When the rabbits were released, they didn't scatter in terror like wild rabbits would. Instead, they did something completely unexpected: they charged directly at Napoleon and his hunting party. Not in a cute, hopping-over-to-say-hello way. In a swarming, overwhelming, borderline-terrifying way.
According to witnesses, the rabbits formed a furry tidal wave and rushed toward Napoleon with what can only be described as aggressive intent. They climbed up his legs, jumped on his coat, and basically treated the Emperor of France like a climbing structure. Napoleon tried to shoo them away. His men tried beating them back with riding crops and sticks. Nothing worked.
The great Napoleon Bonaparte, who had stared down enemy artillery fire and led cavalry charges, was forced to retreat to his carriage while being mobbed by rabbits. Even when he was inside the carriage, rabbits reportedly jumped in after him. He had to flee the scene entirely, essentially surrendering the field to an army of bunnies.
The explanation makes it even better: his chief of staff bought domesticated rabbits instead of wild ones. These rabbits weren't afraid of people—they associated humans with food. The "attack" was actually hundreds of hungry rabbits swarming toward dinnertime.