Austerlitz

At Austerlitz, these fanatical professionals of the Emperor whom they loved and admired made short work of the new recruits in certain regiments which opposed them. Their quality made up for lack of numbers and Napoleon ought not to have forgotten that this tool was needed to obtain victory ; the details of the citations are astounding. This exceptional tool was forged in the camp at Boulogne and in the campaigns of the Revolution ; there was the risk that it would slowly lose its quality even though the great leader's genius remained intact. This wearing down, losing officers and faithful cadres, aggravated by the Spanish mistake, took place gradually and draft dodgers appeared, then deserters, among the less enthusiastic conscripts, levied in the conquered countries.

But on this 2 December 1805, there were only heroes in the Grande Armée, only veterans shouting very loudly "Long live the Emperor !" They deserved Napoleon saying of them : "Soldiers, I'm pleased with you !"