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#OTD 1 January, 1813, Yorck and Massenbach's letters finally reached Macdonald, the news of which prompted Murat to abandon Königsberg.
As the last of the French army in Russia began fleeing, Vilna celebrated the auspicious beginning of the New Year.
#Voicesfrom1812
As the last of the French army in Russia began fleeing, Vilna celebrated the auspicious beginning of the New Year.
#Voicesfrom1812
Between the night of 31 December to 1 January, the Prussians remaining at Tilsit began to demand money from Macdonald. The marshal, exercising the remainder of his dignity, gave out "about half, or perhaps a third, of the sum demanded," leaving the rest to the local government.
But their commanders kept coming back, asking for more, as much as 1,500 to 2,000 francs.
Having no authority to access the levies from Courland, Macdonald first "put a good face on the matter and dissimulate," but was eventually forced to give out his own money.
(Macdonald)
Having no authority to access the levies from Courland, Macdonald first "put a good face on the matter and dissimulate," but was eventually forced to give out his own money.
(Macdonald)
#OTD 31 December, 1812, on New Year’s Eve, Yorck and Massenbach left Tilsit to join Diebitsch. Macdonald, finding his corps suddenly reduced to a third, recommenced the retreat.
Eblé, the savior of the Grande Armée at the Berezina, died in Königsberg.
#Voicesfrom1812
Eblé, the savior of the Grande Armée at the Berezina, died in Königsberg.
#Voicesfrom1812
At daybreak, Massenbach informed the French that he would "occupy...the tête du pont" across the Neman. (Wilson)
His battalions, so uniform in their "enthusiastic acclamation," marched out of Tilsit, crossing the Memel River at 8 a.m. to effect a junction with Diebitsch. (Cl.)
His battalions, so uniform in their "enthusiastic acclamation," marched out of Tilsit, crossing the Memel River at 8 a.m. to effect a junction with Diebitsch. (Cl.)
The general, refusing to compromise his honor, left Macdonald a letter revealing the truth of the matter. Attached to the order from Yorck on the 30th, it read:
"The letter of General Yorck will have already in- formed your Excellency that my course of action is prescribed,
"The letter of General Yorck will have already in- formed your Excellency that my course of action is prescribed,
#OTD 30 December, 1812, Major-General Diebitsch and General Yorck signed the Convention of Tauroggen, drafted by Major von Clausewitz. It stipulated the Prussian army to declare neutrality and terminate their service for Marshal Macdonald.
#Voicesfrom1812
#Voicesfrom1812
After three days of stalled negotiations, Clausewitz succeeding in escalating his final bargain with Yorck at Tauroggen into a conference “confined to pure Prussians.”
As scheduled, Yorck and Diebitsch met at 8 a.m. on the 30th, at “the mill of Poscherun.”
(Clausewitz)
As scheduled, Yorck and Diebitsch met at 8 a.m. on the 30th, at “the mill of Poscherun.”
(Clausewitz)
Yorck appeared with Colonel von Roeder, his Chief of Staff, and Major von Seydlitz, his first aide-de-camp who had come all the way from Berlin on the 29th without any knowledge of what was about to transpire. The Major, nevertheless, was the right man for the occasion.
#OTD 29 December, 1812, Macdonald held onto Tilsit, making every futile effort to hear back from Yorck.
At night, Clausewitz presented an ultimatum to Yorck at Tauroggen-to immediately swear his commitment or put his army at Wittgenstein’s disposal.
#Voicesfrom1812
At night, Clausewitz presented an ultimatum to Yorck at Tauroggen-to immediately swear his commitment or put his army at Wittgenstein’s disposal.
#Voicesfrom1812
At Tilsit, Macdonald aimlessly waited for any dispatch from Yorck, who was supposed to be marching from Tauroggen. But his apprehensions multiplied as “the officers, and the orders which he sent them, were vainly multiplied; no news of Yorck transpired.”
(Segur)
(Segur)
The Marshal recounted the inklings of the impending betrayal:
“I sent in all directions after General Yorck. Two days previously he ought to have arrived at Taurogen to support my advance-guard, which had quitted it in the morning; they had no news of him.”
(Macdonald)
“I sent in all directions after General Yorck. Two days previously he ought to have arrived at Taurogen to support my advance-guard, which had quitted it in the morning; they had no news of him.”
(Macdonald)
#OTD 28 December, 1812, Macdonald reoccupied Tilsit, where he reestablished his communications with Königsberg and waited for Yorck’s Prussians.
The Cossack envoys carrying Diebitsch’s intelligence about Yorck narrowly escaped capture by the French vanguard.
#Voicesfrom1812
The Cossack envoys carrying Diebitsch’s intelligence about Yorck narrowly escaped capture by the French vanguard.
#Voicesfrom1812
Grandjean’s division was leading the way from to Tilsit.
At 10 p.m. on the 27th, this foremost French column of the X Corps entered the town and expelled from it a Russian force under Lieutenant Colonel Tettenborn.
(Hartwich, Segur)
At 10 p.m. on the 27th, this foremost French column of the X Corps entered the town and expelled from it a Russian force under Lieutenant Colonel Tettenborn.
(Hartwich, Segur)
“The astounded inhabitants told us that the Russians had been there for eight days and had conducted themselves perfectly,” noted Hartwich, seeing the strategic speck on the Russo-Prussian border, so readily evacuated by by the enemy, in a disconcerting tranquil.
#OTD 27 December, 1812, Eugene and his IV Corps-the farthest away from their homes next to the Spanish troops-began settling into their winter quarters in Marienwerder. Coming in terms with the reality, Napoleon’s stepson cherished hopes for the coming year.
#Voicesfrom1812
#Voicesfrom1812
His army, consisting of the French, Italian, and Croats, had quickly left Königsberg for Marienwerder. These men were the southern European soldiers who amazed Larrey with their higher survival rate in the cold than their northern European counterparts.
(Larrey)
(Larrey)
Before leaving Eylau on the 22nd, the Viceroy of Italy wrote to his beloved wife:
“My dear Auguste, I arrived here two hours ago, the King of Naples is going to establish his headquarters in Königsberg, I am going to Marienwerder;
“My dear Auguste, I arrived here two hours ago, the King of Naples is going to establish his headquarters in Königsberg, I am going to Marienwerder;
#OTD 26 December, 1812, the advanced guard of Macdonald's corps carried out a forward flanking march, unintentionally making complete the final wedge between the French and Prussians of the X Corps. They, in turn, forged an ideal moment for Yorck's defection.
#Voicesfrom1812
#Voicesfrom1812
The X Corps, owing to the abundance of fur in Latvia and the commander’s unforgettable experiences in “the winter campaigns of 1794-95 in Holland, and more especially of that of 1800 in the Grisons, and when crossing the Alps,” looked remarkably well-clad. (Macdonald)
Macdonald had personally requisitioned “30,000 sheepskin pelisses from the Polish and Russian peasants” in exchange for “the skins of the sheep consumed” by his men. He attested that “[t]his wise precaution saved them from hunger and cold” of -27°C. (Ibid)
#OTD 25 December, 1812, on Christmas day, Poniatowski and all the Polish corps returned to Warsaw.
Near Koltiniany, the first round of peace negotiation, mediated by Clausewitz, was opened up between Yorck and Diebitsch.
#Voicesfrom1812
Near Koltiniany, the first round of peace negotiation, mediated by Clausewitz, was opened up between Yorck and Diebitsch.
#Voicesfrom1812
Poniatowski was seriously wounded in Smolensk and remained inactive thereafter. Travelling on his carriage, he quelled boredom by reading an extremely absorbing book he had picked up in Moscow.
To our disappointment, its title remains unknown.
(Zamoyski)
To our disappointment, its title remains unknown.
(Zamoyski)
It was already Christmas when he finally saw his homeland again. Driving an open sledge with his adjutant Arthur Potocki, the general still suffered from a nervous fever.
Countess Potocka, who witnessed his long-awaited return, stated that he was "one of the last to come back."
Countess Potocka, who witnessed his long-awaited return, stated that he was "one of the last to come back."
#OTD 24 December, 1812, Tsar Alexander held a belated celebration of his birthday in Vilna.
Kutuzov, in return for his victory at Krasny, was accorded the Order of St. George of the First Class and the title of the Prince of Smolensk.
#Voicesfrom1812
Kutuzov, in return for his victory at Krasny, was accorded the Order of St. George of the First Class and the title of the Prince of Smolensk.
#Voicesfrom1812
The actual date of the Tsar's birth was 23 December, when he arrived in Vilna. But after observing the miserable condition of the field hospitals, Alexander refused any celebration, insisting that "dancing or even the sound of music could not be agreeable." (Wilson, Mikaberidze)
But Kutuzov shrewdly proposed that they make the best of the occasion to celebrate the Russian victory. After their successive victories, all festivities had been confined to singing Te Deums in St. Petersburg.
Alexander could not help but accede to his shifty request.
Alexander could not help but accede to his shifty request.
#OTD 23 December, 1812, Tsar Alexander reached Vilna on his 35th birthday. Forgoing celebration, he and Grand Duke Constantine set on rescuing the French prisoners stricken with disease. At the same time, he maintained that his campaign must be continued.
#Voicesfrom1812
#Voicesfrom1812
Alexander arrived in Vilna on Wednesday, just before daybreak. It had taken him four days of carriage ride from his Winter Palace through unabating snowstorm.
"The happy inhabitants," according to Lowenstern, brought horse-driven sledges to carry the entourage to the Palace.
"The happy inhabitants," according to Lowenstern, brought horse-driven sledges to carry the entourage to the Palace.
It was the same castle in Old Vilna he, shortly followed by Napoleon, had stayed in during the summertime.
At its gates Alexander found the old Field-Marshal who, despite his age and gout, had been waiting for him in freezing weather.
(Lowenstern)
At its gates Alexander found the old Field-Marshal who, despite his age and gout, had been waiting for him in freezing weather.
(Lowenstern)
#OTD 22 December, 1812, Napoleon exhorted the Conseil des Finances to collect 150 million francs of Extraordinary Customs Duty to allocate fund for the campaign of 1813.
Junot, at Königsberg, applied for a congé to Thorn, never to see the Emperor again.
#Voicesfrom1812
Junot, at Königsberg, applied for a congé to Thorn, never to see the Emperor again.
#Voicesfrom1812
The Russian expedition, historically unparalleled in both scale of mobilization and mortality rate, had rendered France and its satellites bankrupt. According to Alexander Grab, annual military expenditure, previously about 350 million francs, had soared to 600 million in 1812.
Empires, especially those furbished by constant conquest, were expensive entities, cyclically vanquished by their own overexpansion.
During the Consulate, Napoleon had been sufficiently discreet about financing his ventures and refrained from radical tax increases.
During the Consulate, Napoleon had been sufficiently discreet about financing his ventures and refrained from radical tax increases.
#OTD 21 December, 1812, Dr. Larrey, Sergeant-in-Chief of the Grande Armée, arrived at Königsberg and found 10,000 wounded and ill men.
Among them was General Lariboisière, Chief of the Artillery of the Imperial Guard, who had failed to outlive the day.
#Voicesfrom1812
Among them was General Lariboisière, Chief of the Artillery of the Imperial Guard, who had failed to outlive the day.
#Voicesfrom1812
The III Corps, except for Ney and Marchand, left for Marienberg on the day after their arrival.
“We were hardly outside the Königsberg gate when we all marched to the left again toward the Thorn highway," wrote Jakob Walter, a speck in the masses of French and German soldiers.
“We were hardly outside the Königsberg gate when we all marched to the left again toward the Thorn highway," wrote Jakob Walter, a speck in the masses of French and German soldiers.
Because other generals had either gone ahead or died, Fezensac directed the five days’ march to Marienberg. Murat marked the Vistula as their westernmost point of retreat, and anyone who makes a crossing there would be “regarded as a deserter to the enemy.” (Fezensac)
#OTD 19 December, 1812, Tsar Alexander left St. Petersburg to continue his campaign from Vilna, while Napoleon redirected his attention to strengthening his legitimacy in Paris.
Macdonald began his retreat when the main army finally found repose in Königsberg.
#Voicesfrom1812
Macdonald began his retreat when the main army finally found repose in Königsberg.
#Voicesfrom1812
Alexander could no longer tolerate Kutuzov, who, in his opinion, had wasted several precious opportunities to eradicate the Grande Armée and capture Napoleon alive.
He, thus, embarked on a long journey to Vilna, the town he had fled from during a ball at Bennigsen's mansion.
He, thus, embarked on a long journey to Vilna, the town he had fled from during a ball at Bennigsen's mansion.
Before his departure, he enjoyed a very cordial conversation with Germaine de Staël.
"He did not disguise from me his regret for the admiration to which he had surrendered himself in his intercourse with Napoleon," she wrote.
(Staël, Palmer)
"He did not disguise from me his regret for the admiration to which he had surrendered himself in his intercourse with Napoleon," she wrote.
(Staël, Palmer)
#OTD 18 December, 1812, amidst the noises surrounding the 29th Bulletin, Napoleon returned to Paris after a fortnight's journey from Smorghoni.
On the samae day, Marshal Macdonald received a belated order to withdraw beyond the Neman.
#Voicesfrom1812
On the samae day, Marshal Macdonald received a belated order to withdraw beyond the Neman.
#Voicesfrom1812
It was well after the dark when a modest-looking coach, stained with frozen mud, appeared in Paris. Had it shown up during the day, it would have spawned much hubbub, for it rolled right into the Arc de Triomphe-an imperial prerogative.
(Caulaincourt)
(Caulaincourt)
One of the sentinels, withered by fourteen sleepless days on "Que Vive?", kept dozing off and shaking in the saddle. Inside the carriage, a man in a knee-length overcoat came out to usher the poor man to the front, telling him that they were now in front of the Tuileries.
#OTD 17 December, 1812, when Murat's army began to find quarters in Gumbinnen, the 29th Bulletin of the Russian Campaign was published in Le Moniteur. This virtual admission of defeat, previously unseen in Napoleon's bulletins, threw Paris into consternation.
#Voicesfrom1812
#Voicesfrom1812
The bulletin from Molodechno, dated 3 December, began by describing a sudden, ominous drop in temperature on 7 November, two days before Napoleon reentered Smolensk:
"To the 6th of November the weather was fine, and the movement of the army executed with the greatest success."
"To the 6th of November the weather was fine, and the movement of the army executed with the greatest success."
The cold only worsened with increasing rapidity on the eve of the Battle of Krasny, the "14th, 15th, and 16th," when "the thermometer was sixteen and eighteen degrees below the freezing point."
Thenceforth was the beginning of the end.
Thenceforth was the beginning of the end.
#OTD 16 December, 1812, the carriages of Napoleon and Caulaincourt crossed the Rhine and finally entered the French territory.
The retreating army, in the meantime, trickled into the Prussian soil, where they witnessed a nationwide resentment against the French.
#Voicesfrom1812
The retreating army, in the meantime, trickled into the Prussian soil, where they witnessed a nationwide resentment against the French.
#Voicesfrom1812
Following last night's scuffle at a postal station near Vigenov, the two travellers became "so glad to see daybreak" in safety.
"It was bitter cold. We travelled rapidly, despite the bad Westphalian roads," wrote Caulaincourt as the carriages set off again.
"It was bitter cold. We travelled rapidly, despite the bad Westphalian roads," wrote Caulaincourt as the carriages set off again.
They made a brief stop at Hanau, where they breakfasted and met Franz von Albini ['d'Albini' as Caulaincourt referred to him], the Minister of the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt.
He was "not a little surprised to see His Majesty, especially with such a modest suite."
He was "not a little surprised to see His Majesty, especially with such a modest suite."
#OTD 15 December, 1812, Napoleon revisited Erfurt, where he conveyed his greetings to Goethe via the French ambassador to Saxony.
His army scattered along the road to Prussia, with some of them already full of excitement at leaving the battlefield altogether.
#Voicesfrom1812
His army scattered along the road to Prussia, with some of them already full of excitement at leaving the battlefield altogether.
#Voicesfrom1812
By the morning, Napoleon's carriages had nearly flown through Dresden, Leiptzig, Lützen, and Weimar. In the last city, Caulaincourt was supposed to meet Baron St. Aignan, the French Ambassador to the Saxon court and his own brother-in-law. (Caulaincourt)
Because the homely procession moved at such a blistering pace, with Napoleon having his coffee "without alighting from the carriage," the poor minister only caught up with them at Erfurt.
At last, all three could stop to enjoy an hour-long breakfast.
At last, all three could stop to enjoy an hour-long breakfast.
#OTD 14 December, 1812, Marshal Ney made his final stand against Platov on the bridge across the Neman River. The last day of the Campaign of 1812, thus, eternalized him as "the last of the ‘Grande Armée' who left the Russian territory." (Abbott)
#Voicesfrom1812
#Voicesfrom1812
“The English…will end by subscribing to all that the Americans desire, and the American government, placed in the hands of able statesmen, will gain increased strength.”
After a lengthy discourse on the Anglo-American relations, Napoleon took a nap for 45 minutes.
After a lengthy discourse on the Anglo-American relations, Napoleon took a nap for 45 minutes.
It was midnight, 14 December, when he and Caulaincourt entered Dresden. The former ambassador went round knocking at doors to inquire the French minister’s address, and succeeded on the second attempt.
They were directed to the house of Jean-Charles Serra.
They were directed to the house of Jean-Charles Serra.
#OTD 13 December, 1812, the tattered fragments of the Grande Armée crossed the River Neman again-utterly bereft of its splendor half a year ago.
Only Ney, with his rearguard of barely thousand men, remained behind to defend Kovno before the last crossing.
#Voicesfrom1812
Only Ney, with his rearguard of barely thousand men, remained behind to defend Kovno before the last crossing.
#Voicesfrom1812
At 2 a.m., the 85th Regiment was awakened by a familiar, avuncular voice:
"Come on, my dear Jacquet, for the last time on Russian soil, let's go see what's wanted of us."
It was the sound of old Le Roy shaking his 'bosom friend,' Lieutenant Jacquet.
(Austin)
"Come on, my dear Jacquet, for the last time on Russian soil, let's go see what's wanted of us."
It was the sound of old Le Roy shaking his 'bosom friend,' Lieutenant Jacquet.
(Austin)
Bourgogne, who had made his will to his friends and fallen unconscious, felt a "shower of hail." He recollected the very moment:
"If...I had had not my friends' help, I should very probably, like so many others, have finished my life's journey on that last day in Russia."
"If...I had had not my friends' help, I should very probably, like so many others, have finished my life's journey on that last day in Russia."
#OTD 12 December, 1812, Kutuzov entered Vilna triumphant and arranged for his final actions.
Murat, following a council of war, decided to abandon Kovno and continue retreating all the way beyond the Neman, leaving his last outpost solely to Ney.
#Voicesfrom1812
Murat, following a council of war, decided to abandon Kovno and continue retreating all the way beyond the Neman, leaving his last outpost solely to Ney.
#Voicesfrom1812
At midnight, Murat, Eugene, and Berthier arrived at Kovno, “the last town of the Russian empire” before the River Neman. On their way, they had been joined by the remains of Loison’s division, reduced from 12,000 on the 5th to just 600. (Coignet, Wilson, Segur, Austin)
Lacking horses, Gratien (Loison’s successor) was forced to part with his 16 guns. To everyone’s relief, the garrison of Kovno turned out to be surprisingly well-fortified by 15,000 fresh reinforcements from Augereau’s Corps, equipped with 42 pieces of cannons. (Austin, Wilson)
#OTD 10-11 November, 1812, Napoleon arrived at Warsaw, where he gave Prefect Pradt the severest of reprimands.
The rest of the Grande Armee moved from Eve to Zhizhmory, while Chichagov sacked the remainder of the French encampment in Vilna.
#Voicesfrom1812
The rest of the Grande Armee moved from Eve to Zhizhmory, while Chichagov sacked the remainder of the French encampment in Vilna.
#Voicesfrom1812
Father Butkevicius, then a middle-school student in Warsaw, remembered his chemistry teacher asking, "Have you ever seen Napoleon, and can you remember what he looks like? There is someone here with [General] Caulaincourt who resembles him."
Butkevicius raised his hand and said that he had seen the Emperor "at a distance in 1806 at Warsaw," also in December.
The curious boy ran toward the town center, where he indeed saw "Napoleon...pacing to and fro in the saloon, and at the same time trying to get near the fire."
The curious boy ran toward the town center, where he indeed saw "Napoleon...pacing to and fro in the saloon, and at the same time trying to get near the fire."
#OTD 10 December, 1812, the Grande Armée was forced to abandon Vilna, which, in two days, had become "but one vast lazaretto." Most of its belongings, including St. Ivan's Cross, were thrown away on the Ponary Hills.
Napoleon, meanwhile, entered Warsaw.
#Voicesfrom1812
Napoleon, meanwhile, entered Warsaw.
#Voicesfrom1812
Vilna was all but a mirage. Already, the Army of Moldavia had infiltrated the road to the town's eastern suburb, between Ochmiana and Paradomin. Enfilades of volleys from the Cossacks' sledges, breaking into pieces the few thousand French rearguard, petrified the refugees.
Worst of all, the commander-in-chief, hitherto renowned as a "soldier without pear for intrepidity, for courage, despising danger, accustomed to throw himself saber in hand on the enemy," had abandoned his own men without proper measures.
(Cesare de Laugier)
(Cesare de Laugier)
#OTD 9 December, 1812, the greater part of the Grande Armée arrived at Vilna, only to realize that this would not be the end of the excruciating journey. Instead, they found themselves twice betrayed by the commanders-first by Napoleon, then by Murat.
#Voicesfrom1812
#Voicesfrom1812
At daybreak, only 140 men of the IV Corps at Rudnicki rose up at the drum roll. The remainder of Davout, Maison, Ney, Eugene, and Victor's corps, as well as stragglers from various units, moved out of this "miserable village" with utmost haste. (Labaume)
The exactly same phenomenon was taking place at Vilna; no one could, or would, muster himself to wake up and show up to the town's square.
Some, like Brandt, woke up "a new man"; dressed in a new linen, clean-shaven, and replenished. (Brandt)
Some, like Brandt, woke up "a new man"; dressed in a new linen, clean-shaven, and replenished. (Brandt)
