Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-11-16
mistellantous.
M q 4 q N & O.
BY JOHN 8. C. ABBOrT.

When Napoleon returned from Egypt,
the latter part of the year 1897, he found
Republican France assailed, both by sea
and land. by the combined fleets and
armies both of England and Austria. The
peril of France WAS so great that dictato-
rial power seemed essential for its saliva
tion. Napoleon by general acclaim, was
placed at the head of the Government
with the title of consul.
His first act was TO write to both Eng
land and Austria, imploring peace. Both
Governments contemptuously refused to
heed his appeal. An Austrian army l50,
600 strong was on the banks of the Rhine,
menacing the Northern provinces of
Arance. Napoleon placed 15O,O vete
rams, the elite of the French army, under
the command of Moreau, and sent them
70 repel these invaders. The work was
etfectually accomplished in the great bat
tie of Hohenlinden.
The Austrian General Melas, with
40, 900 men were marching upon France
through western Italy. He had already
reached the plains from. which the Alps
France through the undefended defiles.
Napoleon formed the plan of presenting
no resistance to the head of these form-
dable columns, but secretly to cross the
Alpe, where his passage would not be
thought of, and to assail the foe unex-
pectedly, and with overwhelming energy
in the rear.
VIZ and
bled 1T points on the eastern frontier of
France, where they could attract but little
observation, but from which, at few
hours notice they could be concentra-
ted at the contemplated rendezvous at
Dion. From this station, at the foot of
the Alps, almost with a rush they were 10
cross the pass of the Great Saint Bernard,
and to sweep down like an avalanche upon
the Austrian hosts.
The minutest details of the expedition
were arranged with the utmost care. that
there should be no possibility of failure.
Immense magazines of provisions were
collected. An ample amount of gold was
placed in the army chest to hire the peas
ants, with their mules, to aid in dragging
the gnns over the pass. Mechanic shops
rose rs by magic, all along the way, to
repair promptly every possible breakage,
The ammunition was stored III small
boxes which could be transported on the
backs of mules. Hospitals were estab
lishcd on both sides of the pass.
On tile summit of the mountain is
convent OF world renowu. The
monks were provided with All ample sup
ply of bread and cheese and cup of wine
to present to each soldier as he passed.
Napoleon supcrintended all these details,
while at the same time he arranged all
the 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 fas-
tened in the grooves, and thus they were
dragged by long string of mules, in
single file. When the mules failed a hun
dred men were harnessed to a single gun.
The summit of the pass is eight thousand
feet above the sea. The distance across,
from the plains of France TO the plains OF
Italy, is twenty miles.
Though there were several disasters by
the way, and not few lost their lives,
the feat which has been deemed impossi
Bile, was accomplished, and the army ap-
peared, as if it had descended from the
clouds upon the plains of Italy traversing
the banks of Aosta The Austrians, who
were eagerly crowding upon the frontiers
of France, had no conception of the peril
thus gathering in their rear.
Melas heard the tidings, and alarmed
began to concentrate his forces. Napo-
leon gave him not moment of leisure.
To Lannes and Murat he issued the order,
"Gather Immediately your divisions at
Stradello You will have on your hands
fifteen or eighteen thousand Austrlans.
Meet them and cut them to pieces. 1t
will be so many enemies less on the day
of decisive battle we are to expect with
the entire army of Melas''
The prediction was true. Lannes and
Mnrat encountered $4,000 of the foe at
Montebello, strongly posted with batteries
which swept the plain. The French
soldiers, inspirited by the almost miracu-
lous power, with which Napoleon infused
his own spirit into his troops, appeared to
pay no regard to shot or shell. Though
but eight thousand in number they rushed
upon the entrenched foe. /" AT the first