marshal undertook—not to distract, but to occupy the isolation caused by
his sorrow —to note down the various stages of his long and glorious
career. He did not pretend to write memoirs; they are merely
recollections destined for the child who was alone to see them in the
future. Sixty-five years have elapsed since they were penned ; more than
fifty have come and gone since the Marshal died, and his grand-daughter,
the Baronne de Pomrnereul, has thought that, in the interest and for the
advantage of history, as well as for the reputation and fame of her
ancestor, the moment has come to lift the veil which, until now, has
covered these 'Recollections,' and has entrusted to me the task of
revealing them to the public. It is a great honour, for which I am
grateful to her. I could not help feeling respectful emotion as I turned
over those pages impregnated with sincerity, and which breathed forth
truth like a refreshing perfume. On no occasion, nor in any presence,
did Macdonald conceal his thoughts, even when with the greatest of men,
with Napoleon or with Louis XVIII.
There is no single
erasure or alteration in this manuscript Of 472 folio pages; there are
consequently a few incomplete sentences, of which it has been found
necessary to restore a word or two. With these exceptions, and with the
omission of a few intimate details of precious interest for the family,
but not for anyone unconnected with it, the text has been treated with
the respect it merits.
C. R.
Paris.
Contents
Chapter I
Introduction—Journey to the Hebrides— Parentage—Brothers and
Sisters—With Maillebois—Life at Sancerre— Gentleman-Cadet At St. Germain—Marriage.
Chapter II
First Campaign—Battle of Jemmappes—Appointed Colonel—Arrival at Lille—Dumouriez's
Treachery —Events at Lille—Interrogation —End of the Incident.
Chapter III
General Larnarlière—Macdonald appointed Adjutant-General---Execution of
Lamarlière—Skirmishes at Linselles and Commines—Entry into Lille—A
Warlike Commissioner—Denunciation—A Loyal Friend—A Broken Reed—Extension
of Command— General Pichegru--Belgium and Holland—Battle of Hooglède—On
the Waal.
Chapter
IV
Passage of the Waal—Its Results—Reconnaissance at Arnheim—Arrival at
Naarden—Capitulation of Naarden—On the Banks of the Vssel —Delfzyl--The
Peace of Basle—Command in Overyssel—Ordered to Walcheren—Fever—Rernoval
to Utrecht—Convalescence.
Chapter V
Army of the Sambre and Meuse—Dnnauwerth—Operations on the Rhine—Neuwieci—Mistake
of Genera] CateIvert—His Excuse and Recall—At Düsseldorf—Fresh
hostilities on the Rhine—Arrival of General Augerean—Politeness and
Literary Attainments of General Lefehvre—Macdonald summoned to Paris.
Chapter VI
Ordered to Italy—The Army of Rome—General Championnet—Insurrection in
Rome--Championnet's Flight—Evacuation of Rome— General Mack—Nepi and
Otricoli—Differences with Championnet Explanation.
Chapter VII
At Fort Sam-Angelo--Junction with Kellermano—Return to Rome —A Speedy
Decision--Before Capua--A Truce—Arrest of Mack —Commander-in-chief of
the Army of Naples—Arrival at Naples--- Rising in Naples—Insurrections
in the Country—Miracle of St. J anuarius— Preparations.
Chapter VIII
Had News—Advance to Rome—Alarm for Naples—Departure from Rome—Sarzana
and Pontremoli—Rising in Tuscany—Surrender of Fort Sant'-Elmo—A Brave
Action—Capitulation of Ferrara— Generals Montrichard and Schérer—Offer
of Resignation.
Chapter IX
Battle of Modena—The Marshal in Danger—Severely wounded - Montrichard's
Mistake—Austrian Breach of Faith—March towards the Trebbia and Tidone—Battle
of the Trebbia.
Chapter X
Absence of Moreau—Victor's Delay—Flight of Victor—Plans for Retreat
—Difficulties of the March—Modena and Sassuolo—Hesitation of
Moreau—Blockade of Mantia— Concentration near Genoa—The Army of the
Alps.
Chapter XI
A Valuable Collection lost—Joubert Commander-in-chief—Fall of
Mantua—Death of Joubert—Back at Paris—Action against Moreau —Landing of
Napoleon—The 18th Brumaire—Reorganization of the Armies—Morcau's
Double-dealing—The Army of the Grison - Peace of Lunéville—Diplomatic
Mission to Denmark.
Chapter XII
At Copenhagen—Diplomacy against the Grain—Recall to France— Monsieur (le
Talleyrand- —Trial of Moreau—Napoleon elected Emperor—The Legion of
Honour—In Disgrace—Purchase of Courcelles—Recalled to Active
Service—Domestic Arrangements.
Chapter XIII
Departure for Italy—Untrustworthy Intelligence—A Bad Beginning— Arrival
at Vicenza—Prince Eugène—Warnings and Defensive Measures.
Chapter XIV
Defence of the Alpone—Retreat of the Archduke John—Combat on the Piave—An
Incomplete Success—Capit ulat ion of Prewald—Siege of Layhach --Advance
to Gratz.
Chapter XV
Arrival at Gratz—Advance to Raab—Battle of Raab—Before Komor
Chapter XVI
The Eve of Wagram—Battle of Wagram—The Marshal's Baton gained on the
Field of Battle—Dismissal of Bernadotte—Armistice.
Chapter XVII
Vandamme's Outburst—Return to Gratz—Independence of the
Archduke—Recognition of the Armistice—Grand Cordon of the Legion of
Honour—Duke of Tarentum– Divorce of the Emperor— Evacuation of Styria—Marriage
Negotiations—Marriage of the Emperor.
Chapter XVIII
Cornmander-in-chief of the Army of Catalonia—Blockade and Surrender of
Figueras—First Attack of Gout.
Chapter XIX
Preparations for the Russian Campaign—On the Niemen—Murat—Retreat
towards Tilsit—General Vorck— Intense Cold—Anxiety and Doubts—Attitude
of the Prussians—Defection of the Prussians.
Chapter XX
Alarm at Naples—A Trap—A Terrible March—Russian Untrustworthiness—Alarm
of the King of Naples—Plan of Action—Arrival at Dantzic—Summons to
Paris—Reception by the Emperor.
Chapter XXI
The Grand Army—Battle of Lutzen—Occupation of Dresden—Battle of
J3aut7en—A Futile Congress—Passage of the Bober—Surrender of Vandamme—Skirmish
at Goldberg—Battle of the Katzbach Disorderly Retreat—General Sebastiani—Serious
Preparations.
Chapter XXII
Concentration at Dresden—Contradictory Orders—Movements of the
Enemy-Battle of Leipsic - Commencement of the Retreat- Treachery of the
Hessians—Destruction of the Bridge—Confusion and Disorder—Passage of the
Elster—A Terrible Spectacle—Reception by the Emperor—Loss of Carriages.
Chapter XXIII
Marshal Augereau—Passage of the Saale—At Erfurt—Plain Speaking—Arrival
at Gelnhausen—Discouragement---In Hanau Woods— Issue from the
Woods—Entry into Hanau.
Chapter XXIV
At Mayence—What Caulaincourt said—Conversation with the Emperor —Want of
Money— Evacuation of Arnheim—Surprise of NeussThe Enemy cross the
Rhine—Advance into France.
Chapter XXV
Campaign in France—Bombardment of Châlons—Escape from Epernay —Champaubert
and Château-Thierry--Congress of Châtillon— Surprise at Troyes—Retreat
of the Enemy—The Emperor at Arcis—Departure of the Emperor.
Chapter XXVI
Battle of Arcis—On the Marne—Battle of St. Dizier—Before Vitry—An
Unlucky Misprint—Return towards Paris—The Approaching End.
Chapter XXVII
Fall of Paris—Feeling in the Army—Scene at Fontainebleau—Heurnonyule's
Letter— Abdication of the Emperor —Nomination of the Commissioners—The
Duke of Ragusa—At Petit-Bourg.
Chapter XXVIII
Prince Schwartzenbcrg—Arrival of the Commissioners in Paris—Reception by
the Emperor Alexander—The Commissioners' Proposals —The Provisional
Government—A Lamentable Defection—The Regency negatived—Decision of the
Allies—Return to Fontainebleau.
Chapter XXIX
Attitude of Napoleon—His Opinion of Marmont—Command given to Berthier—Feeling
among the Allies—Austrian Trickery—Eagerness of Ney—His Parsimony.
Chapter XXX
Reported Flight of Napoleon—Desertions---The New Order of Things
—Macdonald refuses Adhesion—Termination of the Drama - Last Interview at
Fontainebleau—Napoleon's Farewell.
Chapter XXXI
Delivery of the Treaty—The Marshal's Reappearance at the Tuileries
—Dinner with the Czar—And with Monsieur—Arrival of the King at Compiègne—His
Reception of the Marshals—Dinner with the King--Macdonald's Opinion—The
King comes to Saint Ouen.
Chapter XXXII
The King's Entry into Paris—The Old Guard—First Steps towards
Unpopularity—The Council of War—Mismanagement - Parliamentary
Independence—The Marshal's Nickname--The Legion of Honour.
Chapter XXXIII
Universal Discontent—Indifference of the Government—Question of the
Indemnities—Reception of the Duke and Duchess of Angoulme.
Chapter XXXIV
A Disquieting Summons—Landing of Napoleon—Monsieur at Lyons—Mutinous
Troops.
Chapter XXXV
Meeting of Officers—Grounds of Complaint—Departure of Monsieur— A
Stratagem—Illusory Hopes—A Critical Moment—Retreat—A Hasty
Flight—General Digeon's Terror—A Hard Ride.
Chapter XXXVI
With Monsieur—Incidents of the Flight—General Du Coetlosquet - The
King's Generosity—Meeting of the Senate—Advice to the King—Hasty
Measures--Ney's Desertion.
Chapter XXXVII
The State of Paris—Imminent Peril—Plan of Escape—Hint to Viomesnii —At
Saint Denis---A Disorderly March—At Abbeville—The Sub-Prefect of Bthune.
Chapter XXXVIII
Outside Lille—Entry into Lille—The Kings Uneasiness—An Inconvenent
Loss—The King's Decision—Departure for the Frontier —The King's
Farewell.
Chapter XXXIX
Return to Lille—Defection of Mortier—A Trustworthy Messenger—At Béthune—Excelmans
and Ney-Dessole's Nervousncss—Interview with Davofit—Mathieu Dumas—The
News of Waterloo.
Chapter XL
Secret Meetings—The Temporary Government—The Cockade Question —The King
at Arnouville—The Secretaryship for War--Ministerial Candidates—Mission
to Paris—Arch-Chancellor of the Legion of Honour.
Chapter XLI
The King's Second Entry into Paris—The Army of the Loire—The Ordinances
of July- Resignation of the Prince of Eckmuhl - Marshal Macdonald takes
the Command -Gallantry of General Drouot—His Modesty and Religious
Feeling—judicial Murder of the Hero of Beresina—Last Moments of Marshal
Ney—Infamous Behaviour of General Lecchi —Anecdotes of the Emperor's
Aidesde-Camp.
Chapter XLII
Interview with the Officers —Warrants of Arrest - Difficulties at
Bourges —Feeling among Napoleon's Soldiers—End of the Disbandment -
Release from Bourges—Mission to Lyons - A Startling Confesion.
Chapter XLIII
Misc. |
