The Autobiography and Recollections of Laura, Duchess of Abrantes (Widow of General Junot) (Volume 4); With Reminiscences of Her Life in Corsica, Pari (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1893. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. New Campaign in Germany--Bombardment of Vienna--Battle of Aspern-Essiing--Death of Marshal Lannes--The Roman States annexed to the French Empire--Bull of Excommunication--Marshal Soult determines to accept the Attributes of Royalty--New Disasters in Portugal--Captain Schiller and the Countess W g --General Danube--Prince Eugene at Leoben--Marmont's Disappointment--Royal Letters--Peace with Austria--The Emperor's Return--Opinion at Paris--Inauspicious Omens. While I was wandering amongst the lovely valleys of the Pyrenees, whither I had been ordered by my physicians, the plains of Germany were again ensanguined with war and her lands visited with those disastrous scourges whose aggravated wounds were reserved with fearful usury for us. Masse'na was crossing the Inn, burning Scharding, and reviving in our memories the hero of Genoa and Rivoli. Napoleon himself sowed the laurel seed before all his Generals, leaving them only the trouble of stretching out their hands to reap the harvest. The Emperor was a thunderbolt of war at the commencement of that campaign. Enraged that the enemy had the audacity, though tremblingly, to forestall him, he rushed upon them with the fury of a lion, and, if I may use the expression, sawed the Austrian army asunder, compelling it to retreat precipitately and in confusion amongst the defiles of the Bohemian mountains; where, incessantly harassed by the swift suc DEATH OF LANNES 113 ceeding strokes of that ponderous club which the hand of Napoleon so efficiently wielded, they could scarcely for ten days recover breath to fly before him who again commanded the ancient ramparts of Vienna to bow down. This campaign, however, was not like that of Austerlitz, crowned with laurels interspersed with flowers: mourning followed in ...