The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-05-03
HABITS OF NAPOLEON WHEN IN
CAMP.

We translate the following passage, from
Gourgaud's reply to Count Philip De Segurs
history of the campaign in Russia. II 10 pro-
per 70 remark that throughout that campaign,
Gourgaud, who was an orderly officer and an
aide.de.camp of the Emperor, had every op.
portunity of becoming acquainted with his
habits. The picture is, therefore, no doubt,
perfectly just. The reader will be struck with
the prodigious activity of the man.
"The active life which he led in the camp,
was subordinate TO military operations
1t was HE custom TO ride on horseback with
the army, when it was in pursuit or in the
neighborhood of the enemy. When il was ex-
ecuting grand maneuvres, and the operations
were at a considerable distance, he waited un-
til the different corps which were on the march,
had arrived at the positions which he had pre-
scribed for them. He then remained at his
head quarters. There, he turned his attention
to the interior administration of France, and
answered the reports sent TO him every day, by
his ministers, from Paris for he governed the
empire, at the same time that he commanded
the army. Economical of time, he calculated
the time of his departure with so much nicely,
that he always arrived at the head ofhis corps
at the very moment when his presence was
most needed. On such occasions, he travelled
in carriage, which moved with extreme ra-
pidity. But even during such journeys, he
was not idle. He employed his time in read
ing dispatches, and very often received reports
from his generals, to which he dispatched an
swers on the spot. Expresses from Paris were
sometimes handed to him. A lamp, fixed in
the bottom OF his carriage, was kept lighted
throug bout the night, and by its light he was
accustomed to labor, as though he had been in
his closet. His aids and his orderles rode by
the side of his carriage; and brigade of his
saddle-horses followed with his escort"
$50 happy was the organization of this
man, extraordinary in all respects, that he
could sleep an hour, be awakened to give an
order, go TO sleep again, and again be awaken
ed, without suffering either in his health, or
for the want of rest. Six hours of sleep were
sufficient for him, whether he took them con-
secutively or at different intervals in the TWEEN
ty-four hours.
For several days before great battle, he
was constantly on horseback, accommodating
the enemy's force and position, studying his
field Of battle. and taking a general view of
the bivouacs. Even at night, he visited the
line, to ascertain with still greater exactness,
the force of the enemy by the number of his
fires; and, in few hours, he broke down sew
eral horses. On the day of the battle, he placed
himself in central position, from which he
could see all that was passing. He had near
| him, his aids and his orderly officers. He sent
them, with orders, in all directions. At a short
distance, in his rear, were four squadrons of
the guard, one Of each ann; but when he lcctf::
that position, he only took single company
for an escort. He generally apprised the mar
shals of the spot he had selected, in order that
the officers whom they sent to him might have
no difficulty in finding him. As soon as his
presence became necessary, at any point, he
galloped to it,