The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-03-04
Davoust, incensed, did rot remain ST.

percr, the king of Naples must be cur
ed of the habit of making useless anG
imprudent attacks, that only fatigue the
vanguard. Never before were men.
blood SO prodigally spilled; and, be-
lieve me, it is worth preserving in 6
campaign like this"
&c The prince of Eckmul has discov err
ed an excellent way to do So" replied
Murat disdainfully; " it is to forbid his
soldiers to fight. Apparently he fol
lows the same receipt himself"
The unbcnding Davoust, who had in.
controvertibly proved himself brave, and
who now, especially, wished to prove
himself in the right, addressed Murat ii
an angry tone:
" And what have all your rash attacks
accomplished, against an army which al.
ways effects retreat, previously decided
on, and wisely planned or a rear-guard,
which never abandons a position, save
when on the point of being beaten"
"Will you tell" answered Mura.,
sneeringly, "when it would abandon its
position, if it were never attacked, nor
on the point of being beaten?" H
Some hours later !" said Devoust,
who had ubderstandipgly judged of the
Russian generals plans, "because re-
treat is part undertaken and invariably
executed; one which tLey- will accom-
plish by fighting, just as we please
What do we gain then from attacking
troops, who would retire tomorrow, if
not routed to, day ?"
Glory l"replied Murst.
'And lose thereby half the vanguard"
sharply continued Davoust. We shall
see, when we arrive without cavalry at
Moscow. how much assistance the glory
of the king of Naples i'll be to US, with
not a horseman under his command"
Murat, exasperated: feI cely interrup-
ted him
Marshall" said be, "you would find
nothing imprudent or useless in my con-
duet, were | under your orders as you
are under mine; it is well known, how
ever, that the prince of Eckmul likes
not to be subject TO any that it would
please him to be reputed the hero of
this expedition, even at the expense of
the most exalted but I swear to him
there is a place for all-let linn try to
fin his
The reproach told Murat had inten
laid emphasis on the words,
g the prince of Eckmul likes not to be
subject to any and
a slight contraction was observable on
the brow of Napoleon. Davoust, aware
that he was attacked in vulnerable
quarter, and for a thing of which the
emperor frequently accused him, hasten
ed to protest that it was his devotion
alone that caused him to speak and act
as he i id. Murat interrupted him still
more fercely:
$50! it is hatred to me? Well, |
then it is time to end it; it has existed
since the campaign in Egypt, and I am
weary of it. If Davoust will recollect
that he wears sword as we'll as myself, |
I give him"
At these words, Napoleon, until now
Indifferent to the controver
sy, raised his head, measured Murat
with look that made the words die up
On his lips, and in that authoritative
lone which he so rarely assumed, but
which was irresistible, said to him:
=" The king of Naples has nothing to
give the prince of Eckmul, but-or-
ders."
Murst, satisfied, Notwithstanding the
narshness Of the accent, that these words
established the right of command, re-
turned to his quarters. The emperor,
alone with Davoust, spoke to him kind
but botter seconded in his rapid |
march, and his desire of giving pitched
battle to the enemy, by the impetuosity
of Murat, than the prudent reserve of
Davoust, he represented to him in a
friendly manner, that all kinds of merit |
could not be united in the same person
that to lead a vanguard was not to direct
an army and that Murat with his bold
ness, might possibly have overtaken Ba-
grafton, whom Davoust had suffered by |
his dilatoriness, to escape. Notwith-
standing its mildness, this reproach
Davoust, who retired to his
tent more than ever enraged against the
king of Naples. Shortly after, the lat
ter received positive assurance that which
ever pursued the quarrel further should
forthwith be remanded to France.
The next day Murat and Davoust to-
zether, and by the command of the en-
peror, invaded Viasma. But the day
after they were again at variance, for
Murat finding the enemy in front of him,
to fight, and gave the word
10. attack. His cavalry Immediately
dashed upon that of the Russians, and
we're in turn pursued by the infantry of
The latter. Murat, determined to ad-
rance his, or rather Davoust's infantry,
ind accordingly placed .himself at the
read of Compans' division. AT this
uncture. the prince of Eckmul came up,