This etext was produced by David Widger
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MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 12.
By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE
His Private Secretary
Edited by R. W. Phipps
Colonel, Late Royal Artillery
1891
CONTENTS:
CHAPTER XXVIII. to CHAPTER XXXVI. 1813-1814
CHAPTER XXVIII.
1813.
Riots in Hamburg and Lubeck—Attempted suicide of M. Konning— Evacuation of Hamburg—Dissatisfaction at the conduct of General St. Cyr—The Cabinets of Vienna and the Tuileries—First appearance of the Cossacks—Colonel Tettenborn invited to occupy Hamburg—Cordial reception of the Russians—Depredations—Levies of troops— Testimonials of gratitude to Tettenborn—Napoleon's new army—Death of General Morand—Remarks of Napoleon on Vandamme—Bonaparte and Gustavus Adolphus—Junction of the corps of Davoust and Vandamme— Reoccupation of Hamburg by the French—General Hogendorff appointed Governor of Hamburg—Exactions and vexatious contributions levied upon Hamburg and Lubeck—Hostages.
A considerable time before Napoleon left Paris to join the army, the bulkof which was in Saxony, partial insurrections occurred in many places.The interior of France proper was indeed still in a state oftranquillity, but it was not so in the provinces annexed by force to theextremities of the Empire, especially in the north, and in theunfortunate Hanse Towns, for which, since my residence at Hamburg, I havealways felt the greatest interest. The intelligence I received wasderived from such unquestionable sources that I can pledge myself for thetruth of what I have to state respecting the events which occurred inthose provinces at the commencement of 1813; and subsequently I obtaineda confirmation of all the facts communicated by my correspondence when Iwas sent to Hamburg by Louis XVIII. in 1815.
M. Steuve, agent from the Court of Russia, who lived at Altona apparentlyas a private individual, profited by the irritation produced by themeasures adopted at Hamburg. His plans were so well arranged that he waspromptly informed of the route of the Grand Army from Moscow, and theapproach of the Allied troops. Aided by the knowledge and activity ofSieur Hanft of Hamburg, M. Steuve profited by the discontent of a peopleso tyrannically governed, and seized the opportunity for producing anexplosion. Between eight and nine o'clock on the morning of the 24th ofFebruary 1813 an occurrence in which the people were concerned was thesignal for a revolt. An individual returning to Hamburg by the Altonagate would not submit to be searched by a fiscal agent, who inconsequence maltreated him and wounded him severely. The populaceinstantly rose, drove away the revenue guard, and set fire to the guard-house. The people also, excited by secret agents, attacked other Frenchposts, where they committed the same excesses. Surprised at thisunexpected movement, the French authorities retired to the houses inwhich they resided. All the respectable inhabitants who were unconnectedwith the tumult likewise returned to their homes, and no person appearedout of doors.
General Carry St. Cyr had the command of Hamburg after the Prince of
Eckmuhl's departure for the Russian campaign.
—[General Carry St. Cy