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division at Bautzen； 1813； went to Elba as commander of the guard；
and was by the Emperor's side at Waterloo； died in 1847。 He was a
Protestant； and was often seen during heavy firing reading his
Testament calmly。＇
and in a voice interrupted by sobs asked what should be done。 〃To…
morrow； everything；〃 replied the Emperor； and said not a word more。
〃Poor man！〃 exclaimed the old watchdogs of the guard； 〃he has lost one of
his children。〃 Night closed in。 The enemy was in full retreat； and the
army having taken its position； the Emperor left the camp； and；
accompanied by the Prince de Neuchatel； M。 Yvan； and the Duke of Vicenza；
repaired to the house where the grand marshal had been conveyed。 The
scene was terrible。 The Emperor； distracted with grief； repeatedly
embraced this faithful friend； endeavoring to cheer him； but the duke；
who was perfectly conscious of his condition； replied only by entreaties
to have opium given him。 At these words the Emperor left the room； he
could no longer control his emotions。
The Duke de Frioul died next morning； and the Emperor ordered that his
body should be conveyed to Paris； and paced under the dome of the
Invalides。
＇On either side of the entrance to the sarcophagus of porphyry
which holds the mortal remains of the great Emperor； rest Duroc and
Bertrand； who in life watched over him as marshals of his Palace。…
TRANS。＇
He bought the house in which the grand marshal died； and charged the
pastor of the village to have a stone placed in the spot where his bed
had stood； and these words engraved thereon：
〃HERE GENERAL DUROC； DUKE OF FRIOUL；
GRAND MARSHAL OF THE PALACE OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON；
MORTALLY WOUNDED BY A SHELL；
DIED IN THE ARMS OF HIS FRIEND； THE EMPEROR。〃
The preservation of this monument was imposed as an obligation on the
occupant of the house； who received it as a gift with this condition
annexed。 The pastor； the magistrate of the village； and the one who
accepted this gift； were summoned to his Majesty's presence； and he made
known to them his wishes； which they solemnly engaged to fulfill。 His
Majesty then drew from his privy purse the necessary funds； and handed
them to these gentlemen。
It is well that the reader should know how this agreement so solemnly
made was executed。 This order of the Russian staff will inform him。
〃A copy of a receipt dated the 16th （28th） of March states that the
Emperor Napoleon handed to Hermann； pastor of the church at
Markersdorf； the sum of two hundred gold napoleons for the purpose
of erecting a monument to the memory of Marshal Duroc； who died on
the field of battle。 His Excellency Prince Repnin； Governor…General
of Saxony； having ordered that a deputy from my office be sent to
Markersdorf in order to bring the said sum and deposit it with me
until it is finally disposed of； my secretary； Meyerheim； is charged
with this mission； and consequently will go at once to Dlarkersdorf；
and； as an evidence of his authority； will present to Minister
Hermann the accompanying order； and take possession of the above
mentioned sum of two hundred gold napoleons。 The secretary
Meyerheim will account to me alone for the execution of this order。
At Dresden this 20th of March llst of April）； 1814。
（Signed） BARON DE ROSEN。〃
This order needs no comment。 After the battles of Bautzen and Wurschen；
the Emperor entered Silesia。 He saw on every occasion combined armies of
the allies put to flight before his own in every encounter； and this
sight； while flattering his vanity exceedingly； also greatly strengthened
him in the belief that he would soon find himself master of a rich and
fertile country； where the abundant means of subsistence would be of much
advantage in all his undertakings。 Many times a day he exclaimed； 〃How
far are we from such a town？ When do we arrive at Breslau？ 〃His
impatience did not prevent him meanwhile from occupying his mind with
every object which struck his attention； as if he were free from all
care。 He examined the houses； one by one； as he passed through each
village； remarked the direction of rivers and mountain ranges； and
collected the most minute information which the inhabitants could or
would give him。 On the 27th of May； his Majesty； when not more than
three days march from Breslau； met in front of a little town called
Michelsdorf several regiments of Russian cavalry who held the road。 They
were quite near the Emperor and his staff before his Majesty had even
perceived them。 The Prince de Neuchatel； seeing the enemy so near；
hastened to the Emperor； and said； 〃Sire； they are still advancing。〃
〃Well； we will advance also；〃 replied his Majesty； smiling。 〃Look behind
you…〃 And he showed the prince the French infantry approaching in close
columns。 A few discharges soon drove the Russians from this position；
but half a league or a league farther we found them again； and this
maneuver was again and again repeated。 The Emperor； perceiving this；
maneuvered accordingly； and in person directed with the greatest
precision the troops as they advanced。 He went from one height to
another； and thoroughly inspected the towns and villages on the route in
order to reconnoiter their position； and ascertain what resources he
could obtain from the country； and； as a result of his attentive care and
indefatigable oversight； the scene changed ten times a day。 If a column
emerged from a deep ravine； a wood； or a village； it could take immediate
possession of a height； since a battery was found already in position to
defend it。 The Emperor indicated every movement with admirable tact； and
in such a manner that it was impossible to be taken at a disadvantage。
He commanded only the troops as a whole； transmitting either personally；
or through his staff officers； his orders to the commander of the corps
and divisions； who in their turn transmitted or had them transmitted to
the chiefs of battalions。 All orders given by his Majesty were short；
precise； and so clear that it was never necessary to ask explanations。
On the 29th of May； not knowing how far on the road to Breslau it was
prudent to advance； his Majesty established himself on a little farm
called Rosnig； which had been pillaged； and presented a most miserable
aspect。 As there could be found in the house only a small apartment with
a closet suitable for the Emperor's use； the Prince de Neuchatel and his
suite established themselves as well as they could in the surrounding
cottages； barns； and even in the gardens； since there was not sufficient
shelter for all。 The next day a fire broke out in a stable near the
lodging of the Emperor。 There were fourteen or fifteen wagons in this
barn； which were all burned。 One of these wagons contained the traveling
treasury chest； in another were the clothes and linen belonging to the
Emperor； as well as jewelry； rings； tobacco boxes； and other valuable
objects。 We saved very few things from this fire； and if th