New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-25

imitation Of the example given by Wellington in
his retreat before Massena, from Spain to the
lines of TOrres-V edras, in Portugal
Napoleon crossed the Niemen at the head Of
an immense army 600, 000), but an army with:
out homogeneity Of feeling or purpose, and with
out enthusiasm, and made up of inimical, or, at
best, reluctant elements. France" -exclaims
the historian, twill find glory on every step be.
yond the Niemen, but adieu to happiness and
good fortune" The clear-sightedness OF military
genius was the same as in all former campaigns,
but statesn1anship was even more than ever
blinded by ambition. Already during the victo-
rious progress into the heart of Russia, the na-
ture and the character of the invaded land Gre
ated at every step natural impedimeuts which
baffed the wisest combinations. The different
corps and divisions could not move and maneuver
with the same precision and exacttude among
the roadless solitudes, marshes, and forests Of
Poland and Russia, as they did in cultivated
and populous Italy and Germany. The soldier
found with difficulty food in a country with
sparse population, defending every inch Of their
soil with ferocious patriotism.
The war SO recklessly entered upon with Rus
sia was not to be settled by one single victorious
blow, nor the Russian hosts so easily reached,
or, when reached, destroyed Napoleon, accus-
toned TO strike with the quickness of lightning,
WIS forced now by his enemies, into slow,
methodical warfare Full admiration is paid to
the grandeur Of the savage patriotism Of Ros-
toptchine who, on bis own responsibility, burnt
Moscow and assured the destruction Of the in.
vader. Contrary to Napoleon's expectations, the
possession of the Kremn, the cradle Of the Cars,
more than the crossing of the Niemen rendered
peace impossible. The few days spent by
Napoleon on that hearthstone Of the Russian
power were the elimination of his grandeur;
with the abandonment Of the Kremln began it's
decline. Aexander's refusal TO listen TO any
proposals so long as the coil of Russia was trod-
den by the enemy, meets the fullest approval as
an honorable and patriotic action.
The campaign of Russia has been discussed,
ard analysed, in almost every possible way, by
the French military men, by German theorists,
and by writers of almost all nations; and nearly
oil have found. fault with the merely military
combinations of Napoleon as an evidence Of the
decline of his genius Mr.. Theirs sums up all
thete various opinions and shows that the origi-
nal fault, in which all others had their origin,
10y in the undertaking Of this campaign at all
The most perfect combinations were paralyzed
by inyincible impossibilties.
Abandoning his army, Napoleon returned to
Paris, and by the meanest subterfuges, attempted
l. ,r ota
which had overtaken him, playing thus con-
temptible comedy before the nation, before his
ministers, his wife, his allies, the King of Sax
ony and the Emperor Of Austria. Thus. in
speech TO the Council of State, he attributed to
philosophy oil national disasters and misfortunes
The allies chained to France by force began
to fall off The first was the Prussan General
Yorck, who, with bis corps, joined the Russian
army. This act, as well as all those Of the Ger
man and Prussian patriots, and of King Friede.
rich Wilhelm iii. of Prussia, Mr.. Theirs justices
with 3 noble impartialty rarely if ever to be
found in historians when Judging of the actions
Of their enemies. In the Spring and Summer Of
1913, the pride and political infatuatOn Of Ma.
poleon were more unbounded than ever. He
firmly believed in it's immediate realization, by
increasing his army TO couple of hundred
thousand men more and by gaining, IS of old,
one decided victory.
Alter the victories of Lutzen and Bautzen,
Metternich preferred to him the armed mediation
of Austria on terms which Mons. Theirs recog-
nizes as far surprising any reasonable aggran-
had IN
But the pride of Napoleon concealing from those
most familiar to him his Unsuitable ambition, his
projects and ultimate views, would not permit
him to give up his hope Of conquering all Eu-
rope; and he alone, in all France, desired and
crayed a continuation Of war. One of the most
dramatic episodes of this work is the relation
of an interview between Napoleon and Meter
Mich where the former, in the delirium Of
pride, exclaimed: What do / care for hun
bred thousand men, dead or alive !" To which
the other answered: :" Let me throw open doors
and windows that France and Europe may hear
you" The war was continued; Napoleon, like
a gambler, risked oil on single stake,
overthrow his enemies, and carry him at once
from the Elbe TO the frontiers Of Russia, with
the power to dictate his own terms His mill
tary genius rose higher and higher in proportion
as clouds gathered and difficulties rose to be
encountered, but the material means for the ex-
ecuton of his combinations were in like proper
ton insufficient. He alone was inspired when
all around HIM despaired. Augereau's answer to
the reproach that he was no more the Augereau
Of Italy of 1866 reveals the condition of
affairs. 81 am the same exclaimed the brave