Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-11-19
NUMBER &C.

:. -. :. .;s.t ..rs..l..i - -. Il
orders with rapidity no less wOndiTail dan
that with which they were uttered. tThs uee:
rctnries had formed; for the sake Of expsdi-
tiOn, curious sort of hieroElypbic WTitingi
for examples dragons tail Indicated the
French army whip stood for Dsvousfs corps;
a thorn for England aspODge for commercial
cities, &c. Napoleon possessed peculiar tai
ent for deciphering these characters. OF
course the orders thus dictated W'sre trans
cribed by the secretaries before being despatch:
ed to the individuals for whom they we're des-
tined.
the portfolio. He wore . livery and ranked
with the valcts de chambre. This man never
quilted the door of the Emperor's cabinet, and
when the army was moving from place TO place
he rode in front of one Of the fourgons con-
tanning the books and papers Of the cabinet
Whenever couriers arrived, the Grand EQuer.
ry or the Grand Marshal opened the packets
and laid the dispatches before the Emperor.
If he were in his carriage the envelopes were.
speedily seen flying from the windows; and If
the dispatches were Of no importance, their
fragments were seen huttering after the envel-
opcs. When in his carriage he would fire.
quently occupy himself in tearing useless pa
pers into extremely small pieces with him it
was a necessity to be always engaged 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:
| rage was fitted up with mattTass OH which
he would lie down and take nap when great
ly fatgucd. Within the carriage there were
always drawers with locks, in which papers
were deposited. A list of the relays were
fixed up conveniently, SO that the Emperor:
could glance over it whenever he wished; and
at night the inside Of the carriage was lighted
by large lamp. 1t was very plain, painted
green, and had first rate sprlngs The seat
iaceing the Empcror's was usually occupied by
the Grand Marshal. .4..'Iaa
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 his uniform, either the tradi-
tional redingOtte 0ris, or the cloak with the
embroidered red collar, distinguished by the
designation of the Wdnteau dc Mdren0O. He
had always in readiness seven or eight saddle
horses Of mediocre quality, but very quiet and
steady. On horseback Napoleon generally.
proceeded at slow pace or gentle trot; and
not unfrequently when absorbed in meditation
he would give his horse the rein; but bis hOr-
ses were accustomed to this habit, and they
instinctively followed the two chasseurs who
preceded the Emperor. When walking, If not
totally abstractcd by thought, be would hum
q tune, or he would intone few words of Ital-
ian. in the manner of recitativc; then he would
suddenly break off and address himself to some.
Of his suite. If what he was about to say.
was matter Of no importance, he would ad-
dress the individual simply by his name, Ber-
thicr, CaulincOurt, or MOrtier; but II he had
any business to communicate, he would COM.
lnence in formal tone, Prince do Neulchateli
Duo de Vicenza, Due de Trevise, 10.
When Napoleon fixed his ouartersin q town.
Berthier was always lodged IN the same house
with him, and the Grand Equeuy was never
allowed to be absent Before the Emperor's
arrival, courier was sent forward TO make
the necessary preparations, and q list Of the
imperial suite was made out Indicating the
places in which each person was quartcred.--
commissary was also sent forward to pur-
chase the necessary supplies Of provisions.
which were paid for in ready money. As to
| the Marshols, they almost invariably raised
their supplies by requisition. saad2
Fourteen carriages were usually 0lled with
the provisions and baggage Of the Empercrs
suite. Mules with panniers carried such sup
plies of provisions as could be purchased when
opportunities occurred, in case of its being
found necessary to halt in village, or to biv.
ouac in the open field. In the latter case ave
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 communicating.
one with the other. served for the Emperor's
sleeping room and cabinet do trGrGI Tho
officers OF the highest rank took their meals III
the third tent, the fourth was appropriated to
the officers OF the secondary rank, and the flfth
was occupied BY the Grand Narahal. These
| tents Mcrc Always pitched near the Imperial
Guard, and they werc perfectly accessible 70
any one who had occasion to approach tkctns
in spite Of all that has been said and wYitteIr
to the contrary. t. 9f
| Nothing done at headquarters was prs-ar.
ranged, and orders we're issued, as Il were,rd
ramprOrasstc; nevertheless, every one Was re-
quired to be in readiness for the imHlgdiato
performance of the duty assigned to tkem.--
Unlocked for intervals of repose; unexpected
orders for departure, alterations Of time; and
changes Of routes and places, were matters Of
continual occurrence. The business whiSk
supcrvened, the reports and estaiettes whiek
arrived, were the signals by which tho Enbdf;
or divided his time. Often, just at the n1oEse6t
when brief interval of rest was expected. .tka
words te couture, or eherGl, suddenly re66Ahd:
cd through the camp; and in moment IL VII
hustle and movement at headquarters; b
the space of ten minutes every one was rea1yI
the march was often very rapid, and heithef
rain, snow, nor obstacles Of any kind w6uId
cause the least change Of the plans flxed upon:
When circumstances obliged the Empegor to
halt all night in the open air, it was customary
in cold weather, TO kindle Ere, which was fed
10y large quantities Of wood. M Cadet Casssi.
court affirms that he has seen whole tiAm feII:
ed for this purpose. Whilst the fire Wa6,hAEn;
ing the Emperor would walk about, chatting
with Berthier, or absorbed in meditation.
meanwhile taking large quantities oG IsnuiI;
kicking aside the stones be encountered ls his
way, or tossing branches Of trees INTO ehs Iare.
The most harrassing service ct head. QUAR-:
ters was that of the orderly OlIicsre; btt: nsS:
erthelcss. these appointments were held TO be
Of the highest distraction; and were SGstrly
sought for. They we're 6lIod By yonne men
belonging to the highest hmilieA 1n ESanAo :
but more distinguished bJ their talents ~
Attainments than BY thetr. birth. THt 80
always on duty neEf the pEss6n 0f tiI6 81:
or: but during IN eneaeemehe hS a7kI 4 80
self OF the services a aIl Ind ,At
As soon e Tie lpElll hpk n
On eE1sesr @6st2S anes -
attendapos adtahSe WI
hally. and y apits ~ asz9