The letters by Hortense are back. We’ve been hearing about the sad end of the life of her dear second born son, Napoleon Louis. Now we’re going back 25 years to when he was a baby and Hortense was a sad young woman who just couldn’t fake the fact that she didn’t want to be married to Louis Bonaparte.
Friday, 26 Vendemiaire Year XIV, October 18, 1805.
Dear Eugene,
I receive news every day, my dear Eugene, but I do not send it to you any more, for I know that you already get it, direct from the army. However, Mom sent me yesterday a letter which she had just received from the Emperor. He said that everything reveals to him that this has been the brightest, shortest, and happiest campaign ever made: these are his expressions. It's very encouraging, but, when one thinks of the tears that these very victories will provoke, I assure you that it is very sad. Indeed, two colonels I knew died in the first engagements.
The word is that we have won the great battle which was to take place near Ulm. But it is said that many people have been killed, among others an aide-de-camp of the Emperor. We are waiting for the news tonight. But decide yourself how much you want or fear the arrival of the mail. I dare not tell you my happiness of knowing that you are not fighting.
In what a state of worry I would be in. But no doubt sooner or later it will be your turn. I know how much you want to be with the army and I only think with grief at that moment when you will be despite all my desire to think like you do. This poor Lacuee, I’m so sad about him! He had been unhappy, but, perhaps, after the war, would he have regained the happiness he had lost by behaving thoughtlessly. How sad we are in times of war! I think of the poor widow we will have to console. Louis's aides-de-camp are almost all married.
My God, those dreadful Austrians who do not want to leave us alone! I can say that I was born in time of war and that I have seen only that. When will come the time when we will be a little quiet. Happiness, what’s that? We can settle for trying to be calm, but it is still very difficult even to manage that. Goodbye, I kiss you.
HORTENSE.
Hortense and Josephine Bonaparte’s Letters are available here.