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Dresden； where all necessary help awaited them。 But on the field of
battle were stretched more than ten thousand men； Frenchmen； Russians；
Prussians； etc。；hardly able to breathe； mutilated； and in a most
pitiable condition。 The unremitting labors of the kind and indefatigable
Baron Larrey and the multitude of surgeons encouraged by his heroic
example did not suffice even to dress their wounds。 And what means could
be found to remove the wounded in this desolate country； where all the
villages had been sacked and burned； and where it was no longer possible
to find either horses or conveyances？ Must they then let all these men
perish after most horrible sufferings； for lack of means to convey them
to Dresden？
It was then that this population of Saxon villagers； who it might have
been thought must be embittered by the horrors of war；in seeing their
dwellings burned； their fields ravaged；furnished to the army an example
of the sublime sentiments which pity can inspire in the heart of man。
They perceived the cruel anxiety which M。 Larrey and his companions
suffered concerning the fate of so many unfortunate wounded； and
immediately men； women； children； and even old men； hastily brought
wheelbarrows。 The wounded were lifted； and placed on these frail
conveyances。 Two or three persons accompanied each wheelbarrow all the
way to Dresden； halting if by a cry or gesture even； the wounded
indicated a desire to rest； stopping to replace the bandages which the
motion had displaced； or near a spring to give them water to allay the
fever which devoured them。 I have never seen a more touching sight。
Baron Larrey had an animated discussion with the Emperor。 Among the
wounded； there were found a large number of young soldiers with two
fingers of their right hand torn off； and his Majesty thought that these
poor young fellows had done it purposely to keep from serving。 Having
said this to M。 Larrey； the latter vehemently exclaimed that it was an
impossibility； and that such baseness was not in keeping with the
character of these brave young conscripts。 As the Emperor still
maintained his position； Larrey at length became so angry that he went so
far as to tax the Emperor with injustice。 Things were in this condition
when it was positively proved that these uniform wounds came from the
haste with which these young soldiers loaded and discharged their guns；
not being accustomed to handling them。 Whereupon his Majesty saw that M。
de Larrey was right； and praised him for his firmness in maintaining what
he； knew to be the truth。 〃You are a thoroughly good man； M。 de Larrey；〃
said the Emperor。 〃I wish I could be surrounded only with men like you；
but such men are very rare。〃
CHAPTER XII。
We had now reached the eve of the day on which the Emperor； still deeply
affected by the loss he had sustained in the death of the Duke of Istria；
was to receive a blow which he felt perhaps most keenly of all those
which struck deep into his heart as he saw his old companions in arms
fall around him。 The day following that on which the Emperor had； with
Baron Larrey； the discussion which I related at the end of the preceding
chapter was made memorable by the irreparable loss of Marshal Duroc。 The
Emperor's heart was crushed； and indeed not one of us failed to shed
sincere tearsso just and good was he； although grave and severe in his
manner towards persons whom the nature of their duties brought into
contact with him。 It was a loss not only to the Emperor； who possessed
in him a true friend； but； I dare to assert； also to the whole of France。
He loved the Emperor with a passionate devotion； and never failed to
bestow on him his faithful admonitions； although they were not always
heeded。 The death of Marshal Duroc was an event so grievous and so
totally unexpected； that we remained for some time uncertain whether to
believe it； even when the only too evident reality no longer permitted us
to remain under any delusion。
These are the circumstances under which this fatal event occurred which
spread consternation throughout the army： The Emperor was pursuing the
rear guard of the Russians； who continually eluded him； and had just
escaped for the tenth time since the morning； after having killed and
taken prisoners large numbers of our brave soldiers； when two or three
shells dug up the ground at the Emperor's feet； and caused him to
exclaim； 〃What！ after such butchery no result！ no prisoners！ those men
there will not leave me a nail。〃 Hardly had he finished speaking when a
shell passed； and threw a chasseur of the cavalry escort almost under the
legs of his Majesty's horse。 〃Ah； Duroc；〃 added he； turning towards the
grand marshal； 〃fortune protects us to…day。〃〃Sire；〃 said an aide…
decamp； rushing； up at a gallop； 〃General Bruyeres has just been killed。〃
〃My poor comrade of Italy！ Is it possible？ Ah！ it is necessary to push
on； nevertheless。〃 And noticing on the left an elevation from which he
could better observe what was passing； the Emperor started in that
direction amidst a cloud of dust。 The Duke of Vicenza； the Duke of
Treviso； Marshal Duroc； and general of engineers Kirgener followed his
Majesty closely； but the wind raised such a cloud of dust and smoke that
they could hardly see each other。 Suddenly a tree near which the Emperor
passed was struck by a shell and cut in half。 His Majesty； on reaching
the plateau； turned to ask for his field…glass； and saw no one near him
except the Duke of Vicenza。 Duke Charles de Plaisance came up； his face
showing a mortal pallor； leaned towards the grand equerry； and said a few
words in his ear。 〃What is it？〃 vehemently inquired the Emperor； ；what
has happened？〃〃Sire；〃 said the Duke of Plaisance； weeping； 〃the grand
marshal is dead！〃〃Duroc？ But you must be mistaken。 He was here a
moment ago by my side。〃 Several aides…de…camp arrived； and a page with
his Majesty's field…glass。 The fatal news was confirmed； in part at
least。 The Grand Duke of Frioul was not yet dead； but the shell had
wounded him in the stomach； and all surgical aid would be useless。 The
shell after breaking the tree had glanced； first striking General
Kirgener； who was instantly killed； and then the Duke of Frioul。
Monsieurs Yvan and Larrey were with the wounded marshal； who had been
carried into a house at Markersdorf。 There was no hope of saving him。
The consternation of the army and his Majesty's grief on this deplorable
event were indescribable。 He mechanically gave a few orders and returned
to camp； and when he had reached the encampment of the guard； seated
himself on a bench in front of his tent； with lowered head and clasped
hands； and remained thus for nearly an hour without uttering a word。
Since it was nevertheless essential that orders should be given for the
next day； General Drouot approached；
＇Count Antoine Drouot； chief of artillery of the guard； born at
Nancy； 1774； fought as captain at Hohenlinden；1800； distinguished
himself at Wagram （1809） and Borodino （1812）； made general of
division at Bautzen； 1813； went to Elba as commander of the guard；
and was by the Emper