The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-06-13
BONAPARTE AT LODI
There Napoleon First Reali,gvG
His High Destiny.
The Great Victory Put Him In the Fore
front Of Warriors and Gave Him His
Nickname, Little Corporal"-
A Proud Day for Franco.


A Proud Day for France.
Bonaparte wrote to the directory that
he had expected the passage of the
Po would prove the most bold and diff
ficu1t maneuver Of the campaign. But
it was no sooner accomplished than he
again showed q perfect mastery of his
art by so maneuvering as to avoid an
while the great river was
still Immediately in his rear. He was
then summoned, writes Prof. Sloane in
Century, to meet third emergency
of equal consequence. The AIDA Is
fordable in some places at certain
times, but not easily; and at Lodi q
wooden bridge about two hundred
yards in length then occupied the site
of the present solid structure of ma
sonry and iron. The approaches to
this bridge Beaulieu had seized and forti-
fed. Northwestward was Milan; to the
east lay the almost impregnable fort
ress Of Mantua. Beaten at Lodi, the
Austrians might still retreat and make
a stand under the walls of either town
with come hope of victory; it was Bona
parties intention to 80 disorganize his
enemy's army that neither would be
possible. Accordingly on May 10 the
French forces were concentrated for
the advance, and marched so swiftly
that they overlook the Austrian rear
guard before they could withdraw be-
hind the old Gothic walls of the town,
and close the gates. Driving them on
ward the French fought as they
marched. A decisive conflict cleared
the streets; and after a stubborn re-
sistance the brave defenders retreated
over the bridge to the eastern bank Of
what was now their last rampart-the
river. With cool and desperate cour-
age Beaulieu then brought into action
the Austrian artillery, and with it he
swept the wooden roadway.
In short time the bridge would no
doubt have been in flames; and it was
uncertain whether the shifting and
gravelly bottom of the stream above or
below would either yield ford or per-
NIT a crossing by any other means.
Under Bonaparte's personal super
vision, and therefore with miraculous
speed, the French batteries were placed
and began an answering thunder. In
an access of personal zeal, the com.
mander even threw himself for an in
stant into the whirling hail of shot and
shrapnel, in order the better to aim
two guns which in the hurry had been
misdirected. Under this terrible fire
and counterfire it was impossible for
the Austrians to apply torch to any
portion Of the structure. Behind were
three thousand French grenadiers
waiting for signal.
Soon the crisis came. A troop of
French cavalry had found the nearest
ford few hundred yards above the
bridge, and were seen, amid the smoke,
turning the right flank of the Austrian
infantry, which had been posted safe
distance behind the artillery on the op
posite shore. Quick as thought, in the
very nick of opportunity, Bonaparte
gave the words of command, and the
grenadiers dashed for the bridge. Eye
witnesses declared that the fire of the
Austrian artillery was now redoubled,
while from houses on the opposite side
soldiers hitherto concealed poured vol
ley after volley of musket-bals upon
the advancing column. For one single
fateful moment it faltered. Berthier
and Massena, with others equally de-
voted, rushed to its head and rallied the
lines. In few moments the deed was
accomplished, the bridge was won, the
batteries were silenced, and the enemy
was in full retreat.
Scattered, stunned and terrified, the
disheartened Austrians felt that no hu-
man power could prevail against such q
foe. Beaulieu could mako no further
stand behind the AIDA; but, retiring in
haste to the Mincio, the next parallel
tributary Of the Po, he violated Vene-
tian neutrality by the seizure Of Pes
chiera, at the head Of that stream, and
spread his line behind the river from
the Venetian town on the north as far
as the casemates of Mantua, the far
thest eastern outpost Of Austria, thus
thwarting one-and that not the least
important-of Bonaparte's plans. As
to the Italians, they seemed bereft Of
sense, and for the most part yielded
dumbly to what was required. There
were occasional outbursts Of resistance
to the fierce policy Of levying contribu-
tions One was threatened in Milan
itself, but they were all put down with
a high hand. Pavia, which rebelled
outright, and unbolted its gates only
under compulsion, was delivered to the
soldiery as their booty.
The moral effect of the action at Lodi
was incalculable. Bonaparte's reputa-
tion as q strategist had already been es.
tablished, but personal courage had
never been tried. The actual battle.
field also was something quite different
from the great theater of war, and men
wondered whether he had the same
mastery of the former as Of the latter.
Hitherto he had been untried either as
to his tactics or his intrepidity. In both
respects Lodi elevated him literally to
the stars. No doubt the risk he took
was awful, and the loss of life terrible
Critics, too, have pointed out safer ways
which they believe would have led to
the same result; but in no other way
could the same dramatic effect have
been produced.
rs 4 I'M