第 45 节
作者:铲除不公      更新:2021-02-20 18:51      字数:9322
  king and country; and exhorting them to union and peace。  This
  address was unanimously adopted and signed by all present; and
  amongst the signatures were those of the principal Protestants of
  Nimes。  But this was not all: the next day it was printed and
  published; and copies sent to all the communes in the department over
  which the white flag still floated。  And all this happened; as we
  have said; on April and; eleven days after Napoleon's return to
  Paris。
  The same day word arrived that the Imperial Government had been
  proclaimed at Montpellier。
  The next day; April 3rd; all the officers on half…pay assembled at
  the fountain to be reviewed by a general and a sub…inspector; and as
  these officers were late; the order of the; day issued by General
  Ambert; recognising the Imperial Government; was produced and passed
  along the ranks; causing such excitement that one of the officers
  drew his sword and cried; 〃Long live the emperor!〃  These magic words
  were re…echoed from every side; and they all hastened to the barracks
  of the 63rd Regiment; which at once joined the officers。  At this
  juncture Marshal Pelissier arrived; and did not appear to welcome the
  turn things had taken; he made an effort to restrain the enthusiasm
  of the crowd; but was immediately arrested by his own soldiers。  The
  officers repaired in a body to the headquarters of General Briche;
  commandant of the garrison; and asked for the official copy of the
  order of the day。  He replied that he had received none; and when
  questioned as to which side he was on he refused to answer。  The
  officers upon this took him prisoner。  Just as they had consigned him
  to the barracks for confinement; a post…office official arrived
  bringing a despatch from General Ambert。  Learning that General
  Briche was a prisoner; the messenger carried his packet to the
  colonel of the 63rd Regiment; who was the next in seniority after the
  general。  In opening it; it was found to contain the order of the
  day。
  Instantly the colonel ordered the 'gineyale' to sound: the town
  guards assumed arms; the troops left the barracks and formed in line;
  the National Guards in the rear of the regular troops; and when they
  were all thus drawn up; the order of the day was read; it was then
  snatched out of the colonel's hands; printed on large placards; and
  in less time than seemed possible it was posted up in every street
  and at every street corner; the tricolour replaced the white cockade;
  everyone being obliged to wear the national emblem or none at all;
  the city was proclaimed in a state of seige; and the military
  officers formed a vigilance committee and a police force。
  While the Duc d'Angouleme had been staying at Nimes; General Gilly
  had applied for a command in that prince's army; but in spite of all
  his efforts obtained nothing; so immediately after the dinner at
  which he was insulted he had withdrawn to Avernede; his place in the
  country。  He was awoke in the night of the 5th…6th April by a courier
  from General Ambert; who sent to offer him the command of the 2nd
  Subdivision。  On the 6th; General Gilly went to Nimes; and sent in
  his acceptance; whereby the departments of the Gard; the Lozere; and
  Ardeche passed under his authority。
  Next day General Gilly received further despatches from General
  Ambert; from which he learned that it was the general's intention; in
  order to avoid the danger of a civil war; to separate the Duc
  d'Angouleme's army from the departments which sympathised with the
  royal cause; he had therefore decided to make Pont…Saint…Esprit a
  military post; and had ordered the l0th Regiment of mounted
  chasseurs; the 13th artillery; and a battalion of infantry to move
  towards this point by forced marches。  These troops were commanded by
  Colonel Saint…Laurent; but General Ambert was anxious that if it
  could be done without danger; General Gilly should leave Nimes;
  taking with him part of the 63rd Regiment; and joining the other
  forces under the command of Colonel Saint…Laurent; should assume the
  chief command。  As the city was quite tranquil; General Gilly did not
  hesitate to obey this order: he set out from Nimes on the 7th; passed
  the night at Uzes; and finding that town abandoned by the
  magistrates; declared it in a state of siege; lest disturbances
  should arise in the absence of authority。  Having placed M。 de
  Bresson in command; a retired chief of battalion who was born in
  Uzes; and who usually lived there; he continued his march on the
  morning of the 8th。
  Beyond the village of Conans; General Gilly met an orderly sent to
  him by Colonel Saint…Laurent to inform him that he; the colonel; had
  occupied Pont Saint…Esprit; and that the Duc d'Angouleme; finding
  himself thus caught between two fires; had just sent General
  d'Aultanne; chief of staff in the royal army; to him; to enter into
  negotiations for a surrender。  Upon this; General Gilly quickened his
  advance; and on reaching Pont…Saint…Esprit found General d'Aultanne
  and Colonel Saint…Laurent conferring together at the Hotel de la
  Poste。
  As Colonel Saint…Laurent had received his instructions directly from
  the commander…in…chief; several points relating to the capitulation
  had already been agreed upon; of these General Gilly slightly altered
  some; and approved of the others; and the same day the following
  convention was signed:
  〃Convention concluded between General Gilly and Baron de Damas
  〃S。A。R。  Mgr。 le Duc d'Angouleme; Commanderin…Chief of the royal army
  in the South; and Baron de Gilly; General of Division and
  Commander…in…Chief of the first corps of the Imperial Army; being
  most anxiously desirous to prevent any further effusion of French
  blood; have given plenary powers to arrange the terms of a convention
  to S。A。R。  M。 le Baron de Damas; Field…Marshal and Under…Chief of
  Staff; and General de Gilly and Adjutant Lefevre; Chevalier of the
  Legion of Honour; and Chief of the Staff of the first Army Corps;
  who; having shown each other their respective credentials; have
  agreed on the following terms:
  〃Art。  1。  The royal army is to be disbanded; and the National Guards
  which are enrolled in it; under whatever name they may have been
  levied; will return to their homes; after laying down their arms。
  Safe conducts will be provided; and the general of division
  commanding…in…chief guarantees that they shall never be molested for
  anything they may have said or done in connection with the events
  preceding the present convention。
  〃The officers will retain their swords; the troops of the line who
  form part of this army will repair to such garrisons as may be
  assigned to them。
  〃Art。 2。  The general officers; superior staff officers and others of
  all branches of the service; and the chiefs and subordinates of the
  administrative departments; of whose names a list will be furnished
  to the general…in…chief; will retire to their homes and there await
  the orders of His Majesty the Emperor。
  〃Art。 3。  Officers of every rank who wish to resign their commissions
  are competent to do so。  They will receive passports for their homes。
  〃Art。 4。  The funds of the army and the lists of the paymaster…
  general will be handed over at once to commissioners appointed for
  that purpose by the commander…in…chief。
  〃Art。 5。  The above articles apply to the corps commanded by Mgr。 le
  Duc d'Angouleme in person; and also to those who act separately but
  under his orders; and as forming part of the royal army of the South。
  〃Art。 6。  H。R。H。 will post to Cette; where the vessels necessary for
  him and his suite will be waiting to take him wherever he may desire。
  Detachments of the Imperial Army will be placed at all the relays on
  the road to protect His Royal Highness during the journey; and the
  honours due to his rank will be everywhere paid him; if he so desire。
  〃Art。 7。  All the officers and other persons of His Royal Highness'
  suite who desire to follow him will be permitted to do so; and they
  may either embark with him at once or later; should their private
  affairs need time for arrangement。
  〃Art。 8。  The present treaty will be kept secret until His Royal
  Highness have quitted the limits of the empire。
  〃Executed in duplicate and agreed upon between the above…mentioned
  plenipotentiaries the 8th day of April in the year 1815; with the
  approval of the general commanding…in…chief; and signed;
  〃At the headquarters at Pont…Saint…Esprit on the day and year above
  written
  (Signed) LEFEVRE
  Adjutant and Chief of Staff of the
  First Corps of the Imperial Army
  of the South
  (Signed) BARON DE DAMAS
  Field…Marshal and Under…Chief of
  Staff
  〃The present convention is approved of by the General of Division
  Commanding…in…Chief the Imperial Army of the South。
  (Signed) GILLY〃
  After some discussion between General Gilly and General Grouchy; the
  capitulation was carried into effect。  On the 16th April; at eight
  o'clock in the morning; the Duc d'Angouleme arrived at Cette; and
  went on board the Swedish vessel Scandinavia; which; taking advantage
  of a favourable wind; set sail the same day。
  Early in the morning of the 9th an officer of high rank had been sent
  to La Palud to issue safe…conducts to the troops; who according