The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-05-21
HEROIC VETERANS
NapoIeon's Famous Fighters, the
Imperial Guard.
LIVED UP TO THEIR MOTTO.

heir Shameful and Pathetic End.
bodyguards in the world ever achieved
the reputation of Napoeons imperial
guard, and they had their origin in a
manner that shows that imperial
guards, like inventions, generally are
often mothered by necessity.
1t was during his Milan campaign,
in the days of the republic, while Ma
poleon was still General Bonaparte,
that the Austrians nearly captured the
Little Corporal. If they had succeeded
would have been different and Water
loo would be still waiting for reputa-
ton.
He was passing along the bank of Il
river with a small escort lent from The
divisions of Auguereau and Massena.
An Austrian corps was fastening up the
banks of the same stream to join Beau
lieu. After General Bonaparte had rid
den some distance in company with Au-
guereau he then returned TO Valeggio
where he stopped He had been suffer
ing from headache and believed that a
foot bath would effect cure.
So during his stop he pulled off his
boots and sought to battle his feet at
house in the village. While he was
thus engaged the Austrians appeared.
They came SO rapidly that there was
scarcely time 10 sound an alarm. How
ever, the alarm was sounded, the gates
Of the carriageway closed, and the post
began to make adefense.
Pulling one boot on one leg and fear
ing to spend the time to boot the 9TH
er, Bonaparte rushed out through d
back way and thus made his escape on
his horse He rushed as hard as his
horse would carry him to Messina,
and, although his troops were at mess,
they were quickly gathered and start
ed off after the AuStrians, who, when
they were met, were forced to fee
But the experience taught Napoleon
a lesson. He found that it was perfect
ly possible for q commanding officer
to be taken prisoner with comparative
ease, and he soon found a way to make
this more difficult.
He organized a command, at first
called guides, whose principal duty was
to protect the commanding officer BY
degrees this body was increased, and
under the consulate it was known as
the Garde Consulaire, receiving that
title in 1899 At that time it consisted
of 9775 men and was a mere body of
household troops although naturally
with man like Napoleon it was a
combatant force and not for ornamen-
tai purposes.
In 1904, with the creation of the EN-
pire, this body became the Imperial
guard. 1t grew in size and Importance,
and in 1909 it was divided into the
Vielle garde and the Jeune garde 1t
was place of honor. To be admitted
the soldier must have served in three
campaigns. Consequently it was known
as the elite of the imperial troops Ev-
cry man was a veteran. 1t could be
depended upon to do its utmost. In
1914, when Napoleon abdicated for the
first time, the Imperial guard had been
increased to 112, 4S2 men of all branches
of service
1t was owing to the fact that this
army, called the imperial guard, was
composed of veterans, men who had
seen service and We're old campaigners,
that Napoleon believed them to be un-
conquerable. The brunt of battle al
ways had TO be borne by the imperial
guard. They consequently were al
ways fearfully cut up. Only a rem
nant of the guard returned from Rus
sia, and at Waterloo their ranks were
cut down until few Of the old guard
remained. 1t was their motto that the
old guard never surrenders, and those
who were able to walk away from the
battlefield at the foot of Mont st. Jean
fought their way on their retreat and
none surrendered.
After Waterloo the old guard was
treated shamefully. AS many as could
be caught were court martialed, and
the remainder We're regarded as so
many banditti. General Lallemand
brought 200 of them to America and
with them founded colony in Texas,
then not United States territory. This
settlement, which was unsuccessful,
was named Champ d'Asile, or Field of
Refuge The Mexican government
compelled them to leave, and they next
sought refuge at Galveston, but again
were made to move on, and finally
after few months, the At of the 200
that survived arrived in New Orleans
They came here in 1918, and it was not
until 1920, when there were only few
survivors, that sum of $4,000 francs
reached the exiles.-Exchange