And very thorough. Boulart has a very interesting story about Napoleon ordering an inspection of his artillery unit after Essling when Boulart sent one of his pieces to the Vienna arsenal to replace a worn out vent. Napoleon told him that he expected him to have his entire compliment of guns ready for inspection. Boulart was sweating the inspection as one of the pieces would not be present. He went to his superiors and they loaned him a serviceable Austrian piece to temporarily replace the piece in maintenance.

When Napoleon showed up at the prescribed time and place for the inspection he asked Boulart if he had his complete compliment of pieces ready for inspection. Boulart replied in the affirmative, as he did have the number of pieces present. Napoleon did not ask, nor did Boulart volunteer, if the piece was back from the arsenal yet. Napoleon then told Boulart good and that he would not inspect him. Boulart undoubtedly breathed a sigh of relief.

Napoleon knew that the original piece would not be back in time for the inspection, as he was an artilleryman himself. He undoubtedly wanted to see if Boulart had the requisite presence of mind to find a way to borrow another piece so that his company would be ready for action and prepared for inspection. Napoleon was very thorough indeed.