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corps； who； when united； were to march on the capital of Prussia； which
the Emperor had already seized twice。
The time was unfortunately past when a simple indication of the Emperor's
plans was regarded as a signal of victory。 The chiefs of the army； who
had until now been perfectly submissive； began to reflect； and even took
the liberty of disapproving of plans which they were afraid to execute。
When the army became aware of the Emperor's intention to march on Berlin；
it was the signal for almost unanimous discontent。 The generals who had
escaped the disasters of Moscow； and the dangers of the double campaign
in Germany； were fatigued； and perhaps eager to reap the benefits of
their good fortune； and at last to enjoy repose in the bosom of their
families。 A few went so far as to accuse the Emperor of being anxious to
still extend the war。 〃Have there not been enough killed？〃 said they。
〃Must we all share the same fate？ 〃 And these complaints were not kept
for secret confidences； but were uttered publicly； and often even loud
enough to reach the ears of the Emperor； but in that case his Majesty
seemed not to hear。
Amidst this disaffection of a large number of the chiefs of the army； the
defection of Bavaria was learned； and gave an added strength to the
anxiety and discontent inspired by the Emperor's resolution； and then
occurred what had never taken place before： his staff united their
entreaties that he should abandon his plans in regard to Berlin； and
march on Leipzig。 I saw how much the Emperor suffered from the necessity
of listening to such remonstrances； notwithstanding the respectful
language in which they were couched。 For two entire days his Majesty
remained undecided； and how long these forty…eight hours were！ Never did
abandoned cabin or bivouac present a more mournful sight than the sad
chateau of Duben。 In this doleful residence I saw the Emperor for the
first time entirely unemployed； the indecision to which he was a prey
absorbed him so entirely that his character seemed entirely changed。 Who
could believe it？ To the activity which drove him on； and； so to speak；
incessantly devoured him； had succeeded a seeming indifference which is
perfectly indescribable。 I saw him lie on the sofa nearly a whole day；
the table before him covered with maps and papers at which he did not
even glance； and with no other occupation for hours than slowly tracing
large letters on sheets of white paper。 This was while he was
vacillating between his own will and the entreaties of his generals。
At the end of two days of most painful suspense he yielded； and from that
time all was lost。 How much better it would have been had he not
listened to their complaints； but had again allowed himself to be guided
by the presentiments which possessed him！ He repeated often； with grief；
while recalling the concessions he made at that time； 〃I should have
avoided many disasters by continuing to follow my own impulses； I failed
only by yielding to those of others。〃
The order for departure was given； and as if the army felt as much pride
in triumphing over the will of its Emperor as they would have felt in
beating the enemy by obeying the dictates of his genius； they abandoned
themselves to outbursts of joy which were almost beyond reason。 Every
countenance was radiant。 〃We shall now；〃 they repeated on all sides； 〃we
shall now see France again； embrace our children； our parents； and our
friends！ The Emperor and Marshal Augereau alone did not share the
general light…heartedness。 The Duke of Castiglione had just arrived at
headquarters； after having in some measure avenged on the army of
Bohemia； Vandamme's defeat。 He； like the Emperor； had dark presentiments
as to the consequences of this retrograde movement； and knew that
desertions on the way would add to the number of the enemy； and were so
much the more dangerous since these deserters had so recently been our
allies and knew our positions。 His Majesty yielded with a full
conviction of the evil which would result； and I heard him at the end of
a conversation with the marshal which had lasted more than an hour； utter
these words； 〃They would have it so。〃
The Emperor on his march to Duben was at the head of a force which might
be estimated at one hundred and twenty…five thousand men。 He had taken
this direction with the hope of finding Blucher again on the Mulda； but
the Prussian general had recrossed the river； which contributed much to
give credit to a rumor which had been circulated for some time。 It was
said that in a council of the allied sovereigns held recently at Prague；
and at which Moreau and the Prince Royal of Sweden were present； it had
been agreed that as far as possible they should avoid engaging in a
battle whenever the Emperor commanded his army in person； and that
operations should be directed only against smaller bodies commanded by
his lieutenants。 It is impossible； certainly； to render more striking
homage to the superiority of the Emperor's genius； but it was at the same
time stopping him in his glorious career； and paralyzing his usually all…
powerful action。
However that may be； the evil genius of France having obtained the
ascendency over the good genius of the Emperor； we took the road to
Leipzig； and reached it early on the morning of the 15th of October。 At
that very moment the King of Naples was in the midst of an engagement
with the Prince von Schwarzenberg； and his Majesty； on hearing the sound
of cannon； crossed the town； and visited the plain where the engagement
was taking place。 On his return he received the royal family of Saxony；
who had come to join him。 During his short stay at Leipzig； the Emperor
performed an act of clemency which must undoubtedly be considered most
meritorious if we take into consideration the gravity of the
circumstances in which we were placed。 A merchant of this city named
Moldrecht was accused and convicted of having distributed among the
inhabitants； and even in the army； several thousand copies of a
proclamation in which the Prince Royal of Sweden invited the Saxons to
desert the cause of the Emperor。 When arraigned before a tribunal of
war； M。 Moldrecht could not exculpate himself； and； indeed； this was an
impossibility； since several packages of the fatal proclamation had been
found at his residence。 He was condemned to death； and his family in
deep distress threw themselves at the feet of the King of Saxony； but；
the facts being so evident and of such a nature that no excuse was
possible； the faithful king did not dare to grant indulgence for a crime
committed even more against his ally than against himself。 Only one
recourse remained for this unhappy family； which was to address the
Emperor； but as it was difficult to reach him； M。 Leborgne D'Ideville；
interpreting secretary； was kind enough to undertake to place a note on
the Emperor's desk； who after reading it ordered a postponement which was
equivalent to a full pardon。 Events followed in their course； and the
life of M。 Moldrecht was saved。
Leipzig； at this period； was the center of a circle in which engagements
took place at numerous