Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-17

ing the head of his column in person, at the head
of forty men, and thus securing the return of nv
troops, but found myself forced almost close to
the walls OF Paris. Hostilities were suspended,
and the troops re-entered within the barriers
The written arrangement which was published
at the time was not signed till midnight.
On the morning of the next day the troops eva
cuated Paris, and proceeded to Essonna, where
l took position. went to see the Emperor Ma
Poleon at Fontainbleau. He seemed to be at last
aware of his situation, and disposed to terminate
q e ntest which he could no longer maintain
He resolved ON the plan of entrenching himself
OF uniting the little force which rcina ned to him.
ofendeayouring to encrease it, and to negotiate
L his was the only reasonable course he could
pursue and was completely of his opinion.
Immediately set off to order the comm encementof
those defensive works which the execution of
this plan rendered necessary. The same dav,
April the 1st, he came to visit the position -
and there he learned by the return of some Off
GERS whom had left to give up the barriers, the
Prodigious fermentation of Paris, the decla-
ration of the Emperor Alexander, and the re-
voiGtIon which was in progress. At this moment
the resolution of sacrificing the remains of the
army to his veng eance was taken he talked of
nothing but desperate attack, though there was
not single chance of success in his favor. with
the means which renamed to him. From that
moment all his orders, all his instructions. all
his discourse was in conformity to this plan
fhe execution Of I7hich .vas fred jo,. se fifth Of
April.
Accounts from Paris arrived in rapid success
sion; the decree of forfeiture reached me- The
situation of Paris and of France was deplorable !;
and the future presented the most gloomy pros
poets, unless the fall of the Emperor changed
their destnes, by making their moral peace with
all Europe, and thus extinguishing the hatred
which he had excited. The Allies, supported bv
the instruction ofall the great towns OF the king
dom, masters of the capital, and only having OPP
posed to them handful ofbrave men who had
survived so many disasters, and every where pro-
claimed that they made war on Napoleon alone
1t was necessary to put them at once to the tri-
al, to take them at their word, and to compel
them to renounce the vengeance of which they
would have made France the victim; it was ne
cessary that the army should again become ma
tional by adopting the interests Of almost the
whole OF the inhabitants, who declared against
the emperor, and loudly called for a salutarv re-
yolution which should produce their deliverancc.
Was it not the duty of every good FrenchInan
however situated, to contribute to achange which
saved the country, and delivered it from cru
SADIE OF all Europe in arms against It that por-
ton OF Europe even, which was possessed by the
family of Napoleon Had it been possible TO
reckon upon the union of all the heads of the Ar
my, it 1t had not been probable that the private
interest OF some would have clashed with the
'tiSSe t~'ISiOOo
ment had not been SO pressing, since the 4th of
April had already arrived, and IL 1yas on She
5th that that desperate action mas to haze tdksn
place. Of 1phic the object the destruction OF the
fast soldier AID Of the edpitdi-it was to concert
among the chiefs of the army that it would have
been proper 10 resort; but IN the actual state of
things, it became necessary TO confne efforts TO
the free departure of the different corps of the
army, in order to detach them from The GsnDe-
ror and neutraiise his projects, and to unite them
70 other French troops Which were at distance
from him
Such, then,fwas the object of the conferences
which took place With the Prince Of Schwartzen.
berg. While was making dispositions to inform
m Comrades Of The SITUATION of things, and of
the part which thought it my duty to take, the
Prince of Moskwa, the Duke of Vicenza, and the
Duke ofTreyiso, arrived atmy quarters at Esonne.
The three first told me that the Emperor had
been compelled TO sign the promise OF his abdi-
cation, and that thee were going with this condi-
ton TO negotiate the suspension of hostiiities. ]
made them acquainted with the arranE ements
with Prince Schwartzenberg, but which were M
complete, because had not received the written
guarantee, which had demanded and then de-
clared to them, that since they were agreed upon
| change which the safety of the State required,
| and which was the sole object ofmy proceedings,
would never separate myself from them. The
Duke OF Vicenza expressed 4 desire to see me
4 accompany them TO Paris, thinking my junction
with them after what had happened, would be Of
| great weight. / Yielded to his desires, leaving
| the command of my corps to the oldest General
Of Division, giving him orders not to make any
| movement, and announcing to him my speedy re
turn explained the motives of my change tc
Prince Schwartzenberg, who, full of loyalty
found them legitimate and unanswerable, and ]
| fulfilled the promise which had made TO In,
comrades in the interview which we had with tht
Emperor Alexander. At 8 O'Clock, one of m,
ad-de-Camps, arrived and told me, that CONTRARY
TO my direct orders, and in spite of his most tlr
| gent representations, the Generals had put tht
| troops in motion for Versailles at 4 o'clock in
| the morning, terrified as they were at the persona
| dangers with which they thought they wcr,
threatened, and OF which they had conceived al
idea from the arrival and departure Of seyera
! officers Of the Staff who had come from Fontain
bleau. The step was taken, and the thing was il
reparable.
Such is the true ard fiithful account of th
event. which has had and viii have 50 great az
influence on all my life.
The Emperor, by accusing me, wished to save
bs own glory, the opinion of his talents, and thc
honor of the soldiery. As to the honor of tn,
soldiers, there was no need Of any care for that
it never shOne with more luotre than in that cam
paignj but as towhnt concerns himself, ne viii
deceive no dispassionate man, for it would be i'm
possible to Justify that series Corporations which
marked the last years ofhis reign
lie accuses me OF treason ask where is I
recorded rejected with contempt every sor
of personal ADVANTAGE which was offered TO me