  CAMPAIGN OF AUSTERLITZ, 1805. "To convey an idea of the brilliant campaign of 1805 ... I should, like the almanack-makers, be obliged to note down a victory for every day."—Bourrienne, vol. ii. 323. "Si jamais correspondence de mari À femme a ÉtÉ intime et frÉquente, si jamais continuitÉ et permanence de tendresse a ÉtÉ marquÉe, c'est bien dans ces lettres Écrites, chaque jour presque, par NapolÉon À sa femme durant la campagne de l'an XIV."—F. Masson, JosÉphine, ImpÉratrice et Reine, 1899, p. 427. SERIES F(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 237-243.)
LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, DURING THE AUSTERLITZ CAMPAIGN, 1805.Events of 1805. March 13th.—Napoleon proclaimed King of Italy. May 26th.—Crowned at Milan. June 8th.—Prince EugÈne named Viceroy of Italy. June 23rd.—Lucca made a principality, and given to Elisa Bonaparte. July 22nd.—Naval battle between Villeneuve and Sir Robert Calder, which saves England from invasion. August 16th.—Napoleon breaks up camp of Boulogne. September 8th.—Third Continental Coalition (Russia, Austria, and England against France). Austrians cross the Inn, and invade Bavaria. September 21st.—Treaty of Paris between France and Naples, which engages to take no part in the war. September 23rd.—Moniteur announces invasion of Bavaria by Austria. September 24th.—Napoleon leaves Paris. September 27th.—Joins at Strasburg his Grand Army(160,000 strong). October 1st.—Arrives at Ettlingen. October 2nd.—Arrives at Louisbourg. Hostilities commence. No. 1. To Josephine, at Strasburg. Imperial Headquarters, Ettlingen, I am well, and still here. I am starting for Stuttgard, where I shall be to-night. Great operations are now in progress. The armies of Wurtemberg and Baden have joined mine. I am well placed for the campaign, and I love you. Napoleon. No. 2. To Josephine, at Strasburg. Louisbourg, October 4, 1805, Noon. I am at Louisbourg. I start to-night. There is as yet nothing new. My whole army is on the march. The weather is splendid. My junction with the Bavarians is effected. I am well. I trust in a few days to have something interesting to communicate. Keep well, and believe in my entire affection. There is a brilliant Court here, a new bride who is very beautiful, and upon the whole some very pleasant people, even our Electress, who appears extremely kind, although the daughter of the King of England. Napoleon. No. 3. To Josephine, at Strasburg. Louisbourg, October 5, 1805. I continue my march immediately. You will, my dear, be five or six days without hearing from me; don't be uneasy, it is connected with operations now taking place. All goes well, and just as I could wish. I have assisted at a marriage between the son of the Elector and a niece of the King of Prussia. I wish to give the young princess a wedding present to cost 36,000 to 40,000 francs. Please attend to this, and send it to the bride by one of my chamberlains, when they shall come to rejoin me. This matter must be attended to immediately. Adieu, dear, I love you and embrace you. Napoleon. October 6th-7th.—French cross the Danube and turn Mack's army. October 8th.—Battle of Wertingen. (Murat defeats the Austrians.) October 9th.—Battle of Gunzburg. (Ney defeats Mack.) No. 4. October 10th.—French enter Augsbourg. To Josephine, at Strasburg. Augsbourg, Thursday, October 10, 1805, 11 A.M. I slept last night[18] with the former Elector of TrÈves, who is very well lodged. For the past week I have been hurrying forward. The campaign has been successful enough so far. I am very well, although it rains almost every day. Events crowd on us rapidly. I have sent to France 4000 prisoners, 8 flags, and have 14 of the enemy's cannon. Adieu, dear, I embrace you. Napoleon. October 11th.—Battle of Hasslach. Dupont holds his own against much superior forces. No. 5. October 12th.—French enter Munich. To Josephine, at Strasburg. October 12, 1805, 11 P.M. My army has entered Munich. On one side the enemy is beyond the Inn; I hold the other army, 60,000 strong, blocked on the Iller, between Ulm and Memmingen. The enemy is beaten, has lost its head, and everything points to a most glorious campaign, the shortest and most brilliant which has been made. In an hour I start for Burgau-sur-l'Iller. I am well, but the weather is frightful. It rains so much that I change my clothes twice a day. I love and embrace you. Napoleon. October 14th.—Capture of Memmingen and 4OOO Austrians by Soult. October 15th.—Battle of Elchingen. Ney defeats Laudon. October 17th.—Capitulation of Ulm. No. 6. October 19th.—Werneck and 8000 men surrender to Murat. To Josephine, at Strasburg. Abbaye d'Elchingen, October 19, 1805. My dear Josephine,—I have tired myself more than I ought. Soaked garments and cold feet every day for a week have made me rather ill, but I have spent the whole of to-day indoors, which has rested me. My design has been accomplished; I have destroyed the Austrian army by marches alone; I have made 60,000 prisoners, taken 120 pieces of cannon, more than 90 flags, and more than 30 generals. I am about to fling myself on the Russians; they are lost men. I am satisfied with my army. I have only lost 1500 men, of whom two-thirds are but slightly wounded. Prince Charles is on his way to cover Vienna. I think Massena should be already at Vicenza. The moment I can give my thoughts to Italy, I will make EugÈne win a battle. Very best wishes to Hortense. Adieu, my Josephine; kindest regards to every one. Napoleon. October 20th.—Mack and his army defile before Napoleon. No. 7. October 21st.—Battle of Trafalgar; Franco-Spanish fleet destroyed after a five hours' fight. "The result of the battle of Trafalgar compensates, for England, the results of the operations of Ulm. It has been justly observed that this power alone, of all those who fought France from 1793 to 1812, never experienced a check in her political or military combinations without seeing herself compensated forthwith by a signal success in some other part of the world" (Montgaillard). To the Empress, at Strasburg. Elchingen, October 21, 1805, Noon. I am fairly well, my dear. I start at once for Augsbourg. I have made 33,000 men lay down their arms, I have from 60,000 to 70,000 prisoners, more than 90 flags, and 200 pieces of cannon. Never has there been such a catastrophe in military annals! Take care of yourself. I am rather jaded. The weather has been fine for the last three days. The first column of prisoners files off for France to-day. Each column consists of 6000 men. Napoleon. No. 8. October 25th.—The Emperor of Russia and King of Prussia swear, at the tomb of the Great Frederick, to make implacable war on France (Convention signed November 3rd). To the Empress, at Strasburg. Augsburg, October 25, 1805. The two past nights have thoroughly rested me, and I am going to start to-morrow for Munich. I am sending word to M. de Talleyrand and M. Maret to be near at hand. I shall see something of them, and I am going to advance upon the Inn in order to attack Austria in the heart of her hereditary states. I should much have liked to see you; but do not reckon upon my sending for you, unless there should be an armistice or winter quarters. Adieu, dear; a thousand kisses. Give my compliments to the ladies. Napoleon. No. 9. To the Empress, at Strasburg. Munich, Sunday, October 27, 1805. I received your letter per Lemarois. I was grieved to see how needlessly you have made yourself unhappy. I have heard To-morrow I expect the Elector. At noon I start to support my advance on the Inn. My health is fair. You need not think of crossing the Rhine for two or three weeks. You must be cheerful, amuse yourself, and hope that before the end of the month[19] we shall meet. I am advancing against the Russian army. In a few days I shall have crossed the Inn. Adieu, my dear; kindest regards to Hortense, EugÈne, and the two Napoleons. Keep back the wedding present a little longer. Yesterday I gave a concert to the ladies of this court. The precentor is a superior man. I took part in the Elector's pheasant-shoot; you see by that that I am not so tired. M. de Talleyrand has come. Napoleon. October 28th.—Grand Army cross the Inn. Lannes occupies Braunau. October 28th to October 29th-30th.—Battle of Caldiero.—Massena with 55,000 men attacks Archduke Charles entrenched with 70,000; after two days' fight French repulsed at this place, previously disastrous to their arms. No. 10. To the Empress, at Strasburg. Haag, November 3, 1805, 10 P.M. I am in full march; the weather is very cold, the earth covered with a foot of snow. This is rather trying. Luckily there is no want of wood; here we are always in forests. I am I wish to hear from you and to learn that you are not worrying yourself. Adieu, dear; I am going to lie down. Napoleon. November 4th.—Combat of Amstetten. Lannes and Murat drive back the Russians. Davoust occupies Steyer. Army of Italy takes Vicenza. No. 11. To the Empress, at Strasburg. Tuesday, November 5, 1805. I am at Lintz. The weather is fine. We are within seventy miles of Vienna. The Russians do not stand; they are in full retreat. The house of Austria is at its wit's end, and in Vienna they are removing all the court belongings. It is probable that something new will occur within five or six days. I much desire to see you again. My health is good. I embrace you. Napoleon. November 7th.—Ney occupies Innsbruck. November 9th.—Davoust defeats Meerfeldt at Marienzell. November 10th.—Marmont arrives at Leoben. November 11th.—-Battle of Diernstein; Mortier overwhelmed by Russians, but saved by Dupont. November 13th.—Vienna entered and bridge over the Danube seized. Massena crosses the Tagliamento. November 14th.—Ney enters Trent. No. 12. To the Empress, at Strasburg. November 15, 1805, 9 P.M. I have been at Vienna two days, my dear, rather fagged. I have not yet seen the city by day; I have traversed it by night. Adieu, Josephine; as soon as it is possible I will send for you. My very best love. Napoleon. No. 13. November 16th.—Jellachich surrenders to Augereau at Feldkirch with 7000 men. To the Empress, at Strasburg. Vienna, November 16, 1805. I am writing to M. d'Harville, so that you can set out and make your way to Baden, thence to Stuttgard, and from there to Munich. At Stuttgard you will give the wedding present to the Princess Paul. If it costs fifteen to twenty thousand francs, that will suffice; the rest will do for giving presents at Munich to the daughters of the Electress of Bavaria. All that Madame de Serent[20] has advised you is definitely arranged. Take with you the wherewithal to make presents to the ladies and officers who will wait upon you. Be civil, but receive full homage; they owe everything to you, and you owe nothing save civility. The Electress of Wurtemberg is daughter of the King of England. She is an excellent woman; you should be very kind to her, but yet without affectation. I shall be very glad to see you, the moment circumstances permit me. I start to join my vanguard. The weather is frightful; it snows heavily. Otherwise my affairs go excellently. Adieu, my dear. Napoleon. November 19th.—French occupy Brunn, and Napoleon establishes his headquarters at Wischau. November 24th.—Massena occupies Trieste. November 28th.—Army of Italy joins troops of the Grand Army at Klagenfurt. December 2nd.—Battle of the Three Emperors (Austerlitz). French forces 80,000; allies 95,000. No. 14. To the Empress, at Strasburg. Austerlitz, December 3, 1805. I have despatched to you Lebrun from the field of battle. I have beaten the Russian and Austrian army commanded by the two Emperors. I am rather fagged. I have bivouacked eight days in the open air, through nights sufficiently keen. To-night I rest in the chÂteau of Prince Kaunitz, where I shall sleep for the next two or three hours. The Russian army is not only beaten, but destroyed. I embrace you. Napoleon. December 4th.—Haugwitz, the Prussian Minister, congratulates Napoleon on his victory. "VoilÀ!" replied the Emperor; "un compliment dont la fortune a changÉ l'addresse." No. 15. To the Empress, at Munich. Austerlitz, December 5, 1805. I have concluded a truce. The Russians have gone. The battle of Austerlitz is the grandest of all I have fought. Forty-five flags, more than 150 pieces of cannon, the standards of the Russian Guard, 20 generals, 30,000 prisoners, more than 20,000 slain—a horrible sight. The Emperor Alexander is in despair, and on his way to Russia. Yesterday, at my bivouac, I saw the Emperor of Germany. We conversed for two hours; we have agreed to make peace quickly. I look forward with much pleasure to the moment when I can once more be near you. My eyes have been rather bad the last two days; I have never suffered from them before. Adieu, my dear. I am fairly well, and very anxious to embrace you. Napoleon. No. 16. To the Empress, at Munich. Austerlitz, December 7, 1805. I have concluded an armistice; within a week peace will be made. I am anxious to hear that you reached Munich in good health. The Russians are returning; they have lost enormously—more than 20,000 dead and 30,000 taken. Their army is reduced by three-quarters. Buxhowden, their general-in-chief, was killed. I have 3000 wounded and 700 to 800 dead. My eyes are rather bad; it is a prevailing complaint, and scarcely worth mentioning. Adieu, dear. I am very anxious to see you again. I am going to sleep to-night at Vienna. Napoleon. No. 17. To the Empress, at Munich. Brunn, December 10, 1805. It is a long time since I had news of you. Have the grand fÊtes at Baden, Stuttgard, and Munich made you forget the poor soldiers, who live covered with mud, rain, and blood? I shall start in a few days for Vienna. I am very anxious to be with you again. Adieu, dear. My bad eyes are cured. Napoleon. December 15th.—Treaty with Prussia. No. 18. To the Empress, at Munich. December 19, 1805. Great Empress,—Not a single letter from you since your departure from Strasburg. You have gone to Baden, Stuttgard, Munich, without writing us a word. This is neither very kind nor very affectionate. I am still at Brunn. The Russians are gone. I have a truce. In a few days I shall see what I may expect. Deign from the height of your grandeur to concern yourself a little with your slaves. Napoleon. No. 19. To the Empress, at Munich. SchÖnbrunn, December 20, 1805. I got your letter of the 16th. I am sorry to learn you are in pain. You are not strong enough to travel two hundred and fifty miles at this time of the year. I know not what I shall do; I await events. I have no will in the matter; everything depends on their issue. Stay at Munich; amuse yourself. That is not difficult when you have so many kind friends and so beautiful a Adieu, dear. Kindest and most affectionate regards. Napoleon. December 27th.[21]—Peace of Presburg. December 31st.—Napoleon arrives outside Munich, and joins Josephine the next morning. |
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