Table of Contents

Chapter I.

Rendsburg – Family Records – Parentage – Travelling in Norway – Helsingör – Early Education – The First Great Sorrow – Roeskilde – Copenhagen – Introduction to Relatives – First Romance – Mother’s Death – The French Revolution – (1773-1790).

Chapter II.

Departure from Copenhagen – Odsherred – Dangerous Accidents – Hospital in Copenhagen – The Poor Student’s Death – Choice of a Profession – University at Copenhagen – Voyage to Norway – Stavanger – Scenery on the Coast – Bergen – Sagne Fjord – Personal Embarrassments – (1791-1794).

Chapter III.

Voyage to Hamburg – Shipwreck – A Faithful Friend – Personal Distress – Glückstadt – Loss of a Friend – Return to Hamburg – Offer of an Alliance – Illness and Poverty – Rendsburg – Kind Reception – Curious Mode of Introduction – Success – Visit to Copenhagen – Holstein – Peasantry – Wilster – My Father’s Death – Count Schimmelmann – Preparations for Travel – (1794-1798).

Chapter IV.

Jena – Schelling – Fichte: his Manner of Lecturing – Goethe – Möller – Military Oppression in Prussia – Bamberg – Unexpected Honours – Weimar – Tharand – Departure for Denmark – Count Schimmelmann – Opposition – Duke von Augustenburg – Count Reventlaw – ‘Erasmus Montanus’ – Commission to Travel in Sweden – French at Lüneburg – Return to Copenhagen – Invitation to Halle (1798-1804).

Chapter V.

Departure from Denmark – Lüneburg – French Encampment – Berlin – General Confidence – Arrival at Halle – Difficulties on first taking Office in the University – Reil – Schleiermacher – Improving Prospects – Visit to Berlin – Public Excitement – Views on German Independence – Political Relations of Prussia – Prussian Military: their Privileges – Injustice and Presumption – General Anxiety in Halle – False Security – Duke of Wurtemburg’s Reserve pass through Halle – Battle of Saalefeld – Death of Prince Louis Ferdinand – Advance of the Enemy – News of the Battle of Auerstadt – Sound of a Distant Engagement – Battle of Jena – Public Excitement on the Appearance of a French Prisoner – The Reserve retreat towards Halle – General Mistake – Consternation – Flight to Schleiermacher’s House – Plunder – Appearance of the City – Night of Terror – (1804-1806).

Chapter VI.

Bernadotte’s Proclamation – Imprudent Spirit of the Students – Napoleon in Halle: his Political Schemes – Triumphal Display – Hopes of the Regeneration of Germany – Alarm amongst the Students – Napoleon’s anger against the University – Order to disperse the Students – Berthier communicates the Emperor’s Displeasure and Orders to close the University – Cringing Conduct of the Professors – Personal Distress – Life of Retirement – Meetings in Adversity – French Balls to the Ladies – Invitation from the Prince Regent of Denmark to return – Hamburg – Enthusiastic Admiration of Blücher – Kiel – Unpleasant Audience with the Prince Regent – Restoration of the University of Halle – Return thither – (1806-1808).

Chapter VII.

Return to Halle – Desolation – Re-opening of the University – Celebration of the Event – Death of the Queen – King Jerome’s Visit to Halle – Waited on by the Professors – Witticism – Darkening Prospects – Napoleon’s Mistake of German Character – Napoleon at Erfurt – Secret Confederation: their Meeting at Dessau – Project to murder Napoleon – Schill’s Insurrection – Eckmühl – Aspern – Napoleon’s Treatment of the German Princes – Talleyrand – Despair in Halle – Invitation to Breslau – (1808-1811).

Chapter VIII.

Darkening Political Prospects – French Influence – Secret Confederacy – Arrival of the Confederates in Breslau: their Meetings – Gneisenau – Manners of the Prussian Officers – J. Grüner – Chasot – M. Arndt – News of the French Disasters in Russia and of Napoleon’s Flight – Public Enthusiasm – Anxiety for the Safety of the King: his Arrival in Breslau – Bolkenstern – Order from the King for a General Arming – Object undeclared – Personal Resolve – Address to the Students – Visit from the Rector – The French Ambassador’s Remonstrance – Scharnhorst: his Character; his Advice – Petition to the King: the gracious Answer – Drilling – Unpleasant Discipline – Claims of the Volunteers – Equipment – Presented to the King – War declared – Emperor Alexander in Breslau – Discouragement of the Volunteers – Advance to Lissa – Disasters on Parade – State of Germany – Napoleon’s Policy – Stein: his Character, and Views of German Philosophy – Jealousy against the Volunteers – Removal to Head-quarters – Altenburg – The ex-King of Sweden: his painful Position – Blücher – The French Army: its Position, and still undaunted Spirit – State of the Belligerent Powers – Appointed on the Staff – (1811-1813).

Chapter IX.

Evening before my first Battle – Search for a Horse – Personal Disasters – Battle of Gros-Görschen – Prince William – Unpleasant Sensations – Gneisenau’s Coolness – Retreat towards Pegau – Blücher’s Address to the Troops – Russians attacked at Müldethal – Meissen – Destruction of Life at the Outposts – Retreat continued – Bautzen – Council of War – Conjectures – Proposal to destroy Germans taken in Arms – Kleinwelke – Herrnhuters – Crossing through the Fire – Unexpected Courage – Kriekwitz Heights – View of the Field – Battle of Bautzen: suspended for the Night; resumed in the Morning – The Heights no longer tenable – Blücher’s Rage – Retreat – Waldau – Breslau abandoned – Journey thither – (1813).

Chapter X.

Reichenbach – Fears of Napoleon’s Influence with Austria – Employed to Reconnoitre – Attached to the Russian Corps – Schmiedeberg – Review of Personal Position – Attack on Griefenberg – My Servant’s sudden Change of Character – Plunder – General Bistram – Affair at Katzbach – Cossacks – French Summer Encampment – Russian Luxuries – Radmeritz – Ball given by the Russians – Distressing Compliment – The Wounded – Bautzen – Gneisenau’s Prophecy – Blücher’s Passage of the Elbe – Battle of Wartenburg: celebrated in the Castle – Blücher’s Speech on the Death of Scharnhorst – Dessau – Halle – Napoleon’s Plans anticipated – (1813).

Chapter XI.

Battle of Leipzig. Mission to Bernadotte – Appeal to the Swedes – Engagement at Möckern – Crossing the Field after a Battle – Bivouac – Scene at Möckern – Morning of the Battle of Leipzig – Sight of the French Army – Battle of Leipzig – Saxon Troops come over to Blücher – General Langeron – Storming of Schönfeld – Advance into Leipzig – General Wassiltschikof – Death of a Countryman – Lützen – Cossack Warfare – Weissenfels – Passage of the Saale – Horrors of a Flight – Freyberg – Napoleon’s Despair – Castle of Count Werther Buechlingen – Mistake – Wounded Fugitives – Intercepted Letters and Military Decorations – Giessen – My Address to the Inhabitants – (1813).

Chapter XII.

Mission in Westphalia – Marburg – University Club – Popular Demonstration – Arnsberg – Militia arming in Dortmund – Absurd Scene – Düsseldorf – Justus Grüner – Count Nesselrode – Duke of Coburg: his Views on the German Empire – Bolkenstern’s Death – Orders to join the Army – Cologne – Bonn – Treves – General Dörnberg – Entering France – Thionville – Dangerous Defile – Commercy – Splendid Spectacle – Vitry – Insolence of the Inhabitants – Châlons – Rejoin Blücher’s Head-quarters – Meeting with Raumer and Blaue – Champaubert – Etoges – Reverses on the Marne – Retreat through Champaubert – Imminent Perils – Blücher’s Excitement – Critical Charge – Retreat through the Forest of Etoges – Loss of Colonel Oppen – Sir Hudson Lowe – Halt in Châlons – Joined by Generals von Sacken and von York – Perils from the Champagne – (1814).

Chapter XIII.

French Bulletins – Distress in the Army – Failure in Discipline – Personal Hardships – Destruction by the Inhabitants – A French Villa – Napoleon’s Chance neglected – Battle at Mery-sur-Saône – Negotiation between Blücher and the Sovereigns – La Ferté-sous-Jouarre – Laon – Remarkable Escape – Battle of Laon – Illness – Taking of Rheims – La Fère-Champenoise – Attack on a French Square – Splendid Defence – Junction of the Allies at Meaux – A French Spy – (1814).

Chapter XIV.

The Allies before Paris – A dangerous Sleep – An Explosion – Armistice – First View of Paris – Reflections – Montmartre – Parisian Habits – Triumphant Entry – Fickleness of the French – Cuvier – The Louvre – Undue Deference paid to the French – Want of Money – My last Military Discipline – Curious Scene at the Grand Opera – Foreigners in Paris – Blücher – Petition to the King – His Majesty’s Permission to return to Academic Life – Last Difficulty – (1814).

Excerpt from Chapter XII:

I inquired into the changes that had taken place at headquarters since I had been absent. Raumer was there; and to my surprise and joy I found my friend Blaue, he with whom I had shared in all the dangers, fears, and hopes of the unhappy time when Halle was first taken possession of by the enemy and the University dissolved. Since he had been liberated from prison in Cassel he had sought to obtain an appointment as military chaplain, and by Gneisenau’s advice had joined Blücher, ready for any that might become vacant. He wore a dark overcoat, under which a sword was hidden. Thus, in this strange war, we two, a preacher and a philosopher, rode side by side armed for the fight; we were soon absorbed in earnest discussion of the great changes which we and the people had lived to see since we had parted.

It was past noon when we reached Etoges; it appeared to me that fighting was going on in every direction, but we still pressed forward, and quartered for the night in the village of Champaubert, on the broad, but far from well-kept, road on the lesser route to Paris. During the whole war I was never so wholly in the dark as to our place and prospects: our army was scattered about in various parts of northern France; I was destitute of all local knowledge; from the rapidity of our movements I could not refer to maps, and I felt this uncertainty so oppressive that I got little repose though we halted for the night. The troops were again in movement at the earliest dawn; the broad road led through the village, and some detached houses seemed to indicate the approach to Paris: they were not handsome, but had a metropolitan look. I noticed a sign over a house, which in the German language proclaimed it to be a "refuge for wandering tailors:" we were going towards Montmirail.

Blücher had not yet discovered that the Generals v. York and v. Sacken had been forced back beyond the Marne; he believed that he should have been able to co-operate with their divisions, and therefore ventured to defy Napoleon himself, who had concentrated his army near Montmirail. Early in the forenoon we found ourselves on the side of a hill which hid the town from our view. I gathered from some whispers which reached my ears, and from the hasty movements of the adjutants, that Blücher had just learnt that Napoleon held the Marne invested by so strong a force that it was impossible for the Generals v. York and v. Sacken to attempt a passage. A few cannon-shots reached us, and a horseman close to me was struck; I looked involuntarily round, and saw him fall with his head frightfully shattered.

Our retreat began immediately towards Champaubert in perfect order. The hollowed ground did not permit us to see anything beyond us; I could perceive little even of our own troops or of the direction we were taking; but the heavy , constant cannonade, and the riding to and fro of single horsemen of the enemy, convinced me that engagements were taking place all around during the retreat. I was with Blücher and his staff, who, separated from the main body, and escorted by only a few troops, brought up the rear. Then we saw the enemy on the hills on both sides. Grenades burst close to us; cannon-balls fell thicker into the midst of us; the musketry began, from the closer approach of the enemy, to be destructive; and even some single cavalry troopers tried to hew their way into the midst of us. They were wrapped in white cloaks, and wore immense bear-skin caps, which half covered their faces. As soon as I was able to observe the small number of troops that accompanied us, and how we were attacked in every way, the extremity of our danger stood revealed to me. Exhausted by the exertions of the previous days, I rode up to Blaue: my field-flask was empty, for I had shared it with many. "Will you bestow one glass on me from yours?" I said to him. "I will divide all that remains with you," he answered; "it is the last that we shall ever drink together;" and he said this with the greatest calmness possible.

We rode through Champaubert; but before we reached the place many of those bear-skin caps rode close up, as if ready to seize upon us. In that critical moment the personal courage of the great commander blazed forth. "I will give it the fellows," he exclaimed; and we saw him dart upon an approaching trooper. Many hastened after him, but the horseman had fled.

On the other side of Champaubert we were on a meadow which was separated by green hedges from the road on our right. The forest through which the road lay between us and Etoges was at some considerable distance before us; the last retreating Russian guns were just disappearing in the wood; two battalions of Prussian troops were posted to protect us on the meadow, and one cannon served by Russians remained also near us. The enemy pressed on us more and more, and the time seemed near when it would no longer be possible to reach the wood, and get up with the main body. The battalion formed a square, and maintained their position with amazing firmness. The Russian artillery officer loaded, fired, and loaded again, and was asking Müffling, who was near, which way he had better point the gun, when the cry was suddenly heard, "We must separate; every one must save himself as he can." The first care was by all means to save the leader: the principals must gather round him; the rest make off as they could. Then I heard Müffling shout, "We must all hold together." The staff placed themselves instantly in the ranks; the battalion closed up, determined to risk everything. The Russian officer charged his gun again, and we bore down in full gallop against the enemy, who stood before us. They gave way. I think they had not looked for such a charge. Perhaps in the dusk, which did not admit of ascertaining the extent of our force, they might have supposed that we had received a sudden reinforcement. We reached the wood in safety.

The last Russian guns were passing along the road that led through the forest. We separated again, and made our way singly among the trees as well as we could to the right. On the left the enemy’s cavalry tried to press upon us, but the space was too contracted for any general attack, and it was hard to distinguish friends from foes. The Russian artillerymen knocked down many French troopers with the sponges with which they cleaned their guns.

Our progress thus through the forest in the dark nigh continued to be highly dangerous; though the thicket partly protected us, we knew not how we might be assailed either in front or rear. I was riding by Colonel Oppen, conversing with him, when some confusion took place behind us. He rode back to inquire the cause, and was never heard of again. Every possible attempt was made afterwards to ascertain when and where he hell, and to discover the body, but in vain. The army lost a most valuable officer and I a friend.

The forest extends some miles without a break; it took a long time to retreat through it; at first we went slowly, but, though I cannot tell how it was managed, we got forward more and more quickly, and at last rode at full gallop. This fact was denied afterwards, and it was asserted that we never exceeded the usual trot, but I cannot be deceived. I remember my horse participated in the general eagerness to push forward, and being but a bad rider I could not hold him, and I thus became entangled with Count v. G-----, who was very angry, but I had no power to avoid it.

At Etoges the forest ended: we pressed still farther on, reached Bergières, and took possession of the same outworks which we had left two days before; no one troubled himself about anyone else, but sought a resting-place as he could. Since I had left Vitry I had never slept except an hour or two snatched here and there, and I sank upon the hard-trodden ground in utter exhaustion. It was a sleep like death, such as in my whole life I never knew before or after. I felt at first a sensation as of some dreadful oppression, which I strove to resist, but in vain, yet it did not wake me, and I sank deeper and deeper into perfectly unconscious sleep. It was bright day when I awoke, and looking on the cloak in which I had wrapped myself I perceived stains of blood. I learnt that a man fatally wounded had been laid on some straw close by my side; while his wounds were being dressed he had rolled himself in his death agony upon me – his corpse lay still beside me. This incident, horrible as it was, affected me, after all that I had witnessed, but little, and the sleep had strengthened me astonishingly. I joined the party that surrounded Blücher, and found that the events of the preceding day had been less disastrous than my fears had painted them.