Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-12-10
w HOLE NuMnER, 2,O4O
BLUFFED AND WON
A Dramatic Incident of the Fate
full Hundred Days.
ONE OF NAPOLE0N'S COUPS.

The Way Of the Great Military Genius
overcame the First Opposition He
Encountered on the March to Paris
After His Return From Elba.
A striking incident in the career of
Napoleon Is described by Camille Co
cuaud in his book, lie Retour de rIslc
dElbe" CThe Return From the Island
Of Elba". 1t describes how he met the
first opposition offered to his march to
Paris after his escape from Elba:
Meanwhile Napoleon had Travelled
by the Alps to Dauphine, advancing
into the interior of the country. Hav-
ing received information on Sunday,
the 4th of March, the prefect of
l'Isere had Immediately, In concert
with the military authority, taken
measures to deal with the startling sit
uation. A detachment composed of a
battalion Of the Fifth regiment Of the
line and two companies of engineers
was dispatched to prevent the further
advance Of the emperor.
"The meeting between this detach-
ment and the little troop from the isle
Of Elba took place on the 7th of
March near While, but not before the
peasants had had time to hasten to in
form Napoleon Of the antagonistic dis
position Of the officers commanding
the troops which had been sent from
Grenoble. In order to avoid the she'd
ding of blood the emperor ordered
Cambronne, who was accompanied by
small escort, to enter into treaty
with the cocardes blanches (white
cockades). Cambronne found the de-
tachment ranged In order of battle.
The commanding officer refused to en-
ter into communica ton, and the SOL
diers remained silent and gloomy.
Napoleon Immediately took his
share in the proceedings He gave the
order to his grenadiers to put their
rifles under their arms. in order to
give proof Of their pacific dispositions
Then he advanced alone, while some
of his friends cried to the soldiers of
the line:
friends, do not fire! There is the
Napoleon now found himself about
thirty meters from the Grenoble de-
tachment. He dismounted and, his
arms crossed on his breast, remained
standing in the middle of the road.
"'Soldiers Of the Fifth he said in
loud tone soldiers Of the Fifth, do
you recognize me?
"'Yes, yes! they all replied.
"Then Napoleon, throwing open his
gray cloak with dramatic gesture
and pointing to his breast with his
hands, replied:
"'If there Is one among you who
wishes to kill his general. his emperor.
he can do 1t. Here ann
'The response was unanimous, sub
lime: Long live the emperor! Long
live the emperor"
Breaking the ranks, their shakos at
the ends Of the swords or on the bayo-
nets, the soldiers Of the Fifth, to whom
were Joined the engineers, ran toward
Napoleon, surrounded him. embraced
him, kissed his hands, called him their
preserver, their father. their general
their emperor. Finally the two de-
tachments mingled together and be
came consolidated. Napoleon then had
1000 men with whom to march on to
Grenoble.
They took the road, and it was a
triumphal march. The people of the
district came to meet the column, ac-
claiming Napoleon as the liberator of
the nation and as the living incarna-
tion Of the revolution.
"The peasants wept with joy. At
this sight the emperor, turning toward
his officers, Droudt and Bertrand, said
to them
Everything is now In good order
Within ten days we shall be at the
Tuileriesr"