The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-05-08

bred men who had gained an entrance
were driven ont through the breach.
Twelve sorties We're made by the be-
siegod, only to meet repulse. About the
middle of May news. came that one of
the many Mahdis, who have SO frequent
ly arisen IN Egypt, had appeared in the
Nile valley Intelligence came also that
tho Porte and the English government
were now at one against the French.
Napoleon guns were not heavy enough,
aud his forces not sufficiently strong, to
capture Acre; and OIL the goth of May
tho siege was raised The losses OF the
French in the Syrian campaign had
reached nearly three thousand men;
those Of the Turks and the allies, per-"
haps five times that number.
NAPOLEON was weak in the matter OF
retreat. He could not retreat we'll. Ills
fallings back were likely to degenerate
into panic. This fact was exemplified
IN his withdrawal from Palestine. The
march began Oh the Goth of May. The
22nd found tho French at Cesarea. Two
days afterwards they reached Jaffa
There pest house had been established
for those who had the plague. Napoleon
ordered the Notifications Of the town to
be blown up; but what should be done
with the hospital?
Man was never in sadder dilemma
Bonaparte we'll knew that those of his
sick soldiers who should be left behind
would be horribly butchered as soon as
the Turks should reenter Jaffa. 10 take
the Infected with him was only to
spread the disease. He went with his
surgeons and aides into the plagnar
house, and passed among the dead and
dying. He struck his boot-tops with his
whip as be went along, saying, lin
few hours the Turks will be here. Let
all those who have strength enough rise
and come with rs. " None could arise
Then it was that, in hurried consulta-
ton with his physician Desgenettes,
Bonaparto proposed to anticipate with
a potion of laudanum and a painless
exit the cruel death which be saw to be
inevitable For this proposition he has
been condemned by sentimental world
against all reason and humanity. His
project was just such as humane man
would propose for his own brother IN
! der the cruel alternative then presented.
The returning expedition reached
Cairo on the l4th of June. Affairs In
Egypt were already in distracted con.
dition. El-Mahdi was crying out like u
prophet in Bohahireh. The fellahs and
Arabs were rallying to his standard.
Murad Bey was returning with his
forces from Upper Egypt to form q
junction with the Mahdi's rout at the
Natron lakes. Meanwhile, force Of
about fifteen thousand, commanded by
Mustapha Pasha and under conduct of
English ships, arrived at Aboukir. A
division of French, under General Mar
mont, held Alexandria; but that officer
would be unable to keep the city against
the gathering forces OF the enemy.
Napoleon hastily marched against the
Turks and English at Aboukir. Here,
on the 25th Of July, 1899, with only
five Thousand men, he attacked the en-.
envy, three times rs strong in numbers,
and gained victory SO signal as almost
to counterbalance tho disaster Of the
year before, when Brueys's fleet at the
same place was annihilated. In the ne.
gotiation that followed between Bona
parte and the English Admiral, the for
mer obtained copy Of the French Ga
zette. of Frankfort, informing him Of
the condition of affairs in Europe For
ten months he had received virtually no
news ut oil from his own country. The
French army had to all intents been
blockadod in Egypt and Palestine.
"Heavens!" the General cried out; my
presentiment has been verified. The
fools have lost Italy! All the fruits Of
our victories are gone must leave
Egypt
Itwas necessary that Napoleon should
be secret as well as expeditions. he in.
formed the divan of Cairo that he
should be absent briefly in tho Delta.
Afterwards hs published a bulletin te
the army, saying thatshe was going tc
France, but would soon be back again.
The command should remain with Gen
eral Kleber, who was truly said to have
the confidence of the General-inschief.
Berthier and Lannes were to accompany
the commander to France. sfrigates,
the Muiron and the Carrere, were quick
ly prepared, and, Oh the 23rd Of August.
q company of about five hundred men
went on board with Napoleon.
By keeping close to the African shore
the vessels were enabled to escape dc.
lection. After twenty one days the site
of Carthage was passed, and the danger
was over. On the LIST of October tbs
ships were driven in at Ajaccio
While detained in his native island
Napoleon learned of the disastrous bat.
tie of Novi, the death of Joubert, and
all the recent misfortunes of France.
On leaving Ajaccio, his ship was fol
lowed by two English vessels, and well
nigh taken; but on the Sth of October,
he reached the roadway of Frejus, ant
was safe. The enthusiasm of the people
broke out spontaneously. They of Ere
jus, when warned to keep off OH accom-
of the possible infection of the French
said, "All right; We prefer the plagn
to the Austrlans!" Bonaparte left i'm
mediately for Paris, by the Bourbon
nais road. AT AK and Lyons he was re
oeived with wild acclaim. Nobody stop
ped to inquire whether the Egyptian
campaign had been wholly successful O.
not. The French simply claimed every
thing, and shouted.
On the 10th Of October Napoleon en-
tered Paris. Josephine came to gree
him, and the suspicious against her