The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-04-29

linquish certain vantage ground on the
Dalma:ian fronticr-and had not done IL.
Therefore. Napoleon's army corps would
remain In Germany. Frederick William
suddenly declared wer; and Napoleon, in
month after the death or Fox and the
sudden rcvulsian in diplomacy, concentrate
ed in Saxe-Weimar an army of nearly a
hundred thousand men.
The Prussians, sixty thousand strong
under Prince Hohenlohe, occupied the city
of Jena, on the Saale. There, on the 14th
of October, they were attacked and utterly
routed by the French leaving behind
twelve thousand in killed and wounded,
and about fifteen thousand prisoners. On
the same day, at Auerstadt, fourteen miles
from Weimar, a corps of the Grand Army,
thirty five thousand strong, A lder Marshal
Davout, fell upon divisioiVf fifty thou
sand Prussians commanded by the Duke
Of Brunswick and Frederick William in
person, and won n signal victory. Bruins
wick was MORALLY wounded, and about
ten thousand of his soldiers were put hors
du combat.
Prussia was utterly overwhelmed by the
disaster. Her fortresses were surrendered
without resistance, and Napoleon, in less
than fortnight, occupied Berlin. On the
21st of November, he issued from that city
his celebrated Berlin decree, declaring the
British Islands in state of blockade, and
interdicting all correspondence and trade
with England! The property of British
subjects, under wide schedule of liabil-
tiles, was declared contraband of war.
Meanwhile, the aid promised TO Prussia
by the Gar had been too slow for the
lightning that struck at Jena. The on
coming Russians reached the Vistula, but
were forced back by the victorious French,
who took possession Of Warsaw. There the
Emperor established his winter-quarters,
and remained for nearly three months en-
gagged in the formulation of new plans of
conquest and new schemes for the pacifica-
ton Of Europe. Here it was, in his inter
val of repose, that he won the beautiful
princess Madame Walcwska. Hoping to
secure the independence of her country,
she laid her Polish charms on the altar,
and followed the fortunes of her Imperial
but unfulfilling lover, not to Elba only,
but to Longwood and despair After flf-
teen years of hopeless devotion, she reen-
tered the world to be known as the Coun-
tess d Ornano.
After Jena, Prussia, though crushed, re-
manned belligerent. Her shattered forces
drew off to the borders, and were joined by
the Russians in East Prussia. The cam
paign of 1907 opened here. On the Sth of
February, the French army, about 20, 900
strong, advanced against the allies, COM
manded by Bcnningsen and Lestocq. At
the town of Eylau, about twenty miles
from Konigsberg, a great but indecisive
battle was fought, in which each army
suffered "A loss of nearly Is, 000 men. The
Russians and Prussians fell back about
four miles to Friedland, and both armies
were reinforced, the French to about So
900, and the allies to approximately the
same number.
The shock of Eylau, the inclemency of
the season, and the political complications
that thickened in every horizon held back
military movements until the beginning
Of summer. On the 18th of June was
fought the great battle of Friedland; and
the allied army was virtually destroyed.
The loss of the Russians and Prussians
was more than 20, 900 men; that of the
French, fewer than 5000. Napoleon COM
manded in person, and his triumph was
prodigious. Though common fame would
have AusterlitZ to be the most glorious of
his battles critical opinion comedies the
palm to Fricdland. The martial splendor
OF that day has been caught in our own
times by the heroic brush of Meissonier,
and delivered, in the most splendid paint
ing in America TO the Immortality of art.
The traveller, walking alone in the Metro
politan Museum of New York, near the
twilight hour, finds himself unexpectedly
in the presence of the scene. There, on q
slight elevation, in the wheatfield of June,
sitting Oh his white horse, with his hat
lifted, in silent salutation, surrounded by
the princes and marshals of his Empire,
sits the sardonic somnambulist, while be.
fore him TO the left the cuirassiers of the
Guard, on their tremendous horses at full
gallop, bearing down through the broken
wheat, with buglers in the van and sabers
flashing high, and bearded mouths wide
open with ceilings that resound through
the world till now, plunge wildly, irresist
IDLY, onward against the unseen enemy
reckless alike of life and death, but choos
ing rather death, if only the marble face
but smile!
After Friedland, Tilsit. There, in thu
middle of the Memel, on the 25th of June
1907, Napoleon and the Car met on tn,
famous raft. The beaten Alexander haC
come to admire his victorious antagonist
Why should the faces of his fifty Thousand
dead prevent him from falling in love will
the destroyerS The Emperors readily
agreed to be at peace. On the eth of July
a treaty was concluded between Franc,
and Russia, and two days afterwards
similar compact between France and Prus
STA. Frederick william had sought refug,
after the battle in the little town OF
Mcneil, which was now about all he might
call his own!
Now was created the grand duchy O
Warsaw, composed of Prussian territory
Over this new state was set Napoleon,
friend Frederick Augustus, king of tn,
Saxons. Another part of Prussia wa
given to the Gar. Dantzic was declared
independent. The province west of tn,
Elbe was coded TO France. All the Bona
parties were confirmed in their Kingdoms
and the Confederation of the Rhine wa
recognized. The ports of Prussia wer,
shut TO English commerce. Fredericl
Williams army was placed at a maximum
of AZ, 900 men. To these provisions wa
added large indemnity to France from
Prussia. The map which the Corsicar
had etched with his sword point on tn,
broken landscape of Europe was confirmed
by the agreement of all the Powers-sav
England.
For four years the sting of Tilsit was IL