Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-23

nation, and thenceforward applying N.Y.
sell exclusively to the care of my family, |
once more returned TO a private life, from
which a violent crisis withdrew me.
The whole of France was occupied by
the events which preceded those of the
goth March : | attached myself neither di-
rectly or indirectly to what was preparing.
AS a citizen, | remained Submissive to the
laws !; az a faithful subject, l offered, on
the first appeal which the king made to the
French, my services tv his Majesty ; they
were not accepted.
Napoleon arrived at the Thuilleries on
the goth of March. The king had already
quilted Lille and France, when I myself
left Cassel, and appeared at the audience
OF the Emperor.
Some time after | received letters of SER
vice to 90 and take the command of the
second military division, and of the troops
which were assembled in that district.-I
displayed great activity i'm organising my
corps d'armee and the National guards
| gave to the second division the move-
ment which the urgent circumstances in
which the country was placed required ;
but ALL did was but to fulfil the duty
which had been confided to me, and it was
only from love to my country that L pre-
pared to corporate III a war which mcnac-
ed it. / beheld on our frontiers men arm
ed against Frahce ; they were to me enc
mics. L examined only the danger which
threatened my country Il did not hesitate
to expose once more a life which has al
ways been devoted To France.
After the affair of Fleurus | was directed
towards Wavre, while the army marched
IN Waterloo. The enemy who was in
front of me was completely defeated, when
L learnt the lamentable catastrophe which
the arms OF Napoleon had just experience
ed. My situation became dreadful /; my
troops had left Wavre far behind, and for
more than four-and-twenty hours there
was nothing to prevent considerable forces
from suddenly overpowering me. For
tune, however, was not averse to mel
operated my retreat in good order, though
continually harrassed by the enemy, who
was in pursuit of me, and who made every
endeavor to cut me Oft from Paris | kept
every where good order. Though wound
ell, | braved every danger : our retrograde
movement was protected by the advanta-
Ses we obtained every time the enemy at
tempted ito press upon US. My wishes
were fulfilled | saved F~renchmen. len
tered the capital with the army which had
been confided to me, and a considerable
and untouched mdterieL.
The military convention concluded at Pa.
ris, sent US TO the left bank of the Loire
we we're on our second days march,
when we learnt the entrance of the kino
into his capital. The army FASTENED "a
appoint commissioners, to deposit at the
loot of the throne the expression of its ODE.
dIence. Aful! and entire submission was
afterwards addressed to his majesty, and
the white cockade was hoisted. L was a.
mong the first to sign the act of submission,
and to assume the royal colour | engaged
all the officers, all the soldiers to prove
themselves obedient, to surround with
Their homage, with testimonies of their fl.
deity and of their absolute devotion. tbe
Sovereign who was restored to France
This language, which was dictated TO me
oy reason and a pure patriotism, rendered
fine suspected by some generals and seye-
raj officers (; | was publicly accused of hay.
ing received two millions of money to deli
yer up the army. This accusation. which
gained some degree of credit, has changed
nothing In my conduct ; | still profess the
same principles. Certainly, / did not
thus endeavOr to secure for myself claims
on the king {: my Intention was not, to soil
CIT situations, and to transform myselfin-
70 a shameless cOurtier. l sincerely ex-
horted a return to his majesty, because it
wa the union of all Frenchmen that could
alone give force capable of resisting the e.
WIS which threatened to fall upon them I:
1t was only by a firm aud unanimous de-
sire to attach themselves to the Sovereign
tfat they could hope to save their country.
AS far as depended OH myself, | contri.
buted to maintain the most strict discip-
line throughout the army, and it NAV be
safely, affirmed, that the troops never
ceased to display the most decided mode
ration, and scarcely had to reproach them
selves with those slight disorders always
unavoidable where "A great number of men
are assembled. And yet, of how many
caiumDies has not this submissive and dis
cIplined army been the victim 4! It has
feen endeavored to vilify it, in order that
excuses might be found for degrading il.
About the 9TH of August | was at Limo
.ges l received orders to give up the COM
mand OF the Sd and 4th corps. Iimnedi-
ately Invested myself of all sort of autbori-
lty, and went to inhabit a small county
house winch had previously taken ; Iliv
ed very retired. My wife and sou prepar-
ed to join me in this hermitage, when the
Project OF Limoges ordered me to leave the
department within four and twenty hours.