Chapter 20

[114]See the speech in theMoniteur, No. 233, 12th May.[115]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 162.[116]"—procul obscuros colles humilemque videmusItaliam. Italiam! primus conclamat Achates;Italiam! læto socii clamore salutant."Virg.Æneid, Book III.—S."Now every star before Aurora flies,Whose glowing blushes streak the purple skies;When the dim hills of Italy we view'd,That peep'd by turns, and dived beneath the flood,Lo! Italy appears, Achates cries,And, Italy! with shouts the crowd replies."Dryden.[117]"The army, on reaching the Adige, will command all the states of the House of Austria in Italy, and all those of the Pope on this side of the Apennines; it will be in a situation to proclaim the principles of liberty, and to excite Italian patriotism against the sway of foreigners. The wordItaliam. Italiam!proclaimed at Milan, Bologna, and Verona, will produce a magical effect."—Napoleon,Montholon, tom. iii., p. 165.[118]It was dated Cherasco, April the 26th, and sufficiently proves, that notwithstanding all their victories, many of the soldiery, nay, even of the superior officers, were still alarmed at the magnitude of the enterprise on which Napoleon was entering with apparently very inadequate resources.[119]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 169; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p 206; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 117.[120]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 172.[121]Moniteur, No. 241, May 20.[122]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 173; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 126; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 218.[123]"The loss of the French was only four hundred men."—Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 218.[124]Moniteur, No. 241, May 20.[125]"Vandémiaire and Montenotte," said the Emperor, "never induced me to look upon myself as a man of a superior class: it was not till after Lodi that I was struck with the possibility of my becoming a decisive actor on the scene of political events. It was then that the first spark of my ambition was kindled."—Las Cases, tom. i., p. 150.[126]Montholon, tom. iii., p, 178.[127]"How subtle is the chain which unites the most trivial circumstances to the most important events! Perhaps this very nickname contributed to the Emperor's miraculous success on his return from Elba in 1815. While he was haranguing the first battalion he met, which he found it necessary to parley with, a voice from the ranks exclaimed, 'Vive notre petit Caporal!—We will never fight against him.'"—Las Cases, tom. i., p. 170.[128]Thiers, tom. viii., p. 207.[129]"It was in memory of this mission, that Napoleon, when King of Italy, created the duchy of Lodi, in favour of Melzi."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 179.[130]Botta, tom. i., p. 431; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 179; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 234; Thiers, tom. viii., p. 208.[131]On the 20th, Buonaparte addressed the following remarkable order of the day to the army:—"Soldiers! you have rushed like a torrent from the top of the Apennines: you have overthrown, dispersed, all that opposed your march. Piedmont, delivered from Austrian tyranny, indulges her natural sentiments of peace and friendship towards France. Milan is yours; and the republican flag waves throughout Lombardy. The Dukes of Parma and Modena are indebted for their political existence only to your generosity. The army which so proudly threatened you, can now find no barrier to protect it against your courage: neither the Po, the Ticino, nor the Adda, could stop you a single day: those vaunted bulwarks of Italy opposed you in vain; you passed them as rapidly as the Apennines. These great successes have filled the heart of your country with joy; your representatives have ordered a festival to commemorate your victories, which has been held in every commune of the republic. There your fathers, your mothers, your wives, sisters, and mistresses, rejoiced in your victories, and proudly boasted of belonging to you. Yes, soldiers! you have done much.—But remains there nothing more to perform? Shall it be said of us, that we know how to conquer, but not how to make use of victory? Shall posterity reproach us with having found our Capua in Lombardy?—But I see you already hasten to arms; an effeminate repose is tedious to you; the days which are lost to glory, are lost to your happiness. Well, then! let us set forth; we have still forced marches to make, enemies to subdue, laurels to gather, injuries to avenge! Let those who have sharpened the daggers of civil war in France, who have basely murdered our ministers, and burnt our ships at Toulon, tremble! The hour of vengeance has struck. But let the people of all countries be free from apprehension; we are the friends of the people everywhere, and more particularly of the descendants of Brutus and Scipio, and the great men whom we have taken for our models. To restore the capitol, to replace there the statues of the heroes who rendered it illustrious, with suitable honours, to awaken the Roman people, stupified by several ages of slavery—such is the fruit of our victories. They will form an historical era for posterity: yours will be the immortal glory of having changed the face of the finest part of Europe. The French people, free, respected by the whole world, will give to Europe a glorious peace, which will indemnify her for the sacrifices of every kind, which, for the last six years, she has been making. You will then return to your homes; and your countrymen will say, as they point you out—'He belonged to the army of Italy.'"—Moniteur, No. 254, June 2.On reading over this proclamation one day at St. Helena, the Emperor exclaimed—"And yet they have the folly to say I could not write!"—Las Cases, tom. iii., p. 86.[132]Frederic, Duke of Parma, grandson of Philip V. of Spain, was born in 1751. On his death, in 1802, the duchy was united to France, in virtue of the convention of 1801.[133]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 173; Lacretelle, tom. xiii., p. 172; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 211. See the Treaty, Annual Register, vol. xxxviii., p. 233.[134]Hercules III., Renaud d'Este, last Duke of Modena, was born in 1727 and died in 1797.[135]Lacretelle, tom. xiii., p. 187; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 187.[136]"The duke is avaricious. His only daughter and heiress is married to the Archduke of Milan. The more you squeeze from him, the more you take from the House of Austria."—LallemanttoBuonaparte, 14th May;Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 169.[137]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 174.[138]"The republic had already received, by the same title, and placed in its Museum, thechefs-d'œuvreof the Dutch and Flemish schools. The Romans carried away from conquered Greece the statues which adorn the capitol. Every capital of Europe contained the spoils of antiquity, and no one had ever thought of imputing it to them as a crime."—Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 214.[139]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 174.[140]"Is it, then, so difficult for Sir Walter to justify the motive which induced Napoleon to prefer works of art? It was a motive too great and too praiseworthy to need justification."—Louis Buonaparte, p. 21.[141]On the 7th of May, Carnot had written to Buonaparte—"The executive Directory is convinced, citizen-general, that you consider the glory of the fine arts connected with that of the army under your command. Italy is, in great part, indebted to them for her riches and renown; but the time is arrived when their reign must pass into France to strengthen and embellish that of liberty. The National Museum must contain the most distinguished monuments of all the arts, and you will neglect no opportunity of enriching it with such as it expects from the present conquests of the army of Italy, and those which may follow," &c.—Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 155.[142]Moniteur, 25th Floreal, 16th May.[143]See also Lacretelle's "Digression sur l'enlèvement de statues, tableaux, &c."—Hist., tom. xiii., p. 172.[144]See Letter of the Directory to Buonaparte, May 7; Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 145; and Montholon, tom. iv., p. 447.[145]"Je crois qu'il faut plutôt un mauvais général que deux bons. La guerre est comme le gouvernement—c'est une affaire de tact."—Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 160.[146]"You appear desirous, citizen-general, to continue to conduct the whole series of the military operations of the present campaign in Italy. The Directory have maturely reflected on this proposition, and the confidence they have in your talents and Republican zeal, has decided this question in the affirmative."—CarnottoBuonaparte, 21st May;Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 202.[147]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 196.[148]It has been alleged, that in a farce exhibited on the public stage by authority of Buonaparte, the Pope was introduced in his pontifical dress. This, which could not be looked on as less than sacrilege by a Catholic population, does not accord with the general conduct of Buonaparte. See, however, "Tableau des Premières Guerres de Buonaparte," Paris, 1815, par Le Chevalier Mechaud de Villelle, p. 41.—S.[149]"The pillage lasted several hours; but occasioned more fear than damage; it was confined to some goldsmiths' shops. The selection of the hostages fell on the principal families. It was conceived to be advantageous that some of the persons of most influence should visit France. In fact, they returned a few months after, several of them having travelled in all our provinces, where they had adopted French manners."—Napoleon,Montholon, tom. iii., p. 200."Pavia," said the Emperor, "is the only place I ever gave up to pillage. I had promised it to the soldiers for twenty-four hours; but after three hours I could bear it no longer, and put an end to it. Policy and morality are equally opposed to the system. Nothing is so certain to disorganize and completely ruin an army."—Las Cases, tom. iv., p. 326. See also Botta, tom. v., p. 465; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 137; and Lacretelle, tom. xiii., p. 199.[150]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 227.[151]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 227.[152]"The examples of the Imperial Fiefs and Lugo, though extremely severe, were indispensable, and authorised by the usage of war."—Jomini, tom. viii., p. 156.[153]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 204; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 140.[154]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 206.[155]Napoleon, Memoirs, tom. iii., p. 209.[156]Daru, Hist. de Venise; tom. v., p. 436; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 257.[157]Moniteur, No. 267, June 17; Montholon, tom. iv., p. 121.[158]Thiers, tom. viii., p. 225.[159]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 213; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 275.[160]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 221; Thiers, tom. viii., p. 236.[161]"Il parcourut avet le grand-duc la célèbre galerie et n'y remarqua que trop la Vénus de Medicis."—Lacretelle, tom. xiii., p. 190.[162]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 226; Pommereuil, Campagnes de Buonaparte, p. 78.[163]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 222.[164]The following letter appears in the journals as an intercepted despatch from Beaulieu to the Aulic Council of War. It seems worthy of preservation, as expressing the irritated feelings with which the veteran general was certainly affected, whether he wrote the letter in question or not. It will be recollected, that D'Argenteau, of whom he complains, was the cause of his original misfortunes at Montenotte. Seeante, p.52. "I asked you for ageneral, and you have sent me Argenteau—I am quite aware that he is a great lord, and that he is to be created Field-marshal of the Empire, to atone for my having placed him under arrest—I apprise you that I have no more than twenty thousand men remaining, and that the French are sixty thousand strong. I apprise you farther, that I will retreat to-morrow—next day—the day after that—and every day—even to Siberia itself, if they pursue me so far. My age gives me a right to speak out the truth. Hasten to make peace on any condition whatever."—Moniteur, 1796, No. 269.—S.[165]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 229; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 163.[166]See Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 12; Montholon, tom. iv., p. 372; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 388.[167]"That retreat was the greatest blunder that ever Moreau committed. If he had, instead of retreating, made a détour, and marched in the rear of Prince Charles, he would have destroyed or taken the Austrian army. The Directory, jealous of me, wanted to divide, if possible, the stock of military reputation; and as they could not give Moreau credit for a victory, they caused his retreat to be extolled in the highest terms: although even the Austrian generals condemned him for it."—Napoleon,Voice, &c., vol. ii., p. 40. See also Gourgaud, tom. i., p. 157.[168]Montholon, tom. iii., pp. 292-307; Jomini, tom. viii., pp. 178-194.[169]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 234.[170]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 235; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 302.[171]Jomini, tom. viii., p. 314; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 239.[172]"Napoleon despatched Louis in the greatest haste to Paris, with an account of what had taken place. Louis left his brother with regret on the eve of the battle, to become the bearer of bad news. 'It must be so,' said Napoleon, 'but before you return you will have to present to the Directory the colours which we shall take to-morrow.'"—Louis Buonaparte, tom. i., p 63.[173]Buonaparte to the Directory; Moniteur, No. 328; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 318; Botta, tom. ii., p. 64.[174]"Sa manœuvre me parut un sûr garant de la victoire."—Buonaparteto the Directory, 6th August.[175]Buonaparte, in his despatch to the Directory, states the loss of the Austrians at from two to three thousand killed, and four thousand prisoners; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 325, says, "three thousand killed, wounded, or prisoners."[176]"That day was the most brilliant of Augereau's life, nor did Napoleon ever forget it."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 255.[177]Seeante, p.55.[178]Seeante, p.84.[179]"Go and tell your general," said Napoleon, "that I give him eight minutes to lay down his arms; he is in the midst of the French army; after that time there are no hopes for him."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 246; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 326. But see Botta, tom. i., p. 546.[180]"In the different engagements between the 29th July and the 12th August, the French army took 15,000 prisoners, 70 pieces of cannon, and nine stand of colours, and killed or wounded 25,000 men; the loss of the French army was 7000 men."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 251.[181]"Your people render themselves daily more worthy of liberty, and they will, no doubt, one day appear with glory on the stage of the world."—Moniteur, No. 331, Aug. 9.[182]"When brought before the Commander-in-chief, he answered only by the wordpeccavi, which disarmed the victor, who merely confined him three months in a religious house."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 254.Mattei was born at Rome in 1744. Compelled, in 1810, to repair to France with his colleagues, he was banished by Napoleon to Rhetel, for refusing to be present at his marriage with Maria Louisa. The cardinal died in 1820.[183]Kilmaine was born at Dublin in 1754. He distinguished himself at Jemappes and in La Vendée, and was selected to command the "Army of England," but died at Paris in 1799.[184]Buonaparte to the Directory, 6th September.[185]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 107; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 5; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 259.[186]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 263.[187]Buonaparte to the Directory, 8th September; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 265. Jomini, tom. ix., p. 114, estimates the prisoners at fully from twelve to fifteen hundred.[188]At the camp of Boulogne, in 1805.[189]Napoleon the same night visited the field of battle, and he told this anecdote of it at St. Helena—"In the deep silence of a beautiful moonlight night," said the Emperor, "a dog leaping suddenly from beneath the clothes of his dead master, rushed upon us, and then immediately returned to his hiding-place, howling piteously. He alternately licked his master's face, and again flew at us; thus at once soliciting aid and threatening revenge. Whether owing to my own particular mood of mind at the moment, the time, the place, or the action itself, I know not, but certainly no incident on any field of battle ever produced so deep an impression on me. I involuntarily stopped to contemplate the scene. This man, thought I, must have had among his comrades friends; and here he lies forsaken by all except his dog! What a strange being is man! and how mysterious are his impressions! I had, without emotion, ordered battles which were to decide the fate of the army; I had beheld with tearless eyes, the execution of those operations, in the course of which numbers of my countrymen were sacrificed; and here my feelings were roused by the mournful howling of a dog. Certainly at that moment I should have been easily moved by a suppliant enemy; I could very well imagine Achilles surrendering up the body of Hector at the sight of Priam's tears."—Las Cases, tom. ii., p. 403. See also Arnault, Hist. de Napoleon; and Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 11.[190]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 266; Buonaparte, in his letter to the Directory, says 5000; Jomini, tom. ix., p. 116, reduces them to 2000.[191]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 116; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 54; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 267.[192]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 271; Jomini, tom. ix., p. 126.[193]Moniteur, No. 13, October 4.[194]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 153; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 32; Montgaillard, tom. iv., p. 468.[195]"Gentili and all the refugees landed in October, 1796, in spite of the English cruisers. The republicans took possession of Bastia and of all the fortresses. The English hastily embarked. The King of England wore the Corsican crown only two years. This whim cost the British treasury five millions sterling. John Bull's riches could not have been worse employed."—Napoleon,Montholon, tom. iii., p. 58.[196]It is fair to add, however, that Buonaparte in his Memoirs, while at St. Helena, gives a sketch of the geographical description and history of Corsica, and suggests several plans for the civilisation of his countrymen,—one of which, the depriving them of the arms which they constantly wear, might be prudent were it practicable, but certainly would be highly unpalatable. There occurs an odd observation, "that the Crown of Corsica must, on the temporary annexation of the island to Great Britain, have been surprised at finding itself appertaining to the successor of Fingal." Not more, we should think, than the diadem of France, and the iron crown of Italy, may have marvelled at meeting on the brow of a Corsican soldier of fortune.—S.[197]Alvinzi was, at this time, seventy years of age. He died in 1810.[198]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 345; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 82.[199]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 345; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 109.[200]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 165.[201]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 349.[202]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 170; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 112.[203]"The rain fell in torrents; the ground was so completely soaked, that the French artillery could make no movement, whilst that of the Austrians, being in position, and advantageously placed, produced its full effect."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 352.[204]"We have but one more effort to make, and Italy is our own. The enemy is, no doubt, more numerous than we are, but half his troops are recruits; when he is beaten, Mantua must fall, and we shall remain masters of all. From the smiling flowery bivouacs of Italy, you cannot return to the Alpine snows. Succours are on the road; only beat Alvinzi, and I will answer for your future welfare."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 355.[205]"This was the day of military devotedness. Lannes, who had been wounded at Governolo, had hastened from Milan; he was still suffering; he threw himself between the enemy and Napoleon, and received three wounds. Muiron, Napoleon's aide-de-camp, was killed in covering his general with his own body. Heroic and affecting death!"—Napoleon,Memoirs, tom. iii., p. 362.[206]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 180; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 117.[207]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 101. Napoleon estimates the loss of Alvinzi, in the three days' engagements, at 18,000 men including 6000 prisoners. Montholon, tom. iii., p. 370.[208]Letter to the Directory, 19th November.[209]"The French army re-entered Verona in triumph by the Venice gate, three days after having quitted that city almost clandestinely by the Milan gate. It would be difficult to conceive the astonishment and enthusiasm of the inhabitants."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 370.[210]"You announce the arrival of 10,000 men from the Army of the Ocean, and a like number from that of the Rhine; but they have not arrived, and should they not come speedily, you will sacrifice an army ardently devoted to the Constitution."—Buonaparteto the Directory, 28th December.[211]"The Austrian army amounted to from 65,000 to 70,000 fighting men, and 6000 Tyrolese, besides 24,000 men of the garrison of Mantua."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 404."After the battle of Arcola, the active French army amounted to 36,380 while 10,230 formed the blockade of Mantua."—Jomini, tom. ix., p. 262.[212]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 405; Jomini, tom. ix., p. 263.[213]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 406.[214]Seeante, p.54.[215]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 268.[216]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 410.[217]It is represented in some military accounts, that the division which appeared in the rear of the French belonged to the army of Provera, and had been detached by him on crossing the Adige, as mentioned below. But Napoleon's Saint Helena manuscripts prove the contrary. Provera only crossed on the 14th January, and it was on the morning of the same day that Napoleon had seen the five divisions of Alvinzi, that of Lusignan which afterwards appeared in the rear of his army being one, lying around Joubert's position of Rivoli.—S.—See Montholon, tom. iii., p. 415, and Jomini, tom. ix., p. 284.[218]Jomini, tom. ix., pp. 275, 287; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 408.[219]"This day the general-in-chief was several times surrounded by the enemy; he had several horses killed."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 415.[220]"The Roman legions are reported to have marched twenty-four miles a-day; but our brigades, though fighting at intervals, march thirty."—Buonaparteto the Directory.[221]"It was after the battle of Rivoli, that Massena received from Buonaparte and the army the title of 'enfant chéri de la victoire,'" &c.—Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 195.[222]"At two o'clock in the afternoon, in the midst of the battle of Rivoli."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 416.

[114]See the speech in theMoniteur, No. 233, 12th May.

[115]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 162.

[116]"—procul obscuros colles humilemque videmusItaliam. Italiam! primus conclamat Achates;Italiam! læto socii clamore salutant."Virg.Æneid, Book III.—S."Now every star before Aurora flies,Whose glowing blushes streak the purple skies;When the dim hills of Italy we view'd,That peep'd by turns, and dived beneath the flood,Lo! Italy appears, Achates cries,And, Italy! with shouts the crowd replies."Dryden.

"—procul obscuros colles humilemque videmusItaliam. Italiam! primus conclamat Achates;Italiam! læto socii clamore salutant."

Virg.Æneid, Book III.—S.

"Now every star before Aurora flies,Whose glowing blushes streak the purple skies;When the dim hills of Italy we view'd,That peep'd by turns, and dived beneath the flood,Lo! Italy appears, Achates cries,And, Italy! with shouts the crowd replies."

Dryden.

[117]"The army, on reaching the Adige, will command all the states of the House of Austria in Italy, and all those of the Pope on this side of the Apennines; it will be in a situation to proclaim the principles of liberty, and to excite Italian patriotism against the sway of foreigners. The wordItaliam. Italiam!proclaimed at Milan, Bologna, and Verona, will produce a magical effect."—Napoleon,Montholon, tom. iii., p. 165.

[118]It was dated Cherasco, April the 26th, and sufficiently proves, that notwithstanding all their victories, many of the soldiery, nay, even of the superior officers, were still alarmed at the magnitude of the enterprise on which Napoleon was entering with apparently very inadequate resources.

[119]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 169; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p 206; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 117.

[120]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 172.

[121]Moniteur, No. 241, May 20.

[122]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 173; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 126; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 218.

[123]"The loss of the French was only four hundred men."—Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 218.

[124]Moniteur, No. 241, May 20.

[125]"Vandémiaire and Montenotte," said the Emperor, "never induced me to look upon myself as a man of a superior class: it was not till after Lodi that I was struck with the possibility of my becoming a decisive actor on the scene of political events. It was then that the first spark of my ambition was kindled."—Las Cases, tom. i., p. 150.

[126]Montholon, tom. iii., p, 178.

[127]"How subtle is the chain which unites the most trivial circumstances to the most important events! Perhaps this very nickname contributed to the Emperor's miraculous success on his return from Elba in 1815. While he was haranguing the first battalion he met, which he found it necessary to parley with, a voice from the ranks exclaimed, 'Vive notre petit Caporal!—We will never fight against him.'"—Las Cases, tom. i., p. 170.

[128]Thiers, tom. viii., p. 207.

[129]"It was in memory of this mission, that Napoleon, when King of Italy, created the duchy of Lodi, in favour of Melzi."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 179.

[130]Botta, tom. i., p. 431; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 179; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 234; Thiers, tom. viii., p. 208.

[131]On the 20th, Buonaparte addressed the following remarkable order of the day to the army:—"Soldiers! you have rushed like a torrent from the top of the Apennines: you have overthrown, dispersed, all that opposed your march. Piedmont, delivered from Austrian tyranny, indulges her natural sentiments of peace and friendship towards France. Milan is yours; and the republican flag waves throughout Lombardy. The Dukes of Parma and Modena are indebted for their political existence only to your generosity. The army which so proudly threatened you, can now find no barrier to protect it against your courage: neither the Po, the Ticino, nor the Adda, could stop you a single day: those vaunted bulwarks of Italy opposed you in vain; you passed them as rapidly as the Apennines. These great successes have filled the heart of your country with joy; your representatives have ordered a festival to commemorate your victories, which has been held in every commune of the republic. There your fathers, your mothers, your wives, sisters, and mistresses, rejoiced in your victories, and proudly boasted of belonging to you. Yes, soldiers! you have done much.—But remains there nothing more to perform? Shall it be said of us, that we know how to conquer, but not how to make use of victory? Shall posterity reproach us with having found our Capua in Lombardy?—But I see you already hasten to arms; an effeminate repose is tedious to you; the days which are lost to glory, are lost to your happiness. Well, then! let us set forth; we have still forced marches to make, enemies to subdue, laurels to gather, injuries to avenge! Let those who have sharpened the daggers of civil war in France, who have basely murdered our ministers, and burnt our ships at Toulon, tremble! The hour of vengeance has struck. But let the people of all countries be free from apprehension; we are the friends of the people everywhere, and more particularly of the descendants of Brutus and Scipio, and the great men whom we have taken for our models. To restore the capitol, to replace there the statues of the heroes who rendered it illustrious, with suitable honours, to awaken the Roman people, stupified by several ages of slavery—such is the fruit of our victories. They will form an historical era for posterity: yours will be the immortal glory of having changed the face of the finest part of Europe. The French people, free, respected by the whole world, will give to Europe a glorious peace, which will indemnify her for the sacrifices of every kind, which, for the last six years, she has been making. You will then return to your homes; and your countrymen will say, as they point you out—'He belonged to the army of Italy.'"—Moniteur, No. 254, June 2.On reading over this proclamation one day at St. Helena, the Emperor exclaimed—"And yet they have the folly to say I could not write!"—Las Cases, tom. iii., p. 86.

[131]On the 20th, Buonaparte addressed the following remarkable order of the day to the army:—

"Soldiers! you have rushed like a torrent from the top of the Apennines: you have overthrown, dispersed, all that opposed your march. Piedmont, delivered from Austrian tyranny, indulges her natural sentiments of peace and friendship towards France. Milan is yours; and the republican flag waves throughout Lombardy. The Dukes of Parma and Modena are indebted for their political existence only to your generosity. The army which so proudly threatened you, can now find no barrier to protect it against your courage: neither the Po, the Ticino, nor the Adda, could stop you a single day: those vaunted bulwarks of Italy opposed you in vain; you passed them as rapidly as the Apennines. These great successes have filled the heart of your country with joy; your representatives have ordered a festival to commemorate your victories, which has been held in every commune of the republic. There your fathers, your mothers, your wives, sisters, and mistresses, rejoiced in your victories, and proudly boasted of belonging to you. Yes, soldiers! you have done much.—But remains there nothing more to perform? Shall it be said of us, that we know how to conquer, but not how to make use of victory? Shall posterity reproach us with having found our Capua in Lombardy?—But I see you already hasten to arms; an effeminate repose is tedious to you; the days which are lost to glory, are lost to your happiness. Well, then! let us set forth; we have still forced marches to make, enemies to subdue, laurels to gather, injuries to avenge! Let those who have sharpened the daggers of civil war in France, who have basely murdered our ministers, and burnt our ships at Toulon, tremble! The hour of vengeance has struck. But let the people of all countries be free from apprehension; we are the friends of the people everywhere, and more particularly of the descendants of Brutus and Scipio, and the great men whom we have taken for our models. To restore the capitol, to replace there the statues of the heroes who rendered it illustrious, with suitable honours, to awaken the Roman people, stupified by several ages of slavery—such is the fruit of our victories. They will form an historical era for posterity: yours will be the immortal glory of having changed the face of the finest part of Europe. The French people, free, respected by the whole world, will give to Europe a glorious peace, which will indemnify her for the sacrifices of every kind, which, for the last six years, she has been making. You will then return to your homes; and your countrymen will say, as they point you out—'He belonged to the army of Italy.'"—Moniteur, No. 254, June 2.

On reading over this proclamation one day at St. Helena, the Emperor exclaimed—"And yet they have the folly to say I could not write!"—Las Cases, tom. iii., p. 86.

[132]Frederic, Duke of Parma, grandson of Philip V. of Spain, was born in 1751. On his death, in 1802, the duchy was united to France, in virtue of the convention of 1801.

[133]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 173; Lacretelle, tom. xiii., p. 172; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 211. See the Treaty, Annual Register, vol. xxxviii., p. 233.

[134]Hercules III., Renaud d'Este, last Duke of Modena, was born in 1727 and died in 1797.

[135]Lacretelle, tom. xiii., p. 187; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 187.

[136]"The duke is avaricious. His only daughter and heiress is married to the Archduke of Milan. The more you squeeze from him, the more you take from the House of Austria."—LallemanttoBuonaparte, 14th May;Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 169.

[137]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 174.

[138]"The republic had already received, by the same title, and placed in its Museum, thechefs-d'œuvreof the Dutch and Flemish schools. The Romans carried away from conquered Greece the statues which adorn the capitol. Every capital of Europe contained the spoils of antiquity, and no one had ever thought of imputing it to them as a crime."—Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 214.

[139]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 174.

[140]"Is it, then, so difficult for Sir Walter to justify the motive which induced Napoleon to prefer works of art? It was a motive too great and too praiseworthy to need justification."—Louis Buonaparte, p. 21.

[141]On the 7th of May, Carnot had written to Buonaparte—"The executive Directory is convinced, citizen-general, that you consider the glory of the fine arts connected with that of the army under your command. Italy is, in great part, indebted to them for her riches and renown; but the time is arrived when their reign must pass into France to strengthen and embellish that of liberty. The National Museum must contain the most distinguished monuments of all the arts, and you will neglect no opportunity of enriching it with such as it expects from the present conquests of the army of Italy, and those which may follow," &c.—Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 155.

[142]Moniteur, 25th Floreal, 16th May.

[143]See also Lacretelle's "Digression sur l'enlèvement de statues, tableaux, &c."—Hist., tom. xiii., p. 172.

[144]See Letter of the Directory to Buonaparte, May 7; Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 145; and Montholon, tom. iv., p. 447.

[145]"Je crois qu'il faut plutôt un mauvais général que deux bons. La guerre est comme le gouvernement—c'est une affaire de tact."—Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 160.

[146]"You appear desirous, citizen-general, to continue to conduct the whole series of the military operations of the present campaign in Italy. The Directory have maturely reflected on this proposition, and the confidence they have in your talents and Republican zeal, has decided this question in the affirmative."—CarnottoBuonaparte, 21st May;Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 202.

[147]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 196.

[148]It has been alleged, that in a farce exhibited on the public stage by authority of Buonaparte, the Pope was introduced in his pontifical dress. This, which could not be looked on as less than sacrilege by a Catholic population, does not accord with the general conduct of Buonaparte. See, however, "Tableau des Premières Guerres de Buonaparte," Paris, 1815, par Le Chevalier Mechaud de Villelle, p. 41.—S.

[149]"The pillage lasted several hours; but occasioned more fear than damage; it was confined to some goldsmiths' shops. The selection of the hostages fell on the principal families. It was conceived to be advantageous that some of the persons of most influence should visit France. In fact, they returned a few months after, several of them having travelled in all our provinces, where they had adopted French manners."—Napoleon,Montholon, tom. iii., p. 200."Pavia," said the Emperor, "is the only place I ever gave up to pillage. I had promised it to the soldiers for twenty-four hours; but after three hours I could bear it no longer, and put an end to it. Policy and morality are equally opposed to the system. Nothing is so certain to disorganize and completely ruin an army."—Las Cases, tom. iv., p. 326. See also Botta, tom. v., p. 465; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 137; and Lacretelle, tom. xiii., p. 199.

"Pavia," said the Emperor, "is the only place I ever gave up to pillage. I had promised it to the soldiers for twenty-four hours; but after three hours I could bear it no longer, and put an end to it. Policy and morality are equally opposed to the system. Nothing is so certain to disorganize and completely ruin an army."—Las Cases, tom. iv., p. 326. See also Botta, tom. v., p. 465; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 137; and Lacretelle, tom. xiii., p. 199.

[150]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 227.

[151]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 227.

[152]"The examples of the Imperial Fiefs and Lugo, though extremely severe, were indispensable, and authorised by the usage of war."—Jomini, tom. viii., p. 156.

[153]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 204; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 140.

[154]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 206.

[155]Napoleon, Memoirs, tom. iii., p. 209.

[156]Daru, Hist. de Venise; tom. v., p. 436; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 257.

[157]Moniteur, No. 267, June 17; Montholon, tom. iv., p. 121.

[158]Thiers, tom. viii., p. 225.

[159]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 213; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 275.

[160]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 221; Thiers, tom. viii., p. 236.

[161]"Il parcourut avet le grand-duc la célèbre galerie et n'y remarqua que trop la Vénus de Medicis."—Lacretelle, tom. xiii., p. 190.

[162]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 226; Pommereuil, Campagnes de Buonaparte, p. 78.

[163]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 222.

[164]The following letter appears in the journals as an intercepted despatch from Beaulieu to the Aulic Council of War. It seems worthy of preservation, as expressing the irritated feelings with which the veteran general was certainly affected, whether he wrote the letter in question or not. It will be recollected, that D'Argenteau, of whom he complains, was the cause of his original misfortunes at Montenotte. Seeante, p.52. "I asked you for ageneral, and you have sent me Argenteau—I am quite aware that he is a great lord, and that he is to be created Field-marshal of the Empire, to atone for my having placed him under arrest—I apprise you that I have no more than twenty thousand men remaining, and that the French are sixty thousand strong. I apprise you farther, that I will retreat to-morrow—next day—the day after that—and every day—even to Siberia itself, if they pursue me so far. My age gives me a right to speak out the truth. Hasten to make peace on any condition whatever."—Moniteur, 1796, No. 269.—S.

[165]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 229; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 163.

[166]See Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 12; Montholon, tom. iv., p. 372; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 388.

[167]"That retreat was the greatest blunder that ever Moreau committed. If he had, instead of retreating, made a détour, and marched in the rear of Prince Charles, he would have destroyed or taken the Austrian army. The Directory, jealous of me, wanted to divide, if possible, the stock of military reputation; and as they could not give Moreau credit for a victory, they caused his retreat to be extolled in the highest terms: although even the Austrian generals condemned him for it."—Napoleon,Voice, &c., vol. ii., p. 40. See also Gourgaud, tom. i., p. 157.

[168]Montholon, tom. iii., pp. 292-307; Jomini, tom. viii., pp. 178-194.

[169]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 234.

[170]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 235; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 302.

[171]Jomini, tom. viii., p. 314; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 239.

[172]"Napoleon despatched Louis in the greatest haste to Paris, with an account of what had taken place. Louis left his brother with regret on the eve of the battle, to become the bearer of bad news. 'It must be so,' said Napoleon, 'but before you return you will have to present to the Directory the colours which we shall take to-morrow.'"—Louis Buonaparte, tom. i., p 63.

[173]Buonaparte to the Directory; Moniteur, No. 328; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 318; Botta, tom. ii., p. 64.

[174]"Sa manœuvre me parut un sûr garant de la victoire."—Buonaparteto the Directory, 6th August.

[175]Buonaparte, in his despatch to the Directory, states the loss of the Austrians at from two to three thousand killed, and four thousand prisoners; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 325, says, "three thousand killed, wounded, or prisoners."

[176]"That day was the most brilliant of Augereau's life, nor did Napoleon ever forget it."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 255.

[177]Seeante, p.55.

[178]Seeante, p.84.

[179]"Go and tell your general," said Napoleon, "that I give him eight minutes to lay down his arms; he is in the midst of the French army; after that time there are no hopes for him."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 246; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 326. But see Botta, tom. i., p. 546.

[180]"In the different engagements between the 29th July and the 12th August, the French army took 15,000 prisoners, 70 pieces of cannon, and nine stand of colours, and killed or wounded 25,000 men; the loss of the French army was 7000 men."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 251.

[181]"Your people render themselves daily more worthy of liberty, and they will, no doubt, one day appear with glory on the stage of the world."—Moniteur, No. 331, Aug. 9.

[182]"When brought before the Commander-in-chief, he answered only by the wordpeccavi, which disarmed the victor, who merely confined him three months in a religious house."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 254.Mattei was born at Rome in 1744. Compelled, in 1810, to repair to France with his colleagues, he was banished by Napoleon to Rhetel, for refusing to be present at his marriage with Maria Louisa. The cardinal died in 1820.

Mattei was born at Rome in 1744. Compelled, in 1810, to repair to France with his colleagues, he was banished by Napoleon to Rhetel, for refusing to be present at his marriage with Maria Louisa. The cardinal died in 1820.

[183]Kilmaine was born at Dublin in 1754. He distinguished himself at Jemappes and in La Vendée, and was selected to command the "Army of England," but died at Paris in 1799.

[184]Buonaparte to the Directory, 6th September.

[185]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 107; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 5; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 259.

[186]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 263.

[187]Buonaparte to the Directory, 8th September; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 265. Jomini, tom. ix., p. 114, estimates the prisoners at fully from twelve to fifteen hundred.

[188]At the camp of Boulogne, in 1805.

[189]Napoleon the same night visited the field of battle, and he told this anecdote of it at St. Helena—"In the deep silence of a beautiful moonlight night," said the Emperor, "a dog leaping suddenly from beneath the clothes of his dead master, rushed upon us, and then immediately returned to his hiding-place, howling piteously. He alternately licked his master's face, and again flew at us; thus at once soliciting aid and threatening revenge. Whether owing to my own particular mood of mind at the moment, the time, the place, or the action itself, I know not, but certainly no incident on any field of battle ever produced so deep an impression on me. I involuntarily stopped to contemplate the scene. This man, thought I, must have had among his comrades friends; and here he lies forsaken by all except his dog! What a strange being is man! and how mysterious are his impressions! I had, without emotion, ordered battles which were to decide the fate of the army; I had beheld with tearless eyes, the execution of those operations, in the course of which numbers of my countrymen were sacrificed; and here my feelings were roused by the mournful howling of a dog. Certainly at that moment I should have been easily moved by a suppliant enemy; I could very well imagine Achilles surrendering up the body of Hector at the sight of Priam's tears."—Las Cases, tom. ii., p. 403. See also Arnault, Hist. de Napoleon; and Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 11.

[190]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 266; Buonaparte, in his letter to the Directory, says 5000; Jomini, tom. ix., p. 116, reduces them to 2000.

[191]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 116; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 54; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 267.

[192]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 271; Jomini, tom. ix., p. 126.

[193]Moniteur, No. 13, October 4.

[194]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 153; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 32; Montgaillard, tom. iv., p. 468.

[195]"Gentili and all the refugees landed in October, 1796, in spite of the English cruisers. The republicans took possession of Bastia and of all the fortresses. The English hastily embarked. The King of England wore the Corsican crown only two years. This whim cost the British treasury five millions sterling. John Bull's riches could not have been worse employed."—Napoleon,Montholon, tom. iii., p. 58.

[196]It is fair to add, however, that Buonaparte in his Memoirs, while at St. Helena, gives a sketch of the geographical description and history of Corsica, and suggests several plans for the civilisation of his countrymen,—one of which, the depriving them of the arms which they constantly wear, might be prudent were it practicable, but certainly would be highly unpalatable. There occurs an odd observation, "that the Crown of Corsica must, on the temporary annexation of the island to Great Britain, have been surprised at finding itself appertaining to the successor of Fingal." Not more, we should think, than the diadem of France, and the iron crown of Italy, may have marvelled at meeting on the brow of a Corsican soldier of fortune.—S.

[197]Alvinzi was, at this time, seventy years of age. He died in 1810.

[198]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 345; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 82.

[199]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 345; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 109.

[200]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 165.

[201]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 349.

[202]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 170; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 112.

[203]"The rain fell in torrents; the ground was so completely soaked, that the French artillery could make no movement, whilst that of the Austrians, being in position, and advantageously placed, produced its full effect."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 352.

[204]"We have but one more effort to make, and Italy is our own. The enemy is, no doubt, more numerous than we are, but half his troops are recruits; when he is beaten, Mantua must fall, and we shall remain masters of all. From the smiling flowery bivouacs of Italy, you cannot return to the Alpine snows. Succours are on the road; only beat Alvinzi, and I will answer for your future welfare."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 355.

[205]"This was the day of military devotedness. Lannes, who had been wounded at Governolo, had hastened from Milan; he was still suffering; he threw himself between the enemy and Napoleon, and received three wounds. Muiron, Napoleon's aide-de-camp, was killed in covering his general with his own body. Heroic and affecting death!"—Napoleon,Memoirs, tom. iii., p. 362.

[206]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 180; Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 117.

[207]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 101. Napoleon estimates the loss of Alvinzi, in the three days' engagements, at 18,000 men including 6000 prisoners. Montholon, tom. iii., p. 370.

[208]Letter to the Directory, 19th November.

[209]"The French army re-entered Verona in triumph by the Venice gate, three days after having quitted that city almost clandestinely by the Milan gate. It would be difficult to conceive the astonishment and enthusiasm of the inhabitants."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 370.

[210]"You announce the arrival of 10,000 men from the Army of the Ocean, and a like number from that of the Rhine; but they have not arrived, and should they not come speedily, you will sacrifice an army ardently devoted to the Constitution."—Buonaparteto the Directory, 28th December.

[211]"The Austrian army amounted to from 65,000 to 70,000 fighting men, and 6000 Tyrolese, besides 24,000 men of the garrison of Mantua."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 404."After the battle of Arcola, the active French army amounted to 36,380 while 10,230 formed the blockade of Mantua."—Jomini, tom. ix., p. 262.

[211]"The Austrian army amounted to from 65,000 to 70,000 fighting men, and 6000 Tyrolese, besides 24,000 men of the garrison of Mantua."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 404.

"After the battle of Arcola, the active French army amounted to 36,380 while 10,230 formed the blockade of Mantua."—Jomini, tom. ix., p. 262.

[212]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 405; Jomini, tom. ix., p. 263.

[213]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 406.

[214]Seeante, p.54.

[215]Jomini, tom. ix., p. 268.

[216]Montholon, tom. iii., p. 410.

[217]It is represented in some military accounts, that the division which appeared in the rear of the French belonged to the army of Provera, and had been detached by him on crossing the Adige, as mentioned below. But Napoleon's Saint Helena manuscripts prove the contrary. Provera only crossed on the 14th January, and it was on the morning of the same day that Napoleon had seen the five divisions of Alvinzi, that of Lusignan which afterwards appeared in the rear of his army being one, lying around Joubert's position of Rivoli.—S.—See Montholon, tom. iii., p. 415, and Jomini, tom. ix., p. 284.

[218]Jomini, tom. ix., pp. 275, 287; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 408.

[219]"This day the general-in-chief was several times surrounded by the enemy; he had several horses killed."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 415.

[220]"The Roman legions are reported to have marched twenty-four miles a-day; but our brigades, though fighting at intervals, march thirty."—Buonaparteto the Directory.

[221]"It was after the battle of Rivoli, that Massena received from Buonaparte and the army the title of 'enfant chéri de la victoire,'" &c.—Thibaudeau, tom. ii., p. 195.

[222]"At two o'clock in the afternoon, in the midst of the battle of Rivoli."—Montholon, tom. iii., p. 416.

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