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established himself in the chateau of Brienne； where he passed two
nights。 I recalled during this stay the one that I had made ten years
before in this same chateau of Brienne； when the Emperor was on his way
to Milan with the intention of adding the title of King of Italy to that
of Emperor of the French。 〃To…day；〃 I said to myself； 〃not only is Italy
lost to him； but here in the center of the French Empire； and a few
leagues from his capital； the Emperor is defending himself against
innumerable enemies！〃 The first time I saw Brienne； the Emperor was
received as a sovereign by a noble family who fifteen years before had
welcomed him as a protege。 He had there revived the happiest
remembrances of his childhood and youth； and in comparing himself in 1805
with what he had been at the Ecole Militaire had spoken with pride of the
path he had trod。 In 1814； on the 31st of January； the end to which this
path was tending began to be seen。 It is not that I wish to announce
myself as having foreseen the Emperor's fall； for I did not go so far as
that。 Accustomed to see him trust to his star； the greater part of those
who surrounded him trusted it no less than he； but nevertheless we could
not conceal from ourselves that great changes had taken place。 To delude
ourselves in this respect it would have been necessary to close our eyes
that we might neither see nor hear this multitude of foreigners； whom we
had until now seen only in their own country； and who； in their turn；
were now in our midst。
At each step； in fact； we found terrible proofs of the enemy's presence。
After taking possession of the towns and villages； they had arrested the
inhabitants； maltreated them with saber…strokes and the butt ends of
their guns； stripping them of their clothing； and compelling those to
follow them whom they thought capable of serving as guides on their
march； and if they were not guided as they expected they killed with the
sword or shot their unfortunate prisoners。 Everywhere the inhabitants
were made to furnish provisions； drink； cattle； forage； in a word；
everything that could be useful to an army making enormous requisitions；
and when they had exhausted all the resources of their victims； they
finished their work of destruction by pillage and burning。 The
Prussians； and above all the Cossacks； were remarkable for their brutal
ferocity。 Sometimes these hideous savages entered the houses by main
force； shared among themselves everything that fell into their hands；
loaded their horses with the plunder； and broke to pieces what they could
not carry away。 Sometimes； not finding sufficient to satisfy their
greed； they broke down the doors and windows； demolished the ceiling in
order to tear out the beams； and made of these pieces and the furniture；
which was too heavy to be carried away； a fire； which being communicated
to the roofs of neighboring houses consumed in a moment the dwellings of
the unhappy inhabitants； and forced them to take refuge in the woods。
Sometimes the more wealthy inhabitants gave them what they demanded；
especially brandy； of which they drank eagerly； thinking by this
compliance to escape their ferocity； but these barbarians； heated by
drink； then carried their excesses to the last degree。 They seized
girls； women； and servants； and beat them unmercifully； in order to
compel them to drink brandy until they fell in a complete state of
intoxication。 Many women and young girls had courage and strength to
defend themselves against these brigands； but they united three or four
against one； and often to avenge themselves for the resistance of these
poor creatures mutilated and slew them； after having first violated them；
or threw them into the midst of the bivouac fires。 Farms were burned up；
and families recently opulent or in comfortable circumstances were
reduced in an instant to despair and poverty。 Husbands and old men were
slain with the sword while attempting to defend the honor of their wives
and daughters； and when poor mothers attempted to approach the fires to
warm the children at their breasts； they were burned or killed by the
explosion of packages of cartridges； which the Cossacks threw
intentionally into the fire； and the cries of pain and agony were stifled
by the bursts of laughter from these monsters。
I should never end if I attempted to relate all the atrocities committed
by these foreign hordes。 It was the custom at the time of the
Restoration to say that the complaints and narrations of those who were
exposed to these excesses were exaggerated by fear or hatred。 I have
even heard very dignified persons jest pleasantly over the pretty ways of
the Cossacks。 But these wits always kept themselves at a distance from
the theater of war； and had the good fortune to inhabit departments which
suffered neither from the first nor second invasion。 I would not advise
them to address their pleasantries to the unfortunate inhabitants of
Champagne； or of the departments of the east in general。 It has been
maintained also that the allied sovereigns and the general officers of
the Russian and Prussian army severely forbade all violence in their
regular troops； and that the atrocities were committed by undisciplined
and ungovernable bands of Cossacks。 I have been in a position to learn；
on many occasions； especially at Troves； proofs to the contrary。 This
town has not forgotten； doubtless； how the Princes of Wurtemberg and
Hohenlohe and the Emperor Alexander himself justified the burnings；
pillage； violations； and numerous assassinations committed under their
very eyes； not only by the Cossacks； but also by regularly enlisted and
disciplined soldiers。 No measures were taken by the sovereigns or by
their generals to put an end to such atrocities； and nevertheless when
they left a town there was needed only an order from them to remove at
once the hordes of Cossacks who devastated the country。
The field of the La Rothiere was； as I have said； the rendezvous of the
pupils of the military school of Brienne。 It was there that the Emperor；
when a child； had foreshadowed in his engagement with the scholars his
gigantic combats。 The engagement at La Rothiere was hotly contested； and
the enemy obtained； only at the price of much blood； an advantage which
they owed entirely to their numerical superiority。 In the night which
followed this unequal struggle； the Emperor ordered the retreat from
Troves。 On returning to the chateau after the battle； his Majesty
narrowly escaped an imminent danger。 He found himself surrounded by a
troop of uhlans； and drew his sword to defend himself。 M。 Jardin；
junior； his equerry； who followed the Emperor closely； received a ball in
his arm。 Several chasseurs of the escort were wounded； but they at last
succeeded in extricating his Majesty。 I can assert that his Majesty
showed the greatest self…possession in all encounters of this kind。 On
that day； as I unbuckled his sword…belt； he drew it half out of the
scabbard； saying； 〃Do you know； Constant； the wretches have made me cut
the wind with this？ The rascals are too impudent。 It is necessary to
teach them a lesson； that t