The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-02-06
3saTTiaS0.
BY JOHN s. c. ABBOTT.

When Napoleon returned from Egypt,
the latter part Of the year 1899, he
found republican France asSaied both
by sea and land by The combined fleets
and armies both Of England and Aus
tria. The peril OF France was SO q eat
that dictatorial power seemed essential
for its salvation. Napoleon, by geDer
al acclaim, was placed at the head Of
the government, with the title Of Com
sui.
His first act was to write England &
Austria, imploring peace. An Austrian
army 10000 strong was on the banks
Of the Rhine, menacing the northern
provinces of France. Napoleon placed
150, 600 veterans, the elite OF the French
army, under the command Of Moreau,
and sent them to repel these invaders.
The work was etfectually accomplished
on the great battle OF HohenEnden.
The Austria aneral Melas, with
14O, 900 men, was marching Oh Fral CO
thro' western Italy. He had already
reached the plains from which the Alps
ascend, and was preparing to penetrate
France thro' the undcfended defles.
Napoleon form'd the plan representing
no resistance to the head OF these form
idable columns, but secretly to cross
the Alps, whore his passage would not
be tho't OF, and to aSsail the foe unex~
pectediy, and with overwhelming encr-
gy, i'll the rear.
Sixty five thousand troop were assem-
bIed, at points on the eastern frontiers
of France, whore they would attrac
but little observation, but from which,
at few hours notice, they could be
concentrated at tie contemplated ren~
devious at Dion. From this station,
at the foot OF the Alps, almost with
rush they were to cross the pass of the
great Saint Bernard, ana to sweep
down, like an avalanche, upon the Aus
trian hosts. The minutest details of
the expedition were arranged with the
utmost care, that their should be no
possibility OF failure. Immense maya
zine OF provisions We're collected. An
ample amount OF gold was placed in
the army chest to hire the peasants,
with their mules, to aid III dragging
the guns over the pass. Mechanic
shops rose, as by magic, all along the
way, to repair promptly every posi-
bic breakage. The ammunition was
stored IN small boxes, which could be
Il ansported on the backs of mules Hos
pitfalls were established on both sides
OF the pass.
On the summit of the mountain is
convent of Worldwide renOwn. The
monks were provided with an ample
supply OF bread and cheese, and a cup
of WINE to present to each soldier rs
he passed. Napoleon superintendent
all these details, while, at the same
time, he arranged all the comprehen-
sive combinations of the campaign. As
the precipitous path could only be trod
in single file, the carriages were taken !
to pieces, and slung on poles, carried
by men. Large pine logs were split
and followed out, so that the heavy !
guns could be fastened in the grooves, |
and thus they were dragged, by long
strings OF nu.es, in single lie. - ben |
the mules failed hundred men were
harnes>ed 70 a single gun. The sum
nit Of the pass is eight thousand feet
above the sea. The distance across,
from the plans ofFrance to The plains
OF Italy, is twenty miles.
Though there were several disas.
ters by the way, and rot few lost
their lives, the feat, which had been
deemed impossible, was accomplished
and the army appeared as if it had de-
eende4 from the clouds, upon the plains
Of Italy, t.aver<iug the banks Of the
Aosta. The Austrlans, who were Gag
,rly crowding upon the frontiers OF
France, had no conception of the per> !
| thus gathering in their rear. Il