The materials for it were mostly collected in the preparation of my "Napoleon and his Marshals," and hence it was comparatively an easy task to arrange them in a connected and intelligible form. At first sight there might seem to be a good deal of repetition of scenes described in that work, because reference is necessarily made to them. But what in the former work is a mere reference made to give a right conception of a battle or campaign, in this becomes a full and detailed account. In the former the main features of a conflict are delineated, and the conduct of the Guard only mentioned incidentally, while in the latter the battle-field and the main operations of the army are sketched only enough to allow the introduction of the Guard upon the scene. So that while the reference to the same things are constant, the details are entirely different. Two or three exceptions to this remark occur in the present work, but I thought that the reader in these cases would prefer a repetition to a hiatus in the history of the Guard.
I believe there is a description of but a single battle in the whole book, although the conduct of the Guard in action and its heavy onsets are of course necessarily dwelt upon. Still it is meant to be rather a domestic than military history. Judging by my own feelings, I thought there were many who having always taken a deep interest in the recital of its deeds would be glad to know more of its formation, internal arrangements, and by what moral and other means it became such a terrible corps. I have been as much interested in the social private life as in its public conduct, and dwelt with more pleasure upon those incidents and anecdotes illustrating its sense of honor, noble pride, and steadfast integrity, than in the march of its iron columns through smoke and fire to victory. I believe that others will feel the same.
The facts are taken from a variety of works which I need not here enumerate. The statistics, however, and most of the details exhibiting the private life, if I may so term it, of the Guard, are taken from a French work entitled, "Historie Polulaire de la Garde Imperiale, par Emile Marco de Saint Hiliare." It is a large work, comprising some five hundred closely printed pages. I should have given credit to it in the body of my work, since many scenes are in fact translations condensed, by the references would have been endless. I have used it without stint. The illustrations are mostly taken from it.
To those who doubted my statements respecting the origin of the wars of France, in my "Napoleon and his Marshals," I submit, with the earnest wish it should receive their careful attention, the last chapter in this work.
