Marshal Laurent, marquis of Gouvion-Saint-Cyr dubbed 'The Owl' - Bivouac of the battle of Polotsk on August 18, 1812 St. Cyr's relation with the Emperor warmed as Napoleon commented that St. Cyr had no match in all of the marshalate and was the equal of Napoleon himself in defence. On the day he received his long overdue baton he wrote a lengthy letter to his wife and true to his character he devoted only one line to his promotion.
