Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-03
Napoleon and the Crimea.

and her aristocracy. Wonderful and mystic
rlous as it may seem, on the life of this bold
adventurer, depends the destiny of FRANCE,
and perhaps of Europe. Let his thread of
existence be snapped by the dagger of the
assassin, by fall from one of those fine hun
tiers, which he is so fond of riding, or by any
other of the thousand casualties which sweep
proud man from the light of day, and no such
quiet scene would occur as attended the death
of NICHOLAS. No successor, acknowledged
10y France as legitimate, could assume the
reins Of government and continue the policy
of the dead monarch, thereby afording such
singular confirmation to the truth of the legal
maxim, that the king never dies.
The empire would explode like powder
magazine, and the fires of a conaagration be
kindled not only in France, but certainly in
Italy, and possibly in Hungary.
NAPOLEON has published in the MOniter
an able document explaining the campaign
in the Crimea. Its opening paragraph is a
noble tribute to the power of public opinion,
and shows that the Emperor has not forgotten
his former estate, nor had his head turned by
his high position:
To know the truth, when it concerns the
honor, security and power of the state, is the
incontestible right of a great country like
France. To speak it, when silence is not i'm
rosed by patriotism for the public veal, is the
sacred duty of strong government like that
of the Emperor.
The Eastern expedition, its causes, its OBJ
ject, the military operations prepared for sus-
tanning it, the diplomatic negotiations entered
upon for obviating or terminating it, are now
facts that are matters of discussion, pending
their transaction to the page of history. In
order that these facts may be usefnlly dis
cussed and seriously judged, we are now
about to state them in their most scrupulous
exactitude. Such a course appears to us 10 be
both frank and useful. Public opinion is
prompt to take alarm and prone to error in the
midst of emotions and events such as those
of which it now feels every day the reaction.
The best mode of re-assuring it is by enlight-
ening it.
The Emperor next proceeds to give mill
tary exposition of the campaign in afelicitous
manner, and makes the following points
1. 1t was indispensable that the allied ar
mics should be sent to some position from
which they could cover and protect Constan-
tinople. GALLIPoLI was that position, where
they hal the sea for the base of operations.
If the Russians had taken Silistria, and it was
generally supposed that they would take it,
D. LII he to1 hoxr
been open to them. While the fate of Silis-
tria was uncertain, there was an imperieus
necessity that Gallipoli or some such place
should be made headquarters.
2. After the retreat of the Russians, a
campaign beyond the Danube on the Pruth
was not possible without the cooperation of
Austria, and Austria at that time had not de.
termined to join the Allies. Besides, to act
in Bessarabia would have been to remove al
too great distance from the base of operation:
at Gallipoli. To proceed into an unhealthy
and unknown country, under such circunl-
stances, would have been to seek destruction
and not victory.
8. 1t being entirely impracticable to pursue
the Russians over the Danube, notwithstand.
ing the strong temptation presented by theil
retreat, it was yet incumbent upon two great
armies to do something. A return home, OIL
operations in the Crimea were the only al.
ternatives.
4. The advice given ST.. ARNAUD by Ma
PoLEoN was to make Kafa the basis of ope-
rations in the Crimea. From thence the allies
could have advanced on Sebastopol, and have
taken possession of the northern heights, and
thereby have made a complete investment OF
the fortress This advice the counsel Of war
did not follow, as they relied on an unexpec-
ted coup de main. But after the battle OF
Alma coup de main was considered too ad-
venturous, and nothing remained but to pro-
coed with the siege after the regular rules Of
he military art.
In this respect all has been done which,
under the circumstances, could be done.
The history of modern states does not pre-
sent an example of a more difficult, more glo-
rious enterprise, or one which, by the very
grandeur of the obstacles it presents, agrees
more nearly with the importance of its object,
and that of the states engaged therein. The
siege of Sebastopol has scarcely any analogy
with any other in our military annals. 10
|, attack place which is not invested, when the
enemy superior in numbers, may recruit him.
self with more provisions and ammunition,
and when he keeps thu field, is an act of au-
dacity which could be attempted only by
II f.ra obi
cessary for Europe.
The siege of the Dantzc has been admired
as one of those in which heroism, united with
science, triumphed over the greatest difficult
ties of an obstinate and formidable defence.
Dantzc, protected by the Vistula, the eni-
bouchure of which in the Baltic is closed by
the fort of Verihselmunde, was in a situation
equally unfavorable to a complete investment;
still it was possible to take a position on the
river between the fort which closed its mouth
and the town, and so to intercept its commu-
nication with the sea and invest the place
This is what was done under the orders of
General Lefebvre.
But yet, although the place was enclosed
within our lines of attack, Notwithstanding
the presence in the neighborhood of the En-
peror Napoleon, who covered the siege at the
head of numerous army, and paralyzed the
succor of Prussia and Russia, Dantzic resisted
fifty-one days from the opening of the trench
es. AT later period, after the retreat of
Moscow, the town, occupied then by the
French did not capitulate until after defense
which lasted year, against a combined at
tack by sea and land.
We might multiply examples, but the fore
going will suffice to show that the Anglo
] al. o.. 4
there all that was to be expected from its
courage and the ability Of its chiefs. 1t has
not only exhibited constancy and frmness in
the midst of sufferings and perils, by adding
the glory of Inkermann to that of Alma, it
has raised still higher the honor of our arms.
We ought to hope that the end of its noble
efforts will be attended but unanimous opin-
ion already acknowledges, and history will
one day repeat, it has merted the admiration
and the gratitude of the world.
The press generally throw out the conjcc-