Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-07-29

out twenty miles.
Such was the barrier which Napoleon
intended to surmount, that he might fall
unexpectedly upon the rear of the Aus,
trims, who were bombarding Genoa and
laundering at the gates of Nice. Giving
Gen. Moreau all the disciplined troops of
France, 100000 in number, to repel the
advance of the Austrians upon the Rhine
Napoleon collected with Amazing celerity
60, 900 raw recruits for this most fduous
of enterprises. To deceive his Ioes, he
announced openly that he intended to
send an army across the Great St. Ber-
nard. England and France laughed the
idea to scorn. 1t was deemed impossible
that an army with pOnderous artillery.
tons of cannon balls, and all the bulky
munitions of war, could be transported
where wheel had never rollel, where a
mule could with difficulty tread. and where
two mules could hardly pass abreast.
The troops were secretly collected in
the vicinity of Dion, bat so dispersed as
not to attract special attention, and yet in
such a manner that they could elsiIy be
assembled at the entrance Of the pass.
Immense stores of provisions we're noise
less7y accumulated. Large sums Of mo
ney were forwarded to hire the services
Of the mountaineers. Able mechanics
were employed to take apart the baggage
wagons and gun carriages, so that they
might be transported, in fragments, on
he backs Of mules across the mountains,
and be speedily put together again upon
the other side. Hospitais were provided
with every comfort for the sick and the
wounded. Every man carried, beside,
his gun and knapsack, several days IA
tiors. The sinious path was so narrow
that much of the way it could only b.
rodden in single f.e.
About the middle of May, 1850 the
whole army was put in motion. To trans
port the heavy cannon pine logs we're
,plit in the centre, the parts followed out
nd the guns sunk into the grooves. a
ong string of mules, in single f.e drag
-ed the ponderous engines up the steep
,ccliyit:es. Often hundred men were
harne.sed to a gun. The peasants took
hold Of this laborious work with great
zeal Napoleon gave them two hundrcd
dollars for taking gun over the pass.
With songs and glee they tugged at the
ropes. Cleaning through the mists OF
.hese almost inaccessible heights there
was the fash of banners and FURNISHED
arms. resembling phantom troops, bat
Ting in the air.
The soldier fou7d to his great surprise
and qualification that, upon the summit
of the mountain, his beloved commander
had mrde wonderful provision for his re-
freshment. An immen-e store Of bread,
cheese, and refreshing wine,-wine, not
like our miserable products Of the still,
but true juice of the grape, had been col
lected for the occasion in the monastery.
As the soldiers passed each one received,
without confusion, loaf Of bread, piece
of chee.e, and a generous goblet OF wine.
Whenever, in any part OF the path, any
especial difficulty was encountered, the
bugle sounded the charge, and the soul
stirring strains reverberating sublimely
among the cliffs, animated the soldiers,
and they pressed on as if stormiag en-
trenchments upon the field Of battle. But
J Providence seemed to smile upon the en-
terprise, and though some hundreds. men
and horses, perished 10y avalanch and
the various casualties Of the route, in four
days the whole army was assembled ON
the plains Of Italy. General Berthier was
sent forward with the advance guard Ma
poleon remained behind personally to
,perintend the passage Of the troops. and
was the last man to cross the mountain.
One solitary Swiss peasant, as Il guide,
&c ompanied h,m, leading his mule. The
peasant was not aware Of the distinguish
el dignity Of his companion: and Ma
poleon's irresistible sympathy with hu-
rnanity so won upon his confidence that
he artlessly revealed the story of his love
for fair maid, in his native village, and
whom he longel to marry, but could not
as he had neither house nor land for the
support o. family. Napoleon, as he dis.
missed his guide, gave him an ample re-
ward, and in addition entrusted him with
a loose paper, containing few lines writ:
ten in pencil, which he was to give on hi.
return to the other side to the Admins
traitor Of the army.
The young man found upon presenting
the paper to his unut;erable surprise anC
delight, that it was Napoleon whom It
had conducted over the mountain, art
that the paper contained an order tha
there should be pnrchasel for him fe ,
and a cottage. This worthy peasant die,
a few years ago, having enjoyed during