Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-10-06
LITERARY QUARREL.


Gen, Gourgaud's volume, entitled
"Napo'eon and the Grand Army in
Russia; or, Critical Examination of
the Work of Count Philip e Segur,"
has excited strong sensation, which
it was easily forseen must end in du-
ell between the two military authors.
Segur's work is too well known TO your
readers, TO offer comment on it. Here
it was a matter Of wonder how he OBJ
tanned all the information contained in
it, for he seems to have been at Ma
poleon's elbow, constantly to have wit
messed every thing that passed in the
Council and out oft: but the book was
a delightful one to read; and being
pleased, we were not over scrupulous
in questioning either the sources or
the authenticity Of the statements it
contained. Not SO Gen. Gourgaud:-
the general had lived three years with
the "great man." at ST Helena; he had
been his orderly officer during the cam
paign in Russia; he had already written
on that sore subject, Waterloo; and
though his work was proved to be a
tissue of falsehoods and absurdilies
from one end to the other, by NJ Ga
not, the brother-in-law of Marshal Ney
yet that did not discomfort him in the
least, and he wrote some rodomontade
on St. Helena. Therefore, publica-
ton that reduced the great Colossus
to something like the natural size, was
sure to disturb his bile His work is
well written, and, when the reputation
of his idol is not interested, it may be
consulted as curious, and oftentimes
impartial. He exposes the numerous
errors into which Segur had fallen, and
very satirically accounts for them from
the fact, that there was nothing militia
~ about General Segur, save his title
and his epaulettes. Segur was Mare
chal-des-Logis du Palais, Quarter
Master of the Palais, and all his func-
tons he says, consisted in acting as
courier to the Emperor starting few
hours before his imperial Master, and
preparing lodgings for him This be-
ing the case, Gourgaud naturally e.
nough begins by turning into ridicule
Segur's dedication 10 the veterans Of
the grand army, whom he styles his
COMPANIONS, whose noble foreheads are
rurrowed with all the thunders Of Eu.
rope. Gourgaud asks which Of them
were his companions! in what field they
fought or bled together? He tells him
boldly that he wears maiden sword
and has nothing military about him
save his embroidered coat. He asks
where he got his information? as he was
never in the Emperor's Cabinet, save
to prepare it for his reception; that he
could see nothing, know nothing, save
the gossip of the an.i-chamber; and he
only knew Of Council being attended
by such and such officers, except from
seeing them going backwards and for.
wards through the anti-chamber. But
we will let the General speak for him.
self: Gle relates by turns, and at the
same time, politics and military feats
Who revealed to him the political
part? stranger to affairs, having new
err approached either the Cabinet, the
Councils, or Statesmen, with whom his
services Of Quarter-Master furnished
him no means of contact Where did
he obtain his documents9in the pam
phIets or the conversation cfthe detrac
tors of Napoleon.
GAS to military deeds, they are con
fined in his work, TO series Of recitals
incorrectly stated, unfounded state
ments, and little anecdotes, for the
most part imaginary, or frequently .
literal transcript Of writings dictated
by maleyolence
| "No doubt it would be unjust to de-
mand of NJ. de Segur, under a military
point of view, what he has not put in
| his book. He had, it is true, the rank
and title of General; but when did ne
obtain his experience! He obtained all
his military rank in the performance
of civil functions, to which the custom