The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-12-20
Rivalry OF Murat and Davoust,

Napoleon had just placed Davoust under the or.
ders OF Murai, who commanded the vanguard of
the army, and the two generals had advanced as
far as Slaukow it was the 9Th of August On
the 25th, Mura: pushed he enemy beyond the Os
ma. lie crossed the river with his cavalry, and
brskiy attacked the Russians, who were posted
upon height beyond the stream, and who could,
IN TINS poslon, easily maintain an obstinate con.
h'ct they did 50, at first, with considerable sue.
Ncess, and Murat. whatever is said of him on this
'unJect, wisring to spare his cavalry In a spot
Where the ground was so difficult, seDt orders to
battsry Of Davoust to support his operations. and
to harass the enemy upon the height He waited.
for while, 10 observe the success Of this new at
tack-but all was silent; and the Rus .ians, taking
advantage this singular inactivity descended from
ther poson, a;s'' Tor The moment repulsed the cav
airy nf the King of Naples 10 the very banks of
the O'na, that hIws IN the depths of q ravioe in.
to which both men and horses were in danger of
being precpa ed. Murat supported his men by
his words aud his example, and despatched sec
ond order 10 The commaudant of the battery: but
again there vas no reply 10 this order, and word
l Was brought back to the King Of Naples that the
feommandant alleging his instructions, which for.
bade him, under penalty of being cashiered 10 en-
cage without an order from Davoust, had foruallv
refused to fra. A momenary anger inaamed m,
face of the rg Of Naples, but more urgent peril
demanded his attention the Russians coutnuvd
to press his cavalry. He at once placed himself At
The head oil tie 4.h Of The Lancers spurred agains,
the enemy, ana IN Ioomsnt carried the heights
uery
On The following day the two lieutenapts of Ma.
Poiet n met IN his presence: the King Of Napes.
strong in The feeling that ne had justified his t-mer
" oy succe'sI-ths frince OF Eckinuhl, calm in his
opinion, based upon skill that had Of on been
tested. Murat complained bitterly of tn. order.
gwen by DavuUst TO his subordinate officers The
Emperor had listened with his hands crossed be-
hind his back, h's head slightly bent upon his
breast, concsaling an air of satisfaction and with
bis foo! playing with Russian bail which he
-roled forward, and which his eye followed aten.
tvriy. Davoust, greatly irritalsd, did not linger
with his . ply
Sire" he said. addressing the Emperor, ",he
h'ng OF Naples must be taught to give over these
us less aud lnpradent attacks, which harrass the
vanguard of the army. Never has the blood of
men been lavished so heedlsssly, and, believe me,
SIRE, they are well worth preserving in campaign
like this"
"And the Prince of Eekmuhl has invented an
excellent means for that" said Mura disdainfully
-" that is, to prevent his soldiers from fighting.
| would advise him to reserve this recipe for
HIMSELF
The obstinate Davoust, who had proved suffi.
GENTLY that he was a man Of courage, and who
wished, above all, to prove that he was in the
fght turned to the King Of Naples, and said in
tone of irritation.
And Of what benefit has been all your rash
attacks against an army which is eifecting re.
treat, sklluy combined, and decided in advance.
and against a rear guard, which abandons its DO
stons only when it is on the point of being
beaten"
And can you tell NO." replied Murat, almost
with sneer, " when would it abandon them if il
is not attacked, and if did not place it upon the
point of being beaten?"
:" II would abandon them few hours later"
crled D.voust, who had formed correct opinion
OF the plans OF the Russian generals for this
retreat is course resolved upon, and one which
they Will effect with or without fighting, according
TO our movements. What do we gain, then. bv
attacking troops. which will retire tomorrow, If
we 40 not drive them back today"
GLORY! replied Murat.
-" And we lose the half of our vanguard. re-
Joined Davoust, bitterly; "and we shall reach
Moscow without cavalry, and we shall see if the
glory OF the King OF Naples, without a hor.emap
under his command, will be Of any great assistance
to U.S."
Murat' highly exaspsrated, violently interrupted
Marshal Davoust," he said, "you would find
nothing useless or imprudent in my conduct, if
were under your orders as you are under mine. It
Is well known that the Prince of Eckmuhl does
not like to obey any one, and that he would be
wen pleased 10 be reputed the hero of this eypedi.
Son, at tho expense even of the most exalted but
swear to him that there is share here for all
LEI him try to find hiss
The rsProsch was we'll aimed. Murat had, in.
ten,lonaliy, emphasized the words, " the Prince of
hot INV W oUcy any one, ana ma
pueon had slightly contracted his brows Dayoust
who felt That he had been assaied upon a weak
point and for a fault of which he had been often
accused, even by tho Emperor, has,ened TO protest
that II was his devotion to his majesty alone which
had led him to speak and act as he did. Murat
again violently interrupted him.
So lhen,' he said, it is hatred against me Z
We must finish with it. II has ALWAYS been go
since the campaign of Egypt. | am weary of i,
and II the Prince of Eckmuhl is willing to remem.
osr that he has been a common soldier as have
ne Is Wiling 10 remember that he wears sabre.
llkewise-1 give him.
A. these words, Napoleon, until now ind;f1e,snt
this quarrel, at once raised his head. mea.ursd
Ifirat with glance which caused the word, IN
upon his lips, and with that accent of autboritv
ich he could so readily assume, and which was
irresistible, he said to him:
he hlng of Naples has nothing but orders TO
the Prince of Eckmuhl"
lrat, satisfied with these words, notwithstapd
lie severity of their tone, established his right
mmand, retired to his quarters
rhe Emperor, left alone with Davoust, smoke
ldly to him. But better seconded in his ea,er
kch, and in his desire to overtake and give battle
to the ensmy, by the impeiuosi,y of Murat, than
~ the prudent caution of Dav0ust, he represented
TO him kindly, That one man could not have
every kind OF merit; that to lead 4 vanguard was
not 10 direct the movements of an army and that
Nurat, with his imprudencs, would perhaps hsvs
overiaken Bagraiion, whom Davoust had, by his |
siownsss, suffered 10 escspe."
Notwiths anlng the mildness of the tone in |
which the Emperor spoke to Dayous', he was of. |