The Shasta courier., 1870-10-01
THE END OF THE FIRST EMPIRE
HOW THE GREAT NAPOLEON
LOST PARIS.

THE END OF THE FIRST EMPIRE
HOW THE GREAT NAPOLEON
LOST PARIS.
On the 25lh of january, l841, Napoleon
set out from Paris to defeat the sirth coalt-
ton formed against him, composed of Eng
land, Sweden, Russia, Prussia and Austria.
The English. under Wellington, had crossed
| the Pyrenees and advanced into France.
The Swedes, under Bernadotte, were advanc-
| ing through Belgium. Butcher. with the
Prussian contingent, advanced from Frank
fort, aud prepared to pass up the Meuse
toward Paris. Schwartzenberg advanced
from Switzerland ard passed down the
Seine. Napoleon first devoted himself to
Butcher, whose army he almost destroyed,
on the plains of Compeigne. Then return
| ing to- the Seine, the Austrians were de-
| feated at Monteream. In the meantime,
| however. the forces of Sernadotte had joined
Butchers shattered column, and Napoleon
| had new foe to defeat. Beieeing that
they could not or dared not advance on
| Paris, Napoleon formed the Sold design of
cutting of their retreat to the Rhine, and he
sought to place himself in tIer rear The
allies. however, Immediately moved toward
the French capital. Napoleon saw his mis-.
take. but too late. Bernadotte and Butcher
were in Paris before him, and on the Both
| Of March, 1914, sat down under its walls
Allison says words can convey an idea
of the enthusiasm which prevailed in the
allied army during its successful march to
Paris Their minds remembered the days
cf their own humiiating retreats, and now
they were ready to occupy the capital of
their enemy. The Prusian staf-ofhcers,
who wrote the march route for the troops.
were the same as those who recorded the
retreat from the burning Moscow, and the
hands which then wrote B goroqsk, Kassi
wolf and Gerfukof now put down Etoges,
Epernay and ChampenoIse. Indescribable
was the enthusiasm OF the truGps; magnif-
cent the spectacle which the pageant exhibi-
ted. A vast crowd of peasantry, inspired
with terror. fed before the allied advance
On the evening of the 29th of March the
Allies came within sight of Paris, and on the
same day the Empress with her young son
fed from the city.
Joseph Bpnaparte, in command Of the
city, exhorted its inhabitants to Gefeud it
bravely. The allied sovereigns published
proclamation declaring. rs has King William
already done, that the war was waged again
Napoleon and not against the French people
During the night the tocsin had been sound
ed in Paris, aud the people armed, joined
the divisions of Mortier aud Marmont. who
had retired before the advancing allies and
marched out Of the city to meet the enemy.
The battle was blo ody one. AT FIRST the
Russians sustained the brunt Of the attack,
and were being repulsed with loss until the
Emperor brought up the Russian and Prus-
sian guard and restored the battle. The
appearance of the army of Silesia on the
right. and of the Prince of Wurtemberg on
he left, gave them confidence but still
Paris could not be taken without storming
the nights which command the city. The
Russian and Prussian culors were carried
steadily forward until summit after summit
was in their possession. Wien every obstac
lie had been surmourted, and Paris lay at
their feet, Joseph Bonuparte surrendered
the city The storming Of Montmartre was
the last scene of all.
Eighty four cannon were dragged to the
summit and pointed toward the capital.
Father Paris, you must now pay for Moth
er Moscow" exclaimed Russian artillery
man, as he was about to apply his match TO
the touch-hole of the cannon. Napoleon
made haste to return, but Paris had fallen
If the allies were sncamped the nights
# Montmartre, said Napoleon in the
Senate, on the 30th Of March, 1878, Il
would not surrender one village" On the
90th Of March, 1914 when he was already
IN the neighhorhood. Paris yielded to the
allies. When he was told the news, and
could no longer doubt its truth, he said Of
it's defenders, Il asked them 20 only hold
cut four and twenty hours, miserable wretch
es that they are Marmont. too, that had
sworn he would rather be hewn to pieces
than surrender And Joseph. too, my very
brother y Every resource failed; everyth-
ing failed except the proud spirit of the
Emperor.
In the end he too was compelled to sue
cumh, and on the llth of April be renounced
the Empire of France and the Kingdom of
Italy Tor himself and his descendants and
accepted the principalty of Ebe. 1t was
sad end 10 brilliant career. and deeply
the iron entered into his soul. He tried to
poison himself For moment he forsook
the frrlorn and lonesome island, but Water
loo doomed HIM IT, worse prison-house
where be lived and died in SORROW. His
nephew initiated his career. and met fate
like his. How long he will live to brood on
his forced "residence," wherever it may be.
the future only can determine. What
wonderful career and dread fatality attends
the name of Napoleon history has twice
demonstrated. And even now it is not Ger
tain that France and the world is done with
the name and the deeds Of the dynasty.