Napoleon Series Archive 2013

Another Bernadotte story

For those who aren't already familiar with this little piece, this is Bernadotte's order of the day after Wagram and Napoleon's order in response. It doesn't seem that this was the reason for his removal from command though, Napoleon only appears to have found out about it later from the papers.

The Imperial order was sent from Schonbrunn on 5.8, to the marshals, the minister of war and the king of Westphalia (Jerome Bonaparte).

'His Majesty expresses his displeasure with the marshal prince de Ponte-Corvo for his order of the day dated from Leopoldau the 7th July which has been inserted in nearly all the papers in the following terms:

“Saxons, during the fighting of the 5th July, 7-8 thousand among you pierced the centre of the enemy army and reached Deutsch-Wagram in spite of the efforts of 40 thousand men supported by 50 guns. You fought until midnight and bivouacked in the middle of the Austrian lines. The 6th, from daybreak, you recommenced the combat with the same perseverance, and in the midst of the ravages of the enemy artillery your living columns remained immovable as bronze. The great Napoleon has seen your devotion, he counts you among his braves.”
“Saxons, the fortune of a soldier consists in fulfilling his duties; you have worthily performed yours.”
Leopoldau, 7th July 1809, the marshal commanding 9th corps.”

'Independantly of the fact that when His Majesty commands his army in person it is he alone who has the right to attribute the degree of glory that each deserves – His Majesty owes the success of his arms to the French troops and not to any foreigner. The order of the day of the prince de Ponte-Corvo tending to give false pretentions to troops at least mediocre, is contrary to truth, to politics and to the national honour. The success of the day of the 5th was due to the corps of the marshals duc de Rivoli and Oudinot, who pierced the centre of the enemy at the same time that the corps of the duc de Auerstadt turned it by the left. -The village of Deutsch Wagram was not in our power during the day of the 5th. This village was taken but not till the 6th at midday by the corps of marshal Oudinot. The corps of the prince de Ponte-Corvo did not remain immovable as bronze; it was the first to beat a retreat. His Majesty was obliged to cover it with the corps of the Viceroy, by the divisions Broussier and Lamarque commanded by marshal Macdonald, by the division of heavy cavalry under the orders of general Nansouty and by part of the cavalry of the guard. It is to this marshal and to his troops that is due the praise that the prince de Ponte-Corvo attributes to himself. His Majesty desires that this expression of his displeasure should serve as an example so that no marshal attributes to himself the glory that belongs to others.
His Majesty however orders that this present order of the day which could wound the Saxon army although the soldiers know well enough that they do not deserve the praises given to them, will remain secret and will only be sent to the marshals comanding the army corps.'

Napoleon

From the official Correspondance, my translation.

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Another Bernadotte story
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Not all the time
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Actually it wasn't or not completely
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Re:Dupont
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Prett much Napoleon's history
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That is what a veteran had to say
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