to take up their quarters beyond them, should proceed by the shortest road, and without halting. He paid likewise great attention to the men's arms, and to their shoes. In a word, his vigilance and anxiety were so great, that, according to a flattering expression of the government, "he left nothing for the minister to do."

His colleagues displayed the same zeal, and the army rolled on like a torrent towards the Rhine. The simplicity of its organization gave it great rapidity of motion. It was divided into seven corps, each of which had its separate commissariat, and acted independently of the others, though directed to the same object. The Emperor had reserved to himself the command of the whole; the war minister fulfilled the duties of major-general of the army, and transmitted his sovereign's orders to the different commanders. In the absence of the Emperor, his Lieutenant, Prince Murat, directed the operations of the whole.

The several corps remained under the command of the marshals. The first which occupied Hanover, was led by Bernadotte, the second by Marmont, the third by Davoust, the fourth by Soult, the fifth by Lannes, the sixth by Ney, and the seventh, which still remained on the coast, by Augereau. A certain force of cavalry was attached to each, and the surplus of this arm was formed into a reserve consisting of six divisions: two of heavy cavalry, and four of dragoons.

The first division of heavy cavalry was commanded by General Nansouty, the second by General D'Hautpoul; the first reserve of dragoons by General Blein, the second by General Walter, the third by General Beaumont, and the fourth by General Bourcier.

All these corps did not amount to more than a hundred and eighty thousand men. This was not a force commensurate with the greatness of the contest in preparation; for the coalition did not confine its efforts against France to the troops it had in line: it appealed to the population of its territories, calling upon every individual to assume arms in defence of their liberties. It thus brought in array against the French the very principles it was anxious to destroy. In Germany it raked up national antipathies; it flattered Italy with a spirit of independence, and it sought everywhere to sow the seeds of insurrection against Napoleon. Not that the mass of the population thus sought to be seduced were to be caught by such a bait, for they generally valued the institutions of the French nation, and did not behold, without distrust, this sudden interest taken by kings in the popular cause; but they were easily excited by the picture which was drawn of the sacrifices imposed upon them, and by pointing out to them that the French did not allow them to share in the political benefits which themselves enjoyed. The coalition was thus preparing to attack France upon the whole of

the vast line which they occupied. Russians, British, Swedes, and Hanoverians had joined in the contest; the approach of such a host of enemies might therefore lead to results unfavourable to the French, and a reverse place them in collision with populations impatient of their yoke. But the Austrians had imprudently spread themselves through Bavaria, before the Russians had well quitted Poland. Napoleon therefore hoped to anticipate the former, overpower the latter, and by placing himself between both, dissipate this league of kings ere it was in a state to injure him seriously in the field. According to his claculations a junction of the allies with each other could only be effected in Suabia. Now, from this country to Boulogne, where the French troops were stationed, the distance was about the same, as to Podolia, where the Russian troops were assembled. He therefore made it his object to start first, and to conceal for a few days the secret of his grand manœuvre from Boulogne to the Rhine. Marmont, whose forces were on board the flotilla when he received orders to march them into Germany, was directed to give out that his troops were landing to go into cantonments; and Bernadotte, stationed in Hanover, was to confirm the opinion that he intended to spend the winter there. Each however pressed his march, and proceeded with equal celerity to the point indicated, so that the French columns were pouring upon the banks of the

Rhine, when the members of the coalition fancied them in snug quarters upon the shores of the British channel. The first and second corps had reached Mayence; the third was spread round Manheim; the fourth had halted in the neighbourhood of Spires; the fifth was quartered at Strasburg; and the sixth, which had left Montreuil on the 28th of August, reached Lauterburg on the 24th of September. In this short interval Ney's division had executed a march of more than three hundred leagues, which was upwards of ten leagues a day. History has no example of such rapidity; but the celerity of this march had prevented the artillery and engineers from taking their measures, and nothing was ready for crossing the Rhine. Thus the troops had a short time to take breath and obtain a momentary respite from their fatiguing duties.

CHAPTER V.

THE several corps rested on the 25th and 26th of September. They were refreshed, in excellent condition, and eager to meet the enemy. The movement was resumed on the morning of the 27th: Murat, at the head, crossed the Rhine at Kehl; Lannes followed him, and both, advancing upon the outlets of the mountains, brought all the Austrian forces upon the Iller to a stand. the Iller to a stand. From the number of the French reconnoitring parties, and the frequency of their patrols, Mack fancied that the whole of Napoleon's army was advancing upon him. He supposed that the French, having resolved to penetrate through the defiles of the Black Forest, would attempt to reach the upper waters of the Danube; and he accordingly took measures to prevent them. But whilst he was waiting until they appeared in front of him, they were in motion to fall upon his rear. Marmont had crossed the Rhine at Mayence, Davoust at Manheim, Soult at Spires, and all following corresponding roads, were proceeding by forced marches upon Ingolstadt and Donawert.

Ney, like his colleagues, had received orders to