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As the Duke of Vicenza still returned to the charge； arguing against the
Emperor's postponing his positive decision； his Majesty burst out
vehemently； 〃You are a Russian； Caulaincourt！〃〃No； Sire；〃 replied the
duke with spirit； no； I am a Frenchman！ I think that I have proved this
by urging your Majesty to make peace。〃
The discussion thus continued with much warmth in terms which
unfortunately I cannot recall。 But I remember well that every time the
Duke of Vicenza insisted and endeavored to make his Majesty appreciate
the reasons on account of which peace had become indispensable； the
Emperor replied； 〃If I gain a battle； as I am sure of doing； I will be in
a situation to exact the most favorable conditions。 The grave of the
Russians is under the walls of Paris！ My measures are all taken； and
victory cannot fail。〃
After this conversation； which lasted more than an hour； and in which the
Duke of Vicenza was entirely unsuccessful； he left his Majesty's room；
and rapidly crossed the saloon where I was； and I remarked as he passed
that his countenance showed marks of agitation； and that； overcome by his
deep emotion； great tears rolled from his eyes。 Doubtless he was deeply
wounded by what the Emperor had said to him of his partiality for Russia；
and whatever may have been the cause； from that day I never saw the Duke
of Vicenza except at Fontainebleau。
The Emperor； meanwhile； marched with the advance guard； and wished to
reach Laon on the evening of the 8th； but in order to gain this town it
was necessary to pass on a narrow causeway through marshy land。 The
enemy was in possession of this road； and opposed our passage。 After a
few cannon…shots were exchanged his Majesty deferred till next day the
attempt to force a passage； and returned； not to sleep （for at this
critical time he rarely slept）； but to pass the night in the village of
Chavignon。
In the middle of this night General Flahaut
＇Count Auguste Charles Joseph Flahaut de la Billarderie； born in
Paris； 1785； colonel in 1809； aide…de…camp to the Emperor； 1812； and
made a general of division for conduct at Leipzig； was at Waterloo。
Ambassador to Vienna； 1841…1848； and senator； 1853； died 1870。 He
was one of the lovers of Queen Hortense； and father by her of the
late Duc de Morny。…TRANS。＇
came to announce to the Emperor that the commissioners of the allied
powers had broken the conferences at Lusigny。 The army was not informed
of this； although the news would probably have surprised no one。 Before
daylight General Gourgaud set out at the head of a detachment selected
from the bravest soldiers of the army； and following a cross road which
turned to the left through the marshes； fell unexpectedly on the enemy；
slew many of them in the darkness； and drew the attention and efforts of
the allied generals upon himself； while Marshal Ney； still at the head of
the advance guard； profited by this bold maneuver to force a passage of
the causeway。 The whole army hastened to follow this movement； and on
the evening of the 9th was in sight of Laon； and ranged in line of battle
before the enemy who occupied the town and its heights。 The army corps
of the Duke of Ragusa had arrived by another road； and also formed in
line of battle before the Russian and Prussian armies。 His Majesty
passed the night expediting his orders； and preparing everything for the
grand attack which was to take place next morning at daylight。
The appointed hour having arrived； I had just finished in haste the
toilet of the Emperor； which was very short； and he had already put his
foot in the stirrup； when we saw running towards us on foot； with the
utmost speed and all out of breath； some cavalrymen belonging to the army
corps of the Duke of Ragusa。 His Majesty had them brought before him；
and inquired angrily the meaning of this disorder。 They replied that
their bivouacs had been attacked unexpectedly by the enemy； that they and
their comrades had resisted to the utmost these overwhelming forces；
although they had barely time to seize their arms； that they had at last
been compelled to yield to numbers； and it was only by a miracle they had
escaped the massacre。 〃Yes；〃 said the Emperor knitting his brow； 〃by a
miracle of agility； as we have just seen。 What has become of the
marshal？〃 One of the soldiers replied that he saw the Duke of Ragusa
fall dead； another that he had been taken prisoner。 His Majesty sent his
aide…de…camp and orderly officers to ascertain； and found that the report
of the cavalrymen was only too true。 The enemy had not waited to be
attacked； but had fallen on the army corps of the Duke of Ragusa；
surrounded it； and taken a part of his artillery。 The marshal； however；
had been neither wounded nor taken prisoner； but was on the road to
Rheims； endeavoring to arrest and bring back the remains of his army
corps。
The news of this disaster greatly increased his Majesty's chagrin； but
nevertheless the enemy was driven back to the gates of Laon； though the
recapture of the city was impossible。 After a few fruitless attempts； or
rather after some false attacks； the object of which was to conceal his
retreat from the enemy； the Emperor returned to Chavignon and passed the
night。 The next day； the 11th； we left this village； and the army fell
back to Soissons。 His Majesty alighted at the bishopric； and immediately
commanded Marshal Mortier； together with the principal officials of the
place； to take measures to put the town in a state of defense。 For two
days the Emperor shut himself up at work in his cabinet； and left it only
to examine the locality； visit the fortifications； and everywhere give
orders and see that they were executed。 In the midst of these
preparations for defense； his Majesty learned that the town of Rheims had
been taken by the Russian general； Saint…Priest； notwithstanding the
vigorous resistance of General Corbineau； of whose fate we were
ignorant； but it was believed that he was dead or had fallen into the
hands of the Russians。 His Majesty confided the defense of Soissons to
the Marshal Duke of Treviso； and himself set out for Rheims by forced
marches； and we arrived the same evening at the gates of the city； where
the Russians were not expecting his Majesty。 Our soldiers entered this
battle without having taken any repose； but fought with the resolution
which the presence and example of the Emperor never failed to inspire。
The combat lasted the whole evening； and was prolonged far into the
night； but after General Saint…Priest had been grievously wounded the
resistance of his troops became less vigorous； and at two o'clock in the
morning they abandoned the town。 The Emperor and his army entered by one
gate while the Russians were emerging from the other； and as the
inhabitants pressed in crowds around his Majesty； he inquired before
alighting from his horse what havoc the enemy was supposed to have made。
It was answered that the town had suffered only the amount of injury
which was the inevitable result of a bloody nocturnal struggle； and that
moreover the enemy had maintained severe discipline among the tro