The Life of Napoleon Buonaparte, Emperor of the French (Volume 7); With a Preliminary View of the French Revolution (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1827. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV. Napoleon determines to return to Paris.--He leaves Smorgoni on 5th December--reaches Warsaw on the 10th.--Curious Interview with the Abbi de Pradt.--Arrives at Dresden on the 14th--and at Paris on the 18th, at midnight.--Dreadful state of the Grand Army, when left by Napoleon--Arrive at Wilna, whence they are driven by the Cossacks, directing their flight upon Kowno.--Dissensions among the French Generals.--Cautious Policy of the Austrians under Schwarlzenberg.--Precarious state ofMacdonald.--He retreats upon Tilsit.--D'Yorck separates his Troops from the French.--Macdonald effects his retreat to Konigsberg.-- Close of the Russian Expedition, with a loss on the part of the French of 450,000 Men in Killed and Prisoners.-- Discussion of the Causes which led to this ruinous Catastrophe. When the army of Buonaparte was assembled on the other side of the Beresina, they exhibited symptoms of total disorganization. The village of Brilowau, where they halted on the night of their passage, was entirely pulled down, that the materials might supply camp-fires; and a considerable part of Buonaparte's head-quarters was included in the same fate, his own apartment being with difficulty saved from the soldiery. They could scarcely be blamed for this Vol. Vii. 2 B want of discipline, for the night was deadly cold; and of the wet and shivering wretches who had been immersed in the icy river, many laid their heads down never to raise them more. On the 29th November, the Emperor left the fatal banks of the Beresina, at the head of an army more disorganized than ever; for few of Oudinot's corps, and scarcely any belonging to Victor's, who were yet remaining, were able to resist the general contagion of disorder. They pushed on without any regular disposition, having no more vanguard, cent...