The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-08-27
Rirhmunn 9ispatft.
SATURDAY MORNING. s. p AVG. d -, ;
= el-.-Iss-11.- r,-rf,.
Napoleon the Great.

SATURDAY MORNING. AUG. q. 1850
Napoleon the Great.
The following particulars relative to the
forms aad habits observed by Napoleon I. in
his campaigns, are not without interest at the
present time, as ii IL much the custom to
institute comparisons between the first En-
pcror of the French and his successor
Whenever Napoleon /. halted in the course
Of campaign, whether he was lodged in
palace or cottage, the first thing done was to
prepare for him bed d-chamber and a writing
room. The latter Was always the best OF the
two, and he attached more importance to 1t
than TO any other apartments he might occu-
py. When he biyouaeked with his troops on
the field, a second tene adjoining the Imperial
tent was prepared as the cabinet for business,
and IL was always arranged with the most mi
mute care.
In the middle Of the cabinet stood a large
table, on which was spread out the best exist
ing map of the theatre OF the war Along with
the map were placed pins, headed with wax
Of various coiors, for the purpose OF marking
the positions occupied by the troops. The
Emperor attached more importance to his map
than TO any of the necessaries of life, and II
was indispensable to place the map and the
pins upon the table before anything else was
attended to. At night twenty or thirty wax
candles We're placed round the map, and on it
was laid a compass.
During marches, reconnoissances, and en-
| gagements, the Grand Eqnerry carried the
| ton, 50 that it might always be at hand, and
| ready 10 be presented to the Emperor when
/ ever he uttered the words " La torft" In the
four corners of the cabinet there were placed,
| whenever il was possible. four small tables for
! the secretaries 10 write II.
| Every history of the time records the mar
! yellous facility with which Napoleon L. could
! dictate different orders TO three or four per-
| sons at once, and IL was requisite TO transcrlbe
these orders with q rapidity no less Wonderlni
/ than that with which they were uttered. Inc
| secretaries had formed, for the sake OF expedl-
| ton, "A curious sort OF hieroglypMc Writinsi
| for example, y dragons tail indicated the
French army, whip stood for Davousts
| corps q thorn for England, sponge for COM
| mercial cities, &c. Napoleon possessed q Pc
| culiar talent for deciphering these characters
| OF course the orders thus dictated were iran
| scribed by the secretaries before being dis
| patched to the individuals for whom they were
| des stined.
Besides the Secretaries there was Keeper
/ of the Portfolio. He wore livery, and rank
| ed with the Wallets de-Chnmbre. This man
never quilted the door of the Emperors cabi-
| net and when the army was moving from
place 10 place he rode in front OF one OF the
| Joprgons containing the books and papers OF
the cabinet Whenever couriers arrived, the
Grand Equerry or the Grand Marshal opened
the packets and laid the dispatches before the
Emperor. If he were in his carriage the en-
velopes Were speedily seen lying from Inc
windows; and if the dispatches were OF no
importance, their fragments were seen 1uttFF-
ing after the envelopes. When IN MS carriage
he would frequently occupy himself IN tear
ing useless papers into extremely small pieces
with him it was a necessity 10 be always en-
gagged in doing something.
The Imperial carriage invariably contained
newspapers, books, and sometimes even the
newest novels, and the Emperor read rapidly
everything that came in his way. The car
riaCe WAS fitted up with a mattress, on which
he would lie down and take a nap when great
ly fa4igued Within the carriage there We're
always drawers with locks, in which papers
a ijsf n
up conveniently, so that the Emperor could
glance over it whenever he wished and at
night the inside of the carriage WAS lighted by
| n large lamp. 1t was very plain painted green,
and had first rate springs. The seat facing the
| Emperor's was usually occupied by INC drahd
| Marshal
Napoleon's dress WAS always plain and neat.
| In summer it consisted of the green chasseur
| uniform with the plaque of the Legion OF
| Honor When the weather was cold or damp,
| he wore, over this Uniform, either the tradl-
| tional rediHsotte gTiS, or Inc CLOAK WIN Tue
embroidered red collar, distinguished by the
| designation of the MGHfeGa de MdrenSo lie
| had always in readiness seven or eight saddle
horses of mediocre quality, but very quiet
and steady On horseback Napoleon generally
| proceeded al a slow pace or gentle trot, ana
| not unfrequeutly, when absorbed in medlta-
| ton he would give his horse the rein; but his
| horses were accust toned to this habit, and they
! instinctiyely followed the two chaSseurs VINO
| preceded the Emperor. When walking, if not
! totally abstracted by thought, he would mum
| a tune or he would intone few words IN
| Italian, in the manner OF reeitatlVei then ne
| would suddenly break off and address himself
| to some one of his suite. If what he was about
TO say was n matter of no importance, he
! would address the individual simply by his
| name Berthier, Caulincourt, or Mortler; but
| If he had any affair of business to commune
| cate he would commence in formal tone,
| Prince de Neufchatel, Due de Eicenze, Duo de
| Treyise, &c.
When Napoleon fixed his quarters in town,
| Berthier was always lodged in the same house
! with him. and the Grand Equerry was never
| allowed TO be absent, Before the Emperors
| arrival, q courier was sent forward 10 make
| the necessary preparations, and 4 list OF the
| Iinperial suite was made out, indicating the
| places in which each person was quartered.-
| A commissary was also sent forward to pur-
chase the necessary supplies OF provisions,
which were paid for III ready money AS 10
| the Marshals, they almost invariably raised
| their supplies by requisitlon.
| Fourteen carriages were usually filled with
the provisions and baggage OF the emperor s
suite Mules with panniers carried such sup.
| plies of provisions as could be purchased
| when opportunities occurred, in case OF its be-
ing found necessary to halt in a village, or to
| biyouac in the open field. In the latter case
| 1--WE tents were pitched in some spot selected
by the Emperor himself. These tents were
| covered with blue and white striped canvas.
! Two placed closely together and communicate
ing one with the other served for the Emper-
or's sleeping room and cabinet de frGcati. The
| officers of The highest rank took their meals in
|
the officers of the secondary rank, and the fifth
was occupied by the Grand Marshal. These
tents were always pitched near the quarters OF
the Imperial Guard and they Were perfectly
| accessible TO any one who had occasion to ap-
| proaeh them, i'll spite OF all that has been said
| and written to the contrary.
Nothing done at headquarters was pre-ar-
| ranged and orders were issued, as II were,
| FtmBrocisite; nevertheless. every one was re-
| quired to he in readiness for the immediate
| Derformance of the duty assigned TO them
! Unlocked for intervals of repose, unexpected
| orders for departure, alterations of time, and
| change of routes and places, were matters of
| continual occurrence. The business which
| supervened. the reports and estafettes which
/ arrived were the signals by which the Empe-
| ror divided his time. Often, just at the mo-
ment when brief interval OF rest was ex-
pected. the words lie roitsre or a cheral sudden
| ly resounded through the camp, and in a mo-
| ment ell was hustle and movement AT head
quarters. In the space of ten minutes every
| one was ready; the march was often very
/ rapid. and neither rain, snow, nor obstacles of
! any kind, would cause The least change of the
/ plans fixed upon.
| When circums tances Obliged the Emperor
! to halt at night in the open air, it was custo-
! mary In cold weather to kindie a large fire,
! which was fed by yast quantities Of wood
| M. Cadet Ga.scourt afiirms that he has seen
whole trees felled for this purpose. Whilst
the fire was burning the Emperor would walk
about, chatting with Berthier, or absorbed in
meditation, meanwhile taking large quantities
of snuf kicking aside the stones he encoun-
tered in his way, or tossing branches of trees
into the fire.
The NEST harassing service at headquarters
was that of the orderly officers; but, never
theless these appointments were held to be of
the highest distinction, and were eagerly
sought for. They were filled by young men
belonging to the highest families in France;
but more distinguished by their talents and
attainments than by their birth. Two were
ffsaya .,f he,