Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-06-17


"On quitting La Mure, the Emperor COM
posed his vanguard Of one hundred picked men
from that chosen body always under the COM
mand of Cambronne. This General, on advance
ling towards bridge at some distance from La
Mure, found himself in front of new battal-
ion. The envoy he sent to them with signs of
peace was driven back. The Emperor being
informed Of this, again dispatched one Of his Of
Ificers, Major Raoul, to attack the battalion which
refused to open his route, but Raoul, threatened
with their fire, returned without being heard.
Napoleon felt that the moment had arrived
to put to the test his own ascendency over his
old soldiers. He passed through his column,
ordering it to halt and rode forward at gentle
pace, almost alone, in advance of his army.
/ = Whether he had been assured by his
Iaccomplices at Grenoble that the hearts of this
battalion beat in his favor; whether the habits
Of a soldier on the battlefield had Injured him TO
look on death with less repugnance by the fire
than by the sword; or that his soul, since his
departure from Elba had concentrated all its
powers in anticipation of this supreme moment,
and that he had deemed his enterprise well
worth the risk Of life, certain it is that he did
not hesitate moment. He neither hastened nor
slackened his steps, but approached within a
hundred PAGES Of the bayonets, which formed a
wall before him on the road. There he dis =
mounted, gave the reins to one Of his Poles,
crossed his arms on his breast, and advanced
with measured steps, like man who marches
to his DEATH 1t was the spectre Of the inlagn-
alton Of both army and people appearing sud
denly, and, as if rising from the tomb, between
France Of the present and the past He wore
the costume in which recollection, legend and
picture had alike engraved him on the memory
of all: the military hat, the green uniform OF
the light infantry of the guard, the over-coat Of
dust-coiored cloth, open and displaying his un-
der dress, the high military boots, and spurs
ringing on the ground; his attitude was that Of
reflection, which nothing can distract, or OF
peaceful command, which doubts not of obedi-
ence. He descended slope of the road incli-
ming towards the regiment he was about to ac-
cost. No groups Of persons before him, beside
him, or behind him, prevented him from being
seen in all the illusion Of his personal prestige
his figure standing out boldly and alone against
the background of the highroad, and the blue fir
mament beyond To strike such man, whom
the soldiers recognized as their former idol
would have been, in their eyes, not TO fight, 6ui
Ito assassinate. Napoleon had calculated from
Iafar, this challenge of glory to humanity and tC
1.-THE heart of the French soldier, and he was moi
mistaken: but it required profound genius tc
attempt, and Napoleon to accomplish it. His
grenadiers, at great distance behind him, stood
with their arms reversed, as a token Of peace
THE officer commanding the Fifth Regiment, do
ing violence, perhaps, to his feelings, in the ex'
ecution of his duty, or knowing beforehand thu
resolution of his soldiers not TO strike their En-
peror, and only wishing to intimidate the army
of Napoleon by an appearance of discipline, or
dered his battalion to fire. The soldiers appear
ed to obey, and took aim at Napoleon, who
without stopping, or betraying any emotion, ad
vanced within ten steps of the muskets levelleC
at his breast, and elevating that spell-liSe an'
resounding voice, which had so often directe
the maneuvres Of the review, or Of the field o
battle, " Soldiers Of the Fifth Regiment, . he ex
claimed, deliberately lyuncovering his breast, an
presenting his naked bust to receive their fire
, ''it there is one amenSss youwho would kill HI
Emperor, let him do Il. Here lam Ther
} was noreply all remsined silent and motion
4 ltonless. The soldiers had not even loaded thei
: muskets, as il they disrusted themselves
Having gone through the sembianee Of o6edienS