The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-04-24
Copy night. 1875, by John Clark Ridpath.

NAPOLEON AT THE BATTLE OF ARCoLE.
seem inconsistent with the predominant
passion. Only short time before de-
parting on the first Italian campaign he
wrote letter to Bourrienne, then an
emigrant at Sens, saying, Seek out for
me small piece Of land in your beauti-
full valley of the Yonne. Twill purchase
it as soon as l can get together the
money. wish to retire there; but rec
ollect that l will have nothing to do
with national property. " Quite insin-
cere and fitfull Indeed, General, "a
small piece Of land" is the last thing in
this world that you wish for; and as to
your retiring" there, your retirement
is fixed for another place-that far-off
island to which you referred in the last
clause of your school exercise at Autun.
Your essay was headed Possessions des
Anglais;" you finished thus: "Saintc He.
lene, petite isle" You will find it SO!
The military glory of Napoleon prop
erly begins with his first campaign into
Italy. The States Of that peninsula were
about to be made the playthings of great
ambitions Whether the influence of
Austria and the coalition should con-
tinue predominant from Piedmont to
Venice was the question. The existing
order In the Italian States and cities ia
vored the Austrian power; but the popu-
lar party was in sympathy with Repub-
lican Franco Bonaparte's mission into
Italy was ostensibly for preoccupation
and defense; but it meant, out of the
nature OF things, sharp war and speedy
conquest
Hardly had the campaign In Pied
mont begun before the Directory in Paris
would send ont the veteran Kellerman
TO be second in command. This might
be compliment to general-in-ch chief
not yet twenty-seven; but not so to
Bonaparte He at once replied saying
that it was Indifferent to him "a thing
most untrue) whether he should serve
in Italy or somewhere else. All he
Tished-so ran his plaint-was brief
page in history awarded for service to
his country General Kellerman had
MbU35 GA pCllCuOo bllill ITO, anu hIiON UCU-
Ter how to make war; ''but both to-
gether we shall make 1t badly. will
not willingly serve with a man who
considers himself the first general in
Europe" How strongly is here revealed
the unconquerable will and self-suffi
cheney and purpose Of Bonaparte to be
all or nothingl
Let Us scan the field. The coalition
against France now embraced Austria,
Bavaria, Piedmont, Naples, and Eng
land The smaller States of Germany
and Italy were also in the league. For
the protection" of Piedmont and in
deed of all Italy, an army of about sixty
thousand men, thoroughly equipped and
supplied, and commanded by General
Beaulieu, one of the ablest and most OK.
perienood in Europe, had been sent into
Lombardy Against this power Napo-
Icons Army Of Italy was set, consisting
of only thirty five thousand new men,
miserably destitute, and having enthu-
siasm for it's principal resource. With
this he must compete for the mastery of
states and kingdoms. But the Army Of
Italy had for commander a military
genius of SO audacious character as to
rank its possessor with the two other
prime warriors of human history He
had daring, military invention, the
power Of combination, the discovery Of
new expedients, sudden adaptation to
unforeseen contingencies. courage, am
bition, foresight, subtlety, and indeed
every quality fit to make him what he
was now about to beoome-the greatest
commander of modern times
At Montenotte, twentysix miles west
Of Genoa, Napoleon fought his first
field-battle. He attacked the Austrian
division of D'Arsenteau, and won a
victory Mark you. he fought with a
dtrtsion of the enemyl This was on the
i2th OF April, only twenty-five days
after his departure from Paris On the
18th he struck the Austrians and Sardin-