The primitive Republican., 1852-06-17
Napoleon After Elba.

LLamartlne continues to issue the volumes
OF his Napoleonic history. In the following
passage he describes that remarkable scene
which occurred between Napoleon and his
soldiers, Immediately after the fight from
Elba. The story has been related a hundred
times, but never more effectively than by
Lamartine
'On quitting La Murc, the Emperor com
posed his vanguard of one hundred picked
men from that chosen body always under
the orders of Cambronne. This general, on
advancing towards Il bridge at some distance
from La Mure, found himself in front of a
new battalion. The envoy he sent to them
with signs of peace was driven back. The
Emperor being informed Of this, again dis
patched one of his officers, Major Raoul, to
attack the battalion which refused to open
his route, but Raoul, threatened with their
fire, returned without being heard. Napo-
leon felt that the moanent had arrived to but
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 adv nee of his
amy. 4
Whether he had been assured by his accom-
pliCes at Grenobe that the hearts Of this
battalion beat in his favor; whether the
habits Of u soldier on the battlefield had in
ured him to look on death with less repug-
nance by the fire than by the sword or that
his soul, since his departure from Elba, had
concentrated all its powers in anticipation of
tins supreme momen and that he had deem
led that his enterprise was we'll worth the
risk Of life, certain it is that he did not hcsi-
tate moment. He neither hastcncd nor
slackencd his steps, but approached within
hundred PAGES OF the bayOnets, which form
ed Il wall before him on the road. There
he diSmounted, gave the rcins 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 spec
tire OF the Imagination of both army and peo-
pie appearing suddenly and, as if rising from
the tcmp, between France of the present and
the past. He wore the costume in which
r rtcoll' ction, legend and picture had alike en-
Igravcd HIM on the memory of all the mill
tary hat, the green uniform Of the light in
tantry Of the ruard, the ovcr-coat of dust
dress, the high military boots, and spurs
ringing on the ground his attitude was
that Of rejection, which nothing can dis
tract, or Of peaceful command, which doul Is
not of ob, dionce. He descended slope OF
the road incllning towards the regiment hC
was about to accoSt. No groups of persons
before him, beside him, or behind him, pre-.
vented him from being seen in all the illu.
sion Of his personal prestige: his figure
5 standing out boldly and alone against the
Il background of tn high road, and the blue
tlmamcnt beyond. To strike such man
whom the soldiers recognised rs their fnmol
! dol, would have been, in their eyes, not tt
e light, but to aS>assnatc. Napoleon had Ell
,uluttd from atur this challenge Of elcry Il
~ n,anity and to the heart of the Frlncl
cider, ami he was not mistaken; Lut it re
= qurtd rluiound genius 10 attempt, and
'cj Nloic,n 70 :oc, mpii,h l. His srcnadjcrs
20 .. a great Gis alc, LtlinG HIM, Strcd will
hear aims reversed, a. token If pcHcc-
] he ficor nsm.ndnp4 III, Fifth Re mcnr
doing viol'lc, pIh, Us It his feelings i'll III
execution # his Gu:y, or knowing b,ft rt
hand the resolution If his soldiers not t
stIkc then Emperor, and ouly wishing t
nrmidatc TIA, amy ot Napoleon by an az
pcarmcc # discipline, ord,r,d his battalio
'u fac. The sold.tIs ;rptartd 10 obey, an
a. took aim at Napoleon, who, without stol
,r, ping or Lctraymg any emotion, advance
within ten steps of the muskcts lcvcllcd ;
Of his breast, and clevating that spcll-likc an
'ur rCsounding voice, which had so often dirCc
e., cd the man@uvrcs of the review, or Of IL
ily field of battle. Soldiers of the Fifth Reg
ment,' he exclaimed, deliberately uncove
lie ing his breast, and presenting his make
or bust to receive the fire, If there is one
mmgst you who would kill his Emperor, l.
h IN do it. Here am" There was M r
: ply; all remained silent and motionlcSs.-
I he sodi, rs had not even loaded their mu
kcts, as if they distruStcd themselves. Ha
M. ing gone through the scmbance of obedicn
" and fidelity to discipline, they thought thC
had done their duty, and the heart mig
-, now be left to its own course. And Il
nv hearts Of all spoke with one voice. At fir
tbs thrill of feeling ran through the battalio
ion then few muskets were lowered, then
greater number, and finally, the whol
while the cry of 'Vive PEmpereur' issu,
eeys from every mouth, which was replied to
les a shout from the grcnadiers Of the guard,
ok. the distance, of 'Vive the Fifth Regime
of the line Some Of the officers quit
the ranks and took the road to Grenubl
that they might not be carried away by t
KS, emotion Of their companies, while Othe
sa. wiped their eyes, sheathing their swords, al
yielded to the general contagion. The $
diers, quitting the ranks, rushed along wi
the people to surround the Emperor, W
or- oponed his arms to receive them; while
own faithful soldiers, following the examp
FASTENED to the spot, and mingled in o
group and one acclamation with those of
Fifth. 1t was the junction Of France, p'
and present, en- bracing each other at the c
Of giory-the involuntary sedition OF hear
Ia Napoleon had conquered by disarming hi
self; his name alone had done battle. Frt
this moment France was rc-conquered,
Of Trial had been made, the example given.
2us. distance people might be faithful to du
but when near, enthusiasm would seize
all the example of the Fifth Regiment v
worth more to the Emperor than the def
ton of ten armies"
,o5e Ie Napoleon triumph was complete, thou
evanescent, and the royal family were obi
d o, ed to leave Paris precipitately. In the
lowing passage, Lamurtine relates the m