The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-03-02

0ME&H|I republican direC-
tory was so glad
to be rid of the rising young soldier,
whose sudden fame and resistiess per
sonality was a menace to their usurped
authority, they permitted him to carry
away the strength and flower of the ma
ton. 1t is a fact that he cut loose from
France, from Europe and placed his
army in a position, as be afterward
said, where it must die CT do things
''as great as the aucionts." With him
went 80, 900 soldiers and for leaders of
divisions and brigades Klebor, DavOu5t
and Reynier, C~afTarclli, Murat and
LANES, Marmont, Berthier and Junot,
every promising warrior on the list WAC
possessed youth and daring,
A piece Of good fortune inaugurated
the campaign. Tho English feet in the
Mediterranean, which, under Nelson,
was to bring disaster upon tho eXpedi-
ton at a later stage, was blown away
from tho African coast by "a hurricane
and for the time being dispersed. Then
the French set sail from the rendezvous
at Toulon. The sun arose in splendOr,
and tho incident was one of many when
it seemed to burst forth as an omen Of
victory for this brilliant and magma
tive soldier. Again and again during his
career the day of great achievements
was ushered in by IA Napoleon sun"
The squadrons were imposing, and the
spectacle at TOulon had in it that ele-
ment of the picturesque and dramatic
which Napoleon managed SO effectively
to inspire III his followers. The battle
ships stretched out III a single line three
miles, and the convoy Of transports
formed a vast semicircle, six leagues
around tho bow. Napoleon and the son
of Josephine embarked on the Orient,
the mammoth ship of the fleet, which
mounted 1870 guns. The signal for hoist
ing sail was moved by the future en-
press from a balcony overlooking the
roadstead of the harbor.
The first conquest was a blOOdless
one, that of Malta, au island we'll nigh
~impregnable if we'll defended. While
at Malta word came that Nelson's fleet
had united again and was searching for
the French. 1t was still a secret in'the
expedition what the ultimate destination
HOuIi 10, ulta WilCll Glc Ely ASH tlitGL
ed the harbor to find it empty they
didn't know which way to sail. Mean
time Napoleon was i'll front of AleXan-
dria, the first point for conquest. and
Nelson had loft there only two days be-
fore for the Hellespont. Without losing
amoments time troops were put ashore
on the desert beach three leagues from
the ancient city. The coast did not ad
NIT of landing horses and cannon, bu
as the utmost haste was necessary Ma
poleon risked the issue with men alone
Acting on the rule that every hour 0
time gives a chance for misfortune, h.
led forward the first 5000 soldiers il
person to tho walls Of Alexandria. stir
ring them to the highest enthusiasm b.
his energetic bearing. Seeing tina
Caffarelli, who wore a wooden leg as
memento of Cr~euznach, was on shore
he told him to wait until a horse W.
landed for his use. ono, no" said tn
hero, 81 go with my men if l go o
crutches, and took his place at tn
head of column to make the paint,
march. AT daylight the three small d
visions of Kleber, Caffarelli and Desai
stood under the walls. halted and seel
ing to make pariey. Overtures from tt
French We're answered by a vol!ey fro
the cannon on the ancient battlement
and Napoleon instantly ordered
charge. Kleber was struck in the hei
By a shot, but his followers pressed
against the towers, whose occupan
held out we'll, and then into the street
where the Turks resisted hand to han
There were many French wounded
the assault, but only 80 killed. The
Napoleon caused 10 be buried at t.
foot of Ponpey's pillar and their nam
engraved on the tablet, Il ceremony W
messed by the whole army and evokil
that enthusiasm their leader knew
we'll how to arouse and, what is MOI
to direct. At this point the troops a
the warships parted company, never
meet until disaster had overtaken t
expedition through the destruction
tie feet in Aboukir bay. But the t1oti
conveying the artillery, provisions a
ammunition passed along the Medit'
ranean shores to the western branch
the Nile. where it was to ascend "a
meet the army 30 miles below Cal,