Napoleon's Letters To Josephine Part 21

_October 28th to October 29th-30th.--Battle of Caldiero._--Ma.s.sena 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. Ma.s.sena 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 f.a.gged. 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 circ.u.mstances 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._--Ma.s.sena 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 f.a.gged. 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.