The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-13

the King alone. marched his corps on
and left Davout struggling singlc-handed
with 1900 men against the fruss'ah
army. three times as numerous. Ia
vout's action looked like madness, but
Il resulted in the victory OF Aners'au''
which Napoleon swallowed mp. of course.
in his bulletins about Jena. but he made
Davout Duke of Anerstadt, nevertheless.
General Count dc Segur. gives the FOL
lowing estimate OF these two officers, as
called out BY this piece of business. IN
his Memoirs OF an Aidc-de-C Camp:
"Davout called him. besought him.
offered him the command; Bernadotte
knew that he was attacked by triple
forces and vet continued his peacefui
march on the opposite bank. and with
drew II was not fear OF the response
hility. nor any other fear. that heid
him back. His own people said mat
he would have been hero in his own
cause. but his disposition was such
thoroughly exclusive. He only opened
his heart when everything depended upon
him alone. Then IL became full-of ardor
and generosity and devotion for his own
people. who found in him all the seduc-
But TO endure an equal or a superior;
10 help on the glory Of another. who
ever he might be; such an effort was
always either impossible or intocrables
To him. II was believed by some that
"a personal hatred OF Davout had made
him commit this de'ostable action. which
would explain IL without rendering 1t the
more cNcusable.
AS for Dayout. who was a man Of
probity. Of order. and Of duty above all.
although ne had already done good SER
vice and had obtained the rank of mar
shat. he had nevertheless. in our eyes.
remained an obscure individual. 1t WAS
said that II was Volney which made
Kellcrman q marshal Of France. Fleurus.
Jourdan. Castiglione. Angerau; Zurich,
Massena. a hundred glorious deeds. Lee
fcbvre: Ney. Lannes; and that others
who had been singled out had previously
held the chief command; whilst. as for
DavOut. IL would seem that the Emperor
had specially desired to reward his pri-
vate services: and that his rcnown had
less to do with It than his devotion TO
Ndpoleons person. Such had been the
general opinion But by this single
day Of Anerstadt. Davout proved that
his thoroughgoing ana tenacious genius
had only needed opportunity: that great
circumstances make great men; and that
II Is by their promptitude I'm grasping
such circumstances and taking advan-
iage Of them that these men gain rccog-
milton for themselves"
it has been said that Napoleon signed
an order for Bernadotte to be sent be-
fore n court-martiaI for his conduct at
Anerstadt but was afterwards prevailed
on to rescind it.
Be-nadotte played Napoleon false
again at Wagram. and was severely GEN.
sured in a bulletin from the Emperor.
Later on Bernadottc was invited to
Sweden. and finally made her king lie
temporized for some time when the allies
were driving Napoleon out Of Germany.
Int finally appeared with his army Just
in time to turn the tide at Leipsic. and
convert that battle into a disastrous de-
feat Tor Napoleon. He had a secret
ambition 20 be made Napoleon's success
sor at Paris. but no one ever paid any
serious attention 10 his advances in that
direction. When order was being re-
stored in Europe he ruled his kingdom
with judgment and discretion. and left
his family firmly fixed upon the Swedish
throne as Is proved by the fact that
his grandson is now TO play the part
OF arbiter in quarrel which might very
wen nave involved the two greatest
nations OF the earth I'm war that would
nave been calamity to mankind.