Life of Napoleon, vol. 1

20 September 1792

Battle of Valmy

COMMAND OP THE ARMY OP ITALY.

Death of Louis XVI,— The victories of Valmy and Jem- mape8, and the conquest of Belgium, completely turned the heads of the Jacobins ; the fatal act of the twenty-first of January, was consummated. By destroying a virtuous, but feeble King, they thought to shake off forever the yoke of monarchy, as if the royal victim could have no successors. His death was not only a crime, but a great error ; the very terms of the constitution forbade Jhis execution ; and, even had he deserved capital punishment, our political and mari- time relations with Spain should have caused his life to be spared But the factious Assembly was incapable of taking

PEACE OF TOLENTINO.

* KeUorman, (Francois-Christopbc) was born in Straaburg In 1735. He entered the Gonflans Legion in 1752, and served in it during the first campaigns of the Seven Years* War. Ho passed through all the grades up to the rank oi inareohal-de-camp, which ho attained in 1785. Ho served under Dumouriez in 1792, and distinguished himself at the celebrated cannonade of Valmy. He next served under Custine, and on the arrest of this officer, Kellennan was also called to the bar of tho Convention. But he was more fortunate than his chief; in May, 1795, ho was promoted to the command of tho army of the Alps and of Italy ; ho was soon recalled on charges of inefficiency and detained some thirteen months, after which he was restored to bis former command. During the cam- paign of 1796, his army formed the reserve in the Alps. None of his military operations in Italy or in the Alps gave satisfaction, and he was removed from his command and directed to organize the gendarmerie in the interior. After the eighteenth of Brumaire, Napoleon made him Senator, and in 1804, Marshal of France, and conferred on him the title of Duke of Valmy. He held under Napoleon several important civil offices ; during the campaign against Prussia, he organized provisional regiments at Mayence, in 1818 be commanded the army of reserve in Spain, and in 1813 ho collected all the reserves of the army at Metz. His fame may be said to have begun and ended at Valmy ; as general-in- chief of an army, he exhibited no great ability. He died in 1820 at the advanced age of 85.

THE CAMPAIGNS OP 1800 AND 1801.

* The English translator of the American edition of Thiers 1 History of Napo- leon, makes this Kellerman the same as the one that gained the victory of Valmy, and, to do this, makes an incorrect translation of Thiers* remarks on this affair. He then adds in his notes: "Ho (Kellerman) was the real winner of the battle of Marengo, changing it by a single charge of cavalry from a route to a victory. For this Napoleon never forgave him." Again he contradicts Thiers for saying that Napoleon recompensed aR his generals for their services at Marengo, and says. " He (Napoleon) did not recompense Kellerman. No other officer of his distinction but was made marshal of France far earlier than lie. It has been always stated, heretofore, that after Desaix's fall, Zach's men were rallied, had assumed the offensive, and that the French foot were again in dig- order, when Kellerman charged, without orders, and retrieved the fight."

THE CAMPAIGNS OP 1800 AND 1801.

The elder Kellerman, to whom the translator of Thiers hero alludes, was not at the battle of Marengo, but for his victory of Valmy, won while Napoleon was a mere captain, Napoleon made him a marshal of France among the very first that were made. No one was made marshal u earlier than he." The younger Keller- man, his son, never was made marshal. The charge of Napoleon having neg- lected him is absurd. For bis services in 1197 he made him a brigadier-general, and honored bim with the colors taken at the passage of the Tagliamento. In 1800, the cavalry was commanded by Murat, and consisted of the three brigades of Rivaud, Champeaux, and Kellerman, that of tho latter being much the smallest one. For his valuable services on the field of Marengo, he was made a general- of-division, and attached to the army of Brune, with the command of three brig- ades, numbering two thousand one hundred. Rivaud was also mado a general- of-division, but his command was not increased to the same degroo as that of Kellerman. Champeaux was killed at Marengo.

26 June 1794

Battle of Fleurus (1794)

COMMAND OP THE ARMY OP ITALY.

Conquest of Belgium, Holland, and left bank of Rhine*— While we were thus wasting our time in the Alps, three hundred thousand French troops inundated Belgium and tho Palatinate, defeated the allies at Turcoing, at Fleurus, at Eaiserslautern, on tho Ourthe, and on the Roer ; drovo tho English, the Dutch, the Austrians, and the Prussians behind the Bhine, took Brussels, Antwerp, and Maestricht ; passed the Waal, and the Meuse on the ice ; and entered Amster- dam, Cologne, and Coblentz in triumph. Two other armies under Dugommier, Perignon, and Moncey, after gaining two brilliant victories at Figueras and Saint-Martial, invaded Catalonia and Biscay. And an army of one hundred thou- sand men succeeded, at last, in putting down the royalists cf Britany and La Vendue.

CAMPAIGN OF 171) 7.

Results of the Treaty.— This was a glorious peace, and might have been lasting ; it was glorious inasmuch as it secured to France Belgium, the line of the Rhine and of the Alps, Mayence, great influence in Italy, and the Ionian Islands — an important possession which might secure to us the key of the Levant and afford immense maritime advan- tages ; it might have been lasting, because it gave Austria ample compensation for the provinces she had ceded to us. Being now separated from Piedmont by the Cisalpine Repub- lic, Austria had suffered to pass into our hands the influence over the house of Savoy and northern Italy ; but her own territory, contiguous to tha Adige, with Verona, Legnago, and Venice, gave her a much better base for future operations against this part of Italy. Peace ought, therefore, to have appeared to her so much the more advantageous as she had, as it were, been rewarded for her defeats. Beaten at Jem- mappes, Fleurus, Juliers, Loano, Ettlingen, Montenotte, Lodi, Custiglione, Bassano, Areola, Rivoli, she had, nevertheless, rounded off her territory by an addition of three millions of inhabitants ; she had exchanged her distant provinces of Belgium for Galicia, which was bordering on her own frun-

CH.Y.J CAMPAIGN OF 1799. 237

enemies rejoiced, but all, with one accord, agreed in pro- nouncing anathemas against the government which had brought them upon the country. Where then are the con- querors of Turcoing, of Fleurus, of Rivoli, of Castiglione ? was heard from all parts. Aro not the armies composed of the same soldiers and commanded by the same generals, who formerly carried the glory of France from the Noric Alps to the confines of Bohemia? In reflecting more attentively upon tho causes of former successes, it was perceived that they were produced by masses skilfully directed upon im- portant points, rather than by mere valor and love of country, as had been supposed. Although moments of crisis and of popular excitement r.ro ill calculated for reflection, it was, nevertheless, perceived that results had been attributed to general causes, which, in reality, were due mainly to indi- vidual skill. A universal clamor rose against Rewbel and Talleyrand for the impolitic administration and usurpation of the government. Even those who were the least capable of pointing out what course ought to have been pursued, saw evidently that the government had been ill administered. Fersatien of Clubs.— The public calamities led to the formation of new political clubs. A society, worthy offspring of the Jacobins, was formed at the Manege ; there, at the very door of the Council of Ancients, they declaimed about the • ignorance and stupidity of the administration. To avoid the law against societies directed by presidents, they appointed Drouet regvlateur des debate. These ardent republicans, without wishing for tho triumph of the protttaires, thought to turn these leaders to their own account, and soon the club of the Manege equaled that of tho Cordeliers. France was threatened with an anarchy more horrible than that of 1793, for then the dictatorial power of the Committee of Pub- lic Safety, sustained by victory, remedied, in some degree, the vices of a mere popular government ; but as no such

5 August 1796

Battle of Castiglione

PEACE OF TOLENTINO.

Tho King of Sardinia sues for Peace— Am list ie.> of Cherasco— Napoleon marches against Beaulieu — Passago of the Po at Placentia — Armistice with the Pukes of Parma and Modeiia — Battle of Fombio — March upon the Adda — Bridge of Lodi— Napoleon enters Milan — Tlu Directory proposes to divide Napoleon's Army ; his Resignation — His Address to the Army — Hevolt in Lombardy — Delinitive Peace with Piedmont — Position of Beaulieu on the Mincio — Passage of the Mincio — Difficult Position of Napoleon on tho Adige — Situation and Policy of Venice — Criticisms on Napoleon's Opera- tions — Investment of Mantua — Armistice with Naples — Demonstrations against tho Pope — Armistice of Foglino — Troubles in the Imperial Fiefs, <fcc. — Occupation of Leghorn — Siege of Mantua — Austrians endeavor to save that Place — Approach of Wurmser from tho Rhine — Battles of Lonato and Castiglione — Quasdanowich surprised at Gavardo — Attack upon Napoleon's Head -quarters— Second Battle of Castiglione — Second Passage of the Mincio— Wurmser's Retreat into the Tyrol — Close Alliance between France and Spain —Wurmser resumes the offensive on the Brenta— Objections to this Opera- tion — The Annies in Germany — Battles of Mori, Boveredo, and Caliano— March from Trent to tho Gorges of the Brenta— Affair of Bassano — Wurmser Marches upon Mantua — Affairs of St. Georgio — Position of the Army about Mantua — New Republics formed — Political State of the Rest of Italy — Dis- cussions with Rome — Definitive Peace with Naples — Affairs of Piedmont — Negotiations with Genoa — New Troubles in the Fiefs — A flairs of Corsica —

PEACE OF TOLENTINO.

* Augerean was the son of a poor fruiterer of one of the faubourgs of Paris. He was born in 1757. Ho entered the Neapolitan service at an early age ; but seeing no prospect of promotion, he retired in disgust and taught feucing at Naples. He was banished thence in 1792 with the rest of his countrymen. He afterwards served as a volunteer in the army of Italy : he distinguished himself in 1794 as general of brigade, of the army of the Pyrenees, and was gencral-of- division of the army of Italy in 1796. At the day of Castiglione he won many laurels, and afterwards deiived his ducal title from that place. "That day," said Napoleon at St. Helen; i, " was tho most brilliant of Augcreau'a life ; nor did I ever forget it." Ho was made marshal of France in 1804. In 1814 ho was one of the first to desert the Emperor, but on his return from Elba in 1815 he again offered his services, but Napoleon refused him as a traitor. Napoleon says that he always maintained good order and discipline in his army, and on the field of battle fought with great intrepidity, but that from defective judgment or want of education he was unfit for a separate command. In politics he was a wild anarchist, and his opinions merited no respect Ho died in 1816, leaving a great but tarnished reputation. {Biographic UaiverseUe.)

PEACE OF TOLENTINO.

Battles of Lonato and CastJg Hone,— The next day I passed the Mincio to attack Quasdanowich. The enemy was re- pulsed from Lonato, Brescia, and Salo. I established my army on the Chiesa, and Quasdanowich fell back upon Gavardo. The faults of the Austrians could have been repaired by Wurmser, on the thirty-first of July, after the taking of the Montebaldo, had he passed the Mincio under Peschiera to reach Lonato. He then would have effected a junction with Quasdanowich, and have forced me to regain, in all haste, the Ticino or Placentia ; after this, he could easily have made a victorious entry into Mantua. But the Austrians never knew the value of time. They devised wise projects, and then failed by wrong calculations of time and distance. Wurmser, instead of joining Quasdanowich, went first to make a triumphal procession at Mantua, and crossed the Mincio at Goito, as late as the evening of the second of August, on his way to Castiglione. This gave me full time to defeat his lieutenant, and drive him from Ponte San Marco, Lonato, and Brescia. But 1 could not cut him up very much, on account of the mountains of Gavardo, which favored his retreat. I hoped to take my revenge on Wurm- ser, himself. The third of August, Augereau carried his division and the reserve on Castiglione ; Massena directed his division on Lonato, and at the same time, to induce Quasdanowich to continue his retreat, 1 ordered General Guyeux to defile on Salo and threaten his communications with the Tyrol. The operations of this day were somewhat singular, but on the whole favorable to us. I had thought to direct my attack upon Wurmser, but on the contrary it fell upon the left of Quasdanowich, who was trying to renew his junction by Lonato. For this purpose he had resumed the offensive and, as usual, in several columns. That of the

PEACE OF TOLENTINO.

Wimser capitulates at Mantua,— Mantua capitulated on the second of February ; the starving garrison had already consumed the flesh of all their horses, and large numbers had been carried away by disease. There were still remaining about thirteen thousand men under arms, who, having sur- rendered as prisoners of war, were conducted to Trieste to be exchanged. The number of sick was not less than seven thousand. We here found the siege artillery which we had abandoned before the battle of Castiglione, and three hun- dred and fifty other pieces upon the ramparts and in the arsenal.

15–17 November 1796

Battle of Arcole

COMMAND OP THE ARMY OP ITALY.

° The following U the Duchess d'Abrante's description of Napoleon* personal appearance, " At thU period of his life he was decidedly ugly : he afterwards underwent a total change. I do not speak of the illusive charm which his glory spread around him, but I mean to say that a gradual physical change took place in lum in the space of seven years. His ema- ciated thinness was converted into a fulness of face, and his complexion, which had been yellow, and apparently unhealthy, became clear and compare- atively fresh; his features, which wcro angular and sharp, became round and filled out As to his smile, it waa always agreeable. The mode of dressing his hair, which had such a droll appearance, as we see it in the prints of the passage of the bridge of Arcole, was then comparatively sirapb ; for the young men of fashion, whom he used to rail at so loudly, at that time wore their hair very long, lie was very careless of his personal appearance, and his hair, which was ill- combed, and ill-powdered, gave him the look of a sloven. His little hands, too, underwent a great metamorphosis. When I first saw him, they were thin, long, and dark ; but he was subsequently vain of their beauty, and with good reason. In short, when I recollect Napoleon at the commencement of 1794, with a shabby round hat drawn over his forehead, and his ill-powdered hair hanging over the collar of bis gray great-coat, which afterwards became as celebrated as the white plume of Henry IV., without gloves, because he used to say they were a useless luxury, with boots ill-made and ill-blacked — with bis thinness and sallow complexion— in fine, when I recollect him at that time, and think what lie was afterwards, I do not recognize the same man in the two pic- tures."

14–15 January 1797

Battle of Rivoli

CONTENTS. 7

in Germany — Descent upon Ireland — Useless Diplomacy — Reinforcements from the Rhine—Now Efforts of Alvinzi to save Wurmser — Joubert driven back on Rivoli— Battle of Rivoli — Provera marches on Mantua — Close of the Campaign — Capitulation of Wurmser at Mantua — Expedition into Romana 76

PEACE OF TOLENTINO.

The English occupy Porto-Ferrajo— They evacuate Corsica — Situation of the Armies on the Adige— Alvinzi succors Mantua with a new Army — Vaubois thrown back on Rivoli — Affair of the Brenta — Passage of the Adige at Ronco — Battle of Areola — Vaubois driven back from RivoH — Wurmser besieged at Mantua — Reverses of the French in Germany— Descent upon Ireland — Use- less Diplomacy — Reinforcements from the Rhine — New efforts of Alvinzi to save Wurmser — Joubert driven back on Rivoli — Battle of Rivoli — Provera marches on Mantua — Close of the Campaign — Capitulation of Wurmser at Mantua — Expedition into Romans.

CAMPAIGN OF 171) 7.

Piave, and was there waiting for three divisions which he expected from the Rhine by the Tyrol or the valley of the Drave, but which were still afar off. Bernadotte and Del- mas had joined my army some eight days, when the Austrian succorB were still crossing Bavaria. Thus finding myself prepared for action before the enemy, I deemed it best to profit by the circumstance, and to begin tho attack without waiting to settle matters with tho Venetians. Victor, whose division still remained at Ancona superintending the execution of the treaty with the Pope, received orders to return to the Adige, where he could cover my communica- tions. I now entered the field with the divisions of Massena, Bernadotte, Scrrurier, and Augereau (the latter being at this time commanded by General Guyeux), amounting in all to thirty-eight thousand men. 1 gave to Joubcrt the divisions of Delmas, Baraguay-d'Hilliers, and that which he himself had commanded at the battle of Rivoli ; these together amounted to seventeen thousand combatants.

CH.VJ CAMPAIGN OF 1T9 9. 281

dria, and capable of moving in any direction be might desire. It was exactly a repetition of the battle of Rivoli, on a scale ten times larger. Championnet, repulsed near the end of September in a first attempt on Mondovi, made a more serious attack at the end of October ; the same fault neces- sarily produced the same result. St. Cyr, with the right wing, gained a very glorious success in front of Novi on the twenty-fourth of October ; but the division of the centre, acting without concert on Fossano, were beaten, the third of November, by thirty-four thousand Austrians. Another combat took place on the tenth, when the French were so scattered that the siege of Coni was carried on by the enemy without further opposition ; it surrendered on the fourth of December. While the centre was driven into the Alps, Kray forced St. Cyr on the Bochetta, and Klenau, debouching from the coast, attempted to carry Genoa.

21 July 1798

Battle of the Pyramids

NAPOLEON'S EXPEDITION INTO EGYPT.

of Hindustan — Projects of the* Sultan of Mysore, and the Apathy of France — State of the English Forces — Object of the Expedition into Egypt — Napoleon examines the Port of Antwerp — The (out hunt again involved in hostile Preparations — Napoleon departs from Toul<»n — Capture of Maltt — Debark- ation at Alexandria — March on Cairo — Hat tie of the Pyramids — Entrance into Cairo— Naval D.ittle of Aboukir— Results of this Pattl. — Piflicidtks with the. Port. — Revolt of Cairo — Expedition into Syria — Pa<s;ige of the Desert, and taking of dalla — Kesi.-tanee of St. Jean-d'Aeix — Hattle of Mont- Tabor — Continuation of the Siege of St. Jean-d'Aere — Raising of this Siege — Return to Cairo — Debarkation and Battle of Aboukir — Napoleon decides to return to France.

CH. 1V.J EXPEDITION INTO EGYPT. 215

Battle of the Pyramids.— On the twenty-first of July, we arrived in sight of Cairo ; we had seen the pyramids for some days. The aspect of these wonderful monuments of

CH. 1V.J EXPEDITION INTO EGYPT. 215

antiquity, braving the storms of ages, and now surrounded l>y the superb cavalry of the Mamelukes caracoling in the plain, excited in the breasts of my soldiers a mingled feeling of astonishment and pride. I profited by this to raise their enthusiasm to the highest pitch, addressing them in words as lasting as the Pyramids themselves :

14 June 1800

Battle of Marengo

PEACE OF TOLENTINO.

After copying a brief notice of Kellerman from the Encyclopedia Americana, M. Herbert, the translator of Thiers' Consulate and Empire, adds : " He was the real winner of the battle of Marengo, changing it, by a single charge of cavalry, from a route to a victory. For this Napoleon never forgave him."

PEACE OF TOLENTINO.

And afterwards, he [Napoleon] did not recompense Kellerman, [for his services at Marengo.] No other officer of his distinction but was made marshal of Franco far earlier than he. " It would be difficult to crowd a greater number of errors within the same limits. Francois-Cbristophe Kellerman was not at the battle of Marengo, and unless his absence both from the army and from Italy could hare exerted a most magical influence, it would bo difficult to determino how he was the real winner of the victory of Marengo. With respect to Napoleon's in- fluence in preventing his promotion, it may be sufficient to remark that Keller- man was general-in-chief of an army, when Napoleon was a mere subolteri. He held several important commands under Napoleon, but never served under him in the field. But for the services which he had rendered France previous to the opening of Napoleon's military career, the latter loaded him with honors. He was created marshal among the very first that were made ; was one of the very first appointed to the Senate under Napoleon's Consulate ; afterwards make Duke of Valmy, and both himself and family were the objects of Napoleon's kindest regards during his whole life. The Marengo Kellerman will be spoken of in connection with that battle.

CAMPAIGN OF 171) 7.

* Victor (Perrin Claude) Duke of Belluno was born at La Manche in 17GC. He entered the army in 1781, and received Lis discharge in 1789. In 1792 he served as a volunteer, and was promoted to the grade of chef-de-bataillon. In 1793 he distinguished himself under Napoleon at the siege of Toulon, and served under him iu tho campaigns of 179G-7, where he acquired a brilliant reputation and was promoted successively to tho grades of goncral-of-brigade and general- of-division. In 1799 his division rendered important services on several occa- sions. At the battle of Marengo he commanded a corps-iTarmee, and for his gal- lant services on tliU occasion he received a Sabre of Honor. lie immediately afterward passed to the Batavian army, and in 1805 was sent as ambassador to Denmark. He joined the army in Prussia in 180G, and was wounded at Jena; in 1807 he was promoted to the command of tho first corps-d'armee, and contrib- uted mainly to the victory of Friedland. Napoleon made him a Marshal of France on the field. After the treaty of Tilsit he was made Governor of Berlin and most of Prussia. In 1808 he commanded the first corps-d'annee in Spain. He greatly distinguished himself in the campaigns of 181 2, 1813 and 1814. After the restoration of the Bourbons, he held several important offices, and continued in favor till the overthrow of their government in 1830.

CH. 1V.J EXPEDITION INTO EGYPT. 215

f Desaiz (Louis Charles Antoine) was born at St. Hilaire-d'Ayat, in 1768. Ho was educated at the military school of Effiat, and at the age of fifteen, en- tered the army as sub-lieuteoant. He early distinguished himself for his enthu- siastic love of study. His promotion was very rapid, for we find him a brigadier- general in 1793 ; in 1794 he was made general-of-division and greatly d singuialied himself with the northern army, and also, in 1796, with tho army ot the Rhino. He joined Napoleon in Italy in 1797. A mutual attachment was instantly formed, which continued till the death of Desaix on tho field of Marengo.

3 December 1800

Battle of Hohenlinden

THE CAMPAIGNS OP 1800 AND 1801.

negotiations at London by Otto for a naval armistice. I wished to gain a double advantage from my victories on the Inn and the Mincio : to obtain, on the one hand, a naval armistice which would allow me to send some frigates to Egypt and Malta with arms, men, and munitions ; and, on the other, to require Austria to give up to me the places of Ulm, Ingolstadt, and Philipsbourg. Austria consented to it ; the armistice was signed at Hohenlinden the twentieth of September, and confirmed at Castiglione for the army of Italy. England was unwilling to admit a naval armistice, in hopes that Malta, which had been closely blockaded for two years, would soon fall into her hands, and that she might prevent any reinforcements from being sent to Egypt for the purpose of consolidating our position there.

THE CAMPAIGNS OP 1800 AND 1801.

Brilliant Success of the Army of the Rhine* — Hostilities recommenced toward the end of November. A few dayB after, Moreau gained the decisive battle of Hohenlinden. The Archduke John, wishing to take the initiative, instead of awaiting us behind the formidable position of the Inn, threw himself into the woody country between this river and the Iser, in order to debouch on Munich, while the corps of Klenau, with a good part of his cavalry, debouched by Ratisbon and joined him at Dachau. The Archduke, by Weyrother's advice, on the third of December, penetrated into the great forest of Hohenlinden in four columns. Three of these columns marched by roads, difficult at best, but now rendered almost impassible by a deep snow. The principal column, composed of the centre of the army with all the parks and reserves, passing along a fine road, debouched two hours before the others, on Anzing, fell into the midst of Moreau's division, and met a warm reception. By a chance not less fortunate, Bichepanse, going into the forest, engaged the left of the Austrians which bad been much retarded, thus got possession of the road, and took the centre of the Arch- duke en flagrant delit, by attacking him in reverse in a defile of which Moreau was disputing the outlet. Assailed on all sides in this coupe-gorge, the Archduke John, after having lost one hundred pieces of cannon and twelve thousand men, was exceedingly fortunate in regaining the Inn.