The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-01
NAPOLEON's BRAVERY.

| NAPoLEON's BRAVERY.
| He was brave as courage itself, and
never scrupled to expose his life, when
necessary TO success. The daring he ex-
! hibited in the revolt of the sections,
when, with 5000 soldiers. he boldly with
stood 10000 of the National Guard and
mob of Paris, he carried with him to his
| fall
At the terrible passage of Lodi, where,
though General in Chief, he was the
second man across the bridge; at Arcola,
where ne stood with the standard in his
hand, in the midst of a perfect tempest OF
balls and graPeShot; and at Nagram,
where he rode on his white Steed back
wards and forwards for a whole hour before
his shivering lines to keep them steady
in the dreadful fire that thinned their
ranks and swept the ground they stood
upon, he evinccd the heroic courage that
he possessed, and which was q part of
his very nature.
This, with his stirring e1oquence, early
gave him great command over his sol
dicrS They loved him to the last, and
stood by the republican General and the
proud Emperor with equal affection.
| Bonaparte was eloquence itself. His proc
llamationS to his soldiers evince not only
his knowledge OF the human heart, but
his power to move it at his viii. Whether
causing one OF the articles IN SieycS' con-
stitution to be rejected by his whitening
! sarcasm. or rouSing his soldiers to the
| loftiest pitch of enthusiasm by his ire
sstible appeals, or carrying away those
! converSing with him by his brilliant
/ thoughts and forcible elocution, he ex-
| hibtS the highest capacities Of an orator.
His appeals TO the courage of his sol
| dierS, and his distributions OF hOnorS with
| so much pomp and display, perfectly be-
wildered and dazzled them, so that in
battle it seemed to be their only thought
| how they should exhibit the greatest dar-
| ing and perform the most desperate
] deeds. Thus, soon alter the battle OF
Castiglione and Just before the battle OF
Rivoli, he made an example of the both
| and S5th regiments of Vaubois Division
| for having given way to panic, and
nearly lost him the battle.
He addressed them in the following Ian
guage:
LESSON BY THE EMPEROR.
SOLDIERS, / am displeased with you.
You have shown neither discipline, nor
valor, nor firmneSs. You have allowed
yourselves to be chased from positions
where handful of brave men would have
stopped an army. Soldiers OF the Both and
85th, you are no longer French soldiers.
Chief of the Staff, let it be written on their
standards, They are no Longer of the
army of Italy,
Nothing could exceed the stunning eff
feet with which these words fell on those
and the order OF their ranks, and bursting
INTO grief, filled the air with their cries,
and rushing fTom their ranks crowded |
with most beseeching looks and voices, |
around their General, and begged TO be |
saved from such disgrace, saying, Lead |
us once more into battle and see If we are |
not of the army OF Italy"
Bcnaparte, wishing only to implant feel
ineS OF honor IN his troops, appeared to
reient, and addressing them some kind |
words, promised to wait to see how they
should behave. In a few days he did see
the brave fellows go into battle, and rush
on death as if going 10 a banquet, and
prove themselves even in his estiniation
worthy TO be in the army OF Italy. Itin7as
by such reproacheS for ungallant be-
hayior and by rewards for bravery that
he instillcd a love OF glory that made them
irresistible in comba;
Thus we see the Old Guard, dwindled
to mere handful in the fearful retreat |,
from Russia, close round him as they
marched past a battery, and amid the
hausted ranks sing the favorite air, T.
Where can father be SO well as in the
bosom OF his idmily v"
SO, also, Just before the battle of Auster-
liz, in his address to the soldiers. he
Promised them he would keep out of
Hanger If they behaved bravely and burst
trough the enemyS ranks; but il they
lid not he should himself rush into the ;;
hickest of the fight There could not be
! stronger evidence of loye and Confidence
'etween soldier and General than was
WINGED by this speech, made on the ,
commencement OF one of the greatest bat
les OF his life.
UNTIRING ACTIVITY.
Another cause of his wonderful sue
ess was his untiring activity of both
hind and body. No victory iullcd him '
nto moments rcpose, no Iuxuries {
empted him to ease, and no successes
his impetuous desires Labor 4
ng with an intensity and rapidity that
accomplished the work of days in hours
ne nevertheless seemed crowded TO the
very limit OF human CAPACITY bv the vaSt