THE PRELIMINARIES OF THE PEACE OF LEOBEN.
Some hours after receiving despatches from the Directory, Napoleon wrote to the Archduke Charles to make overtures of peace to him; the Archduke immediately answered that he would learn the opinion of his Court, having no power to treat alone.
At last, on the 7th of April, 1797, the head-quarters were fixed at Leoben, when Generals Bellegarde and Merfield presented themselves to demand an armistice of ten days, previous to making a definitive peace. The armistice was signed the same evening, but the French agreed to five days only. The Austrian plenipotentiaries arrived at Leoben on the 13th of April, and the preliminaries were signed on the 18th.
The scene in the picture is in a pavillion of the Bishop’s palace in the midst of a garden. The French general is saying to the Austrian envoys: “If we are not agreed upon that point, I continue my march, and behold the road to victory!”
The picture contains some historical portraits; among others, Lavalette, aide-de-camp to Napoleon, who wrote under the dictation of his general; to the left of Lavalette are Louis Buonaparte and Eugene Beauharnais, leaning his head on the future king of Holland. There are also portraits of Berthier, Massena, Augereau, and Murat, then inseparable associates of Napoleon.
CROSSING THE BRIDGE OF ARCOLA.
The marsh of Arcola is crossed by three causeways,—each of which was occupied by a French column. Alvinzi, supposing them only a few light troops, contented himself by ordering two small divisions to disperse them; these were checked and nearly routed by the strong columns of infantry to which they unexpectedly found themselves opposed. It was necessary that Arcola, which was defended by two battalions of Croates should be taken, in order to gain the bridge of Villeneuve, which was the only retreat of Alvinzi. The fire continuing unabated, Napoleon, determined on making a last effort, seized an ensign and planted it on the bridge with his own hand. He had advanced his column to the centre of the bridge, when a fresh body of Austrians arrived and commenced a sharp fire on his flank, which compelled those in the rear to retire. The grenadiers at the head of the column, finding themselves abandoned by their comrades, gave way; but not willing to lose their general, bore him in their arms through the midst of the dead and the dying. In the confusion he was precipitated into the marsh, where he lay surrounded by his enemies, and would probably have been taken prisoner had not the grenadiers, perceiving his danger, raised the cry, “Forward—forward—save the general!” At this the troops returned to the charge, and finally drove the Austrians out of the village. Nov. 1796.
THE CISALPINE REPUBLIC.
The independence of the Cisalpine Republic was declared on the 29th of June, 1797. A general federation of the national guards and of the authorities of the new Republic was held in the Lazaretto of Milan. On the 14th of July, thirty thousand of the national guard and deputies from the departments swore fealty to the new Commonwealth.
The Cisalpine Directory named its own ministers, the administrative authorities, and governed the Republic as an independent State. The keys of Milan, and of all the fortified places were duly remitted by the French to the Cisalpine officers, and the army quitted the States of the Republic and were cantoned upon the Venetian territory.
Napoleon, after the treaty of Campo Formio, returned to Milan to complete the organization of this new State, and the administrative measures of its army. He bade adieu to the Italian people in an address, wherein he told them, that they were the first who had ever acquired liberty without a revolution. “We have given liberty to you; know how to keep it. You are, after France, the most populous and the richest republic. Prove yourselves worthy of your destiny, by enacting wise and moderate laws, and by enforcing them with energy.” He told them to be sure that they had a sufficient sense of the dignity which attaches to a free people and promised them the protection of the French nation should they be attacked by neighboring States.
THE BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS.
The subject of the accompanying engraving is derived from the account already given of the Battle of the Pyramids, at the moment when Napoleon, pointing to those remains of antiquity, and addressing his soldiers, exclaimed, “Soldats! du haut de ces pyramides, quarante siècles vous contemplent.” The results of this battle are well known, the name of Buonaparte, now spread panic through the East; and the Sultan Kebir or King of Fire, as he was called from the deadly effects of the musketry in this engagement was considered as the destined scourge of God, whom it was hopeless to resist.
THE REVOLT OF CAIRO.
While the French were masters of Cairo, a conspiracy was formed against them which exploded on the 21st of October, 1798. The populace, at the instigation of the Sheiks, had sworn by Mahomet to exterminate the French. At the commencement of the insurrection, General Dupuy was mortally wounded, and several others were killed; when the drums were heard beating to arms, the Turks repaired to the Grand Mosque, where they assembled to the number of about 8,000. Here they were ordered to surrender, but refused, and seemed determined to defend themselves to the last, when Napoleon commanded bombs to be thrown from the citadel; this spread dismay and terror amongst the besieged, which was greatly increased by the French bursting open the doors. In a few moments the carnage became dreadful. The fanaticism of the revolters prevented their perceiving the impossibility of successful resistance to the French, who had been infuriated by seeing Brigadier-General Sulkowski slain by the multitude. Girodet has produced a very animated picture of the scene. The most remarkable group is that where a man completely naked supports a young Turk, richly dressed, who is about to receive his death-wound. Near him is a negro, also naked, aiming to ward off the fatal blow, and holding the head of a young Frenchman. On the left is an Hussar of extraordinary stature, whose weapon seems to threaten death to the unfortunate Turk.
THE FIGHT AT BENOUTH.
General Belliard learned that 2000 Mekkains and more than 1000 Arabs, conducted by Hassan, had attacked the flotilla at Benouth, and captured it, notwithstanding an active resistance. Although he had with him only 600 men of the 21st light dragoons, he crossed the Nile, and sought the enemy now strengthened by the arrival of 400 Mamelukes. The fight was long and obstinate. The enemy lost their cannon, and fled in alarm; part to the boats, where the French soldiery, in their fury, soon reached them; more to Benouth, and into the castle, which they had previously fortified. There they defended themselves fiercely, and repulsed several attacks. The order was then given to burn the village and the castle; and its occupants were soon surrounded with flames, which they were unable to extinguish, and which closed up every means of egress; their only chance of escape was to cut their way through the French soldiers, which they attempted as a forlorn hope, when they were repulsed by a body of riflemen, whilst a column rushing upon a breach made in the wall, kept them within the castle, where they all perished.—March, 1799.
The original of this painting, by M. Langlois, is in the Orleans Gallery, at the Palais Royal.
THE SPEECH AT THE PYRAMIDS.
On the 21st of July the army came within sight of the Pyramids, which, but for their regularity of outline might have been taken for a distant ridge of rocky mountains. While every eye was fixed on these hoary monuments of the past, the troops gained the brow of a gentle eminence, and saw at length spread out before them the vast armies of the Beys, its right, posted on an intrenched camp by the Nile, its centre and left composed of that brilliant cavalry with which they were by this time acquainted. Napoleon, riding forward to reconnoitre, perceived, what escaped the observation of all his staff, that the guns of the entrenched camp were not provided with carriages; and instantly decided on his plan of attack. He prepared to throw his force on the left, where the guns could not be made available. “Soldiers,” said Napoleon, “from the summit of yonder pyramid, forty ages behold you;” and the battle began.
“ALL WHOM I COMMAND ARE MY CHILDREN.”
We may easily form an idea of the condition of the Egyptians, subject to the oppression of the Mamelukes on the one hand, and the rapacity of the Arabs on the other, when the French entered their territory under Napoleon, announcing themselves as avengers and liberators, as we find by the following occurrence, which has furnished the subject of M. Delorme’s composition.
One day when Buonaparte was surrounded by the grand Sheiks, some one told him that the Arabs of the tribe of Osnadis had entered with an armed band into a village, driven off the herds, and killed an unfortunate fellah, who endeavored to make some resistance. Full of indignation, he ordered 200 dromedaries and 300 horsemen to take the field in pursuit of the guilty party. The Sheiks, surprised at the animated tone in which this command was given, looked at each other, for to them the life of a poor fellah was of no consequence. One of them observed to him that he had better not embroil himself with the Arabs, a people always dangerous, who could retaliate more than the evil he could inflict on them. “Wherefore,” added the Sheik Elmodi, “all this stir? Because they have killed a fellah! Was he then thy cousin?” “More than that!” cried Napoleon with energy, “all whom I command are my children!” And his gesture, more weighty than his words, sufficiently indicated that he took under his protection the unfortunate who came to plead for vengeance. “Taib!” cried the astonished Sheik, “thou speakest like a prophet.”—1798.
BUONAPARTE PARDONING THE REBELS AT CAIRO.
Buonaparte had great difficulty in subduing the revolts at Cairo, and his work was only effected by an immense sacrifice of human life. He succeeded in forcing the rebels to take refuge in the mosque of Eleazar in the Isle of Ronda, whose approaches they secured with strong barricades. Here Napoleon summoned them to surrender; and by his order the divan, the principal sheiks and doctors of the law presented themselves at the barricades, to induce them if possible to comply with his summons. They were received by a fusilade, when, at a given signal, General Dommartin opened a battery upon the mosque. This battery was kept in constant and fearful play, and produced such consternation and terror among the rebels, that they cried loudly for permission to capitulate: “You refused mercy when I offered it,” replied the General, “the hour of vengeance has arrived; you commenced this tumult, it is for me to finish it.”
Reduced to despair, they attempted a sortie, but were met by the French grenadiers. At length they threw down their arms and surrendered at discretion; imploring mercy, and uttering their cry of distress, Amman!
THE PLAGUE OF JAFFA.
On the 6th of May, 1799, Buonaparte summoned the commandant of the garrison of Jaffa to surrender, who replied to the demand by very unceremoniously decapitating the messenger who carried the summons. The French commenced the attack on the city, and soon became masters of it; they put the garrison to the sword, and abandoned the city to pillage by the soldiers. This horrible scene lasted for six and thirty hours; and to the disgrace of the French be it said, they massacred their prisoners without mercy.
“This conduct on the part of the French,” says one of their own historians, “conquerors so generous in Egypt, no motive to vengeance could justify, but it became no less calamitous to them than it was to their victims. The plague, that terrible scourge of the East, began its ravages among the French soldiery the very day after the taking of Jaffa.”
The frightful cry, “It is the plague!” spread itself amongst the soldiers, and struck terror into the hearts of the most courageous.
On his return to Jaffa, on the 24th of May, Buonaparte repaired to the hospital, where there were many of the soldiers, some of them wounded, some afflicted with ophthalmia, uttering most pitiable cries. The painter has attempted to convey an idea of this scene, and represents Buonaparte as touching a patient under the blight of the plague.
“YOU ARE THE GREATEST OF MEN.”
Buonaparte reached Alexandria on the evening of the 24th of July, 1799, where he found his army already posted in the neighborhood of Aboukir, and prepared to attack the Turks on the morrow.
Surveying their entrenched camp from the heights above with Murat, he said, “Go how it may, the battle of tomorrow will decide the fate of the world.” “Of this army, at least,” answered Murat; “but the Turks have no cavalry, and, if ever infantry were charged by horse, they shall be so by mine.”
On the 25th the attack was commenced by the French, and resisted for some time by the Turks with success. Murat, at length, was able to charge their main body in flank, when the troops became panic-stricken, and the battle was changed into a massacre; and numerous Turks, to escape the swords of the French, precipitated themselves into the sea, where they were nearly all drowned. This eventful day crowned the labors of Buonaparte in Egypt with glory and honor; and after the victory, Kleber, in a transport of admiration, pressed Napoleon in his arms, saying, “General! you are the greatest of men!”
NAPOLEON INSCRIBING HIS NAME AT MOUNT SINAI.
Napoleon, having crossed the Red Sea, at the ford, was met on the opposite shore, by a deputation of Cenobites from Mount Sinai. These monks threw themselves at his feet, imploring his protection; and after having invoked the blessings of heaven on his head, they presented for his signature the ancient register of their privileges. Napoleon smiled at their request; he took the pen, and no doubt flattered by an homage so extraordinary, signed his name already immortal beside those of Ali, of Saladin, and of Ibrahim.
NAPOLEON AT MALMAISON.
Toward the close of the year 1799, Napoleon occupied the palace of the Luxembourg. Several courtiers thought that a palace in the country should also be allotted to his use. He had lived at Malmaison, but this was considered unsuitable for the abode of the chief of a great republic and it was decided that St. Cloud should be offered him. This he chose to decline.
In August, 1802, Napoleon was made consul for life. The court then became such as it had been at Versailles under the Bourbons. A French writer says, that when at the Tuileries, “he found it a tiresome abode; there he had no freedom—no liberty. His happiest days were spent at Malmaison. Great in himself, he appeared still greater in that charming retreat.”
Having formerly refused St. Cloud at the hands of the people, he now took it on his own authority. There he had less leisure than at Malmaison, as etiquette was augmented in proportion to the grandeur of his establishment.
Josephine suffered more from this new state of things than any other individual. She was much attached to Malmaison; it was there she had spent many happy hours with her dearest friends. She was often heard to say, “How all this excitement fatigues and wearies me! I have not a moment to myself! I ought to have been the wife of an humble cottager.”
THE BATTLE OF MARENGO.
On the 11th of June, 1800, and in the evening after the battle of Montebello, General Desaix arrived at headquarters. The two generals conversed with each other nearly the whole night. Desaix had much to tell of Egypt, since Napoleon had quitted it; and he now burned to distinguish himself in the Italian campaign. Napoleon immediately gave him the command of a division.
Early in the morning on the 14th of June, the Austrians commenced a furious attack on the village of Marengo. The First Consul found it necessary to call in Desaix, who was now half a day’s journey distant from headquarters, where he had been sent to watch the road to Genoa. Napoleon arrived on the field at ten o’clock, when the enemy was in possession of Marengo, and the division under Victor was completely routed. He sent his guard to Victor’s aid, and assisted himself in the support of Lannes, directing the division of Carra-Saint-Cyr upon the extreme right, in order to take in flank the whole left wing of the enemy.
At the moment when the Austrian horse were about to rush on Lannes’ retreating corps, the reserve under Desaix appeared on the outskirts of the field. Desaix himself riding up to the First Consul with “I think this is a battle lost.” “I think it is a battle won,” answered Napoleon, “do you push on, and I will speedily rally the line behind you.” And in effect the timely arrival of this reserve turned the fortune of the day.
THE BATTLE OF ABOUKIR.
The Turkish outposts were assaulted early on the morning of the 24th of July, 1799, and driven in with great slaughter; but the French, as they advanced, came within range of the batteries and of the ships that lay close by the shore, and were checked. This might have ended in a rout, but for the undisciplined eagerness with which the Turks engaged in the task of despoiling those that fell before them—thus giving Murat the opportunity of charging their main body in flank with his cavalry, at the moment when the infantry, rallying under the eye of Napoleon, forced their way into the intrenchments. From that moment, the battle was a massacre. The Turks, attacked on all sides, were panic-stricken; and the sea was covered with the turbans of men who flung themselves headlong into the waves, rather than await the fury of Le Beau Sabreur, or the steady rolling fire of the Sultan Kebir. Six thousand surrendered at discretion; twelve thousand perished on the field, or in the sea.
THE REVIEW BY THE FIRST CONSUL.
On the 17th Brumaire (November 9th, 1799), Napoleon intimated to the officers of the army, that he would review their regiments the next morning at seven o’clock; he at the same time reminded all the generals who had been with him in Egypt, that he would be glad to see them at an early hour.
On November 10th, the Council of the Ancients assembled at six o’clock in the morning; when it was proposed to remove their sitting to St. Cloud that Napoleon might be invested with the command of the 17th military division. The motion was passed as a decree, though not without a strong opposition.
An hour after, Napoleon, surrounded by a great number of generals and officers, of every grade, attended at the bar of the assembly to return thanks for the confidence they had shown in him; and then returned to the Tuileries to review the troops.
As soon as it was reported throughout the capital that Napoleon was at the Tuileries, and that the chief power was now vested in him. The people ran thither in crowds. A proclamation was addressed to the people, and another to the soldiers.
NAPOLEON AT MOUNT ST. BERNARD.
The original picture from which this engraving is copied, ornaments the library at the Hotel des Invalides. It was painted at the express command of Napoleon.
The first consul left Paris for Dijon, on the 6th of May, 1800, where the reserve army was being organized. At Geneva, he had an interview with the chief of engineers, for the purpose of ascertaining the particulars of the intended route; especially directing his inquiries to the difficult passage across St. Bernard. At the close of the interview, Napoleon said, “Do you believe, then, that the army will be able to accomplish this?” “Yes, General,” replied the intrepid engineer, “it is possible for French soldiers.” “Ah well!” said Napoleon, “let us attempt it then.” And the orders were immediately given for the army to commence its march.
On the 15th, at the head of 30,000 of his troops, Napoleon began the ascent of St. Bernard. From St. Pierre to the summit the trail was so narrow that the troops were obliged to move in single file. In the course of a few days he performed what General Suvaroff had not dared to undertake in the preceding year: and thus the name of Napoleon was placed on the list with Hannibal and Charlemagne.
THE DEATH OF DESAIX.
At three o’clock in the afternoon, Napoleon took up his position on the road to San Juliano. “Soldiers!” he cried, “we have retreated far enough, now let us advance! You know it is my custom to sleep on the battle field!” Desaix was ordered to throw himself with his fresh troops upon the 6000 grenadiers of Colonel Zach. Desaix prepared to carry out these orders, but was shot dead at the first fire. “Alas! I must not weep,” said Napoleon; but the loss of this esteemed general redoubled the fury of the troops. Zach himself was taken prisoner; and the next day Melas entered into a negotiation, offering to abandon Genoa, and all the strong places in Piedmont, Lombardy, and the Legations,—provided Napoleon would allow him to march the shattered remains of his army unmolested to the rear of Mantua; this offer Napoleon accepted, and thus became the conqueror of Italy.
CORONATION OF NAPOLEON.
This imposing ceremony was performed on the 2d of December, 1804, in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, in the midst of all that was splendid and illustrious in the Capital of France. With a view to show his power rather than to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Pope, either temporal or spiritual, Napoleon summoned Pius VII. to be in attendance on the day of his inauguration at Paris. In compliance with this, the unresisting Pope left Rome on the 5th of November, and blessed the Emperor and Empress, and also consecrated the diadems. Napoleon, however, placed the crown on his own head, and then on the head of Josephine, who received it kneeling on a cushion at the foot of the altar steps. We are told that “throughout the ceremonial his aspect was thoughtful; it was on a stern and gloomy brow that with his own hands he planted the symbol of successful ambition and uneasy power, and the shouts of the deputies present, sounded faint and hollow amidst the silence of the people.”
THE FIRST CORPS CROSSES THE MAINE.
Admiral Villeneuve in engaging in the disastrous battle of Trafalgar, spoiled the great plan of descending upon England.
The illustrious Pitt took means to avert the storm which menaced the British Isles. A treaty of alliance was signed by Russia and Austria, and the third coalition against France was formed. Napoleon gave orders for breaking up the camp at Boulogne; and, whilst a portion of the army commenced their march toward Strasburg, Marshal Bernadotte issued orders to occupy the fortresses of Hameln and Nienburgh, with the 19th regiment of the line. General Marunno was at the same time ordered to break up his camp at Zeist, to quit Holland and ascend the Rhine, arriving upon the Maine with the First corps of the army, to take part in any subsequent operations.—September 17, 1805.
THE FOURTH CORPS AT DONAWERTH.
Napoleon had crossed the Rhine with his army.
The left wing, composed of the corps under Marshal Bernadotte, and of that under General Marmont, with the Bavarian army, set out on the 1st and 2d of October for Weissenburg.
Marshal Davoust, leaving Neckarels, followed the road to Meikumlh, Ingelfrugen, Chreilsheim, Drinkelspuhl, Frembdingen, Œttingen, and Haarburg.
Marshal Soult advanced upon the Danube.
Ney, leaving Stuttgart, followed the road to Nattheim.
Marshal Lannes quitted Ludwisburg, and directed his march towards Nordeingen.
On the 6th of October the army held the following positions:—
Bernadotte at Weissenburg.
Davoust at Altingen upon the Wernitz.
Soult, master of the bridge of Munster, at the gates of Donawerth.
Ney at Kossingen.
Lannes at Neresheim.
And the cavalry, under Murat, along the Danube.
The second division of that portion of the army under Marshal Soult, commanded by General Vandamme, having arrived at Donawerth on the evening of the 6th, had the honor of beginning the attack on the Austrian Army.
THE EMPEROR’S ARRIVAL AT AUGSBURG.
Napoleon exhibited to his officers and soldiers an example of indefatigable activity. On horseback, night and day, he was continually in the midst of his troops, and chiefly where he thought his presence most necessary to excite the energy of his soldiers. He did not forget that similar conduct had mainly contributed to his success in Italy; and he was wise enough to see the importance of inducing those under his command, by constantly observing their actions, to expect that he would appreciate their services, and reward them with liberality.
Ney had received orders to bear down upon Ulm. Murat advanced upon Burgau, and sought to cut off the retreat of the enemy.
The French army, since crossing the Danube, had succeeded in cutting off the communication between some parts of the enemy’s army; and Napoleon, arriving at Augsburg on the evening of the 10th of October, 1805, made preparations to destroy the remainder.
Napoleon met the troops under General Marmont, at the bridge of Lech, on the day just named. Here he had the regiment formed into a circle, and harangued them in the manner of the Roman emperors.
M. Gautherot has endeavored to portray this scene, of which another engraving and description will be found in another part of this work.
NAPOLEON CROWNED KING OF ITALY.
Amid the great events which were then being enacted, one—not the least in importance—awaited the Emperor of France in the capital of the Cisalpine Republic, now become the kingdom of Italy. The Italians decided to offer the crown to the conqueror of Arcola and Marengo, and in pursuance of that decision they dispatched a deputation to Paris. Accepting that offer, Napoleon and the Empress Josephine repaired to Milan, where they were crowned on the 26th of May, 1805, with unusual splendor. On this occasion, as at Paris, Napoleon himself placed the crown upon his own head; and, when taking it from the altar, he exclaimed aloud, “God gives it to me; beware who touches it!” On the 8th of June, Prince Eugene, the adopted son of Napoleon, was proclaimed Viceroy of Italy; and the French Emperor returned to his army, to make preparations for the memorable campaign of Austerlitz.
NAPOLEON CROSSING THE RHINE AT KEHL.
On September 21st, 1805, the three divisions under Bernadotte, took their position at Butzbach, in the province of Gros-Herzogth; and on the 30th of the same month, the whole army was united before Wurtzburg. General Marmont arrived at Mayence with his corps, joining Bernadotte and the Bavarians.
The different columns of the army arrived successively upon the Rhine from the 20th to the 26th of September; these corps were commanded by Marshals Soult, Davoust, Ney, and Lannes; Murat commanding the reserve of cavalry. They formed a line of which the right was at Strasburg, the centre at Spire, and the left at Mayence.
The reserve of cavalry, composed of five divisions, crossed the Rhine on the 25th of September, at Kehl. Lannes and his corps, consisting of the grenadiers under Oudinot, and of a division under Suchet, crossed the Rhine at the same place; and Marshal Ney, with his divisions, under Dupont, Loison, and Malher, and the dragoons of Baragny d’Hilliers, followed on the 26th.
Soult with the divisions of Vandamme, Legrand, and St. Hilaire, effected his passage at Spire; and Davoust at Manheim at the head of the divisions under Friant, Gudin, and Bouvrier.
THE FOURTH CORPS ENTERING AUGSBURG.
General Vandamme, in the action at Donawerth, routed the regiment of Colloredo, who defended the bridge, killed about 60 men and took 150 prisoners. Marshal Soult hastened to the bridge, and bore down upon Augsburg with the division under Vandamme and Legrand; while St. Hilaire marched his troops up the left bank of the Danube, to watch the movements of the army collected round Ulm, and afterward, followed the two divisions we have just named.
Murat arrived at Donawerth on the morning of the 7th of October, 1805, with the dragoons commanded by General Walter, and crossed the river to bear down rapidly upon the Lech. Colonel Wathier, at the head of 200 dragoons of the Fourth Regiment, crossed that river by swimming, to occupy the bridge on the road to Rain. A regiment of Austrian cuirassiers made some efforts at resistance, but were charged so gallantly by Wathier and his small handful of men that the bridge remained in the hands of the French.
Napoleon, who accompanied the corps under Lannes, took up his quarters at Zusmershausen, where he reviewed the cavalry under Murat, as well as the two divisions under Oudinot and Suchet.
Marshal Soult, after having manœuvred with Legrand’s division on the 7th and 8th of October, rejoined that of Vandamme, to make for Augsburg by the right bank of the Lech; whilst St. Hilaire pursued the same course on the left. Soult met with the debris of the Austrian column, beaten and dispersed, at Wertingen; from which village he drove them, and entered Augsburg.