Jump to content

Page:History of Napoleon Buonaparte.pdf/15

From Wikisource
This page has been validated.
NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.
21

But it was unwise to rush singly into hostilities, and to enter Saxony in defiance of that Elector's protest. Murat, Bernadotte, and Davoust,-Ney and Soult,-Lannes and Augereau,-headed three divisions of the French army, the last of which was sternly opposed by Prince Louis, who was unfortunately killed in the engagement. Soult on the left, was charged by Mollendorf, and must have given way but for the division of Ney. A general charge of the centre, under Lannes, of Augereau on the right, and Murat with his cavalry, threw the Prussians into utter confusion. They flew on to Weimar, leaving above 20,000 dead or prisoners, all their artillery, and sixty standards. This was the battle of Jena. Army after army of the Prussians was hemmed in by the French and broken up. On the 25th October, Buonaparte entered Berlin. His insolence was extreme. The French military were permitted to pillage at pleasure. Prussia was treated as a conquered province. The pictures and statues were sent to Paris.

During Buonaparte's stay in the Prussian capital, he issued decrees, by which he interrupted all intercourse between England and the Continent. This speedily led to a war with Russia; and on the 7th Feb., 1807, the French and Russian