My father next discovered that the general commissioned to report upon the siege had said he merely looked on during the fight at la Favorite.
My father began his defence by obtaining the following testimony:—
"ARMY OF ITALY.
"Division of the blockade of Mantua, 20th regiment of dragoons.
"We, the undersigned officers of the 20th regiment of dragoons, certify that Dumas, general of division, had a horse shot under him in the battle of the 27th of this month before Mantua, and another struck down by a cannon-ball.
"Written at the bivouac at Marmirolo, the 29th Nivôse, year V of the French Republic.
"Signed:
"BONTEMS, Adjutant; BAUDIN, Adjutant; DUBOIS, Sub-Lieutenant; L. BONEFROY, Sub-Lieutenant; A. J. BONNART, Chief of Brigade; LE COMTE, Lieutenant; LEBRUN, Lieutenant; DEJEAN, Captain; BOUZAT, Lieutenant."
Then he wrote to Bonaparte:—
"GENERAL,—I learn that the silly fool whose business it was to report to you upon the battle of the 27th states that I only looked on throughout that battle. I have no wish to make similar observations concerning him, although he soiled his trousers.—Respectfully yours,
ALEX. DUMAS."
The fact was that the letter sent to incorporate my father in Masséna's division was curt, and would have wounded a man of much less susceptible nature than his.
It was dated the very day after the battle in which my father had had two horses killed under him.
"HEADQUARTERS, ROVERBELLA,
"28 Nivôse, Year of the Republic, one and indivisible.
"General of Division and Head of the Staff.
"The general-in-chief commands Divisional-General Dumas to leave Marmirolo, where he will be replaced by General Chabot, and to proceed to General Masséna's division: he will serve in the active army at Verona, under the orders of that general.
ALEX. BERTHIER."
This time there was no friendly termination, at length or abridged.