However that may be, the news which M. de Caulaincourt brought caused the Emperor to make some changes in his plans for the campaign.  His Majesty entirely abandoned the idea of repairing in person to Berlin, as he had expressed his intention of doing, and, realizing the necessity of ascertaining first of all the contemplated operations of the grand army of Austria, commanded by the Prince of Schwarzenberg, penetrated into Bohemia; but learning through the couriers of the army and his spies that eighty thousand Russians still remained on the opposite side with a considerable body of the Austrian army, he retraced his steps after a few engagements in which his presence decided the victory, and on the 24th we found ourselves again at Bautzen.  His Majesty from this place sent the King of Naples to Dresden, in order to restore the courage of the King of Saxony and the inhabitants when they should find the enemy at the gates of their city.  The Emperor sent them the assurance that the enemy’s forces would not enter, since he had returned to defend its approaches, and urged them at the same time not to allow themselves to be dismayed by any sudden or unexpected attack made by isolated detachments.  Murat arrived at a most opportune moment, for we learned later that consternation had become general in the city; but such was the prestige attached to the Emperor’s assurances that all took courage again on learning of his presence.

After the King of Naples had gone to fulfill this mission, Colonel Gourgaud was called during the morning into the Emperor’s tent, where I then was.  “I will be tomorrow on the road to Pirna,” said his Majesty; “but I shall halt at Stolpen.  As for you, hasten to Dresden; go with the utmost speed; reach it this night.  Interview on your arrival the King of Naples, Durosnel, the Duke of Bassano, and Marshal Gouvion Saint-Cyr; reassure them all.  See also the Saxon minister Gersdorf.  Say to him that you could not see the king because you set out in such haste; but that I can to-morrow bring forty thousand men into Dresden, and that I am preparing to enter with all the army.  Next day you will see the commandant of the engineering corps; you will visit the redoubts and the fortifications of the town; and when you have inspected everything, you will return quickly and meet me at Stolpen.  Report to me exactly the real state of affairs, as well as the opinion of Marshal Saint-Cyr and the Duke of Bassano.  Set out.”  The colonel left immediately at a gallop, though he had eaten nothing as yet that day.

The next evening at eleven o’clock, Colonel Gourgaud returned to the Emperor, after performing all the requirements of his mission.  Meanwhile the allied army had descended into the plain of Dresden, and had already made some attacks upon the advance posts.  It resulted from information given by the colonel that when the King of Naples arrived, the city, which had been in a state of complete demoralization, now felt that its only hope was in the Emperor’s arrival.