cavalry, and infantry marched upon a bridge which
they attacked, and this movement, which was concealed
by the rising and falling of the ground, was not
observed by Napoleon. I was at that moment
near the Emperor, awaiting his orders. We
heard a well-maintained firing of musketry. The
Russians were repulsing one of our brigades.
The Emperor ordered me to take some of the Mamelukes,
two squadrons of chasseurs, and one of grenadiers
of the Guard, and to go and reconnoitre the state of
things. I set off at full gallop, and soon
discovered the disaster. The Russian cavalry
had penetrated our squares, and was sabring our men.
I perceived in the distance some masses of cavalry
and infantry; which formed the reserve of the Russians.
At that moment the enemy advanced to meet us, bringing
with him four pieces of artillery, and ranged himself
in order of battle. I had the brave Morland
on my left, and General D’Allemagne on my right.
’Forward, my lads!’ exclaimed I to
my troop. ’See how your brothers and friends
are being cut to pieces. Avenge them! avenge our
flag! Forward!’ These few words roused
my men. We advanced as swiftly as our horses
could carry us upon the artillery, which was taken.
The enemy’s cavalry, which awaited us firmly,
was repulsed by the same shock, and fled in disorder,
galloping as we did over the wrecks of our squares.
The Russians rallied but a squadron of horse grenadiers
came up to reinforce me, and thus enabled me to hold
ground against the reserves of the Russian Guard.
We charged again, and this charge was terrible.
The brave Morland was killed by my, side.
It was downright butchery. We were opposed man
to man, and were so mingled together that the infantry
of neither one nor the other side could venture
to fire for fear of killing its own men. At
length the intrepidity of our troops overcame every
obstacle, and the Russians fled in disorder, in
sight of the two Emperors of Russia and Austria,
who had stationed themselves on a height in order
to witness the battle. They saw a desperate one,”
said Rapp, “and I trust they were satisfied.
For my part, my dear friend, I never spent so glorious
a day. What a reception the Emperor gave me when
I returned to inform him that we had won the battle!
My sword was broken, and a wound which I received
on my head was bleeding copiously, so that I was
covered with blood! He made me a General of
Division. The Russians did not return to the charge;
we had taken all their cannon and baggage, and
Prince Repnin was among the prisoners.”
Thus it was that Rapp related to me this famous battle of which he was the hero, as Kellerman had been the hero of Marengo. What now remains of Austerlitz? The recollection, the glory, and the magnificent picture of Gerard, the idea of which was suggested to the Emperor by the sight of Rapp with the blood streaming from his wound.