For this object, as well as for the purpose of ascertaining whether the Austrians had completed the evacuation of Voltri and might not repeat the surprise of Dego, general Cervoni was sent, after the battle of the 15th, to Savona, with directions to see that the supplies for the army were forwarded, without unnecessary delay or consumption at that depôt. This considerate tenderness of Bonaparte for his troops, whose, irregularities were more than compensated by their sufferings and their services, was displeasing to some of his officers. Two field officers tendered their resignation, and the brave general Laharpe, in whose character there appears to have existed that sort of restlessness and inconsistency, which a keen susceptibility and an impatient temper are apt to beget, addressed to the general in chief the following letter: "The extravagant disorder to which the troops give themselves up, and to which no remedy can be applied, since the authority to shoot a rogue is refused us, hurries us to our ruin, covers us with disgrace, and prepares for us the most cruel reverses. The firmness of my character not permitting me to look on these outrages, much less to tolerate them, the only part left for me is to retire; and, therefore, I beg of you, general, to accept my resignation, and to send an officer to take the command with which I am entrusted, preferring rather to cultivate the earth for bread, than to remain at the head of a rabble who are worse than the ancient Vandals."

It is needless to observe that this letter neither altered the conduct of Bonaparte, nor the position of Laharpe, although it exemplifies the degree of embarrassment to which, from this source of suffering and disorder, the former was exposed (20).

However, the halt made at Cherasco, the armistice concluded there, and the establishment of direct routes of transportation between France and Piedmont, soon enabled the general to apply an effectual remedy to these distressing inconveniences; that is, to remove their cause. The troops being furnished with abundant food ceased to plunder, and returned under the influence of military rules and subordination, which afterwards were strictly enforced. Volunteers from the depôts, and convalescents from the hospitals, attracted by news of victory and plenty, made their way to his camp and repaired the losses which his victories had cost. Sixty pieces of artillery were put in order for service, and by adding to the horses taken from the enemy, those which,

with the consent of the government of Sardinia, were purchased in Piedmont, the greater part of the troopers were mounted: so that the condition of the army of Italy became worthy of its spirit and prowess.

At Cherasco Bonaparte was visited by the minister and the son of the king of Sardinia, who expressed, and probably felt great admiration for the young conqueror. The delicacy and good faith of his proceedings in relation to the execution of the terms. of the armistice; and his forbearance to countenance the revolutionary projects of the inhabitants, in the province within which his principal force was encamped, gave peculiar satisfaction to the court of Turin, and made their military misfortunes less painful. His moderation in this instance was the more remarkable, as it was in opposition to the counsels of some of his generals, and to the letter of his instructions.

It will not escape the reader's observation that this was not the only point in regard to which Bonaparte had deviated from the instructions of the directory. Instead of acting principally against the Austrians, he had directed his force chiefly against the Sardinians. Instead of penetrating to the right towards Tortona, he had advanced to the left upon Turin. And in place of refusing an armistice, he had granted one. This line of conduct, although it argued a fearlessness of responsibility, and a generous disdain like that of Alexander, to steal a victory, may at first view appear insubordinate and unwarrantable. To this conclusion, however, are opposed the contradictory nature of the instructions themselves, the effectual manner in which had been accomplished the success of the French arms, and more than all, the consideration, that in every position in which Bonaparte had been previously employed, his ability to serve his country, had been proved to transcend the limits of his authority. At Toulon, though only a chief of battalion, with the sanction of Gasparin and the acquiescence of Dugommier, he commanded the siege. In the campaign of 1794, with the approbation of the deputies, though he was only a brigadier general, he directed the operations of general Dumerbion and his whole army. At Paris, in 1795, in the presence and with the applause of the convention, he treated their commander in chief and their commissaries as mere nullities, while he defended themselves against the insurgents. So that if he exceeded his instructions in the campaign of Monte

134

THE LIFE OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

[CHAP. VI.] notte, he had usurped command in the insurrection of Vendemiaire, in the campaign of Saorgio, and at the siege of Toulon. On each of these occasions he had overflowed the ordinary channels of duty with a flood of courage, patriotism and talent ; and on all of them, an exuberance of public good had sprung from his excess of authority. Hitherto this prodigality of service had been accepted by the government as the bounty of genius; nor were the directory in the present instance so unjust as to adopt a new rule of construction, and pronounce his conduct to be the encroachment of ambition.

At this time, as neither the settled animosity of factions nor the organized enmity of governments, had breathed malignant slanders on Bonaparte's name, his character and exploits commanded the admiration of all Europe. And having, as we have seen, in the short space of fifteen days, shaken and upheld one kingdom, humbled and spared one monarch, established the subsistence, renovated the discipline, equipped the cavalry, supplied the artillery, recruited the strength, and fortified the rear of his army, he resolved to carry the war into the heart of Lombardy; and single handed, to brave the utmost might of that imperial house, whose hatred was destined to be an instrument of his elevation, and whose love, to be a cause of his downfal (21).

CHAPTER VII.

From the 28th of April to the 14th of May 1796.

Objects of Bonaparte-Doubts and opinions of his officers-Proclamation of Cherasco-Its effect-He confers with his officers-Overcomes their objections-Puts his troops in motion-Repairs to Tortona-His courtesyRemarkable letters to the directory-His brother Joseph-Movements of Beaulieu-He passes the Po at Valenza-Stratagem, secrecy, and prudence. of Bonaparte-Positions of Beaulieu to defend the passage of the PoBonaparte's march to Placentia-Passes the Po-Measures of BeaulieuCombat of Fombio- Affair of Codogno-Death of general LaharpeArmistice of Placentia-Combat of Casal Pusterlengo-Beaulieu retreats to Lodi-Bonaparte defeats his rear guard-Battle of Lodi-Capture of Pizzighitone-Surrender of Cremona-Serrurier guards the line of the Adda --Augereau occupies Pavia - Massena marches for Milan-Reflections -Anecdote of a Hungarian captain,

Had it accorded with the personal disposition of Bonaparte to extort immoderate concessions from the king of Sardinia, it would not have suited his military plans. To expel the Austrians from Italy, to revive the national spirit of that country, and interpose its amity or independence as a safeguard to the oft endangered frontier of his own; to "bear to a distance the glory of the French people," were his great objects. Intent upon these, upon the instantaneous pursuit of Beaulieu, the passage of the Po, and the possession of Mantua, he was disinclined to waste his time or his strength, in wringing excessive advantages from a minor prince, whose destruction was not necessary, and whose despair, both the position and the history of his country, proved might be dangerous.

While the conferences of

But a spirit less adventurous and a temper less forbearing, prevailed to some extent in his army. Cherasco were yet unfinished, several of his generals took occasion to suggest, that before a further advance into Italy was

attempted, it would be prudent to complete the subjugation of Piedmont. They likewise intimated a conviction that their force was not adequate to a successful invasion of Lombardy; an enterprise, to the proposal of which, the soldiers, though elated by a succession of victories, listened with surprise, but not with enthusiasm.

These appearances of doubt and hesitation were too much at variance with Bonaparte's determined spirit and extensive views, not to engage his prompt and earnest attention. Wherefore, to infuse fresh ardour into his men, to counteract the cautious opinions of his officers, and at the same time to eradicate from his army all tendency to insubordination and license, as well as to confirm the prudent and pacific inclinations of the cabinet of Turin, he issued, the day before the armistice was signed, the following proclamation. Its vivid style and stimulating topics, the persuasive warmth of its exhortations, the haughty vehemence of its threats, so different from the cold and technical language of other modern generals, will remind the reader of those classical harangues, by which, under the same Italian sky, the Roman Consuls are represented, to have controlled the turbulence or exalted the courage of their legions.

"Soldiers! In fifteen days you have gained six victories, taken twenty one stands of colours, fifty five pieces of artillery, several strong fortresses, and conquered the most fertile part of Piedmont; you have made fifteen thousand prisoners, and killed and wounded more than ten thousand men. Before this campaign, you contended for barren rocks, which though illustrated by your courage, were unprofitable to your country. Your services now make you rivals of the victorious armies of Holland and the Rhine. You were destitute of every thing, but your valour has supplied all deficiencies. You have won battles without cannon, passed rivers without bridges, made forced marches without shoes, bivouacked without liquor and often without bread. None but republican phalanxes, soldiers of liberty, could have endured what you have undergone. For your fortitude, thanks are due to you; to you and to her other conquering armies, your grateful country will owe her prosperity; and if, by wresting Toulon from the foe, you gave an earnest of the immortal campaign of 1794, your recent exploits foretell one still more glorious. The two armies which lately attacked you with so much