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who command it。 In the soldiers' opinion； the Prince de Neuchatel and
his brilliant staff； the grand marshal； Generals Bertrand； Bacler d'Albe；
etc。； were only men of the cabinet council； whose experience might be of
some use in such deliberations； but to whom bravery was not
indispensable。
The chief generals； such as Prince Eugene； Marshals Oudinot； Davoust；
Bessieres； and his Majesty's aides…decamp； Rapp； Lebrun； Lauriston；
Mouton； etc。； were exceedingly affable； and every one was most politely
received by them； their dignity never became haughtiness； nor their ease
an excessive familiarity； though their manners were at all times slightly
tinged by the austerity inseparable from the character of a warrior。
This was not the idea held in the army in regard to a few of the ordnance
and staff officers （aides…de…camp）； for； while according them all the
consideration due both to their education and their courage； they called
them the jay…birds of the army； receiving favors which others deserved；
obtaining cordons and promotions for carrying a few letters into camp；
often without having even seen the enemy； insulting by their luxury the
modest temperance of the braver officers； and more foppish in the midst
of their battalions than in the boudoirs of their mistresses。 The
silver…gilt box of one of these gentlemen was a complete portable
dressing…case； and contained； instead of cartridges； essence bottles；
brushes； a mirror； a tongue…scraper； a shell…comb； andI do not know
that it lacked even a pot of rouge。 It could not be said that they were
not brave； for they would allow themselves to be killed for a glance；
but they were very； rarely exposed to danger。 Foreigners would be right
in maintaining the assertion that the French soldier is frivolous；
presumptuous； impertinent； and immoral； if they formed their judgment
alone from these officers by courtesy； who； in place of study and
faithful service； had often no other title to their rank than the merit
of having emigrated。
The officers of the line； who had served in several campaigns and had
gained their epaulettes on the field of battle； held a very different
position in the army。 Always grave； polite； and considerate； there was a
kind of fraternity among them； and having known suffering and misery
themselves； they were always ready to help others； and their
conversation； though not distinguished by brilliant information； was
often full of interest。 In nearly every case boasting quitted them with
their youth； and the bravest were always the most modest。 Influenced by
no imaginary points of honor； they estimated themselves at their real
worth； and all fear of being suspected of cowardice was beneath them。
With these brave soldiers； who often united to the greatest kindness of
heart a mettle no less great； a flat contradiction or even a little hasty
abuse from one of their brothers in arms was not obliged to be washed out
in blood； and examples of the moderation which true courage alone has a
right to show were not rare in the army。 Those who cared least for
money； and were most generous； were most exposed； the artillerymen and
the hussars； for instance。 At Wagram I saw a lieutenant pay a louis for
a bottle of brandy； and immediately divide it among the soldiers of his
company； and brave officers often formed such an attachment to their
regiment； especially if it had distinguished itself； that they sometimes
refused promotion rather than be separated from their children； as they
called them。 In them we behold the true model of the French soldier； and
it is this kindness； mingled with the austerity of a warrior； this
attachment of the chief to the soldier； which the latter is so capable of
appreciating； and an impregnable honor； which serve to distinguish our
soldiers from all others； and not； as foreigners think； presumption；
braggadocio； and libertinage； which latter are ever the characteristics
of the parasites of glory alone。
In the camp of Lobau on the evening before the battle of Wagram； the
Emperor； as he was walking outside his tent； stopped a moment watching
the grenadiers of his guard who were breakfasting。 〃Well； my children；
what do you think of the wine？〃〃It will not make us tipsy； Sire； there
is our cellar；〃 said a soldier pointing to the Danube。 The Emperor； who
had ordered a bottle of good wine to be distributed to each soldier； was
surprised to see that they were so abstemious the evening before a
battle。 He inquired of the Prince de Neuchatel the cause of this； and
upon investigation； it was learned that two storekeepers and an employee
in the commissary department had sold forty thousand bottles of the wine
which the Emperor had ordered to be distributed； and had replaced it with
some of inferior quality。 This wine had been seized by the Imperial
Guard in a rich abbey； and was valued at thirty thousand florins。 The
culprits were arrested； tried； and condemned to death。
There was in the camp at Lobau a dog which I think all the army knew by
the name of corps…de…garde。 He was old； emaciated； and ugly； but his
moral qualities caused his exterior defects to be quickly lost sight of。
He was sometimes called the brave dog of the Empire； since he had
received a bayonet stroke at Marengo； and had a paw broken by a gun at
Austerlitz； being at that time attached to a regiment of dragoons。 He
had no master。 He was in the habit of attaching himself to a corps； and
continuing faithful so long as they fed him well and did not beat him。
A kick or a blow with the flat of a sword would cause him to desert this
regiment； and pass on to another。 He was unusually intelligent； and
whatever position of the corps in which he might be the was serving； he
did not abandon it； or confound it with any other； and in the thickest of
the fight was always near the banner he had chosen； and if in the camp he
met a soldier from the regiment he had deserted； he would droop his ears；
drop his tail between his legs； and scamper off quickly to rejoin his new
brothers in arms。 When his regiment was on the march he circled as a
scout all around it； and gave warning by a bark if he found anything
unusual； thus on more than one occasion saving his comrades from ambush。
Among the officers who perished at the battle of Wagram； or rather in a
small engagement which took place after the battle had ended； one of
those most regretted by the soldiers was General Oudet。 He was one of
the bravest generals of the army； but what brings his name especially to
mind； among all those whom the army lost on that memorable day； is a note
which I have preserved of a conversation I held several years after this
battle with an excellent officer who was one of my sincerest friends。
In a conversation with Lieutenant…colonel B in 1812； he remarked； 〃I
must tell you； my dear Constant； of a strange adventure which happened to
me at Wagram。 I did not tell you at the time； because I had promised to
be silent； but since at the present time no one can be compromised by my
indiscretion； and since those who then had most to fear if their singular
ideas （for I can call them by no other name） had been revealed；