Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-12-01
MAR II NEO.
BY JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.

L
When Napoleon returned from Egypt the
latter part Of the year 1907 he found Re
publican 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 dictatorial power seemed
essential for its salvation. 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 England
and Austria, imploring peace. Both Gov
ernments contemptuousy refused to heed
his appeal. An Austrian army 10000
strong was on the banks of the Rhine, me
nacing the Northern provinces of France. =
Napoleon placed 100000 veterans, the elite
of the French army, under the command of
Morean, and sent him to repcl these inva-
tders. The work was eflectnally accomplish
ed in the great battle of Hopenlinden.
The Austrian General Melas, with l4O, 900
men were marching upon France through
western Italy. He had already reached the
plains from which the Alps ascend, and was
preparing to penetrate France through the
I a..dss,sdol do6les- Napoleon formed the
plan OF presenting no resistance to the head
of these formidable columns, but secretly to
cross the Alps, where his passage would not
be thought of, and to assail the foe unex
pectedly, and with overwhelming energy in
the rear.
Sixty-fve thousand troops were assembled
at points on the eastern frontier of France,
where they could attract but little observa
ton, but from which, at few hours notice,
they could be concentrated at the cOntem-
plated rendezvous at Dion. From this sta
ton, at the foot Of the Alps, almost with a
rush they were to 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 col
lected. An ample amount Of gold was
placed in the army chest to hire the peasants
with their mules, to aid in dragging the
guns overthe pass Mechanic shops rose as
by magic, all along the way, to repair prompt
ly every possible breakage. The ammuni-
ton was stored in small boxes, which could
be transported on the backs of mules. Hos,
ptals were established on both sides Of the
pass.
On the summit of the mountain is con-
vent OF world wide renown. The monks
were provided with an ample supply of
bread and cheese and a cup Of wine to pre-
sent to each soldier as hepasscd. Napoleon
superintended all these details, while at the
same lllllC llt ill lllt
of the campaign. As the prcciptious 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 groves and thus
they were dragged by Il long string of mules,
, in single file. When the mules failed @
hundred men were harnessed to single
gun The summit of the pass is eight
thousand feet above the sea. The distance
) across, from the plains Of France to thl
plains Of Italy, is twenty miles
Though there were several disasters by the
way, and not few lost their lives the fea
which had been deemed impossible, was ac
complished and the army appeared, as if il
had descended from the clouds upon the
plains of Italy traversing the banks Of Costa
The Austrians, who We're eagerly crowding
upon the frontiers of France, had no con
ception Of the peril thus gathering in theil
rear.
) Melas heard the tidings, and alarmed be
! gan to concentrate his forces. Napoleon
l gave HIM not moment ofleisure. To Ian
. nes and Murat he issued the order, "Gathe
u Immediately your divisions at Stradello. -
: You will have on your hands fifteen o
+ eighteen thousand Austrians Meet then
+ and cut them to pieces. 1t will be so man.
enemies less on the day of decisive battle
9 We are to expect with the entire army o
/ Mcas.
Il The prediction was true. Lannes AM
: Murat encountered Is, 900 Of the foe at Mon
= tebelo, strongly posted with batteries whic
We swept the plain. The French soldiers, in
spired by the almost miraculous power, wit
which Napoleon infused his own spirit int
his troops, appeared to pay no regard t
e shot or she'll Though but eight thousan
e i'll number they rushed upon the entrenche
,fI foe. AT the first discharge Of the hostil
:, batteries, said LanneS, Il could hear tn
y bones crash in my division like glass in ha
It storm.
- For nine hours the carnage continued
( just as the AustrianS were routed and wcr
It flying before their victors, Napoleon appear
l. ed upon the field. Lanncs had been tn
IS hero of this bloody day As he stood amids
- mounds of the dead, Napoleon grasped hi
0. hand with smile of gratitude, and confer
y red upon him the title Of the Duke Of MOI
Is tebello.
" Four days after this, Napoleon with bu
30, 600 men, encountered Meas with 40,0C
ct troops upon the plain of Marengo. I'll
- Austrian force included 1000 cavalry an
to 200 pieces Of artillery. The French Gene
Of al DeSaiX, with 5000 men was nearly thi
e. reclining in his tent he heard the first cras
h, OF the battle, rs it came booming over Il
Il fields like distant thunder His troops wei
I'd instantly on the march, and they presst
Y forward with all possible speed to the aid
ne their comrades.
te All the day long Napoleon held his grour
IL against foe outnumbering him two to on
is 1t was now three o'clock in the afternoon
d, The contending hosts were within pist
re shot OF each other, and in many cases blen,
G. ing in the tierccst fight. On parts of ii
field the French exhausted and overpowe
h, ed, were retiring in confusion, pursued al
y" cut down by the cavalry of the foe Nap,
lie leon by his personal supremacy, still held
MS few squares together, slowly, reluctantly
lh but IN good order retiring, while the vict
ng rious AuStrians closely followed the
IT, ploughing their ranks with two hundrc
ch pieces of artillery Meas doubted not th
u he had gained the day, and dispatched cou
ed iers throughout Europe to announce h
rt victory
,r- just then the solid columns of Desaix al
ed pcarcd, impetuously entering the plain
Desaix cast an anxious glance over the col
er fusion around him, and upon the broke
ur bleeding and retreating batallions of Il
ey French, and spurring his horse, galloped
tie the point where Napoleon stood envelope
en in the smoke and dust Of the conflict.
it Il see, said Desaix, that the battle
C. lost can do no more tor you, l suppos