Napoleon From The Tuileries to St. Helena by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Nonfiction, History, Spain & Portugal, France, Military
ISBN: 9781908902122
Publisher: Wagram Press
Published: 2011-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER IX

ROCHEFORT TO ST. HELENA

ALL the members of the Emperor's suite who had started from Malmaison found themselves reunited at Rochefort. Prince Joseph{59} often came to see the Emperor. I saw General Lallemant, whom I did not know, nor did I know that he was one of His Majesty's suite. Every morning the maritime prefect came to report to the Emperor what was the state of the sea and what had been seen upon it.

On July 8th the Emperor left Rochefort and went to sleep on the frigate Saale. That day Noverraz was on duty. When the Emperor had gone they gave me a sailboat and I went to join him.

The Emperor was very uncomfortable on board the frigate. The officers did not appear favorable to his cause; the captain was far from being satisfied at seeing on his ship the great misfortune which had come to take refuge there. Knowing the events which had just happened, and foreseeing all the results which might flow from them, he thought it well to walk warily. Consequently I think that when the Emperor decided to live on the island of Aix Captain Philibert must have exclaimed, "Ah! now I can draw a long breath!" Moreover, the ship was extremely badly kept; it showed its commander's negligence.

The quarter-deck was divided into two parts by a sail; the larger served as a bedroom for the Emperor and the smaller was a den into which General Beker retired. It was only there that I perceived that nobody spoke out freely, as the general had ears to hear and a tongue to speak. He was an agent of the provisional government, and particularly of Fouché.{60}

On the 12th of July the Emperor left the Saale and went to live on the island of Aix.

During the day the Emperor seemed decided to embark on a lugger commanded by Captain Besson. He had given me orders to put all the arms in good condition; they consisted of several pairs of pistols and four fowling pieces, one double with a revolving breech. The sailors of the ship came to get them and the ammunition for them in the evening. They also carried away things for the Emperor's use, and linen, clothes, etc., for the needs of the voyage. These sailors, who were three in number, were accompanied by M. Besson.

The persons who were to embark with His Majesty to go to America were the Duke of Rovigo, the Grand Marshal, and General Lallemant. I had been chosen to accompany the Emperor, as being the one who could best endure seasickness and fatigue. All was prepared; I was waiting, fully equipped, when I learned, about midnight, that in a family council and after mature deliberation it had been decided that the Emperor should surrender to the English.

On July 15th, early in the morning, the brig Épervier hoisted her sails and toward five or six o'clock, or perhaps a little later, the Emperor went aboard with his principal officers and they sailed in the direction where the English vessel lay anchored.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.