10 February 1814 · Napoleon (reported)
“I shall be on the Vistula”
“Another such victory as this, gentlemen, and I shall be on the Vistula.”
Finding that no one replied, and reading in the countenances of his Marshals that they did not share his hopes, “I see how it is,” he added, “every one is growing tired of war; there is no more enthusiasm. The sacred fire is extinct.”
Then rising from the table, and stepping up to General Drouot … “General,” said he, patting him on the shoulder, “we only want a hundred men like you, and we should succeed.” Drouot replied, with great presence of mind and modesty, “Rather say a hundred thousand, Sire.”
Context
On the evening of Champaubert, Napoleon had supper with Berthier, Marmont and his prisoner, General Olsufiev. The Vistula was the river of his 1807 triumphs in Poland, a thousand miles to the east. Bourrienne was not there. He says he had the story from "the two principal persons who were present".
Source: L. A. F. de Bourrienne, Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, ed. R. W. Phipps, vol. 12 (1891 edition). Public domain. Bourrienne was Napoleon’s former secretary. He was not with the army in 1814, so his anecdotes are second-hand.
People
NapoleonCommander-in-chief of the French armies
MarmontCommander of VI Corps
OlsufievCommander of the Russian IX CorpsRelated: Battle of Champaubert