The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-04-01


While NAPOLEON was I'm Syria. the Austri-
ans and Russians I'm coalition had returned
10 the battle I'm Italy, and had driven the
French ont OF the country. On the 18th
and 2eth of June, General Macdonald had
been defeated at Cassano and on the Treb-
bia by Field Marshal Alexander Suwaroh.
On the 10th of August, Jolbert lost t,ae
battle Of Novi and was killed on the very
spot where Napoleon had assumed COM
mand I'm 1896. Suwaroff next encountered
Massena 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 inn
mediately threatened with counter inva-
sion. At this juncture, however, there was
"A quarrel in the allied armies, and Suwar-
off, Disguised with the Austrians, with
drew from the country, bearing his we'll
earned title of Itdiushi
Napoleon spent the first months Of the
year 1900 at Paris. The revolution was re-
ceived with general appreciation by the
French. The leading features of the new
government were a Senate, a Tribunate
and 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 predomi-
nant 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 result 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 country.
With the opening of spring, nc projected
the Second Italian campaign. On the 14th
of May, 1900, he began his famous passage
of the Great ST. Bernard. We might mark
this event as the first of the spectacular
aspects of the Napoleonic career. There, in
his gray overcoat, under his three-cornered
hat, mounted on rearing steed, goes the
conqueror up inaccessible heights against
a background of ice-peaks and glittering
Alpine sky! The gaze of mankind follows
him, and shoutings are heard in half the
valleys Of the world The French army
surmountcd the seemingly impossible Alp
in six days, and suddenly dcbouchcd into
Italy. On the End of June, Bonaparte en-
tered Milan. 1t was high time that some
one should come to the rescue; for two
days afterwards Massena surrendered
Genoa.
That however, was the end of the sue
cesses of the allies south of the Alps. On
the 9th of June occurred the battle Of Mon
tebello in which the Austrians, under OFT
were overwhelmingly defeated by divi-
sion of the French army under Lannes.
Five days later was fought the great bat
tie of Marengo, which gave its name to the
campaign-and ended it. The French
were $4,000 strong, and the Austrians
numbered about 33, 000 Napoleon com
manded in person; but under him were
Desaix, Lannes and Kellermann. In the
beginning 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 rein
forcements, under the great Desaix turned
the tide; Lannes fought like lion, and
Kellermann with the cavalry completed the
overthrow. The Austrians were swept
from the field with loss of more than ten
thousand men, while the French loss of
fully seven thousand attested the violence
and desperation of the conflict. Marengo
may be reckoned the first great battle of
the Napoleonic wars 1t had all the fea-
lures of those extraordinary conflicts which
were subsequently directed by the genius
and audacity of Bonaparte. The battle
ended the war in Italy. On the next day
Genoa and the other fortresses of Upper
Italy were reSlrrcnucreu 10 lnc
Meanwhile, Moreau had been successful
in Germany. He pressed forward to the
heart of Bavaria, and on the 10Th of July
concluded an armistice with the enemy.
This agreement was maintained for four
months only to be broken by the Austri
ans Hostilties were at once resumed;
MORGAN advanced, and on the 3D. of Deem
Der, on the field of Hohenlinden, gained
complete victory over the German army
The triumph of the French in this summer
was marred by the loss of several of their
ablest generals Beside Joubert at Now,
Desaix, the conqueror of Upper Egypt
who saved the day at Marengo, was killed
on that bloody field, and about the same
hour the gallant Kleber, walking in his
garden at Cairo, was assassinated by the
fanatic Solyman.
Victorious in Italy and returning to
Paris with unexampled fame, Napoleon
might now follow his inclinations for
peace. His ascendency over the French be-
gan TO be recognized abroad and condi-
tions appeared favorable for general pa
cification. The popularity of the First
Consul was extreme, and this was intensi-
fled by the ill-disguised efforts of his en-
emies to cast him down. Conspiracies
were made against his life. On Christmas
eve of the year 1900 the most serious of
these attempts was made-and failed Ma
poleon was going TO the opera. Three con-
spirators-Carbon, st. Reliant and Limo
elan-drove a powder cart, with fuse,
into the Rue st. Nicaise narrow street
by which the First Consul must pass.
When the cavalcade came by. the fuse
was lighted and shocking explosion fol-
lowed. 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. He went on to the opera,
and sat unmoved through the play. The
rage of the Parisians on account of this
dastardly act against their hero knew no
bounds, and the thing attempted was
turned to good advantage by the friends of
Napoleon.-rH eighteenth century came
in with Marlborough, and went out with
an internal machine!
The allies now chose to accept peace.
Ambassadors gathered at Luneville, near
Nancy, and on the 9th of February, 1901,
Napoleon concluded with his enemies his
first great deflnitive treaty. The conven-
tion made with Austria at Campo Formio