The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-07-12

not only planned for conquest, but he
planned for reverses as we'll Had he
found retreat necessary his place of re-
treat was selected, and every precaution
taken against the coming in ofmunitious
or assistance to the enemy.
In the meantime the insurgent sections
were preparing for the onset. They knew
that General Bonaparte, from Toulon,
was arranging to oppose them, but they
laughed at the idea, Bah what could
he do with the sections of Paris He
could only summon the Conventions S
guard, and for that insignificant body
they cared nothing. They had organized
an insuuectionary government had
passed an act outlawing the National Con-
venton; and had established court or
tribunal of Justice for the trial and pun>
ishment of such as should persist in re-
sisting their authority. When itcame to
organize for military movement there
was not only Jacobin generals of expert
ence and known courage to lead them.
but many officers of the ultra Royalists.
We have spoken ofthe National Guard
as being true to the Convention, because
when they rebelled they ceased to be
National troops. but in reality the bulk
ofwhat is properly termed the National
Guard, at least thirty thousand of them,
we'll officered and thoroughly armed, and
led by the veteran General Danican,
were the insurgents,
Napoleon has performed his marvellous
work during the night of the fourth of
October. The morning ofthe fifth dawn~
ed upon Paris in arms. The alarm bells
of the sections were ringing, and from
many quarters the long roll was sound,
ing. The insurgents gathered rapidly,
mastering at appointed rendezvous, and
at an early hour were ready to march.
Their first point was the Convention,
which they meant to sweep from exists
ence. They laughed to scorn the idea Of
serious resistance to their overwhelming
numbers. They held in utter contempt
the poor troops which the Legislative as
sembly could muster, At last the bugle
blast was sounded by Danican's herald,
and the tens of thousands of insurrecti-
onary soldiers marched with wild, demo-
MAC shouting to the work of blood and
devastation, feeling sure of an easy vic
tory.
In the Convention the members, some
in their seats, and some gathering at the
windows, trembled with alarm. They
heard the yells of the infuriate mob, and
knew that their lives were in the issue.
Could their youthful general save them
Napoleon, as he stood by the side of
gun near the Tuilleries, looked older
than he had looked four and twenty hours
before. Still pale but calm and ster,n
he stood, resolved TO do or die. "Let
them strike the first blow" he said, and
then added, in manner which those
who saw and heard never forgot, ~ will
take the responsibility of the second I"
Ere long the insurgents came in sight,
in serried, plunging masses with music
sounding and flags hying-came from
every quarter, completely filling the
streets, and blockading every avenue.
They were eager and jubilant, those in
the rear trying to get to the front that
they might have one shot at the Conven>
tion's troops, for they did not believe the
meagre squad would dare to resist the
populace of Paris. On, on they came
until the heads of the columns were with~
in easy range Of Napoleon's guns. On,
still further hooting and clamoring for
the blood Of the members of the Conven
ton; and at length they opened the ball
of the morning with discharge of mus
kerry.
A discharge of musketry from the in>
surgents 1t was the signal of their
doom Instantly every cannon charged
to the fullest capacity with grape and
canister, and commanding every ap-
proach, opened simultaneous, well di
rected, merciless fire, the welldrilled can
noniers reloading with rapidity, and the
captains ofthe guns coolly correcting the
aim-grape and canister-canister and
grape-tearing through the serred mass
es an6 cutting down the advancing hosts
as grain is cut before the sweeping scythe
1t was terrible-it was more than men
could endure. Several times under brave
and determined leaders, the insurgent
battalions made stand, and fought desN
perately but Napoleon, like the genius
ofdestruction, seemed ubiquitous. Wher-
ever he was needed there ne was sure to
be, and under his inspiring guidance bat
teries Of belching cannon were wheeled
into position as if by magic strongholds |
of the enemy were overcome, and whole
streets were swept from end to end.
Itwas terrible while it lasted but he is
truly the most humane who puts the
quickest possible stop to bloodshed,
even though he has to fight hard to do it.
In little less than two hours from the
time of the first discharge of musketry |
the last gun was fired the victory was |
won.-Five thousand men had vanqu-
ished more than forty thousand. The
were conquered and reduced,
and the Convention took new lease of
power, which it used moderately and
with clemency towards the fallen foe.
And-France had found her Hero.