immediately had a good post…chaise made ready for me； and Thibaut （for
that was the name of the courier I was to accompany） was directed to
obtain horses for me along the route。 Maret gave me eight hundred francs
for the expenses of my trip； which sum； entirely unexpected by me； filled
me with wonder； for I had never been so rich。 At four o'clock in the
morning； having heard from Thibaut that everything was ready； I went to
his house； where the post…chaise awaited me； and we set out。
I traveled very comfortably； sometimes in the postchaise； sometimes on
horseback； I taking Thibaut's place； and he mine。 I expected to overtake
the First Consul at Martigny； but his traveling had been so rapid； that I
caught up with him only at the convent of Mt。 St。 Bernard。 Upon our
route we constantly passed regiments on the march； composed of officers
and soldiers who were hastening to rejoin their different corps。 Their
enthusiasm was irrepressible；those who had made the campaign of Italy
rejoiced at returning to so fine a country； those who had not yet done so
were burning with impatience to see the battlefields immortalized by
French valor； and by the genius of the hero who still marched at their
head。 All went as if to a festival； and singing songs they climbed the
mountains of Valais。 It was eight o'clock in the morning when I arrived
at headquarters。 Pfister announced me； and I found the general…in…chief
in the great hall； in the basement of the Hospice。 He was taking
breakfast； standing； with his staff。 As soon as he saw me； he said；
〃Here you are； you queer fellow！ why didn't you come with me？〃 I excused
myself by saying that to my great regret I had received a counter order；
or； at least； they had left me behind at the moment of departure。 〃Lose
no time； my friend； eat quickly； we are about to start。〃 From this
moment I was attached to the personal service of the First Consul； in the
quality of ordinary valet； that is to say； in my turn。 This duty gave me
little to do； Hambard； the head valet of the First Consul； being in the
habit of dressing him from head to foot。
Immediately after breakfast we began to descend the mountain； many
sliding down on the snow； very much as they coast at the garden Beaujon；
from top to bottom of the Montagnes Russes； and I followed their example。
This they called 〃sledding。〃 The general…in…chief also descended in this
manner an almost perpendicular glacier。 His guide was a young
countryman； active and courageous； to whom the First Consul promised a
sufficiency for the rest of his days。 Some young soldiers who had
wandered off into the snow were found； almost dead with cold； by the
dogs sent out by the monks； and carried to the Hospice； where they
received every possible attention； and their lives were saved。 The First
Consul gave substantial proof of his gratitude to the good fathers for a
charity so useful and generous。 Before leaving the Hospice； where he had
found tables loaded with food already prepared awaiting the soldiers as
soon as they reached the summit of the mountain； he gave to the good
monks a considerable sum of money； in reward for the hospitality he and
his companions in arms had received； and an order on the treasury for an
annuity in support of the convent。
The same day we climbed Mount Albaredo； but as this passage was
impracticable for cavalry and artillery； he ordered them to pass outside
the town of Bard； under the batteries of the fort。 The First Consul had
ordered that they should pass it at night； and on a gallop； and he had
straw tied around the wheels of the caissons and on the feet of the
horses； but even these precautions were not altogether sufficient to
prevent the Austrians hearing our troops。 The cannon of the fort rained
grape…shot incessantly； but fortunately the houses of the town sheltered
our soldiers from the enemy's guns； and more than half the army passed
without much loss。 I was with the household of the First Consul； which
under the care of General Gardanne flanked the fort。
The 23d of May we forded a torrent which flowed between the town and the
fort； with the First Consul at our head； and then； followed by General
Berthier and some other officers； took the path over the Albaredo； which
overlooked the fort and the town of Bard。 Directing his field…glass
towards the hostile batteries； from the fire of which he was protected
only by a few bushes； he criticised the dispositions which had been made
by the officer in charge of the siege of the fort； and ordered changes；
which he said would cause the place to fall into our hands in a short
time。 Freed now from the anxiety which this fort had caused him； and
which he said had prevented his sleeping the two days he had passed in
the convent of Maurice； he stretched himself at the foot of a fir…tree
and took a refreshing nap； while the army was making good its passage。
Rising from this brief interval of repose； he descended the mountain and
continued his march to Ivree； where we passed the night。
The brave General Lannes； who commanded the advance guard； acted somewhat
in the capacity of quartermaster； taking possession of all the places
which barred the road。 Only a few hours before we entered he had forced
the passage of Ivree。
Such was this miraculous passage of St。 Bernard。 Horses； cannon；
caissons； and an immense quantity of army stores of all kinds；
everything； in fact； was drawn or carried over glaciers which appeared
inaccessible； and by paths which seemed impracticable even for a single
man。 The Austrian cannon were not more successful than the snow in
stopping the French army。 So true is it that the genius and perseverance
of the First Consul were communicated； so to speak； to the humblest of
his soldiers； and inspired them with a courage and a strength； the
results of which will appear fabulous to posterity。
On the 2d of June； which was the day after the passage of the Ticino； and
the day of our entrance into Milan； the First Consul learned that the
fort of Bard had been taken the evening before； showing that his
dispositions had led to a quick result； and the road of communication by
the St。 Bernard was now free from all obstructions。 The First Consul
entered Milan without having met much resistance； the whole population
turned out on his entrance； and he was received with a thousand
acclamations。 The confidence of the Milanese redoubled when they learned
that he had promised the members of the assembled clergy to maintain the
catholic worship and clergy as already established； and had compelled
them to take the oath of fidelity to the cisalpine republic。
The First Consul remained several days in this capital； and I had time to
form a more intimate acquaintance with my colleagues； who were； as I have
said； Hambard； Roustan； and Hebert。 We relieved each other every twenty…
four hours； at noon precisely。 As has always been my rule when thrown
into association with strangers； I observed； as closely as circumstances
permitted； the character and temper of my comrades； so that I could
regulate my conduct in regard to them； and know in advance what I might
have to fear or hope from association with them。
Hambard had an unbounded devotion for the First Consul； whom he had
followed to Egypt； but unfortunately his temper was gloomy and
misanthropic； which made him extremely sullen and disagreeable； and the
favor which Roustan enjoyed perhaps contributed to increase this gloomy
disposition。 In a kind of mania he imagined himself to be the object of
a special espionage； and when his hours of service were over； he would
shut himself up in his room； and pass in mournful solitude the whole time
he was not on duty。 The First Consul； when in good humor； would joke
with him upon this savage disposition； calling him Mademoiselle Hambard。
〃Ah； well； what were you doing there in your room all by yourself？
Doubtless you were reading some poor romances； or some old books about
princesses carried off and kept under guard by a barbarous giant。〃 To
which Hambard would sullenly reply； 〃General； you no doubt know better
than I what I was doing；〃 referring in this way to the spies by which he
believed himself to be always surrounded。 Notwithstanding this
unfortunate disposition； the First Consul felt very kindly to him。 When
the Emperor went to camp at Boulogne； Hambard refused to accompany him；
and the Emperor gave him； as a place of retreat； the charge of the palace
of Meudon。 There he showed unmistakable symptoms of insanity； and his
end was lamentable。 During the Hundred Days； after a conversation with
the Emperor； he threw himself against a carving…knife with such violence
that the blade came out two inches behind his back。 As it was believed
at this time that I had incurred the anger of the Emperor； the rumor went
abroad that it was I who had committed suicide； and this tragic death was
announced in several papers as mine。
Hebert； ordinary valet； was a very agreeable young fellow； but very
timid； and was； like all the rest of the household； devotedly attached to
the First Consul。 It happened one day in Egypt that the latter； who had
never been able to s