A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ BY THE AUSTRIAN MAJOR-GENERAL, STUTTERHEIM. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY MAJOR PINE COFFIN, ASSISTANT QUARTER-MASTER-GENERAL TO THE BRITISH ARMY, Tout cela, prouve, qu'il y a beaucoup d'hommes, capables de faire manœuvrer, quinze a vingt mille hommes, et qu'il en est peu, qui puissent tirer tout le parti possible, d'une armée de quatre-vingt mille hommes. Note par un officier François. LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. GODDARD, MILITARY BOOKSELLER, NO. 1, PALL-MALL, CORNER OF THE HAYMARKET. 1807. W. Marchant, Printer, 3, Greville-street, Holborn. TO THE PUBLIC. The fatal consequences that resulted from the battle of Austerlitz, to the cause of Europe, and of humanity, render it an object of too deep an interest with the statesman and the soldier to make an apology requisite for introducing to the public, what may be considered as the Austrian official account of that action. It is hardly probable, that, under a government so constituted as that of Austria, a general officer would have ventured to publish the particulars of an action, in which he himself bore a conspicuous part, (at least with his name attached to it,) unless he felt himself sanctioned by the _highest authority_ in so doing. However that may be, the work bears evident internal marks of authenticity, while the events daily passing under our eyes, with such dazzling, and unprecedented rapidity, give an additional interest to the _cause_ which has been productive of such direful _effects_. Scarcely have twelve months elapsed since this disastrous battle was fought, and already have we seen new dynasties created, and the proudest empires levelled in the dust. We have seen one of the most powerful monarchies of Europe, whether it be considered as to its military resources, or its well replenished treasury; as to its well disciplined army, or the glorious recollection of its past achievements: we have seen the armies of Prussia, which were wont to be considered as the patterns of military excellence, dissipated and annihilated, like chaff before the wind, by the well-trained legions of the modern Alexander. The present state of Europe affords ample scope to the reflections of the statesman. For, though the soldier may account for the loss of a battle, by reasoning on what was done, and what was left undone, the subjugation of states is to be looked for in causes far remote from the scene of action. These are times which not only require superiority of intellect in those who govern, but the conviction on the part of the _governed_, that they are not mere spectators of the fray; that it is not a mere squabble for power; but that the happiness of each individual, that the preservation of all he holds most dear, in short, that the _liberties of his country_ are at stake, and depend upon the issue of the contest.