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was in honor of the installation of General Friant
＇Louis Friant； born in Picardy； 1758； brigadier…general； 1794；
served on the Rhine and in Italy； accompanied Napoleon to Egypt； and
became general of division； wounded at Austerlitz （1805）； and was at
Jena and Wagram； commanded the grenadiers of the guard in Russian
campaign； and was severely wounded at Waterloo； died 1829＇
as commander of the corps。 The Emperor gave him the accolade； which was
the only occasion on which I saw this done during the campaign； and as
the general was much beloved by the army； it was amidst the acclamations
of all that he received this honor from the Emperor。
Promotions were usually welcomed by the soldiers with great enthusiasm；
for the Emperor required that they should take place with much pomp and
ceremony。
Many persons thought that to be near the Emperor was a proof of being
well provided for on the campaign。 This is a great mistake； as even the
kings and princes who accompanied his Majesty on his campaigns could
easily prove； and if these great personages lacked absolute necessaries；
it may well be believed that the persons comprising the different
services fared badly。 The Emperor himself often dispensed with ordinary
comforts which would have been very agreeable to him after the fatigues
of the day。
At the hour for the bivouac it was a general 〃lodge who can；〃 but the
poorest soldier never had in his deprivation the chagrin of seeing his
superiors enjoying abundance and scandalous luxury。 The first generals
of the army often dined on ammunition…bread with as much pleasure as the
simple soldier； and on the retreat the misery could not have been more
general。 This idea of deprivations shared by all did much to restore
hope and energy to the most discouraged； and； I may add； never has more
reciprocal sympathy between chiefs and soldiers been seen； in support of
which statement innumerable instances could be given。
When evening came the fires were kindled； and those foragers who had been
most successful invited their companions to share their good cheer。 In
the worst times there was poor； yet still not the worst； fare to offer；
consisting of slices of broiled horse…flesh。
Many soldiers deprived themselves of some valuable booty to offer it to
their chief； and selfishness was not so general that this noble French
courtesy did not reappear from time to time to recall the happy days of
France。 Straw was the bed of all； and those of the marshals who in Paris
slept on most luxurious beds of down did not find this couch too hard in
Russia。
M。 de Beausset has given me a very amusing account of one night； when
sleeping pell…mell on a little straw； in very narrow quarters； the aides…
de…camp attending upon the Emperor stepped mercilessly on the limbs of
their sleeping companions； who； fortunately； did not all suffer from gout
like M。 Beausset； and were not injured by such sudden and oft…repeated
onslaughts。 He cried； 〃What brutes！〃 and drawing his legs under him；
cowered down in his corner until this passing and repassing had ceased
for a while。
Picture to yourself large rooms； filthy； unfurnished； and open to the
wind； which entered through every window； nearly all the glass of which
was broken； with crumbling walls and fetid air； which we warmed as well
as possible with our breath； a vast litter of straw prepared as if for
horses； and on this litter men shivering with cold； throwing themselves
about； pressing against each other； murmuring； swearing； some unable to
close their eyes； others more fortunate snoring loudly； and in the midst
of this mass of legs and feet； a general awakening in the night when an
order from the Emperor arrived； and you may form an idea of the inn and
the guests。
As for myself； during the entire campaign I did not a single time undress
to retire to bed； for I never found one anywhere。 It was necessary to
supply this deficiency by some means； and as it is well known that
necessity is ever ready with inventions； we supplied deficiency in our
furnishings in the following manner： we had great bags of coarse cloth
made； into which we entered； and thus protected； threw ourselves on a
little straw； when we were fortunate enough to obtain it； and for several
months I took my rest during the night in this manner； and even this I
frequently could not enjoy for as many as five or six nights at a time；
so exacting were the requirements of my position。
If it is remembered that all these sufferings continued in their petty
details each day； and that when night came we had not even a bed on which
to stretch our weary limbs； some idea may be formed of the privations we
endured on this campaign。 The Emperor never uttered a word of complaint
when beset by such discomforts； and his example inspired us with courage；
and at last we became so accustomed to this fatiguing and wandering
existence； that； in spite of the cold and privations of every sort to
which we were subjected； we often jested about the dainty arrangements of
our apartments。 The Emperor on the campaign was affected only by the
sufferings of others； though his health was sometimes so much impaired as
to cause anxiety； especially when he denied himself all rest not
absolutely required； and yet I heard him constantly inquiring if there
were lodgings for all； and he would not be satisfied until fully informed
of every particular。
Although the Emperor nearly always had a bed； the poor quarters in which
it was set up were often so filthy； that in spite of all the care taken
to clean it； I more than once found on his clothing a kind of vermin very
disagreeable； and very common in Russia。 We suffered more than the
Emperor from this inconvenience； being deprived as we were of proper
linen and other changes of clothing； since the greater part of our
effects had been burned with the wagons containing them。 This extreme
measure had been taken； as I have said； for good reasons； all the horses
having died from cold or famine。
We were little better lodged in the palace of the Czars than on the
bivouac。 For several days we had only mattresses； but as a large number
of wounded officers had none； the Emperor ordered ours to be given them。
We made the sacrifice willingly； and the thought that we were assisting
others more unfortunate than ourselves would have made the hardest bed
endurable。 Besides； in this war we had more than one opportunity to
learn how to put aside all feelings of egotism and narrow personality；
and had we been guilty of such forgetfulness； the Emperor was ever ready
to recall us to this plain and simple duty。
CHAPTER IX。
The only too famous twenty…ninth bulletin of the grand army was not
published in Paris； where the consternation it spread through all classes
is well known； until the 16th of December； and the Emperor； following
close upon the heels of this solemn manifesto of our disasters； arrived
in his capital forty…eight hours after； as if endeavoring to annul by his
presence the evil effects which this communication might produce。 On the
28th； at half past eleven in the evening； his Majesty alig