house, and that you told him you had no commands. Fie! naughty,
undutiful, cruel, tyrannous, jolly little monster. You laugh at my
threats, at my infatuation; ah, you well know that if I could shut you
up in my breast, I would put you in prison there!
Tell me you are cheerful, in good health, and very affectionate.
BONAPARTE.
No. 5.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Castiglione, July 21, 1796_, 8 A.M.
I am hoping that when I arrive to-night I shall get one of your
letters. You know, my dear Josephine, the pleasure they give me; and I
am sure you have pleasure in writing them. I shall start to-night for
Peschiera, for the mountains of ----, for Verona, and thence I shall
go to Mantua, and perhaps to Milan, to receive a kiss, since you
assure me they are not made of ice. I hope you will be perfectly well
by then, and will be able to accompany me to headquarters, so that we
may not part again. Are you not the soul of my life, and the
quintessence of my heart's affections?
Your proteges are a little excitable; they are like the will-o'-the-wisp.
How glad I am to do something for them which will please you. They will
go to Milan. A little patience is requisite in everything.
Adieu, _belle et bonne_, quite unequalled, quite divine. A thousand
loving kisses.
BONAPARTE.
No. 6.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Castiglione, July 22, 1796._
The needs of the army require my presence hereabouts; it is impossible
that I can leave it to come to Milan. Five or six days would be
necessary, and during that time movements may occur whereby my
presence here would be imperative.
You assure me your health is good; I beg you therefore to come to
Brescia. Even now I am sending Murat to prepare apartments for you
there in the town, as you desire.
I think you will do well to spend the first night (July 24th) at
Cassano, setting out very late from Milan; and to arrive at Brescia on
July 25th, where the most affectionate of lovers awaits you. I am
disconsolate that you can believe, dear, that my heart can reveal
itself to others as to you; it belongs to you by right of conquest,
and that conquest will be durable and for ever. I do not know why you
speak of Madame T., with whom I do not concern myself in the
slightest, nor with the women of Brescia. As to the letters which you
are vexed at my opening, this shall be the last; your letter had not
come.
Adieu, _ma tendre amie_, send me news often, come forthwith and join
me, and be happy and at ease; all goes well, and my heart is yours for
life.
Be sure to return to the Adjutant-General Miollis the box of medals
that he writes me he has sent you. Men have such false tongues, and
are so wicked, that it is necessary to have everything exactly on the
square.
Good health, love, and a prompt arrival at Brescia.
I have at Milan a carriage suitable alike for town or country; you can
make use of it for the journey. Bring your plate with you, and some of
the things you absolutely require.
Travel by easy stages, and during the coolth, so as not to tire
yourself. Troops only take three days coming to Brescia. Travelling
post it is only a fourteen hours' journey. I request you to sleep on
the 24th at Cassano; I shall come to meet you on the 25th at latest.
Adieu, my own Josephine. A thousand loving kisses.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_July 29th.--Advance of Wurmser, by the Adige valley, on Mantua,
and of Quesdonowich on Brescia, who drives back Massena and
Sauret._
_July 31st.--Siege of Mantua raised._
_August 3rd.--Bonaparte victorious at Lonato._
_August 5th.--Augereau victorious at Castiglione, completing the
Campaign of Five Days, in which 10,000 prisoners are taken._
_August 8th.--Verona occupied by Serrurier._
_August 15th._--(Moreau arrives on the Danube) _Wurmser retreats
upon Trent, the capital of Italian Tyrol_.
_August 18th._--Alliance, offensive and defensive, between France
and Spain.
_September 3rd._--Jourdan routed by Archduke Charles at
Wurtzburg.
No. 7.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Brescia, August 30, 1796._
Arriving, my beloved, my first thought is to write to you. Your
health, your sweet face and form have not been absent a moment from my
thoughts the whole day. I shall be comfortable only when I have got
letters from you. I await them impatiently. You cannot possibly
imagine my uneasiness. I left you vexed, annoyed, and not well. If the
deepest and sincerest affection can make you happy, you ought to
be.... I am worked to death.
Adieu, my kind Josephine: love me, keep well, and often, often think
of me.
BONAPARTE.
No. 8.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Brescia, August 31, 1796._
I start at once for Verona. I had hoped to get a letter from you; and
I am terribly uneasy about you. You were rather ill when I left; I beg
you not to leave me in such uneasiness. You promised me to be more
regular; and, at the time, your tongue was in harmony with your heart.
You, to whom nature has given a kind, genial, and wholly charming
disposition, how can you forget the man who loves you with so much
fervour? No letters from you for three days; and yet I have written to
you several times. To be parted is dreadful, the nights are long,
stupid, and wearisome; the day's work is monotonous.
This evening, alone with my thoughts, work and correspondence, with
men and their stupid schemes, I have not even one letter from you
which I might press to my heart.
The Staff has gone; I set off in an hour. To-night I get an express
from Paris; there was for you only the enclosed letter, which will
please you.
Think of me, live for me, be often with your well-beloved, and be sure
that there is only one misfortune that he is afraid of--that of being
no longer loved by his Josephine. A thousand kisses, very sweet, very
affectionate, very exclusive.
Send M. Monclas at once to Verona; I will find him a place. He must
get there before September 4th.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_September 1st.--Bonaparte leaves Verona and directs his troops on
Trent. Wurmser, reinforced by 20,000 men, leaves his right wing at
Roveredo, and marches via the Brenta Gorge on Verona._
No. 9.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Ala, September 3, 1796._
We are in the thick of the fight, my beloved; we have driven in the
enemy's outposts; we have taken eight or ten of their horses with a
like number of riders. My troops are good-humoured and in excellent
spirits. I hope that we shall do great things, and get into Trent by
the fifth.
No letters from you, which really makes me uneasy; yet they tell me
you are well, and have even had an excursion to Lake Como. Every day I
wait impatiently for the post which will bring me news of you--you
are well aware how I prize it. Far from you I cannot live, the
happiness of my life is near my gentle Josephine. Think of me! Write
me often, very often: in absence it is the only remedy: it is cruel,
but, I hope, will be only temporary.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_September 4th.--Austrian right wing defeated at Roveredo._
_September 5th.--Bonaparte enters Trent, cutting off Wurmser from
his base. Defeats Davidowich on the Lavis and leaves Vaubois to
contain this general while he follows Wurmser._
_September 6th.--Wurmser continues his advance, his outposts
occupy Vicenza and Montebello._
_September 7th.--Combat of Primolano: Austrians defeated. Austrian
vanguard attack Verona, but are repulsed by General Kilmaine._
_September 8th.--Battle of Bassano: Wurmser completely routed, and
retires on Legnago._
No. 10.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Montebello, Noon, September 10, 1796._
_My Dear_,--The enemy has lost 18,000 men prisoners; the rest killed
or wounded. Wurmser, with a column of 1500 cavalry, and 500 infantry,
has no resource but to throw himself into Mantua.
Never have we had successes so unvarying and so great. Italy, Friuli,
the Tyrol, are assured to the Republic. The Emperor will have to
create a second army: artillery, pontoons, baggage, everything is
taken.
In a few days we shall meet; it is the sweetest reward for my labours
and anxieties.
A thousand fervent and very affectionate kisses.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_September 11th.--Skirmish at Cerea: Austrians successful.
Bonaparte arrives alone, and is nearly captured._
No. 11.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Ronco, September 12, 1796_, 10 A.M.
_My dear Josephine_,--I have been here two days, badly lodged, badly
fed, and very cross at being so far from you.
Wurmser is hemmed in, he has with him 3000 cavalry and 5000 infantry.
He is at Porto-Legnago; he is trying to get back into Mantua, but for
him that has now become impossible. The moment this matter shall be
finished I will be in your arms.
I embrace you a million times.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_September 13th.--Wurmser, brushing aside the few French who
oppose him, gains the suburbs of Mantua._
_September 14th.--Massena attempts a surprise, but is repulsed._
_September 15th.--Wurmser makes a sortie from St. Georges, but is
driven back._
_September 16th.--And at La Favorite, with like result._
No. 12.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Verona, September 17, 1796._
_My Dear_,--I write very often and you seldom. You are naughty, and
undutiful; very undutiful, as well as thoughtless. It is disloyal to
deceive a poor husband, an affectionate lover. Ought he to lose his
rights because he is far away, up to the neck in business, worries and
anxiety. Without his Josephine, without the assurance of her love,
what in the wide world remains for him. What will he do?
Yesterday we had a very sanguinary conflict; the enemy has lost
heavily, and been completely beaten. We have taken from him the
suburbs of Mantua.
Adieu, charming Josephine; one of these nights the door will be burst
open with a bang, as if by a jealous husband, and in a moment I shall
be in your arms.
A thousand affectionate kisses.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_October 2nd._--(Moreau defeats Latour at Biberach, but then
continues his retreat.)
_October 8th._--Spain declares war against England.
_October 10th.--Peace with Naples signed._
No. 13.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Modena, October 17, 1796_, 9 P.M.
The day before yesterday I was out the whole day. Yesterday I kept my
bed. Fever and a racking headache both prevented me writing to my
beloved; but I got your letters. I have pressed them to my heart and
lips, and the grief of a hundred miles of separation has disappeared.
At the present moment I can see you by my side, not capricious and out
of humour, but gentle, affectionate, with that mellifluent kindness of
which my Josephine is the sole proprietor. It was a dream, judge if it
has cured my fever. Your letters are as cold as if you were fifty; we
might have been married fifteen years. One finds in them the
friendship and feelings of that winter of life. Fie! Josephine. It is
very naughty, very unkind, very undutiful of you. What more can you do
to make me indeed an object for compassion? Love me no longer? Eh,
that is already accomplished! Hate me? Well, I prefer that!
Everything grows stale except ill-will; but indifference, with its
marble pulse, its rigid stare, its monotonous demeanour!...
A thousand thousand very heartfelt kisses.
I am rather better. I start to-morrow. The English evacuate the
Mediterranean. Corsica is ours. Good news for France, and for the
army.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_October 25th._--(Moreau recrosses the Rhine.)
_November 1st.--Advance of Marshal Alvinzi. Vaubois defeated by
Davidovich on November 5th, after two days' fight._
_November 6th.--Napoleon successful, but Vaubois' defeat compels
the French army to return to Verona._
No. 14.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Verona, November 9, 1796._
_My Dear_,--I have been at Verona since the day before yesterday.
Although tired, I am very well, very busy; and I love you passionately
at all times. I am just off on horseback.
I embrace you a thousand times.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_November 12th.--Combat of Caldiero: Napoleon fails to turn the
Austrian position, owing to heavy rains. His position desperate._
_November 15th.--First battle of Arcola. French gain partial
victory._
_November 16th and 17th.--Second battle of Arcola. French
completely victorious "Lodi was nothing to Arcola" (Bourrienne)._
_November 17th._--Death of Czarina Catherine II. of Russia.
_November 18th.--Napoleon victoriously re-enters Verona by the
Venice gate, having left it, apparently in full retreat, on the
night of the 14th by the Milan gate._
No. 15.
From BOURRIENNE'S "LIFE OF NAPOLEON," vol. i. chap. 4.
_Verona, November 19th, Noon._
_My Adored Josephine_,--Once more I breathe freely. Death is no
longer before me, and glory and honour are once more re-established.
The enemy is beaten at Arcola. To-morrow we will repair Vaubois'
blunder of abandoning Rivoli. In a week Mantua will be ours, and
then your husband will clasp you in his arms, and give you a
thousand proofs of his ardent affection. I shall proceed to Milan as
soon as I can; I am rather tired. I have received letters from
Eugene and Hortense--charming young people. I will send them to
you as soon as I find my belongings, which are at present somewhat
dispersed.
We have made five thousand prisoners, and killed at least six thousand
of the enemy. Good-bye, my adored Josephine. Think of me often. If you
cease to love your Achilles, if for him your heart grows cold, you
will be very cruel, very unjust. But I am sure you will always remain
my faithful mistress, as I shall ever remain your fond lover. Death
alone can break the chain which sympathy, love, and sentiment have
forged. Let me have news of your health. A thousand and a thousand
kisses.
No. 16.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Verona, November 23, 1796._
I don't love you an atom; on the contrary, I detest you. You are a
good for nothing, very ungraceful, very tactless, very tatterdemalion.
You never write to me; you don't care for your husband; you know the
pleasure your letters give him, and you write him barely half-a-dozen
lines, thrown off anyhow.
How, then, do you spend the livelong day, madam? What business of
such importance robs you of the time to write to your very kind lover?
What inclination stifles and alienates love, the affectionate and
unvarying love which you promised me? Who may this paragon be, this
new lover who engrosses all your time, is master of your days, and
prevents you from concerning yourself about your husband? Josephine,
be vigilant; one fine night the doors will be broken in, and I shall
be before you.
Truly, my dear, I am uneasy at getting no news from you. Write me four
pages immediately, and some of those charming remarks which fill my
heart with the pleasures of imagination.
I hope that before long I shall clasp you in my arms, and cover you
with a million kisses as burning as if under the equator.
BONAPARTE.
No. 17.
_Verona, November 24, 1796._
I hope soon, darling, to be in your arms. I love you to distraction. I
am writing to Paris by this courier. All goes well. Wurmser was beaten
yesterday under Mantua. Your husband only needs Josephine's love to be
happy.
BONAPARTE.
No. 18.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT GENOA.
_Milan_, _November 27, 1796_, 3 P.M.
I get to Milan; I fling myself into your room; I have left all in
order to see you, to clasp you in my arms.... You were not there. You
gad about the towns amid junketings; you run farther from me when I am
at hand; you care no longer for your dear Napoleon. A passing fancy
made you love him; fickleness renders him indifferent to you.
Used to perils, I know the remedy for weariness and the ills of life.
The ill-luck that I now suffer is past all calculations; I did right
not to anticipate it.
I shall be here till the evening of the 29th. Don't alter your plans;
have your fling of pleasure; happiness was invented for you. The whole
world is only too happy if it can please you, and only your husband is
very, very unhappy.
BONAPARTE.
No. 19.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT GENOA.
_Milan_, _November 28, 1796_, 8 P.M.
I have received the courier whom Berthier had hurried on to Genoa. You
have not had time to write me, I feel it intuitively. Surrounded with
pleasures and pastimes, you would be wrong to make the least sacrifice
for me. Berthier has been good enough to show me the letter which you
wrote him. My intention is that you should not make the least change
in your plans, nor with respect to the pleasure parties in your
honour; I am of no consequence, either the happiness or the misery of
a man whom you don't love is a matter of no moment.
For my part, to love you only, to make you happy, to do nothing which
may vex you, that is the object and goal of my life.
Be happy, do not reproach me, do not concern yourself in the happiness
of a man who lives only in your life, rejoices only in your pleasure
and happiness. When I exacted from you a love like my own I was wrong;
why expect lace to weigh as heavy as gold? When I sacrifice to you all
my desires, all my thoughts, every moment of my life, I obey the sway
which your charms, your disposition, and your whole personality have
so effectively exerted over my unfortunate heart. I was wrong, since
nature has not given me attractions with which to captivate you; but
what I do deserve from Josephine is her regard and esteem, for I love
her frantically and uniquely.
Farewell, beloved wife; farewell, my Josephine. May fate concentrate
in my breast all the griefs and troubles, but may it give Josephine
happy and prosperous days. Who deserves them more? When it shall be
quite settled that she can love me no more, I will hide my profound
grief, and will content myself with the power of being useful and
serviceable to her.
I reopen my letter to give you a kiss.... Ah! Josephine!...
Josephine!
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_December 24th._--French under Hoche sail for Ireland; return
"foiled by the elements."
_January 7th, 1797.--Alvinzi begins his new attack on Rivoli,
while Provera tries to get to Mantua with 11,000 men via Padua and
Legnago. Alvinzi's total forces 48,000, but only 28,000 at Rivoli
against Bonaparte's 23,000._
_January 9th._--Kehl (after 48 days' siege) surrenders to Archduke
Charles.
_January 10th.--Napoleon at Bologna advised of the advance, and
hastens to make Verona, as before, the pivot of his movements._
No. 20.
_January 12th.--Combat of St. Michel: Massena defeats Austrians._
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Verona, January 12, 1797._
Scarcely set out from Roverbella, I learnt that the enemy had appeared
at Verona. Massena made some dispositions, which have been very
successful. We have made six hundred prisoners, and have taken three
pieces of cannon. General Brune got seven bullets in his clothes,
without being touched by one of them--this is what it is to be lucky.
I give you a thousand kisses. I am very well. We have had only ten men
killed, and a hundred wounded.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_January 13th.--Joubert attacked; retires from Corona on Rivoli in
the morning, joined by Bonaparte at night._
_January 14th.--Battle of Rivoli: Austrian centre defeated.
Bonaparte_ _at close of day hurries off with Massena's troops to
overtake Provera, marching sixteen leagues during the night.
Massena named next day enfant cheri de la victoire by Bonaparte,
and later Duc de Rivoli._
_January 15th.--Joubert continues battle of Rivoli: complete
defeat of Austrians. Provera, however, has reached St. Georges,
outside Mantua._
_January 16th--Sortie of Wurmser at La Favorite repulsed. Provera,
hurled back by Victor (named the Terrible on this day), is
surrounded by skilful manoeuvres of Bonaparte, and surrenders with
6000 men. In three days Bonaparte had taken 18,000 prisoners and
all Alvinzi's artillery. Colonel Graham gives Austrian losses at
14,000 to 15,000, exclusive of Provera's 6000._
_January 26th.--Combat of Carpenedolo: Massena defeats the
Austrians._
_February 2nd.--Joubert occupies Lawis. Capitulation of Mantua, by
Wurmser, with 13,000 men (and 6000 in hospital), but he, his
staff, and 200 cavalry allowed to return. Enormous capture of
artillery, including siege-train abandoned by Bonaparte before the
battle of Castiglione. Advance of Victor on Rome._
No. 21.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA.
_Forli, February 3, 1797._
I wrote you this morning. I start to-night. Our forces are at Rimini.
This country is beginning to be tranquillised. My cold makes me always
rather tired.
I idolise you, and send you a thousand kisses.
A thousand kind messages to my sister.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_February 9th.--Capture of Ancona._
No. 22.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA.
_Ancona, February 10, 1797._
We have been at Ancona these two days. We took the citadel, after a
slight fusillade, and by a _coup de main_. We made 1200 prisoners. I
sent back the fifty officers to their homes.
I am still at Ancona. I do not press you to come, because everything
is not yet settled, but in a few days I am hoping that it will be.
Besides, this country is still discontented, and everybody is
nervous.
I start to-morrow for the mountains. You don't write to me at all, yet
you ought to let me have news of you every day.
Please go out every day; it will do you good.
I send you a million kisses. I never was so sick of anything as of
this vile war.
Good-bye, my darling. Think of me!
BONAPARTE.
No. 23.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA.
_Ancona, February 13, 1797._
I get no news from you, and I feel sure that you no longer love me. I
have sent you the papers, and various letters. I start immediately to
cross the mountains. The moment that I know something definite, I will
arrange for you to accompany me; it is the dearest wish of my heart.
A thousand and a thousand kisses.
BONAPARTE.
No. 24.
TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA.
_February 16, 1797._
You are melancholy, you are ill; you no longer write to me, you want
to go back to Paris. Is it possible that you no longer love your
comrade? The very thought makes me wretched. My darling, life is
unbearable to me now that I am aware of your melancholy.
I make haste to send you Moscati, so that he may look after you. My
health is rather bad; my cold gets no better. Please take care of
yourself, love me as much as I love you, and write me every day. I am
more uneasy than ever.
I have told Moscati to escort you to Ancona, if you care to come
there. I will write to you there, to let you know where I am.
Perhaps I shall make peace with the Pope, then I shall soon be by your
side; it is my soul's most ardent wish.
I send you a hundred kisses. Be sure that nothing equals my love,
unless it be my uneasiness. Write to me every day yourself. Good-bye,
dearest.
BONAPARTE.
No. 25.
_February 19th.--Peace of Tolentino with the Pope, who has to pay
for his equivocal attitude and broken treaty._
TO JOSEPHINE, AT BOLOGNA.
_Tolentino, February 19, 1797._
Peace with Rome has just been signed. Bologna, Ferrara, Romagna, are
ceded to the Republic. The Pope is to pay us thirty millions shortly,
and various works of art.
I start to-morrow morning for Ancona, and thence for Rimini, Ravenna,
and Bologna. If your health permit, come to Rimini or Ravenna, but, I
beseech you, take care of yourself.
Not a word from you--what on earth have I done? To think only of you,
to love only Josephine, to live only for my wife, to enjoy happiness
only with my dear one--does this deserve such harsh treatment from
her? My dear, I beg you, think often of me, and write me every day.
You are ill, or else you do not love me! Do you think, then, that I
have a heart of stone? and do my sufferings concern you so little? You
must know me very ill! I cannot believe it! You to whom nature has
given intelligence, tenderness, and beauty, you who alone can rule my
heart, you who doubtless know only too well the unlimited power you
hold over me!
Write to me, think of me, and love me.--Yours ever, for life.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_March 16th.--Bonaparte defeats Archduke Charles on the
Tagliamento._
_March 25th.--Bonaparte writes the Directory from Goritz that "up
till now Prince Charles has manoeuvred worse than Beaulieu and
Wurmser."_
_March 29th.--Klagenfurt taken by Massena._
_April 1st.--Laybach by Bernadotte._
_April 17th.--Preliminaries of peace at Leoben signed by
Bonaparte._
_April 18th._--Hoche crosses the Rhine at Neuwied.
_April 21st_.--Moreau at Kehl.
_April 23rd._--Armistice of two Rhine armies follows preliminaries
of Leoben.
_May 16th.--Augereau enters Venice._
_June 28th._--French capture Corfu, and 600 guns.