Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-13


While Napoleon was in Syria, the
Austrians and Russians in coalition had
returned to the battle in Italy, and had
driven the French out of the country.
On the 18th and Goth of June. General
Macdonald had been defeated at Cassano
and on the Trebbia by Field Marshal
Alexander Suwaroff. On the 18th of
August, Joubert lost the battle of Now
and was killed on the very spot where
Napoleon had assumed command in
1885. Suwarof next encountered Mas
sena at Zurich, where, on the 25th and
Goth of September, he was worsted by
the French. Nevertheless, the Russian
forced his way over the Alps, and France
was Immediately threatened with a
counter invasion. At this juncture, how
ever, there was a quarrel in the allied
armies. and Suwarof, Withdrew from
the country, bearing his well earned
title Of Itdlushi.
Napoleon spent the first months of the
year 1900 at Paris. The revolution was
received with general appreciation by
the French. The leading features of the
new government were "a Senate, a Tri-
bunate and a Council of State. These
forms were not wholly acceptable to the
First Consul; but in the organization of
the system, his will and purpose were
everywhere predominant. Meanwhile,
he appointed General MORGAN to the
command of the Army of the Rhine, and
on the 25th of April that general began
his advance into Germany. The first re-
suit of the movement was the forcing
back of the Austrians on Ulm.
As for Italy, the First Consul reserved
for himself the reconquest of that coun-
try. With the opening of spring, he
projected the Second Italian campaign.
On the 14th of May, 1900. he began his
famous passage CT the Great ST. Bernard.
We might mark this event as the first
of the spectacular aspects of the Napo-
leonic career. There, in his gray over
coat, under his three-cornered hat,
mounted Oh a rearing steed, goes the
conlueror up Inaccessible heights
against background OF ice-peaks and
glittering Alpine sky! The gaze of man.
kind follows him, and shoutings are
heard in half the valleys of the world!
The French army surmounted the SEEM
ingly impossible Alp in six days, and
suddenly debouched into Italy. On the
End OF June, Bonaparte entered Milan.
1t was high timo that some one should
come TO the rescue; for two days after
wards Massena surrendered Genoa.
That, however, was the end Of the
successes of the allies south of the Alps.
On the 9th of June occurred the battle
of Monticello, i'll which the Austrians.
under OFT We're overwhelmingly defeat
ed by division of the French army
under Lannes. Five days later was
fought the great battle of Marengo,
which gave its name TO the campaign
and ended it. The French We're rs, 900
strong, and the Austrians numbered
about So, 600. Napoleon commanded in
person; but under him were Desaix,
Lannes and Kellermann. In the begin
ming OF the engagement, General Melas,
commander of the Austrians. gained a
threatening Advantage over the French.
For several hours Napoleon was in peril
of defeat; but the arrival of reinforce
ments. under the great DesaiX turned
the tide; Lannes fought like q lion, and
kellermann with the cavalry completed
swept from the field with a loss of more
than ten thousand men, while the
French loss of fully seven thousand at
tested the violence and desperation of
the conflict. Marengo may be reckoned
the first great battle of the Napoleonic
wars. 1t had all the features of those
extraordinary conflicts which were sub
seQuently directed by the genius and
audacity of Bonaparte The battle end
ed the war in Italy. On the next day
Genoa and the other fortresses of Upper
Italy were resurrondered to the French.
Meanwhile, Moreau had been success
fu, in Germany. He pressed forward to
the heart of Bavaria, and ON tho 18th
of July concluded an armistice with the
enemy. This agreement was maintained
for four months, only to be broken by
the Austrians. Hostilities were at once
resumed; Moreau advanced, and ON the
Sd of December, on the field of Hohen
linden, gained complete victory over
the German army.
Victorious in Italy and returning to
Paris with unexampled fame, Napoleon
might now follow his inclinations for
peace. His ascendancy over the French
began to be recognized abroad, and con-
ditiors appeared favorable for a general
pacification. Tie popularity of the First
Consul was extreme, and this was in
tensified by the ili-disguised efforts Of
his enemies to cast him down. Conspira-
cies were made against his life. On
Christmas eve Of the year 1900 the most
serious of these attempts was made
and failed. Napoleon was going to the
opera Three conspirators-Carbon ST.
Reliant and Limoelan-drove a powder
cart, with fuse, into the Rue st. Nj
caise, a narrow street by which the
First Consul must pass.
When the cavalcade came by, the fuse
was lighted, and a shocking explosion
followed. Houses round about were
knocked down, and the place was strewn
with the dead and dying. The First
Consul was unhurt. though his carriage
was shattered in the havoc. Re went on
to the opera, and sat unmoved through
%tx ~.