The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-04-03
Napoleon Bonaparte's
Russian Invasion.

Russian Invasion
Napoleon had been victorious on .
hundred battIefelds His military gent
US had risen superior to that Of all bis
enemies combined. By his tremendous
onsets he had dashed to pieces the mosi
powerful OF the allied armies like a
thunderbolt and marched bis triumph.
ant armies into nearly all the capitals
Of Europe and struck terror to the heart
Of England He had all central and
southern Europe under his Intrepid
heel. He was the most dominant man
in the world.
And now boreal Russia had broken
her treaty with sunny France aud
Ieagued against her with England
Moreover, she had thrown her armies
along her southern border, which might
at any time become aggressive. Napo-
leon was fretted; indeed, he was mad
the fact is, be was mighty mad. He
decided TO invade Russia, and deciding
10 do thing and doing il we're synony-
nous terms with Bonaparte. He would
learn Russia lesson, he would turn her
down and give her chunk OF a spank
ing on her own territory. In vain did
Murat demonstrate, telling him that
"A march to Moscow will be the ruin
Of the army" In vain did Nye,. the
bravest Of the brave" try to dissuade
him from the proposed invasion. In
wade Russia he would
Napoleon, naturally highly conceited
and abnormally seli-confdent, had be-
come more SO by reason OF his marvel
GUS successes. He had come to believe
himself all but invincible. Napoleon, "
said Josephine, is persuaded that he
is to subiugate all the nations OF the
earth" But pride goeth before de-
struction." Napoleon did not consider
the fact that in Russia he would have
to contend with a foe that no human
power could conquer with nature in
in her most furious mood-nor could
anyone bring him to consider it, or to
see the appalling ruin that Russian
invasion, especially in winter, would
very probably visit on his army, and
finally on his throne.
Napoleon, one Of the greatest men
intellectually, one Of the most clear
sighted, being fully conscious Of his
own intellectual superiority and unusu-
al clearsightedness, allowed his conceit
to blind him alike tothe errors OF his
own judgment, when be did err, and to
the correctness OF the views OF others,
when they we're correct, but opposed to
his. His conceit tended to blind to the
possibility OF his ever being mistaken,
while the impetuoslty OF his powerful
and vigorous intellect, backed up by his
acquired authority, naturally swept
down all opposition. So it was that
what folly there was in the man was
simply incurable. He would not be
advised. Hence it resulted that he, one
OF the worlds greatest military genius
es, Ia his Russian invasion committed
the capital blunder aud tragedy OF all
the annals Of war.
Napoleon raised an army Of nearly
half million men with which to in
wade Russia. II was one OF the most
inspiring and magnificent armies that
the world ever witnessed. Xerxes, in
deed, invaded. Greece with larger
army but not with one so powerful and
valient Napoeon's heart must have
sweIed with pride as he beheld the nu-
merous battalions marching in close
files and perfect order, their armors
flashing back a thousand suns and their
bayonets moving forest. They crossed
tue NtHtnGu AAif1l HuN AeuSotn WStAt1fSd 4
beneath their tread, and even farr off
Moscow no doubt felt the tremors Of /
the coming earthquake. The Grand
Army entered Russia with q proud front |
and bold step, but few months later,
in the dead OF winter, q few hundred
wan, haqgard, ragged, dispirited men, /
some with head and feet wrapt in rags
and wearing pieces Of carpet and wom- A
on's clothes, came trudging and stag
vcring through the snow. aud, after d |
desperate COfiis1CJs ruUfUssou tuo NiS-
man out Of Russia the wretched, pitt
|ul remnant Of the Grand Army, Whatlt
. rebake to human pride and ambitionl q
The Grand Army had proceeded in
Russia but short ways before i began 9
q feel the rigor 81 Russian climate. q
that was only stimulating to Z
he hyperborean Russians was almost {
4 4 4