Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-01-05

Whether he had been assured by his &C.
completes at Grcnoblc that the hearts
or this battalion beat in his favor wlle,h.
cr the habits OF soldier on the battle.
field had ipurcl him to look on death
with less repugnancc by the fire than by
the sword; or that his soul, since his dc.
parture from Elba, had concentrated all
its powers in anticipation Of this su.
preme moment, and that he had deemed
that his enterprise was well worth til q
risk OF life, certain it is that he did not
hesitate moment. Hc neither hasten.
ell nor slackenel his steps, but ap.
preached within hundred PAGES Of the
bayoncts, which formed wall before
him on the road. .u
There he dislaountcd, 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. Il was the spectre Of the imagi,
nation ofboth army and people appear.
ing suddenly. and, as if rising from the
tomb, between France of the present and
the past. He wore tho costume in which
recollection, legend and picture had
alike engraved him On the memcry ol
all: the military hat, the green uniform
of the light infantry Of the guarl, the
overcoat Of dust.colored cloth, open and
displaying his under dress, the high mil.
i.ary boots. and spurs ringing ON the
ground; his attitude was that of reGec.
ton, which nothing can distract, or oI
peaceful command, which doubts not o!
obedience. He dcs ccnded a slope on
the road inclining towards the regimen,
he was about to accost. No groups oI
porsons bofnre him, beside him. or be.
hind him, prevented him from being seen
in all the illusion Of his per,onal pres.
tigc, his figure standing out boldly and
alone against the background of the
high road, and the blue armament be.
yond. TO strike such man, whom the
soldiers recognized as their former idol
would have been in their eyes not to
fight, but to assassinate. Napoleon had
calculated from afar this challenge o.
glory to humanity and to the heart o
the French soldier, and he was not mis-
taken: but it required profound genius
to attempt, and Napoleon to accom-
plish it. His grcnadiers at great dis.
tance behind him, stood with their arm;
reversed, as token ofpeace. The Off.
Ger commanding The Fifth Regiment
doing violence perhaps to his feelings
in the execution Of his duty, or knowing
beforehand the resolution o! his soldiers
not to strike their Emperor, and only
wishing to intimidate the army Of Ma.
poleon by an appearance of discipline,
ordered his battalion to fire. The sol.
diers appeared to obey, and took aim al
Napoleon, who, without stopping or be.
traying any emotion, advanced within
ten steps Of the. .muskcts levellcl at his
breast, and elevaling that spcll.like and
resounding voice, which had so often di
rcctcd the smanGuvres OF the review, OF
of the field of battle, Soldiers Of the
Fifth Regiment he exclaimed, deliber
atelv uncovering his breast and present
ing his naked bust to receive their fire
'if there is one amongst you who woul;
kill his Emperor, let him do it, Here
ami! There was no reply; all remain
ed silent and motionless. The soldier.
had not even loaded their muskets, as j
they distrusted themselves.
Having gone through the semblanc'
of obedience AMI fidelity to discipline
they thought they had done their duty
and that the heart might now be left tt
its own course. And the hearts Of al
spoke with one voice, At first thrill
Of feeling ran through the battalion, thel
a few muskets were lowered, then
greater number, and finally, the whole
while cry of'Viye lEmpcreur' issuc'
from every mouth, which was replied Il
by shout from the grenadiers of tn
guard in the distance, of 'Vive TIL
Fifth Regiment of the line!' Some o
the officers quilted the ranks and tool
the road to Grenoble, that they might no
be carried away by the emotion of thei
companies, whil6 others wiped theil
eyes, sheathed their swords, and yielded
to the general contagion. The soldiers
quitting the ranks, rushed along with tn
people to surround the Emperor, VIII
opened his arms to receive them; Will
his own faithful soldiers following tn
example, hastened to the, spot and min
gled in one group and one acclamatiol
with those Of the Fifth. 1t was the juno
ton of France past and present, EN-
bracing each other at the call ofglory-
the involuntary seditiop ofhearts. Ma
poleon had conquered by disarminI