He was standing in order of battle when I came up to acquaint him with the operation about to be undertaken, and in which General Desaix was to take the principal share. Now, when General Desaix dispatched me to the First Consul, the space between the 9th light regiment forming his first line and the Austrian column just halted, did not exceed two hundred paces. The least movement on either side must have brought on an engagement. General Desaix, at least, so considered it, since he sent me to request the First Consul would order him to be supported, as he was under the necessity of boldly commencing the attack, to avoid the risk of being broken. General Bonaparte accordingly directed me to proceed to Kellermann, make known to him the importance of the crisis, and point out at the same time the precise spot through which General Desaix was about to appear on a scene where General Kellermann was stationed since the morning, and where he stood almost alone at that moment.
Nothing can be more improbable than such a supposition.
It is, besides, contrary to the fact. I did not wait for General Kellermann. I hastened to overtake him at the very place which the First Consul himself was pointing out with his finger. Undoubtedly I have no right to give it a positive denial, since it is vouched by General Kellermann, and I was engaged in conveying to him the First Consul's orders at the moment when the flight is alleged to have occurred. But from the point where he was stationed with his troop, neither of us could discover Desaix's division.