Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-05-15
HEROIC VETERANS
Napoleon'S Famous Fighters, the
Imperial Guard.
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.

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
manner that shows that imperial
guards, Ike 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 Bonuparte,
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-
tlon.
He was passing along the bank of
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 Valeggi0.
where he stopped. He had been suffer
ing from headache and believed that
foot bath would effect a cure.
So during his stop he pulled Off his
boots 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 u
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 flee
But the experience taught Napoleon
a lesson. lie found that 1t was perfect
ly possible for a commanding officer
to be taken prisoner with comparative
ease, and he soon found a way to make
this more difficult
He organized a command, Mt first
called guides. whose principal duty was
to protect the commanding officer. BY
degrees this body was increased and
under the consulate 1t was known as
the Garde Consulaire. receiving that
title In 1909 At that time it consisted
Of 0775 men and was mere body of
household troops, although naturally
with a man like Napoleon 1t was a
combatnnt 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 II was divided into the
Nielle garde and the Jeune garde. Ii
was place Of honor. To be admitted
the soldier must have served In three
campaigns. Consequently 1t was known
as the elite of the imperial troops Ev-
cry man was q veteran. II could be
depended upon to do It's utmost. In
1914, when Napoleon abdicated for the
first time. the Imperial guard had been
increased to 112. 49, 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 were old campaigners.
that Napoleon believed them to be I'M
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
STA. and ut Waterloo their ranks We're
cut down until few of the old guard
remained Ii was their motto that the
old guard never snrrenders. 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 rs so
many banditti General Lallemnnd
brought 200 of them to America aud
with them founded a colony in Texas.
then not United States territory. This
settlement which was unsuccessful,
was named Champ dAsile. 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 a few months. the AZ of the 200
that survived arrived In New Orleans.
They came here in 1918. and it was not
until $50, when there were only few
survivors, that Il sum Of $1,000 francs
reached the Exchange.