About the middle of March, the Emperor passed several days at Rambouillet; there were held some exciting hunts, in one of which his Majesty himself brought to bay and killed a stag near the pool of Saint-Hubert.  There was also a ball and concert, in which appeared Crescentini, Mesdames Grassini, Barelli, and several celebrated virtuosos, and lastly Talma recited.

On the 13th of April, at four o’clock in the morning, the Emperor having received news of another invasion of Bavaria by the Austrians, set out for Strasburg with the Empress, whom he left in that city; and on the 15th, at eleven o’clock in the morning, he passed the Rhine at the head of his army.  The Empress did not long remain alone, as the Queen of Holland and her sons, the Grand Duchess of Baden and her husband, soon joined her.

The splendid campaign of 1809 at once began.  It is known how glorious it was, and that one of its least glorious victories was the capture of Vienna.

At Ratisbon, on the 23d of April, the Emperor received in his right foot a spent ball, which gave him quite a severe bruise.  I was with the service when several grenadiers hastened to tell me that his Majesty was wounded, upon which I hastened to him, and arrived while M. Yvan was dressing the contusion.  The Emperor’s boot was cut open, and laced up, and he remounted his horse immediately; and, though several of the generals insisted on his resting, he only replied:  “My friends, do you not know that it is necessary for me to see everything?” The enthusiasm of the soldiers cannot be expressed when they learned that their chief had been wounded, though his wound was not dangerous.  “The Emperor is exposed like us,” they said; “he is not a coward, not he.”  The papers did not mention this occurrence.

Before entering a battle, the Emperor always ordered that, in case he was wounded, every possible measure should be taken to conceal it from his troops.  “Who knows,” said he, “what terrible confusion might be produced by such news?  To my life is attached the destiny of a great Empire.  Remember this, gentlemen; and if I am wounded, let no one know it, if possible.  If I am slain, try to win the battle without me; there will be time enough to tell it afterwards.”

Two weeks after the capture of Ratisbon, I was in advance of his Majesty on the road to Vienna, alone in a carriage with an officer of the household, when we suddenly heard frightful screams in a house on the edge of the road.  I gave orders to stop at once, and we alighted; and, on entering the house, found several soldiers, or rather stragglers, as there are in all armies, who, paying no attention to the alliance between France and Bavaria, were treating most cruelly a family which lived in this house, and consisted of an old grandmother, a young man, three children, and a young girl.

Our embroidered coats had a happy effect on these madmen, whom we threatened with the Emperor’s anger; and we succeeded in driving them out of the house, and soon after took our departure, overwhelmed with thanks.  In the evening I spoke to the Emperor of what I had done; and he approved highly, saying, “It cannot be helped.  There are always some cowardly fellows in the army; and they are the ones who do the mischief.  A brave and good soldier would blush to do such things!”