Year: 1862




ropes. Cleaning through the mists of
these almost inaccessible heights, there
was the flash of banners and FURNISHED
arms, resembling phantom troops battling
in the air.


The soldier found to his surprise and
qualification, that, upon the summit of
the mountain, his loved commander had
made wonderful provisions for his le-
freshment. An immense store of bread
and cheese and refreshing wine,-wine
not our miserable products of the still,
but true juice of the grape, had been col
lected for the occasion in the monastery.
As the soldiers passed each one received,
without confusion, a loaf of bread, piece
of cheese, aud generous goblet of wine.
Whenever, in any part of the path, any
special difficulty was encountered, the
bugle sounded the charge, and the soul
stirring strains reverberating sublimely
among the cliffs animated the soldiers,
and they pressed on as if storming en-
trenchments upon the field of battle
But Providence seemed to smile on the
enterprise, and though some hundreds,
men and horses, perished by avalanches
and the various causualties Of the route,
in four days the whole army was assem-
bled on the plains of Italy. Gen. Ber-
thier was sent forward with the advance
guard. Napoleon renamed behind per-
sona'ly to superintend the passage of
troops, and was the last man to cross the
mountain. Que solitary Swiss peasant
as guide, accompanied him, leadind his
mule. The peasant was not aware of
the distinguished dignity of his compan-
ion; and Napoleon's irrepressible sympa-
with humanity SO won upon his conf
deuce that he artlessly revealed the story
Of his love for fair maid, in bis native
village, whom he longed to marry, but
could not, as he had neither house or land
for the support of family. Napoleon,
as he dismissed his guide, gave him an
ample reward, and in addition entrusted
him with loose paper containing few
lines written In pencil, which he was to
give, on his return to tue other side, to
the Administrator of the army.


The young man found upon presenting
the paper, to his unutterable surprise and
delight, tLat it was Napoleon whom he
had conducted over the mountain, and
that the paper contained an order that
there should be purchased for him field
and cottage This worthy peasant died
few years ago. having enjoyed during his
whole life the peaceful home thus gener-
ously conferred upon him.


The heroic little band, without an
hours delay, advanced rapidly along the
valley of the Aosta. Suddenly their
march was arrested by fort which eff
fectualIy swept the pass, between almost
overhanging hills. Napoleon hastere1
to the front, and with his glass carefully
scanned the mountains. He perceived
ridge beyond the reach of the guns of
the fort, where the soldiers could pass in
single file, but along which the artillery
could not be drawn. He sent his troops
over the ridge, deceiving the garrison in
the fort with the idea that he would at
tempt to take his artillery by the same
path. In dark night, trusty men, with
great caution and silence, strewed hay
thickly upon the road aud the artillery
and baggage train were thus secretly
passed along. Upon the face of the op-
posite cliff, oD a shelf which no hoof of
horse had ever trod before, the garrison
of the Fort of Bard had the modification
of seeing Napoleon's whole army de6le
beyond the reach of their guns. The
commandant wrote to Gen. Melas, who
was at the head of the Austrian force:


81 have seen an army Of $4,000 men
and 1000 horses creeping along the face
of Mount Albaredo. But not one sim
gle piece of artillery has passed, or can
pass beneath the guns of my fortress"


When he was writing this letter nearly
all the guns of Napoleon had gone by,
and like the bursting of pent up torrent
were rushing down the valley. Melas now
awoke in CONSERVATION. But it was too
late. Like thunderbolt Napoleon fell
upon him, gaining the world renowned
victory of Marengo.