The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-24
SOME NEW BOOKS
AGsrSoVs Recoiieetions OF shs Nnpoieosie
=, o. Regime.

I, r. ZONE NEW 'BOOhSss .
lfsrSoVs Recoiieetions OF the Nnpoleon
-, o.. Regime.
iL SECOND ARTICLE.
Considsred as an historical document, I'll
Memoirs Of Baron De Marriott tLongmnns) vi
be especially valued for the light they thro
upon the central figure OF Napoleon Bonapart'
Az matter OF fact. however the author sa'
less OF Napoleon himself than of certain Mar
ehals with whom in his capacity OF staff ofI1cei
he was brought into peculiarly close relations
6onspicuous among the lieutenants OF tn
Emperor whose biographies he is enabled b
intimate acquaintance to trace In detail. ar
Mass6na, Augcrcau. and Lannes. It is also t
be noted that Marriott was military critic Of
high order. whose opinions. as we have soen
commanded the cordial approval OF his i'm
perial master Scattered through the so,
pages ofthese volumes are many proofs OF hi
professional competence to deal with question:
Of strategy and tactics Concerning man.
controvertcd passages OF Napoleon's career
Marbot's testimony must be accepted as tina
not only OF an eyewitness. but o
an expert. Especially interesting ant
useful from this point OF view are hi.
reflections on the causes Of the revcrses en-
countered by the French in the Spanish PENN
sula, OF tho failure OF the invasion OF Russia
and OF the disastrous defeat at Leipsic. We
shall glance at what hc has to say upon the
topics mentioned. and then say word about
the memorable campaign OF France. in which,
during tho first three months OF 1914. Napo.
leon. with insignificant RESOURCES. made per.
haps the most respondent exhibition OF his
military genius.
It was soon after entering the army as pri-
vate In q hussar regiment that Marriott first
saw Mass6na. who. II will DO remembered.
commanded tho French at Genoa during tho
famous siege Of that city by the Austrians and
English. Many years afterward. when Mas
soma was appointed TO tho supreme command
OF Napoleon's forces in Spain. Marriott be-
came ono OF his aide de-camps. 1t is
In connection with the record OF the
MarshaIs campaigns in tho peninsula
that Marriott gives us some account
Of his life on the ground that his biography
has been very incorrectly written. Andre
Massena was. 1t seems. eleven years older than
Napoleon. having been born May q. 1853. at
Turbia. near Monaco. His grandfather. re-
spectacle tanner. had three sons. the two elder
OF whom. Jules and Augustin. went to Nice and
set up o soap factory Jules died poor. and OF
his five children three. including AndrG. were
cared for by their Uncle Augustin who. after
having taught them to read and write. en-
ployed them in his soap works. Andre. how
ever. was OF too venturesome disposition to
settle to business. and at the age Of 10 ran
away from his uncle's house and wentoto sea
Is cabin boy in a merchnntman. Two years
OF hardship disguised him with sailors life.
and In 1775 he enlisted as a private in the
Royal Italian regiment. where another
Of his uncles. named MARCEL. was
sergeant-major. In this regiment Andre
acquired fair knowledge OF French and in
few years rose to be re9imental staff SER
geant The hope was held out to him Of
becoming sub-Lieutenant in the mounted
police. but he was tired Of waiting and left the
army when his time expired. On returning to
civil life Andre Massena Joined cousin in
carrying on smuggling business between
Italy and France. both by sea and across the
land frontier. In this way he acquired
thorough knowledge Of tho mountain paths
which was OF great service to him later on
when he commanded troops in the neiShbor-
hood. The hard life of smusgler. with it's
lncessant need for keeping an eve on the
ements Of tho Custom House officials and
concealing his own. gradually evolved In Mas
soma the intelligence. watchfulness. and actv-
ity essential to good officer. Having amass-
ed little capital he married French woman,
the daughter OF a surgeon at Antilles. and was
settled in that town. doing snail trade in
olive oil and driel fruits. when the revolu-
ton supervened Then. under the impulse OF
his military tastes. he left his wife and shop
and enlisted in the volunteers OF the Var His
knowledge OF military theory and practice soon
earned him the post OF Adjutant, and when
war broke out. his courage and energy
quickly raised him to the rank Of Colonel and
then Of Major General. He commanded the
cau sipn n rfi llorv loI h,,
Capt. Napoleon Bonaparte. under whom he
was In after days to serve in Italy. At the
Siege OF Touon he distinguished himself by |
taking two FORTS thereby earning his promo |
ton to the grade Of Lieutenant General
Intelligent, restlessly active. and OF daunt- |
less courage. Massena had already become q |
famous man when serious mistake. commit |
ted early in the campaign OF 1896. went near
to ruin his whole career. Gen. Bonaparte had |
then Just taken the chief command OF tho army.
which brought his former superior. Massena.
under his orders. Massena was commanding
the advance guard and had beaten an Aus
TRAN corps. but learning that the enemies
officers had left a good supper all ready in a
inn. he and some OF his officers
determined to take advantage OF the wind
fall. During their absence the Austrians, re-
attacked their division and Mass6na
got back Just in time to save the French from
defeat. He rescued one battalion from capture
by making them slide down on the snow
which covered the steep slope of hill He
was often chaffed in later times about this
novel method Of retreat Still. although he had
to save his division. Gen. Bonaparte
gave orders that Mass6nn should be tried by
court martial on charge OF having aban.
doned his post-a charge which. II proved,
would involve the penalty OF death. or ut least
dismissal. just. however. as he was on the
point OF being put under arrest the battle OF
began. and after q complete rout
Of the Austrian army. to which Massena large
y contributed. there could not be any talk Of
trying him. Subsequently he acquired SO
much distinction at Lodi. Milan. Verona. Ar
cola. and above all at Rivol as to gain from
Bonsparte the nickname Of the spoiled child
pf victory" His reputation. however. was tar
nished by the incorrigible fault OF extreme
svarice. Having been placed In command of
The army OF Italy and ordered to occupy Rome.
he was accused OF embezzling great
sums intended for the maintenance
81 his soldiers. 1t was certain that