It was about half-past three o’clock when this last victory was achieved; there had been several such during the day; each corps successively beat that which was opposed to it, without being able to take advantage of its success to decide the battle; as, not being supported in proper time by the reserve, each halted exhausted.  But at last all the first obstacles were overcome; the firing gradually slackened, and got to a greater distance from the emperor.  Officers were coming in to him from all parts.  Poniatowski and Sebastiani, after an obstinate contest, were also victorious.  The enemy halted, and entrenched himself in a new position.  It was getting late, our ammunition was exhausted, and the battle ended.

Belliard then returned for the third time to the emperor, whose sufferings appeared to have increased.  He mounted his horse with difficulty, and rode slowly along the heights of Semenowska.  He found a field of battle imperfectly gained, as the enemy’s bullets, and even their musket-balls, still disputed the possession of it with us.

In the midst of these warlike noises, and the still burning ardour of Ney and Murat, he continued always in the same state, his gait desponding, and his voice languid.  The sight of the Russians, however, and the noise of their continued firing, seemed again to inspire him; he went to take a nearer view of their last position, and even wished to drive them from it.  But Murat, pointing to the scanty remains of our own troops, declared that it would require the guard to finish; on which, Bessieres continuing to insist, as he always did, on the importance of this corps d’elite, objected “the distance the emperor was from his reinforcements; that Europe was between him and France; that it was indispensable to preserve, at least, that handful of soldiers, which was all that remained to answer for his safety.”  And as it was then nearly five o’clock, Berthier added, “that it was too late; that the enemy was strengthening himself in his last position; and that it would require a sacrifice of several more thousands, without any adequate results.”  Napoleon then thought of nothing but to recommend the victors to be prudent.  Afterwards he returned, still at the same slow pace, to his tent, that had been erected behind that battery which was carried two days before, and in front of which he had remained ever since the morning, an almost motionless spectator of all the vicissitudes of that terrible day.

As he was thus returning, he called Mortier to him, and ordered him “to make the young guard now advance, but on no account to pass the new ravine which separated us from the enemy.”  He added, “that he gave him in charge to guard the field of battle; that that was all he required of him; that he was at liberty to do whatever he thought necessary for that purpose, and nothing more.”  He recalled him shortly after to ask “if he had properly understood him; recommended him to make no attack; but merely to guard the field of battle.”  An hour afterwards he sent to him to reiterate the order, “neither to advance nor retreat, whatever might happen.”