noon
The tears of his wife , the prayers and remonstrances of Hardenberg restrained him ; he was unwilling to listen to the urgent appeals of Generals von Köckeritz and Zastrow , and of Field-Marshal von Kalkreuth , who , now that Dantzic had fallen , believed unconditional submission to be the only means of safety . Alexander determined first on taking a decisive step . On the 24th of June he sent Prince Labanoff to the victor of Friedland , and expressed his desire for an interview with him . Napoleon complied with this request , and sent Grand-Marshal Duroc to the Emperor Alexander to inform him that he would meet him on the following day , the 25th of June , at noon . But the two emperors did not wish to see each other on a soil red with the blood of their soldiers , nor were the peace negotiations to be held on a territory hostile to the Emperor of the French . A river , whose waves buried in their depths the reminiscences of the past , was to be the neutral place of their meeting . It was a clear midsummer-day ; the earth was clad in the freshest verdure ; not a cloud floated in the sky ; not a breath of wind stirred the air , or ruffled the limpid waters of the Niemen .