This tale is told in "Napoleon's Marshals." [Or is that Marshals of Napoleon? I can never remember which.] It is said to have happened in the Spring after he was made Emperor, so before the 1805 campaign. In that version, Napoleon's gun discharges and puts out Massena's eye.

It is a wonderful image, Napoleon and his Marshals being mugged by thousands of hares in the middle of the woods, Oh my!

Bill H.