The Duke of Wellington wouldn't have run.

Resting from his labors after rearranging the geography of Europe in the aftermath of the Peace of Tilsit (July 7-9, 1807), Napoleon proposed that the Imperial Court engage in a rabbit hunt, entrusting the arrangements to his brilliant chief-of-staff, Alexandre Berthier.

Using all the energy and attention to detail with which he normally managed the Emperor’s campaigns, Berthier soon had everything in order. Leaving nothing to chance, Berthier even arranged to ensure the supply of rabbits, procuring almost a thousand rabbits so that the Emperor could hardly fail to bag a few on his day out.

On the appointed day, Berthier had the rabbits released in fields near Napoleon's residence and the Emperor strode out with his shotgun for his day of sport. However, Berthier had made a mistake. He had bought domesticated, farmed rabbits rather than wild ones, and the animals were used to being fed twice a day. As Napoleon approached he looked (to the rabbit mind) like a fellow bringing some lettuce and so, as one bunny, a thousand rabbits turned their beady glare and began to hop purposefully towards him.

It is said that the Marshalls of France had to beat the rabbits from Napoleon with horsewhips as he retreated to his carriage and safety.