buonaparte.—his principal plaything.—napoleon’s grotto.—buonaparte’s gratitude to his mother.—he goes to the military school at paris.—made a lieutenant.—his first military service.—his address to the men under his command.—his conduct to poor tradesmen.—reproof to his generals.—the jaffa massacre.—murder of the duke d’enghein.—legion of honour.—buonaparte threatens to invade england.—french invincibles.—an instance of generosity.—napoleon’s bravery.—battle of the pyramids.—the battle of lodi.—napoleon’s return from elba.—campaign in russia.—allusion to waterloo.—buonaparte dies at st helena.—the 18th of october a remarkable day.
“now please to tell us all that you know about buonaparte, for he was as fond of fighting as any man.”
226“that is true. the history of buonaparte, and that of the duke of wellington, would be the history of almost all great battles fought since the french revolution, fifty years ago; but you shall have a sprinkling of such things as i can remember of buonaparte. every soldier is pretty well acquainted with the fame of the emperor napoleon.”
“they say, that he was not a frenchman: was he?”
“he was a corsican; but as the island of corsica became, by law, a french department two or three months before his birth, so he may be called a frenchman. napoleon buonaparte was one of the greatest warriors of modern times. for many years before his death he became emperor of the french.”
“great as he was, wellington beat him! please to tell us something about him.”
“when a boy, his principal plaything was a brass cannon; and so fond was he of being alone, that when he could do so, he retired to a solitary summer-house among the rocks. the place is now called ‘napoleon’s grotto.’ in after-life he has been heard to say, that in childhood he was remarkable for obstinacy, and curiosity. others say that he was high-spirited, quarrelsome, imperious, fond of solitude, and a sloven in his dress. one good thing i will tell you of him. he always spoke gratefully of the kindness of his mother. it 227was a saying of his, ‘the future good or bad conduct of a child depends entirely on his mother.’ from brienne, where he was for a time educated, he was sent to the royal military school of paris.”
“ay! there he would learn everything about war.”
“at sixteen years of age he was made second lieutenant in a regiment of artillery, and seven years after he became a captain. during the french revolution he took the command of a battalion of national guards; and the first military service he performed was against his own country, corsica.”
“that was a bad beginning, to fight against his country.”
“i shall tell you about some of the battles in which he was afterwards engaged, but will now only give you a few anecdotes about him. some of them are against him, and some in his favour.”
“that is the fairest way, to let us know both sides of the question.”
“at the age of twenty-six buonaparte assumed the command of the army of italy! ‘you are too young,’ said one of the directors, who hesitated about his appointment as general. ‘in a year,’ replied napoleon, ‘i shall be either old or dead.’”
“he seems to have had a great deal of spirit.”
“‘soldiers!’ said he, to the army under his 228command, ‘you are hungry and naked: the republic owes you much, but she has not the means to pay her debts: i am come to lead you into the most fertile plains that the sun beholds. rich provinces, opulent towns, all shall be at your disposal. soldiers! with such a prospect before you, can you fail in courage and constancy?’ this was the first address he made to his army, and it ran like lightning from rank to rank. the men, who before were downhearted, became animated with hope and confidence, and the most distinguished officers of france, from that moment, determined to follow their youthful leader, as one who would assuredly lead them to victory and renown. massena, joubert, augereau, serrurier, and lannes, were among them; though their well-tried courage and experience might have justified them in seeking the supreme command, yet they cheerfully followed one whom they were fully convinced, would be successful in his daring enterprise.”
“he was just the man for the french, then, for he knew how to call up their courage. but six-and-twenty must have been a young age for a general?”
“when buonaparte was in his prosperity he employed, it is said, the same trades-people who supplied him in his former days. a silversmith, who had given him credit, when he set out for 229italy, for a dressing-case, worth fifty pounds, was rewarded with all the business which his recommendations could bring to him; and being clever in his trade, he became, under the patronage of the emperor, one of the wealthiest citizens of paris. a little hatter, and a cobler, who had served buonaparte when a subaltern, might have risen in the same manner, had their skill equalled that of the silversmith. napoleon’s example, however, could not persuade the good people of paris to wear ill-shaped hats and clumsy boots; but he, in his own person, adhered to the last to his original connexion with these poor trades-people.”
“that is very much to his credit, whatever might be his faults.”
“it is, and we should act honestly when speaking of the character of an enemy. the british army and navy have furnished instances of this kind. courage and fidelity frequently go together, so that the soldier or sailor, who is the first to face the cannon’s mouth, is often the last to turn his back on a friend. buonaparte, once apprehensive that his generals were on the point of breaking into open mutiny, threw himself suddenly among them, and addressing the tallest of them in a threatening vehement tone, said, ‘you have been talking sedition: take care lest i fulfil my duty: your five feet ten inches would not hinder you from being shot within two hours.’”
230“that was enough to make the general that he spoke to tremble.”
“one of the blackest stains on the reputation of buonaparte, is the massacre at jaffa. twelve hundred, some say nearly three thousand turks, a part of the garrison of the place, surrendered. these were marched to some sand-hills, at a little distance from the town, and there, being divided into small parties, every man was shot or bayonetted. not all the waters of the green ocean would ever wash that dark blot from napoleon’s brow.”
“shocking! shocking! that is a black mark on his brow indeed. there are quite enough soldiers fall in battle, but to shoot men when the battle is over is dreadful.”
“he is no true soldier who covers the name of an enemy with the slime of slander, but the truth must be spoken when it condemns as well as when it approves. the murder of the duke d’enghein, for murder it may properly be called, was another of the black acts of buonaparte. the duke was surprised in his castle, hurried off to the citadel of strasburgh, called up at midnight three days after, taken to paris, and then to the castle of vincennes, hastily tried, and condemned, and afterwards shot in the ditch of the castle by torchlight. the seizure, trial, and condemnation, were all contrary to the laws of france.”
“poor duke d’enghein!”
“buonaparte was a man of great parts and 231much energy, but self was the centre of all he did, though many of his acts appear to manifest a love of his country. he instituted the famous legion of honour: every frenchman is proud of it. the decoration of the legion of honour was given to those who performed any meritorious service, whether in the army or out of it. a common soldier could obtain it as well as a general. it entitles the wearer to certain precedence, and a pension. napoleon, when made first consul, was much thinner than in his after life. i have seen a picture of him, wherein he appeared to be taller and altogether a different kind of man to what he was when he became somewhat corpulent. buonaparte threatened to invade england, but the attempt was never made, though he assembled one hundred thousand troops, and an immense flotilla of flat-bottomed boats, to bear them across the channel. if war can be justified at one time more than another, it is when a country is invaded. the british spirit rose at once, so that, besides the regular troops, and militia of the country, three hundred and fifty thousand volunteers were soon in arms. on this occasion sir walter scott wrote his song to the edinburgh volunteers. one of the verses runs thus:—
‘if ever breath of british gale
shall fan the tri-colour,
or footsteps of invader rude,
with rapine foul, and red with blood,
pollute our happy shores—
232then farewell home, and farewell friends!
adieu each tender tie!
resolved, we mingle in the tide
where charging squadrons furious ride,
to conquer or to die!’
“sheridan said, that the first vision of buonaparte in the morning, was the destruction of england, and that his last prayer at night, whether he addressed it to jupiter, or to mahomet, to the goddess of battle, or the goddess of reason, was to bring about the same end.”
“it was a good thing the french gave it up. there would have been sad work of it. do you think they would have conquered us?”
“conquered us! no, boys. thousands, and tens of thousands might have been slain, but they could never have crushed the spirit of liberty out of british hearts. if englishmen can fight as they do out of their country, what would they not do in it rather than be conquered. it was, as you say, a good thing that the invasion was given up; but, if the french had persevered, our blue-jackets in the british channel, and our red-coats on the coasts, would have found them enough to do both by water and land. the one and the other would have joined in the chorus,
‘rule, britannia!
britannia rules the waves!
britons never shall be slaves!’
“but we are forgetting buonaparte. he styled 233a part of his troops the invincibles; but they were no more invincible than the spanish armada, which had the same name. british soldiers, under general abercrombie in egypt, first defeated the french invincibles, and wellington afterwards, scattered them like a flock of sheep.”
“you must tell us about the battle of waterloo; and then we shall hear how his invincibles met british men.”
“i ought not to forget a proof of the generous conduct of buonaparte on one occasion. it was when he had taken berlin, the prussian capital. the prince of hatzsfeld, while under his protection, corresponded with the prussian general, sending him an account of the movements of the french. one of his letters being intercepted, the prince was arrested; when his wife, thinking her husband not guilty, gained access to the emperor, and boldly asserted his innocence. napoleon handed to her the prince’s letter: when she fell, in silence and despair, on her knees. ‘put the paper in the fire,’ said napoleon, ‘and there will then be no proof of guilt.’”
“ah! that was a noble action. what a pity that he did not perform more such actions!”
“in taking the bridge and town of montereau, buonaparte was seen pointing cannon with his own hand, under the heaviest of the fire. but though this delighted the artillery-men, they expressed great apprehension at his personal danger. ‘my children,’ 234said he, still persisting in his employment, ‘the bullet that shall kill me is not yet cast.’”
“he was, no doubt, a very bold man, but it was very presumptuous to talk in that way.”
“most likely his object was to encourage his soldiers. the famous battle of the pyramids was one in which buonaparte obtained much reputation as a soldier. he had a strong frame, and could endure much. while other generals put on light clothing, and were bathed in perspiration, beneath the burning sun of egypt, he wore his uniform, as usual, buttoned up to the chin. he was the last at night to fling his body, wrapt in his war-cloak, on the ground, and the first in the morning to spring up from slumber. when he came within sight of the pyramids he cried out, ‘soldiers! from the summit of yonder pyramids forty ages behold you!’ the rage of the battle then broke loose.
“on came the mamelukes, with their fiery steeds. strong and rapid in their movements, they raised a wild cry, and rushed on the bristling bayonets of the french, who were drawn up in squares. they tried to force a passage, urged their horses on, and then backed them against their enemies. but the french would not give way. the mamelukes were almost mad with rage; they dashed their carbines and pistols in the faces of the french soldiers, and, when wounded on the ground, cut at their legs, but 235it was all in vain. the french cannon and musketry mowed them down;—they fell back! the carnage was dreadful! the battle was won by napoleon. cairo soon surrendered to him, and he became the conqueror of lower egypt.
“the taking of the bridge of lodi, in italy, was one of the most daring achievements of buonaparte. this bridge was a wooden one; and a battery of thirty cannon was so placed as to sweep it completely. the whole austrian army was drawn up behind it.
“napoleon buonaparte was not to be intimidated by danger, he advanced, and a furious cannonade broke forth. buonaparte rushed on in the middle of the fire, and pointed two guns with his own hands, so as to prevent the austrians approaching the bridge to blow it up. his soldiers were delighted at his bravery, and called him ‘the little corporal.’
“napoleon gave the word, and a column of grenadiers rushed to the bridge, shouting ‘vive la republique!’ the grape-shot swept them down terribly. they hesitated,—buonaparte hurried to their head, with lannes, berthier, and lallemaque, and cheered them onward. the cannon raged, a tempest of shot was around them, but they dashed on. the artillery-men were bayonetted at their guns; the bridge of lodi was taken, and the austrian army scattered in confusion.”
“buonaparte was a brave man, no doubt, for 236he seemed to delight in war. he must have seen the death of many in his time.”
“that will hardly bear thinking of. it is said, that during his wars, four millions of men, must have fallen.”
“four millions of men! it is very well there are not many buonapartes in the world.”
“he was too fond of fighting; and after all his victories he got no good by them. if half the world had been his, he would never have been contented till he had obtained the other half. ambition was the ruin of him:—
“he saw, though visible to him alone,
ambition, seated on a shining throne:—
‘cut through yon glittering host,’ she loudly cries.
‘behold me here, ordained the victor’s prize!’”
“there was never a braver man than buonaparte in the world. he cared no more for cannon-shot than we do for snow-balls.”
“napoleon showed a daring and invincible spirit in crossing the alps, and in numberless battles, but, perhaps, never did he manifest more true courage than in throwing himself fearlessly into the arms, as it were, of the french army, on his return from elba, where, after his abdication, he had been a prisoner. a battalion was sent against him. he dismounted from his horse, and advanced alone, opening his surtout so as to show the star of the legion of honour; and crying out, ‘if there be among you a soldier 237who desires to kill his general—his emperor—let him do it now! here i am!’ the whole battalion shouted ‘vive l’empereur!’ and instantly joined him.”
“why, if he had had as many lives as some people say a cat has, he seemed to take the very way to lose them all, and yet he always escaped.”
“a celebrated writer has said, ‘it is impossible to survey the rapid energy of napoleon, his alert transitions from enemy to enemy, his fearless assaults on vastly superior numbers, his unwearied resolution and exhaustless invention, without the highest admiration which can attend on a master of warfare. but it is equally impossible to suppress astonishment and indignation, in following, or rather attempting to follow, the threads of obstinacy, duplicity, pride, and perfidy, which during the same period complicated, without strengthening, the tissue of his negotiations.’ it is only when we fix our eyes on the battles and marches of his wonderful campaigns, that we can hesitate to echo the adage: ‘whom god hath doomed to destruction he first deprives of reason.’”
“well! he is dead now, and that is a good thing. if he were emperor of france now, we should be sure to have as much war as ever.”
“buonaparte’s campaign in russia was a most disastrous one, and led the way to his abdication; 238but it was the battle of waterloo that deprived him of his throne for ever. this hurled him headlong from the pinnacle of his glory, proclaiming, as with the voice of a mighty trumpet, through the world, that the minion of ambition shall be trampled in the dust, and that the splendour of temporary triumph shall only increase the greatness of his fall. he was exiled to st. helena, where, after living near six years, he expired, and was buried. his body was, however, a short time ago, removed to france, and interred, with great splendour, in the church of the invalids, at paris.”
“oh! more or less than man. in high or low,
battling with nations, flying from the field!
now making monarchs’ necks thy footstool! now,
more than thy meanest soldier, taught to yield.
an empire thou would’st crush, command, rebuild,
but govern not thy pettiest passion; nor,
however deeply in men’s spirits skilled,
look through thine own; nor curb the lust of war;
nor learn, that tempted fate will leave the loftiest star.”
“the 18th of october is a remarkable day, as connected with napoleon buonaparte.”
“in what way is it remarkable?”
“it was on the 18th of october that the revolution took place which made him consul. it was on the 18th of october that he fought the battle of torlina, on the berezina. it was on the 18th of october that he fought the battle of leipsic. it was on the 18th of october that 239he arrived off st. helena; and it was on the 18th of october that the french ship la belle poole left st. helena, with his body on board, for france. and now, i think, that i have told you quite enough, for the present, of napoleon buonaparte.
“his courage, ambition, and power,
will long be recorded in story,
but defeat and the gloom of the grave,
have beclouded the sun of his glory.”
