Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-08-14
Anecdote of Napoleon.

When the French Revolution was at its
height, and Robespierre was extending the reign
Of terror over France, large number Of royal
lists threw themselves into Toulon, in which city
here was large majority in favor of the old
Toulon was the great depot for the
feet of the republic, and its magazines arsonals
were stored with all the munitioss Of war. The
royaists took possession OF the rtace, and then
invited the combined feet Of England and Spain
to enter the harbor and surrendered the fleet
and the town with all its fortihcations to the
enemy. twas precisely such - act OF treach'
cry as Benedict Arnold meditatsd but conduct
ed upon vastly greater SCALE 1t is redeemed
from equal infan,y only by the fact that the gov
ernment of France was guilty Of such horrible
atrocities, as in some degree to extenuate the
crime of treason.
The pride and the rage Of the republic were
reused to the highest pitch. Two powerful ar
mics were immediately sent to recapture the
town. But English troops, well enlrenched and
abundantly supplied with food and ammunition,
are not easily put to flight. Forty thousand
men encamped around the wall, under the COM
mand of Gen. Cartoux, portrait painter from
Paris, who knew nothing of the art of war;
Weeks and months passed away, during which
no real progress was made in conducting the
seige. At last Napoleon, then young man of
%, who had acquired, in the military school, a
high reputation for science, talent and energy.
was sent to Toulon 10 take charge of battalion
of artillery. He Immediately saw the folly of
the measures which were pursued, and changing
the whole direction Of affairs, by those powers
of mind which invariably gave him the COM
mand wherever he appeared, Unused new vigor
into all the operations of the army He opened
trenches and reared batteries guided by such
principles of science as he was sure would lead
to successful results.
One day long procession Of carriages was
seen approaching the camp from the Paris road.
They were fifteen in number, and upon their ar.
rival, four gentlemen allghted from each, with
fierce moustaches and terrible Uniform. With
authority as Commissioners, fom the Govern
ment in the metropolis, this flesh and glossy
army of sixty shop-keepers, demanded to be led
to the headquarters of the COmmander-in-chief
Napoleon, from the batteries ~ sas superln-
tending witnessed the scene, and quietly put
ting spurs to his horse, galloped over the plain,
and arrived at the Generals tent in advance of
the delegation. Soon they entered, and one of
their number, who was the appointed orator of
the body, in grandiloquent speech thus address
ed Cartoux:
"Citizen General! We come from Paris. The
patriots are indignant at your inactivity and
delay. The soil of the Republic has been vio-
lated. She trembes to think that the insult
still remains unavenged. She asks, why is Tou-
lon not yet taken? Why is the English feet not
yet destroyed? In her indignation she has ap-
peaed to her brave sons. Wehave obeyed her
summons, and burn with impatience to fulfil her
expectations. We are volunteer gunners from
Paris Furnish US with arms. 70 morrow we
will march to the enemy
The General, who stood in great awe of the
Jacobn Government, from whom he had re-
ceived his commission, and at whose slightes
inimaton his head must fall, was not a little
disconnected by this speech. Napoleon, whc
stood by his side, Immediately relieved hin
fom his embarrassment, by whispering to him
"Turn these gentlemen over to ne-I will TAKE
care Of them" The young artillery officer en-
tertalned them with great hospitality for til,
night, and early the next morning as the da.
was breaking, conducted them to the sea-shore
and gave them charge of several pieces of al
, tillory, which, during the darkness, he had OF
J dered to be stationed there, Through the gre
of the morning, there was discerned, Aoatin