[Illustration: GENERAL RAPP.
_Published, April 1828, by H. Colburn & Co. London._]
MEMOIRS
OF
GENERAL COUNT RAPP,
FIRST AIDE-DE-CAMP TO NAPOLEON.
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF,
AND PUBLISHED BY HIS FAMILY.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR HENRY COLBURN AND CO. CONDUIT STREET.
1823.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.—Commencement of the Author's military career.—His
promotion.—Certificate from Desaix.—Good fortune
in Egypt.—Introduction to, and character of, Napoleon.—Servile
conduct of the old nobility. 1
CHAP. II.—Napoleon's temper.—His flatterers.—His clemency. 8
CHAP. III.—Napoleon's attachment to his family.—Lucien's
opposition to the views of Napoleon.—Napoleon's bounty to
Rapp.—Rapp's intercession for Requier and Damas.—Is
unsuccessful.—Writes to Requier.—Letter intercepted and
carried to Napoleon.—The Emperor greatly incensed at it.—Rapp
apologizes.—Is restored to favour.—Marries.—Bernadotte's
disgrace with the Emperor.—His restoration to favour. 12
CHAP. IV.—Napoleon's courage.—Infernal machine.—The
Emperor's escape. 19
CHAP. V.—Napoleon's readiness to receive advice.—His contempt
for ignorance.—His partiality to the game of _vingt et un_. 22
CHAP. VI.—The third Austrian war.—The French victorious.—The
Austrian army shut up in Ulm.—Summoned to
surrender.—Negotiation conducted by M. de Segur.—The
enemy surrender.—Napoleon's joy. 26
CHAP. VII.—The remainder of the Austrians pursued.—Defeated
by Murat.—Werneck's capitulation; disregarded by
Count Hohenzollern.—Correspondence.—Napoleon's proclamation. 40
CHAP. VIII.—The French march towards Vienna.—The
Russians defeated.—Napoleon's instructions to Murat on the
occupation of Vienna. 50
CHAP. IX.—Anecdote of the Emperor and Madame de
Brunny.—The advance of the French troops.—Stratagem
in crossing the Danube.—Austerlitz.—The advance-guard
of the French repulsed by the Russians.—The Russians
completely defeated.—Rapp wounded.—His promotion.—Napoleon's
kindness to him.—His recovery.—The Emperor's
instructions to Rapp.—Peace concluded. 54
CHAP. X.—The conduct of Prussia.—Rapp's mission.—Its
object.—His return.—The Grand Duchess of Darmstadt
offends the Emperor.—Her punishment.—The French troops
attacked by some Prussian detachments.—Rapp's appointment
to the command of the military division at Strasburg.—He
receives instructions.—The Emperor arrives at Mentz.—Rapp
joins him at Wurtzburg.—His mission to the Grand
Duke of Baden.—The impatience of the Prussian Generals to
commence the war.—Character of Prince Louis.—Demand of
Prussia.—Napoleon's proclamation.—Prussians defeated at
Schleitz.—Rapp sent to the King of Prussia.—Recalled.—Mission
of De Montesquiou.—His treatment. 66
CHAP. XI.—The calculations of the Duke of Brunswick.—He is
disconcerted at the movement of the French.—Manœuvres.—Napoleon
issues orders.—Battle of Auerstadt and Jena.—The
French victorious.—Rapp instructed to pursue the Russians.—He
enters Weimar.—The King of Prussia makes overtures.—Napoleon's
conduct.—He sends Duroc to visit the wounded.—Head-quarters
established at Weimar.—Movements of
the enemy.—Attacked and routed by Bernadotte at Halle.—Napoleon
visits the field of battle.—Goes to Dessau.—His treatment of the
old Duke. 79
CHAP. XII.—The Prussians closely pursued by the French.—Surrender
of a corps before Magdeburg.—Misfortunes of Prussia.—The French
prepare to march on Berlin.—Napoleon's instructions to Davoust. 89
CHAP. XIII.—The French set out for Potsdam.—Anecdote of
the Emperor and a female native of Egypt.—State of Potsdam.—Flight
of the Court.—Deputations to the Emperor.—Their
reception.—Napoleon's observations to the Duke of Brunswick's
envoy.—Head-quarters at Charlotteenburg—Napoleon's proclamation. 93
CHAP. XIV.—Napoleon reviews the third corps.—Effect of
the proclamation on the troops.—Surrender of 25,000
Prussians.—The Duke of Weimar abandons his command.—Blucher
surrenders.—Napoleon's despatch to General Belliard.—Blucher
allowed to retire to Hamburg. 101
CHAP. XV.—Arrest of Prince Hatzfeld as a spy.—Napoleon's
determination to have him executed.—Intercession
for him.—The release of the Prince.—His letter to Count
Rapp.—Embassies to the Emperor.—Rapp authorised to
settle the affairs of the Court of Weimar.—The Duke permitted
to return to his estates.—His letter of thanks to Rapp. 107
CHAP. XVI.—Surrender of the Prussian fortresses.—Arrest
of the Prince of Wurtemberg.—Head-quarters at Posen.—State
of Poland.—Entry into Warsaw.—The Emperor's reception.—Anecdotes
of the Poles and of the French soldiers.—Passage
of the Vistula. 114
CHAP. XVII.—Affairs with the Russians.—Battle of Pultusk.—Rapp's
wounds.—His appointment to the government
of Thorn.—Blucher's letter to him.—He intercedes
for Blucher.—Is made Governor of Dantzic.—Contributions
levied.—Napoleon's dissatisfaction with Prussia. 124
CHAP. XVIII.—Fourth Austrian war (1809.)—Battle of
Esslingen.—Schill's insurrection.—Napoleon's feeling.—Battle
of Wagram.—Rapp's accident.—Rapp obtains the pardon of some
conspirators. 136
CHAP. XIX.—Attempt of a young German to assassinate
Napoleon.—Conversation and conduct of the assassin. 141
CHAP. XX.—Execution of the young German.—Peace concluded.—Rapp's
reception in Munich.—Situation of Bavaria.—Trait
of the King of Wurtemberg.—Napoleon's return to Fontainebleau. 147
CHAP. XXI.—Divorce of Josephine.—Marriage of Napoleon
and Maria-Louisa.—Napoleon displeased with Rapp;
sends him to Dantzic.—Rapp at Dantzic.—Character of
his garrison.—He gives offence to the Russian Resident. 151
CHAP. XXII.—Napoleon's dissatisfaction with Rapp, for
evading the anti-commercial decrees.—_Douane_ established
at Dantzic.—Discontent in the North of Germany.—Rapp's
representations.—Napoleon's ignorance of the German Character. 158
CHAP. XXIII.—Napoleon repairs to Dantzic.—Conversation
between the Emperor and Rapp. 164
CHAP. XXIV.—Napoleon proceeds to Kœnigsberg.—His
intentions.—The advance of the French troops. Their
arrival at Wilna.—Commencement of the Russian war. 168
CHAP. XXV.—Flight of the Russians.—Their rear-guard
defeated by the King of Naples.—His report of the
engagement.—Dispute between the King of Westphalia and
Vandamme. 171
CHAP. XXVI.—Rapp leaves Dantzic.—State of the roads.—Arrives
at Wilna.—Opening of the Polish Diet.—Speech of the
President.—Eloquence and negotiations of the Abbé de Pradt. 176
CHAP. XXVII.—Activity of the Emperor.—His instructions
to Hautpoult.—Distress of the army.—Hopes of Napoleon.—The
Russian Patriarch's denunciation of the French. 186
CHAP. XXVIII.—Battle of Smolensko.—Escape of the Russian
army.—Junot's inactivity.—He is in disgrace with the
Emperor.—Intercessions in his favour.—Rapp named for
the command of the Westphalian corps, instead of
Junot.—Character of Junot.—He is allowed to resume his
command.—Irruption of Tormasoff.—Napoleon's instructions to the
Duke de Belluno. 190
CHAP. XXIX.—Kutusow takes the command of the Russian army.—His
qualifications; his losses.—Rapp sent to reconnoitre.—Napoleon's
conversation before the battle of Borodino.—Proclamation. 197
CHAP. XXX.—Battle of Borodino.—Rapp's wounds. 204
CHAP. XXXI.—Retreat of the Russians.—Occupation and burning
of Moscow. 209
CHAP. XXXII.—The Emperor's delay at Moscow; its
motives and consequences.—His instructions to the Duke
de Belluno.—Deplorable state of the French army.—Rapp's
recovery.—The Emperor's anxiety about the wounded. 213
CHAP. XXXIII.—Retreat of the French.—The Emperor's
despatch to Mortier.—Battle at Malojaroslawitz.—Napoleon
visits the field of battle.—Surprised by some
Cossacks.—Rapp's conduct: the Emperor loads him
with eulogiums.—General Winzengerode taken prisoner.—His
treatment. 221
CHAP. XXXIV.—Deplorable condition of the French.—Mallet's
conspiracy.—The Emperor's surprise.—The
French cross the Borysthenes.—Attacked by the Russians.—Retreat
of the French.—Marshal Ney's courage. 230
CHAP. XXXV.—Continuation of the Retreat.—Capture of
Witepsk.—Loss of the magazines.—State of the weather.—Disasters
of the French.—Attacked by the Cossacks. 235
CHAP. XXXVI.—The Emperor's solicitude for Ney.—Receives
information of his escape from the Russians.—Embarrassment
of the French.—Battle of the Beresina.—Surrender
of Partonneau's division.—Retreat of the French
upon Wilna.—Napoleon sets out for Paris.—His instructions.—Rapp
proceeds to Dantzic. 242
CHAP. XXXVII.—Description of the town and garrison of
Dantzic.—Rapp's preparations.—His difficulties.—Losses
of the garrison by disease.—Scarcity of provisions.—Breaking
up of the ice. 254
CHAP. XXXVIII.—Conduct of the Allies.—General Detrées
sent to reconnoitre.—Skirmishes between the French and
Allies.—The Russians defeated at Langfuhr, and Ohra. 262
CHAP. XXXIX.—Destructive ravages of the epidemic.—Expedition
against Quadendorf.—Defeat of the Russians.—Ignorance
of the garrison of the progress of events.—The
epidemic disappears.—The Russian signals set on fire.—Attempts
to seduce the troops of the garrison.—Review of
the garrison on the glacis. 271
CHAP. XL.—The garrison's efforts to obtain provisions; its
difficulties.—Rapp sends an expedition into the Nerhung.—Is
successful.—He demands a loan from the Dantzickers.—Accusation
against the senator Piegeleau.—Conduct of the
Duke of Wurtemberg.—News of the victories of Lutzen
and Bautzen.—Its effect on the French troops.—The
Russians defeated.—The Allies solicit an armistice.—Rapp
receives the ribbon of the order of La Réunion.—Napoleon's
despatch to Rapp. 282
CHAP. XLI.—Conditions of the armistice.—Duke of Wurtemberg
raises obstacles to the fulfilment of them.—His
subterfuges.—Rapp's letter to the Prince de Neuchâtel.—Scarcity
of provisions.—Recommencement of hostilities. 292
CHAP. XLII.—Attempts of the besiegers.—Engagement
between the garrison and the Russians at the advanced
posts.—Details.—A second engagement.—The Russians
take Langfuhr.—Their intentions.—Rapp's preparations.—Ohra
put in a state of defence.—The Russians attack
Kabrun.—Their fleet fire on the French batteries; but are
repulsed.—Overflowing of the Vistula.—Combined attack
by the land and sea forces of the besiegers. 303
CHAP. XLIII.—Severity of the weather.—Scarcity of
provisions.—Attack of the Russians.—Their defeat.—Situation,
and plan of operations.—State of Dantzic, the magazines, and
the surrounding fortresses.—Condition of the
garrison.—Disaffection of the German troops.—Means used to
decoy them.—Rapp capitulates.—The Emperor Alexander annuls the
capitulation.—Rapp protests and surrenders. 323
CHAP. XLIV.—The garrison taken prisoners to Kiow.—Their
liberation.—The state of France in 1814.—Rapp's
treatment at Court.—The return from Elba.—Conversation
between Napoleon and Rapp.—Rapp's appointment to the
command of the army of the Upper Rhine.—Napoleon's
arrangements.—His letter to the allied Sovereigns.—Rapp
sets out for Alsace.—State of public feeling.—Enthusiasm
of the women at Mulhausen. 337
CHAP. XLV.—Preparations of the Allies.—Napoleon's letter
to Rapp.—Rapp receives fresh funds.—The Emperor's
despatch to Rapp. 352
CHAP. XLVI.—Amount and division of the French troops.—Rapp
receives news of the battle of Waterloo.—His
determination.—Rapp's advanced posts attacked.—Movements
of the Allies.—The success of the French.—Their retreat. 357
CHAP. XLVII.—Effect of the news of the battle of
Waterloo.—Disposition of Rapp's troops.—Battle of
Lampertheim.—Designs of the Allies.—Rapp throws himself into
Strasburg.—Prince of Wurtemberg's conduct.—Military
convention signed. 364
CHAP. XLVIII.—Mutiny of the garrison of Strasburg.—A
description of their conduct.—Dissolution of the army.—Rapp's
letter to the King.—Its effect.—Rapp's death.—Conclusion. 375
APPENDIX.
Letter from General Rapp to the Duke of Wurtemberg. 405
Answer. 407
Letter from the Duke of Wurtemberg to his Excellency Count Rapp. 409
Answer. 410
Letter from the Duke of Wurtemberg to General Count Rapp. 411
Answer. 413
Letter from the Duke of Wurtemberg to General Rapp. 415
Capitulation of Dantzic. 417
Letter from the Duke of Wurtemberg to General Rapp. 424
Answer. 426
Letter from Count Rapp to the Duke of Wurtemberg. 428
To the same. 430
MEMOIRS
OF
GENERAL RAPP,
FIRST AIDE-DE-CAMP TO NAPOLEON.
CHAPTER I.
I do not pretend to be an historical character; but I was long near
a man who has been the object of base misrepresentations, and I
commanded brave troops whose services have been disowned. The former
overwhelmed me with favours; the latter would have laid down their
lives for me: these things I cannot forget.
I served in the army for several years; and I was successful in some
enterprises, though without gaining distinction, as is usual with
those who hold subaltern rank. At length I was fortunate enough to
engage the attention of General Desaix. Our advance guard, which had
been thrown into disorder, was speedily rallied. I hastened forward
with a hundred hussars; we charged the Austrians, and succeeded in
putting them to flight. We were almost all covered with wounds; but
for these we were amply rewarded by the praises that were bestowed on
us. The General made me promise to take all requisite care of myself,
and he delivered to me the most flattering attestation that ever a
soldier obtained. I mention this circumstance, not because it procured
me a pair of epaulettes, but because it obtained for me the friendship
of that great man, and was the origin of my fortune. The attestation
was as follows:
ARMY OF THE RHINE AND THE MOSELLE.
“Head Quarters at Blotsheim, 30th Fructidor, year III. of the
French Republic one and indivisible.
“I, the undersigned General of Division, commanding the right
wing of the above mentioned army, certify that citizen Jean Rapp,
lieutenant in the 10th regiment of Horse Chasseurs, has served
under my command with the said regiment during the two last
campaigns; that on all occasions he has given proofs of singular
intelligence, presence of mind and courage; that he has been
wounded three different times; and that, on the 9th Prairial of
the year II, at the head of a company of chasseurs, he attacked
a column of the enemy's hussars, whose number was five times
greater than his own force, with such devoted intrepidity, that
he cut them to pieces, covering the retreat of a portion of our
troops, and bearing away the honour of the victory. It cannot
be too deeply regretted that he has been the victim of his
valour, and has been dangerously wounded in such a way as to be
deprived of the use of his arm. He is a worthy object of national
gratitude, and well deserves to be appointed to some honorable
post, should he be rendered incapable of more active service. I
attest that citizen Rapp bears with him the friendship and esteem
of all who know him.
DESAIX.”
Having become the aide-de-camp of the modest conqueror of Offenburgh,
I fought under him in the campaigns of Germany and Egypt. I was made
the chief of a squadron at Sediman; where I had the happiness, at the
head of two hundred brave troops, to carry off the last remnant of
the Turkish artillery, and I was promoted to the rank of Colonel, at
Samanhout, near the ruins of Thebes. I was severely wounded in this
last affair; but I was honorably mentioned in the dispatches of the
General-in-chief.
On the death of the brave Desaix, who was killed at Marengo, at the
moment when he had decided the victory, the First Consul deigned to
appoint me to a post about his own person. The favour which he would
have conferred on the conqueror of Upper Egypt was extended to me.
From that time I was in some manner permanently established, and my
connexions became more extended.
Zeal, frankness, and some degree of military talent, procured for me
the confidence of Napoleon. He frequently remarked to those about
him, that few possessed a greater share of natural good sense and
discernment than Rapp. These praises were repeated to me, and I
must confess I was flattered by them: if this be weakness, I may be
excused; every one has some foible. I would have sacrificed my life
to prove my gratitude to the First Consul. He knew this; and he often
repeated to my friends that I was a grumbler—that I had a poor head
but a good heart. He treated both me and Lannes familiarly, using the
pronoun _thou_ when he spoke to us; if he addressed us by _you_ or
_Monsieur le General_, we became alarmed, we were sure that we were
out of favour. He had the weakness to attach importance to a gossiping
police system which for the most part deceived him by false reports.
That odious system of police embittered the happiness of his life; it
frequently incensed him against his best friends, his relations, and
even his wife.
Napoleon attached but little importance to mere courage, which he
regarded as an ordinary kind of merit, common to all Frenchmen: he
set a higher value on intrepidity; and he was willing to pardon every
fault in an intrepid soldier. When any one solicited a favour, either
at an audience or a review, he never failed to enquire whether he had
been wounded. He declared that every wound was a quarter of nobility.
He honoured and rewarded the individuals who were thus distinguished,
and he had good reasons for so doing. However, he soon perceived
that they did not attend the antechambers, and he opened them to the
old nobility. This preference offended us; he remarked this, and was
displeased at our taking offence. “I see plainly,” said he to me
one day, “that these nobles whom I have placed in my household are
disagreeable to you.” I, however, very well deserved the privilege.
I had erased several gentlemen from the list of emigrants; I had
procured places for some, and had given money and pensions to others.
Some have remembered these favours, but the majority have forgotten
them; and consequently my purse has been closed since the return of
the King. Though my object was to relieve misfortune, and not to
obtain gratitude, yet I did not choose that the emigrants should
interpose between us and the great man whom we had raised on the
shield.
I had forgotten this disagreeable scene; but Napoleon did not forget
any offensive observations that might escape him. In vain he sought
to assume the mask of severity; his natural disposition subdued his
efforts, and kind feelings always gained the ascendancy. He called me
to him: he spoke to me of the nobles and the emigrants; and suddenly
recurring to the scene above alluded to, he said: “You think, then,
that I have a predilection for these people; but you are mistaken. I
employ them, and you know why. Am I connected with nobility? I, who
was a poor Corsican gentleman?”—“Neither I nor the army,” I replied,
“have ever inquired into your origin. Your actions are sufficient
for us.” I related this conversation to several of my friends, among
others to Generals Mouton and Lauriston.
Most of these same nobles, however, allege that they had yielded
only to compulsion. Nothing can be more false. I know of only
two who received Chamberlain's appointments unsolicited. Some
few declined advantageous offers; but with these exceptions, all
solicited, entreated, and importuned. There was a competition of zeal
and devotedness altogether unexampled. The meanest employment, the
humblest offices, nothing was rejected; it seemed to be an affair of
life and death. Should a treacherous hand ever find its way into the
portfolios of M.M. Talleyrand, Montesquiou, Segur, Duroc, &c., what
ardent expressions may be found to enrich the language of attachment.
But the individuals who held this language now vie with each other in
giving vent to hatred and invective. If they really felt for Napoleon
the profound hatred which they now evince, it must be confessed that,
in crouching at his feet for fifteen years, they did strange violence
to their feelings. And yet all Europe can bear witness, that from
their unrestrained manner, their never-varying smile, and their supple
marks of obedience, their services seemed to be of their own free
choice, and to cost them but little sacrifice.