Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-26
HOW GREAT CAPTAINS DIE.
rLfsPsEsAT TIE DEATHBED.
uvso,e and uabsroic Departures OF "na'
Meu-some Trugse E,ea's In HUMAN NV

tori.
iSoston Herald
The most trying event in the career |
Of a renowned military chicftain is his
death in the midst Of peace, and re-
moved from the accessories OF war,
which clothed his greatness. It's hard
for a warrior to die respectfully OH the
battlefield. The romantic is elimi-
mated, and food Of prosaic hight ex-
noses the commonplsccs and timldities
ia articalo mortts. The more con-
spicuous the captain, the more har-
rowing the desth-sceue, in the CIR
cuustances referred to, considered
as fitting final pageant IN
a sublime career. Only grandly
Great leader can die well--to the pub
,,c-bereft Of hiss sword, with his loeions
at the plough, OF led by superseding
conquerors. -,
AT this time glance backward at the
last hour Of the world 'sgreat captains
| is of especial interest. One OF the hrst
TO come to mind in modern times is
NAPoLEON BoNhPARTE,
that most glorious conqueror among
French leaders. Theirs has given
vivid picture of the great Bnperor's last
DAYS. The year 1921 came at last, that
year that was to terminate the wondrous
career of Napoleon. At the commence
ment of January his health improved,
but only for few days. alt is re-
spite.'' he said, "of week or two,
and then the disease will resume
il. COURSE lie then dictated few
pages concerning Caesar to Marchand.
They were the last no wrote. Feb
ruary brought no other change than an
increased intensity Of the symptoms.
Not being able to digest food, the august
invalid became weaker every day. lie
was tormented by intense thirst, and
his pulse, once so slow, beat with fever
ish rapidity. lie wished for air, though
he could not endure it when admitted.
81 am no longer" he said, "that
proud Napoleon whom the world has
so often seen on horseback. The
monarchs who prosecute me may set
their minds at rest. shall soon re-
move every cause Of fear" Napoleon's
faithful servants never lett him. Mon
tholon and Marchand remained day and
night by his bedside. an attention for
which he showed himself profoundly
grateful. 1t was at this time that his
captOrs manifested an entirely unneces-
sary severity Of espionage or watchful-
ness. Sir Hudson Lowe, who was i'm
mediately responsible to the British
Government for the custody Of Napo-
leon, insisted that he should be seen
every day by some Of his guards.
This was very offensive to the sick
Emperor. but some Of his suite
managed to satisfy the British
officers of Napoleon's presence.
The captors were exceedingly sus-
picious, and even when Napoleon was
dying they believed he was keeping in
seclusion to plan an escape. The great
commander made every business pre-
paration for his end. Meeting death
with a smile as dignilied as it was
grateful, he said to Montholon: at
would be great pity not to die, now
that | have arranged all my affairs so
we'll" The end of April arrived, and
every moment increased his danger and
suffering. lie had no relief from the
spassns, vomitings. fever, and burning
thirst. "YOu will return to Europe"
he said to those that surrounded him :;
"you will return, bearing with you
the reflection Of my glory, with the
honor of your own fidelity. You will
be esteemed and happy. | 60 to
meet Kleber. DesaiX, Lannes, MaSsena,
Bessieres, Durac, Ney. They will
come to meet me. They will experience
once more the intoxication o. human
glory. We shall speak Of what we
have done. We shall talk of our pro-
fession with Frederick, Turenne,
Condo, Caesar. and Hannibal" Then
pausing, Napoleon added, with a pecu-
liar smile. "uniess there should be as
great an objection in the upper spheres
as there is here below to see number
Of soldiers together" On ne Sd OF
MAY he became delirious, and amid
his rawlings these words were distin-
guishable my son. The army. De-
saix." 1t would seem as though he
had a last vision Of the battle Of Ma
rengo recovered by DesaiI. The agony
continued during the entire OF the 4tb,
and the noble countenance of the hero
was terribly distorted. The weather
was terrible-it was the bad season in
st. Helena. Sudden gusts Of wind tore
up some Of the planted trees. Nearly
every American school-boy of quarter
Of century ago has delalned
"WiId was the night. yet wilder night
Hung round the soldiers pillow;
In his bosom there waged fercer night
Than the fight on the wrathful bilto W."
On the 5th of May there was no doubt
that the last day of this extraordinary
life had dawned. All his servants
kneeliug round his bed watched the last
chickering's Of the vital flame. These
were unfortunately attended with bitter
suffering. The English officers assem-
bled outside listened with respectful in
terest to the accounts the servants gave
of his agony. Toward the decline Of
day his life and suilerings decreased to-
gether, the cold. extending from the
extremities, became general, and death
seemed about to seize his glorious vic
tim. The weather had become calm
and serene. About 500. when the sun
was setting in waves Of light and the
English cannon gave the signal for re-
firing those around the bed perceived
that the patient did not breathe. and
cried out that he was dead. They COW
cred his hands with kisses, and Mar
chand. who had brought to st. Helena
the cloak the first consul had worn at
MarengO, laid it over his body, leaving
only the noble head uncovered. The
commissions of the death agony, always
so painful to witness, were succeeded
by a majestic tranquility of expires
sion. That face, so wondrously beau
tiful, now restored to the slenderness
of youth, and the figure, clad in the
mantle Of Marengo, seemed to present
again TO the witnesses Of that touching
scene General Bonaparte in the meri.
dian Of his glory.