1812. Montgaillard sums up his tirade against Napoleon for the Russian campaign by noting that it took the Romans ten years to conquer Gaul, while Napoleon "would not give two to the conquest of that vast desert of Scythia which forced Darius to flee, Alexander to draw back, Crassus to perish; where Julian terminated his career, where Valerian covered himself with shame, and which saw the disasters of Charles XII." January 9th.-Suchet captures Valencia, 18,000 Spanish troops, and 400 cannon. The marshal is made Duke of Albuféra. January 15th.-Imperial decree ordains 100,000 acres to be put under cultivation of beetroot, for the manufacture of indigenous sugar. January 19th.-Taking of Ciudad Rodrigo by Wellington. January 26th.-French, under General Friand, occupy Stralsund and Swedish Pomerania. February 24th.-Treaty of alliance between France and Prussia; the latter to support France in case of a war with Russia. March 13th.-Senatus Consultus divides the National Guards into three bans, to include all capable men not already in military service. They are not to serve outside France. A hundred cohorts, each 970 strong, of the first ban (men between 20 and 26), put at disposal of Government. March 14th.-Treaty between France and Austria; reciprocal help, in need, of 30,000 men and 60 guns. The integrity of European Turkey mutually guaranteed. March 26th.-Treaty between Russia and Sweden. Bernadotte is promised Norway by Alexander. April 7th. The English take Badajoz by assault. "The French General, Philippon, with but 3000 men, has been besieged thrice within thirteen months by armies of 50,000 men" (Montgaillard). April 24th.-Alexander leaves St. Petersburg, to take command of his Grand Army. May 9th.-Napoleon leaves Paris for Germany. May 11th.-Assassination of English Prime Minister, Perceval. May 17th-28th.-Napoleon at Dresden; joined there by the Emperor and Empress of Austria, and a fresh "parterre of kings." May 28th.-Treaty of Bucharest, between Turkey and Russia. The Pruth as boundary, and Servia restored to Turkey. This treaty, so fatal to Napoleon, and of which he only heard in October, was mainly the work of Stratford de Redcliffe, then aged twenty-five. Wellington, thinking the treaty his brother's work, speaks of it as "the most important service that ever fell to the lot of any individual to perform." No. I. June 12th. Suchet defeats an Anglo-Spanish army outside Tarragona. TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT MALMAISON. June 12th, 1812. with great you My Dear, I shall always receive news from interest. The waters will, I hope, do you good, and I shall see you with much pleasure on your return. Never doubt the interest I feel in you. I will arrange all the matters of which you speak. NAPOLEON. June 16th.-Lord Liverpool Prime Minister of England. June 18th.-United States declares war against England concerning rights of neutrals. June 19th. The captive Pope (Pius VII.) brought to Fontainebleau. No. 2. TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, At Malmaison. Gumbinnen, June 20th, 1812. I have your letter of June 10th. I see no obstacle to your going to Milan, to be near the Vice-Reine. You will do well to go incognito. You will find it very hot, My health is very good. Eugène is well, and is doing good work. Never doubt the interest I have in you, and my friendNAPOLEON. ship. June Lares Cannon, 2nd.-Napoleon from his headquarters, Wilkowyszki, dec 44 war against Russia. June 24th.-French cross the Niemen, over 450,000 strong.1 Of these 20,000 are Italians, 80,000 from Confederation of the Rhine, 30,000 Poles, 30,000 Austrians, and 20,000 Prussians. The Russian army numbers 360,000. June 28th.-French enter Wilna, the old capital of Lithuania. Napoleon remains here till July 16th, establishing a provisional government, and leaving his Foreign Minister, Maret, there. July 12th.-Americans invade Canada. July 18th.-Treaty of peace between England and Sweden; and between Russia and the Spanish Regency at Cadiz. July 22nd. Battle of Salamanca (Arapiles). Marmont defeated by Wellington, and badly wounded. French lose nearly 8000 men and 5000 risoners; English loss, 5200. The Spanish Regency had decided to submit to Joseph Bonaparte, but this battle deters them. French retire behind the Douro. July 23rd.-Combat of Mohilow, on the Dneiper. Davoust defeats Bagration. July 28th.-French enter Witepsk. August 1st.-Treaty of alliance between Great Britain and Russia. English fleet henceforward guards the Gulf of Riga. Combat of Obaiarzına, on the bank of the Drissa. Marshal Oudinot defeats Wittgenstein. Russians lose 5000 men and 14 guns. August 9th. Battle of Brownstown (near Toronto). Americans defeated; surrender August 16th with 2500 men and 33 guns to General Brock. August 12th.-Wellington enters Madrid. August 17th-18th.-Battle and capture of Smolensk. Napoleon defeats Barclay de Tolly; Russians lose 12,000, French less than half. 1 Averaged from early historians of the campaigns. Marbot gives the numbers 155,400 French and 175,000 Allies. Allowing for the secession of the Austrian and Prussian contingents and for 30,000 prisoners, he gives the actual French death-roll by February 1813 at 65,000. This is a minimum estimate. May 17th–28:b.—Napoleon at Dresden; joined there by the Emperor and Entress of Austria, and a fresh "parterre of kings." May 28:6.-Treaty of Bucharest, between Turkey and Russia. The Pruth as boundary, and Servia restored to Turkey. This treaty, so fatal to Napoleon, and of which he only heard in October, was mainly the work of Stratford de Redcliffe, then aged twenty-five. Wellington, thinking the treaty his brother's work, speaks of it as "the most important service that ever fell to the lot of any individual to perform.” No. I. June 12:Ē.—Suchet defeats an Anglo-Spanish army outside Tarra gona. TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT MALMAISON. June 12th, 1812. My Dear, I shall always receive news from you with great interest. The waters will, I hope, do you good, and I shall see you with much pleasure on your return. Never doubt the interest I feel in you. I will arrange all the matters of which you speak. NAPOLEON. June 16:h.—Lord Liverpool Prime Minister of England. June 18th.-United States declares war against England concerning rights of neutrals. June 19th. The captive Pope (Pius VII.) brought to Fontainebleau. No. 2. TO THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE, AT MALMAISON. Gumbinnen, June 20th, 1812. I have your letter of June 10th. I see no obstacle to your going to Milan, to be near the Vice-Reine. You will do well to go incognito. You will find it very hot. war against Russia. 189 apoleon finds the enemy too strong te. Rearguard action, in which nd hears of Malet con Lares 2 cannon, alf the then popu June 24th.-French cross the Niemen, over 450,000 strong.1 Of these 20,000 are Italians, 80,000 from Confederation of the Rhine, 30,000 Poles, 30,000 Austrians, and 20,000 Prussians. The Russian army numbers 360,000. June 28th-French enter Wilna, the old capital of Lithuania. Napoleon remains here till July 16th, establishing a provisional government, and leaving his Foreign Minister, Maret, there. July 12th.-Americans invade Canada. July 18th.-Treaty of peace between England and Sweden; and between Russia and the Spanish Regency at Cadiz. July 22nd. Battle of Salamanca (Arapiles). Marmont defeated by Wellington, and badly wounded. French lose nearly 8000 men and 5000 risoners; English loss, 5200. The Spanish Regency had decided to submit to Joseph Bonaparte, but this battle deters them. retire behind the Douro. French July 23rd.-Combat of Mohilow, on the Dneiper. Davoust defeats Bagration. July 28th.-French enter Witepsk. August 1st.-Treaty of alliance between Great Britain and Russia. English fleet henceforward guards the Gulf of Riga. Combat of Obaiarzına, on the bank of the Drissa. Marshal Oudinot defeats Wittgenstein. Russians lose 5000 men and 14 guns. August 9th. Battle of Brownstown (near Toronto). Americans defeated; surrender August 16th with 2500 men and 33 guns to General Brock. August 12th.-Wellington enters Madrid. August 17th-18th.-Battle and capture of Smolensk. Napoleon defeats Barclay de Tolly; Russians lose 12,000, French less than half. 1 Averaged from early historians of the campaigns. Marbot gives the numbers 155,400 French and 175,000 Allies. Allowing for the secession of the Austrian and Prussian contingents and for 30,000 prisoners, he gives the actual French death-roll by February 1813 at 65,000. This is a minimum estimate. |