kzucker
02-16-2006, 01:25 AM
Here is an excerpt by Kolzakov on the capture of General Vandamme at Kulm. The full narrative is available at the following discussion board:
http://www.napoleon-series.org/cgi-bin/forum/archives/archives_config.pl?noframes;read=48338
Meantime, returning from my fourth mission, I was moving with great difficulty through the jammed roads in the defiles. My exhausted horse, covered in foam, barely moved his feet and stumbled upon each step. I barely escaped being thrown down on several occasions and, having dismounted, I walked holding his reigns in my hand along a relatively steep path. As I approached the open field, I encountered more and more killed and wounded. It was appalling to see these unfortunate; the moans of the wounded were particularly heart wrenching to hear. Many of them begged for help or water, yelled and cursed. But their shouts were eclipsed by other noises and the roar of the battle that was still underway, though it moved beyond the settlement. The Cossacks and ordinaries galloped in every direction. Lightly wounded soldiers helped transport more seriously injured. Everyone was moving, shouting, cursing and making other noises. Two horsemen rode by shouting “Victory! Victory!” Several soldiers crossed themselves while others yelled ‘hurrah’ I looked around and saw that a group of horsemen appeared from the edge of the forest. A few shots were fired and I made out their French uniforms. I hastily mounted my horse and, removing my sabers from scabbard, I spurred my horse to get away from the attackers. But in vain did I force my exhausted steed as it dug into ground and refused to move. As the enemy group approached me, I saw that the Cossacks were galloping behind them in pursuit. In front of the French, there were a stout figure of a French general with unbuttoned uniform on a heavy horse; several officers followed him. Two Cossacks, that were behind me, dashed with their pikes. I suddenly heard a coarse voice shouting out to me, “Général russe, sauvez moi!” My horse, seeing other galloping horses, instinctively began to follow them. I yelled, “Cossacks stop, do not kill!” and barely managed to thwart a Cossack pike as the French were surrounded and surrendered.
The French general halted and dismounted the horse. His plump face was red of anxiety and heavy sweat run down on his cheeks mixing with dirt. His uniforms was covered in dust. Breathing heavily, he approached me and, still thinking I was a general, probably because of my navy hat, he told me, “Je vous rends, general, mon épée qui m’a servi pendant de longues années pour la gloire de mon pays.” But I refused to take his sword telling him that he would surrender it personally to our Emperor and, asking his name, I learned that it was French commander-in-chief Vandamme himself. He seemed drunk and barely stood on his feet so, unable to travel, he asked for some time to rest. Several officers, who were capture with him, also dismounted and surrounded him. He shook their hands telling them “Mes braves amis! On n’est pas toujours hereux,” and then inquiered about two other officers, who were probably wounded and fell down along the road. I assured him that they would be picked up and taken to the medical point. Seeing Guard cavalrymen moving on the field in a distance, I sent a Cossack to meet them with orders to join us and escort the captured.
http://www.napoleon-series.org/cgi-bin/forum/archives/archives_config.pl?noframes;read=48338
Meantime, returning from my fourth mission, I was moving with great difficulty through the jammed roads in the defiles. My exhausted horse, covered in foam, barely moved his feet and stumbled upon each step. I barely escaped being thrown down on several occasions and, having dismounted, I walked holding his reigns in my hand along a relatively steep path. As I approached the open field, I encountered more and more killed and wounded. It was appalling to see these unfortunate; the moans of the wounded were particularly heart wrenching to hear. Many of them begged for help or water, yelled and cursed. But their shouts were eclipsed by other noises and the roar of the battle that was still underway, though it moved beyond the settlement. The Cossacks and ordinaries galloped in every direction. Lightly wounded soldiers helped transport more seriously injured. Everyone was moving, shouting, cursing and making other noises. Two horsemen rode by shouting “Victory! Victory!” Several soldiers crossed themselves while others yelled ‘hurrah’ I looked around and saw that a group of horsemen appeared from the edge of the forest. A few shots were fired and I made out their French uniforms. I hastily mounted my horse and, removing my sabers from scabbard, I spurred my horse to get away from the attackers. But in vain did I force my exhausted steed as it dug into ground and refused to move. As the enemy group approached me, I saw that the Cossacks were galloping behind them in pursuit. In front of the French, there were a stout figure of a French general with unbuttoned uniform on a heavy horse; several officers followed him. Two Cossacks, that were behind me, dashed with their pikes. I suddenly heard a coarse voice shouting out to me, “Général russe, sauvez moi!” My horse, seeing other galloping horses, instinctively began to follow them. I yelled, “Cossacks stop, do not kill!” and barely managed to thwart a Cossack pike as the French were surrounded and surrendered.
The French general halted and dismounted the horse. His plump face was red of anxiety and heavy sweat run down on his cheeks mixing with dirt. His uniforms was covered in dust. Breathing heavily, he approached me and, still thinking I was a general, probably because of my navy hat, he told me, “Je vous rends, general, mon épée qui m’a servi pendant de longues années pour la gloire de mon pays.” But I refused to take his sword telling him that he would surrender it personally to our Emperor and, asking his name, I learned that it was French commander-in-chief Vandamme himself. He seemed drunk and barely stood on his feet so, unable to travel, he asked for some time to rest. Several officers, who were capture with him, also dismounted and surrounded him. He shook their hands telling them “Mes braves amis! On n’est pas toujours hereux,” and then inquiered about two other officers, who were probably wounded and fell down along the road. I assured him that they would be picked up and taken to the medical point. Seeing Guard cavalrymen moving on the field in a distance, I sent a Cossack to meet them with orders to join us and escort the captured.