Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-09-17

guard did not conceal thor terror at seein
the cannon balls of the enemy falling aroun
him" Have no fears for me" he observed
"the ball destined to kill me has not yet beei
cast"
In his celebrated march from Frejus to Paris
OH his'return from Elba, one of the regiments
at Grenoble hesitated before declaring for him
He, with remarkable instinct, leaped from
his horse and unbuttoning the breast of the
grey surtout he usually wore, laid bare his
breast If there be an individual among
you," said he, 'swho would desire to kill his
general--his emperor-let him fire."
1t was, however, in his harangues to the
soldiers, delivered on the spur of the moment,
and inspired by the exigency of the occasion,
and by the circumstances with which he found
himself surrounded, that his peculiar excel
lence as an orator was developed. The same
instinct of improvisation which prompted so
many of his strategetical evolutions, was mani
tested in his language and sentiments. AT an
age, and iH the practice of = profession, in
which the resources Of the orator are not us
ually available or even accessible, he evirced
a fertility, a suppleness, and ilnesse, which
bordered on the marvellous, and which, with
an audience not highly informed, might easily
pass for inspiration. What language it were
best to use, what conduct it were best to pur-
sue, and what character it were best to assume
on each occasion which presented itself, he
appeared to know instantaneousy and instinc-
lively, without consideration, and without
apparent effort of judgment. He gained his
knowledge from no teacher, for he never had
a mentor he gained II not from experience,
for he had not years He had it as gift.-
1t was natural instinct. While he captured
the pontifcal cities, and sent the treasures of
art of the Vatican to Paris, he was profound
ly reverential to the pope. Seeking an inter-
view with the Archduke Charles, the lieuten-
ant of artillery sprung from the people, met
the descendant of the Caesars with all the
pride of an equal, and all the elevated courtesy
of high-born chevalier. He enforced dis
sipline, honored the arts and sciences, protect
ed religion and property and respected age
and sex. In the city he sacked he put senti-
nels at the church doors to prevent the desec-
ration of the altar. To set the example of
respect for divine things, he commanded his
with the stats to attend mass. He
opinion, and twined popular preju-
dice to the purposes Of power. In Egypt he
would wear the turban and quote the Koran.
4,
ferion to his genius for conquest. He could
not brook a superior, even when hisrank and
position were subordinate.
In his first Italian campaign, as the general
Of the Directory, he treated, not in the name
Of the directors, but in the name Bonaparte.-I
He was not merely commander-in-chief of the |
was its master; and the army felt
this, and the republican tacitly acknowledged |
Il. The oldest generals quailed under the
,agle.eye of this youth of .and-twenty.
His eloquence of the field has no example
II ancient or modern times. His words are
lot the words of mortal. They arc the an
louncements of an oracle. 1t is not to the
enemies that are opposed to him that hespeaks
lor do his words refer to the country he in
7ades. He addresses Europe, and speaks of
he world. If he designates the army he
eads, it is THE GRAND ARMY If he refers to
he nation he represents it is THR GREAT Ma
hon He blots empires from the map with
he dash of his pen and dots down new king
Ions with the hilt of his sword. He pro-
,ounces the fate of dynasties amidst thunder
md lightning. His voice is the voice of des-
inyl
To reproduce his highly fgurative language,
Iftcr the fever of universal enthusiasm, in
he midst of which it was uttered, has cooled
lown, is hazardous. 1t may seem to border
IN the ridiculous. Sublimity itself, when the
learer is not excited to the proper pitch, does
%. At present, after thirty years and up
Yards of a general peace, the very generation
which felt the enthusiasm of victory has
learly passed away, and another has grown
Up, all whose aspirations have been directed
o far different objects, Other wants, other
wishes, other ideas, other sentiments-nay
sven other prejudices-have grown up. In
he days of Napoleon's splendor, military re-
Town was all in all. The revolution had
wept away all political and almost all geo.
,raphical landmarks. An underlined future
PRESENTED itself to all minds. The marvellous
of the French army itself, led
" boy on the plains, illustrated in other
lays by Roman glory, heated all imaginations
o point which enabled them to admire what
nay seem to border on bombast in the present
prevalence of the intellectual over the imag-
native, and of the practical over the poetical.
Let the reader, then, try to transport HIM
elf back to the exciting scenes amidst which
Napoleon acted and spoke.
At six-and-twenty he superseded scherer in
he command of the army of Italy, surround
d with disasters, oppressed with despair, and
Utterly destitute Of every provision necessary
or the well-being of the soldier. He fell up
IN the enemy with all the confidence of vic
ory. which would have been inspired by su-
,eror numbers, discipline, and equipnent.-
n fortnight the whole aspect of things was
hanged and here was his first address to
he ARMY
"Soldiers i-You have in fifteen days, gain
ID six victories, taken twenty-one standards,
lfty pieces of cannon, several fortresses, made
fifteen hundred prisoners, and killed or wound
ID more than ten thousand men You have
,qualled the conquerors of Holland and the |
Rhine. Destitute of all necessaries, you
nave gained battles-without bridges, you