Napoleon, a short biography . ven days had passed sincethe capitulation of Ulm three hundred milesaway.^ From Vienna the French marchednorthwards towards Moravia, where the EmperorFrancis and the Czar Alexander had now as-sembled a large army. Napoleon hoped fora decisive battle, and his opponents gratifiedhis desire by advancing to meet him. The position of Napoleon, in spite of hisgreat success at Ulm, was in reality very criti-cal. The internal affairs of France were dis-quieting chiefly owing to a grave financialcrisis, but what was perhaps more important,the military situation was far fro
Napoleon, a short biography . ven days had passed sincethe capitulation of Ulm three hundred milesaway.^ From Vienna the French marchednorthwards towards Moravia, where the EmperorFrancis and the Czar Alexander had now as-sembled a large army. Napoleon hoped fora decisive battle, and his opponents gratifiedhis desire by advancing to meet him. The position of Napoleon, in spite of hisgreat success at Ulm, was in reality very criti-cal. The internal affairs of France were dis-quieting chiefly owing to a grave financialcrisis, but what was perhaps more important,the military situation was far from sound. TheFrench army was now four hundred miles ormore from its base and much weakened bydetachments. The line of communicationsran through southern Germany, of which theStates professed amicable sentiments; but tothe north Prussia was avowedly on the pointof declaring war and had concentrated a largearmy under Marshal Mollendorf. It was evi- 1 A large part of the French army was at Munich and be-yond when Ulm The aiTOWB Indfcato the general direction of the Awatro-Kuasianadvance. The French corps are Indicated by namea. Napoleonwas Quar Barnadotte and Soult. BORHAV 4e CO.,;r Austerlitz AUSTERLITZ 125 dently the policy of Russia and Austria tokeep Napoleons army employed in Moraviawithout coming to battle until the action ofPrussia could take effect on his line of com-munications. But the impetuosity of the youngCzar and of his advisers threw counsels ofprudence to the winds and led him into thevery course Napoleon hoped he would adopt. For several days the Emperor slowly retiredbefore the advancing allies, having selected aposition near Austerlitz from which he ex-pected to derive great advantage. The Frencharmy took station there on the night of theist of December, Kutusoff with the two alliedEmperors disposing his troops on the risingground opposite. Napoleons left was solidlyestablished on a hill named the Santon thathad been well intrenched. His centr
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