The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-12

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Bat tia Emperor at this imminent crisia was
eqsal 70 bin enterprise. The man 20 feeble on
tho 18th hrumaise, retreatng disconesrted and
slmOst fsiuting In the arms Of bis grenadieFs-
the man % perplexed 1t Fontain6leau before
the incidence of his revolted marshals; the man
since then 20 overcome and tubdued at the
Elyaee by the pressure Of few legislators and
sosne traitoss--waa without effort or Boosting
hero Of sang (roid before the bsyoneis of the
6th vesime0t. Whether he had been assured
bv his accompIiees at Gvenoble that the hearts
of this battalion beat ia his favev, whether the
babita OF a solder on the battle field had inur-
I'd him to look on death with Iess repugnance
b. the Gre than by the sword; or that his soul,
aimee his departure for Elba, had concentrated
all it. powers in anticipation of this supreme
moment, and that he had deemed that his enter
prise was we'll worth the risk of life, certain it
ID that no did not hesitate moment. He
neither hssteued or Stacked his steps, but ap-
preached within hundred PAGES Of the bayo-
meta, which formed wall before him on the
road. There he dismounted. gave the reins to
one of hia Poles, crossed his arms on his
breast, and advanced with measured stepr, like
= man who marches to his death. 1t was the
spectre Of the imagination Of both army and
people appearing suddenly, and as If rising from
the tomb, between France Of the present, and
the past He wore the costume Of which 70.
collection. legend, andIpicture had alike engraved
him on the memory Of all; the military hat the
green Uniform Of the light infantry of the guard
The ovetcoat of dust colored cloth, open, and dis
l. fho hinh military hnnts
and spurs ringing on the ground his attitude
wss that of rejection, which nothing can dis-
tract /: or of peaceful command, which doubts
not of obedience He descended slope of the
road, inclining towards the regiment he was
about to accost. No groups Of persons before
him, beside him, or behind him. prevented him
from being seen in all the Illusion Of his personal
prestage; his figure standing out boldly and
alone against the back ground Of the high road,
and the blue armament beyond. To strike
such man, as the soldiers recognized as their
former idol would have heen 10 their eyes not to
fight but ia assapsinate. Napoleon had calculated
from afar this chalanpe Of glory to humanity and
to the heart of the French soldier, and he was
not mistaken; but it required profound genius
to 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 9Th regiment,
doing violence, perhaps, to his feelings in the
execution Of his duty, or knowing beforehand
the resolution of his soldiers not TO trke their
Emperor, and only wishing to intimidate the
army of Napoleon by an appearance of discipline.
ordered his battslon to fire. The soldiers ap
peared to obey. and took aim at Napoleon, who,
without stopping or betrayiDg any emotion,
advanced within ten steps of the muskets Ievelled
at his breast, and elevatng that spcl-like and
resoundng voice, which had so often directed
the manHuvcrs of the review, or Of the field Of
battle
".Soldiers of the 9Th regiment he exclaimed,
deliberately uncovering his breast, and present
ing his naked bust to receive the tire, if there
is one amongst you who would kill his Emper-
or, let him do it. Here am
"There was no reply; all remained silent
and motionless. The soldiers had not even
loaded their muskets. as if they distrnsted them
selves. Having gone through the semblance of
obedience aud fidelity to discipline, they thought
they had done their duty, and that the heart
might now be left TO its own course
And the hearts Of all spoke with one voice
A. first thrill Of feeling ran through the bat
talon, then few muskets were lowered, then
a greater number. and finally, the whole, while
a cry of sViye l'Empereur' issued from every
mouth, which was replied to by a shout from
the grenaders of the guard in the distance, of
Vive the oh regiment Of the line Some of
the officers quilted the rank and took the road
to Grenoble, that they might not be carried away
by the emotion of their companies, while others
wiped heir eyes, sheathed their swords, and
yielded to the general contagion. The soldiers
quitting the ranks, rushed along with the people
to surround the Emperor, who opened his arms
to receive them; while his own faithful soldiers
following the example, hastened to the spot, and
mingled in one group and one reclamation with
those of the 8 b. twas the junction of France,
past and present, embracing each other at the call
Of glory---the involuntary sedition of hearts.
Napoleon hnd conquered by disarmine himself;
his name alone had done battle. From this
moment France was re conquered, The trial had
been made, the example given. At distance
people might be faithful to duty, but when near.
enthusiasm would seize on all the example Of
the 9th regiment was worth more to the Empe-
ror than the detection of ten armies.
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