Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-06-17
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The last Interview Of Napoleon,

WITH HIS SOLDIERS, PREVIOUS TO HIS EXILE.
| With measured step and slow, followed
| by the guard and by his friends he passed
through the long galley Of Francis l.
! He stood for a moment on the landing of
/ the grand staircase, and looked around on
/ the troops drawn up in the court Of the
guard Of honor, and on the innumerable
multitudes from the surrounding country
which had assembled to witness this grand
historical event, that they might recount
1t to their children. What contending
feelings agitated the breasts Of that vast
rowd, in which there were more accusers
than defenders But the greatness of
the fall in some, the sorrow for misfor-
tune IN others, a regard to decorum in all.
| produced a universal silence Insult at
such a moment would have been cowardly,
the cries of . FiU J Enlpere1Ir' a mock
cry The soldiers themselves experience
ed feeling too solemn, Of too religious
an awe, to think Of acclamation; they
felt deep sense of honor in conscious
ness of fidelity even in adverse fortune,
and felt that now the sun of their glory
was about to set, and their chief to sink
for ever behind the trees of their forests.
and the waters of the Mediterranean-
They enyied the lot of those Of their com
rades whom fate or choice had favored by
allowing them to be the companions of
their exile emperor. Their heads were
/ bowed low, their looks mournful, and
tears rolled down the furrowed cheeks of
the warriors Had the drums been COW
cred with Grape, it would have appeared
like an army performing the obsequies of
/ their General.
Napoleon, after casting a mortal and
penetrating glance at his battalions and
squadrons, had in his countenance an ex-
preston of tender regard unusual for him
What days of battle, of glory, and of pow
er did not the sight of that army call to
/ his mind Where now were they who
had composed it, when it traversed with
him the continents Of Europe, Africa, and
/ Asia How many remained of those
millions in the remnant before his eyes
I And vet those few were faithful; and he
was going to leave them for ever,-the
army was himself When he should no
/ longer behold it, what would he be He
owed all to the sword, and with the sword
+ he had lost all lie hesitated a moment
/ before descending. and seemed as if about
4 to re-enter the palace mechanically. He
rallied. however, and recovering himself.
descended the stairs to approach his sol
dies The drums beat a salute. With
a gesture he imposed silence, and, advanc-
ing in front Of the battalions, he made
sign that he wished to speak, The drums
ceased, tae arms were still and the al
most breathless silence allowed his voice,
re-cchoed by the high walls Of the palace,
to be heard to the rem0test ranks.
Officers. subalterns, and soldiers Of
my old guard" he said. bid you fare
well. For FIVE and twenty years | have
ever found you walking the path of honor
and glory In these later times. as in
those of our prosperity, you have never
1 ceased to be models Of fidelity and brave
ry. With men such as you, our cause
would not have been lost; but the war
was interminable; it might have been
civil war, and then it would have been
worse for France. I have therefore sac
rifced our interests to those Of the coun-
try. [ leave you do you, my
friends, continue to serve France; her
honor was my only thought; it shall ever
be the object Of my most fervent prayers.
/ Grieve not for my lot If l have con
sented to outlive myself it Is the hope of
still promoting your glory. | trust to
write the deeds we have achieved together
/ Adieu, my children; [ would
fain embrace you all Let me at
least embrace your general and colors =
At those words the soldiers were deep
" affected a shudder ran through the
ranks. and their arms quivered. General
Petit. who commanded the old guard in
the absence of the marshals-a man of
martial bearing but Of sensitive feelings
at a second signal from Napoleon, ad-
vanced between the ranks Of the soldiers
and the emperor. Napoleon embraced
him for long time and the chieftains
sobbed aloud At this spectacle one stiff
led sob was heard through all the ranks,
/ Grenadiers brushed away the tears from
their eyes with their left hands. Bring
me the eagles" resumed the empeor, who
desired to imprint upon his heart and
these standards the memory Of Caesar
# Some grenadiers advanced. bearing before
them the eagles of the regiment. He
grasped the trophies so dear to the sol
der; he pressed them to his breast, and
placing his lips to them, exclaimed, in
manly but broken accent. Dear eagle,
NAV this last embrace vibrate forever In
the hearts of all my faithful soldiers p
Farewell again, my old companions,
farewell J" The whole amy burst into
tears, and the only reply was one long
continued groan. An open carriage, in
which General Bertrand awaited his mas
ter and friend, received the emperor. who
hurried in. and covered his eyes with both
his hands The carriage rolled away to-
wards the first stage of Napoleon's exile
Lanartjufs History of the Restoration.
Walking