s communication with Vienna, and isolating him. In
order that Bernadotte and the Bavarians might have a part in this great
manoeuvre, it was necessary that they should disregard the neutrality of
the Prussian territories of Anspach and Bareuth; and Napoleon, well
aware of the real sentiments of the court of Berlin, did not hesitate to
adopt this course. Prussia remonstrated indignantly, but still held back
from proclaiming war; and Napoleon cared little for such impediments as
mere diplomacy could throw in the way of his campaign. He did not,
however, effect his purpose of taking up a position in the rear of Mack
without resistance. On the contrary, at various places, at Wertenghen,
Guntzburg, Memingen, and Elchingen, severe skirmishes occurred with
different divisions of the Austrian army, in all of which the French had
the advantage. General Spangenburg and 5000 men laid down their arms at
Memingen; and, in all, not less than 20,000 prisoners fell into the
hands of the French between the 26th of September, when they crossed the
Rhine, and the 13th of October, when they were in full possession of
Bavaria and Swabia, holding Mack cooped up behind them in Ulm--as
Wurmser had been in Mantua, during the campaign of Alvinzi.

But Mack was no Wurmser. Napoleon's recent movements had perplexed
utterly the counsels of the Austrians, whose generals, adopting
different views of the state of the campaign, no longer acted in unison.
Schwartzenberg, and the Archduke Ferdinand, considering further
resistance in Bavaria as hopeless, cut their way, at the head of large
bodies of cavalry, into Bohemia, and began to rouse the inhabitants of
that kingdom to a levy _en masse_. The French Emperor, perceiving that
they had for the present escaped him, drew back upon Ulm, invested that
town on every side, and summoned Mack to surrender.

The garrison consisted of full 20,000 good troops; the place was amply
victualled and stored; the advance of the great Russian army could not
be distant; the declaration of war against Napoleon by Berlin was hourly
to be expected: and the armies of Austria, though scattered for the
present, would be sure to rally and make every effort for the relief of
Ulm. Under circumstances comparatively hopeless the brave Wurmser held
Mantua to extremity. But in spite of example or argument, in terror or
in treachery, General Mack capitulated without hazarding a blow.

On the 16th he published a proclamation, urging his