Napoleon's Letters to Josephine, 1796-1812

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 particulars which have proved how much you love me, but you should have more fortitude and confidence. Besides, I had advised you that I should be six days without writing you. 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, Eugene, 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 fairly well. My campaign proceeds satisfactorily; my enemies must have more anxieties than I. 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. To-morrow I receive the notables and public bodies. Nearly all my troops are beyond the Danube, in pursuit of the Russians. 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 chateau 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. "Voila!" replied the Emperor; "un compliment dont la fortune a change 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. The weather is not now very bad. At last behold peace restored to the Continent; it is to be hoped that it is going to be to the world. The English will not know how to face us. 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 fetes 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. We are endeavouring to conclude peace. The Russians have gone, and are in flight far from here; they are on their way back to Russia, well drubbed and very much humiliated. 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. _Schoenbrunn, 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 country. I, for my part, am sufficiently busy. In a few days my decision will be made. 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._ FOOTNOTES [18] _J'ai couche aujourd'hui_--_i.e._ a few hours' morning sleep. [19] The month _Brumaire--i.e._ before November 21st. [20] Countess de Serent, the Empress's lady-in-waiting. [21] _VI. Nivose_, which for the year 1805 was December 27 (see Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of History"). Haydn, Woodward, Bouillet, all have December 26th; Alison and _Biographie Universelle_ have December 27th; but, as usual, the "Correspondence of Napoleon I." is taken here as the final court of appeal. SERIES G "Battles then lasted a few hours, campaigns a few days." --BIGNON, _On Friedland_ (vol. vi. 292). SERIES G (For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 243-264.) LETTER PAGE No. 1. _Princess of Baden_ 244 _Hortense_ 244 _The Grand Duke_ 244 _Florence_ 244 No. 2. _Bamberg_ 244 _Eugene_ 244 _Her husband_ 245 No. 3. _Erfurt_ 245 _If she wants to see a battle_ 245 No. 4. _I nearly captured him and