The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-06-17
WINNING A BATTLE.
How One Defeat Was Turned
Into a Brilliant Victory.
THE REAL HERO OF MARENGO.

1t Was Not Napoleon Nor Even the
Daring DesaIx. but the Fearless
Drummer Boy Who Refused to Beat
Retreat, but Beat Charge Instead.
Napoleon was sitting in his tent Be
fore him lay u map OF Italy He
took four pins and stuck them up
measured, moved the pms and measur'
ed again Now" said he, that is
right. I.will capture him thereP
who. sir?'' asked an officer.
"sIilas, the old fox of Austria. He
will retire from Genoa. pass Turin and
! fall buck on Alexandria. ! Shall cross
the Pc. meet him on the plains of La
COMA and conquer him there" and the
finger of the child of destiny pointed
to Marengo.
Two months later the memorable
campaign of 1900 began. The 10th Of
May saw Napoleon on the heights OF
st Bernard. The 22d, Larmes. with
the army of Genoa, held Padua SO
far all had been well with Napoleon.
He had compelled the Austrians to
TAKE the IbpSlilbH ut utHll0 iNNuNtN
the army from 100000 to 10000 men,
dispatched Murat to the right and
June II moved forward to consummate
his mastery plan.
Bur God threatened TO overthrow his
scheme. 4 little rain had fallen in the
Alps. and the 20 could not be crossed
In time. The battle was begun.
NIilas. pushed to the wall. resolved to
cut his way out, ana Napoleon reached
the field to see Larmes beaten, Cham
peaux dead, DesulX still charging old
Mias with his Austrian phalanX at
Marengo till the consular guard gave
way. and the well planned victory was
terrible defeat
just as the day was lost Desaix. the
boy general. sweeping across the field
Mt the head of his cavalry. halted on
the eminence where stood Napoleon.
There was in the corps drummer boy
Il gamin whom Desatx had picked up
in the streets of Paris. He mad fol
lowed the victorious eagle Of France in
the campaigns of Egypt and Germany
AS the columns halted. Napoleon shout
ed to him. Beat retreat!
The boy did not stir.
"Gamin. beat u retreat!"
The boy Strengthened up, grasped his
turned and looked Napo-
con straight in the eyes. and said. "Sir.
do not know how to beat retreat;
Desaix never taught me that, but l
can beat ii charge-oh, | can beat a
,harge that will make the dead fall
nto line. beat that charge at the
pyramids. | beat that charge at Mount
Tabor. beat ii again at the bridge or
4odi May beat 1t herer"
Napoleon turned from the boy to
)esaix and said, I'VE are beaten; what
hall we do?"
do? Beat them! 1t is only o'clock
nd there is time enough to win vic
DRY yet. Up. the charge! beat the old
barge OF Mount Tabor and Lodi!
moment later the corps, following
be sword CLEAN of DeSaix and keep
ng step with the furious roll of the
amin's drum, swept down on the host
f Austrans. They drove the first line
ack on the second-both on the third
nd there they died.
Desaix fell at the first volley, but
he line never faltered. and as the
moke cleared away, the gamin was
zen in front of his line marching right
u and stil beating the furious charge
Over the dead and wounded, over
and fallen foe, over can.
ons belchns forth their fire of death.
e led the way to victory and the
fteen days In Italy We're ended.
Today men point TO Marengo in won.
ar They admire the power and fore
ght that so skillfully handled the bat
e. but they forget that a general only
lirty years OF age made victory OF
defeat. They forget that gamin
Paris put TO shame 1.-THE child OF
,stiny."-