saber stroke； whereupon Guinde plunged his own into the body of his
opponent； and he fell dead on the spot。
On this campaign； as the roads had become very rough from the continual
passage of artillery； my carriage was one day upset； and one of the
Emperor's hats fell out of the door； but a regiment which happened to
pass along the same road having recognized the hat from its peculiar
shape； my carriage was immediately set up again； 〃For；〃 said these brave
soldiers； 〃we cannot leave the first valet of the little corporal in
trouble；〃 and the hat； after passing through many hands； was at last
restored to me before my departure。
On the Emperor's arrival at the plateau of Weimar； he arranged his army
in line of battle； and bivouacked in the midst of his guard。 About two
o'clock in the morning he arose and went on foot to examine the work on a
road that was being cut in the rock for the transportation of artillery；
and after remaining nearly an hour with the workmen； decided to take a
look at the nearest advance posts before returning to his bivouac。
This round； which the Emperor insisted on making alone and with no
escort； came near costing him his life。 The night was so dark that the
sentinels of the camp could not see ten steps in front of them； and the
first； hearing some one in the darkness approaching our line； called out
〃Qui vive？〃 and prepared to fire。 The Emperor being lost in thought； as
he himself told me afterwards； did not notice the sentinel's challenge；
and made no reply until a ball； whistling by his ears； woke him from his
reverie； when immediately perceiving his danger； he threw himself face
downwards on the ground； which was a very wise precaution； for hardly had
his Majesty placed himself in this position； than other balls passed over
his head； the discharge of the first sentinel having been repeated by the
whole line。 This first fire over； the Emperor rose； walked towards the
nearest post； and made himself known。
His Majesty was still there when the soldier who had fired on him joined
them； being just relieved at his post； he was a young grenadier of the
line。 The Emperor ordered him to approach； and； pinching his cheeks
hard； exclaimed； 〃What； you scamp； you took me for a Prussian！ This
rascal does not throw away his powder on sparrows； he shoots only at
emperors。〃 The poor soldier was completely overcome with the idea that
he might have killed the little corporal； whom he adored as much as did
the rest of the army； and it was with great difficulty he could say；
〃Pardon； Sire； but I was obeying orders； and if you did not answer； it
was not my fault。 I was compelled to have the countersign； and you would
not give it。〃 The Emperor reassured him with a smile； and said； as he
left the post； 〃My brave boy； I do not reproach you。 That was pretty
well aimed for a shot fired in the dark； but after awhile it will be
daylight； take better aim； and I will remember you。〃
The results of the Battle of Jena； fought on the 14th of October （1806）；
are well known。 Almost all the Prussian generals； at least the bravest
among them； were there taken prisoners； or rendered unable to continue
the campaign。
The king and queen took flight； and did not halt till they had reached
Koenigsberg。
A few moments before the attack； the Queen of Prussia； mounted on a
noble； graceful steed； had appeared in the midst of the soldiers； and；
followed by the elite of the youth of Berlin； this royal Amazon had
galloped down the front rank of the line of battle。 The numerous banners
which her own hands had embroidered to encourage her troops； with those
of the great Frederick； blackened by the smoke of many battles； were
lowered at her approach； amid shouts of enthusiasm which rang through the
entire ranks of the Prussian army。 The atmosphere was so clear； and the
two armies so near each other； that the French could easily distinguish
the costume of the queen。
This striking costume was； in fact； one great cause of the danger she
encountered in her flight。 Her head was covered with a helmet of
polished steel； above which waved a magnificent plume； her cuirass
glittered with gold and silver； while a tunic of silver cloth completed
her costume and fell to her feet； which were shod in red boots with gold
spurs。 This dress heightened the charms of the beautiful queen。
When the Prussian army was put to flight； the queen was left alone with
three or four young men of Berlin； who defended her until two hussars；
who had covered themselves with glory during the battle； rushed at a
gallop with drawn sabers on this little group； and they were instantly
dispersed。 Frightened by this sudden onset； the horse which her Majesty
rode fled with all the strength of his limbs； and well was it for the
fugitive queen that he was swift as a stag； else the two hussars would
infallibly have made her a prisoner； for more than once they pressed so
close that she heard their rude speeches and coarse jests； which were of
such a nature as to shock her ears。
The queen； thus pursued； had arrived in sight of the gate of Weimar； when
a strong detachment of Klein's dragoons were perceived coming at full
speed； the chief having orders to capture the queen at any cost； but； the
instant she entered the city； the gates swung to behind her； and the
hussars and the detachment of dragoons returned disappointed to the
battle…field。
The particulars of this singular pursuit soon reached the Emperor's ears；
and he summoned the hussars to his presence； and having in strong terms
testified his disapproval of the improper jests that they had dared to
make regarding the queen； at a time when her misfortunes should have
increased the respect due both to her rank and her sex； the Emperor then
performed the duty of rewarding these two brave fellows for the manner in
which they had borne themselves on the field of battle。 Knowing that
they had dons prodigies of valor； his Majesty gave them the cross； and
ordered three hundred francs to be given each one as gratuity。
The Emperor exercised his clemency toward the Duke of Weimar； who had
commanded a Prussian division。 The day after the battle of Jena； his
Majesty； having reached Weimar； lodged at the ducal palace； where he was
received by the duchess regent； to whom he said； 〃Madame； I owe you
something for having awaited me； and in appreciation of the confidence
you have manifested in me； I pardon your husband。〃
While we were in the army I slept in the Emperor's tent； either on a
little rug； or on the bearskin which he used in his carriage； or when it
happened that I could not make use of these articles； I tried to procure
a bed…of straw； and remember one evening having rendered a great service
to the King of Naples； by sharing with him the bundle of straw which was
to have served as my bed。
I here give a few details from which the reader can form an idea of the
manner in which I passed the nights on the campaign。
The Emperor slept on his little iron bedstead； and I slept where I could。
Hardly did I fall asleep before the Emperor called me； 〃Constant。〃
〃Sire。〃〃See who is on duty〃 （it was the aides…de…camp to whom he
referred）。〃Sire； it。 is M。〃〃Tell him to come to me。〃 I then
went out of the tent to summon the officer； and brought him back with me。
On his entrance the Emperor said to him； 〃Report to such a corps；
commanded by such a marshal； you will request him to send such a regiment
to such a position； you will ascertain the position of the enemy； then
you will return to report。〃 The aide…de…camp； having left on horseback
to execute these orders； I lay down again； and the Emperor now seemed to
be going to sleep； but； at the end of a few moments； I heard him call
again； 〃Constant。〃 〃Sire。〃 〃Have the Prince de Neuchatel summoned。
〃I sent for the prince； who came at once； and during the conversation I
must remain at the door of the tent； until the prince wrote several
orders and withdrew。 These interruptions took place many times during
the night； and at last towards morning his Majesty slept； when I also had
a few moments of repose。
When aides…de…camp arrived； bringing any news to the Emperor； I awoke
him； by shaking him gently。
〃What is it？〃 said his Majesty； waking with a start； 〃what o'clock is it？
Let him enter。〃 The aide…de…camp made his report； and if it was
necessary； his Majesty rose immediately； and left the tent； his toilet
never occupying much time。 If a battle was in contemplation the Emperor
scanned the sky and the horizon carefully； and often remarked； 〃We are
going to have a beautiful day。〃
Breakfast was prepared and served in five minutes； and at the end of a
quarter of an hour the cloth was removed。 The Prince de Neuchatel
breakfasted and dined every day with his Majesty； and； in eight or ten
minutes； the longest meal was over。 〃To horse；〃 then exclaimed the
Emperor； and set out； accompanied by the Prince de Neuchatel； and an
aide…de…camp or two； with Roustan； who always carried a silver flask of
brandy； which； however； the Emperor rarely ever used。 His Majesty passed
from one corps to the other； spoke to the officers and soldiers；
questioned them； and saw with his own eyes all that it was possible to
see。
If a battle was on hand； dinner was forgotten； and the Emperor ate only
after his return； but； if the engagement lasted too long； there was
carried to him； without his ordering it； a crust of bread and a little
wine。
M。 Colin； chief of the culinary department； many times braved the cannon
to carry a light repast to the Emperor。
At the close of the combat； his Majesty never failed to visit the battle…
field； where he had aid given the wounded； and encouraged them with
cheering words。
The Emperor sometimes returned overcome by fatigue； he then took a light
repast； and lay down again to begin his interrupted sleep。
It was remarkable； that； each time that unexpected circumstances forced
the aides…de…camp to have the Emperor waked； he was as ready for work as
he would have been at the beginning or in the middle of the day； and his
awaking was as amiable as his manner was pleasant。 The report of an
aide…de…camp being finished； Napoleon