Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-11-09
For the Journal

For the Journal
Napoleon Louis Bona parte.---No. 2.
/ remarked, Mr.. Editor. al the close of my first
article the stubborness of Queen Hortense in leav-
ing the Tuilleres Overcome, however. by the de-
which expatriated the Imperial family in 1915,
she, with her two sons, fed to Switzerland. Here
the young prince Louis received his education, both
scientific ard military, under the charge of General
Dufour and remained until $780, when the demo-
cratic struggles of Italy, appealing to the world for
sympathy and succol attracted his attention and
commanded his services. After participating in sew
eral hot engagements, his brother fell suddenly i'll
and died. while he Frustrated with the myS-
terious sickness. This sickness " was pronounced
mysterious" because it resulted, was supposed
from poison, delivered by the hand of some assassin
hired by the French government On his recovery
he repaired to Paris, and applied to enter the French
army, but refused and ordered 10 leave the king
dom. He again returned to Switzerland, and en-
ployed his time in writing several works, both on
military and political subjects. Although eXiled
from his native land, and still followed with her per-
secutions, he disowned citizenship in any other
cline, and actually refused the hand of Donna Ma
ria, Queen of Portugal, disdalnng 10 reign any
Other country than that which gave him birth. Abb
sorhed solely in a destiny marked out by ambition
and pariotism-fred with resentment against the
enemies of himself and the destroyers of his family
the whsperings of revolt soon began to steal upon
his and tempt his heart. Goaded to rashness by
the entreaes OF frenzied partizans-drven to infau
alton by the countless reports that the followers Of
his Uncle needed but the lead of Ronaparte 70 re-
reve the fortunes of France, and inspired with the
conviction that the prestige of one victory alone
would unnerye the Bourbon adherents and insure
success, the revolt of Strasburgh was hopefully be-
gun, but speedily ended, A strange fatality seems
to have governed the fortunes of the prince in this,
his first attempt at Instruction. There was no want
OF enthusiasm or allegiance TO the cause OF Bona.
pare by the citizens and soldiers Ct Strasburgh; but
at every step he hailed with frenzed Vaue
FEmpereur, amounting almost 10 idoIatry and press
ed onward with the brightest assurances of complete
success. But the very element, in the French char
acer relied for success, and which prompt
y manifested in his favor, was, 5y strange freak,
suddenly turned against him. He lost his person.
al identity with the soldiers-was pronounced i'm
posor, not the nepheac of Napoleon, and that wild
and extravagant passion for the prestige of his name,
became inaamed, and maddened by supposed disap-
pointment, overwhelmed the person it sought to ele
vate
The revolt of Strasburgh occurred on the 3Oth of
Oct, 1896; and it offers an instructive lesson.
showing the slender means which sometimes makes,
but more often ruins the fortunes of men, prefer
giving its whole history to the public, in the inter-
esting language of the Prince himself cat o'clock
on the morning of the 30tb' says he, the signal
was given in the AustertZ barracks. At the sound
of the trumpets the soldiers were aroused and ringing
their muskets and swords they hurried impetuously
down to the Court yard They were drawn up in
double line around it, and Col. Vaudrey took his post
in the centre short pause ensued awaiting my
arrival, and dead silence was preserved On my
appearance was Immediately presented 10 the troops
in few elegant words from their Col Soldiers
he said, u great revolution begins at this moment.
The nephew of the Emperor is before you. He
comes to put himself at your head He is arrived on
the French soil TO restore to France her glory and
her liberty. 1t is now to conquer or to die for u
| Nn1,t +
the 4th Regiment of ArtiIlery-may the Emperors
nephew count on you 2 The shout which followed
this brief appeal nearly stunned me- Men and Off
GERS alike abandoned themselves TO the widest en-
thusiasms If ever misgiving had crossed me of the
fidelity of the French heart to the memory of Napo-
eon they vanished forever before the suddenness
and frmness of that demonstration. | was deeply
moved and nearly lost nv sef-pOsseSsion. In few
moments waived my hand sgnifying my desire to
speak. Breathess silence ensue!. Soldiers |
said, il was in your regiment the Emperor Napole-
on, my uncle first saw service; with you he dlstin-
guished himself al Toulon it was your brave Iegi-
ment that opened the gates OF Grenoble TO him on
his return from the Isle of Elba. Soldiers, des-
TIMES are reserved to you.' Here, continued-ta-
king the standard of the eagle from an officer near
me- here is the symbol of French glory; it must
become her ceforth the symbol of liberty The effect
Of these simple words was Undesirable; but the
time for action had come | gave the word to fall
INTO column; the music strickland putting myself
at their head, the regiment followed me to a man
Meanwhile my adherentS had been active elsewhere,
and uniformly successful. The telegraph was seized
without struggle. The cannoneers commanded by
NJ. Parguin had arrested the Project. Every mo-
ment fresh tdings reached me of the success of the
different movements that had been previously con.
certed | kept steadily my way at the head of
the 4th Regiment to the Fenkmau barracks and, al
though ii early in the morning. the populace
drawn out by the noise. and mngling their &c.
carnations with those of the soldiers, they joined
our cortege in crowds. An unlooked-for error here
occurred, which had most deplorable effect on the
whole enterprise, which thus far had gone on so
swimmngly. We had reached the Fauborg de Pierre
where being on foot the head of the column los, sight
OF me, and instead of following the route agreed on
and proceeding at once to the rampars they entered
"a narrow lane that led direct to the barracks Amid
the noise and confusion it was impossible TO retrieve
this mischance and | took burriedly what measures
| could to provide against its worst consequences
Fearing an attack on my rear, was compelled to
leave halt Of the reg ment in the main street we
had left, and Fastening forward entered the court
yard of the infantry barracks with my officers and
some 400 men. The battalion of the pontonnaerS and
the Sd reg ment of artillery, with Messls. Poggi and
Conard, and great number of officers at their head
we've all in movement to join me, and word was
brought they were on square off In another mo-
ment ! would have found myseI: at the head oil
5000 men, with the people Of the town everywhere
in my favor when Of sudden at one end of the
courtyard disturbance arose, without those at the
other extremity being able to divine the cause
Colonel -Ialllandler had just arrived, and on be
ing told that The Emperor's nephew was there with
the 4th Regiment, he could not believe such extraor
binary intelligence; and his surprise was so great
that he preferred attrbuting it to vulgar ambition
the part OF Col Vaudrey rather than TO credit this
unexpected resurrection of great cause Soldiers.
he exclaimed, you are deceived the man who ex
cites your enthusiasm can only be an adventurer anC
an mposter' An officer of his staff cried out at the