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were amputated above the knee。 After the amputation； as he requested
something to eat and a cup of tea； three eggs were brought him on a
plate； but he took only the tea。 About seven o'clock he was placed on a
litter； and carried to Passendorf by Russian soldiers； and passed the
night in the country house of M。 Tritschier； grand master of forests。
There he took only another cup of tea； and complained greatly of the
sufferings he endured。 The next day； the 28th of August； at four o'clock
in the morning； he was conveyed； still by Russian soldiers； from
Passendorf to Dippodiswalde； where he took a little white bread and a
glass of lemonade at the house of a baker named Watz。 An hour after he
was carried nearer to the frontiers of Bohemia； borne by Russian soldiers
in the body of a coach taken off the wheels。 During the entire route he
incessantly uttered cries which the extremity of his sufferings drew from
him。
These are the details which I learned in regard to Moreau； and； as is
well known； he did not long survive his wound。 The same ball which broke
both his legs carried off an arm from Prince Ipsilanti； then aide…de…camp
to the Emperor Alexander； so that if the evil that is done can be
repaired by the evil received； it might be said that the cannon…shot
which tore away from us General Kirgener and Marshal Duroc was this day
sent back on the enemy。 But alas！ it is a sad sort of consolation that
is drawn from reprisals。
It may be seen from the above； and especially from the seemingly decisive
benefits arising from the battle of Dresden； that since the resumption of
hostilities； in every place where our troops had been sustained by the
all…powerful presence of the Emperor； they had obtained successes； but
unfortunately this was not the case at points distant from the main line
of operations。 Nevertheless； seeing the allies routed by the army which
he commanded in person； and certain； moreover； that General Vandamme had
held the position which he had indicated to him through General Haxo； his
Majesty returned to his first idea of marching on Berlin； and already
even had disposed his troops with this intention； when the fatal news
arrived that Vandamme； the victim of his own rashness； had disappeared
from the field of battle； and his ten thousand men； surrounded on all
sides； and overwhelmed by numbers； had been cut to pieces。 It was
believed that Vandamme was dead； and it was not until later we learned
that he had been taken prisoner with a part of his troop。 It was learned
also that Vandamme； incited by his natural intrepidity； and unable to
resist a desire to attack the enemy whom he saw within his grasp； had
left his intrenchments to make the attack。 He had conquered at first；
but when after his victory he attempted to resume his former position he
found it occupied； as the Prussians had seized it； and though he fought
with all the abandon of despair； it was all in vain； and General Kleist；
proud of this fine trophy； conducted him in triumph to Prague。 It was
while speaking of this audacious attack of Vandamme that the Emperor used
this expression； which has been so justly admired； 〃For a retreating
enemy it is necessary to make a bridge of gold； or oppose a wall of
brass。〃 The Emperor heard with his usual imperturbability the
particulars of the loss he had just experienced； but nevertheless
repeatedly expressed his astonishment at the deplorable recklessness of
Vandamme； and said he could not comprehend how this experienced general
could have allowed himself to be drawn away from his position。 But the
deed was done； and in such instances the Emperor never lost time in
useless recriminations。 〃Come；〃 said he； addressing the Duke of Bassano；
〃you have just heardthat means war from early in the morning until late
in the evening。〃
After giving various orders to the army and his chiefs； the Emperor left
Dresden on the evening of the 3d of September； with the intention of
regaining what he had lost from the audacious imprudence of General
Vandamme。 But this defeat； the first we had sustained since the
resumption of hostilities； became the forerunner of the long series of
reverses which awaited us。 It might have been said that victory； having
made one last effort in our favor at Dresden； had finally grown weary；
for the remainder of the campaign was but a succession of disasters；
aggravated by treachery of every description； and ending in the horrible
catastrophe at Leipzig。 Before leaving Dresden we had learned of the
desertion to the enemy of a Westphalian regiment； with arms and baggage。
The Emperor left Marshal Saint…Cyr in Dresden with thirty thousand men；
with orders to hold it to the last extremity； since the Emperor wished to
preserve this capital at any price。 The month of September was spent in
marches and countermarches around this city； with no events of decided
importance。 Alas！ the Emperor was never again to see the garrison of
Dresden。 Circumstances becoming still more embarrassed； imperiously
demanded that his Majesty should promptly oppose some obstacle to the
progress of the allies。 The King of Saxony； furnishing an example of
fidelity rare among kings； determined to accompany the Emperor； and
entered his carriage in company with the queen and the Princess Augusta；
having the headquarters' staff as escort。 Two days after his departure
the Saxon troops joined the French army at Eilenburg； on the banks of the
Mulda。 The Emperor exhorted these allies； whom he believed faithful； to
maintain the independence of their country； pointed out to them how
Prussia was threatening Saxony； and endeavoring to acquire her most
beautiful provinces； and reminded them of the proclamation of their
sovereign； his worthy and faithful ally； finally he spoke to them in the
name of military honor； urging them； in closing； to take it always as
their guide； and to show themselves worthy rivals of the soldiers of the
grand army with whom they had made common cause； and beside whom they
were now about to fight。 The words of the Emperor were translated and
repeated to the Saxons by the Duke of Vicenza； and this language from the
lips of one whom they regarded as the friend of their sovereign and the
saviour of their capital seemed to produce a profound impression。 The
march was then begun in confidence； with no premonition of the
approaching defection of these very men who had so often greeted the
Emperor with their cries of enthusiasm； swearing to fight to the death
rather than abandon him。
His Majesty's plan then was to fall on Blucher and the Prince Royal of
Sweden； from whom the French army was separated only by a river。 We
therefore left Eilenburg； where the Emperor parted with the King of
Saxony and his family； the Duke of Bassano； the grand park of artillery；
and all the conveyances； and directed our course towards Duben。 Blucher
and Bernadotte had retired； leaving Berlin uncovered。 Then the Emperor's
plans became known； and it was seen that he was marching on Berlin； and
not on Leipzig； and that Diiben was only the meetingplace for the various
corps； who； when united； were to march on the capital of