Rapp on Junot’s actions at Smolensk
some day I want to compile all of the sources I’ve found about Junot’s behaviour on the Russian campaign, but the there’s just so much…
but here is what Rapp says about why he chose to defend Junot after the battle of Smolensk even though he did a silly. interestingly some eyewitness accounts of people who fought in the battle of Smolensk claim that Junot was having hallucinations, that he thought he saw the sun setting or Russian troops blocking his path… Let’s see, why do men such as Rapp, Berthier and Caulaincourt, who were otherwise so concerned with military efficiency, intervene on Junot’s behalf?
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‘We, on our side, received reinforcements; the action became terrible: Ney attacked in front, Junot on the flank: the enemy's army would have been cut off if the Duke had pressed forward. Wearied with not seeing him appear, Murat ran to him, "What are you doing? Why do you not come on?" "My Westphalians are wavering." "I will give than an impetus." The King of Naples put himself at the head of a few squadrons, charged, and overthrew every thing that opposed him. "There is your Marshal's baton half gained; complete the work, the Russians are lost." Junot did not complete it; whether from fatigue or distrust, the brave of the brave slumbered amidst the sound of the cannon, and the enemy, who were coming up to support their rear, again fell back on their line. The engagement became terrible; the brave Gudin lost his life, and the Russian army escaped us.
Napoleon visited the places where the battle had been fought "It was not at the bridge — it is there — at the village, where the eighth corps ought to have debouched — that the battle hinged. What was Junot doing?" The King of Naples endeavoured to extenuate his fault: the troops, the obstacles, all the customary commonplaces were employed. Berthier, who had always loved the Duke, interested himself for him; Caulincourt did the same. Everyone pleaded to the utmost in favour of a brave man who could be reproached with nothing but a moment of forgetfulness. But the advantages we had lost were too great Napoleon sent for me. "Junot has just lost for ever his Marshal’s baton. I give you the command of the Westphalian corps: you speak their language, you will show them an example, you will make them fight." I was flattered with this mark of confidence, and expressed my sense of it; but Junot was covered with wounds, he had distinguished himself in Syria, in Egypt, every where; I begged the Emperor to forget a moment's absence of mind on account of twenty years' courage and devotion. "He is the cause of the Russian army not having laid down its arms. This affair will, perhaps, hinder me from going to Moscow. Put yourself at the head of the Westphalians." The tone with which he pronounced these last words was already much softened. The services of the old aide-de-camp extenuated the inactivity of the 8th corps. I resumed : "Your Majesty has just talked to me of Moscow. The army is not in expectation of such an expedition." "The glass is full, I must drink it off I have just received good news: Schwartzenberg is in Wolhinia, Poland is organizing, I shall have every kind of assistance."
I left Napoleon to make known to the Prince of Neuchatel and the Duke de Vicenze the disgrace with which Junot was threatened. "I am afflicted," said the Prince to me, "to see his troops taken from him; but I cannot but acknowledge that he has caused the failure of one of the finest operations of the campaign. See on what the success of war depends; on the forgetfulness, on the absence of a moment: you do not seize the occasion in its flight, it disappears, and returns no more. No one has more courage or more ability. He adds to the qualities of the soldier the most extensive knowledge; he is intrepid, clever, agreeable, and good-natured. He forgot himself for an hour; he has made himself many enemies. However, I and Caulincourt will see what is to be done." They managed so well that Junot kept his post.’
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