Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-05-27
HEROIC VETERANS
NapoIeon's Famous Fighters, the
Imperial Guard.
LIVED UP TO THEIR MOTTO.

LIVED UP TO THEIR MOTTO.
Even at Waterloo the Survivors of the
Old Guard Fought Their Way on
Their Retreat and None surrendered.
Their Shameful and Pathetic End.
Probably no household troops or
bodyguards in the world ever achieved
the reputation of Napoleon's imperial
guard, and they had their origin in d
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
probably the whole history of Europe
would have been different and Water
loo would be still waiting for a reputa
ton.
He was passing along the bank of q
river with small escort lent from the
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
foot bath would effect cure.
Il hi 1,n cd off hi c
books and sought to battle his feet at
a house in the village. While he was
thus engaged the Austrians appeared
| They came so rapidly that there was
scarcely time to 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 a
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 We're quickly gathered and start,
ed off after the AustrianS, who when
they were met, were forced to fee.
But the experience taught Napoleon
lesson. He found that it was perfect
ly possible for q commanding officer
to be taken prisoner with comparative
ease, and he soon found way to make
this more difficult.
He organized q 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
combatant force and not for ornamen
J tai purposes.
In 1904, with the creation of the EN-
J pire, this body became the lmperia
guard. 1t grew in size and importance
and in 1909 it was divided into the
: Nielle garde and the Jeune garde. l
: was place of honor. To be admitted
the soldier must have served in tire,
: campaigns. Consequently it was known
as the elite of the imperial troops. Ev
cry man was veteran. 1t could b,
depended upon to do it's utmost Ii
1914, when Napoleon abdicated for tn
first time, the Imperial guard had beel
: increased to 112, 4S2 men of all branche
of service.
1t was owing to the fact that thi
\ army, called the imperial guard, wa
composed of veterans, men who hat
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 imperia
I guard. They consequently were al
l ways fearfully cut up. Only rem
nant of the guard returned from Rus
} STA, and at Waterloo their ranks wer
cut down until few Of the old guar,
remained. 1t was their motto that tn
old guard never surrenders, and thos
who We're able to walk away from tn
battlefield at the foot of Mont st. Jea
fought their way on their retreat, an
none surrendered.
After Waterloo the old guard wa
treated shamefully. AS many as coul
be caught We're court martialed, an
the remainder were regarded as S
many banditti. General Lalleman
brought 200 of them to America an
with them founded a colony in TeNa
then not United States territory. TIL
settlement, which was unsuccessful
was named Champ d'Asile, or Field {
Refuge The Mexican governmel
compelled them to leave, and they ne,
I" sought refuge at Galveston, but agai
We're maue to move on, and finall
- after few months, the Al of the q
that survived arrived in New Orlean
J They came here in 1918, and it was II,
y until 1920. when there were only fe
survivors, that sum of $4,000 franz
reached the exiles.-Exchange